Did California lose Larry Page? The Google and Alphabet cofounder, who left day-to-day operations in 2019, has seen his net worth soar in the years sincefrom around $50 billion at the time of his dep… [+3547 chars]

Larry Page’s apparent Florida move highlights how seriously the ultra-rich are taking a one-time tax aimed at extreme wealth inequality.

Wired

Silicon Valley Billionaires Panic Over California’s Proposed Wealth Tax

Elon Musk confirmed this weekend that Tesla is testing its robotaxis in Austin without safety drivers on board, and his fanboys are losing their minds over it. Theres just one small problem: these te… [+2324 chars]

Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla is testing its robotaxis without any safety monitors.

Gizmodo.com

Tesla Is Testing Robotaxis Without Safety Drivers — or Riders

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of JFK and climate activist, has died at age 35.: Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
<ul><li>Tatiana Schlossberg, gran… [+788 chars]

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of JFK and a prominent climate activist and environmental journalist, has died of leukemia at age 35.

Business Insider

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of JFK and climate activist, has died at 35

California state senator Steve Padilla, a Democrat from San Diego, introduced a bill in the California State Assembly on Monday that would place a 4-year moratorium on the sale of toys with artificia… [+3082 chars]

"Our children cannot be used as lab rats for Big Tech to experiment on," said the state senator who introduced new legislation around AI toys.

California Could Get a 4-Year Ban on Toys With AI Chatbots

Elon MuskNathan Howard/Reuters
<ul><li>Elon Musk said he had a recent MRI.</li><li>The xAI CEO said neither Grok nor his doctors saw anything wrong.</li><li>Musk's decision highlights how some indiv… [+2786 chars]

Elon Musk said the solution to longevity "is an extremely solvable problem."

Elon Musk says he recently got an MRI and uploaded it to Grok

President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on Monday about Rob Reiner, who was found dead in his Los Angeles home Sunday along with his wife. Trump’s post about the beloved 78-year-old director wa… [+6132 chars]

President Trump blamed the acclaimed director for his own murder.

Trump’s Vile Post About Rob Reiner Has Some Republicans Breaking Ranks

Tesla CEO Elon MuskODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
<ul><li>Elon Musk appears to be feeling the joy this holiday season.</li><li>The Tesla CEO posted to X that he's making an edit to the company's … [+1840 chars]

Out: "Sustainable abundance." In: "Amazing abundance."

Elon Musk says he's making a 'joyful' edit to Tesla's master plan

<ul><li></li><li></li><li></li></ul>
The FCC has edited its website to remove its description as independent.
The FCC has edited its website to remove its description as independent.
by
Lauren Fe… [+8566 chars]

A defiant Brendan Carr testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday in his first public appearance before lawmakers since threatening broadcasters who aired comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show. Over the course of nearly three hours, the Federal Commun…

The Verge

Brendan Carr doesn’t regret his threats to broadcasters

The clock is still ticking for TikTok. You've probably noticed certain videos posted to the popular social media site were counting down to Dec. 16 -- Tuesday this week. That was the date TikTok user… [+2389 chars]

President Donald Trump has postponed the ban on TikTok five times this year.

CNET

The TikTok Ban Was Set for Dec. 16. It Didn't Happen, and Here's Why

The death of a college soccer player who was found dead after participating in a bizarre devil trend TikTok game has been ruled a suicide, officials said.
Rice University sophomore Claire Tracy, 19,… [+2874 chars]

Rice University sophomore Claire Tracy, 19, passed away from "asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium," the Harris County Texas Institute of Forensic...

New York Post

Rice University soccer player’s cause of death revealed after participating in ‘devil trend’ TikTok game

My old couchAlistair Barr/Business Insider
<ul><li>A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.</li><li>Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.</li></ul>T… [+1769 chars]

Google's Gemini AI chatbot quickly identified an old furniture model, making it easier to sell.

How I got AI to help me sell my old couch

LinkedIn can feel overcrowded, but these job seekers used specific strategies to stand out and land new roles.Photos courtesy of Lauren Young/Sophie Rose/Dhyey Mavani
<ul><li>LinkedIn offers numerou… [+6721 chars]

Successful job seekers on LinkedIn used overlooked filters, direct messaging, and strategic online posting to stand out and secure new job offers.

3 successful job seekers share how they used LinkedIn to stand out and land new roles

Social media sites have been flooded with false information in the of Sunday’s terror attack that killed 15 people and wounded dozens more at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia. One AI-… [+8945 chars]

Grok, ChatGPT, and Claude all insist the image is real.

AI Image Falsely Suggests Bondi Beach Terror Attack Was Staged

Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer survived the horrific 2018 Parkland school mass shooting ... but he took his own life recently after a long battle with schizophrenia, according to his sister.
Nancy Met… [+1247 chars]

Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer survived the horrific 2018 Parkland school mass shooting ... but he took his own life recently after a long battle with schizophrenia, according to his sister. Nancy Metayer Bowen posted a tribute to Donovan on…

Parkland School Shooting Survivor Dies by Suicide at 26

How’s the weather looking in Whata Bod, Idaho? Only AI can tell you. The National Weather Service recently posted a weather map on social media that was AI-generated and included several entirely mad… [+2500 chars]

NWS AI-Generated Weather Predictions Are Making Up New Towns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) After a slew of restaurant closures across Nashville surprised some residents, locals are wondering why small businesses are closing their doors.
Beloved establishments like … [+1646 chars]

After a slew of restaurant closures across Nashville surprised some residents, locals are wondering why small businesses are closing their doors.

WKRN News 2

Nashville businesses are shutting their doors — restaurant owners open up about why

An internal government watchdog says it will probe a Trump administration move to cancel nearly $8 billion in climate and energy funding that primarily impacted blue states.
The Energy Departments i… [+1960 chars]

An internal government watchdog says it will probe a Trump administration move to cancel nearly $8 billion in climate and energy funding that primarily...

The Hill

Energy Department inspector general to probe billions in canceled climate grants mostly impacting blue states

Social media in 2025 was absolutely swamped with fakes. AI tools have made it easy for anyone to make fake photos and videos that can fool many people into thinking they’re real. The tech has now adv… [+24559 chars]

Fake tweets from Rob Reiner, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump all made the rounds this year.

Viral Tweets That Were Completely Fake in 2025

GameStop has been in hot water for some time now. But the company’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, should come away relatively unscathed, because, thanks toCNN,we now know he will score a $35 billion payout if the… [+2125 chars]

There's a good chance your local GameStop has closed, but don't worry, CEO Ryan Cohen should be just fine
The post GameStop CEO Aims For $35 Billion Payout As Stores Close By The Hundreds appeared first on Kotaku.

Kotaku

GameStop CEO Aims For $35 Billion Payout As Stores Close By The Hundreds

(This story was updated to correct who was involved in the Indio crash.)
Federal agents conducting immigration enforcement recently swept across multiple Coachella Valley cities, officials said Frid… [+2481 chars]

Federal agents conducting immigration enforcement swept across multiple Coachella Valley cities Friday, Dec. 19.

The Desert Sun

ICE agents involved in crash in Indio, ICE also active in Palm Springs

Venture capitalist and "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary has taken a hard stance against policies that restrict foreign students, calling them one of the "worst ideas" for the U.S. economy.
O'Lear… [+3749 chars]

Venture capitalist and "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary has taken a hard stance against policies that restrict foreign students, calling them one of the "...

Yahoo Entertainment

If We Don't Take Them, the Chinese Are Going to Take Them" — Kevin O'Leary Says It's 'Insane' to Deny Foreign Students U.S. College Access

The Department of Justice said in a new court filing Monday night that there are more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Epstein Files Transparency Act that are presently in vario… [+2511 chars]

The DOJ said that there are more than 2 million documents “potentially responsive” to the Epstein Files Transparency Act that are presently in various phases of review.

ABC News

Epstein files: 2 million records in various stages of review, DOJ says

Automakers Hyundai and Kia must offer free repairs to millions of models under a settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota's attorney general, who led an effort by dozens of states that argued the ve… [+2631 chars]

Automakers Hyundai and Kia must offer free repairs to millions of models under a settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota's attorney general, who led an...

Hyundai and Kia will repair millions of vehicles under a deal to fix anti-theft technology

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China's People's Liberation Army staged a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, unleashing a live-fire show of force as part of what it called "Justi… [+6602 chars]

China's People's Liberation Army is staging a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan. It's unleashing live-fire exercises as part of what it calls "Justice Mission 2025."

China flexes blockade capabilities near Taiwan on second day of military drills

Gold and dollars, step aside. A new rival is in town.
Silver has been steadily making headlines in the past couple of days. At press time on Dec. 26, the price of per ounce of silver had climbed 8.2… [+3461 chars]

Gold and dollars, step aside. A new rival is in town. Silver has been steadily making headlines in the past couple of days. At press time on Dec. 26, the...

TheStreet

Analysts warn king dollar is dead, predict silver rally

OpenAI President Greg Brockman said the company needs to continue to make big investments in compute.Errich Petersen/Getty Images for SXSW
<ul><li>OpenAI President Greg Brockman said the lack of com… [+3591 chars]

OpenAI President Greg Brockman said even the company's current ambitious investments might not be enough.

OpenAI has a circular 'compute flywheel' chart it says explains the need for more and more AI chips and energy

Ukraine has been pushing the speed of its interceptors as Russia develops its newer jet-powered Shaheds.Maks Muravsky/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
<ul><li>Ukraine said that one of its inte… [+3176 chars]

Mykhailo Fedorov said the drone was powered by a motor built in Ukraine. Its reported speed nearly rivals the fastest high-speed trains in the world.

Ukraine says its small propeller battle drones can now go faster than Formula 1 cars

Puerto Rico has put incentives in place to attract mainland Americans and other foreigners to stay long-term.Real Living Production
<ul><li>The US raid on Venezuela is causing flight delays, especia… [+4991 chars]

From outbound vacationers to students returning for the new semester, the US raid on Venezuela disrupted travel across the region.

Thousands of travelers stranded as US strikes on Venezuela push airlines out of Caribbean airspace

Just a day and a half before it was set to be broadcast, new CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a planned 60 Minutes investigative segment centering on allegations of abuses at an El Salvador… [+5586 chars]

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment on allegations of abuses at an El Salvador detention center where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.

CBS News chief Bari Weiss pulls '60 Minutes' story, sparking outcry

CAIRO (AP) A drone strike hit a United Nations facility in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, killing six peacekeepers, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
The strike hit the peacekeeping logisti… [+2113 chars]

A drone strike hit a United Nations facility in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, killing six peacekeepers, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.  The...

UN chief says 6 peacekeepers killed in drone strike on a UN facility in Sudan

Target was just caught red-handed raising prices just so it could advertise a fake sale.
In a Reddit post shared to r/mildlyinfuriating, people recognized a familiar pattern: stores quietly inflatin… [+2144 chars]

When consumers can’t trust their stores, they’re forced to constantly double-check or take their business elsewhere.

Frustrated customer calls out Target after discovering sneaky tactic at local store: 'These companies assume consumers are stupid'

Food and drink recalls have become increasingly common in recent years due to complex global supply chains, in which contamination can happen at various points.
For example, many bottles of the almo… [+2488 chars]

Stores have posted recall notices regarding the affected bottles and what to do if you purchased one.

Officials issue urgent recall for popular liquor over safety concerns: 'Unsafe to drink'

A major European grocery store recalled one of its goods because it may contain clear plastic pellets.
What's happening?
Irish grocer Dunnes Stores and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued t… [+2516 chars]

"We apologize that it has been necessary to recall this product."

Major grocery chain issues urgent recall for popular item over potentially hazardous discovery: 'Advised not to consume this product'

Body cam footage of a police officer speaking to the employee shows her claiming that the Somali couple, whom she called the N-word, was threatening her.
The Cinnabon employee who was fired after be… [+2370 chars]

Body cam footage of a police officer speaking to the employee shows her claiming that the Somali couple, whom she

New footage shows fired Cinnabon employee telling police Somali customers triggered her ‘PTSD’

ABUJA, Nigeria -- British boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital, Nigerian authorities said late Wednesday night.
The two-time former heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist was… [+1410 chars]

Nigerian authorities say British boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital

Nigerian authorities say British boxer Anthony Joshua released from hospital

An interview from earlier this year featuring Level-5 CEO and president Akihiro Hino talking positively about AI and claiming the tech is writing 80 percent or more of the studio’s code these days re… [+2536 chars]

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has shared further thoughts on AI after a past interview of his went viral online
The post Professor Layton Boss Wants People To Stop Demonizing Generative AI appeared first on Kotaku.

Professor Layton Boss Wants People To Stop Demonizing Generative AI

The case between Rockstar and fired Grand Theft Auto 6 developers who were unionizing gets messier. Discord is secretly preparing for a possible IPO. And Square Enix might ban you if you share Dragon… [+3296 chars]

Also: Rockstar accuses fired GTA 6 devs of leaking game features to a journalist
The post Enjoy Discord While You Can appeared first on Kotaku.

Enjoy Discord While You Can

Automakers and buyers will be resetting their expectations and plans in the electric vehicle market in the U.S. in 2026. While some large companies have made quick decisions to cut slow-selling, much… [+9372 chars]

For the auto industry, reality is about to set in.

EV Makers Could Struggle in 2026, but Jeff Bezos Might Have a Great 2027

Good morning, and welcome to your previously scheduled Monday. Don’t watch the clock, and this terrible day will end soon. Until then, enjoy this installment of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily rou… [+4012 chars]

Also: Fallout Shelter still humming along, bad news for retro fans, and To a T didn't do well
The post Star Wars: Fate Of The Old Republic‘s Director Promises It Will Arrive Before 2030 appeared first on Kotaku.

Star Wars: Fate Of The Old Republic‘s Director Promises It Will Arrive Before 2030

Amblin Entertainment wants everyone to have eyes on the next big movie from Steven Spielberg.
You’ve probably seen posts online recently of a poster with an eye looking between a creature’s fingers … [+1616 chars]

Time to get excited as Amblin prepares to finally reveal this new sci-fi movie from Steven Spielberg.

The Next Steven Spielberg Movie Has a Poster to Disclose

Gage Skidmore, CC
Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.
If you had just $100 to put to work in todays market, where would it go?
For Ri… [+6400 chars]

Robert Kiyosaki said this asset was ‘about to explode’, surge $400% this year. Was he right?

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says theres a different kind of wealthy Americans emerging, and they no longer see themselves as part of the same system as everyone else.
Billionaires, Poverty And Mispla… [+3361 chars]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says there’s a different kind of wealthy Americans emerging, and they no longer see themselves as part of the same system as...

Bernie Sanders Says A New 'Breed Of Uber Capitalists' Has Emerged. They Truly Believe They Are 'Superior Human Beings'

American states have a vast range of speed limits, and we may soon have our very own version of the Autobahn. Again. With some caveats. Arizona state Rep. Nick Kupper recently introduced House Bill 2… [+3564 chars]

Arizona has massive stretches of highway that can get quite boring if you drive the speed limit. How does the new proposed law plan to change that?

SlashGear

Arizona Law Could End Interstate Speed Limits, But With One Big Catch

The automaker has started testing robotaxis without human safety drivers on board after years of promises.
<ul><li>Tesla is testing its Model Y robotaxis in Austin, Texas, without human safety drive… [+3377 chars]

The automaker has started testing robotaxis without human safety drivers on board after years of promises.

InsideEVs 

Tesla Is Finally Letting Robotaxis Drive Solo In Austin. Now Comes The Hard Part

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is known in part for saying controversial or "careless" things, but as the Guardian reported, he recently made a sincerely shocking admission.
On Dec. 9, Musk appeared on a podca… [+2742 chars]

"I think instead of doing DOGE, I would have basically worked on my companies."

Elon Musk makes bold claim about government's former DOGE program: 'They wouldn't have been burning the cars'

Zohran Mamdani, young upstart of the US left, was readying Wednesday to take over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with President Donald Trump.
After the clocks strike midni… [+3276 chars]

Zohran Mamdani, young upstart of the US left, was readying Wednesday to take over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with President...

Leftist Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow

NEED TO KNOW
<ul><li>Fox News host Jesse Watters claimed that President Donald Trump told him he is building the new White House ballroom as a monument to himself
</li><li>He added that Trump said … [+3218 chars]

Watters, 47, recounted the alleged conversation to a large crowd at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix on Dec. 20

PEOPLE

Trump Told Jesse Watters He's Building White House Ballroom as a 'Monument' to Himself 'Because No One Else Will,' Host Claims

Heres just hoping that President Donald Trumpsmonstrosity of a ballroom becomes the Barack Obama Immigration Center someday.
 Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Over the weekend, Fox News host Jesse Watt… [+2770 chars]

The Fox News host and the audience at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest thought it was hilarious, however.

Buzzfeed

Trump Apparently Told This Fox News Host The Real Reason Behind His Ballroom Plans, And It's Really, Really Gross

In 2025, multiple hotel brands have landed in hot water over something to do with the basic liquid that we all need for survival.
At the end of October, MGM Resorts International President and CEO W… [+3130 chars]

In 2025, multiple hotel brands have landed in hot water over something to do with the basic liquid that we all need for survival. At the end of October, MGM ...

Marriott hotel cracks down on perk many expect

President Donald Trump has repeatedly amplified a fake Karoline Leavitt X account that once asked followers to rate the White House press secretarys butt.
Trump shares the X messages from @WHLeavitt… [+2992 chars]

President Donald Trump has repeatedly amplified a fake Karoline Leavitt X account that once asked followers to rate the White House press secretary’s butt...

Daily Beast

Trump, 79, Falls for Karoline Leavitt ‘Rate My Butt’ Account

BEIRUT (AP) Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon on Thursday as a deadline looms to disarm the militant Hezbollah group along the countries' tense frontier.… [+3549 chars]

Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon on Thursday as a deadline looms to disarm the militant Hezbollah group along...

Israel launches intense airstrikes in Lebanon as deadline looms to disarm Hezbollah

The annals of Florida's eternal wrangle with invasive species are filled with creative, unique and bizarre techniques for ridding the state of the damaging marauders.
Barefoot python hunting, robot … [+5574 chars]

Sometimes plunging in headfirst and barehanded is just the most efficient way to nab the nuisance lizard, says Mike Kimmel, who goes by Python Cowboy on...

Palm Beach Post

Florida Python Cowboy makes a splash with new tactic for hunting iguanas

Two of the three people charged in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Maria De La Rosa, a rising Latin singer known professionally as DELAROSA, may have set the artist up, according to a search warran… [+4687 chars]

Two of the three people charged in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Maria De La Rosa, a rising Latin singer known professionally as DELAROSA, may have set...

KTLA Los Angeles

Rising Latin singer gunned down in L.A. may have been set up by friends

Paige Shiver, the executive assistant of fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, has deep ties to the sports world as the daughter of a veteran Chicago Bears scout, it has been re… [+5576 chars]

The home that fired Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore allegedly broke into while wielding a knife belonged to his recently promoted executive...

Who is Paige Shiver, the executive assistant of fired Michigan coach Sherrone Moore?

There is a time and a place to celebrate with one's employees. This was not one of those times.
It's no secret that many businesses are struggling right now, which inevitably means that tough decisi… [+1163 chars]

There is a time and a place to celebrate with one's employees. This was not one of those times.
It's no secret that many businesses are struggling right now, which inevitably means that tough decisions have to be made. This author shared the story about how …

Cheezburger.com

Boss throws extravagant Christmas party after round of layoffs, then posts about it on social media: 'It was quite inconsiderate on their part'

Bethesda Game Studios may have a reputation for putting out bug-ridden games with barely functioning UIs and then leaving it all for modders to fix, but it generally does this with stunningly wonderf… [+6761 chars]

Bethesda is rumored to be working on a revamped version for 2026, but it might be too late
The post Starfield Still Doesn’t Feel Like The Game It Was Meant To Be After A Surprisingly Quiet Year appeared first on Kotaku.

Starfield Still Doesn’t Feel Like The Game It Was Meant To Be After A Surprisingly Quiet Year

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Today's top st… [+5378 chars]

Trump offers advice to the GOP as midterm fears grow and he struggles to connect with voters on the economy. And, the Pentagon reviews the "effectiveness" of women in ground combat roles.

GOP gearing up to face tough midterms. And, Pentagon reviews women in ground combat

Shari Williams says it's important to be bold to stand out in the current job market.Shari Williams
<ul><li>Shari Williams landed a full-time job by creating a dating app website for her target comp… [+5369 chars]

An advertising professional turned her contract job into a full-time offer by creating a dating-app-inspired website to pitch herself to the company.

I got a job by building a dating-app-inspired website and pitching myself as the 'perfect match' for the role. Here's how I did it.

White House AI and crypto czar David O. Sacks speaks with President Donald J Trump before he signs an executive order about pediatric cancer research and artificial intelligence, in the Oval Office a… [+5007 chars]

Ultrawealthy tech investors like David Sacks and Peter Thiel are weighing their options ahead of California's proposed billionaire wealth tax.

David Sacks sparks debate by predicting Miami will 'replace' NYC as the finance capital — and Austin will overtake San Francisco

Tesla secured a permit that allows the company to operate a ridehailing service with autonomous vehicles in Texas.Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images
<ul><li>Tesla is recruiting fa… [+5600 chars]

Posters that appeared at Tesla's California factories and a review of LinkedIn profiles show how the automaker is scaling its ride-hailing service.

Tesla is recruiting factory workers and sales staff to operate its 'Robotaxi' service

If you remember the film “The Big Short” (or, more likely, get served 60-second clips of it regularly on YouTube Shorts), then you’ll probably remember the term “credit default swap.” It’s the tool t… [+2597 chars]

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Silicon Valley Billionaires Panic Over California’s Proposed Wealth Tax

Tesla Is Testing Robotaxis Without Safety Drivers — or Riders

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of JFK and climate activist, has died at 35

California Could Get a 4-Year Ban on Toys With AI Chatbots

Elon Musk says he recently got an MRI and uploaded it to Grok

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