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After the space agency canceled its VIPER rover, an empty space was available on a private spacecraft that will still head to the lunar surface.

It's been three years since we've had a Jurassic movie, when the Jurassic World trilogy concluded with the reunion of the original cast and the long-awaited (I said LONG-AWAITED) arrival of Dimetrodon in the franchise.

Setf five years after Jurassic World Dominion, Jurassic World Rebirth sees an extraction team (Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend) sent to the original research facility for Jurassic Park to get that all-important dino DNA.

Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One) and written by Jurassic Park's original screenwriter David Koepp, Jurassic World Rebirth looks to the dinosaurs who "were too dangerous for the original park." Hell yeah.

Jurassic World Rebirth hits cinemas July 2.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Feb. 5, Sony's ULT WEAR headphones are on sale for $148 at Amazon. This is 26% off their list price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Headphones $148.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal

There have been quite a few deals on headphones and earbuds floating around recently, and Sony is joining in on the fun with an excellent discount on its Sony ULT WEAR headphones. If you've been looking to upgrade your headphones, this is a deal well worth taking advantage of. We even included these in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones, so you know they're worth every cent.

The Sony ULT WEAR headphones are on sale for $148 at Amazon. That's 26% off their list price of $199.99, saving you $51.99. Amazon also has them listed as a limited-time deal, so you'll want to act fast to save on these headphones as this discount may not stick around for very long.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025

We rank these headphones as the best for bass lovers in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones. This is because, "The headphones have a dedicated ULT button that lets you bump up the bass on demand. The 40-millimeter driver keeps it sounding clear and not crispy, making these headphones a worthy competitor to the WH-1000XM5s." Our review had a lot of praise for them as well, with Miller Kern saying they, "prioritize bass and provide punchy sound without sacrificing quality at a relatively affordable price."

This limited-time deal won't last long, so grab the Sony ULT WEAR headphones for $148 at Amazon while the deal is still live.

There are plenty more headphone and earbud deals worth checking out right now as well. You can also save on the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC right now at Amazon, and if you'd like to see another over-ear headphone deal, the Beats Solo 4 are discounted at Amazon as well.

SAVE $1,500: As of Feb. 5, the Samsung 98-inch Q80C QLED 4K UHD Smart TV is on sale for $3,499.99 at Best Buy. This is $1,500 off its list price of $4,999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 98-Inch Class Q80C QLED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV $3,499.99 at Best Buy
$4,999.99 Save $1,500.00 Get Deal

If you've been looking to upgrade your TV to something even bigger, Best Buy has some excellent deals available at the moment on a wide range of huge TVs. In particular, this discount on a Samsung 98-inch Q80C QLED Smart TV caught our eye with its excellent discount and the fact that it comes with free installation, which is a fantastic bonus.

The Samsung 98-inch Q80C QLED 4K UHD Smart TV is currently on sale for $3,499.99 at Best Buy, a whopping $1,500 off its list price of $4,999.99. Again, you also get free installation with your purchase, which has a $399 value. On top of that, this TV comes with a great treat for gamers as you also get one month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, granting you access to the massive Game Pass library on a brand new, gigantic TV.

SEE ALSO: Get $300 off this Samsung 85-inch 4K TV and score a free 40-inch bonus TV

This TV boasts 4K resolution on a QLED display that brings images to life with vibrant colors and a crisp, detailed picture. It also features Dolby Atmos technology that offers immersive, high-quality sound for your favorite shows and films. Not to mention, it's a smart TV, so you can keep all of your favorite streaming apps in one place for added convenience.

This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on $1,500 off the Samsung 98-inch Q80C QLED 4K UHD Smart TV at Best Buy.

Looking for even more TV deals? There are quite a few to check out right now. You can also save on an 85-inch Samsung 4K TV and score a free 40-inch bonus TV at Best Buy, and if you want to see a smaller pick, the 65-inch LG C4 OLED TV is also discounted right now at Best Buy.

THREE MONTHS FOR $1: As of Feb. 5, MUBI is offering a three-month subscription for $1. After the promotional period is over, the price will go back up to $14.99 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: MUBI MUBI: 3 Months For $1 Get Deal

Deals on streaming services don't come around very often. You'll usually find deals around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but MUBI is shaking things up with a great deal to kickstart the new year, giving movie lovers access to some of the best films from last year for the low, low price of $1.

More specifically, MUBI is offering a three-month subscription for $1. Normally it costs $14.99 per month, totaling $44.97 after three months, so you're getting an excellent discount through this offer. After the three months is up it will go back to $14.99 per month, but three months is a great opportunity to test out the service and see if it's what you're looking for. You can cancel at any time if you find it's not for you.

SEE ALSO: Get a year of Peacock Premium for just $30

MUBI is home to some of our picks for the best movies of 2024, including Bird, The People's Joker, and The Substance. It's an excellent streaming service for movie fans with a massive library to look through. To see what films the service is showing at the moment, you can browse their collection here.

This deal won't stick around for much longer, so act fast to get three months of MUBI for $1.

If you're looking for even more streaming deals available right now, Peacock is also offering a year of its Premium plan for just $30. Hulu is also offering a couple of bundles that are worth checking out, which you can learn more about in our breakdown of the the best Hulu deals and bundles.

The fast expansion of Waymo’s driverless car service is growing competition for Uber. The companies are also partners.

Like Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, The Daily Show's Desi Lydic unpacked the current aggressive White House takeover of Donald Trump's "special government employee" Elon Musk.

The tech billionaire and his team have been infiltrating U.S. federal government departments including reportedly accessing the computer systems of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government's HR department.

"Now you might be thinking, 'I don’t want white nationalist Tony Stark to have sole control of the inner workings of the federal government.' But relax, it's not just Elon. He has a fully equipped team," said Lydic, pointing to the fact that Musk's newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly staffed mainly by college grads — including a former Neuralink intern whose online tag was "bigballs".

"Great, bigballs has my social security number, now I feel better!" Lydic said. "I know we complained about our leaders being too old but doesn’t this go a little too far in the other direction? Surely there must be a middle ground somewhere between crypto bros and crypt keepers."

"Elon was able to buy his way into the government and now he’s blowing it up like a Tesla in Self Driving Mode," said Stephen Colbert on The Late Show on Tuesday, taking time in his monologue to call out the Trump-supporting tech billionaire's aggressive White House takeover.

Over the past few weeks, "special government employee" Musk and his team have been taking control of U.S. federal government departments, including gaining access to computer systems and taking aim at USAID. Musk runs the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which is reportedly staffed mainly by college grads.

One Musk-rattled realm is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government's HR department.

"You’re the richest man on Earth! You want to take over HR?" said Colbert. "Why can’t you be a fun billionaire like Richard Branson? Here he is kitesurfing wearing a naked lady on his back like a Jansport backpack. Or the Dyson guy? He invented a vacuum and grows delicious strawberries now.

"Elon, you could be the next Dyson — you never stop sucking."

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Negative pattern

• Green: Terms in a water sport

• Blue: Colleges near the Big Apple

• Purple: Sounds like they play basketball

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Downturn

• Green: Surfing terms

• Blue: New York colleges

• Purple: Homophones of NBA player names

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #135 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Downturn - DECLINE, PLUNGE, SKID, SLUMP

• Surfing terms - BARREL, CREST, SWELL, WAVE

• New York colleges - COLGATE, COLUMBIA, ST. JOHN'S, SYRACUSE

• Homophones of NBA player names - BARNS, CONNECT, HEART, HERO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Kendrick Lamar is about to break the internet on Super Bowl Sunday. The rap icon is officially headlining the halftime show at Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans, and if that wasn’t hype enough, he’s bringing longtime TDE collaborator SZA along for the ride.

But the real question: What’s Kendrick performing?

The Compton legend has no shortage of bangers to choose from, and with the world watching, there’s one track that feels almost inevitable — his five-time Grammy-winning hit "Not Like Us." If there was ever a way to put a definitive period on his headline-dominating feud with Drake, it’s by performing this track in front of millions.

SEE ALSO: Will Kendrick Lamar diss Drake during the Super Bowl halftime show? Why and why not.

That’s a must-play, but we’ve gone full music nerd and crafted the ultimate Kendrick halftime setlist. Here’s what we think is coming — and what we’re manifesting.

The expected: Not Like Us, All the Stars, Luther, 30 for 30

With SZA joining him on stage, it’s almost guaranteed that the duo will perform one of their many collaborations. The most obvious choice? "All the Stars," the lead single from the Black Panther soundtrack — aka, the not-so-secret Kendrick-curated showcase for Top Dawg Entertainment artists back in 2018.

It’s easily their biggest hit, racking up over 1.9 billion streams on Spotify.

From their most recent collabs on GNX and SOS Deluxe, "Luther" and "30 for 30" stand out as prime picks if Kendrick and SZA decide to slow things down. The former is currently Kendrick’s most popular track on Spotify, while the latter was a lead single for Lana.

But let’s be real — the most anticipated moment of the night? That belongs to "Not Like Us." The 2024 Grammy-winning Record of the Year and undisputed song of the summer, this Drake-diss anthem is practically built for a mic-drop Super Bowl moment. Of course, with Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group still looming, the NFL might try to nudge him away from some of those more pointed lyrics.

Club classics: Family Ties, HUMBLE, DNA, King Kunta, Alright

If Kendrick wants to turn the Super Bowl stage into a full-blown celebration of his club anthems, he’s got plenty to pull from. "Family Ties" brings high-energy braggadocio with a beat drop that’s built for a stadium. Plus, it'll be likely that if Kendrick does this song, his cousin, rapper Baby Keem, will also make an appearance.

"HUMBLE" and "DNA." are straight-up mosh pit starters, packed with the kind of chest-thumping bravado that makes crowds go wild.

And if he wants to tap into his signature funk-infused West Coast vibe, "King Kunta" is the move. But no Kendrick setlist would be complete without "Alright" — the modern-day protest anthem that became a cultural rallying cry. Expect the entire stadium to scream that hook in unison.

GNX singles: tv off, squabble up

Riding high off the success of his sixth studio album, GNX, it wouldn’t be a shock if Kendrick showcased some of its biggest singles — especially since the project is a full-blown love letter to LA and West Coast hip-hop.

"squabble up" is a masterclass in West Coast fusion, seamlessly shifting from G-funk to hyphy to even mariachi, making it a dynamic track that would explode in a stadium setting.

Meanwhile, "tv off" might just be the most sonically dazzling song on the album — a high-energy, bouncing beat paired with a message that tells his critics to literally turn the TV off. If Kendrick follows up a massive Grammys win with "tv off" at the Super Bowl, it'd be the ultimate victory lap.

Throwbacks/Deepcuts: i, Swimming Pools, Money Trees, LOVE, Blow My High, Rigamortus

For the day-one Kendrick fans, a setlist stacked with throwbacks and deep cuts would be a dream. "i" delivers an uplifting, self-love anthem with a groove that’s tailor-made for a live performance.

"Swimming Pools" takes a darker turn, but its hypnotic hook still makes it a crowd favorite.

"Money Trees"? An instant classic, and if Jay Rock shows up for his verse, it'd be a beautiful moment for the two rappers who have gone through so much together in the industry.

For the romantics, "LOVE." is a no-brainer, offering a melodic breather in an otherwise high-energy set.

But if Kendrick really wants to flex his rap acrobatics, "Blow My High (Members Only)" and "Rigamortus" would be deep-cut gold—showcasing his sharp lyricism and relentless flow that first put him on the map.

On a personal note, these two tracks — along with all of Section .80 — were my introduction to Kendrick way back in 2011 (hard to believe that was over a decade ago). Hearing them on the Super Bowl stage would be nothing short of surreal.

Surprises: Like That, Loyalty, Mirror, Mona Lisa, Freedom

If Kendrick wants to pack his set with jaw-dropping guest appearances, these tracks set the stage perfectly. "Like That" doesn’t need Future or Metro Boomin to hit, but given it's the song that started the Drake feud, performing it would be a bold statement all on its own.

"Loyalty" practically begs for a Rihanna cameo — imagine the stadium erupting if she walks out unannounced, or how upset Drake would be.

"Mirror" might be an unexpected choice, but its introspective energy could bring a rare, reflective moment to the spectacle.

"Mona Lisa" is also a super long shot but its a storytelling masterclass. If Lil Wayne shows up to trade bars live in his hometown, it would be legendary.

And then there’s "Freedom" — a Beyoncé track, but one where Kendrick’s verse is unforgettable. If Queen Bey joins him, it'd be an all-time Super Bowl moment, no debate.

Kendrick Lamar is back on the biggest stage in sports. The rap icon is set to headline the Super Bowl 59 halftime show as the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles — round two in a high-stakes rematch just three years in the making. It marks Lamar’s first return to the Super Bowl stage since his 2022 performance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige, but this time, he’s running the show solo.

Speculation over surprise guests is at a fever pitch. One name is already locked in: longtime collaborator SZA, which is of no surprise since the two announced they'd be going on tour together.

This is Kendrick Lamar though so there will be more guests. Here’s who else might be stepping onto that stage with him:

Lefty Gunplay

A Lefty Gunplay cameo wouldn’t be surprising — especially if Kendrick wants to make waves in New Orleans. The L.A. rapper is one of several hometown voices featured on GNX, appearing on the standout single "TV Off." If Kendrick adds it to the setlist, bringing Lefty along feels like a no-brainer.

There’s also a real possibility that, much like his The Pop Out event in Inglewood, Kendrick opts for a full-circle moment — bringing the entire GNX roster on stage as a tribute to their shared L.A. roots.

Baby Keem

Family ties run deep. Baby Keem, Kendrick’s cousin and frequent collaborator, has been one of rap’s most exciting new voices. “Family Ties” won them a Grammy, and their chemistry on stage is untouchable.

A Keem appearance would be high-energy, high-impact, and totally expected.

Future & Metro Boomin

The enemy of my enemy is my halftime guest? Metro and Future have both had their issues with Drake, and with Not Like Us sweeping the Grammys, there’s no better time for some strategic alliances.

Metro’s production shaped an era, and Future’s hypnotic flow could turn this into a full-circle moment. If they pop out for “Like That” or “Mask Off,” the subs will be loud, the crowd will be louder, and the internet might not survive.

Pusha T

Continuing the trend of "dudes who have beef with Drake" bringing out Pusha T could be seen as the ultimate power move.

Pusha T already ended one chapter of Drake’s saga with "The Story of Adidon" and with "Not Like Us" solidifying Lamar as hip-hop’s reigning diss champion, this would be the exclamation point.

Lil Wayne

A rap elder statesman and a generational icon — Lil Wayne remains one of the best to ever do it. His respect for Kendrick has always been mutual, but their relationship feels oddly strained at the moment. A surprise halftime cameo could serve as an olive branch.

Wayne hasn’t been shy about his frustration over being snubbed for the Super Bowl in his own hometown, claiming the NFL “ripped” the show away from him. Whether or not he still holds the weight to headline is another debate entirely, but the sting is real.

A Milky Way-surveying spacecraft found a planet 12 times more massive than Jupiter, along with a brown dwarf, each distantly orbiting stars smaller than the sun.

Scientists have dubbed the exoplanet, a world well outside our solar system, Gaia-4b. The brown dwarf, not quite a planet or a star, is Gaia-5b. Respectively, they are 244 and 134 light-years away. 

The European Space Agency's Gaia spacecraft, which has recently retired because it's running out of fuel, is responsible for the discoveries. Both enormous celestial objects were made official after confirmation from other instruments. Though Gaia concluded science observations on Jan. 15, these results are an intriguing tease to a vast data release from the mission anticipated next year. 

"This discovery is an exciting tip-of-the-iceberg for the exoplanet discoveries we can expect from Gaia in the future," said Matthew Standing, an ESA research fellow, in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: Scientists haven't found a rocky exoplanet with air. But now they have a plan.

The number of confirmed exoplanets has tipped 5,800, according to NASA, with thousands of additional candidates under review. The growing tally is a tiny sampling of planets in space. With hundreds of billions of galaxies, the universe probably teems with many trillions of stars.

Gaia-4b is considered a super-Jupiter planet, a relatively cold gas giant, orbiting its star over 570 Earth-days. That star is estimated to be 64 percent the mass of the sun. That makes Gaia-4b one of the most hulking planets known to circle a small star. 

The brown dwarf, sometimes referred to as a failed star because it lacks the scale to generate its own nuclear power, orbits its even smaller star — about 34 percent the sun's mass — in a slightly shorter Earth-year. Though it may not have been able to hack it as a star, this thing is no shrinking violet. It's about 21 times more massive than Jupiter. For the sake of comparison, Jupiter's mass is equal to about 318 Earths.

The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

The gravitational tugs of orbiting planets can cause host stars to wobble in an almost corkscrew-like pattern. Credit: ESA illustration

The exoplanet is Gaia's first independent success using the "wobble" technique, aka astrometry, according to the space agency. Since the mission launched in 2013, the spacecraft has used a pair of optical telescopes to scan the sky. Because of its precision in tracking the motion of stars, scientists believe its data will potentially lead to thousands of new discoveries. 

The gravitational tugs of orbiting planets can cause host stars to wobble in an almost corkscrew-like pattern, and planet hunters are adept at interpreting these jitters in the data. But confirmation from other telescopes is key for these candidates because there are other possible reasons for the motion, such as the influence of another nearby star. The WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, provided crucial follow-up observations. 

"Massive planets around low-mass stars are known to be relatively rare," said Guðmundur Stefánsson, lead author of the paper, in a statement, "but when they occur, they cause a larger wobble, and therefore a stronger astrometric signature that is easier to detect."

When Elon Musk claims he wants to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) because it's a "viper's nest" and a "ball of worms" full of bad actors, you may be skeptical. (And you'd have good reason for doubt, given Musk's 70-plus falsehoods so blatant as to be noted on his own service, Twitter/X.) You may agree with lawmakers and legal experts that Musk's effort to shutter USAID is blatantly unconstitutional. You may be part of a growing majority of Americans (53% in the latest Quinnipac poll) who disapprove of the tech billionaire's role in government.

And yet, you'd also be in a majority if you fret about the size of the Federal budget deficit ($1.8 trillion every year and rising). Gallup polls ask about this every year, and the percentage of Americans who say they worry about the deficit "a great deal" has been above 50 since 2023. You would not be alone in thinking that Musk shuttering the agency responsible for foreign aid — though regrettable — would shave a huge amount off that deficit and allow America to better take care of itself.

But you would be wrong, on both counts.

"Americans overestimate how much of the Federal budget is spent on foreign aid," concluded a Chicago Council Survey that asked respondents to guess the percentage. The average guess was 8.5 percent, which in 2025 would be more than $620 billion. USAID's actual current budget: no more than $40 billion, or less than 1 percent. Musk, worth $414 billion at last count, could fund the agency out of his own pocket for more than a decade.

So why is Musk really targeting this tiny department in his quixotic quest to cut $2 trillion in Federal spending? What does USAID actually do? Is it all just charity, or is there good reason to believe that even from a clear-eyed, hard-nosed Silicon Valley perspective, USAID delivers a significant ROI (return on investment) for America in the long run? Should a futurist (which is what Musk claims he is) actually want to fund it more? (Spoiler: yes.)

SEE ALSO: USAID website shut down as Musk kills humanitarian aid agency What USAID does, exactly

Funny thing about that survey on international aid. Even as they opposed a mythical big government aid effort, solid bipartisan majorities of U.S. citizens supported spending on what USAID actually does.

In fact, 82 percent supported disaster relief in war-torn and weather-torn places around the world. (A pretty heartening statistic, unless you're one of the 18 percent who apparently lack empathy for their fellow humans.)

Some 80 percent wanted to provide food and medical assistance to the neediest people on Earth, and 76 percent want to help farmers in famine-hit countries be more productive.

Elon Musk take note: that seems to be a ceiling of 24 percent in favor of the position that the richest country on Earth should let human beings starve, without even "teaching a man to fish."

USAID was first funded by an act of Congress in 1961, then brought into being by President John F. Kennedy. The Cold War was at its height. A key battleground for the U.S. and the Soviet Union was the opinion of the rest of the world, so a healthy aid budget made sense.

Even after the Cold War, though, USAID kept making sense. Congress officially confirmed it as a separate agency in 1998, and it has been re-authorized by legislation 5 times since 2016. Climate change is accelerating natural disasters. There are more epidemics, which USAID was actively working to prevent. Every time the U.S. can help out, it looks magnanimous; withdrawing aid funding, as we have seen in just the past few weeks, creates chaos in vulnerable regions and benefits dictators.

Cutting USAID is not the way

It's not like there isn't any efficiency to add or fat to trim in the federal government, Al Gore knows. Many on both sides of the political chasm found a moment of agreement with Musk on Nov. 24, 2024, when the X chief put giant defense contractor Lockheed Martin in his sights over the F-35 — an aircraft that has cost the government $10 trillion and counting, and as Musk said, is less suited to modern warfare than a drone swarm.

The Pentagon's bloated budget, which is on course to hit $1 trillion for the first time this year, would surely be the first natural target of any cost-cutting tech executive like Musk when taking over America Inc. Yes, security is important in any business. But in this case the Chief Security Officer's spending is out of control. It's more than the defense budgets of the next top 9 highest-spending countries (er, companies?) combined.

Still, Musk has to work within a party that is calling for a massive "generational increase" in military spending. Why rock the boat and risk his own standing? Same goes for those other giant government programs, Social Security and Medicare, for obvious reasons: Musk doesn't want to fight every senior in America.

So instead, it seems, DOGE has gone all "shock and awe" on the lowest-hanging fruit. Or, to be less charitable, Musk has adopted classic bully tactics: pick on the weakest kid in the schoolyard instead of that scary giant kid wearing fatigues.

Why USAID should matter to Musk

USAID is one of the smallest departments in government, one without a natural constituency inside the U.S. It's one that helps impoverished (and not to put too fine a point on it, mostly BIPOC) people around the world.

But even if you're running the country as a business, this is where you find the long-term ROI. If you're looking for a strong, safe, prosperous world for America to do business in, this agency provides (and could provide a lot more).

USAID is business development, marketing, and security spending all in one. In the long run, dollar for dollar, it could be one of the most effective ways America can spend money. The best historical evidence that helping other countries can supercharge U.S. growth? Two words: Marshall Plan.

Most of Europe was broken and impoverished after World War II. Economists with long-term vision noted what seems obvious to us: a prosperous Europe would be a far better market for buying all the luxury American goods coming online in the 1940s.

Geopolitical experts also noted the obvious; that a broken Europe might be easy pickings for the kind of Communist dictatorships then taking root worldwide. The Truman administration agreed, despite a lot of bickering in Congress.

Now the Marshall Plan was incredibly expensive; a total of $150 billion in today's dollars. In 1949 alone, the cash that secretary of state George Marshall sent to 16 European countries totaled about 12 percent of the federal budget. It was so contentious that the U.S. government had to commission a film explaining to the average American why a program that cost them $80, a lot of money in those days, was worth it.

These days we know why. Those 16 countries had restored their economies to prewar levels by 1950, and quickly became America's strongest trading partners and closest allies. The U.S. GDP jumped by 37% in the 1950s alone.

The only other time it has performed like that was in the 1990s, when the, ahem, World Wide Web kicked in and U.S. GDP doubled. Few industries outside of Silicon Valley, and few companies within it, ever see that kind of ROI in a decade.

Killing USAID by contrast is, as experts have noted, a gift to Russia and China.

It's a gift to Russia because the current largest line item the USAID budget goes to Ukraine, which has been as devastated by the Russian invasion as many of those European countries were by the Nazis in 1945.

And it's a gift to China, which has been doing its own supercharged version of the Marshall Plan since 2013: the Belt and Road initiative, which invests in more than 150 countries around the world.

SEE ALSO: DeepSeek just taught the AI industry 5 hard lessons

China gets it, and not just in terms of building better, cheaper AI.

The world is a marketplace for infrastructure and ideas. Provide the former, and spreading the latter becomes easier. Kill USAID just when America is losing the lead in AI, and you'd better hope the country has a positive image in the marketplace of countries regardless — and the news there isn't great.

If Musk does succeed in killing USAID, despite the constitutional obstacles, then this may be the main impact: it will complete a disastrous rebranding of the U.S. in the eyes of the world. America will be seen for what it is under Musk: a cruel, increasingly backwards, militaristic oligarchy. One that will happily spend a trillion dollars a year filling one fist with weapons, while offering in its open hand not a single penny.

TL;DR: Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Phoenix Suns head to Paycom Center to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Western Conference matchup. The Suns are 25-24, which puts the team in 10th place. The Thunder are 39-9, which puts the team in first place.

The Suns have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back losses to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder have won three of their last five games, and are coming off back-to-back wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings.

When is Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder?

Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 5. This game takes place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

This game will air on ESPN.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Suns vs. Thunder basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Suns vs. Thunder from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Golden State Warriors head to Delta Center to face the Utah Jazz in a Western Conference matchup. The Warriors are 25-24, which puts the team the 11th place. The Jazz are 11-37, which puts the team in 15th place.

The Warriors have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a win over the Orlando Magic. The Jazz have lost four of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Indiana Pacers.

When is Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz?

Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz in the NBA starts at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 5. This game takes place at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

How to watch Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Warriors vs. Jazz basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Warriors vs. Jazz from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Chicago Bulls head to Target Center to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in a non-conference matchup. The Bulls are 21-29, which puts the team 10th place in the Eastern Conference. The Timberwolves are 27-23, which puts the team in seventh place in the Western Conference.

The Bulls have lost three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Timberwolves have won three of their last five games, but are coming off back-to-back losses to the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards.

When is Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves?

Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA starts at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 5. This game takes place at Target Center in Minneapolis.

How to watch Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Bulls vs. Timberwolves basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Bulls vs. Timberwolves from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Miami Heat head to Wells Fargo Center to face the Philadelphia 76ers in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Heat are 24-23, which puts the team in sixth place. The Sixers are 19-29, which puts the team in 11th place.

The Heat have won three of their last five games, and are coming off a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Sixers have also won three of their last five games, but are coming off back-to-back losses to the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

When is Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers?

Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 5. This game takes place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

How to watch Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Heat vs. Sixers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Heat vs. Sixers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

Save $100: As of Feb. 5, the Dyson V15 corldess vacuum is on sale for $649.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 13% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V15 $649.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

With Dyson, you know you're getting a great product. Whether it's a high-quality cleaning product or an incredible hair styling device, you know you're going to be impressed. So that makes the latest Dyson V15 discount even more exciting. I mean, just check out our review if you don't believe us.

As of Feb. 5, this vacuum has been reduced at Amazon to just $649.99, the cheapest it has been so far this year.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite dupe for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is on sale at Walmart

A high-tech model, the V15's standout feature is the laser dust detection system that illuminates dust on hard floors, so you won’t miss any dirty spots. This model also benefits from an LCD screen that gives real-time updates on dust it has picked up, battery life, and some handy maintenance alerts.

You can expect up to 60 minutes of run time before it needs to be charged. And if you have pets, you'll really love the hair screw tool. This one is great for sucking up pet hair, and the anti-tangle conical brush bar can remove stubborn hairs from pet beds, car seats, stairs, and more tricky spots.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $400: As of Feb. 5, the roborock Q5 Pro+ is on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. That's a 57% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock roborock Q5 Pro+ $299.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum is on your wishlist, you'll love this latest deal on the roborock Q5 Pro+. As of Feb. 5, you can grab a 57% discount on this impressive model. Previously priced at $699.99, it is now down to just $299.99.

And for $299.99, you're getting a great device. Equipped with a DuoRoller system, this vacuum picks up dirt, dust, and pet hair easily, whether it's on carpet or hard floors. It also boasts a powerful 5500 Pa HyperForce suction power, meaning it can pick up nearly all kinds of dirt.

SEE ALSO: For America's lonely seniors, robot pets are more than a novelty

The best thing of this robot vacuum is how low-maintenance it is — not only does it self-empty, but the dustbin has a 2.5-liter storage, so you'll only need to empty it around every seven weeks. The voice controls are also a big plus: Whether you use Alexa, Google Home, or Siri, it'll work for them all.

It even uses PreciSense LiDAR Navigation to map out paths in your home. The clever 3D mapping allows the vacuum to navigate its way around your home with no help, avoiding obstacles and convenient cleaning routes.

This deal is only available for a limited time, so don't miss out.

A video welcoming students to Leah Barlow’s African American studies course inspired a virtual university of free TikTok lectures from Black academics and experts.