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An apparent breakthrough in efficiency from the Chinese start-up did not make tech’s biggest companies question their extravagant spending on new data centers.

TL;DR: You can get 10TB of Internxt Cloud Storage for £197.40 (reg. £2,416.40) through 23 February when you use the code STORAGE30 at the Mashable Shop.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £197.40 at the Mashable Shop
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TL;DR: Live stream Brighton vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The FA Cup fourth round includes some really interesting matchups, including Brighton vs. Chelsea. Both sides will be coming into this fixture expecting to win. We're not sure which way it'll go, but we're expecting an entertaining game between two attacking teams.

If you want to watch Brighton vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brighton vs. Chelsea?

Brighton vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup starts at 8 p.m. GMT on Feb. 8. This fixture takes place at the American Express Stadium.

How to watch Brighton vs. Chelsea for free

Brighton vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brighton vs. Chelsea 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 UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Brighton vs. Chelsea for free from anywhere in the world

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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Brighton vs. Chelsea without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Brighton vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second weekend of the 2025 Six Nations showcases some really interesting matchups, but England vs. France is probably the biggest game this round. England are looking to bounce back after losing against Ireland in the first round, whereas France are hoping to build momentum after thrashing Wales.

If you want to watch England vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England vs. France?

England vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 4:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 8. This fixture takes place at Twickenham Stadium.

How to watch England vs. France for free

England vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of England vs. France 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 UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream England vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream England vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Italy vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first weekend of the 2025 Six Nations delivered some big moments without any major shocks. Italy and Wales both suffered defeats, but Wales would have been hoping for a slighter closer game against France. They were demolished, so they'll be hoping for a much more positive showing against Italy this weekend.

If you want to watch Italy vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Wales?

Italy vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 2:15 p.m. GMT on Feb. 8. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico.

How to watch Italy vs. Wales for free

Italy vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Italy vs. Wales 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 UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Italy vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world

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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. Wales without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Italy vs. Wales in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If you're a bookworm but haven't yet upgraded to an Amazon Kindle, you're a few pages behind. It's time for an upgrade.

Sure, we know nothing compares to the feel of a book in your hands — or even that distinctive smell of the pages — but since the Amazon Kindle's 2007 debut, it's hard to imagine the world without a handily portable device that stores thousands of books.

But we get it. There are a lot of Kindles out there to consider. Whether you're new to e-readers or simply can't decide which Amazon Kindle you should purchase, it's worth getting guidance on the best available models. We've put together some information — which should make very interesting reading — to help you get started.

What is a Kindle?

They may be similarly sized, but these handheld reading devices are not to be confused with a tablet or even a smartphone. Kindles are designed specifically for reading. This is made possible by the Kindle's distinctive black-and-white-only, glare-free display that reads like paper, even when you're sitting under a bright sky. 

Kindles boast a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity to download all the reading material you want. You can find books through the Amazon Kindle eBooks store, Prime Reading, or via a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

What should you consider before buying a Kindle?

When shopping for the best Kindles to fit your lifestyle, consider the following factors that are most likely to vary between models:

• Battery Life — Kindles generally have outstanding battery life (depending on your usage), but some models are even more impressive. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Display Size — The smallest Kindle has a 6-inch display while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage Capacity — Depending on the model, Kindles can have anywhere from 8GB to 64GB of storage capacity to stash thousands of your favourite reads at a time.

• Waterproof Protection — Not all Kindles are waterproof, but those that are provide peace of mind in case of accidental immersion in water without incurring damage.

Keep these features in mind when considering your options.

What features do Kindles offer?

Beyond the standard features that are found across most (if not all) of the latest Kindle models, there are also specialised features that you'll find on the higher-end models.

If you like to read outside, choose a Kindle with an auto-adjusting light. Or if you read during your daily commute, select want a Kindle with easy page-turn buttons so you can get to the next page with a one-handed action. There's even a Kindle that will allow you to jot down notes on your texts for later reference.

All Kindles offer parental control options as well. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via any Kindle's built-in Bluetooth connection.

You'll usually have the choice to select either an ad-supported or an ad-free experience, with the latter option typically costing about £20 more. If you don't want to go for the mini splurge of nixing the ads, you'll get ads on your lockscreen whenever you open the cover of your Kindle. That's fine if you don't mind swiping them out of the way.

Is there a monthly cost for Kindles?

All Kindle devices allow for instant access to the Amazon Kindle eBooks store where you can buy individual titles with no monthly subscription fee required. That said, Amazon Prime members can access free books via the Prime Reading service which would be subject to the current Prime membership rate. 

Beyond that, you can get a Kindle Unlimited subscription for £9.49 per month to gain unlimited access to more than three million titles and thousands of audiobooks, and borrow up to 20 eligible Kindle Unlimited titles at a time at no extra cost. You can typically opt into a few free months of Kindle Unlimited to trial it.

What is the best Kindle?

There is no such thing as a best Kindle for everyone, because everyone will have different reading and lifestyle needs. To help you pinpoint the best model for you, we've lined up a selection of devices to suit everyone. We recommend checking out everything listed here, and carefully considering your options.

These are the best Kindles in 2025.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 8 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Seen on a baseball card

• Green: Squeeze together

• Blue: Will see you again

• Purple: Types of food

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

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

• Yellow: Info on a Baseball Card

• Green: Scrunch, As Fabric

• Blue: Time Adverbs

• Purple: ___Food

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 #607 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Info on a Baseball Card: BIO, PLAYER, STAT, TEAM

• Scrunch, As Fabric: BUNCH, GATHER, PUCKER, RUFFLE

• Time Adverbs: LATER, NOW, SOON, THEN

• ___Food: FAST, FINGER, JUNK, SOUL

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 8

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: 8NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 8 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 8, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Extremely high.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

STEEP.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 8

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 Wordle.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: More than one player

• Green: Things used in baseball

• Blue: Run the ball in football

• Purple: Share a first name

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: Group of players

• Green: Baseball equipment

• Blue: NFL running backs

• Purple: Jason ________

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 #138 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Group of players - CLUB, SIDE, SQUAD, TEAM

• Baseball equipment - BAT, CLEATS, GLOVE, HELMET

• NFL running backs - BARKLEY, COOK, HENRY, SWIFT

• Jason ______ - DAY, GIAMBI, KELCE, WITTEN

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 8 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Westminster assembly

These words are used to describe dogs in show.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are generic groupings of dogs that might compete in the Westminster Dog Show.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is DogGroup.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 8

• Sporting

• Herding

• Toys

• Hounds

• Working

• Terriers

• DogGroup

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

As the Trump administration works to dismantle the aid agency, right-wing influencers have flooded the internet with falsehoods about its work.

The Southern California start-up, which builds flying drones and missiles, is set to raise up to $2.5 billion.

Marko Elez, a 25-year-old engineer, is the first of Elon Musk's DOGE crew to lose their job.

Elez resigned from his post at Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal uncovered that Elez had published racist statements on an anonymous account that once bore his name. 

However, on Friday, Musk confirmed he could bring Elez back to DOGE.

"He will be brought back," Musk posted to his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, while quoting Vice President JD Vance's post supporting Elez's rehiring. "To err is human, to forgive divine."

Tweet may have been deleted

On Friday morning, Elon Musk posted a poll on X asking his followers if he should reinstate the engineer who posted racist remarks.

"Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?" posted Musk alongside a poll on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The poll received more than 385,000 votes, which were overwhelmingly in favor of Musk rehiring Elez.

Tweet may have been deleted

When working for DOGE, Elez was assigned to the Treasury Department. As Wired reported, Elez was given direct access to the federal government's payment system, which includes U.S. citizens' tax returns and Social Security payment information.

"Normalize Indian hate," posted Elez under the username @nullllptr on X in July. The account formerly was tied to Elez directly by name before he changed it to an anonymous handle.

"Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool," Elez also posted. "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity."

Elez also reportedly advocated for "eugenic immigration policy" and rolling back the Civil Rights Act.

The 25-year-old Elez resigned from DOGE after the Wall Street Journal reached out to the White House.

Along with his poll to bring Elez back, Musk also called for the WSJ journalist, Katherine Long, to be fired for her reporting.

Trump's Vice President, JD Vance, shared his own thoughts referring to Elez as a "kid" and backing bringing him back to DOGE.

Shortly after Musk's and Vance's remarks, two new reports dropped detailing concerning history about two other DOGE employees. Reuters published a report about DOGE employee Gavin Kliger and his history of amplifying white supremacists like Nick Fuentes. In another report, Bloomberg uncovered that 19-year-old DOGE employee Edward Coristine was previously fired from his internship with hosting and data security firm Path Network for leaking company information to a competitor.

These three DOGE employees, along with the rest of Musk's DOGE team, are currently rifling through the federal government's networks, accessing the private data of American citizens.

And when Elez returns to his DOGE post at the U.S. Treasury, it appears that he'll have access to rewrite the code controlling trillions in spending, despite Trump officials falsely claiming he did not have those permissions.

Since late January, Elon Musk and the staff of his Department of Government Efficiency task force, or DOGE, have systematically accessed the digital networks and information databases that power the federal government.

Among their first targets were the Treasury's payment system and the government's human resources department, known as the Office of Personnel Management, which maintains information on millions of federal employees. DOGE staff have also reportedly accessed payment and contracting systems for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as similar databases for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Musk is the CEO of companies with billion-dollar government contracts as well as a political operative. Last year, he spent more than $290 million to help elect President Trump and other Republicans. He claims that DOGE's activities are purely aimed at identifying waste and fraud.

SEE ALSO: 'The Daily Show' gets real about Elon Musk's White House takeover

But political experts say that the systems and data potentially available to Musk also give him unprecedented power over his allies, enemies, business competitors, and the American people. One expert on authoritarianism, historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, called his actions a "new kind of coup." Many of Musk's actions appear to violate federal law, according to The Washington Post.

Georgetown University Prof. Abraham L. Newman told Mashable that the information Musk and DOGE have reportedly accessed "basically tells you everything about our society."

When this data is maintained by neutral civil servants to execute core government functions, like issuing Social Security payments to beneficiaries, that digital infrastructure is simply part of making "the trains run on time."

And yet "when they start to be used for other purposes, for political purposes, then they can be extremely extremely dangerous," and used to "achieve political objectives," says Newman, author of Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy.

What data do Musk and DOGE have?

The information Musk has access to now, even if in a read-only format as one Treasury official insisted, may include Social Security numbers, federal employee health and personnel records, as well as federal student loan data.

Speaking anonymously to The Atlantic, one federal contractor with experience working on classified government information-security systems called the situation "The largest data breach and the largest IT security breach in our country's history — at least that's publicly known."

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said this week that Musk may be able to view Americans' payment history and bank account numbers, among other types of personal data.

"Elon now has the power to suck out all of that information for his own use," she said.

Musk may also be able to view federal contracts held by companies that may or may not be competitors to Musk's own businesses, which include Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X.

Musk has yet to publicly produce an ethics waiver for his work with DOGE, as required by government employees who have conflicts of interest, nor has he publicly divested himself from his companies.

An attempt by Congressional Democrats to subpoena Musk over DOGE's recent actions failed.

What could Musk do with the digital power he now possesses?

1) Stop government payments.

Though the Treasury Department says DOGE has read-only access to its payment system, WIRED reported that one engineer linked to Musk had gained administrative privileges over the software that controls Social Security payments and tax returns, among other critical payments made by the federal government.

That DOGE employee resigned Thursday, after the Wall Street Journal identified his previous social media posts that promoted racism and eugenics. By Friday, Musk was lobbying for him to return via a poll on X.

While the Justice Department has limited DOGE's access to the payment system for now, any renewed administrative privileges could be used by Musk to stop payments he deemed fraudulent or wasteful, Newman says.

Indeed, CNN has reported that Musk's associates at the Treasury Department asked its acting secretary to cease all U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) payments via the department's own processing system.

The agency, which Musk succeeded in gutting this week, provides food, disaster relief, and medical assistance to some of poorest people in the world.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk killing USAID would hurt America's future. Here's why.

University of Michigan professor Elizabeth Popp Berman, in a recent Liberal Currents essay called "Personal Discretion Over the Treasury's Payments System Means the End of Democracy," outlined the stakes of Musk's control over the government's payment systems, particularly if courts do not restrain him.

"Having a president — or, even more so, an unelected billionaire — hold direct, granular control of nearly seven trillion dollars is power beyond the Founders' wildest dreams," Berman wrote.

2) Reward allies and punish enemies.

Newman says that Musk could use administrative power over payments systems to divert resources to allies and target people or entities that he, or President Trump, doesn't like.

Both men are known to attack their enemies on social media and in public. Trump, for example, said those involved with the House committee that investigated the January 6 attack "should go to jail." On his social media platform X, Musk recently accused Treasury officials of "breaking the law," without providing evidence.

3) Gain a massive competitive advantage over other business leaders.

Since there seems to be no firewall between Musk's activity as a special government employee and his role as a CEO, Newman says people in business should be particularly alarmed by his access to federal data.

A rival company could never outcompete a Musk enterprise that understood the government's inner workings, contracts and payment systems, Newman says. He adds that such a dynamic has the potential to undermine fair and free markets in the U.S.

In the midst of DOGE's digital government takeover, Musk's social media company X announced that it was partnering with Visa to let users connect their checking and debit accounts in order to transfer funds to their X account.

Musk has long wanted to transform X into a payment system for "everything." It's possible that DOGE's scouring of the federal government's own payment system could also benefit Musk's business aspirations, and would create conflicts of interest for any business leader in that position.

4) Use AI to analyze federal spending and contracts.

Musk plans to use some form of artificial intelligence to analyze federal spending and contracts, according to the New York Times. It's unclear whether this would be an AI system that Musk owns, or AI programs that the federal government already uses.

The Washington Post reported on new DOGE efforts to analyze spending at the Department of Education, using AI software accessible via Microsoft's cloud computing service Azure. That service offers access to a number of AI tools. DOGE and Microsoft declined to comment on the details to the Post. Azure did recently add the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek to its suite of tools, according to Reuters.

At this moment, there's no clarity on the risks of the AI software DOGE is using — or the safeguards in place to prevent it from making mistakes or committing hallucinations.

5) Consolidate and centralize power over the government's basic functions.

Up until a few weeks ago, America's basic but vital bureaucratic functions were managed by career civil servants with background clearances, all of whom took an oath to serve the United States Constitution. Those civil servants didn't have access to a centralized system they could command on their own.

As Musk gains entry to multiple vital systems across the government, it may be possible for him to consolidate and centralize those powers so that only a handful of Trump loyalists can control them.

Potential consequences of Musk's new digital power for you

1) The government's digital infrastructure breaks.

As DOGE engineers work, at apparent breakneck speed, to access and analyze key systems, Newman says that there's a very real chance they may unintentionally break them.

For example, unapproved software changes could hobble systems that distribute Social Security and Medicare payments, Newman says.

"Mucking about with systems that are built on sixty-year-old code could be deeply disruptive to vital government functions, shutting down the Social Security payments many rely on or cutting off payments to small businesses that depend on government contracts for survival," Berman wrote in her essay.

2) Bad actors breach Americans' data.

The fact that Musk and DOGE have collected vast amounts of Americans' data in ways that may not comply with the government's security practices is likely of interest to foreign governments and bad actors, says Newman. That information is highly valuable to anyone who can steal it.

The Atlantic reported that some of the government's databases requiring a security clearance — including those for the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — can include sensitive personal information, such as sexual history or mental health records.

For many of us, data breaches have become a mundane fact of life. But as Newman notes, the scale and scope of this case make it unique. One person — Musk — has the potential to know something about everybody in the U.S., and that person works for the government.

As the situation unfolds, Newman encourages Americans to consider the fate of the country's digital bureaucracy as key to democracy.

"I think we should be very cognizant of the fact that these things that seem boring, and often have boring names, are often the place where power lies," he says.

The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and even if you're not a football fan, you’re still pretty much required to watch the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Super Bowl Sunday has become as much of a U.S. tradition as the Fourth of July.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or someone who actively avoids the sport, we've got you covered with a cheat sheet to help you follow along. From the star players to the halftime show and all the online buzz, here’s everything you need to know.

Super Bowl LIX: The facts

The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59. There are a few basic facts you should know to understand the stakes of the big game:

• The game kicks off at around 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. It's being played in New Orleans and will air on Fox.

• The Chiefs are going for an unprecedented three Super Bowl wins in a row. And when we say unprecedented, we mean it literally. No team has ever won three Super Bowls in a row.

• The game is a rematch of Super Bowl 57. The Chiefs (obviously) won that match-up two years ago in a close game, 38-35.

• The Chiefs are considered slight favorites by sportsbooks, but the vast majority of experts are backing them to win — and that’s largely thanks to the brilliance of one player. This brings us to our next section...

SEE ALSO: Legal gambling has kind of ruined sports The football stars you need to know

The magic of the Super Bowl is that unlikely heroes often make the big play. It's impossible to predict who that could be. But we can at least share the biggest names you should know heading into the Big Game.

• Patrick Mahomes: The undisputed best football player alive and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. As mentioned in the last section, his excellence may be why most people have picked the Chiefs to win. His stats are difficult to comprehend, but he's likely already had the second-best career of any quarterback in history before turning 30. You've probably also seen him in many commercials.

• Jalen Hurts: The Eagles quarterback. He's not Mahomes good, but he has won many games.

• Travis Kelce: Taylor Swift's boyfriend, guy in every commercial, and perhaps the best tight end in NFL history.

• Andy Reid: The Chiefs coach, who was also the Eagles coach back in the day. One of the best of all time. The big, mustached man you might've seen in commercials.

• Saquon Barkley: The new Eagles running back who used to play for their rivals, the New York Giants. He's in the midst of perhaps the best season for a running back in history.

• Chris Jones: The best Chiefs defender. He's nearly unstoppable and plays on the defensive line.

• Jalen Carter: The best Eagles defender. He's nearly unstoppable and plays on the defensive line.

This game has so many other great football players, but this is a cheat sheet, not a textbook.

The other names you need to know

Let's be honest: The Super Bowl is about so much more than football. Here are some of the people not playing in the game that you need to know.

• Taylor Swift: Duh. You can expect to see her at the game, cheering on her boyfriend in Chiefs red.

• Kendrick Lamar: He's performing the halftime show and is expected to perform songs dissing his rival...

• Drake: Said rival.

• Tom Brady: The greatest quarterback of all time and the person whose legacy Mahomes is chasing. And he just happens to be announcing the game for Fox.

• Jason Kelce: Retired Eagle and Travis' brother. You'll likely see him on the broadcast, and you've probably seen him in commercials, too.

The online discourse, gossip, and memes

The storylines are half the fun of the Super Bowl. It's as much about the drama as it is about football. Before the Big Game, here's what you should know about the memes, online discourse, and major stories.

The Kelce of it all

Travis Kelce is 35 years old. That's young, in general, but kinda ancient for an NFL tight end. Folks have speculated Kelce could retire after the game, perhaps riding off into the sunset with an unprecedented third-straight championship. He's indicated, however, that he will not quit after the game. That doesn't stop folks from wondering.

Tweet may have been deleted

Also, expect many TV shots of Jason Kelce, his wife (and fellow celeb) Kylie Kelce, and Swift. There will be lots of talk about their divided loyalties since all are close to Travis and have ties to the Eagles. (Never forget Swift is a Philly girl.)

The Trump of it all

President Donald Trump has indicated he plans to attend the Super Bowl. It became a bigger story when Kelce told reporters that it was "pretty cool" and "a great honor" that Trump was attending, even after the president had previously said he hated Swift. Some folks were not happy with Kelce's answer.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted The big questions about the halftime show

There are two big questions about Kendrick Lamar's halftime show. First: Will he go after Drake? We covered this question in detail at Mashable, but it seems likely he'll at least perform "Not Like Us," the uber-popular Drake diss track that won five Grammys last weekend.

The second question about the halftime show is who Lamar will bring onstage. Again, Mashable has covered the potential guest performers in detail, but we know that at least longtime collaborator SZA will join Lamar. And if you want to know which songs he'll be performing, Mashable has covered that, too. (Of course, it's all just speculation until the Big Game.)

SEE ALSO: 6 Super Bowl halftime shows that were better than the big game The ref memes, jokes, and conspiracies

Lots of NFL fans have grown tired of the Chiefs consistently winning. In the wake of those feelings, the online discourse has turned to jokes (and not-joking conspiracies) about the refs helping Mahomes and Kansas City win. And, to be fair, there have been multiple instances where the Chiefs seem to get the exact penalty they need at just the right time — including the previous Super Bowl between Kansas City and Philly.

An analysis at The Ringer found that the Chiefs haven't received extra calls overall, but they have received far more calls in the playoffs. So, anyway, (likely bitter) NFL fans have taken to both joking about KC getting all the calls and really believing it. 

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted The Super Bowl commercials

The commercials are a huge part of the Super Bowl. We don't know all of the ads that will run, but many of the big spots have already debuted online. Some of the early favorites from fans seem to be a spot from Bud Light with Post Malone and Jeremy Strong as the newest DunKing for Dunkin'.

So, if you're looking to watch only for the ads, you're off to a strong start.

There are, of course, endless bits of info, stats, and stories surrounding the Super Bowl. But this cheat sheet should be enough to get you through the game with a decent understanding of what's happening. And, when in doubt, go refill on snacks.

The Japanese conglomerate SoftBank would invest up to $40 billion in the maker of the chatbot ChatGPT.

When Nintendo first unveiled the Switch 2 last month, we (and everyone else) noticed something peculiar about the new Joy-Con controllers. Now, some recently unearthed patent filings more or less confirm all the theories.

Specifically, there are now publicly viewable patents for the Switch 2's controllers that tell us what we already basically knew: You can use them like computer mice. The patent filing, which is largely in Japanese and thus is not especially informative to a native English speaker, includes at least plenty of drawings that explicitly showcase someone using the Joy-Con as a mouse.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2: Every new feature and game spotted in the announcement Tweet may have been deleted

It's still not entirely clear what this feature will be used for. One's mind can easily wander to level creation in Super Mario Maker or house decoration in Animal Crossing as mechanics that could be enhanced by mouse functionality, but those are just two of Nintendo's many first-party gaming properties.

Nintendo has a long history of hardware innovation, but it also has an equally long history of theoretically innovative hardware features that are ultimately forgotten after being used in just a few games.

Still, aside from more horsepower, these mouse features are (so far) the only part of the Switch 2 that looks really distinct from the first Switch. We'll probably find out more when Nintendo holds its big Switch 2 reveal livestream on April 2 at 9 a.m. ET.

SAVE $25: As of Feb. 7, get the Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank for $24.99 at Amazon using promo code ANKER1685011 at checkout. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 with promo code ANKER1685011 Get Deal

No one likes dealing with low battery notifications — it always seems to pop up when you're trying to do something important. If you're tired of dealing with battery emergencies, it's time to get a reliable power bank — and Anker has one that's on sale right now.

As of Feb. 7, get the Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank for $24.99 at Amazon using promo code ANKER1685011. Though it's on sale for $29.99 currently, that code knocks the price down to $24.99, which nets you a 50% discount and $25 off its normal price. This deal currently applies to all colorways including Black, Blue, Pink, and White.

SEE ALSO: Charge 6 devices at once with this Anker Prime 200W charger — now under $60

This magnetic power bank boasts a 10,000mAh battery that can help you keep your devices fully charged, no matter where you are. In fact, it can do it twice with a smartphone like the iPhone 15. It also has fast charging options, so you can use the 7.5W wireless charging magnetically as your phone sticks to the charger like a stand, or the built-in USB-C cable for 30W charging.

When you have your phone connected magnetically, you can adjust the stand so you can watch your favorite shows or movies or just scroll or text while you're out and about. And you never have to worry about losing any moving parts or remembering to bring a cable with you to get some charging done. For this price, it's a no-brainer.

GET $90 OFF: Get the Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station for $169 at Amazon for a savings of $90, or 35% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station $169.00 at Amazon
$259.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal

Hit the backcountry without going off-grid with this 7.1 pound portable power station. The Jackery Explorer 300 is a battery bank meant to go along for the ride. Whether you pair it with a solar panel to make it into a portable generator, or carry it with you, it will keep your devices juiced.

Right now you can get the Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station for $169 at Amazon and save $90, for a price drop of 35%.

SEE ALSO: No one cares about AI on our phones. We just want better battery life

This 300 Watt power bank delivers stable power that's compatible with multiple plug types. It features two AC outlet plugs that are compatible with computers, speakers, or small appliances. Smaller electronics can also charge directly through the USB-A and USB-C ports. A DC car port enables still more plug types.

The battery itself charges quickly. It can top off with up to 80% charge within two hours.

Right now, get the Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station for $169 and save 35%.

Whether you're looking to bring a solar generator with you on long fishing weekends, you want a backup battery bank to get you through lapses in the grid, or you want a battery bank that will live permanently in the back of your pickup truck, the Jackery Explorer 300 is a solid pick.

It looks like Mark Zuckerberg is further cozying up to President Donald Trump. The Meta chief was spotted exiting the White House Thursday afternoon.

Molly Nagle, a White House reporter at ABC News, tweeted: "Spotted at the White House: Mark Zuckerberg. He was seen leaving the West Wing earlier today. We've asked the White House why he was there."

Zuck can be seen in a somewhat blurry photo exiting the White House in a navy suit.

Tweet may have been deleted

Meta spokesman Andy Stone wrote on X: "Mark Zuckerberg was at the White House today to discuss how Meta can help the administration defend and advance American tech leadership abroad."

That's a rather broad description, so it's unclear what the conversation actually entailed. It's worth noting, however, that America's tech overlords have grown concerned about China's ascending tech influence through TikTok and DeepSeek. And just last month on The Joe Rogan Experience, Zuckerberg praised Trump for his America-first initiative.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg wants more 'masculine energy' in corporate America

"The American technology industry is a bright spot in the American economy," Zuckerberg said. "It's a strategic advantage for the United States that we have a lot of the strongest companies in the world. And I think it should be part of the U.S.' strategy going forward to defend that. And, one of the things that I'm optimistic about with President Trump is he just wants America to win."

So it's unsurprising to see Zuckerberg already at the White House. He's gone out of his way to cozy up to the Trump administration. Ahead of Trump's taking office, Zuckerberg worked to reshape Meta in the president's image by rescinding DEI initiatives, changing its hate speech policies, and dropping fact-checkers in favor of community notes. He also sat on the de facto billionaire's row at Trump's inauguration. Not to mention, Zuckerberg reportedly told employees at Meta that the company is actively courting the president's favor.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on Meta's submission to Trump

"I want to be clear, after the last several years, we now have an opportunity to have a productive partnership with the United States government," Zuckerberg said, according to a report in the New York Times. "We’re going to take that."

So it's hardly a shock Zuckerberg is already at the White House — it's more of the same.