Mashable

At Donald Trump's post-inauguration rally on Monday, presidential adviser, DOGE head and world’s richest human Elon Musk twice made a gesture that many identify with a "seig heil," the infamous Nazi salute.

The X, Tesla and SpaceX CEO thanked the assembled crowd saying, “I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” before biting his lip, dramatically slapping his chest with his right hand and sending his right arm skyward, palm out. Musk turned around and made the gesture again, adding, “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”

Tweet may have been deleted

As Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) laid out during Tuesday's confirmation hearings for Trump’s future UN ambassador, it wasn’t just left-wing activists and anti-Musk figures who considered the gesture an ode to the genocidal German leader: “Evan Kilgore, a right-wing political commentator, wrote on X, Holy crap, did Elon Musk just heil Hitler at the Trump inauguration rally? This is incredible. We are so back'…the Proud Boys chapter in Ohio posted the clip on a Telegram channel with the text, ‘Heil Trump.’ A chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted it on Telegram, ‘Thanks for hearing us, Elon. The white flame will rise again.”

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's weirdest weekend, explained

For his part, Musk — who recently voiced support for far-right political parties in both the U.K. and Germany — wrote on X that "The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired." He followed that up by reposting right-wing images of Democrats like Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, and Hillary Clinton making out-of-context motions with their hands that could scarcely be described as similar to his.

Tweet may have been deleted

Andrea Stroppa, a right-wing Italian friend and supporter of Musk, took the discussion in a whole different direction on Monday when she posted on X that Musk’s salute had Italian origins: "Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute.”

Tweet may have been deleted

Some of Musk’s fans and followers on X hopped on the Roman bandwagon, claiming it absolved the titan of hate-mongering since it was less Hitler and more Nero.

The Roman salute's origins

The problem with claiming Musk was simply showing an appreciation for chariots and gladiators is there is no proof of the gesture being used in ancient Rome, according to historian Martin M. Winkler, who wrote a book about the salute. There is no Roman art, writing, or coins that display the gesture, according to Winkler. "The gesture of the raised right arm or hand in Roman and other ancient cultures that is attested in surviving art and literature had a significantly different function and is never identical with the modern straight-arm salute," Winkler wrote in his book, The Roman Salute.

Instead, the hand motion like that used by Musk was popularized in 19th-century books, toga plays and, later, early 20th-century films as a fictional fixture of ancient Rome, the Guardian reports. Through those media depictions, the so-called Roman salute then became a favorite of 20th-century Hitler ally/Italian fascist Benito Mussolini and his political party. "...the salute as a unifier — and as a path to punish those who don't conform by immediately raising their arms — was present before Hitler came to power," according to Forward.

Upon gaining power in the late 1920s, Hitler and his cronies adopted the Italian gesture for themselves, according to to the BBC, and it symbolized fealty to the leader and his racist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic principles. Once World War II began in 1939 following Germany's invasion of Poland, pro-Hitler gestures and pronouncements had penetrated daily life. "In public, ordinary Germans were expected to praise Hitler and give the so-called German greeting ("Heil Hitler!")," according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia, which is hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Museum.

The Roman salute is conditionally allowed in Italy and outright banned in Germany. German chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Musk's gesture by saying, "We have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany," he said, "what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions."

I come to you bearing bad news: Instagram is showing your friends which Reels you've liked.

It might encourage more engagement on Instagram Reels, but at what personal cost to us all?

At the top right of the Reels, you might see some of your friends' profile photos with little hearts in the corner of their images. Click that, and you'll be taken to the "With friends" tab. Each video will show you which of your friends liked the video, with your friend's image and a heart overlaid on the image in the bottom right.

SEE ALSO: Instagram unveils Edits, a video editing app to rival CapCut

This new feature is intended to get you to stay on the app longer and encourage you to comment, like, and share Reels with your friends like you might with TikTok. And it's not the only effort Instagram is making to keep TikTok users on the app while TikTok is off the app stores (but still working on desktop and your phone if you have it downloaded already). The platform is reportedly paying influencers thousands of dollars to post on Reels before posting on TikTok. It replaced its classic square grids with rectangles to prioritize Reels; released a new video editing tool called Edits, much like TikTok's CapCup; and extended the maximum length of Reels to three minutes.

You can find out which Reels you've been inadvertently sharing with your friends by following a few steps.

Navigate to your profile and click the menu icon in the top right. Select "Your Activity," then select "Likes." This will show all of the posts and Reels you've liked. To only see the Reels you've liked, click the "All content types" dropdown and filter by Reels,

Wanna say something absurd on Facebook without anyone to tell your audience it's wrong? Make it a paid ad, I guess.

In early January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that his platform would be getting rid of its fact-checkers in favor of Community Notes. It turns out, those Community Notes meant to keep posts factual and accurate won't apply to paid ads, Reuters reports, citing an anonymous source. The only content that community notes will apply to is "organic content," and fact-checking will still not apply to any content at all. As The Wall Street Journal first reported, aspects of the program might still change.

Meta's decision to move towards Community Notes, a decision that copies Elon Musk's move at X, was met with its fair share of criticism. Free Press Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights Nora Benavidez said in a press release posted after Zuckerberg's announcement that content moderation isn't a "tool to repress free speech," but is, rather, "a principle that the platforms themselves developed to promote dialogue and protect truth for users."

"While Zuckerberg characterized the platform giant’s new approach as a defence of free speech, its real intentions are twofold: Ditch the technology company’s responsibility to protect its many users and align the company more closely with an incoming president who’s a known enemy of accountability," Benavidez said in the press release.

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

Making paid ads exempt from the scrutiny of Community Notes nods towards something Zuckerberg has been pretty clear about since the beginning of Facebook: profit over people, every time.

When X decided to move towards community notes, it lost a significant amount of money in ad revenue, because community members could leave notes on paid ads that pointed issues such as dropshipping, mobile game ads that don't match the game play, and AI-related copyright issues. Meta, it seems, is working to avoid that type of ad loss by not allowing Community Notes on paid ads at all. It's not yet known if they'll be allowed on paid endorsements from celebrities and influencers.

It seems these decisions — removing fact-checkers in favor of Community Notes, lifting prohibitions on certain forms of hate speech, scrapping DEI initiatives, removing trans-inclusive features, and more — were made in haste to appease President Trump's administration. So it might take time to see how each of the changes roll out onto each platform.

After a quarter of a century in wrestling, John Cena is retiring from in-ring action later this year. However, the longtime WWE superstar (and recent Hollywood mainstay) has no dearth of projects to keep him busy. He's been a part of Vin Diesel's Fast & Furious family for two (going on three) entries. He's hosted several game shows, including Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Wipeout, and American Grit. He even has a leading role in the superhero series Peacemaker, which returns to Max in August. However, his latest series — Roku reality show What Drives You, which he also executive produced — stands apart.

The show, a combination of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and MTV Cribs, isn't exactly original in format, but with Cena at the helm, it's surprisingly fun. With the snappy editing and thumping soundtrack of mid-2000s VH1, Cena briskly introduces the concept at the start of each 20-minute episode, then picks up his celebrity guest at their home and has them drive him to a place they like to visit. That's it. But the simplicity results in surprising intimacy, much of which is owed to Cena's self-deprecating charm.

As it happens, the first four guests on the show are much like Cena himself: people whose careers have hopped the line between wrestling and other Hollywood ventures. There's YouTube star Logan Paul, who found recent in-ring success as WWE's United States Champion. There's Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, who started out on MTV's The Real World, broke into wrestling through WWE's reality show Tough Enough, and eventually competed in the main event of WrestleMania (against Cena, no less). There are also musical artists like country rapper Jelly Roll and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who have performed on some of WWE's biggest stages.

But does that make What Drives You a wrestling show, or even a wrestling-adjacent one? Not quite. Cena had some interesting opinions on the subject during our chat, many of which he expressed in distinctly automotive metaphors; for instance, wrestling occupying a “parking spot” in people’s brains. (Whether it’s media training or simply Freudian, it’s a delightful quirk.) He also had illuminating thoughts on how the series' camera setup bolsters its authenticity — and what that word even means in the age of reality TV and, as WWE is often called, "sports entertainment." 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Mashable: Wrestling is everywhere, especially with the recent expansion of WWE to Netflix, but it's been everywhere for a while. Your four initial guests on What Drives You all have something or the other to do with wrestling. Was that your intent going in as an executive producer, or is that just how it worked out?

John Cena: It's more the second, I think. WWE, and sports entertainment in general, casts a very wide net and affects a lot of people. Man, I have never met anyone who hasn't had some sort of wrestling story, or sports entertainment story. They might talk about a certain era, like “I remember Hacksaw Jim Duggan, or Hulk Hogan, or the Undertaker.” But it seems like everyone has a parking spot in their brain for sports entertainment. It just reaches a lot of folks, and it's also an environment where we welcome any and all guests to come in and be part of the energy and enthusiasm.

The show uses automobiles as an inroad to people's lives. Do you see cars as an expression of people's personalities, almost in the way that a costume or a theme music might be in wrestling?

You're close to the mark with me. I think we're all human, and in this human part of our brain system lives snap judgment. So you see a car, see someone driving it, and make assumptions about them. And I really like being able to subdue your snap judgment, especially if it's in a case that's nonthreatening to your existence, because you'll end up learning something. You learn if you are absolutely right, or if you were misguided a little, or you didn't get the whole picture. 

I believe a car is like a fashion choice, and it does say something about us. It doesn't mean you have to drive a Hypercar or a pickup truck or, heck, even own a car. You can take a rideshare and you can have people make assumptions. But as long as you don't speak in absolutes, and ask questions, you give your guests a chance to respond. And in that back and forth is where you get to know people, and that's what the show's all about.

Past that snap judgment, the exterior of the car, you have the interior where these intimate conversations take place. What's it like for you to have to create that sense of intimacy? You've hosted shows before, but this is one where you're ceding space for other people's stories. How do you make people feel comfortable enough to open up to you?

The environment does a lot of the work. If we do an in-person press interview for, let's say, a movie junket, there's a camera pointed at me, a camera pointed at you. There's a person behind my camera, there's a person behind your camera. They have us both lit quite brightly. The seat might be comfortable, it might not be comfortable. There's a boom mic hanging over each of us. People don't understand, because they just see the nice shot. But because we filmed this all in a car, the cameras were super small. They're mounted in a place that can't block the driver's vision. The car's mic is deep in the console. We can get sound, but it's not obstructive. And it's an environment that our guests are familiar with.

You just lose yourself in the drive. Honestly, it’s one of the easiest environments, because you forget you're even being filmed. I think that's what led to some great conversation. You don't feel the bright lights because it's not that type of show. I'm not trying to put pressure on [the guests] to do a bit, or entertain the audience. Once you shut the doors of the car, man, it was just us.

It was striking how personal and authentic a lot of it gets. Between your appearances in films, in wrestling, and also what we're doing now, the media sit-downs, there's a need to be authentic. But at the same time, do you ever find there being pressure to put forth a manufactured authenticity? You've come up in wrestling, where there's a very weird blurred line between reality and fiction.

I've been fortunate enough where entertainment has been really good to me. I'm finally retiring from the WWE after almost 25 years. And after that amount of time, if you're putting on a veneer, people eventually see through it. I don't think there is such a thing as manufactured authenticity. I think those things are so juxtaposed that it would either be manufactured or authentic. 

We have a saying in WWE: The people who connect with the audience the most are people whose personalities you get, just kind of turned up to 11. I really think that rings true. I think the people that connect with the audience the most are their most authentic selves. 

Because if you are a success in the WWE, you spend a lot of time with the audience, and our audience is really smart, and they'll be able to see through it. 

I've been lucky enough to be on a long drive, and over that course of time, maybe I've tried out certain facets of a personality, or made some mistakes when I've made choices that weren't exactly authentic. But over the long haul, because it's been such a journey, you kind of get me for who I am.

What Drives You premieres Jan. 21 on the Roku Channel.

Whether you just started dating or you’re practically engaged, shopping for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your boyfriend can be a surprisingly tricky task. How much should you spend? Are you going for a big romantic gesture or keeping it simple? And what about the classic "we’re not doing gifts this year," but you still "surprise" each other with gifts anyway thing? Seriously, though — what *is* that? If you're stuck in a gift-giving rut, our best advice is to zero in on the items he uses daily and the topics he brings up whenever you hang out — these are easy jumping-off points for Valentine's Day gift ideas that'll make him feel seen. Below, we've rounded up a list of Valentine's Day gift ideas for boyfriends that say "I love you and I get you" without being totally cliché. Spoiler alert: There will be no mention of whiskey stones or beard oil. Need even more ideas? Peep our list of unique gifts for men and check out the best Valentine's Day gifts for dudes.

In the fallout of Elon Musk’s baffling appearance during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a curious new front in the ongoing online culture war has emerged: a push by Reddit sports mods and users to ban links to X (formerly known as Twitter).

On Tuesday, users in various Reddit sports communities — starting with r/hockey, which has 2.7M members, and spreading to individual Canadian hockey subreddits and then Premier League and NFL forums — began talking about whether it’s time to officially cut X out of their lives, with massive amounts of approval for the action from its users.

The discussions center on a mounting frustration with Musk’s leadership, including the platform’s apparent embrace of hate speech and far-right agitators, its increasingly user-hostile interface changes (such as forcing non-logged-in users to create accounts to view posts), and, of course, Musk himself.

Reddit Reddit Reddit Reddit

If it seems surprising that sports subreddits are leading this charge, it shouldn’t be. These communities thrive on user-posted game highlights, many of which are linked to X posts that a significant number of users can’t access. Sports news also tends to break on X, but with the rise of alternatives like Threads and Bluesky, more Reddit users are voicing their desire to move away from X entirely.

There have already been multiple pushes for X users to migrate to alternative platforms. After the election, thousands of accounts tied to journalism and politics made the jump to Bluesky. However, sports have remained a major anchor keeping many regular users on X. That said, a shift may be underway — many professional teams and beat writers, both at the national and local levels, have started posting on Bluesky, signaling a potential change in the platform’s utility for sports fans.

Not all communities are on board with the push to ban X links, and some are facing backlash for it. A moderator in the r/Chelsea forum has drawn criticism from users for quickly shutting down any posts advocating for an X ban, sparking frustration among the subreddit’s members. Similarly, subreddits for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings have been swift to remove posts on the topic, prompting further debate and discontent among their users.

This discourse is still in its early stages, and it remains uncertain how many subreddits will ultimately update their community rules. In nearly every subreddit with posts on the topic, the top pinned comment from moderators mentions "internal discussions" about the future of X links.

However, there has been some movement: A few subreddits, such as the one for Nottingham Forest, have already implemented bans on X links. While this shows progress, the overall momentum remains relatively slow and scattered.

Various pages about LGBTQ rights and lives in the U.S. have been wiped from the official White House site, LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD has reported.

Whitehouse.gov received a makeover on Inauguration Day, and not only in looks. Information shared by the Biden administration has been deleted and replaced with profiles on Trump administration officials and his day one actions. The deleted information includes pages about the LGBTQ community. Various search terms, like "lesbian," "gay," and "bisexual," only contain a single result: a rollback of Biden-era executive orders, including "Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals" from 2022.

SEE ALSO: Is Instagram blocking the #Democrat hashtag?

"Transgender" turns up two results, the aforementioned and Trump's new executive order stating, among other things, that there are only two genders.

"LGBTQ" turns up no results. Some pages removed, according to GLAAD and confirmed by Mashable, include:

• the White House's equity report (current 404 page)

• fact sheet on expanding HIV medication access (current 404 page)

• the Department of State's LGBTQ Rights page (current 404 page)

• the Department of Labor's page on LGBTQ policy (current 404 page)

Other removed pages Mashable found include a fact sheet on the accomplishments of LGBTQ Americans (current 404 page) and a proclamation on Pride Month 2024 (current 404 page).

This move aligns with actions Trump promised to do during his inaugural speech, including removing diversity programs and creating an official policy that there are only two genders.

"President Trump claims to be a strong proponent of freedom of speech, yet he is clearly committed to censorship of any information containing or related to LGBTQ Americans and issues that we face," GLAAD's president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. Ellis refers to Trump stating yesterday that he will "bring back" free speech.

"This action proves the Trump administration's goal of making it as difficult as possible for LGBTQ Americans to find federal resources or otherwise see ourselves reflected under his presidency," she continued. "Sadly for him, our community is more visible than ever; and this pathetic attempt to diminish and remove us will again prove unsuccessful."

Meta is reportedly on its hands and knees, begging influencers to use Instagram instead of TikTok.

According to a new report from The Information, Instagram is offering creators monthly bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for posting their videos on Instagram Reels before posting them on other platforms, including TikTok. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable.

It's unclear what kind of a lasting impact this will have on creators. Meta has attempted to draw creators onto its platform with promises of financial gains before, but those incentives were always temporary. For instance, the platform got rid of its Reels Play bonus program, a similar program to TikTok's Creator Fund, that left creators looking for new ways to find the additional $500-$1,000 they had counted on each month. This newly reported bribe or, whoops, sorry, "incentive" doesn't seem to promise longevity, either.

SEE ALSO: As TikTok faces a ban, creators brace for an uncertain future

It's not the only step Instagram has taken over the past few days to attract users away from TikTok. Square grids have been replaced with rectangles to prioritize short-form videos like Reels in a highly polarizing move that most creators don't like. Instagram also released a new video editing app called Edits, which was seemingly unveiled specifically to rival TikTok's CapCut. The app extended the maximum length of Reels to three minutes.

This comes after Meta gave its all to ensure that TikTok gets banned in the U.S. But, unfortunately for Meta, the payoff of its hard work and lobbying was short-lived. After less than a full day of being offline over the weekend, TikTok returned — for now. It's still absent from U.S. app stores, but if you didn't delete the app from your phone, you can still access new videos, and all users can find what they're looking for on the desktop version of TikTok.

Meanwhile, many creators are uninterested in pivoting their attention to Meta-owned platforms after CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a new decision to bend at the knee of President Donald Trump's administration. The company has eliminated fact-checkers in favor of Community Notes, lifted prohibitions on certain forms of hate speech, scrapped DEI initiatives, removed trans-inclusive features on its apps, and reinstated political content recommendations.

SAVE $430: As of Jan. 21, get the HP Victus gaming laptop for just $449.99, down from its normal price of $879.99. That's a 52% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy HP Victus Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 512GB SSD) $449.99 at Best Buy
$879.99 Save $430.00 Get Deal

There are a ton of great games out right now, and even more to come now that it's officially 2025. If you're glued to your desktop right now for gaming sessions, you might want to consider getting a gaming laptop to help make things decidedly more mobile. Right now, you can snag a great price on one at Best Buy.

As of Jan. 21, get the HP Victus gaming laptop at Best Buy for just $449.99, down from its usual price of $879.99. That's $430 off and a 52% discount.

SEE ALSO: Razer’s Basilisk V3 X gaming mouse is $20 off — and it’s worth every click

This laptop is an excellent option for gaming on the go. It boasts a 15.6-inch full HD display, an Intel Core i5 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB of memory, and 512GB SSD to store all your games and documents. It has a lengthy battery life and fast charging that can get you from 0% to 50% in just 30 minutes. Plus, it comes with an extremely thin bezel for the display, if that's something you're into.

This particular laptop also comes with 3 months of Xbox Game Pass for PC for free, so you can try out a ton of free games without having to spend a dime. That'll come in handy when you're trying to figure out what to play.

Whether you're looking for an entry-level machine or you just want something new to tote around so you can get your game on, this is an awesome deal. It's on for a limited time, so make sure you grab yours soon.

SAVE $900: As of Jan. 21, the 65-inch Samsung S85D OLED 4K TV from 2024 is on sale for $999.99 — its first time below $1,000 after a more than 50% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch S85D OLED 4K TV $999.99 at Samsung
$2,099.99 Save $1,100.00 Get Deal

Samsung is once again proving the theory that Black Friday might not always be the best time to buy some flagship TVs on sale. Often, it's actually a few months later — right after CES.

Usually, we see the previous year's TVs match their Black Friday prices right after a brand announces the latest version of a certain model at CES, like we did in early January with The Frame. But the post-CES deal we found today is the rarity that beats Black Friday pricing: The 65-inch Samsung S85D OLED 4K TV has dropped below $1,000 for the first time ever according to Amazon price tracker Camelcamelcamel, shaving more than 50% off of its original price of $2,099.99. (Amazon's price of $997.99 on the same TV technically beats Samsung's by $2, but note that that one is from a third party seller.)

Samsung hasn't given much detail on its 2025 OLEDs past a name for the fanciest one (S95F), so clowning Black Friday prices like this is kind of a bold move. We'll take it, though.

SEE ALSO: Top 3 best robot vacuums from CES 2025, from coolest to most practical

Even as the entry level model from the 2024 OLED line, Samsung's S85D doesn't skimp on too many specs. It upscales with the same zippy NQ4 AI Gen 2 processor as the more premium 2024 OLEDs, and still has Object Tracking sound as well as Dolby Atmos. It doesn't officially have Samsung's glare-free technology, but it's still said to rock at handling glare in bright rooms. (Its pricier sibling, the 2024 S95D, was Samsung's first glare-free OLED.)

Adding to its watchability in the daytime is better-than-usual SDR brightness (compared to other budget OLEDs) — and for nighttime, its black levels and vast contrast ratio are chef's kiss for watching movies or gaming in a dark room. Other features to note include a 120Hz refresh rate (compared to 144Hz on more expensive models), Pantone-validated color, and quick phone-to-TV casting.

OpenAI could release its agentic AI tool that could, in theory, autonomously do tasks for you by taking control of your device.

Reports have suggested the tool is getting close to being released. Techcrunch wrote, for instance, that the tool dubbed Operator looks to be "nearing release," citing, in part, Tibor Blaho, a software engineer who often leaks or uncovers AI news. Blaho wrote on X that he noticed "ChatGPT macOS desktop app has hidden options to define shortcuts for the desktop launcher to 'Toggle Operator' and 'Force Quit Operator.'"

Tweet may have been deleted

The Information has reported that OpenAI targeted January as a release date for Operator. It would reportedly first release a research preview and developer tool. The exact release date remains unknown. 

The idea behind the tool is that it can act autonomously to make your life easier — in other words, it could take over your computer and do tasks on your behalf. That means it could things like book flights or write code. Of course, it could also make mistakes on your behalf, which is a bit worrying.

Still, for better or worse, it may be here soon.

SAVE UP TO 89%: This week, shop the best deals on Kindle books. Save up to 89% on bestsellers including Beartown by Fredrik Backman, or Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, both of which are down to $1.99.

Best Kindle book deals Best fiction deal 'Beartown' by Fredrik Backman $1.99 at Amazon (Save $15.01) Get Deal Best non-fiction deal 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer $1.99 at Amazon (Save $16.01) Get Deal Best fantasy deal 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo $2.99 at Amazon (Save $9) Get Deal Best romance deal 'Getaway Girl' by Tessa Bailey $1.99 at Amazon (Save $11) Get Deal

In the thick of winter, the farthest we're looking to travel is from the bed to the couch. With the frigid temperatures outside, we're focusing on indoor-only activities, whether that be bingeing all the best TV shows or catching up on the awards season movies that just hit streaming.

However, if one of your 2025 resolutions is to keep your screen time down, then it's time to curl up with a good book. If you're racing through your stack of TBR books and looking for your next read, do it on a budget. For Kindle users, there are deals to be had on ebooks to stock your library.

Shop all the best ebook deals for as low as $1.99.

Best fiction book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Beartown' by Fredrik Backman $1.99 at Amazon
$17.00 Save $15.01 Get Deal Why we like it

In Fredrik Backman's Beartown, a shock is sent through the small town and all who inhabit it. The heart of the town lies in the ice rink, where the junior ice hockey team is preparing for the semi-final game. But when a violent act is committed, the whole town finds itself in turmoil, dealing with accusations that test friendships and loyalties.

Right now, you can find this compelling drama for just $1.99 in the Kindle shop. That's down $15.01 from its print price for 88% savings.

More fiction deals

• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan — $1.99 $18 ($16.01)

• The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware —$2.99 $18.99 (save $16)

• Getaway Girl by Tessa Bailey — $1.99 $12.99 (save $11)

• The Lord of the Rings (Illustrated) by J.R.R. Tolkien — $1.99 $35 (save $33.01)

• The Memory of Babel by Christelle Dabos — $1.99 $11.99 (save $10)

• The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell — $2.99 $17.99 (save $15)

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle — $2.99 $17 (save $14.01)

• The Patron Saint Of Liars by Ann Patchett — $1.99 $19 (save $17.01)

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)

• Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang — $1.99 $18 (save $16.01)

• We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry — $1.99 $18 (save $16.01)

• Can't and Won't: Stories by Lydia Davis — $2.99 $17.99 (save $15)

Best non-fiction book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer $1.99 at Amazon
$18.00 Save $16.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The prolific writer Jon Krakauer is best known for is harrowing account of his climb on Mount Everest that resulted in five lives loss and many more altered. Into Thin Air explores Krakauer's deadly climb as he hopes to make sense of the tragedy and his role in it.

Right now, you can find Krakauer's memoir for just $1.99 at Amazon, saving you $16.01 for 89% off.

More non-fiction deals

• The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek — $2.99 $17.99 (save $15)

• Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond by Henry Winkler — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)

• Better by Atul Gawande — $2.99 $18.99 (save $16)

• Call Them by Their True Names: American Crises (and Essays) by Rebecca Solnit — $2.99 $17.99 (save $15)

• Making It So by Patrick Stewart — $1.99 $16.99 (save $15)

• Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Irby — $2.99 $17 (save $14.01)

SAVE $250: The Sonos Arc soundbar is on sale at Best Buy for $649.99, down from the standard price of $899.99. That's a 28% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc soundbar $649.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal

Two-in-one products usually save time, but at what cost? We can buy one bottle that houses shampoo and conditioner but it doesn't feel as nice as using one shampoo and one conditioner, when each work to their maximum potential. The same can be said for most TVs and their speakers. The TV could be awesome, but the sound usually lacks. If that sounds familiar, check out this deal on superior sound.

As of Jan. 21, the Sonos Arc smart soundbar is on sale at Best Buy for $649.99, marked down from the list price of $899.99. That means you'll be saving $250 by getting a 28% discount.

Sonos brought on Oscar-winning sound engineers to help design the Sonos Ace soundbar which comes packed with wow-worthy specs. For example, those engineers helped to create a soundbar that's specially tuned to human voices, bringing the experience of streaming movies and shows to a whole new level.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Of course, the Sonos Arc soundbar is a great option for using as a home speaker, even without your TV. With the TV powered off, you can still use the Arc to play your favorite music or podcast either with the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2.

Sonos also incorporated thoughtful details into the soundbar like an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness of the soundbar's LEDs to how bright the room is, making them visible but not distracting.

There's also a magnetic sensor on the Sonos Arc which adjusts the EQ to temper base resonance. If you have other Sonos soundbars in your home, the Arc allows you to connect them together, bringing music into more rooms.

If you've been slogging along with subpar TV speakers, today is a great day to upgrade to the Sonos Arc soundbar. Best Buy chopped $250 off the list price which means you can get significantly improved sound for $649.99. Not only does this mean your next movie viewing experience will be better, you'll have an all-around great speaker for your home.

SAVE UP TO 41% OFF: As of Jan. 21, the FlexiSpot Flash Sale is offering deals like 41% off the E7 Pro Standing Desk as well as ergonomic chairs and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: FlexiSpot FlexiSpot Flash Sale Save up to 41% or beyond on standing desks, ergonomic chairs, beds, and more. Get Deal

In the era of work from home, standing desks and ergonomic chairs have become modern classics. FlexiSpot makes sturdy, attractive standing desks for all sorts of needs and uses. I've personally spent countless hours at my E7 standing desk, and I can't imagine my workspace without it.

Right now, FlexiSpot is offering up to 41% off their standing desks, ergonomic chairs, and more. Whether you're looking for an add-on for a standing desk you already own, a converter, a full desk, or an adjustable easy chair, the FlexiSpot Flash Sale might have exactly the thing you need.

SEE ALSO: The FlexiSpot E7 standing desk boosted my productivity. Will the novelty wear off?

The FlexiSpot E7 Pro and E7 standing desks come with a wide variety of different desktop surfaces (I have bamboo and love it). A small touch screen provides simple controls to lift the desk up or down. It's also programmable, with different set heights for simple cycling between your normal productivity positions. Sturdy and reliable, this is a trustworthy piece of furniture that will last years — it's even got a 15-year warranty to back that up.

However, FlexiSpot is more than just desks. Their C7 Ergonomic Chair is designed for all-day comfort. Right now, the C7 is on sale for $349.99 for a savings of $250.

Shop the FlexiSpot Flash Sale for startling savings on standing desks, ergonomic chairs, bed frames, and more.

And if you're in the market to upgrade the bedroom, FlexiSpot's B6O Japanese Joinery Bed is on sale from $599.99 for a savings of $260.

TLDR; Jan. 21st, the Nintendo Sale is offering huge discounts up to 95% off on a wide array of games including Overcooked! 2 and Among Us.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Nintendo Sale Get up to 95% off on Nintendo Switch Games Shop Now

Searching for your next bit of fun? The Nintendo Sale is offering a huge array of Nintendo Switch titles for major discounts. While many of the top discounts are for digital titles, the shop is also offering free shipping on most orders of $50 or more.

Titles like Overcooked! 2 and Among Us are down to $6.24 and $3 respectively. We're also seeing price drops of up to 95% on titles like This War of Mine: Complete Edition.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2: Every new feature and game spotted in the announcement

You won't find A-list titles like Zelda or Super Smash Bros in this sale, but there's still some classics like the beloved Cozy Grove for $7.32 (save 51%). There's even some capital C classics, like Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, which is on sale for $26.99, for a savings of 10%.

Shop the Nintendo Sale to get up to 95% off on Nintendo Switch games.

Whether you're into deep RPGs like the roguelike inflected Children of Morta: Complete Edition or you're into cute, simple fun like Punyan, there's something for you.

The White House has launched the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), a tech-focused initiative led by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, promising to modernize federal systems and slash inefficiency.

As detailed in The New York Times, DOGE is poised to be a hallmark of President Trump’s second term, targeting up to $2 trillion in cost savings by 2026.

DOGE builds on the United States Digital Service, now rebranded as the U.S. DOGE Service. According to Trump's executive order, the newly rebranded department will cut red tape and streamline government IT systems. Per the EO, DOGE has roughly 18 months (July 4, 2026) to achieve the administration's goal.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk sued by SEC for late disclosure of Twitter stock purchase

Each federal agency will establish a "DOGE Team" of experts, working under Musk’s tech-first guidance to reimagine government operations. These teams are comprised of at least four members: An engineer, an HR specialist, a lawyer, and a team lead.

Per the Times, a cohort of unpaid Silicon Valley elites and tech executives recruited by Musk and Ramaswamy are key to the effort. These high-profile recruits, some connected to Peter Thiel, will be embedded in agencies for six-month stints, offering their expertise for free. According to the Times, this includes a mix of Thiel Fellows, engineers, and policy specialists, all united by their loyalty to Musk’s vision.

Musk has pitched this as a bold chance to fix a "dysfunctional" government. But critics have doubts. Budget experts question the feasibility of cutting trillions without touching programs like Social Security, which Trump has vowed to protect. Even Musk has tempered expectations, recently calling $1 trillion in savings a more realistic goal.

DOGE was also initially meant to, ironically, be co-lead by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. However, Ramaswamy may not be in the position for long, according to NBC News. It's rumored that he will quit to focus fully on his run for Ohio governor, a campaign he's expected to announce sometime in the next week.

SAVE $50 + FREE GIFT: As of Jan. 21, get the OnePlus Pad 2 for $499.99 at OnePlus, which is $50 off its normal price of $549.99. Plus, get a free OnePlus Stylo 2 or OnePlus Pad Smart Keyboard with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: OnePlus OnePlus Pad 2 $499.99 at OnePlus
$549.99 Save $50.00 with promo code WELCOME25 Get Deal

If you're looking to grab a new tablet, you aren't limited to what Apple and Samsung offer. There are some great options out there, and OnePlus happens to make one in particular that you can't go wrong with. And as of today, you'll get a great deal as well as a free gift if you decide to take the plunge.

As of Jan. 21, you can get the OnePlus Pad 2 for $50 off at OnePlus with promo code WELCOME25. It's normally $549.99, and that will bring it down to a more palatable $499.99. You can also opt for the OnePlus Stylo 2 stylus (normally $99.99) or the OnePlus Pad Smart Keyboard (normally $149.99) for free with your purchase.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025

The OnePlus Pad 2 features the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which makes it a great contender that'll work well as a multitasker. If you tend to do a lot of work on the go, you'll appreciate its souped-up performance, as well as its 12.1-inch 3K LCD display and 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. It also includes the One-Touch Transmission feature, which lets you make large file transfers from your phone to your tablet in minutes.

All this, plus you get a 9,510mAH battery that offers 40 days of standby and hours of use, so you never have to wait too long to get back to business even when you need a charge. Plus, when you pair your tablet with the OnePlus Stylo 2 stylus, you can use it like an Apple Pencil for sketching, writing, or navigation. Opt for the keyboard, and you can attach it magnetically to get even more out of your tablet and turn it into a portable workstation.

Grab this tablet before this deal expires; as of right now, there's no set date, but it's good to get it while the getting is good.

FLIGHTS AS LOW AS $69: Book Southwest flights for as low as $69 each way before 11:59 p.m. PT on Jan. 23. Travel between Feb. 11 and May 22. Some location and date restrictions apply.

Opens in a new window Credit: Southwest Southwest flights starting at $69 Get Deal

While it might seem like winter holidays were just a few days ago, it's already time to start thinking about spring break plans. Before prices skyrocket, check out this deal with Southwest that could save you hundreds on upcoming travel this spring.

Until 11:59 p.m. PT on Jan. 23, book one-way tickets on Southwest for as low as $69. This deal includes travel between Feb. 11 and May 22, but comes with a few blackout dates to destinations like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and international locations.

With prices starting at just $69, now is the perfect time to plan that spring getaway to get out of your home's dreary weather, or head to a snowy destination for a skiing holiday of your dreams with unlimited hot chocolate.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Like all good things, this deal comes with some fine print. If you plan to leave the continental U.S. and head for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or one of Southwest's international destinations, pay attention to the blackout dates between Feb. 13 and 16 and March 7 through April 19.

If your plans involve flying to the continental U.S. from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or a Southwest international location, you have blackout dates from Feb. 21 until 23 and again from March 14 through April 27. But even with these blackout dates and destinations, the Southwest map covers plenty of great holiday getaway options.

The sale is also perfect for anyone who didn't make it home for the holidays and plans to make up for that in 2025.

Wherever your travels will take you this year, book before 11:59 p.m. PT on Jan. 23 to score Southwest fares for as low as $69. That might even be less expensive than the gas it'll take you to get back and forth to the airport from home.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Jan. 21: OUR TOP PICK Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,249 (save $250) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $79.86 (save $20.13) Get Deal BEST E-READER DEAL Kindle Colorsoft $229.99 (save $50) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Roku Express 4K+ $24 (save $15.99) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 $94.99 (save $45) Get Deal

Retail therapy is a good way to battle the cold weather blues. And it's even better if you can save some money. Amazon always has an endless array of discounts on its daily deals page, but not everything is worth snagging. We've sorted through the noise for you and handpicked a few of the best deals we would actually grab ourselves.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Jan. 21. Be sure to check back later this week for even more of our top picks.

Our top pick: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,249.00 at Amazon
$1,499.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

The M3 MacBook Air packs a major punch. During testing, Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was highly impressed with its performance — specifically its zippy M3 chip that's nearly 20 percent faster than the previous model. It offers dual-display support when you close the lid and WiFi 6E support, but otherwise features the same display, design, keyboard, ports, webcam, weight, and dimensions as its predecessor — and that's not a bad thing. It shines as our top MacBook pick for most people and as of Jan. 21, the 15-inch model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD is on sale for just $1,249 instead of $1,499. That's 17% off and just $15 away from its best price ever.

Read our full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3).

Kindle Colorsoft Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Colorsoft $229.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

In October, Amazon unveiled its first Kindle model with a color display after almost 17 years: the Kindle Colorsoft. It's a 7-inch waterproof e-reader with a glare-free display that supports a full spectrum of color. On top of that, it has an auto-adjusting front light, 32GB of storage, wireless charging, eight weeks of battery life, and no lockscreen ads. It's usually $279.99, but as of Jan. 21, you can grab it on sale for just $229.99. That's 18% in savings and the first price drop since its release.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $79.86 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.13 Get Deal

Our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a tiny powerhouse with a well-rounded sound profile. It can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, endure drops from up to five feet, and be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We wish it offered a companion app to customize the sound, but overall, it's a solid pick — especially while it's 20% off.

Roku Express 4K+ Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Expess 4K+ $24.00 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.99 Get Deal

Our favorite budget-friendly streaming device, the Roku Express 4K+ delivers ultra-HD quality, multiple HDR standards, and a voice-enabled remote. It's meant to be an entry-level 4K device and it excels in that department. "It’s one of the cheapest streaming devices around but still has all the essential functionality and reliability of more expensive alternatives," our reviewer writes. It's only $39.99 at full price, but as of Jan. 21, it's down to just $24. That's a 40% discount.

Read our full review of the Roku Express 4K+.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 $94.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is not the fanciest tablet on the market, but its no-frills design makes it a solid choice for casual users looking to browse the web, answer some emails, or read on the go. Mashable reviewer SaVanna Shoemaker says it's "lighter and faster than its predecessors, with a long battery life and vivid picture that makes it great for on-the-go entertainment." It typically costs $139.99, but as of Jan. 21, it's on sale for only $94.99. That's 32% in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

GET $250 OFF: Jan. 21, Amazon is offering the Apple Macbook Air M3 chip 24GB RAM 512GB SSD for $1,449.00, saving you 15%, or $250.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Macbook Air M3 chip 24GB RAM 512GB SSD $1,449.00 at Amazon
$1,699.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

The featherweight of computers, this laptop might be slim and portable but it still packs quite a computational punch. While its thin profile means that its lighter under the hood than a Macbook Pro, it's still got powerful specs, including an M3 chip, 24GB of RAM and more. We liked it so much we named the Macbook Air 2024 the best Macbook for most people.

Right now, the Macbook Air M3 is available for the rare sale price of $1,449.00 at Amazon. Get it now to save 15% or $250 off.

SEE ALSO: The best AI laptops we saw at CES 2025

The M3 chip is complex and includes both an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU for graphics. Apple sports the tagline "Built for Apple Intelligence," and sure that's a valid use for it, but this also a great creator's laptop. Whether you're using that chip to build models in 3D, game, design placards for the zoo, or power your live Ableton sets, this is a computer that's built to perform.

You might worry that the Macbook Air's half-inch-thin profile would mean you'd be sacrificing battery longevity, but that's not the case. The laptop's battery will go up to 18 hours on a charge, long enough to forget your charger at home before a weekend trip.

Right now, get the Apple Macbook Air M3 chip 24GB RAM 512GB SSD from Amazon to take advantage of this deal and get it for $1,449.00 for a savings of $250 or 15%.

Whether you're looking for a great productivity laptop, a school computer that can handle any new assignment your professor throws at you, or you're a creative looking to start a business, this 2024 Macbook Air has the juice you need to make it happen.