Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump has claimed that pardons signed by his predecessor Joe Biden are invalid. His reasoning: They were allegedly signed with an autopen, a signing machine used by the U.S government for decades. Unfortunately for Trump, presidential pardons legally don't need to be signed at all.

On Monday, Trump declared that several pardons Biden had issued were "VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen" (emphasis original). Previously used by multiple past presidents, autopens are programmable machines with mechanical arms that can automatically write a given signature.

SEE ALSO: Trump and Musk hosted a Tesla ad at the White House

Specifically, Trump's announcement targeted preemptive pardons Biden had issued to members of the House committee who investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Biden granted these pardons hours before Trump's inauguration, aiming to shield the House committee members from the incoming president's retaliation. 

Trump had made no secret of his intent to go after those who investigated the attack, previously stating on his social media platform Truth Social that they "should be tried for Fraud and Treason." Now the president is attempting to eliminate obstacles to doing so, alleging not only that Biden didn't sign the pardons, but that he was completely unaware that they were even happening.

"Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!" Trump claimed on Truth Social. "The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime."

Trump has not offered any evidence supporting these allegations. When asked by a reporter whether any such evidence exists, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt merely stated, "You're a reporter, you should find out." Typically it is the duty of the party making allegations to provide proof of their claims.

Biden released a statement announcing the pardons at the time they were issued. He had also spoken about the possibility of issuing them in prior interviews.

Did Trump invalidate Biden's presidential pardons?

Despite Trump's attempts to invalidate Biden's pardons, with the president stating on Truth Social that House committee members "are subject to investigation at the highest level," his declaration doesn't have any actual legal impact. 

Regardless of whether Biden used an autopen to sign the House committee pardons, a signature is not needed to grant a presidential pardon. In fact, there are no "necessary Pardoning Documents" as Trump suggests. Last year, a U.S. court determined that while having a presidential pardon in writing is proof that it occurred, the Constitution does not require them to be written down at all, much less signed. As previously mentioned, Biden's statements made clear that he had issued the pardons.

Can a U.S. president use an autopen to sign documents? Credit: The Autopen Company

Even if a signature was required, the use of an autopen does not render a document void. Though the validity of documents signed by an autopen hasn't been tested in court, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an opinion in 2005 stating that it is legal for presidents to sign bills with an autopen. This advice was issued in response to former president George W. Bush's request for guidance on the matter.

"The President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become law," wrote the DOJ. "Rather, the President may sign a bill… by directing a subordinate to affix the President’s signature to such a bill, for example by autopen."

Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to sign a bill into law with an autopen when he extended the Patriot Act in 2011. He subsequently used it several other times to sign bills when unable to put pen to paper in person. Biden also used the autopen to sign at least one bill. If all documents signed using an autopen were found to be invalid, there could be notable consequences far beyond the House committee.

U.S. officials had already used autopens to sign letters for decades, including former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Trump himself has admitted to using an autopen, telling reporters on Sunday that "we may use it, as an example, to send some young person a letter because it's nice." However, Trump claimed that he hasn't used the machine to sign documents of consequence.

"To sign pardons and all of the things that [Biden] signed with an autopen is disgraceful," Trump said, appearing to briefly acknowledge that Biden did in fact sign them.

Trump did concede on Sunday that the validity of Biden's pardons would be a matter for a court to decide, though the White House has not given any indication that it has filed a legal challenge. Even so, the president seems to have already made up his mind about the issue, regardless of the lack of evidence.

FREE LEGO: On March 23-23, build a Mother's Day Flower model at participating stores (UK and Ireland) and take it home with you for free. Find participating stores here.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego: Free Mother's Day Flower Learn More

Lego has been on an incredible run of generosity lately.

On Feb. 9, customers had the opportunity to build a Lego Valentine's Day Heart and take it home for free. That was special, but then Lego followed that up with a similar Steering Wheel giveaway on March 9. We naively thought that the generosity would end there, but Lego just keeps the make-and-take events coming.

On March 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and March 23 from 12-2 p.m., Lego is running a Mother's Day Flower make-and-take event intended for participants aged 6+ years. The Mother's Day Flower model is available on a first come first serve basis at participating locations in the UK and Ireland, and only while supplies last. Participants are limited to one build each, so you can't stock up and throw hundreds of Lego flowers at your mum. She doesn't want that anyway.

SEE ALSO: 'Piece By Piece' review: Pharrell Williams finds his happy place in Legoland biopic

As with all these special events run by Lego, the model that you build is not available for purchase. So participants are getting their hands on an exclusive item for free.

Build and take home an exclusive Lego Mother's Day Flower for free on March 22-23.

TL;DR: Online courses from Stanford University are available to take for free on edX.

Looking to find online courses covering useful topics like Python, AI, computer science, and much more? edX is the place for you. This hub for online courses hosts lessons on a wide range of subjects. And better yet, these online courses are delivered by famous schools like Stanford University.

We have checked out everything on offer and got you started with a standout selection of online courses from Stanford University. And believe it or not, these online courses are available to take for free.

These are the best Stanford University courses you can take for free this month.

• Algorithms: Design and Analysis

• Algorithms: Design and Analysis Part 2

• American Prophet: The Inner Life and Global Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.

• America's Poverty and Inequality Course

• Communicating with Presence

• Compilers

• Computer Science 101

• Databases: Advanced Topics in SQL

• Databases: Modeling and Theory

• Databases: OLAP and Recursion

• Databases: Relational Databases and SQL

• Designing Your Career

• Introduction to the Natural Capital Project Approach

• Language, Proof, and Logic

• Mining Massive Datasets

• Nano at Stanford

• Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers 1

• Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers 2

• R Programming Fundamentals

• SafetyQuest: Level One - QI Basics

• SafetyQuest: Level Two - Moving Beyond QI Basics

• SafetyQuest: Level Three - Implementing QI

• SafetyQuest: Level Four - Mastering QI

• Semantics of First-Order Logic

• Statistical Learning with Python

• Statistical Learning with R

• The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism

• Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria

These free courses do not include certificates of completion or graded assignments/exams, but you can still learn at your own pace. For unlimited access to all course material, you'll need to upgrade.

Find the best free online courses from Stanford University at edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Stanford University Stanford University Courses Free at edX Get Deal

TL;DR: Unblock XVideos from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best VPN for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

In many locations around the world, your access to porn sites like XVideos will be restricted. There are probably good reasons for this block being in place, but there is also something to be said for retaining your right to online freedom. In a valiant effort to preserve your online freedom, we're giving you the information you need to bypass online restrictions and access sites like XVideos from anywhere in the world.

Want to unblock porn sites like XVideos for free from anywhere in the world? We have the information you need.

How to unblock XVideos for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in another location. This straightforward process bypasses content restrictions so you can access porn sites like XVideos from anywhere in the world.

Unblock XVideos by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to XVideos

4. Unblock XVideos

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-year subscription + 4 months free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're temporarily away from home on an unsecured network.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like XVideos, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock XVideos for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Florida with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content, including Florida. With the introduction of age verification laws, millions of users in Florida are now unable to access Pornhub. The reasons for these restrictions are complicated, but the workaround is not.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Florida, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Florida

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers on Sling TV.

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers will meet this week for two highly anticipated matchups in the MLB Tokyo Series, which marks the start of the 2025 regular season.

All eyes are on the Cubs and Dodgers — two teams with decades-long cult followings. The Dodgers have really been in the spotlight since Japanese player Shohei Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract with the team back in 2023. Rōki Sasaki just joined the Dodgers in January, and fans are eager to see both Japanese natives play in their home country.

Even though the games are in Tokyo, you can easily watch them in the US. We've also got you covered on how to watch from anywhere else in the world.

When is Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers?

The first Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game of the series takes place at 6:10 a.m. ET on March 18.

The two teams will face off at the Tokyo Dome. The game will air on Fox.

How to watch Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Both Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers games this week can be streamed using Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue subscriptions on Sling TV.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Shop Now

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

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

How to watch Cubs vs. Dodgers from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the MLB from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Cubs vs. Dodgers from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

5. Watch Cubs vs. Dodgers from anywhere in the world

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

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

TL;DR: The best eSIM for Ireland is Saily. Save 5% on Saily eSIM data plans with the exclusive coupon code MASHABLE10.

The World Expo 2025 will take place in Osaka. The mega event is forecasted to attract a significant audience, with around 500 events taking place over the course of six months. With several million international visitors expected, there will be a huge number of people looking for the best way to stay connected. This is where an eSIM can help.

If you're looking for the best eSIM for Japan in 2025, we have all the information you need.

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital product that allows users to activate a data plan without needing a physical SIM card. Users can switch service providers via software settings, meaning you don't need to swap SIM cards when attempting to avoid roaming charges.

What is the best eSIM for Japan?

The best eSIM for Japan is Saily, a product from Nord Security.

Saily covers over 200 countries and territories, including Japan. When in Japan, you can choose between five Saily plans (1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, or 20GB) for a period of one week or 30 days. Users get 24/7 customer support, straightforward installation, and automatical activation upon arrival. And if you run out of data, users can easily top up their plan and continue using the services without interruption.

Saily's best eSIM deals for Japan are as follows:

• 1GB (1 Week) — $3.60 $3.99 (save 10%)

• 3GB (30 Days) — $7.20 $7.99 (save 5%)

• 5GB (30 Days) — $9.9 $10.99 (save 5%)

• 10GB (30 Days) — $16.19 $17.99 (save 5%)

• 20GB (30 Days) — $22.49 $24.99 (save 5%)

Something to note is that all plans have a 30-day activation period. If you purchase a plan and don't activate it, it will be activated automatically after 30 days.

Opens in a new window Credit: Saily Saily: eSIM for Japan 10% off with exclusive coupon code MASHABLE10 Get Deal

Trump administration officials said the company donated the internet service, saying the gift had been vetted by the lawyer overseeing ethics issues in the White House Counsel’s Office.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A common unit of volume.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

LITER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A line of people.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 18, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

QUEUE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The opposite of straight.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 18, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CURLY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A symbol for Valentine's Day.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 18 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CUPID

Final Hurdle hint

A protective covering.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LINER

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

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Learning to ride a bike

• Green: Slang for putting the ball in play

• Blue: Famous athletes

• Purple: Share the same first word

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: Parts of a bicycle

• Green: Ways to describe how a baseball is hit

• Blue: Athletes known by their first name

• Purple: __________ skating

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 #176 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Parts of a bicycle - BRAKE, PEDAL, SADDLE, SPOKE

• Ways to describe how a baseball is hit - BLOOP, DRIBBLER, FROZEN ROPE, MOONSHOT

• Athletes known by their first name - TIGER, VENUS, WILT, YOGI

• __________ skating - FIGURE, ICE, ROLLER, SPEED

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 March 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 18 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Grrr

The words are synoynms.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are emotions that make you say, grrr.

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 Crossword.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 18

• Surly

• Vexed

• Grumpy

• Cranky

• Irked

• Peeved

• Touchy

• Crossword

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.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 March 18 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: One of a kind

• Green: Germanic

• Blue: Word never changes if multiplied

• Purple: Doesn't follow the usual rules of pluralization

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: Exceptional

• Green: German words

• Blue: Plural animals identical to their singular forms

• Purple: Plural words that are very different from their singular forms

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 #645 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Exceptional: REMARKABLE, SINGULAR, SPECIAL, UNIQUE

• German words: ANGST, DIE, KINDER, WURST

• Plural animals identical to their singular forms: DEER, SHEEP, SHRIMP, SQUID

• Plural words that are very different from their singular forms: DICE, LICE, MICE, OXEN

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 March 18

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: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for March 18 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 March 18, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A function in the Clock app.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TIMER.

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 March 18

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.

"What if Wicked and The Substance had a grubby baby?" This was the headline for my review of The Ugly Stepsister out of Sundance 2025, as I cheered this twisted fairytale full of violent beauty treatments and body horror.

SEE ALSO: How 'The Substance' broke the Oscars mold

Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister re-imagines the tale of Cinderella from the perspective of one of her maligned siblings. Elvira (Lea Myren) wants only to be friends with her pretty and proper new stepsister Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss). Well, that and she pines endlessly for the love of the prince, who publishes poetry that has her swooning into romantic fantasies. So when Elvira's mother promises her a path to wowing royalty at the upcoming ball, she'll do whatever it takes — even if that means a medieval nose job without anesthesia. And things only get more gruesome from there.

As promised in my review — which is pull-quoted in the above trailer — "The Ugly Stepsister is a deranged and dizzying achievement, folding in a classic story with a bitingly modern satire and bold body horror...Simply put, The Ugly Stepsister is savagely brutal and yet strangely beautiful."

The Ugly Stepsister opens in theaters April 18.

TL;DR: Get an AI Magicx lifetime subscription for $64.99 with code MAGIC35 (reg. $99.99). Fewer than 50 are left in stock.

You know the feeling — you ask ChatGPT for help with a creative project, and it spits out something…underwhelming. It’s fine, but it could be better. That’s why so many writers, designers, and creators are moving to this new AI tool for content creation.

AI Magicx is what ChatGPT wishes it could be. The layout of preset templates for writing, images, coding, and more is insanely refreshing compared to the simple chatbot’s text-based prompts. Using them is even sweeter — and cheaper. Own AI Magicx for $64.99 using code MAGIC35 at checkout (reg. $99.99).

The content creator’s dream tool

No more arguing with ChatGPT when you have a deadline on that article or marketing ad — see what AI Magicx’s tools have to offer. Having prebuilt templates for each need makes it much easier to communicate with each AI and get better results.

Let’s say you want to generate an AI logo. Rather than sending over a muddled paragraph to ChatGPT, simply:

1. Describe your logo in a text box

2. Choose a logo style

3. Select a color palette and background color

4. Hit generate

AI Magicx also hardly limits you as a creator. Each month, you get an unlimited number of AI words and up to 500 images and logos.

Own these AI writing and design tools for life with code MAGIC35 at checkout, dropping the price from $99.99 to $64.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: AI Magicx AI Magicx: Lifetime Subscription (Rune Plan) $64.99
$99.99 Save $35 Get Deal

It's bad enough that tech companies trained their AI models on content that doesn't belong to them. Now, however, it appears that at least one AI model is being used to remove watermarks from images so others can use content that doesn't belong to them, too.

Social media users have recently discovered that Google's new Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model can be used to remove watermarks from images.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

As reported by TechCrunch, this isn't completely new. Other AI image models have been able to remove watermarks. However, Gemini 2.0 Flash appears to be better than all other AI models at this particular task. 

Gemini 2.0 Flash doesn't just remove the watermark. It fills in the gaps in the image that are left from removing the watermark.

Based on what users on platforms like X and Reddit have shared, it appears that ​​Gemini 2.0 Flash does have some trouble removing certain types of watermarks, such as semi-transparent watermarks. As TechCrunch notes, Google has only made the model available via its developer tools platform, and the company has currently labeled Gemini 2.0 Flash’s image generation feature as “experimental” and “not for production use."

Reddit

However, for photographers and other artists, this is certainly a concerning use of the tool, at least until Google puts some guardrails on the AI image generation feature.

Photographers often depend on watermarks to identify their work as their own; when someone purchases the work, the watermark is removed for that person's use. But if any internet user can just run the image through an AI model to remove the watermark, artists will certainly experience problems getting paid. (Note, also, that in most cases removing a watermark without the permission of the creator is copyright infringement, and illegal under U.S. law.)

The future issues here likely won't be with Google's specific AI tool. The issue is that this is possible with an AI model to begin with. Even if Google adds guardrails to protect copyright holders from uses such as this, there will likely be other third-party AI tools that will replicate these features. In fact, as we previously mentioned, they already are. And soon, they'll probably be just as good as Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash model, too.

There's a new Instagram feature that could prove to be revolutionary for three very specific communities:

• Guys who want to be the first to say "happy birthday"

• People who don't want to seem too eager but also don't want to forget to message a new friend

• Dudes who say "good morning, beautiful" but want to sleep in

That's right. You can schedule messages on Instagram DMs now — here's how:

SEE ALSO: New Instagram DM features allow you to translate, schedule, and pin messages Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• Phone
• Instagram app

Step 1: Type our your message

Type out the message you want to send, but don't press send immediately.

Credit: Screenshot / Instagram

Step 2: Schedule the message.

Press and hold on the green send button until a time dial pops up. By moving the date and time on the clock, you can choose when you'd like your message to send. You can schedule up to three months in advance.

Credit: Screenshot / Instagram

Step 3: Your message is scheduled

You know your message was properly scheduled if it says, "1 scheduled message," above where you'd type a message. If you'd like to unschedule your message, simply tap the line that says "1 scheduled message" to see the message and click either "edit," "copy," or "delete."

Credit: Screenshot / Instagram

The feature was announced alongside many other new features, including translating directly within DMs and pinning messages to chats. Most of the features, including scheduling messages, are not available on desktop but are available on the Instagram Android and iOS apps.

AI is all over social media. We have AI influencers, AI content, and AI accounts — and, now, it looks like we might get AI comments on Instagram posts, too. What are any of us doing this for anymore?

App researcher Jonah Manzano shared a post on Threads and a video on TikTok showing how some Instagram users now notice a pencil with a star icon in their comments field, allowing them to post AI-generated comments under posts and videos.

SEE ALSO: Meta is diving into AI-powered humanoid robots

"Write with Meta AI," the tool says, with two subsections: "how to use this tool" and "how it works."

Under "how to use this tool," it says, "Get suggested captions based on the photo you're sharing. You can always edit the suggestions or try again."

And under "how it works," it claims, "Meta AI can analyse photos, including facial features, to help you write."

In the video on TikTok that Manzano shared, three comment options are: "Cute living room setup!" "love the casual vibe here," and "gray cap is so cool." Unfortunately, all three of these are clearly computer-generated slop and take an already shaky human interaction down a notch.

It's hard to know why you'd want to remove the human element from every aspect of social media, but Instagram seems to be going to try it anyway. Meta did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment.

TL;DR: Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro and unlock access to Copilot AI tools for only A$23 through 30 March — that’s a 92% discount.

If you thought AI would only be a fad, take a look at Microsoft. As we speak (or read?), they’re making computers infused with Microsoft Copilot, their latest AI technology. But something even cooler? You don’t have to get a new device to get Copilot — just upgrade to Windows 11.

And, if you’re going for it, go all the way and get the Pro version with the most features, like remote desktop access and hard drive encryption. We have a deal on Windows 11 Pro keys for only A$23 (reg. A$314), and each purchase comes with two keys for compatible PCs.

AI in Windows 11

We realize you can use AI chatbots, so what makes Windows Copilot special? For one, Copilot is built using a custom version of GPT-4, so it’s like getting the premium version of ChatGPT for free.

There are also many perks of having Copilot built into your PC:

• Ask it to change system settings instead of finding them yourself

• Summarize web pages without having to ‘copy and paste’

• Have it set reminders, schedule meetings, or draft emails

Pro-specific features

Already have Windows 11 Home, but curious about what Pro delivers? Remote desktop access becomes super handy in a pinch, as does BitLocker device encryption in case of device loss or theft. You’ll also get Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for other professional testing and tasks.

Get two keys to Windows 11 Pro for A$23 (reg. A$314) until 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT at the Mashable Shop. No coupon is needed to get this discount.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (2 Keys) AU$23 at the Mashable Shop
AU$314 Save AU$291 Get Deal

TL;DR: For a limited time, Mashable readers can pay just A$110 for lifetime access to FileJump's 2TB cloud storage plan.

Looking to optimize your storage? During this sale, you can get peace of mind with the FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just A$110 (reg. A$738).

Ideal for students, professionals, or anyone else who hates running out of storage space, FileJump offers an easy, secure, and affordable way to store files across devices.

Whether backing up family photos, collaborating on projects, or simply saving space on their devices, FileJump is the perfect solution. It comes with 2TB of storage, end-to-end encryption, and no recurring fees — no subscription needed.

With FileJump’s drag-and-drop interface, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to upload files, while the built-in media preview makes viewing photos, videos, and documents a breeze.

Sharing and collaborating are seamless, too. Share files via custom links or create free accounts for clients and team members to access shared folders. With AES 256-bit encryption, your files are not only accessible but also secure.

What really sets FileJump apart? There are no limits on download speeds or transfer rates, meaning you’ll never wait longer than necessary to access your data.

At A$110 for lifetime access to 2TB of storage, an 85% discount, FileJump delivers premium features at an incredible value. Competitors charge monthly fees for similar services, but with FileJump, you pay once and own it forever. This offer isn’t just practical and useful — it’s economical, too.

For a limited time, you’ll pay just A$110 (reg. A$738) for lifetime access to 2TB of FileJump storage.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription AU$110
AU$738 Save AU$628 Get Deal