IT General

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.

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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

Not these.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

THOSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Large gun.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 4, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RIFLE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 4, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 3, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BUDDY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

American airline.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DELTA

Final Hurdle hint

Flora and fauna.

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

BIOME

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

TL;DR: Live stream RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League has started fairly well for Man City. They sit on six points after three fixtures, and can move into the top eight with a win over RB Leipzig. The hosts have only won one of their first three games, so they need a result at the Red Bull Arena.

If you want to watch RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City?

RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 4. This fixture takes place at the Red Bull Arena.

How to watch RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City for free

RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

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

Live stream RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League group stage is starting to take shape. After three rounds of fixtures, we're getting a sense of which teams are likely to progress.

Arsenal have seven points from their opening three fixtures, and will cement their place in the top eight with a victory over Slavia Prague at the Fortuna Arena. The hosts are yet to win, and this fixture looks tough on paper for Slavia Prague.

If you want to watch Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal?

Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 4. This fixture takes place at the Fortuna Arena.

How to watch Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal for free

Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is still in its early stages, but it's already crunch time for Fenerbahçe. They have two points from their opening three fixtures, so they're desperately in need of points against Liverpool. A defeat here will make qualification for the knockout rounds very tricky.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have made a perfect start to this campaign. Another win would put them in a very strong spot after four rounds.

If you want to watch Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool?

Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool in the Champions League kicks off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Nov. 4. This fixture takes place at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

How to watch Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool for free

Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Fenerbahçe vs. Liverpool in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

The Moon is currently in its waning phase, meaning the illuminated portion we can see from Earth is gradually getting smaller. As it moves through the Waning Crescent stage, only a small sliver remains visible before the Moon reaches its New Moon phase.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Nov. 3, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 25% of its surface visible.

Tonight, without the use of visual aids you should be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau and that's all. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll be able to see this and the Kepler Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

It takes the Moon around 29.5 days to pass through a complete lunar cycle. As it travels around Earth, the angle at which sunlight reaches its surface changes what we can see from here, producing the different phases, from the New Moon through to the Full Moon and back again. The cycle then starts over, as explained by NASA.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 4, 2026 Bleach meaning

To remove color or stains from an item or to make it lighter and whiter using chemical agents or sunlight.

Iron meaning

A device with a flat, heated metal base used to press wrinkles out of clothing and fabric.

Tumble dry meaning

Machine drying rather than line drying or laying flat to dry.

Wring meaning

To squeeze or twist something tightly, usually with both hands turned in opposite directions.

Doorstop meaning

A device or hardware accessory used to hold a door open or closed, or to limit how far a hinged door can swing.

Flatiron building meaning

A famous thin, triangular skyscraper in New York City.

Pie slice meaning

A triangular piece of a round, baked sweet dessert.

Wedge meaning

A triangular-shaped object that is used to split, lift, secure or divide materials.

Loll meaning

To recline, sit, or hang in a relaxed, lazy or drooping manner.

Poke meaning

To quickly push, jab or prod someone or something with a finger, elbow or a pointed object like a stick.

Putter meaning

A specialized golf club with a flat, low-profile striking face designed to roll the ball smoothly along the grass into the cup from a short distance.

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Shuffle meaning

To jumble or change the order of items so they are in a random sequence.

Cracker meaning

A flat, dry, crisp biscuit or bread product made from wheat flour.

Fly meaning

To travel through the air using wings, or to operate/travel in an aircraft or spacecraft.

Wood meaning

A hard, fibrous natural material that makes up the trunks, branches and roots of trees and shrubs.

Works meaning

Operates, functions or performs a task.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're never in a hurry.

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 Pips hints, answers for November 4, 2026 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: Same shape

• Green: Clothing instructions

• Blue: Just hanging around

• Purple: Explosive

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Triangular Prisms with a Sharp Edge

• Green: Words After "Do Not" on a Care Label

• Blue: Move Idly, with "Around"

• Purple: Fire___

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 #1242 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Triangular Prisms with a Sharp Edge: DOORSTOP, FLATIRON BUILDING, PIE SLICE, WEDGE

• Words After "Do Not" on a Care Label: BLEACH, IRON, TUMBLE DRY, WRING

• Move Idly, with "Around": LOLL, POKE, PUTTER, SHUFFLE

• Fire___: CRACKER, FLY, WOOD, WORKS

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you work in corporate America.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 November 4, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Getting the job done

The words are related to working.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe office politics.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Human Resources.

NYT Strands word list for November 4

• Staff

• Labor

• Workforce

• People

• Human Resources

• Personnel

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a loose screw.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for November 4, 2026 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Crazy.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter N.

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...

NUTTY

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.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Canva is conducting its first mass layoff, which will potentially impact up to 1271 people. Co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins announced today that the company will undergo a significant restructuring, with 22 percent of its staff to be affected.

SEE ALSO: Canva unveils Magic Studio, a suite of AI-powered design tools

"For some people, this will mean changes to their roles or being asked to relocate to centralised hubs," Perkins said in a note to staff. "Sadly, it will also mean saying goodbye to teammates and friends who have helped build Canva into what it is today."

Canva's browser-based design platform of the same name has become a popular tool for businesses, educators, students, and anyone else interested in easily creating visually appealing documents and presentations. Launched in 2013, the Australian company now has teams across 37 countries, and has claimed over 265 million monthly active users.

However, Canva's growth notably slowed this year, with reports that its monthly active user count was 208 million in July. In August, the design software company revised its revenue growth expectations from 30 percent down to 20 percent — almost half the 38 percent growth it saw last financial year. Canva further wiped $7.9 billion from its own internal valuation later that same month, taking it from $38.9 billion to $31 billion. Two of Canva's backers similarly reduced their valuations of the company, reducing it by 17 percent from $42 billion to $34.9 billion.

Some workers will be asked to relocate to Sydney, where more of Canva's product teams will now be based. Credit: Brendon Thorne / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Canva has previously pointed to the cost of AI as a significant factor driving its lowered revenue projections. While Perkins told investors in August that there is strong demand for its AI products, implementing them has been more expensive and taken longer than initially planned. In April, Canva launched Canva AI 2.0, a platform allowing users to create designs using conversational text prompts. Perkins had stated that Canva's cost per AI task had fallen by 90 percent since Canva AI 2.0's implementation; however, this apparently wasn't enough to prevent the company from lowering its revenue growth forecast.

"This has been our hardest year yet, and as we shared earlier this year, our growth has slowed for the first time in a decade," Perkins wrote to staff. "To set ourselves up for the next decade, we need to refound Canva, getting back to our roots of small, empowered teams with the freedom to make decisions, take ownership and focus on what matters most for our community."

In practice, this means that Canva will be consolidating multiple teams and giving broader roles to those with subspecialties. Sydney will now be the primary base for more of Canva's product teams, with some workers being asked to relocate to the city, while hybrid workers everywhere will be expected to spend two to three days a week in the office from January.

"We started with our mission and future goals, then considered the structures, skills and locations needed to achieve them," said Perkins, explaining how Canva came to the decision to restructure. "Only then did we look at what this would mean for individual roles."

Canva co-founders COO Cliff Obrecht, CEO Melanie Perkins, and CPO Cameron Adams. Credit: Alisha Jucevic / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Employees impacted by Canva's mass layoff will receive a minimum of six months' salary and be allowed to keep their work MacBook. Canva is also waiving the one-year vesting cliff for new workers, as well as offering 12 months of access to its employee assistance program and healthcare in relevant countries. Perkins stated that those laid off will be given support to find new roles elsewhere, including one-on-one coaching and a one-year subscription to LinkedIn Premium.

Further, Canva is establishing a Canva Collective Fund to provide $10,000 grants to laid-off workers interested in establishing their own venture. Applications for grants close Dec. 14, with Perkins stating that Canva will not take any ownership or equity in funded projects.

"This is without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history," Perkins wrote.

Workers at Canva have been given today off, with further information about the restructuring to be provided at a company all-hands meeting on Nov. 10.

Apparently, having a type extends to tax policy as well.

Welcome to Senate Island, where finding a connection means comparing healthcare plans and the next recoupling happens at the polls. The parody website, inspired by the hit reality show Love Island, gives Senate candidates the reality-dating-show treatment, inviting visitors to size up their political connections before casting a ballot in the 2026 midterms. The states are villas, the candidates are islanders, and finding a match involves comparing views on healthcare and housing.

Created by Chicago-based art director and designer Anweih Cox, the site launched Oct. 26 and has since attracted more than 80,000 visitors and half a million page views, according to The 19th. (Cox had initially hoped for 1,000 page views.) It also, naturally, went viral on socials.

The inspiration came from watching Love Island USA and thinking about the enthusiasm fans bring to voting on the show's app, Cox said. If people could get that invested in a recoupling, perhaps the format could make researching an election feel a little more approachable.

How does Senate Island work?

Visitors begin by choosing their state, or "villa," then meeting the candidates hoping to couple up with voters. In Texas, for example, the lineup includes James Talarico, Ken Paxton, and Ted Brown, presented in swipeable profile cards with their names, ages, and AI-generated portraits. (Apparently, the villa dress code is a button-down and khakis.)

Credit: Screenshot: Senate Island

From there, the "Casa Amor" tab takes visitors to a side-by-side comparison of candidates' positions on education, healthcare, housing, AI, and the cost of living. In our Texas walkthrough, selecting education brought up Talarico's opposition to using public school funding to subsidize private schools alongside Paxton’s support for universal school choice. The summaries keep the dating-show language going, with Talarico's entry describing that funding arrangement as a "dealbreaker."

Credit: Screenshot: Senate Island

The policy summaries borrow the language of dating profiles. For example, Florida Democrat Angie Nixon's cost-of-living entry opens with an invitation to swipe right in response to frustration with price gouging, while Republican Ashley Moody's entry frames tax proposals as a love language.

After choosing a candidate, visitors reach voting resources, including links to check registration, find a polling place, and learn more about their ballot. (Choosing someone on the website doesn't cast an actual vote.)

SEE ALSO: Election Day 2026 results updates: See live election results trackers as polls close

"It's important because a lot of times people feel very intimidated," Cox told The 19th. "You have to go through all these different sites sometimes just to hunt down the information you’re looking for, and so just having that starting resource that is on the more playful side just makes it feel less intimidating."

The project has reached someone very familiar with running a villa. Love Island USA host Ariana Madix commented on Cox's TikTok, writing, "you are brilliant."

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I was looking for a fun home lab project to try over the weekend and realized it's been a while since I last made something with an ESP32 board. I have a few different boards among my supplies, including several ESP32-C3 Supermini boards, and I thought, “Why not make a tracking tag out of a few of them? So I did a bit of research for ideas on how to do that and ended up doing a nifty little weekend experiment with the concept.

Election nights always come with a familiar routine. Put on the news. Open an election results page. Check social media to see whether anyone knows something the broadcast doesn’t. Repeat until the phone needs charging.

As Americans wait to learn how the 2026 midterms will shake out, the internet is settling in for a long night. As Americans await the outcome of the 2026 midterms, people are posting through the anticipation — with varying levels of enthusiasm.

Some users are convinced one more refresh will tell them everything they need to know.

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Others are treating their timelines like required reading. Missing a single post? Can’t risk it.

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For the election-map enthusiasts, meanwhile, this is practically the Super Bowl. Apologies in advance to anyone expecting a conversation about anything else.

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All those hours spent scrolling have apparently been training and waiting for this moment.

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Some users are questioning whether election-night anxiety really needs to be a group activity.

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Others are embracing the idea of getting together, provided everyone understands that the agenda is to refresh results and panic.

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Perhaps the most useful hosting advice, based on these reactions, is to ensure there are enough outlets.

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Somewhere between a makeup tutorial and a podcast clip, politics has become part of the daily scroll. Creators are slipping voting reminders into beauty videos, candidates are sitting down with podcasters, and campaigns are paying online personalities to help reach voters.

The 2026 midterms offer a look at how those relationships work in today's influencer economy. Campaigns brief influencers on competitive races and collaborate on posts, while advocacy groups provide training, research, and financial support. Tonight, creators will also cover the midterms across YouTube livestreams alongside familiar network broadcasts.

These arrangements give campaigns and political groups access to audiences who might otherwise tune politics out, while giving some creators the resources to make political coverage steady work. But a voter-registration reminder, a candidate interview, and a paid campaign post can appear in the same feed. Understanding who funds that content, and what they expect in return, is becoming part of following politics online.

SEE ALSO: Election Day 2026 results updates: See live election results trackers now Why campaigns are turning to creators

Creators offer something campaigns want: a highly engaged audience. That audience might follow for political commentary, but it might just as easily come for makeup tutorials or comedy.

"If we’re looking to engage and educate Americans in this modern era, we have to be ready to work with audiences from different places, with different experiences, and who engage with different types of content," Brian Tyler Cohen, founder of Chorus, a progressive nonprofit that supports creators with training, research, and monthly stipends, told Mashable.

That strategy fits how many Americans encounter news online. According to Pew Research Center's 2025 survey, 21 percent of U.S. adults regularly got news from news influencers, including 38 percent of adults ages 18 to 29. Among those regular consumers, 69 percent mostly came across that news rather than actively seeking it out.

Some Americans say creator content has influenced their decisions, too. In a Sep. 2026 Morning Consult survey, 26 percent of U.S. adults said posts from creators had affected whom they voted for in an election, while 56 percent said it had affected their views on political or social issues.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What creator partnerships look like

Organizations such as When We All Vote, Chorus, YALLvote, and Gen-Z for Change work with creators to advance civic engagement and political advocacy. Their goals differ, from nonpartisan voter participation to support for progressive causes and candidates, as do the ways creators bring those messages to their audiences.

For some, that has meant using thirst traps to recruit poll workers. Leigh McGowan, the creator known as PoliticsGirl and a Chorus co-founder, said that creator Alex Cascio noticed her thirst-trap posts were driving poll worker sign-ups and shared a template with the organization. Other creators in the program then adapted the format for their own audiences, McGowan said.

A beauty routine offers another opening. Through When We All Vote's Voting Squad, beauty creator Gabriel Zamora incorporated a voter-registration reminder into a "GRWM" style makeup video, making voting information part of something his followers already came to watch. The nonpartisan initiative, founded by Michelle Obama, also works with beauty creators Golloria and Toni Bravo, health educator Joel Bervell, and houseplant creator Paige Tailyn.

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Separate from those organized programs, creators also build audiences around political commentary. Posting about a race or supporting a candidate does not, on its own, establish a paid campaign relationship. Progressive commentator Harry Sisson delivers short reactions and a daily political podcast, while left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker's longer livestreams give him room to discuss events as they unfold. Political advocacy can extend offline, too. In April, Piker joined Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at university rallies.

Candidate interviews are another way to reach those audiences, giving politicians a platform to make their case to a host's listeners. A guest appearance alone does not establish that the host is being paid by or working for the campaign. The progressive podcast Pod Save America, hosted by former Obama aides, interviewed Democratic Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford in September, while conservative commentator Ben Shapiro interviewed Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers. The strategy extends beyond explicitly political shows. In 2024, Donald Trump appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, while Kamala Harris joined Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy.

Who's paying for the political posts?

Campaigns also work directly with creators to make content. In Massachusetts, for example, digital creator Maria Comstock confirmed that she made a video with Sen. Ed Markey's team, writing that "Influencers are VITAL to modern political campaigns."

Other partnerships explicitly involve campaigns paying creators to publish posts, sometimes for substantial sums. During California's gubernatorial primary, Katie Porter's campaign paid lifestyle creator Avery Cyrus $25,000 for what appeared to be a single TikTok post (which has seemingly been deleted), while Tom Steyer's California gubernatorial campaign paid 17 influencers at least $5,000 each, the New York Times reported back in August. Steyer defended those payments in a Substack post as compensation for creators' work and time, comparing them with payments to campaign staff and consultants.

Nonprofit funding can support a creator's ongoing work rather than pay for a specific campaign post. Chorus, for example, says its monthly stipends help creators grow their platforms and inform their audiences on issues. For McGowan, that support addresses a gap in how Democrats approached online political coverage.

"After 2024, the narrative was that Democrats lost because they weren't showing up online," McGowan told Mashable. "The real problem was that progressive creators like us were there, but no one was supporting or amplifying us."

McGowan said creators in Chorus retain control of their platforms. The organization does not review or approve their posts or ask them to endorse particular candidates. It also does not require creators to disclose its support, citing harassment concerns.

What can audiences tell about creator/campaign relationships?

These arrangements differ in who pays, what the support covers, and how much control a creator retains. Independent commentary may involve no campaign or nonprofit relationship at all. But those distinctions may not be apparent to someone watching a post. A recent Center for Democracy & Technology report, based in part on more than 30 interviews, found that financial ties between creators, agencies, and political groups can be difficult to trace.

Color-coded arrows show how money, influence, and regulation flow among them. Credit: Center for Democracy & Technology

"The opaque nature of partnerships makes it challenging to distinguish between compensated and uncompensated political coordination online," the CDT's researchers wrote. They also noted that a creator's political beliefs don't necessarily reveal whether money is involved.

Questions about who funds election content extend beyond campaigns and advocacy groups. During the Los Angeles mayoral primary, several influencers paid by Kalshi or Polymarket partners promoted betting odds while spreading claims that officials were rigging the race against Spencer Pratt, according to an Oct. 29 CDT analysis. Kalshi later asked several influencers to remove posts that violated its affiliate marketing policies. The episode shows how commercial creator partnerships can also become a vehicle for election misinformation.

As the midterms move from voting reminders to results and reactions, the partnerships behind political content will matter beyond Election Day. Campaigns are paying for access to audiences, organizations are funding creators' ongoing work, and candidates are seeking out familiar hosts. For viewers, the face delivering the message may be recognizable. The relationship behind it can be harder to see.

If you haven't already, it's time to vote.

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections are today, and with them come answers from the American people on the future of the Senate, climate policy, LGBTQ+ rights, billionaire taxes, and more local issues than one can begin to count.

SEE ALSO: Election Day 2026: Find when polls open, close, and other voting details

The tech industry — led by SpaceXSI owner Elon Musk — has invested hundreds of millions in the outcome of this year's local elections amid a push to regulate the industry. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has threatened to sequester votes, block results certifications, and revolt against a theorized blue wave of democratic electorates.

All of this to say: Your ballot well and truly matters.

Check out the results trackers below to see how the rest of America feels on the issues, too.

Election results trackers with latest updates

The easiest way to track live election results is via online election hubs from known news outlets. These will be updated in real-time as estimated counts come in, and you can reliably keep track of multiple outlets' predictions at once versus switching channels.

• The Associated Press 

• Bloomberg

• NBC News House Tracker

• CNN Results Map

• ABC

• MSNow 

• FOX News 

• The New York Times Election Hub

• The New York Times Congressional seat tracker

• The Guardian

• Al Jazeera live election maps and results

Election livestreams and coverage

In addition, you can tune into live coverage of the elections. Major news outlets will be covering results in real-time for standard cable customers and on streaming services, as well as YouTube streams from CBS News, PBS NewsHour, and NBC News Now.

When will we know the official results?

Keep in mind that vote counts and race calls from news outlets are technically unofficial. Each outlet calculates results using different measures, and states vary in how and when they report outcomes. It may take days — even weeks, some experts say — to have final tallies in every state.

At least 14 state Senate races will be closely watched until official counts are called, including Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Alaska. Alaska will be the last state to close its polls at 1 a.m. ET, which means predictions won't be made until late into the night or tomorrow, Nov. 4. Both Alaska and Maine also use a ranked-choice runoff voting system, which could delay results further.

UPDATE: Nov. 3, 2026, 11:12 a.m. This article was updated with additional information on when election results will be called.

If you're like me, you have more Raspberry Pis than you have monitors, or even monitor inputs. They tend to pile up as you buy an old Pi 3 here or a cheap Pi Zero there.

I recently rooted my LG TV to try to stop it from spying on me. One of the benefits of doing so was that I was able to install homebrew apps on the TV to give it features that it didn’t previously have. When I realized that I could use AI to vibe-code custom apps for my TV, I decided to replicate an Apple TV feature that I’ve always wanted.

Netflix has no plans to slow down even with only two months left in the year. In fact, the streamer is ramping up its list of new and returning shows this month. One of Netflix's surprise U.S. hits of 2025 returns on Thanksgiving for a drama-filled second season.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 3, the Soundcore P30i earbuds are on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore P30i $29.99 at Amazon
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Looking for an affordable pair of earbuds that don't sacrifice quality? Meet the Soundcore P30i. As of Nov. 3, these earbuds are down to just $29.99 at Amazon, saving you $20 on their usual list price of $49.99. This price is for the pink, blue, and white earbuds, so you can choose a color that suits you.

There are lots of reasons to choose these earbuds, and sound is just one. These are designed to make listening and watching on the move easier with the charging case that has a clever extra feature: it doubles as a phone stand, so you can prop up your device and watch your favorite shows hands-free.

They also offer active noise cancellation that reduces external noise by up to 42dB, with automatic adjustments based on your surroundings. If you'd rather hear what's happening around you, switch to transparency mode to let ambient sound through.

Battery life is another strong point. You can get up to 10 hours of listening on a single charge, or six hours with ANC switched on. The charging case extends that to 45 hours in total, and a quick 10-minute charge provides an extra two hours of playback.

Get this earbuds deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $30: As of July 6, the Fire Stick 4K Plus is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K Plus $39.99 at Amazon
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Amazon has knocked $30 off its Fire TV Stick 4K Plus ahead of Black Friday, bringing the price down to $39.99 from $69.99.

You can save $30 on a new streaming device to upgrade an older TV. If you have a 4K-compatible TV, the Fire TV Stick can make the most of it, supporting 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+. It also includes Dolby Atmos audio.

This is the 2026 edition, featuring a more streamlined design and an updated Fire TV experience.

There's no shortage of things to watch, either. You can access major streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max. There are also thousands of free films and TV episodes available through ad-supported platforms such as Tubi, Pluto TV, and Fire TV Channels. And if you're a gamer, you can even stream Xbox titles with Xbox Game Pass.

Head to Amazon now to grab this limited-time streaming deal.