IT General
Hurdle hints and answers for December 6, 2025
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 hintTo search.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerFRISK
Hurdle Word 2 hintA command.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerEDICT
Hurdle Word 3 hintHold.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answerGRASP
Hurdle Word 4 hintFake.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 6 Hurdle Word 4 answerBOGUS
Final Hurdle hintA breast.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerBOSOM
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on December 6
Have you noticed the moon looking a little smaller lately? That's because of where we are in the lunar cycle, a series of the moon's different phases. Right now, we're heading towards the New Moon. Keep reading to find out what this means.
What is today’s moon phase?As of Saturday, Dec. 6, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 96% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
If you're looking up with just your naked eye, there's lots to see, in particular the Oceanus Procellarum and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to spy the Posidonius and Alphonsus craters, as well at the Grimaldi Basin. And with a telescope, you can catch a glimpse of the Apollo 11 and 12 landing spots and the Linne Crater.
When is the next full moon?The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.
What are moon phases?NASA explains that the lunar cycle (which is about 29.5 days long) is made up of the Moon’s phases, which describe how the Moon looks from Earth as it travels around us. We view the same side of the Moon at all times, but the sunlight hitting its surface shifts as it moves through its orbit. That changing illumination is what makes the Moon appear full, half-lit, or not visible at all. The cycle includes eight distinct phases:
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.
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 6, 2025
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love animated films.
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 December 6, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Typical
Green: To appease
Blue: Famous cartoons
Purple: Reptiles and amphibians
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Norm
Green: Mollify
Blue: Member of a titular group in an animation franchise
Purple: Starting with herpetofauna
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 #909 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayNorm: AVERAGE, MEAN, PAR, STANDARD
Mollify: COOL, MODERATE, SETTLE, TEMPER
Member of a titular group in an animation franchise: CAR, INCREDIBLE, MINION, MONSTER
Starting with herpetofauna: ADDERALL, MONITORSHIP, NEWTON, TOADY
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 December 6, 2025Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
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 today's Connections.
NYT Strands hints, answers for December 6, 2025
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love fantasy books.
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 MashableBy 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 December 6, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 6, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Tolkien's worldThe words are related to fantasy.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe "The Lord of the Rings."
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Middle Earth.
NYT Strands word list for December 6Wizard
Forest
Hobbit
Middle Earth
Quest
Dwarf
Ring
Shire
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 today's Strands.
NYT Pips hints, answers for December 6, 2025
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 6, 2025The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 6, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 6 PipsNumber (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.
Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 6 PipsGreater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.
Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 6 PipsGreater Than (1): Everything in this light blue space must be greater than 1. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (1): Everything in this green space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 6, 2025
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know your Joes.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Sports teams
Green: Schools
Blue: Legends
Purple: Alliterative strategy
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Pro teams whose names start with D
Green: Division I colleges
Blue: Basketball hall of famers
Purple: Five Ds of Dodgeball
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 #439 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Pro teams whose names start with D - DEVILS, DIAMONDBACKS, DOLPHINS, DREAM
Division I colleges - DARTMOUTH, DAYTON, DEPAUL, DUKE
Basketball hall of famers - DIVAC, DONOVAN, DREXLER, DUNCAN
Five Ds of Dodgeball - DIP, DIVE, DODGE, DUCK
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 today's Connections.
Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 6, 2025
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a belly dancer.
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 December 6, 2025 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 Pips hints, answers for December 6, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Midsection.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.
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...
WAIST
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 December 6, 2025Reporting 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 today's Wordle.
Roku is killing Photo Streams, ending personal pics as screensavers
TV streamer Roku recently announced it's ending Photo Streams in early 2026 and replacing it with something called Backdrops, which limits personal photo options but includes a library of artwork to cull from.
The transition from Photo Streams to Backdrops is already underway. "Over the next few months, you’ll start seeing messages about Photo Streams moving to Backdrops," Roku announced on their website. "At the end of January 2026, Photo Streams will stop working and only display a message directing you to open Backdrops."
Photo Streams currently operates as a screensaver for users who set it up, filling in inactive screen time by featuring pictures uploaded by the user. Those uploaded images will still be accessible on Backdrops, but only one gallery is available to view at once — and Backdrops must be specifically turned on for the photos to appear. By Feb. 2026, the screens of all inactive Roku sessions will default to the (in)famous Roku City background, which features advertising.
SEE ALSO: This Cyber Monday Roku Streaming Stick deal is still live — act fast to save over $10This change is clearly a bummer for those who loved featuring their personal pics on a large screen without having to think much about it. Roku is trying to soften the blow by offering free digital art, totaling about 4,500 images, for users of Backdrops. Works by artists like Johannes Vermeer, Paul Gaugin, Leonardo da Vinci, and Mary Cassatt were available as of early December, along with images of nature and cityscapes. Background users will also be able to adjust the photo display time and launch it directly with the Roku remote’s power button.
Roku doesn’t say there is an advertising component behind the change, instead stating, "Backdrops brings photos into one app that's easier to use, more customizable, and will allow us to keep adding new photo and ambient experiences over time."
The 8-in-1 EDC is the gift they didn’t see coming — and it’s just $20
TL;DR: A compact 8-in-1 keyring GoCable that charges fast, organizes neatly, and solves everyday tech moments — on sale for the holidays for just $19.97 (MSRP $49.99).
Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $19.97$49.99 Save $30.02 Get Deal
There are gifts people expect — socks, candles, yet another travel mug — and then there are the ones that quietly earn a permanent spot in someone’s daily routine. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable falls squarely into the second category. It’s the kind of practical, tech-forward surprise that makes people say, “Wait … this does that too?”
At first glance, GoCable looks like a sleek little keyring accessory. But once you start using it, it quickly proves it’s more than just a charging cable.
Designed as an everyday carry essential, it combines ultra-fast charging with genuinely useful built-in tools, all wrapped in a compact, tangle-free design that clips neatly onto a bag, belt loop, or keychain.
With 100W charging capabilities (when paired with a compatible power source), GoCable can power everything from phones and tablets to laptops, drones, and cameras.
Universal connectors mean you’re covered whether you’re using USB-C or Apple’s Lightning — no more digging through tangled cords or carrying three different cables just in case.
What makes it especially satisfying, though, are the thoughtful extras. An LED power display shows your real-time charging status. The magnetic wrap keeps things neat and frustration-free. There’s even a built-in bottle opener and a safe-proof cutter for impromptu moments like opening a package on the fly or cracking a drink at a picnic.
With on-time holiday shipping available through Dec. 14, the GoCable makes for an unexpected but incredibly useful gift — especially for travelers, creators, commuters, and anyone who lives even slightly tethered to their devices.
Priced at $19.97 (MSRP $49.99) for a limited time, the GoCable is a gift that feels both smart and genuinely helpful — grab it while stock is still available.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The American super SUV with 682 hp and sports-car-beating performance
For more than 20 years, the Escalade has been the go-to symbol of American luxury—big, bold, and impossible to ignore. But no one expected Cadillac to turn it into something that launches like a supercar.
5 obscure media player apps for Windows to try this weekend
Windows comes with a few media player apps built in that are usually "good enough." However, I'm not really a fan of any of them for one reason or another. If you're looking for a media player that is different, more powerful, or just not Microsoft, here are 5 great alternatives for you.
Is the Raspberry Pi 500+ and its mechanical keyboard worth it?
The Raspberry Pi 500+ is most of a Raspberry Pi 5 Model B 16GB that’s been squeezed into a keyboard case, with fancy mechanical key switches and some fetching RGB lighting. It’s fair to ask whether this package is worth the $200 asking price, or whether you’d be better off with a regular Pi instead.
Google wants to give chrome access to even more of your private data
Google Chrome is rolling out updates to its autofill feature, giving the browser much deeper access to the data stored in your Google Account and Google Wallet. This move means consolidating even more of your personal information under Google's umbrella.
Study reveals poetic prompting can sometimes jailbreak AI models
Well, AI is joining the ranks of many, many people: It doesn't really understand poetry.
Research from Italy’s Icaro Lab found that poetry can be used to jailbreak AI and skirt safety protections.
In the study, researchers wrote 20 prompts that started with short poetic vignettes in Italian and English and ended the prompts with a single explicit instruction to produce harmful content. They tested these prompts on 25 Large Language Models across Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Deepseek, Qwen, Mistral AI, Meta, xAI, and Moonshot AI. The researchers said the poetic prompts often worked.
"Poetic framing achieved an average jailbreak success rate of 62% for hand-crafted poems and approximately 43% for meta-prompt conversions (compared to non-poetic baselines), substantially outperforming non-poetic baselines and revealing a systematic vulnerability across model families and safety training approaches," the study reads. "These findings demonstrate that stylistic variation alone can circumvent contemporary safety mechanisms, suggesting fundamental limitations in current alignment methods and evaluation protocols."
Of course, there were differences in how well the jailbreaking worked across the different LLMs. OpenAI’s GPT-5 nano didn't respond with harmful or unsafe content at all, while Google’s Gemini 2.5 pro responded with harmful or unsafe content every single time, the researchers reported.
The researchers concluded that “these findings expose a significant gap” in benchmark safety tests and regulatory efforts such as the EU AI Act.
"Our results show that a minimal stylistic transformation can reduce refusal rates by an order of magnitude, indicating that benchmark-only evidence may systematically overstate real-world robustness," the paper stated.
Great poetry is not literal — and LLMs are literal to the point of frustration. The study reminds me of how it feels to listen to Leonard Cohen’s song "Alexandra Leaving," which is based on C.P. Cavafy's poem "The God Abandons Antony." We know it's about loss and heartbreak, but it would be a disservice to the song and the poem it's based on to try to "get it" in any literal sense — and that's what LLMs will try to do.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
Feds investigate Waymo robotaxis for reportedly passing school buses in Austin
Waymo robotaxis have been providing public rides in Austin, Texas since March, and following safety incidents with school buses, Austin school district officials have asked the company to stop offering robotaxi rides during school drop-off times.
Now, regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are investigating Waymo over complaints that its robotaxis have illegally passed school buses at least 19 times, according to Reuters.
The NHTSA sent a letter to Waymo earlier this week informing the company about the beginning of its inquiry concerning its autonomous vehicles' inability to follow traffic laws concerning school buses. The letter also requested additional information about the company's self-driving system.
An initial investigation was opened into Waymo in October by the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) after it obtained video of a Waymo robotaxi driving around a school bus in Atlanta as the vehicle was unloading schoolchildren with its stop sign extended and flashing lights on. Now the agency is going even further in its inquiry.
SEE ALSO: Feds investigating Tesla’s ‘Mad Max’ modeWaymo said it released a software fix to the issue on November 17. However, in a public letter, the Austin Independent School District says that five of the 19 school bus-related Waymo incidents occurred after that date.
"One of these violations underscores the urgent risk posed by Waymo’s illegal activity: a Waymo automated vehicle was recorded driving past a stopped school bus only moments after a student crossed in front of the vehicle, and while the student was still in the road," the Austin School District wrote in a Nov. 20 letter to Waymo. "The vehicle then proceeds through a cross walk and an intersection, where all other vehicles are stopped."
The Austin School District requests that Waymo stop operating its robotaxis from 5:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the hours when children are typically being picked up and dropped off before and after school.
The ODI sent its own letter to Waymo shortly after, letting the company know it was aware of the issue and inquiring if Waymo was planning to abide by the request to cease operations during those times.
According to a report by TechCrunch, Waymo insists that its update has improved its robotaxis' road safety issues around school buses. However, it does not seem like the company plans to oblige the Austin School District's request.
BMW M240i vs. M2: why the M240i offers better overall value
The debate between BMW’s top compact performance cars has never been more intense, and many buyers automatically assume the pricier, track-focused option is the obvious choice. But in 2025, that assumption doesn’t hold up. The more attainable alternative delivers nearly the same straight-line speed, everyday comfort, and modern tech, making it a far more realistic and well-rounded option for most drivers.
Critics Choice Awards nominations 2026: Sinners and One Battle After Another take a commanding lead
The nominations for the 31st Critics Choice Awards have a clear favorite: Ryan Coogler's Sinners.
The smash hit vampire film earned 17 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), and Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku). Trailing just behind it is Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which picked up 14 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Actress (Chase Infiniti), Best Supporting Actor (Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn), and Best Supporting Actress (Teyana Taylor).
Other big contenders in the film nominations include Chloé Zhao's Hamnet and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (both with 11 nominations).
On the TV side, Adolescence received the most nominations with six, including Best Limited Series, Best Actor in a Limited Series (Stephen Graham), Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series (Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters), and Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series (Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco). Strong contenders on the drama side include Emmy winners The Pitt (4 nominations) and Severance (4 nominations), while the comedy side has Season 2 of Nobody Wants This (5 nominations) topping Emmy winners Hacks (4 nominations) and The Studio (3 nominations).
Check out the full list of nominations below. The Critics Choice Awards will air live on E! and the USA Network on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. ET.
Film nominationsBEST PICTUREBugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good
BEST ACTORTimothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
BEST ACTRESSJessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
BEST SUPPORTING ACTORBenicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSElle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESSEverett Blunck – The Plague
Miles Caton – Sinners
Cary Christopher - Weapons
Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family
Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet
Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl
BEST DIRECTORPaul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYNoah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Zach Cregger – Weapons
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYPaul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
Will Tracy – Bugonia
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLENina Gold – Hamnet
Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly
Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme
Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another
Francine Maisler – Sinners
Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYClaudio Miranda – F1
Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein
Łukasz Żal – Hamnet
Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNKasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein
Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme
Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good
BEST EDITINGKirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite
Stephen Mirrione – F1
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor
Michael P. Shawver – Sinners
BEST COSTUME DESIGNKate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
Ruth E. Carter – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUPFlora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein
Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners
Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine
Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good
BEST VISUAL EFFECTSJoe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1
Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein
Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners
Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman
BEST STUNT DESIGNStephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina
Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1
Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another
Andy Gill – Sinners
Giedrius Nagys – Warfare
BEST ANIMATED FEATUREArco
Elio
In Your Dreams
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
BEST COMEDYThe Ballad of Wallis Island
Eternity
Friendship
The Naked Gun
The Phoenician Scheme
Splitsville
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMIt Was Just an Accident
Left-Handed Girl
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
Sirāt
Belén
BEST SONG“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters
“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good
BEST SCOREHans Zimmer – F1
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein
Max Richter – Hamnet
Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
BEST SOUNDAl Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1
Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein
Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another
Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners
Laia Casanovas – Sirāt
Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare
TV nominationsBEST DRAMA SERIESAlien: Earth
Andor
The Diplomat
Paradise
The Pitt
Pluribus
Severance
Task
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIESSterling K. Brown – Paradise
Diego Luna – Andor
Mark Ruffalo – Task
Adam Scott – Severance
Billy Bob Thornton – Landman
Noah Wyle – The Pitt
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIESKathy Bates – Matlock
Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
Britt Lower – Severance
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
Keri Russell – The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIESPatrick Ball – The Pitt
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat
Wood Harris – Forever
Tom Pelphrey – Task
Tramell Tillman – Severance
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIESNicole Beharie – The Morning Show
Denée Benton – The Gilded Age
Allison Janney – The Diplomat
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt
Greta Lee – The Morning Show
Skye P. Marshall – Matlock
BEST COMEDY SERIESAbbott Elementary
Elsbeth
Ghosts
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
The Righteous Gemstones
The Studio
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIESAdam Brody – Nobody Wants This
Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside
David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical
Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones
Seth Rogen – The Studio
Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIESKristen Bell – Nobody Wants This
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face
Rose McIver – Ghosts
Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones
Carrie Preston – Elsbeth
Jean Smart – Hacks
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIESIke Barinholtz – The Studio
Paul W. Downs – Hacks
Asher Grodman – Ghosts
Oscar Nuñez – The Paper
Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary
Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIESDanielle Brooks – Peacemaker
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This
Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live
Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts
BEST LIMITED SERIESAdolescence
All Her Fault
Chief of War
Death by Lightning
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Dope Thief
Dying for Sex
The Girlfriend
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONBridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Deep Cover
The Gorge
Mountainhead
Nonnas
Summer of '69
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONMichael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Stephen Graham – Adolescence
Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONJessica Biel – The Better Sister
Meghann Fahy – Sirens
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend
Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONOwen Cooper – Adolescence
Wagner Moura – Dope Thief
Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning
Michael Peña – All Her Fault
Ashley Walters – Adolescence
Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONErin Doherty – Adolescence
Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning
Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault
Julianne Moore – Sirens
Christine Tremarco – Adolescence
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIESAcapulco
Last Samurai Standing
Mussolini: Son of the Century
Red Alert
Squid Game
When No One Sees Us
BEST ANIMATED SERIESBob’s Burgers
Harley Quinn
Long Story Short
Marvel Zombies
South Park
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
BEST TALK SHOWThe Daily Show
Hot Ones
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
BEST VARIETY SERIESConan O’Brien Must Go
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Saturday Night Live
BEST COMEDY SPECIALBrett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life
Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian
Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things
Marc Maron: Panicked
Sarah Silverman: PostMortem
SNL50: The Anniversary Special
*Disclosure: Belen Edwards is a member of the Critics Choice Association, which holds the Critics Choice Awards.
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Skyrocketing RAM prices were just the beginning—these 3 PC components are next
I love PC building. Really, I do, and I have for 20 years. But why do we, PC owners, just have to go from one market disaster to the next?
I use this 53-year-old trick to get files to my phone
Moving files from one device to another should be a super-easy task. But unless all of your devices come from a single company like Apple or Samsung, it can actually be very difficult to send files between a phone, computer, laptop, or tablet. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that FTP, a 53-year-old protocol, is still one of the fastst and easiest solutions for this problem.


