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It's bizarre that a movie like Coyote vs. Acme might never have seen the light of day on a projector. And yet here we are.

In a time when Hollywood is ravenous for safe IP, a Looney Tunes comedy starring the likes of Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor should have seemed an easy layup for box office success.

Add to that it was written by Academy Award–nominated screenwriter Samy Burch (May December) and produced by James Gunn, who Warner Bros. handed the reins of DC Studios to, it would seem Coyote vs. Acme could have been a tentpole for the storied studio, appealing to the family demographic hungry for fun for all ages. And yet, in November of 2023, Warner Bros. Entertainment shocked the industry by announcing the completed film would be shelved indefinitely, so they could claim a tax loss of about $30 million.

SEE ALSO: Shelved 'Coyote vs. Acme' will finally get a theatrical release

WB took similar write-downs for Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt, leaving fans of both properties drop-jawed and powerless. Thankfully, Looney Tunes fans have been spared such profound frustration by Ketchup Entertainment, which successfully bought the distribution rights to Coyote vs. Acme. And just like that, a silly David versus Goliath story became weirdly self-reflective.

Coyote vs. Acme is the underdog tale we need right now. Wile E. Coyote and Will Forte star in "Coyote vs. Acme." Credit: Ketchup Entertainment

Directed by Dave Green, Coyote vs. Acme imagines a world like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? or 2022's Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers. In all three films, cartoon characters live alongside live-action humans and are often treated with disdain for their lunacy. But Coyote vs. Acme takes this culture clash to a socio-political level, creating a satire that's silly and stuffed with slapstick, but thought-provoking all the same.

Leave it to Burch, who turned the sordid tale of Mary Kay Letourneau into a deliciously uncomfortable dark comedy, to create a whistleblower legal drama centered around a chaotic coyote, known for his failures of catching a bright blue roadrunner. Their story begins when, after another failed attempt to use Acme products to snare the speedy bird, Wile E. Coyote sees a cheesy commercial for the law offices of Avery, Jones, and Maltese (each name a nod to a classic Looney Tunes animator: Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, and Michael Maltese).

Will Forte stars as Kevin Avery, a lawyer who makes his living suing Acme in small claims court. In his ad, he's giving Cellino and Barnes, promising cartoon clients quick cash for their pain and suffering. His partners, Sal Maltese (Tone Bell) and Dottie Jones (Martha Kelly), are similarly focused, seeking easy settlements that require no court time. However, when Wile E. shows up with a mountain of evidence of Acme's faulty products, a big case sits before Kevin whether he likes it or not. And he does not!

Condor co-stars as Kevin's ambitious, fresh-out-of-law-school niece Paige, who sees in this pile of broken gadgets not just a chance to put her skills to the test, but also to make a difference in how Acme treats its cartoon customers. You see, Acme also makes phones and cars for humans, and those all seem to be pretty safe. So, what's going on that all their cartoon products seem wildly dangerous?

Coyote vs. Acme offers a whistleblower thriller amid its shenanigans. John Cena and Foghorn Leghorn share a laugh in "Coyote vs. Acme." Credit: Ketchup Entertainment

The film opens with a refreshing throwback sequence. In an Acme factory under strict surveillance, Dr. Peter Lorre (a caricature that resembles the late, iconic Hungarian actor) is sending out some top-secret information to an unknown outsider. He'll get the parcel out of the building, but won't escape himself. Instead, a nefarious fleet of menacing men will throw him an Acme hole, black and potentially bottomless. He has two options: jump or be pushed. He warns that they won't be able to hide the truth forever, and then he jumps, vanishing to an unknown. The title card then jumps ahead 30 years.

While the main plotline follows Kevin begrudgingly taking Wile E.'s case, and facing off against a buff and arrogant lawyer played by John Cena, the b-plot follows Paige as she tries to make sense of what Acme might be hiding. Their journeys loop in classic Looney Tunes like Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Bugs Bunny, as well as appearances by Granny, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn, and more.

Along the way, Kevin's resolve strengthens and his connection to Wile E. grows — despite the fact that the latter never speaks, preferring handheld signs, furrowed eyebrows, and an imaginative use of paper dolls to get his points across. Forte is a perfect scene partner to a literal cartoon. It's not just that the comedian has loaned his voice to a variety of cartoons, including Bob's Burgers, The Great North, Gravity Falls, Haunted Hotel, Rick and Morty, American Dad!, Clone High, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and many, many more. It's that Forte's comic sensibilities can shift from deadpan to impish in the blink of an eye. He's perfectly cast as a lovable loser called upon to be a noble hero. He's so lovable you want to believe in him, but so damn goofy (see also MacGruber) that failure seems a very real possibility.

Luis Guzman plays a judge in "Coyote vs. Acme." Credit: Ketchup Entertainment

Like Roger Rabbit and Chip and Dale's movies, Coyote vs. Acme uses its lovable toons to counter the darkness of their crime plots. But here, rather than a jaded private investigator or a jaded has-been, Burch offers a loser who's always been too afraid to try. As Acme's high-priced and bullying lawyers ready for battle, it's easy to understand Kevin's fear. But watching him band together with a motley crew of screw-ups and goofballs is heartwarming, a reminder that sometimes that's all we have. And we can be our own warriors, whatever the rich, polished, and I say, I say, I say, privileged throw our way.

To Green's credit, he brings a vivid life to Looney Tunes' signature slapstick, showing Daffy go wild, Porky get pummeled, or Wile E. get blown to smithereens with aplomb. Adding a shadow layer to their coloring strengthens the visual sense that they are in our world, impacted by the same forces we are. And this makes the courtroom scenes all the more fun.

Like Inherit the Wind or My Cousin Vinny, Coyote vs. Acme relishes the stagework of the courtroom scene. Forte fumbles brilliantly, while Foghorn Leghorn strides like the Southern country lawyer who's become a staple in the legal drama genre. Burch shrewdly creates a spoof without losing the stakes of this case. So, as the squeaking gavel goes down, we might giggle, but our breaths catch as we wait for the verdict.

Simply put, Coyote vs. Acme is a really good movie. It likely will be ignored by Oscar. It won't make Odyssey money. But it's not bedraggled by pandering fan service or incoherent between its action sequences. It's smart, silly, and ultimately inspiring. It's the kind of movie I'd have rushed to see after school with my friends, the kind I look forward to watching with my niblings. It's both timely and timeless, bringing classic characters to a modern space where they still make silliness make sense.

To see something like this, entertaining and poignant and daring, be chucked by a major studio for a tax write-off should scare every movie lover. So, in some sense, this movie is the call to action it advocates for in its final act. Its release, coming after much public outcry from fans and filmmakers alike, is evidence that when the cold corporations favor money over art, community, and joy, we need to be the underdog willing to spit in their eye. Because if not us, who?

Coyote vs. Acme opens in theaters on Aug. 28.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is also free with T-Mobile — qualify by bringing your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

We've heard a lot from Samsung and Google recently. They've taken over the tech news cycle with a flood of new foldables, smartwatches, smart glasses, and flagship phones, leaving Apple fans waiting.

We know talk of the iPhone 18 is exciting, but you don't actually have to wait for Apple's next event to score a major upgrade. Between soaring component costs and global RAM shortages that are driving up retail prices across the board, T-Mobile is softening the blow by rolling out a set of limited-time free iPhone 17 offers.

If you want the simplest entry point into the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 17e is currently free when you switch to almost any qualifying T-Mobile plan, no trade-in required. For those eyeing the iPhone 17, it's completely free over 36 months on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan when you turn in an eligible trade-in device. And if you want the flagship iPhone 17 Pro for free, simply bring your existing number over to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

All of these deals are live through the weekend.

T-Mobile requires you to pay local sales tax on the full retail value of the phone upfront, alongside a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. Your savings are then applied as monthly bill credits spread over 24 to 36 months.

Paying a small fee in upfront taxes and fees to walk away with a brand-new iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro remains one of the best mobile carrier deals on the market this weekend.

SAVE $200: As of Aug. 24, the Aiper Scuba S1 is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Aiper Aiper Scuba S1 $499.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Having a pool is great, but all the maintenance that comes with it? Not so great.

Daily cleans, scooping out leaves, and constantly handling other debris can feel like a full-time job. If you're really getting tired of it this year, maybe it's time to invest in a robot pool cleaner.

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And to make the purchase easier, we've found a new record-low deal on a great model, the Aiper Scuba S1. As of Aug. 24, this device has dropped in price by $200 at Amazon, now costing $499.99.

What exactly can it do? Well, this pool vacuum offers up to 270 minutes of runtime in Eco Mode and up to 180 minutes in Auto, Floor, Wall, and Scheduled modes. Scheduled mode also includes a weekly custom cleaning plan for hands-free operation.

It has 11 high-precision sensors and dual-path algorithms that use a WavePath cleaning pattern to systematically cover the pool. Plus, it has a dual-layer filtration system that combines a 3-micron ultra-fine filter with an 180-micron standard filter to ensure it captures all dust, sand, leaves, and other debris in the water.

Ready to make pool maintenance much easier? Find this deal at Amazon now.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a sports fan.

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.

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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.

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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 August 24, 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: Sea creatures

• Green: Central

• Blue: WWE

• Purple: Practice your swing

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Fish

• Green: Principal

• Blue: Pro-wrestling lingo

• Purple: Letter homophone plus tennis term

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 #1170 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Fish: MULLET, PIKE, SOLE, TANG

• Principal: ARCH, CHIEF, MAIN, PRIME

• Pro-wrestling lingo: FACE, HEEL, JOBBER, KAYFABE

• Letter homophone plus tennis term: BESET, DESERVE, EX-LOVE, EYELET

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 Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you go with the flow.

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 August 24, 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 24, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Could describe a child's nose.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter N appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

RUNNY

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy for those with a sweet tooth.

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 August 24, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You can't just eat one

The words are adjectives related to snacks.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe sweet treats.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Cookie Jar.

NYT Strands word list for August 24

• Snap

• Macaroon

• Spritz

• Cookie Jar

• Snowball

• Snickerdoodle

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.

SAVE $700: As of Aug. 24, the Roborock Saros 10R is on sale for $899.99 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Saros 10R $899.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $700   Get Deal

If vacuuming is your most hated chore, it's time to upgrade to a robot vacuum. These smart devices are a gift for anyone who is fed up with dragging their upright model from room to room. And if you're looking for a deal, the Roborock Saros 10R is currently on sale at Amazon for its lowest-ever price.

As of Aug. 24, this robot vacuum has dropped from $1,599.99 to only $899.99. And it's not just a robot vacuum, it's a mop too, and comes with its own dock where it can store dirt and refill water.

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There's a lot to be impressed by with this robot vacuum. From its slim design (it has a 3.14-inch profile) that lets it reach under furniture to its StarSight Autonomous System 2.0, which uses 3D sensing to map the home and identify up to 108 types of obstacles, it's truly a smart device.

For cleaning, it has a 22,000Pa HyperForce suction, a Zero-Tangling DuoDivide Main Brush, and FlexiArm Riser Side Brush that can extend into corners and along edges. The mops lift automatically when carpets are detected so there's no risk of water getting where it shouldn't.

Find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is on sale for $57.68 at Amazon, down from its $99.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection $57.68 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $42.31   Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG’s Mega Greninja ex-themed box has continued getting cheaper since its Premium Collection arrived in July, and Amazon has now knocked even more dollars from the eight-pack box.

As of Aug. 24, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is on sale for $57.68 at Amazon through third-party seller reVend. Compared with its $99.99 list price, that slices $42.31 from the cost for a 42% discount. You’ll get free delivery as soon as Aug. 28 at the time of writing.

It also beats the $60.95 Amazon price we covered earlier this month, and puts the eight included booster packs (two Phantasmal Flames, two Chaos Rising, and four Perfect Order) at roughly $7.21 apiece before accounting for everything else in the collection. Alongside those boosters, the box packs in a standard foil promo trading card featuring Mega Greninja ex, an oversize lenticular version for display, and a reusable tech sticker featuring the Ninja Pokémon.

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Mega Greninja ex can do some useful work in a deck. Mortal Shuriken lets you discard a Basic Water Energy from your hand to place six damage counters on one of your opponent’s Pokémon, before Ninja Spinner can follow with up to 200 damage.

Amazon isn't quite the cheapest place to pick up the Premium Collection. For instance, Walmart currently lists the box at $55.77, making it just under $2 cheaper. TCGplayer goes lower still, with unopened listings starting at $46.55 plus $2 shipping, for a total of $48.55 — only $2.25 below its market price of $46.30.

Anthropic's smart assistant Claude is experiencing a major outage.

Early on Monday, Aug. 24, we've noticed that Claude Fable 5 and Opus 5 aren't responding to our queries, returning an error. "The response didn't load," the error message said. "Due to unexpected capacity constraints, Claude is unable to respond to your message. Try again soon."

The company's own status dashboard for Claude confirms the issue. "We are investigating elevated errors on requests to Claude Mythos 5, Claude Fable 5, Claude Opus 5, and Claude Opus 4.8. We will provide an update as soon as possible," one update said. There's no word on what caused the issues or when we can expect a resolution.

The most recent update at writing time didn't add any new information: "We are continuing to work to resolve issues causing elevated requests on multiple models."

Other companies' LLMs, including OpenAI's ChatGPT, appear to be working fine.

UPDATE: Aug. 24, 2026, 12:04 p.m. CEST The issues appear to be resolved, and Claude Status update now says that all systems are operational. There's no word yet on what caused the problem.

This is a developing story. We'll keep updating as we learn more.

We're only a few days away from the Full Moon now, so if you're hoping to spot some lunar features on its surface, your chances are pretty high. Keep reading to find out what you might be able to see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 24, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase, with 86% of its surface visible.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Mares Vaporum and Tranquillitatis, and Fecunditatis. Binoculars will help you see these, plus the the Clavius Crater, the Mare Frigoris and the Mare Nectaris. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Apollo 11, 14 and 17 landing spots.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon goes through a series of phases that cause its appearance to change as seen from Earth. As the Moon orbits Earth, it goes through a lunar cycle that takes about 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon determine how much of the Moon’s illuminated side is visible from Earth, creating its different phases. Throughout the cycle, the Moon changes from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before repeating the cycle once more.

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.

Lanterns' second episode revealed the show's biggest threat: a secret Manhunter lurking in Rushville, Nebraska. But did it also sneakily introduce another Green Lantern supervillain?

SEE ALSO: Who is the secret Manhunter in 'Lanterns'? Let's investigate.

Episode 2 marks the first appearance of Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor), the leader of the aliens who were killed at the Rushville football game. He and his men kidnap Green Lantern trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and tell him how the Manhunter currently hiding in Rushville wiped out their people.

The casting announcement for Ben-Victor described Antaan as "an extraterrestrial devoted to exposing the truth and exacting vengeance against those who wronged his people. Consumed by a deep and unrelenting hatred for the law, he is determined to deliver justice on his own terms."

On social media, Green Lantern fans were quick to pick up on the fact that that description sounded like another major Green Lantern villain: Atrocitus. Just like with Antaan in Lanterns, Atrocitus, once called Atros, is an alien whose entire sector was destroyed by Manhunters. He and the four other survivors of this calamity devoted themselves to taking down the Guardians of the Universe, who created the Manhunters in an attempt to form a cosmic peacekeeping force. Atrocitus goes on to become the first Red Lantern and leader of the Red Lantern Corps. Unlike the Green Lanterns, whose power rings are fueled by willpower, the Red Lanterns channel anger.

Antaan's introductory episode neither confirms nor dismisses whether he's Atrocitus outright. His backstory matches up to Atrocitus, but there are some discrepancies. His name is the most obvious one, and he also has more than four fellow survivors from his world with him. Until he ditches his human disguise and turns into a giant red rage monster, the jury's still out on the Atrocitus theory.

Lanterns is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

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

A handheld tool.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PLIER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Repurpose.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

REUSE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound a frog makes.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 24, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 24, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CROAK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Figure it out.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SOLVE

Final Hurdle hint

Helps a car run.

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

MOTOR

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

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

An evil spirit.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DEMON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Courage.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

NERVE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To shake.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 22, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TRILL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Rabbit.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BUNNY

Final Hurdle hint

Parable of the ___.

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

SOWER

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

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 August 24, 2026 Face meaning

The good character in wrestling.

Heel meaning

The villain character in wrestling.

Jobber meaning

A wrestler whose job is to lose matches.

Kayfabe meaning

The act of pretending staged wrestling events are real.

Mullet meaning

A popular 80s hairstyle.

Pike meaning

A single-leg wrestling move.

Sole meaning

The bottom of the foot or shoe.

Tang meaning

A reef-associated marine fish.

Arch meaning

The most extreme version of something.

Chief meaning

The person in charge.

Main meaning

Something important. Also could be related to a pipe for transporting utilities.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Prime meaning

First in importance.

Beset meaning

To attack from all sides.

Deserve meaning

To be worthy (of something or someone).

Ex-love

A former partner.

Eyelet meaning

A hole in shoes used for thread laces.

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.

HBO's Lanterns just kicked off a Manhunter manhunt.

As revealed in the show's second episode, Manhunters are a synthetic race of aliens who are able to build entirely new bodies, disguise themselves as anyone, and embed themselves undetected within any society.

SEE ALSO: 'Lanterns' review: Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre shine bright in DC's sci-fi mystery

Alien Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor) tells Lantern trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) that they're brutal, deceptive, and capable of wiping out entire species, including his own. He and his people lost their world to the last remaining Manhunter. A Green Lantern took that Manhunter into custody and promised he would be executed. Instead, the Manhunter is alive and hiding out in Rushville. Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) guesses that his predecessor Abin Sur was the one to bring the Manhunter in, and that the Manhunter wound up killing him.

Now, the clock is ticking for Hal and John. They have 48 hours to discover the Manhunter and turn him over to Antaan, or the aliens will destroy all of Rushville. That's not a lot of time to vet the town's entire population, but I've got the sneaking suspicion that we've already met our alien adversary — or at least, we've gotten close. Of the townsfolk we've already met, here are the biggest suspects, ranked from least likely to most likely.

William Macon Garret Dillahunt in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

As a powerful figure in Rushville, William Macon (Garret Dillahunt) certainly seems like a clear Manhunter candidate. He's amassed a militia meant to ward off any alien threats, complete with advanced technology like the alien detectors Hal discovers at the football field. But are these precautions meant to protect humans from colonizing aliens, as he's stated multiple times before? Or are they meant to let a Manhunter know when vengeful aliens are coming his way?

SEE ALSO: Did 'Lanterns' just introduce supervillain Atrocitus?

However, even though Macon is an obvious suspect, perhaps he's too obvious, and therefore a red herring. After all, when Antaan told John about the Manhunter's destruction of his people, he said it was done "quietly." Heading up a militia the way Macon does is the opposite of quiet, so that takes him down a few pegs when it comes to possibly being the Manhunter.

Sheriff Kerry Kane Kelly Macdonald in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

While Antaan uses "he" to refer to the Manhunter who ruined his world, the Manhunter could just as easily be disguised as a woman, as they can take any form. That's why Rushville Sheriff Kerry Kane (Kelly Macdonald) is also in the running to be Lanterns' Manhunter. She's always trying to throw Hal and John off the scent of whatever alien activity is going on in Rushville, which certainly isn't suspicious at all. Could she be covering for herself... or for someone she works for?

Episode 2 also reveals that Sheriff Kane is from Gotham. Her being an outsider to Rushville seems like a perfect cover story for a Manhunter, who also came from well beyond Nebraska and embedded themselves in the community. But if Sheriff Kane isn't actually the Manhunter, what in the world could have brought her from the bustling city of Gotham to rural Nebraska?

Zoe Macon Poorna Jagannathan in "Lanterns." Credit: John Johnson / HBO Max

So far, Zoe Macon (Poorna Jagannathan) has been a bit of a mystery, an alluring figure who kickstarts an affair with John. Her husband seems aware of their relationship but hasn't retaliated against John, suggesting some kind of intriguing arrangement or power dynamic between him and Zoe that Lanterns is slowly teasing out.

Zoe's somewhat nebulous loyalties make her an intriguing Manhunter candidate, as does her romantic connection to John. When Antaan tells John about his own experience with the Manhunter, he asks, "Have you ever been deceived by someone you love?" That question reveals that the Manhunter doesn't just destroy outright. They build deep connections and then undermine them. While it's too early to determine if Zoe and John's connection will result in love, their affair could very well be an example of Manhunter manipulation at work. After all, what better way to defend yourself from a Green Lantern who's hunting you than to get close to him and win his trust?

William Macon's mysterious benefactor

Throughout the first two episodes of Lanterns, Macon has mentioned that everything he has — his militia, his compound, his advanced technology — is thanks to his mysterious benefactor. He can't say who he is, but he is generous, and he has a vested interest in keeping aliens as far from Rushville as possible. Someone that technically advanced and that keen on alien surveillance has to be the Manhunter, right?

Hal is certain that Macon is hiding something from him on his compound. But what if that something is actually a someone, and it's the Manhunter benefactor? Of course, there's always the possibility that the benefactor is hiding in plain sight as someone like Kerry, Zoe, or even Macon himself, lying about the source of his wealth. For now, only one thing in Lanterns is certain: Trust no one in Rushville.

Lanterns is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

The internet has been breathlessly talking about the Grand Theft Auto VI leaks ahead of the extended look coming to Netflix this week, but one former Rockstar Games lead is telling everybody to "calm down."

An individual or group known as CyberLeek has leaked alleged clips of GTA 6 gameplay last week, including maps and videos. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (the parent company of video game publisher Rockstar Games) subsequently subpoenaed Microsoft, Discord, and GitHub over "stolen content," confirming that at least some of the information from CyberLeek is legitimate.

But Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar North (an Edinburgh-based Rockstar Games studio), posted on X that the leaks are a "nothing burger."

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

"Calm down everybody," he wrote. "The leaks are a nothing burger."

Vermeij goes on to claim that Rockstar's marketing strategy is to keep the game under wraps longer than other publishers do, and that all that happened was that some footage escaped.

"90 [percent] of future players don't spend their time on the internet looking for video snippets. They don't have the time and don't want spoilers," he continued. "I imagine the teams are a little annoyed about it but not more than that."

"I was there during Hot Coffee," Vermeij wrote, referring to a controversy surrounding a hidden minigame in the 2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that included a sex scene. Rockstar and Take-Two settled a lawsuit over it. Vermeij said it was a "nightmare" for Rockstar's New York office, it didn't affect Rockstar North as much, and that the current leaks are far less consequential.

"It looks like gta6 will be phenomenal and sell for the next 15 years or so. The leaks are just a tiny blip," he concluded.

TL;DR: Watch Elche vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

La Liga is showcasing some thrilling fixtures this weekend, including the return of champions Barcelona. They begin their title defense against Elche at the Manuel Martínez Valero. Fans will be expecting a strong performance and a confident win against a side that finished 15th last season.

If you're interested in watching Elche vs. Barcelona in La Liga from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Elche vs. Barcelona?

Elche vs. Barcelona in La Liga kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Manuel Martínez Valero.

How to watch Elche vs. Barcelona for free

Elche vs. Barcelona in La Liga is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Elche vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Elche vs. Barcelona for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Elche vs. Barcelona 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Elche vs. Barcelona without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for La Liga?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 Elche vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch PSG vs. Rennes in Ligue 1 for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ligue 1 is all about whether any team can truly challenge PSG. The champions have just won their second consecutive Champions League title, and they're looking to win their sixth consecutive Ligue 1 title. That's total domination.

PSG's opening game against Rennes was supposed to be at the Parc des Princes, but it has been moved to Roazhon Park due to poor playing conditions. PSG will be looking to bounce back after losing to RC Lens in the Trophee des Champions last weekend.

If you're interested in watching PSG vs. Rennes in Ligue 1 from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Rennes?

PSG vs. Rennes in Ligue 1 kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Roazhon Park.

How to watch PSG vs. Rennes for free

PSG vs. Rennes in Ligue 1 is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream PSG vs. Rennes for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream PSG vs. Rennes for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch PSG vs. Rennes 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch PSG vs. Rennes without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Ligue 1?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 PSG vs. Rennes for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How we date and who we date will never not be a hot topic on social media. Oversharing our dating lives is the foundation of the internet, but it's also the source of some of the worst takes you'll ever hear.

Because the internet is cyclical, certain ideas and expectations about sex and dating get repeated ad nauseam on TikTok and X. While a lot of it is centered on heterosexual dating norms about first dates and hookup culture, occasionally (re: annually), we're dragged into discourse about dating bisexual men.

SEE ALSO: I'm tired of bi women being the internet's Pride punching bag Discourse about bi men hits the internet (again)

In the past month, TikTok and X are embroiled in takes and reactions and reactions to takes about straight women not wanting to date bi men.

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

Bisexual dating and labels are a conversation we have basically every year. Here's a tweet about it from 2024. Here's a tweet about it from 2020. I'll even throw in a tweet from 2018 about the "bi-lesbian" label discourse. This time, however, it's about bisexual men.

For Zachary Zane, author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto and sex expert for Velvet Brands, a sex toy manufacturer, the reason this conversation has an annual loop is its complexity. He's also quick to push back on the instinct to label every rejection as biphobic.

"It's a very similar argument every time," Zane told Mashable. "I think it never resolves because it's actually a more complicated question than it seems on the surface. I don't think that if you don't want to date a bi guy, you are automatically extremely biphobic. And I'm saying this as a bi man who's had plenty of people not want to date me because of my (bi)sexuality."

A 2023 meta-analysis in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity pulled together 61 studies from 1999 to 2022, totaling over 32,000 participants, to figure out who actually holds the most anti-bisexual bias. Across the board, men reported more negative attitudes toward bisexuality than women did, and that gap widened specifically around male bisexuality, meaning straight men, more than straight women, tend to carry the biggest hang-up about bi guys. (Gay men and lesbians, for what it's worth, had similar attitudes about bisexuality.)

So why does the online discourse keep circling back to women specifically?

A separate study on actual willingness to date bi people gets closer to an answer. Researchers surveyed over 1,800 people across sexual orientations and found that straight people and gay/lesbian people were both less willing to date bisexual people than bisexual people were willing to date them. However, the reluctance to date bisexual men specifically was unusually strong. Strong enough that even bisexual women reported hesitation about dating bi men.

Added together, these studies suggest varying conclusions: Men, straight men especially, apparently carry more measurable anti-bisexual bias overall. But when it comes to who bi men are actually trying to date, it's resistance from women — bi and straight alike — that keeps showing up as the real sticking point.

Glamour and YouGov polls from the same general period found similar patterns: Most women surveyed said they either wouldn't date a man with any male sexual history, bi or not, or weren't comfortable with the idea of a bi partner at all.

For Zane, desire isn't something anyone owes a justification for, but he does draw a hard line between someone simply not being interested and someone being cruel about why.

"There's a difference between people, more specifically cis women, who don't want to date a bi man because, 'Ew, that's gross, he sucks dick.' That's clearly homophobic and biphobic."

So where does the fear come from, if the stereotypes don't hold up?

Common stereotypes against bisexuality range from bi men who are "actually" gay and in denial, that they're incapable of monogamy, and that they're at a higher STI risk. These stereotypes seemingly persist because bi men are an easy target for stigma that would be socially unacceptable if aimed at almost any other group.

Zane doesn't pick one so much as point out they're all load-bearing for each other. "These stereotypes are all interconnected," he says. "Being labeled 'secretly gay' fuels the stereotype that bi men pose a greater STI risk, just as the myth that bisexual people are incapable of monogamy reinforces those same STI concerns." Killing one myth, in his telling, barely matters if the other two are still propping it up.

Much of the pushback in this discourse relies on a straw man argument that anyone raising the topic is trying to shame or guilt straight women into finding bi men attractive, as if attraction itself is up for debate.

"I think often, though not always, 'discomfort' is synonymous with insecurity," says Zane. "But a person doesn't want to admit that they're insecure, so instead they use the word discomfort."

Nobody's arguing women should be forced to date bisexual men; the argument is about the reasons some women give for ruling them out categorically — the idea that they're secretly gay, more likely to cheat, or riskier for STIs. It's one thing to have a preference, but another to base that on unfounded assumptions. Plus, treating any pushback on those beliefs as an attempt to "shame" women into attraction lets people avoid actually defending the belief.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why the discourse cycle repeats

Honestly, part of why this conversation comes back every year has nothing to do with bisexuality specifically — it's just how the internet works now. Writer Daysia Tolentino nailed it when she described online discourse as react-first-think-later, where the goal isn't actually figuring anything out, it's staying mad enough to keep scrolling.

Everything gets treated like the biggest deal ever, so annoyingly classist conversations about bonnets in classrooms and discourse about bi men's dating lives end up hitting your feed with the exact same energy.

One tweet basically called the whole thing out, joking about having to do "the bisexual men and straight women conversation" again next year, and the year after that, forever. It's not even really about bi men at this point — it's just what happens when the internet finds a fight it can have on repeat.

The cost of this is that bi men are obviously the ones affected the most by this discourse. They're still the least likely group in the LGBT community to be out to the people in their lives, by a lot. The Pew Research Center found that only a small fraction of bisexual men were out to most of the important people around them, compared to the large majority of gay men and lesbians who were.

Even Zane, someone who's spent years publicly unpacking this exact discourse, doesn't think the conversation is going anywhere soon. He compares it directly to the equally exhausting, equally cyclical "should straight people go to Pride" debate that resurfaces every June.

"The discourse is undoubtedly exhausting," he admits. "But I think the only way we can move the needle forward is through discourse. It just takes time."

OpenAI wants California to toughen up the AI safety law it helped get across the finish line less than a year ago.

In a post from OpenAI's Global Affairs team on LinkedIn, the company laid out its case for amending SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law back in Sept. 2025. OpenAI says the law needs new teeth, specifically, requirements that frontier AI models be monitored during training or evaluation for signs that they could bypass a third party's security controls or obtain confidential information they shouldn't have.

The company is also pushing for beefed-up cybersecurity across the entire model development process, aimed at preventing AI systems from circumventing their internal safeguards.

For context, SB 53 was already a pretty significant piece of legislation when it passed. According to the Governor's office, the law requires large frontier AI developers to publish safety frameworks, establishes a formal channel for reporting critical safety incidents to California's Office of Emergency Services, protects whistleblowers, and grants the state Attorney General the authority to levy civil penalties on companies that don't comply.

It also created CalCompute, a public computing consortium meant to give safety and equity research a boost, and it requires the state to revisit the law annually as the tech beneath it shifts. Newsom pitched it at the time as proof that California could protect the public without choking off the AI industry that has become such a huge part of the state's economy. It was also called a stopgap for Washington's inability to pass anything resembling a real federal AI policy.

It makes sense, then, that OpenAI is calling its broader strategy "reverse federalism" — the idea being that while Congress continues to sit on its hands on comprehensive AI legislation, states can move first on compatible safety standards that can eventually be turned into national policy.

The company was careful to frame this as forward-looking rather than reactive, insisting that the ask isn't "to write rules for one particular incident" but to build a framework that catches problems earlier and ensures lessons are shared industry-wide. Such demands are all well and good, and one that conveniently keeps OpenAI in the room to shape what those standards look like.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.