Mashable

Netflix has finally revealed Heartbreak High Season 3's premiere date, dropping a trailer to tease the Australian series' final season.

Jumping forward in time by over a year, Heartbreak High's third season catches up with the students of Hartley High as they near graduation. This means it's their turn to partake in the sacred Australian tradition of Muck-Up Day, characterised by senior pranks and water pistols. It's also time for final exams and to consider their plans after high school, both for careers and relationships.

Of course, this final school term won't be smooth. During Mashable's set visit last year, executive producer Carly Heaton shared that Season 3's themes are consequences and class. Just judging from the trailer, Amerie (Ayesha Madon), Quinni (Chloé Hayden), Darren (James Majoos), and the rest of the Hartley High crew may have some serious consequences to deal with this term.

Amerie's life has consistently been a disaster since Netflix's Heartbreak High began in 2022, so in some ways it's comforting to see the series end how it began: by never giving her a moment's peace.

Heartbreak High Season 3 arrives March 25 on Netflix.

Stephen Colbert has addressed CBS' denial that it barred his interview with Rep. James Talarico from airing last night. In short, he's calling it "crap."

"I was ready to let the whole thing go," Colbert said. "Until a few hours ago, when my group chat blowed up. Because, without ever talking to me, the corporation put out this press release, this statement."

Released on Tuesday, CBS' statement read: "The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. The Late Show decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options."

SEE ALSO: CBS refused to broadcast this Stephen Colbert interview. Here's how to watch it anyway.

In response, Colbert retorted that he didn't need CBS' lawyers to tell him how to do his job.

"I am well aware that we can book other guests," Colbert retorted. "I didn't need to be presented with that option. I've had Jasmine Crockett on my show twice. I could prove that to you. I can prove that to you, but the network won't let me show you her picture without including her opponents."

CBS' statement also didn't appear to adequately address Colbert's actual concern, which was its unprecedented enforcement of the equal time rule despite talk shows being a well-known and long-standing exception. In fact, his team couldn't find a single example of the equal time rule being enforced on any talk show going back to the 1960s. Though FCC chair Brendan Carr has expressed a desire to remove it, the exemption is currently still in place.

"[Carr] had not gotten rid of [the exemption] yet, but CBS generously did it for him and told me unilaterally that I had to abide by the equal time rules, something I have never been asked to do for an interview in the 21 years of this job," Colbert said. "Now, that decision, I want to be clear, is their right. Just like I have the right to talk about their decision on air."

Expressing bafflement at CBS' actions, Colbert noted that the network knew and approved of what he was going to say during yesterday's show, yet still released a statement refuting it after the fact.

"They know damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS' lawyers, who for the record approve every script that goes on the air, whether it's about equal time or this image of frogs having sex," Colbert continued, showing a mercifully censored illustration of frogs having sex. "They told us the language they wanted me to use to describe that equal time exception. And I used that language. So, I don't know what this is about.

"For the record, I'm not even mad. I really don't want an adversarial relationship with the network. I've never had one….  I'm just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies…. And for the lawyers to release this without even talking to me is really surprising. I don't even know what to do with this crap."

Doing my hair after a wash day has been one of my most formidable personal tasks since middle school. I'm not exaggerating when I say that taming my coarse curls takes two business days, mostly because it historically just puffs up if I force it to dry within a few hours. But now that I'm deep into healthy hair journey brain rot TikTok, I realize that my years of sleeping on wet hair have just been exacerbating my frizz and damage. Shark announced the SilkiPro just as I started looking for ways to streamline my heat styling method.

The Shark SilkiPro costs $249.99 and came out on Feb. 17. I've fully straightened my hair twice so far after getting my SilkiPro a bit early, and I'd say it's going smoothly — the routine itself, and my hair afterward. But one concern about buying the SilkiPro keeps creeping into my head. Let's debrief.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SilkiPro $249.99 at SharkNinja
  Shop Now What's special about the Shark SilkiPro?

The SilkiPro isn't the first Shark hair tool to combine blow drying and heated ceramic plates, but it is the first standalone Shark straightener that doesn't have to be bundled with any other attachments. I got the plum one, but it comes in rose and turquoise, too.

One side of the SilkiPRO is very light lavender. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The other side of the SilkiPRO is darker purple. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Wet-to-dry straighteners like the SilkiPro operate much like your classic clamp flat iron, but add air vents along the side near the plates. The concentrated air jets point at an angle as you slide down the strand, evaporating moisture on the hair right ahead of it before the ceramic plates get to it. Integrated sensors in the ceramic plates measure temperature 1,000 times per second to help prevent heat damage during wet-to-dry styling. (You can also manually toggle between three heat and airflow settings.) I know it's hard to believe that the steaming Remington Wet 2 Straight from 2004 is no longer the pinnacle of wet-to-dry technology.

On the wet hair setting, the fans kick on and hum quietly (sometimes turning off completely if the device senses it's not in use). But when you clamp down on a piece of hair, the jets automatically start roaring like a true hair dryer.

Slide any of the three combs right onto the edge of the straightener. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The SilkiPro heats up within seconds. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Unique to the SilkiPro are the three comb attachments that come in the box. Each simply slides into a track along the edge of the straightener to prepare the strand for smooth ironing. There are two black combs with shorter teeth: a gentle comb for a full-bodied, natural look and a precision comb for a sleeker, pin-straight look. Because I have curly hair that's even curlier near my scalp, I reached for the purple wide-tooth comb as my first step in the styling process. It spaces hair out for easier rough drying at the root and gently stretches tightly wound curls for easier straightening.

The wide tooth comb ensured I wasn't simply deep frying a giant knot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable I TOLD YOU my hair doesn't blow dry well. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Now that I'm fully giving electrocuted cartoon character, it's time to remove the comb and go over my whole head with the wet hair setting again. Your hair should be 70 percent dry at this step, which is perfect for my hair that feels like it never fully air dries. It's also an incredibly convenient option when you're already running late for plans and haven't even started on your hair yet because it's still wet.

My initial Shark SilkiPro results My hair was slightly dryer than towel dried before. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The SilkiPRO made my hair quite sleek, which isn't always the case when I straighten it. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For the final step, you can switch the SilkiPro to the dry hair straightening setting to lock the style in and make any final touch-ups. I was impressed with how glossy my hair was by the end, though the whole three-step process still took well over an hour (and that's with my hair at its shortest in a decade). I prefer my straightened hair to have a little more bounce throughout with a flip at the end, but for testing purposes, the SilkiPro was successful at making my hair straight straight.

I fully bought into the Abby Yung hair method a month ago, and I'm convinced that's playing a role in the smoothness, too. I'm so sorry to confirm that double washing and adding a bond repair step does legitimately make fried hair softer. At any rate, I showed up to happy hour with SilkiPro straightened hair, and my friend immediately commented on how healthy it looked.

What's the difference between the Shark SilkiPro and the Shark Glam?

The Shark SilkiPro is nearly identical to the Shark Glam with the Shark Silki straightening attachment.

The SilkiPro lets you bring home just the wet-to-dry straightening on its own for $249.99, rather than committing to multiple attachments in a Build Your Own Glam bundle, which retails for between $399.99 and $449.99. The SilkiPro also comes with the three interchangeable combs, while the wide tooth comb is one of the optional attachments that you can add to your Glam bundle.

The size difference between the the Shark Glam (left) and SilkiPro (right). Credit: Leah Stodart The SilkiPro's ceramic plate is slightly wider than the Glam's. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

But the sheer existence of the Shark Glam kind of cannibalizes the SilkiPro's value, especially with the Glam being on sale for $299.99 on the SilkiPro's launch date. At that point, wouldn't you just cough up the extra $50 to get the Glam bundle with the Silki straightener, the Glossi brush, and two other attachments of your choosing? I certainly could have used Shark's FrizzFighter attachment to tame the flyaways in my SilkiPro "after" picture.

My roommate has let me use her Shark Glam a few times, and the air straightening experience is pretty indistinguishable from the SilkiPro's. The settings are the same, and the Glam's fans also automatically crank their velocity every time you clamp down on a piece of hair.

SEE ALSO: Shark CryoGlow mask review after 10 months: The only way I'll ever stop using this is if Shark releases a new one

Credit to it, the SilkiPro is noticeably more ergonomic than the Glam. The Glam's body-plus-attachment design is awkwardly weighted and makes the full wand several inches longer than the SilkiPro. The in-hand comfort is something to consider if styling your hair takes so long that it starts to feel like an arm workout. The SilkiPro's portability will be a huge advantage when traveling, too — I can see it being an amazing tool to take on vacation or any trip when you can't follow your typical hair washing and drying schedule.

For what it's worth, the launch of the SilkiPro just made the Dyson AirStrait look ridiculously overpriced. The AirStrait could get away with its $499.99 price point for a while, but now that it's not the only straightener that dries as it straightens, even its $399.99 sale price feels out of touch.

Features to keep an eye on

If you're a fan of flat iron curls, it doesn't seem like the Shark SilkiPro is going to be one of the best straighteners for curling hair. I've been curling the ends of my hair rather than trying to get them pin straight with my GHD Platinum+ for years, but the Shark SilkiPro was unresponsive to my ribboning technique that has worked so well in the past. I think it's the strip of air vents jutting out that's preventing hair from smoothly wrapping between the plates, leaving my hair limp and definitely not flipped inward like the fake blowout look.

SEE ALSO: I found 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are almost as good as the real thing

I was racking my brain for ways that the SilkiPro could become more cost-effective (compared to the Glam) down the line. Either the SilkiPro needs to go on sale immediately, or at least make a compatible FrizzFighter attachment. But the SilkiPro's design doesn't seem built for adding attachments that need to use airflow from the tool.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026:

Across___ Glenn, Olympic figure skater who's a three-time U.S. national champion

• The answer is Amber.

Popcorn size that might come in a bucket

• The answer is Large.

"Lies and the Lying ___ Who Tell Them" (Al Franken book)

• The answer is Liars.

Close-up map

• The answer is Inset.

Prepares a home for a new baby

• The answer is Nests.

DownBold poker declaration

• The answer is AllIn.

Only U.S. state with a one-syllable name

• The answer is Maine.

Orchestra section with trumpets and horns

• The answer is Brass.

"Great" or "Snowy" wading bird

• The answer is Egret.

Some sheet music squiggles

• The answer is Rests.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

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 Pips

If 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 February 18, 2026

The 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 February 17, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 18 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this orange space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 18 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this light blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 18 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this orange space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this green space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this purple space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this red space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-4, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

A strainer.

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

SIEVE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Committee.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BOARD

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A fantasy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 18, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DREAM

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Madness.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ANGER

Final Hurdle hint

Honest.

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

FRANK

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