TheKardashians star was joined by the 13-year-old, who she shares with ex Scott Disick, during a recent visit to the Gilmore Girls set located on the Warner Bros. Studios backlot in Burbank, Calif.
Kourtney, 46, and Penelope made it a girls trip as they explored Stars Hollow, grabbing coffee at Luke’s Diner and popping into Doose’s Market in the fictional town.
But by the time the pair hit up Miss Patty’s School of Ballet, it was clear that Penelope had some height over her five-foot mom. Though the teen opted to wear flat sneakers, she still towered over Kourtney, who donned heeled booties.
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Product Dimensions : 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1 inches; 7.6 ounces Date First Available : August 17, 2022 Manufacturer : MaryRuth Organics ASIN : B0BB112QJR Best Sellers Rank: #18,765 in Health & Household (See Top 100 in Health & Household) #174 in Collagen Supplements Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,575) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); }); Collagen Boosting Liposomal: A delicious liposomal to support your body’s ability to make collagen! Our Vegan Collagen Booster Liposomal contains 5 amino acids as well as nutrients such as vitamins C & E, zinc, copper, and silica! Support your skin and joint health with this delicious Maple Hot Cocoa liposomal. Multiple Benefits: While most collagen supplements available on the market are not vegan, and utilize collagen sourced from animals, our liposomal is formulated to provide nutrients your body needs to promote its own collagen production. Collagen provides structure to bones and is a major component of skin. Vitamin C maintains normal collagen production, which supports connective tissue formation. Vegan Collagen Boost: Essential minerals copper and zinc also help support skin health. In addition to these ingredients, our Collagen Booster Liposomal also contains bamboo extract, lysine, glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, L-arginine, and phosphatidylcholine. Ultra Absorption: Liposomes are tiny spherical structures that have a protective outer layer and an inner cavity to hold and transport substances such as vitamins or other nutrients to the body. These tiny structures encapsulate these substances and can lead to ultra absorption! For Most Lifestyles: MaryRuth’s Collagen Booster Liposomal is Non-GMO, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Sugar Free. No Artificial Colors. Made in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Facility. This product contains ALMONDS. B Corp Certified.
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College football’s transfer portal officially opens at midnight ET on Jan. 2. However, players have been announcing their intentions to transfer since the regular season ended.
Once the portal opens, players have until Jan. 16 to enter their name to transfer. It doesn’t mean they have to find their new schools by then — or that they can’t return to their previous schools.
We are tracking the notable players entering the portal as well as those players who will re-sign with their current schools. Here’s the latest news and updates on how the 2026 season could be transformed.
When Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy zeroed in on Viktor Gyökeres as the centerpiece signing of the summer, he was supposed to lock down Arsenal’s No. 9 spot. Instead, we are halfway through the season and debating whether he should even start.
The former Sporting CP forward has struggled to make a mark, with most of his league goals coming against teams expected to fight relegation (Leeds United, Burnley and Nottingham Forest). Even more worrying is how ineffective the striker’s overall game has been. Against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Dec. 13, the Swedish striker registered just 15 touches as the worst team in the league frustrated Arsenal. He similarly struggled to get involved in the Gunners’ 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday, with only 16 touches.
When Gyökeres picked up an injury in November, Arteta turned to his emergency striker: Mikel Merino. The Spaniard combined his midfield and forward traits, offering Arsenal more than a traditional No. 9 would.
Even with Gyökeres back from injury, there is enough evidence to suggest Merino is a serious candidate to start up front. Merino’s growth in the role in difficult matches helped make Arsenal’s attack look more fluid, dangerous and interchangeable, and he could well be their best option.
Here’s how Merino adds dynamism to Arsenal’s attack and helps solve their key issue, while the team figures out how to best use their £54 million signing.
How Merino’s movement transforms Arsenal
Last season, when Arsenal’s title challenge was hit by injuries and their set piece goals dried up, Arteta had a problem. Arsenal found it difficult to break down teams that sat in a low block, leading to many dropped points. Fulham, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United all took crucial points off the Gunners in a testing winter period.
The consensus was that signing a striker would solve this issue. Enter Gyökeres, whom Arsenal nabbed in the summer. However, the conundrum is more complex. It isn’t a goal-scoring issue; it is a chance-creation issue.
Back in February, with attackers Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all out injured, Arteta turned to Merino and converted him into a striker. Signed as a player who could win duels and do the things that might go unnoticed by fans, Merino was an instant success in his new role. He came on and scored two goals against Leicester City in his first covering shift at striker. Playing five more games in the position last season, he added two goals to his tally.
Now, with Arsenal once again title contenders and Gyökeres struggling, Merino could well be Arteta’s final piece of the jigsaw in attack.
Against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, amid a tough run of games in November, Merino’s qualities shifted the momentum Arsenal’s way in the second half. As Merino dropped deep into his own half or peeled off into midfield, center back Jonathan Tah followed him. The movement dragged Tah out of position and gave Merino’s teammates an extra man to pass to, creating space.
This space then allowed midfielders Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi to act as two deep-lying playmakers, instead of one pushing up while the other dropped. Bayern had to press both, committing more forwards in the press, which meant Merino could receive the ball and progress the move.
Merino’s link-up play makes the rest of Arsenal’s attack more dangerous because it elevates the different profiles in the squad. Players can comfortably take up the positions they thrive in.
Against Bayern, Merino’s movement encouraged other Arsenal attackers to push up and pin back the German side’s defense. With two players centrally to pass to, Saka and Noni Madueke stretched the defense wide or made runs in behind, while fullback Myles Lewis-Skelly could act as a striker and occupy Bayern’s center backs.
When Tah stuck close to Merino and followed him deep, Arsenal could then look to go long and direct over the press.
Merino also frees up other Arsenal forwards who don’t have to do the legwork of getting the ball from defense into attack; instead, they can occupy dangerous positions centrally or wide. It’s almost like having another attacking midfielder in buildup, with the added advantage of the player being able to make darting runs into the box.
Sunderland provided a different challenge on Nov. 8. It felt like the first time this season a team had rattled Arteta’s men by flying into tackles. The Black Cats dropped off into a mid-to-low block to defend their lead, a tactic Arsenal struggled with last season.
When Arsenal fell behind, Merino’s runs without the ball were key in finding pockets of space. The former Real Sociedad midfielder’s forays wide allowed Saka to tuck into the half-spaces. His simple, effective movement is reminiscent of some of the best strikers in the world.
After dropping into midfield, Merino then ventures into the box to be a presence and compete against the center backs. Even if he isn’t the one to get on the end of the cross, because of his positioning, another player might.
Arsenal are still reaping the benefits of Merino’s midfield abilities; he has beneficially added the traits of a target man while moonlighting as a striker.
Comparing Gyökeres with Merino
Against Wolves, we saw the mismatch of Gyökeres’ and Arsenal’s style of play.
Rice and Zubimendi are in more advanced positions than they were with Merino at striker. Without enough players occupying the defensive line, Eberechi Eze is forced to join Gyökeres, who is making a run in behind.
This is something Gyökeres did often at Sporting CP, making darting runs in behind, but in truth, Arsenal have other players who operate better in those areas. His ideal positioning is in the middle as a goal-poaching center forward, putting chances away, but he hasn’t gelled with this Arsenal team just yet. Even though the Gunners passed the test against Aston Villa most recently, Gyökeres again lacked bite up front.
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How Arsenal ‘proved a point’ in Aston Villa win
Jurgen Klinsmann calls Arsenal’s emphatic win over title rivals Aston Villa a “crucial psychological moment” in the Premier League race.
The signing was supposed to be the answer to picking the lock of deep defenses, but the best way for Arsenal to do that is when Merino keeps defenses guessing, allowing Arsenal’s other talented wingers to stretch defenses.
When push comes to shove, the Gunners will have to adapt to the way the striker plays, or he will have to drastically change his game. You get the feeling it will be the latter if this is to work.
What the stats say
It’s important to note that according to the teamwide statistics, Arsenal’s attack doesn’t appear to be more potent with the Spain international leading the line. This suggests that while Merino is brilliant at what he does, it doesn’t necessarily make the attack considerably better overall. Arsenal have more touches inside the box with Gyökeres on the pitch, and there has not been much difference in npxG/90 or goals scored with either player.
That’s not to say that Merino hasn’t surprised many by flourishing in the role — more so that he is good enough to be the leading striker without elevating the attack, as the stats are largely similar.
However, the overall contribution Merino provides to the team as a striker makes him a flexible, multifunctional choice. He provides more progressive passes, completes more defensive interventions and can dial into his midfield abilities by dropping into his own half. He’s the complete package.
Merino’s defensive interventions are crucial, as he covers gaps in midfield and can win the ball up front. The quick retrievals keep the pressure of their attack on. For Arsenal’s equalizer against Sunderland to make it 1-1, Merino led the press that put Sunderland under pressure, and Rice eventually won the ball.
When Arsenal are firing, all the cogs work together to make the wheel turn. It’s why Arteta has been given the squad depth to call upon a variety of different profiles mid-match.
Gyökeres is new to an unforgiving, ruthless, ever-changing league. Though the early signs seem as though he is struggling, time will tell whether he can offer something different up front. But in the meantime, why should Arteta rip up the tactical script to adapt to him when a viable option is in front of him?
Merino has proved he is a player who can do the business for Arsenal in big moments. He was switched to a striker in a catastrophe, but from every catastrophe arises an opportunity, and the midfielder-turned-striker has taken that opportunity with both hands.
The key risk Instagram faces is that, as the world changes more quickly, the platform fails to keep up. Looking forward to 2026, one major shift: authenticity is becoming infinitely reproducible.
Everything that made creators matter-the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn’t be faked-is now accessible to anyone with the right tools. Deepfakes are getting better. Al generates photos and videos indistinguishable from captured media.
Power has shifted from institutions to individuals because the internet made it so anyone with a compelling idea could find an audience. The cost of distributing information is zero.
Individuals, not publishers or brands, established that there’s a significant market for content from people. Trust in institutions is at an all-time low. We’ve turned to self-captured content from creators we trust and admire.
We like to complain about “AI slop,” but there’s a lot of amazing AI content. Even the quality AI content has a look though: too slick, skin too smooth. That will change – we’re going to see more realistic AI content.
Authenticity is becoming a scarce resource, driving more demand for creator content, not less. The bar is shifting from “can you create?” to “can you make something that only you could create?”
Unless you are under 25, you probably think of Instagram as feed of square photos: polished makeup, skin smoothing, and beautiful landscapes. That feed is dead. People stopped sharing personal moments to feed years ago.
The primary way people share now is in DMs: blurry photos and shaky videos of daily experiences. Shoe shots. and unflattering candids.
This raw aesthetic has bled into public content and across artforms.
The camera companies are betting on the wrong aesthetic. They’re competing to make everyone look like a pro photographer from 2015. But in a world where AI can generate flawless imagery, the professional look becomes the tell.
Flattering imagery is cheap to produce and boring to consume.
People want content that feels real. Savvy creators are leaning into unproduced, unflattering images. In a world where everything can be perfected, imperfection becomes a signal.
Rawness isn’t just aesthetic preference anymore — it’s proof. It’s defensive. A way of saying: this is real because it’s imperfect.
Relatively quickly, AI will create any aesthetic you like, including an imperfect one that presents as authentic. At that point we’ll need to shift our focus to who says something instead of what is being said.
For most of my life I could safely assume photographs or videos were largely accurate captures of moments that happened. This is clearly no longer the case and it’s going to take us years to adapt.
We’re going to move from assuming what we see is real by default, to starting with skepticism. Paying attention to who is sharing something and why. This will be uncomfortable – we’re genetically predisposed to believing our eyes.
Platforms like Instagram will do good work identifying AI content, but they’ll get worse at it over time as AI gets better. It will be more practical to fingerprint real media than fake media.
Camera manufacturers will cryptographically sign images at capture, creating a chain of custody.
Labeling is only part of the solution. We need to surface much more
context about the accounts sharing content so people can make informed decisions. Who is behind the account?
In a world of infinite abundance and infinite doubt, the creators who can maintain trust and signal authenticity – by being real, transparent, and consistent – will stand out.
We need to build the best creative tools. Label AI-generated content and verify authentic content. Surface credibility signals about who’s posting. Continue to improve ranking for originality.
Instagram is going to have to evolve in a number of ways, and fast.
Scorpio (October 23–November 21): “Jupiter (the planet of expansion) moves into Leo on June 30, activating the area of your chart around career, legacy, professional success. This powerful movement is going to encourage you to think bigger about the impact you’re leaving behind. This is a massive year for long-term planning, professional growth, and meaningful contributions. You’re being asked to invest in what matters most—not just for now, but for the future you’re building.”
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): “Expansion comes through exploration in 2026 as Jupiter moves into your travel and growth sector. Whether through literal travel, education, or spiritual development, this year widens your worldview. New experiences challenge your assumptions and reignite your sense of purpose. By the end of the year, you’ll feel reconnected to possibility… which is very Sagittarius-coded.”
Capricorn (December 22–January 19): “Chiron’s move into the area of your chart around joy, creativity, and self-expression. In 2026, you’re learning that fulfillment doesn’t have to be earned through struggle alone. This year invites you to soften, take emotional risks, and reconnect with pleasure. You’re allowed to have a little fun, Capricorn! In fact, it would actually be good for you.”
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Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No Product Dimensions : 7.3 x 7.2 x 4.1 inches; 1 Pounds Date First Available : December 27, 2016 Manufacturer : EARTHTONE ASIN : B01MS1LVUE Best Sellers Rank: #153,423 in Health & Household (See Top 100 in Health & Household) #1,167 in Collagen Supplements Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (549) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); }); The Essential Beauty Protein — Earthtone Collagen Powder restores your body’s waning collagen for smooth skin, revitalized hair, healthy tendons, cartilage and joints, a healthy gut and muscle nourishment* Premium Sourcing — Collagen hydrolysate made from 100% pure non-GMO pasture-raised bovine hides for an all-natural, sustainable, paleo-friendly health boost Great Usability — Unflavored and soluble in cold water, making it easy to mix a tablespoonful in your favorite drink or recipe Amazing Nutrition — Hydrolyzed collagen types I and III, which make up 90% of the body’s collagen, plus all the amino acids you need to rebuild your body’s collagen Vital Nutrients In The Colors Of The Earth — Earthtone Foods brings you nature’s most wholesome nutrients to help fuel your next adventure
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Customers find the collagen powder effective, particularly in hot drinks like coffee, and report improvements in skin and hair health. The product receives positive feedback for its quality and value for money. However, customers disagree on how well it dissolves in beverages, with some finding it easy to mix while others report it doesn’t dissolve at all. Moreover, the taste receives mixed reactions, with some finding it delicious while others note a slight taste. Additionally, customers report issues with clumpiness and describe the product as having a terrible smell.
Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
CINCINNATI — For the third straight season, the Cincinnati Bengals will miss the playoffs, leading quarterback Joe Burrow to again state the obvious.
“We don’t want to be in the spot we are in now, so something’s got to change,” Burrow said Wednesday. “Whether it’s players we have continuing to improve and get better and play championship-caliber football or bringing in guys that will or whatever it may be. Obviously, something has to [change].”
It’s the second time in recent weeks that Burrow has advocated for things to be done differently.
“What we’ve been doing hasn’t worked the last couple of years,” Burrow said Dec. 17. “We have to think outside the box and get creative about where we go from here.”
While Burrow has not vocalized what needs to be different, Wednesday’s comments provided more clarity about what the team could be looking for.
Burrow, a sixth-year player and two-time MVP finalist, has missed nine games this season with a turf toe injury that required surgery. Since he came back Nov. 27, the team has won three of his five starts. A victory against the Cleveland Browns (4-12) on Sunday would give Cincinnati (6-10) a three-game winning streak to close the season.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor has been under scrutiny from the fan base, but Burrow has been supportive of the coach amid his desire for change.
On Wednesday, Taylor said he didn’t feel the need to show the front office that the team is again close to being a contender.
“I’m not trying to show anybody,” Taylor said. “We’re all in this together, so I don’t think there’s any need to show anybody anything.”
The end-of-season vibes are vastly different than they were earlier in Burrow’s career. In 2021, the year after Burrow was drafted at No. 1, Cincinnati made the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and went all the way to the Super Bowl — the franchise’s deepest run in 33 years. The following season, the Bengals returned to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
During that run, Burrow confidently proclaimed that his championship window will last his entire career. On Wednesday, Burrow was asked to square that claim.
“This year, I’ve played however many games and we’ve won more than we’ve lost,” Burrow said. “And I feel good about that. All I can do is go out and when I’m out on the field, try to play well, try to win and go from there.”
That tied into another theme that Burrow has harped on this season — happiness. When asked for a resolution for the new year, Burrow said it was to “be happy.”
And for him, that comes with being on the field. And as the results have shifted, Burrow said he’s having fun.
“I think I have fun playing football,” Burrow said. “It’s certainly difficult when you can’t. And, you know, I had fun last year, too. Certainly frustrating at times.
“That’s life in the NFL. That’s life of playing sports. That’s why you play it. At the beginning, you feel emotions that you don’t feel in other parts of your life. Highs, lows, all the above, everything in between.”
The fight for net neutrality never seems to be truly won or lost.
Federal net neutrality rules have been on and off for the past 15 years. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed the Open Internet Order under President Barack Obama in 2010, prohibiting ISPs from blocking or throttling lawful internet traffic, the baseline rule of net neutrality. Then, at the request of those ISPs, a court blocked its rules. An updated framework was passed by the FCC in 2015, only to be overturned in 2017 under President Donald Trump’s first administration. It seemed poised for a comeback in 2024, but the victory lasted mere months before a court overturned it — kicking off a rough year for the open internet and broadband regulation as a whole.
Rather than fight the court’s ruling against net neutrality, the Trump administration’s FCC has preemptively removed the rules — without a chance for public comment. The move was part of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, which aims to wipe out “unnecessary” regulations.
ISPs have long described net neutrality rules as onerous. For instance, USTelecom president and CEO Jonathan Spalter claimed the 2024 vote to reinstate the FCC’s net neutrality rules was a “counterproductive, unnecessary, and anti-consumer regulatory distraction.”
However, Matt Wood, vice president of policy and general counsel at the nonprofit Free Press, says in an interview with The Verge that ISPs often feel little financial impact from these rules, and may even already be complying with them. “A lot of cable and phone companies, when they talk to their business people and then go back to investors and to the financial analysts, they’re saying, ‘Yep, this is how we’re doing it anyway.’ So, I think a lot of their complaints about the supposed ‘burdens’ from these rules are really just ideological in nature.”
“A lot of their complaints about the supposed ‘burdens’ from these rules are really just ideological in nature.”
— Matt Wood, Free Press
Why bother with regulations if ISPs are already (theoretically) compliant? It comes down to accountability and transparency. Regulations ensure voters, not ISPs, are setting the rules of the road online — otherwise, there’s nothing to stop them from changing their operations down the line.
The FCC’s anti-regulatory agenda for telecoms reaches even further than net neutrality. Chao Jun Liu, senior legislative associate at the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), notes the FCC’s recent move to reverse Biden-era telecom cybersecurity rules. Carr’s FCC also rolled back requirements for them to provide “nutrition labels” for their broadband pricing, claiming it was “burdensome” for ISPs to display those details.
“There is very much this theme of, ISPs just want to do whatever they want to do with no limits and nobody telling them how to do it, when to do it, [or] on what timeline,” Liu tells The Verge.
Federal regulations for ISPs seem to be dissolving like wet paper, but luckily they’re not the only line of defense for consumers.
“ISPs just want to do whatever they want to do with no limits and nobody telling them how to do it.”
— Chao Jun Liu, EFF
State legislators took up net neutrality in the late 2010s, after the reversal of the FCC’s 2015 order. California’s 2018 net neutrality law, considered the nation’s gold standard, even includes some policies that were left out of the 2015 federal standards, like banning zero-rating, which allows ISPs to exempt certain apps or services from customers’ data caps. Several other states have adopted similar rules, including Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Jersey, and Vermont.
ISPs have so far largely shied away from openly offering paid prioritization or conventional “fast lanes,” something supporters of net neutrality attribute at least partly to state-level regulations. “I think that state-level net neutrality laws, and the threat of new ones, has kept some of the worst outcomes in check,” says John Bergmayer, legal director at the nonprofit Public Knowledge, in a statement to The Verge.
This reluctance, however, could be changing. T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T all offer network slicing on their 5G networks, allowing certain customers (mainly businesses) to pay for virtual networks with higher speeds — which, while it doesn’t inherently violate net neutrality standards, could lay the groundwork for segmented networks.
State-level laws are the next target on the deregulation chopping block.
State-level laws are also the next target on the deregulation chopping block. In October, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) began a push to pressure states into exempting ISPs from their net neutrality laws in order to be eligible for funding from the Biden-era Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. In a speech at the Hudson Institute, NTIA administrator Arielle Roth called state-level net neutrality laws “a form of rate regulation,” the practice of determining what companies can charge for their services.
Accusations of rate regulation have become common, but Free Press’s Matt Wood argues that they’re overblown. While BEAD does prohibit rate regulation, state-level net neutrality laws don’t inherently fall under that label. Opponents of net neutrality “characterize any and every consumer safeguard as rate regulation when I don’t think it actually has any legitimate impact on the rates companies can charge for the services they offer in the broadband space,” says Wood.
And, again, this is part of a larger deregulatory agenda. EFF’s Chao Jun Liu pointed out similarities with efforts to leverage BEAD funds against AI regulation, including through a recently signed executive order. These attempts to connect AI regulation and broadband funding are “a new development,” says Liu. “This is very much a Brendan Carr, Trump administration special.”
At a time when broadband expansion remains vital, the Trump administration is threatening much-needed infrastructure funding to attack tech regulation. Unfortunately, despite being a bipartisan program, BEAD is where this debate is currently being played out. As Wood says, “Why are we making broadband deployment, which is pretty popular and pretty bipartisan, into yet another front in these culture wars?”
“Why are we making broadband deployment into yet another front in these culture wars?”
— Matt Wood, Free Press
Legal experts have pointed out that Roth and the NTIA don’t necessarily have the authority to preempt state-level net neutrality laws for the sake of BEAD funding. However, it seems likely the debates over those funds will delay BEAD’s rollout even further and, along with it, the program’s mission to expand broadband development, particularly to underserved communities.
So, while the tug-of-war over net neutrality regulations continues, so do issues with broadband access in the US. Internet affordability is a persistent challenge across the country, but especially in rural areas where people often have only one or two providers to choose from. BEAD was intended to help address that issue, but now could get bogged down in debate over AI regulations.
Even in areas with robust internet access, high prices are still a problem, particularly since the Affordable Connectivity Program was shut down almost two years ago. On top of that, the US is experiencing a wave of bills that could roll out widespread age verification rules online, sparking debate about privacy, censorship, and free speech.
All of this — not just the fate of net neutrality — leaves the internet in a perilous state going into 2026.
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For many of us, our New Year‘s style resolution is to only buy items with 100% natural fibers. Sadly, it’s a tricky resolution to tackle. Whether it’s the overwhelming amount of fast fashion brands or the greenwashing in the industry, finding the right sustainable and ethical retailer is difficult. Especially if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a sweater. That’s why we have to jump on the killer sales when you find the right brand!
Lucky for us, Everlane‘s a stellar End-Of-The-Year Sale going on right now. For a limited time, get up to 70% off select styles with an additional 20% off at checkout—that’s a combination of up to 90% off, BTW! The brand, beloved for its elevated basics, sustainable materials, and ethical manufacturing, is usually well over $150.
We’ve done the hard work for you and picked the coziest and most stylish tailored jeans, cashmere sweaters, oversized wool blazers, and more from Everlane’s End-Of-Year Sale. These styles won’t stay in stock for long, either—plenty of sizes and shades are selling out as we type.
