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Andrew J. Hawkins
Stranger Things x Bike Bus.

Stranger Things, a show that ostensibly is riff on the “kids on bikes” adventures from the 1980s, recently held a promotional event where fans rode bikes along a car-free street to celebrate the final season. But no “kids on bikes” event would be complete without Coach Balto, the founder of Bike Bus World, who also helped inspire my own bike bus journey. I’m excited to see him continuing the spread the word about street safety and childhood independence in the Upside Down.

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Emma Roth
You might not see CNN on your Apple News feed for a bit.

Over the weekend, CNN yanked its stories from the Apple News app as it tries to work out a deal that would bring its content back to the platform, according to a report from Semafor.

CNN has gotten more aggressive about monetizing its content over the past year, with the outlet paywalling some of its articles and once again launching a streaming service.

The Steam Deck LCD is 20 percent off for Black FridayThe Steam Deck LCD is 20 percent off for Black Friday
Gadgets
The Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025
Cameron Faulkner
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Sean Hollister
Did capitalism write this?

CNBC, in a story titled “Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it’s costing the economy,” seems to be calling people “device hoarders” if they can’t afford a new phone or computer. Here’s just one selection:

While squeezing as much life out of your device as possible may save money in the short run, especially amid widespread fears about the strength of the consumer and job market, it might cost the economy in the long run, especially when device hoarding occurs at the level of corporations.

Maybe they could afford them if the economy was doing better?

Carol seeks the truth (serum) in Pluribus episode 4

Another spoiler-filled discussion of the latest from Vince Gilligan’s sci-fi series on Apple TV.

Andrew Webster
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Youtube
Thomas Ricker
Disney R&D.

Alongside the unveiling of the very impressive self-walking Olaf character coming to Disney’s Frozen world attractions in Paris and Hong Kong next year, Disney takes us on a behind the scenes look at its research and development efforts, showing how reinforcement learning combined with simulation is dramatically accelerating robot development.

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Richard Lawler
Vapor vs. Zoom.

The latest ads featuring Apple and Google’s mobile flagships could combine for a Nike football cleat and appeared within hours of each other today, before likely going into rotation over the holiday.

Combined screenshot showing Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro vapor chamber on the top, and a billboard trumpeting the Pixel 10 Pro zoom.
HBO Max is offering one of the best Black Friday deals we’ve seen this yearHBO Max is offering one of the best Black Friday deals we’ve seen this year
Gadgets
The Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025
Brandt Ranj
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Lauren Feiner
Parent advocates urge the Senate to advance KOSA, fearing weakened House version.

Over 100 parents whose children died after suffering online harms sent a letter to Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) urging him to quickly advance the Kids Online Safety Act. The House is expected to soon introduce a version weakening the centerpiece of the bill: the duty of care.

Some of our favorite gifts will cost you less than $25Some of our favorite gifts will cost you less than $25
Gadgets
You can grab a year of Disney Plus and Hulu for just $5 a month for Black FridayYou can grab a year of Disney Plus and Hulu for just $5 a month for Black Friday
Gadgets
The Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025
Brandon Russell
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Dominic Preston
The Honor 500 looks Air-y familiar.

In Honor’s defense, the China-only 500 and 500 Pro aren’t especially thin phones, so they’re not cribbing on the iPhone Air in that sense. But that camera module has certainly been copying some of Apple’s homework.

Honor 500 and 500 Pro in pink and blue
iPhone Air on a couch cushion
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The huge 8,000mAh batteries in the Honor 500 and 500 Pro will make up for being a little thicker.
Image: Honor
The DoorDash Problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to Amazon
Play

Amazon’s lawsuit against Perplexity has blown the doors open on the great AI browser fight.

Nilay Patel
Zombies, Run! isn’t headed for the grave after allZombies, Run! isn’t headed for the grave after all
Gadgets

Entertainment

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Andrew Webster
A nice little Thanksgiving treat.

Apple announced that it’s dropping the latest episode of Pluribus a bit early this week, and it’ll be streaming on Wednesday. Now there’s something for Carol to be happy about for once.

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Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Leica’s M EV1 camera has cleared the FCC and is now available in the US.

When Leica announced the new M EV1, its rangefinder-less rangefinder camera, it didn’t go on sale in the US due to FCC delays from the government shutdown. Now, a month later, the $8,995 camera is available in the US today.

The EVF-only M EV1, seen here in front of an M11-P with a classic rangefinder.
The EVF-only M EV1, seen here in front of an M11-P with a classic rangefinder.
Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
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Lauren Feiner
State lawmakers beg Congress to let them keep regulating AI.

A group of 280 state lawmakers expressed “strong opposition” to plans to preempt state AI laws in a must-pass bill. “Freezing state action now would stifle needed innovation in policy design at a moment when it is most needed,” they wrote. You can find a running list of opponents here.

State lawmakers' letter to Congress

[Americans for Responsible Innovation]

Screw it, I’m installing Linux

I don’t like where Windows is going. Gaming on Linux has never been more approachable. Time to give it a shot.

Nathan Edwards
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Kevin Nguyen
Shadow of Colossus.

A pair of Search Engine episodes from Sruthi Pinnamaneni gets at the most physical part of the AI hype cycle: the data center. Reporting from “Data Center Alley” and Memphis, TN — home of Elon Musk’s Colossus — Pinnamaneni reveals how these massive infrastructure works get sold to communities, built by communities, and ultimately, what they will cost those communities.

OnePlus 15R will get a late launch next monthOnePlus 15R will get a late launch next month
News
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Dominic Preston
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Thomas Ricker
US DJI ban is less than a month away.

The company’s drones and cameras will be banned by default unless a national security audit is completed by December 23rd, which is highly unlikely. Sure Trump has extended the TikTok ban several times, but Don Jr’s monetary stake in miniature drones made by competitors suggests the end is nigh.

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Dominic Preston
The sweet scent of nuclear disaster.

Boing Boing plunged the depths of Etsy to find this 3D-printed replica of the Chernobyl power plant, complete with a ruined reactor that lights up and spews “smoke” when you use it as a diffuser or humidifier.

If that’s too morbid for you, how about an Oceangate Titan sub bathtub bubbler?

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Photo showing the Chernobyl diffuser in action, spewing smoke from the reactor damage.
GIF showing the Chernobyl diffuser in action, spewing smoke from the reactor damage.
Image of a small model of the OceanGate sub, with text advertising it for pools and baths
1/3Image: Alpaca3D / Etsy
Meet CoreWeave, the AI industry’s ticking time bomb

Tick… tick…

Elizabeth Lopatto
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Dominic Preston
Is it superstition if it’s true?

A story about a time-traveling, game-breaking Half-Life 2 door bug is as good a reminder as any that programming is neither an art, nor a science, but one of the deep magicks.

Sly Mr. Fox:

This kind of thing is why good programmers are paranoid and superstitious.

Get the day’s best comment and more in my free newsletter, The Verge Daily.

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Dominic Preston
Facebooks Groups are getting usernames.

Members can now post under a nickname, along with a custom avatar, though admins have to approve them first. It’s a small step towards Discordification for Facebook, which has otherwise always insisted on posting under real names.

Images showing options to create nicknames in Facebook Groups.
I hope you like animals in sunglasses.
Image: Meta
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Thomas Ricker
OpenAI can’t say “Cameo” for one month.

Cameo, the service that gives purpose to has-beens, has secured a temporary restraining order that prohibits Altman and Co from using “Cameo” to name a Sora feature that lets people insert themselves and characters into AI-generated videos. The TRO expires shortly after a trademark hearing scheduled for December 19th.

DOGE is no more, and in its wake, only chaosDOGE is no more, and in its wake, only chaos
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News
Terrence O'Brien
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TikTok
Terrence O'Brien
Formula 1 fans are riding escalators for hours to watch the Vegas Grand Prix for free.

Stopping to watch the race from outside the track can get you fined, but as long as you keep moving, security can’t do anything about it. Most of the view is obstructed along the pedestrian areas. One of the few exceptions is a pair of escalators at Spring Mountain and Las Vegas Blvd, which are closer than any of the seats and at one of the best turns.

Some of the best Nintendo Switch games are up to $30 off for Black FridaySome of the best Nintendo Switch games are up to $30 off for Black Friday
Gadgets
The Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025
Brandt Ranj
Sony’s last-gen XM4 headphones are over 50 percent off right nowSony’s last-gen XM4 headphones are over 50 percent off right now
Gadgets
The Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025
Brandon Russell
Vine walked so TikTok could runVine walked so TikTok could run
Podcasts
Podcasts
David Pierce
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Terrence O'Brien
Maybe Tim Cook isn’t preparing to retire.

Last week, rumors started flying that Tim Cook might step down as CEO next year and be replaced by John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering. Well, Bloomberg’s Marc Gurman says, not so fast. He claims those reports are simply false, and that while the company is certainly planning for Cook’s eventual retirement, it’s unlikely to happen in 2026.

Gurman:

Yes, Apple will eventually have a new leader. And, yes, it’s probably Ternus. But unless there is some unexpected event that forces Cook to step down sooner than planned, that moment is not at hand.

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