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Costco is getting a head start on Labor Day savings, with members already able to find discounts across everything from laptops and Apple products to groceries and everyday essentials. This year, Labor Day falls on Sept. 7, but there’s no need to wait for the official holiday weekend to start shopping for discounts.
If you're planning a Costco run anyway, you might as well save some money while you're there. We've rounded up the best Labor Day deals worth checking out right now. But make sure to act fast, as these deals are only live through Sept. 7.
Best Labor Day Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,849.99 at CostcoWith RAMageddon still plaguing the tech industry, we're tuned into all the price drops on laptops. Right now, get the Apple MacBook Pro (M5 chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for just $1,849.99 at Costco. That's the same low price being offered at Amazon.
The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops you can buy right now with its M5 chip. It has 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, so it can execute high-demand tasks like photo and video editing.
More Labor Day Apple dealsApple Pencil Pro — $99.99 $129 (save $29.01)
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC — $148.99 $179 (save $30.01)
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (Two years of AppleCare+ included) — $229.99 $249 (save $19.01)
Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $399.99 $449 (save $49.01)
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $649.99 $749 (save $99.01)
Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,399.99 $1,499 (save $99.01)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro chip, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,759.99 $2,999 (save $239.01)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has an 11-inch WUXGA display, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, with support for up to 2TB of expandable storage. Its 7,040mAh battery is rated for up to 15 hours of use, while USB-C fast charging, Bluetooth 5.3, and WiFi cover the basics.
More Labor Day Samsung dealsSamsung HW-Q60CF 3.1.2 Ch Soundbar — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)
Galaxy Book4 Edge — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)
The Bose open-ear headphones are designed to let you stay aware of your surroundings while listening, without covering your ears. They have water resistance, up to seven hours of battery life, and a wireless range of 30 feet. The deal also includes a $50 gift card with purchase, with options including Apple and Google Play.
More Labor Day audio dealsBose SoundLink Home Bluetooth Speaker — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)
Bose QuietComfort SC Noise Canceling Headphones — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)
Sonos Arc Ultra 9.1.4 Ch Soundbar Bundle — $899.99 $1,099.99 (save $200)
There is no question that the best laptop battery life we've ever tested was the astounding 40 hours on the HP OmniBook 3. It's an exceptional value for budget-conscious frequent travelers and commuters.
Normally $1,199.99, the HP OmniBook 3 is down to $799.99 at Costco, saving you $400. That's a whole lot of savings on a laptop with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.
More Labor Day laptop dealsLenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)
Dell Touchscreen, 15.6-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $799.99 $1,099.99 (save $300)
Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge, 14-inch (Snapdragon X Elite 12 Core, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)
Asus Vivobook Flip, 16-inch (Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,499.99 (save $400)
SAVE $102: As of Sept. 3, Samsung's 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $497.99. That's 17% or over $100 off its list price of $599.99 and its lowest price on record.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV $497.99 at AmazonLabor Day 2026 is proving to be one of the best times of the year to buy a new TV. If you've been waiting for prices to drop before the new NFL season kicks off and don't want to wait until Black Friday, now's the time to pull the trigger. For those looking to upgrade their bedroom TV or seeking a smaller screen for another room in your home, the 43-inch Samsung QN70H should do the trick.
As of Sept. 3, the Samsung 43-inch QN70H Mini-LED Neo QLED 4K TV is only $497.99 during Amazon's Labor Day Sale. That's not only over $100 off its list price of $599.99, but it's also its lowest price on record.
The QN70H is Samsung's mid-range Neo QLED model, falling in between the QN80H and M80H. It features mini LEDs with quantum dots for a vast range of colors and, paired with its matte display, is a vibrant choice with deep contrast for a bright room. It has Motion Xcelerator 144Hz technology, which makes it a buttery-smooth pick for gamers. Plus, thanks to Samsung Vision AI Companion with Bixby, you'll be able to tailor your picture and elevate the sound to your liking. Want the background noises at a minimum and the dialogue boosted? Done.
While the QN70H is not quite the fanciest TV in Samsung's lineup, it certainly won't disappoint. It's still a Samsung, after all, which is one of our favorite TV brands. And for less than $500, it's an incredible value.
You don't have to look very far on the internet to find someone, somewhere, who is really upset about Final Fantasy games not having turn-based combat anymore.
Final Fantasy games haven’t had it for 25 years, to be clear, but that doesn't stop people from yearning for a time before you had to get good at combos to finish a Final Fantasy. I totally get it, too, as turn-based combat kicks ass. On top of that, the recent success of games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, if nothing else, a sign that people still vibe with it on some level.
Final Fantasy Resonance, which launches on every major platform on Oct. 22, feels like it exists for two reasons: to please longtime FF fans and to make sure the mobile game Brave Exvius — which Resonance is based on — lives on in some form.
I have not played Brave Exvius, but after playing roughly an hour of Resonance at a preview event a couple of weeks ago, I can confirm that the foundations on which Final Fantasy was originally built are still structurally sound. As to whether or not it can transcend its mobile game origins, well, we'll have to wait and see.
SEE ALSO: 'Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave' feels like the true follow-up to 'Three Houses' Final Fantasy Resonance has all your favorite guys in it You've got four people in your party, but really, you've got eight. Credit: Square EnixFirst, some context is in order. Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius came out on mobile devices about a decade ago, and it's one of those phone games where you use currency to do fake slot machine pulls to unlock characters, many — but not all — of whom are plucked from the rest of the FF series. My understanding is that Resonance is largely an new game built like a traditional console RPG, but it's definitely been built using some assets and systems from Brave Exvius.
The demo I played didn't give me a great idea of what to expect from the story, but from what I can tell, the main character is a blonde dude with a big sword named Rain. That's the most Final Fantasy thing possible. They should start naming characters in the mainline games after weather again.
Anyway, you have a conventional party of original characters, but characters from older games in the series are present in spirit form. You can unlock them by finding shrines in the overworld and completing little trivia challenges based on the game each character comes from. In the demo, I unlocked Noctis from Final Fantasy XV, but looking through the menus, I could see that they have characters from good games in there, too.
Yep, that's an overworld. Credit: Square EnixWhen you're not fighting — we'll get to that shortly — Resonance plays like an RPG from yesteryear. You run around an overworld full of towns, dungeons, and random battles. There are side quests to complete and a big icon that always points toward the next story objective. I played through one major story dungeon that was fairly linear and simplistic, but the demo also seemed to take place early in the game, so I imagine the dungeons aren’t all like that.
Resonance is also rendered in Square Enix's now-signature "HD2D" look, which was most recently used in Octopath Traveler 0 and The Adventures of Elliot. Based on what I played, this is one of the better-looking HD2D games, but there's one caveat: There are pre-rendered CG cutscenes in combat that very clearly come from the mobile game.
On the one hand, I think it's kind of cool for the game to briefly play a video in a completely different art style during fights, but on the other, the cutscenes really look like they came from a phone game. They don't even have English voice acting, despite the rest of the game having it. The transition from mobile free-to-play RPG to console game isn’t totally seamless here. That's forgivable, but it is noticeable.
The combat mixes old-school sensibilities with modern design conventionsLet's talk about fights, which seem like they will make up the bulk of Resonance's gameplay. That's a good thing because I really dug what I played at the preview.
If you've ever played Final Fantasy VI or one of the other games from that era, you'll be right at home here. Fights are turn-based with zero real-time elements, so you have all the time in the world to strategize and make decisions. Each fight is an exercise in figuring out which elemental spells your enemies are weak against. This requires either a slow trial-and-error process, or using a turn to cast Assess and just have the game tell you.
One of my favorite details is that Resonance lets you use every single offensive or restorative spell either on individual characters or groups. That's a holdover from the old games that fell out of favor decades ago, but I always thought it was cool that you could use a healing spell on every ally instead of just one, at the expense of some potency.
As for why all of those old FF characters are in this game, their main function is to provide statistical buffs and additional combat skills to your core party members. You can, for example, assign Cloud from Final Fantasy VII to any character, such as Rain. Cloud has his own set of skills and stat bonuses that will be available to Rain for as long as Cloud is attached to him. Each classic FF character can be freely swapped among the new party members, so figuring out the best fit for each encounter seems like it's going to be a major part of the combat experience.
This guy was a real jerk. Credit: Square EnixLastly, because it's a modern Square Enix RPG, enemies all have stagger meters that fill up when you attack their weaknesses. Stagger an enemy and they'll be stunned for a turn while taking more damage than usual. Stagger every enemy in an enounter simultaneously, and you can unleash a big, screen-filling super attack from one of the classic FF characters, which triggers the CG cutscenes I mentioned earlier. I like this feature in pretty much every Square Enix game that has it, but it definitely stands out as a modern idea inserted into an otherwise old-school game.
The best thing I can say about Resonance's combat is that it seems genuinely challenging. I fought a story boss that took around 15 minutes to kill, and there were some close calls throughout the fight. I like a turn-based battle that makes me sweat a little bit.
My time with Final Fantasy Resonance was largely positive, but there are still some unanswered questions. Is the story any good? Will I find myself caring at all about Rain and his friends? Will it overstay its welcome with a bloated runtime like some modern RPGs, or will it be more akin to its 8 and 16-bit inspirations in that regard? We'll find out together in October.
SAVE $30: As of Sept. 3, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $19.99 at Amazon. That's a $30 discount from its full price of $49.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at AmazonLabor Day sales are a real treat for shoppers who don't want to wait until Black Friday and the holidays to score some good deals. Amazon's been particularly great with discounts so far, including devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which recently saw a price hike. As of Sept. 3, this streaming stick has been slashed to just $19.99.
Compared to its newly increased full price of $49.99, that means you save $30 overall. Price tracker camelcamelcamel even shows that this deal price is just a couple of dollars away from the retailer's lowest-ever price of $17.99, so this is an excellent time to grab it if your streaming setup is in need of an upgrade.
SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on Apple, headphones, laptops, and moreAmazon's streaming sticks offer several 4K options, but the 4K Select is the line's entry-level pick. If you're making the jump from HD streaming, this device can deliver a higher-quality picture with support for 4K Ultra HD resolution and High Dynamic Range 10+. It also supports WiFi 5 for smooth streaming and comes with 8GB of storage to store your favorite apps.
You can even play Xbox games via cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass, though you will need a subscription and a compatible controller to fully jump in on the action. On top of that, the Alexa Voice Remote makes searching for your next favorite show or movie simple and easy, just by using your voice.
As we head into the Labor Day weekend, deals like this may not be around for long. If this Fire TV Stick 4K Select has caught your eye, be quick to save on it at Amazon.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
Featuring an improved design, including replaceable batteries, along with better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance, the excellent sounding $300 Momentum TWS 5 are top earbuds contender and earn a CNET Editors' Choice award.
Read more about wireless and noise-canceling earbuds: We found the 7 best noise-cancelling earbuds after extensive testing
The 11 best wireless earbuds we've ever tested
Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
0:21 Design changes
0:41 Replaceable batteries
0:56 New features
1:04 Compared to the Momentum True Wireless 4
1:25 Ear tips
1:53 Tight seal is crucial
2:01 Sound quality
2:31 Sony vs Sennheiser
2:48 Noise cancellation
3:23 Sound test
3:47 Firmware update needed
4:03 Audio dropouts?
4:14 Robust connection
4:32 Codecs
4:57 Battery life
5:17 What do you think?
Video credits
Host: David Carnoy
Scripted by: David Carnoy
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Numi Prasarn
Video editor: Numi Prasarn
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao
One of the world's largest consumer technology shows kicks off on Friday, and Dreame understood the assignment. IFA is all-in on the robot lawn mowers this year and Dreame has a new model that's set to enter the market in 2027. The brand has been one of Mashable's favorite options for robot vacuums in the last few years and their lineup of robot lawn mowers is getting damn impressive. Welcome to the yard, Dreame A4 AWD Pro Series.
A robot lawn mower with a swing armLike robot vacuums, the majority of robot lawn mowers set out to do the same task: rid us of the inconvenience of manually mowing the lawn. But now that the market has a handful of top models and brands, things are starting to get fancier.
The new Dreame A4 AWD Pro Series is the brand's introductory model made with the EdgeMaster 4.0 Precision Edge-Trimming System. This enables a swing arm to extend the standard cutting disc outward as the mower senses nearby boundaries. After playing with a few robot lawn mowers, I can say this will be a major benefit since not all robots are comfortable getting close to the edge. At times, I've gone out with the string trimmer to get a cleaner line around the edge.
SEE ALSO: The Roborock RockNeo Q110H robot lawn mower just landed at Amazon, and it's on sale for just 1 weekOf course, the Dreame does this while still saying a safe distance away from walls, fences, or flower beds, but the zero centimeter edge cutting is a unique feature that makes using a robot lawn mower and truly hands-off experience.
In addition to the arm, the Dreame AWD can handle climbing slopes that measure up to 90% or 42 degrees. It can also glide over holes or divots of about four inches deep and six inches wide.
Advanced navigation and intelligenceSince the little robot is sent out to mow on its own, it relies on a solid navigation system. The new Dreame AWD uses a slew of tech to make this happen like 360-degree 3D LiDAR, satellite and network Omni RTK, and AI-powered binocular vision. The infrared sensor can help keep the mower away from people and pets.
How to buy the Dreame A4 AWD Pro SeriesAt the time of launch, Dreame's press release mentions the new robot mower will hit global markets in the first half of 2027. Starting price (listed in Euros) translates to about $3,500, but pricing can vary by market so we could see a different price in the U.S. We do have details that two models of the A4 AWD Pro will launch with one being suitable for almost an acre and the other model capable of mowing about 1.2 acres.
If you're looking for a Dreame robot lawn mower that's already on the market, the Dreame LiDAR 3500 Robot Lawn Mower A3 AWD is on sale at Amazon for $2,399.99, down from the list price of $2,999.99.
The Full Moon wasn't that long ago, but already it's looking a lot different. Its fully illuminated face is shrinking night by night as it moves into the next phase of its lunar cycle.
What is today’s Moon phase?As of Thursday, Sept. 3, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 62% of its surface visible.
Without visual aids, tonight you can see the Copernicus and Tycho craters and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to spot the Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater and Clavius Crater. Finally, with a telescope you'll also see the Apollo 14 landing spot and the Schiller Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.
What are Moon phases?The Moon's appearance gradually changes as it travels around Earth, completing a full lunar cycle in approximately 29.5 days, NASA tells us. What we see from Earth depends on the Moon's position in relation to the Sun, which affects how much of its illuminated side is visible. As the cycle progresses, the Moon passes through a series of phases, from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon, before starting over.
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.
SAVE $20: As of Sept. 3, the Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds are down to their lowest-ever price of $79 at Amazon. That's $20 off their full price of $99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Ear (3a) $79 at AmazonIf a new pair of earbuds is on your shopping list, you don't have to wait until Black Friday to score a good deal. Labor Day sales are live across various retailers and offer solid savings to browse. Over at Amazon, the newly released Nothing Ear (3a) is a standout option, sitting at their best-ever price.
As of Sept. 3, these earbuds have had $20 slashed off their $99 full price, bringing them down to $79. According to price tracking website camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price point yet for these earbuds, making now an excellent time to scoop them up. All colors are on sale as well, so you can find your favorite at a discount.
SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on Apple, headphones, laptops, and moreThe Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds provide up to 45dB of Active Noise Cancellation, so outside noises won't interrupt what you're listening to. On the opposite end of that, they also have a Transparency Mode that can make you more aware of your surroundings if you'd rather not be closed off while out and about.
When it comes to sound quality, it comes through strong thanks to a 12mm driver that's larger than what the Ear(a) offers. These earbuds also feature Clear Voice Technology, which is helpful on calls. Plus, it has a very beefy battery life, lasting up to 42 hours with the charging case.
This deal may not stick around for long, so don't miss out on this great offer on the Nothing Ear (3a) at Amazon.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
Chicken Shop Date is coming to an end.
The viral YouTube series created and hosted by Amelia Dimoldenberg will have one more season before wrapping up, the creator and Mash 101 alumni announced on Thursday.
SEE ALSO: The 9 best Chicken Shop Date episodes to bingeDimoldenberg took to Instagram to share the news in a statement, saying she feels it's "now time to move on from this adventure and onto a new one."
View this post on InstagramHere's her statement, in full:
"When I was 17 I had a fantastic idea that I might meet the love of my life on a date in a chicken shop.
I’ve spent my entire twenties sitting across from the most incredible people, people I’d always dreamt of meeting. All of them charmed me (some more than others) and I definitely charmed them.
To me the show is my very own romcom and I have loved creating so many stories for you to watch. I am so grateful to everyone who has followed me on this journey and found some joy in these episodes.
I never thought I’d stop Chicken Shop Date, I thought maybe it would be a part of me forever, and in some way it always will, but I feel like it’s now time to move on from this adventure and onto a new one.
But before I say goodbye forever, I want to celebrate everything Chicken Shop Date has been for me with a few final dates…coming very soon.
Love Amelia x"
Originally starting as a column, Chicken Shop Date launched in its current YouTube form back in 2014. It's since become an online staple up there with the likes of Hot Ones, with new episodes typically getting millions of views.
It will be missed by many — but it sounds like Dimoldenberg, who last year launched an F1-themed web series, has other things up her sleeve. Earlier this year it was announced that Dimoldenberg would star in and produce a romantic comedy about a journalist who interviews celebrities for Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures.
DJI has launched the Osmo 360 II, its new 360-degree 8K camera, in the global market. With larger sensors, higher frame rates, and replaceable lenses, it seems primed to go head-to-head with Insta360's recently released X6. However, people in the U.S. will have a harder time getting their hands on it than the rest of the world.
SEE ALSO: DJI and Insta360 go to war in the U.S. over its action gimbal camerasAnnounced on Thursday at IFA 2026, the DJI Osmo 360 II improves upon last year's Osmo 360 with larger dual 1-inch square sensors that offer 14.5 stops of dynamic range. It also boasts higher frame rates, capable of shooting 8K panoramic video at a maximum of 60fps, as well as 4K slow motion footage at 240fps. In comparison, the Osmo 360 tops out at 8K at 50fps, or 4K at 100fps in slow motion mode.
One of the Osmo 360 II's more interesting upgrades is the introduction of replaceable lenses. Insta360 made the lenses of their X5 camera swappable last year, allowing users to easily replace them if they are damaged, and further upgraded this feature in the X6 last month. Now DJI is bringing out its own swappable 360-degree lens system, reducing Insta360's advantage and helping to make any lens-damaging accidents a bit less disastrous (or expensive).
Pairing the Osmo 360 II with the DJI Mimo app and transferring footage has been simplified as well. Rather than having to search for the Osmo 360 II in the DJI Mimo app, you can just tap its new NFC area to your phone, which should make users' workflow slightly smoother.
DJI's Osmo 360 II also has a few changes on the software side. The camera will debut AI SuperNight 2.0, a new noise reduction algorithm designed to help capture clean footage in low light situations. The Osmo 360 II features Spotlight Follow too, bringing this tracking tool to DJI's 360-degree cameras for the first time. Previously found in the Osmo Pocket handheld gimbal camera series, Spotlight Follow uses AI to automatically reframe your footage, following your subject to keep them in the centre of the frame at all times (though it will only work with 4K 30fps footage at maximum).
Aside from these upgrades, the DJI Osmo 360 II has identical measurements to its predecessor, the same 100-minute battery runtime at 8K 30fps, and the same 105GB of built-in storage available (which can also be supplemented with microSD cards).
Credit: DJIUnfortunately, the Osmo 360 II won't officially be available in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. The U.S. government's hostility toward DJI has significantly hindered the company's operations in the country, resulting in its products now being unavailable for purchase through its U.S. website. As such, acquiring an Osmo 360 II in the U.S. will require going through a third party.
For everyone else, the DJI Osmo 360 II will be available in most other markets across the world from Sept. 15. No U.S. pricing has been announced, however the Osmo 360 II is already available in Hong Kong, where its Standard Combo will set you back $HK3,899 (approximately $500).
Acer came to IFA 2026 with a stacked product lineup, including the much talked about Project Dualplay Mini, a handheld gaming device with a rotatable screen. See what else Acer showed in our highlight reel of the keynote.
GLP-1s are inescapable online, as Mashable reported, including extensive discussions about them. The latest topic of conversation to hit your FYPs may be about being single and dating while taking the drug.
"Dating after weight loss sucks," said Katherine Lipovsky on social media, where she posts videos about life after losing 300 pounds with the help of a GLP-1. In this particular video posted in Aug., she went on to say she was insanely jealous of people who've had partners who have loved them in all sizes, because she'll never know if her future partner would've stood by her.
SEE ALSO: A 'gray market' of GLP-1 drugs is growing on TikTok, new analysis allegesLipovsky, who's 41 and has been on a GLP-1 for several years, expressed similar emotions to Mashable.
"Until last summer, it was impossible for me to find a man who didn't want to keep me a secret," she said in a phone interview. That's the biggest difference that she's seen since losing weight. It wasn't that men didn't desire her, or weren't physically or emotionally attracted to her.
"It was that they didn't want to be seen with me," she said. "It's literally that they were embarrassed to like me, and that was just really made me feel like shit."
Now, she's navigating the mindfield of post-weight-loss dating and wondering whether her dates would've accepted her before.
Societal bias against fat people is well-documented. Weight discrimination is linked to poorer physical and mental health, worse healthcare, and being turned down for jobs. The bias persists in the dating world. A 2022 article in the journal Stigma and Health on dating and hiring preferences found that there was a stronger weight bias amongst heterosexual participants and gay men, but less so in lesbians and bisexual women.
Lipovsky is one of many people who've experienced this stigma and are now learning to live life in a smaller body while taking GLP-1s. As she and others Mashable spoke to, it's changed every facet of their lives, especially dating.
Dating with 'skinny privilege'Alejandra, a woman in her 20s who withheld her last name for privacy reasons, started posting about how GLP-1 use is impacting her dating life because she didn't find much about it online herself.
She has PCOS (now called PMOS) and has been on a GLP-1 for almost three years. Dating while on the drug is a fairly new topic, she told Mashable over the phone, and it's changed for her in so many ways. Like Lipovsky, she wonders if the men she dates like her for her.
"I may come off as more confident now that I am at [my] goal weight," she said, "but at the same time, that does bring a lot of insecurities in relationships because I get in my head about, 'Do they like me now because of the way I look or do they like me for me?'"
That's a question she'll never know the answer to, she said, because they didn't meet her before she lost weight.
Both Alejandra and Lipovsky also said they get a lot more attention from men now that they've lost weight.
"Now, I'm living and experiencing what dating is like, or should be like, and being treated with default kindness and respect by people, which is wild," Lipovsky said. "I don't know that I'll ever get used to it."
Lipovsky said she now has "skinny privilege," which has come along with better treatment from people: Men open doors for her and carry her luggage, for instance. She gets compliments, which didn't happen before.
"I feel like I was just as valuable and deserving of respect and kindness, no matter what my size was," she said. "But it's impossible to not see it happening with my own eyes."
Still, that doesn't mean finding a partner has been any easier.
SEE ALSO: What to do when body image is affecting your sex life"When you're fat, you think, 'If I could just be skinny, my life would be perfect. Everything will be perfect if I'm skinny,' and you blame everything on being fat," she explained. "That's how it was for me, and that's not how it is at all. Life is still very hard. Things are not perfect."
"Men don't suddenly become knights in shining armor when you're thin," she continued.
Lipovsky uses dating apps (though she finds them overwhelming), and also goes "manhunting" with her best friend, which she describes as "practice flirting."
"I'm like a baby deer interacting with men because I always was the fat, funny friend," she said.
Alejandra also uses dating apps and has started going out to bars this year. A point of vexation when dating is other people's opinions on GLP-1s.
Misconceptions of GLP-1 use"I get so upset and frustrated in the dating world," Alejandra said in terms of the negative associations with GLP-1 use. On first dates, she doesn't purposefully disclose that she uses one because people make assumptions about those who take it.
"My thought process now is like, 'If they can just get to know me first, and then this conversation comes up after the fact, and there's opportunities to educate, then maybe it won't immediately affect their opinion on me or about me,'" she said.
Some of her TikTok videos address this frustration. "There are so [many] men who have a problem with this, that the next time I go out to bars, to clubs, whatever, I'm just gonna…wear a sign that says, 'Warning, I'm on a [GLP-1]," she said in a video posted in April. "And I think that that will keep the men away."
"Dating on 'the glip' never gets easier," she lamented in one posted in May.
She told Mashable that she sometimes wants to put something about being on a GLP-1 on her dating profile, which she hasn't done because it's "terrifying." But having a problem with GLP-1 use is a huge red flag for her.
"GLP-1s, especially with having PCOS, will forever be part of my life. That's not going away, and I could never be with a partner who doesn't agree with it or has terrible things to say about it, because that tells me everything I need to know about them and their lack of support that I'd receive continuing on this medication," she said.
She doesn't shy away from correcting men she's on dates with. She told Mashable about a time she was on a date with a man who said his roommate was on a GLP-1 and called them "lazy". "Of course, I can't stay quiet," she said. She corrected him and said she was on a GLP-1, and not because she's lazy.
Another date of Alejandra's on retatrutide (which isn't approved by the FDA) called it a "shortcut."
"I did have to stop him in his tracks," she said. "I was like, 'It's not a shortcut. At least it wasn't a shortcut for me.' And then that opened up the conversation of PCOS and why I specifically had to rely on the medication to lose weight." She said he was open to learning more and understanding her experience.
She's also now hesitant to share her social media with someone she's dating because of her content. What she shares online is very vulnerable, she said, and sometimes she even thinks about deleting her account.
"But every time I think about deleting it, getting rid of it, starting fresh, forgetting about that past version of me, I just think about that one person who needs to see what I'm posting about so that they can relate and know that they're not alone. And that's just honestly what keeps me from deleting it all," she said.
Most of the videos Mashable observed on Instagram and TikTok about dating on a GLP-1 were posted by women dating men, though some were by men dating women. Mashable reached out to several of these men, but none of them responded.
Comedian Jared Freid, however, shared about his experience on a June 2026 episode of the podcast he co-hosts, U Up? (Freid didn't respond to a request for a Mashable interview.)
When responding to a question about whether a listener should disclose whether they're on a GLP-1, he said, "I can relate to the shame," and that it's vulnerable to mention any medication you're on. But he thinks of it as a lifestyle medication, not a "vanity medication," though vanity is a part of it.
"The vanity element of [GLP-1s] has been overplayed," he said. "It's a daychanger for me, being able to live a life without food on my mind," he continued.
GLP-1 and the dreaded dinner dateGLP-1s curb appetite, and there are many memes out there about how little some people on the medication eat. Some people on GLP-1s also reduce drinking as alcohol makes them feel uncomfortable or nauseous, or they just stop wanting it. When a typical first date is dinner or cocktails, that can make meeting someone new harder.
Alejandra said that when she was in the middle of her weight loss and going up on higher doses, it would be awkward if she were out on a dinner date and could only take a few bites. "I didn't want them to think that I didn't like the food or that I wasn't hungry, and so sometimes by default, it comes up, like, 'I don't have like a huge appetite right now because I'm on this medication.'"
But at this point, she avoids the conversation on a first date.
Lipovsky said she likes to go out for coffee and a croissant on a first date, so she doesn't have to bring it up, either. But if she's out on a dinner date, she'll say she's on a GLP-1, and she's down to split something. She'll joke that she's a cheap date, because she doesn't drink alcohol, either, mostly because of the medication.
On disclosing GLP-1 use, Alejandra said she doesn't have all the right answers. But disclosing any medication use is one's choice and should only be done when someone is comfortable doing so.
Neither Lipovsky nor Alejandra plans on stopping GLP-1s. Alejandra hopes that the more people open up and share their experiences, the more it can help everyone else, including herself, as she's still in the dating scene.
"Hopefully other people can relate as well," she said.
TL;DR: The Crocs x Touchland Jet Black Hand Mist Case ($22) is back for round two, complete with five gold-tone Jibbitz charms and a metal keyring. It's now available in-store and online at Sephora.
Opens in a new window Credit: Crocs / Touchland Crocs x Touchland Jet Black Hand Mist Case $22 at SephoraIf you were one of the many people who missed out on Touchland and Crocs' first hand sanitizer case collab (it sold out, naturally), you're getting a second shot. The two brands are back together with a new Jet Black case, and it might be even more fun than the first.
Here's the deal: Touchland makes hand sanitizer mists that come in a small, travel-friendly bottle, and Crocs makes, well, Crocs — and tiny charms you stick in the holes, called Jibbitz. Put them together, and you get a sleek black case that holds your Touchland mist, clips onto basically anything with its built-in metal keyring, and comes decked out with five gold-tone Jibbitz charms you can rearrange however you want.
Credit: Crocs / Touchland Credit: Crocs / TouchlandThe case is finished in Jet Black, so it goes with pretty much any outfit, and since the charms pop in and out, you can switch up the look whenever you're bored or just want to match your mood. It's compatible with any Touchland Hydrating Hand Sanitizer in the 1 FL. OZ. (30mL) size, so if you've already got a mist you love, this just gives it somewhere stylish to live.
The case is made from 100% thermoplastic (EVA), so it can handle being tossed in a bag or clipped to your belt loop without falling apart, and cleanup is as simple as wiping it down with a warm washcloth.
The Crocs x Touchland Jet Black Hand Mist Case is available now for $22, both in stores and online at Sephora.
SAVE $100: As of Sept. 3, the Sonos Era 300 smart speaker is on sale for $379 in Amazon's Labor Day sale. That's $100 off its full price of $479.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 300 $379 at AmazonLabor Day deals, particularly on Amazon, are going strong, with some excellent offers popping up ahead of the long weekend. Sonos speaker deals are among the many that have caught our eye, with the Sonos Era 300 getting a $100 price cut.
As of Sept. 3, shoppers can snag this sleek wireless smart speaker (in either black or white) for $379, down from its full price of $479. Its lowest-ever price is $359, but this deal price is just $20 away from that mark.
SEE ALSO: Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 Sale is live: Shop deals on Apple, headphones, laptops, and moreFrom music to movies and more, the Sonos Era 300 can give your sound system a boost to enjoy crisp, high-quality audio. It features six drivers positioned around the front, sides, and top to support Dolby Atmos Music, helping you feel immersed in sound as you listen. Plus, paired with a Sonos soundbar, you can create a surround sound setup with this speaker.
Mashable's Stan Schroeder was blown away by the Sonos Era 300, writing in his review that it "sounds absolutely amazing for the price."
The Sonos Era 300 currently has a "limited time deal" tag, so the clock is ticking to save. Act fast to grab it at Amazon.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
Sony is making a splash ahead of Labor Day, with discounts across headphones, TVs, speakers, and other tech at Amazon. If you've had your eye on a pair of noise-canceling headphones or a party speaker, now is a great time to treat yourself.
These are the Sony deals worth checking out on Labor Day.
Best Sony Labor Day headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony XM5 $198 at AmazonThese Sony noise-canceling headphones use eight microphones and two processors to adjust noise cancellation based on your surroundings. They offer up to 30 hours of battery life, multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, touch controls, and a built-in microphone for calls. And right now, they're over $200 off for Labor Day.
More Sony Labor Day headphones dealsSony WH-CH520 — $38 $69.99 (save $31.99)
Sony MDR7506 — $98 $114.99 (save $16.99)
Sony WH-CH720N — $98 $179.99 (save $81.99)
Sony INZONE H9 II — $248 $349.99 (save $101.99)
If you want a theater setup at home, this TV should be your go-to. It has Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS support, along with Sony’s XR Processor for real-time picture adjustments. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 features, including 4K/120, VRR, and ALLM for gaming. It also benefits from Google TV and Gemini.
More Sony Labor Day TV dealsSony 48-inch A90K BRAVIA — $998 $1,399.99 (save $401.99)
Sony 65-inch Bravia 7 — $1,298 $1,598 (save $300)
Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 — $2,498 $3,299.99 (save $801.99)
This portable Bluetooth speaker has a dedicated woofer and tweeter, as well as a seven-band equalizer for sound adjustment. It has an IP67 rating for water, dust, and shock resistance, up to 24 hours of battery life, and a shoulder strap for carrying.
More Sony Labor Day speaker dealsSony SRS-XB100 — $43 $64.99 (save $21.99)
Sony SS-CSEM2 Dolby Atmos Enabled Upfiring Height Speakers — $198 $279.99 (save $81.99)
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5 — $278 $349.99 (save $71.99)
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 — $498 $699.99 (save $201.99)
Power outages have a nasty habit of showing up when you least want them to — during a storm, in the middle of the night, or right when you’re working from home. If a home backup battery has been sitting on your “I should probably get one” list, Jackery’s Labor Day sale is a good excuse to finally invest.
Jackery is offering up to 50% off its home backup lineup through Sept. 8, with deals starting at $1,659 for the HomePower 2000 Plus V2. There are also bigger systems like the best-selling HomePower 3600 Plus and Solar Generator 5000 Plus, depending on how much of your home you want to keep running during an outage.
Best entry-level home backup Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 $1,659 at JackeryIf you've been putting off buying a backup battery because the whole category feels overwhelming, this is your sign to stop waiting. The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is plug-and-play, and starts at a 2,048Wh capacity but scales up to 12kWh — you can stack on more batteries later without an electrician or a rewiring project.
The 2,400W rated output (4,800W peak surge) is enough to run a fridge for 48 hours or an AC unit for 2.5 hours on its own, and Priority Routing automatically funnels whatever charge is left to your most essential devices as the battery drains. At 34% lighter than the previous generation, it's also just easier to live with day to day, not something you dread hauling out of the garage.
More HomePower 2000 Plus v2 dealsBattery Pack 2000 Plus v2 — $899 $999 (save $100)
HomePower 2000 Plus v2 + 500W — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)
HomePower 2000 Plus v2 + Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2 x2 + 500W — $3,919 $4,359 (save $440)
There's a reason the HomePower 3600 Plus is Jackery's top seller, and it's not just hype: 3,600W of output and a 3,584Wh capacity (expandable up to 21kWh) means it can carry your fridge, WiFi, and home office through a multi-day outage — anywhere from 15 hours to 9 days, depending on your setup. Connect two units together to run 240V appliances like a well pump or a dryer.
It's quiet enough (about 30 decibels) to run right next to you overnight without disturbing your sleep, and built-in wheels and a pull handle mean you can roll it wherever it's needed instead of wrestling it into place.
More HomePower 3600 Plus dealsHomePower 3600 Plus (solar panel not included) — $1,709 $1,899 (save $190)
HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 200W x 2 — $2,289 $2,549 (save $260)
HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 200W x 2 + Manual Transfer Switch — $2,649 $2,949 (save $300)
HomePower 3600 Plus (7.2kWh) + SolarSaga 500 X — $3,499 $4,139 (save $640)
HomePower 3600 Plus Double Kit — $3,579 $3,979 (save $400)
The 5000 Plus is for people who don't want to be the one flipping switches when the power goes out. Paired with the Jackery 60A Smart Transfer Switch, it can automatically power up to 12 circuits at 120V or 6 at 240V the moment the grid drops.
With 7,200W of rated output and surge power up to 14,400W, it's one of the few home batteries that can take on heavy hitters like a well pump, a water heater, or a 5-ton AC unit without blinking. The 5,040Wh capacity expands up to a massive 60kWh, giving you up to 13 days of backup instead of just an overnight buffer, and it recharges from both high- and low-voltage solar panels in about 2 hours with up to 4,000W of input.
More Solar Generator 5000 Plus dealsExplorer 5000 Plus + SolarSaga 500 X x 2 — $4,639 $5,159 (save $520)
Explorer 5000 Plus + SolarSaga 500 X x 2 + Smart Transfer Switch — $5,479 $6,089 (save $610)
Explorer 5000 Plus (10kWh) + SolarSaga 500 X x 2 + Smart Transfer Switch — $7,909 $8,789 (save $880)
Home Backup Kit 5000 Plus (20kWh) — $12,139 $13,489 (save $1,350)
Scientists running an underground detector in South Dakota say they have seen a mysterious tiny burst of energy that does not look like normal background noise.
The experiment, called LUX‑ZEPLIN, recorded a signal that stood out as a potential dark matter particle striking an atom in a tank, which is filled with ultra‑pure liquid xenon. Months of checking have not turned up another cause.
Scientists say this single event is their best hint of dark matter so far, but it's still just a maybe. Their math suggests a one‑in‑200 chance that known sources of interference could have produced it, so they can't call it a discovery.
"We are not claiming to have seen dark matter," said Rick Gaitskell, a professor at Brown University and the spokesperson for the experiment. "But we have seen something interesting that we want to share with the scientific community for their input.”
Here's what you need to know about this intriguing scientific result.
SEE ALSO: Roman telescope's data deluge will change who gets to do big astronomy What is dark matter?Dark matter is invisible stuff in space that has weight. It does not shine, glow, or block light, so telescopes can't see it directly. Scientists know it's there because of how it pulls on things. Stars in galaxies move as if much more mass surrounds them. Galaxy clusters bend light in ways that also show extra mass. All of this tells scientists that some other kind of material fills space. They call it dark matter, but they still don't know what kind of particle it is.
What is the LUX‑ZEPLIN detector?The detector, LZ for short, is a large, quiet particle instrument buried a mile underground. Thick rock above the lab blocks most of the cosmic rays that hit Earth from space. Over 11 tons of liquid xenon sit in a sealed tank because it is a heavy, clear liquid when it is very cold. When a particle hits a xenon atom, it can give off a tiny flash of light and release a few electrons. Instruments around the tank record those signals and let scientists figure out where the hit happened and how strong it was.
The LUX-ZEPLIN detector sits almost a mile below ground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Credit: Matthew Kapust / Sanford Underground Research Facility What exactly did scientists observe?When the team went through 220 days of data collected between March 2023 and April 2024, they found one event in a key energy range that did not blend in with the rest. Something in the xenon left a small, sharp signal with the size and shape they expect from a dark matter hit. When they compared it with signals from known sources, such as trace radioactivity or stray particles from outside the tank, those explanations didn't fit as well.
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What kind of dark matter are they looking for?LZ mainly looks for a type of particle called a WIMP: a weakly interacting massive particle. A WIMP would be heavy compared to many known particles, and it would almost never touch normal matter. One could pass through a wall, a planet, or a human body without a trace. If WIMPs make up dark matter, then once in a great while one might bump into a xenon atom in the tank. That bump would create the kind of clear, tiny signal the detector is built to see.
How strong is the evidence?The evidence isn't very strong. The team estimates there is about a 0.5 percent chance that normal noise in the detector could have created this event by accident. That chance is low, but in particle physics, it is nowhere near low enough to be considered irrefutable. For that, scientists like to see many more events that follow the same pattern and make the odds of a fluke drop to almost zilch. So this result isn't yet proof that they have found dark matter.
Why does one event matter at all?If dark matter particles almost never hit normal matter, then even a few real hits over many years would be a big deal. Members of the research team say this is the first time they have seen a clear outlier that still looks valid after tests. That makes this single event stand out.
What would it mean if this signal were confirmed?If dark matter caused this hit, then the particle would likely be quite heavy — over 200 times the mass of a proton — which is one of the particles in the center of atoms. That would narrow the range of possible masses for dark matter. It would also hint that dark matter interacts with normal matter in a more complex way.
Scientists estimate that visible matter makes up only 5 percent of the universe. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center infographic What happens next?The team will keep collecting more data over the next few years. They may see more events that look like this one, in the same part of the detector's data. If that happens, the case for dark matter will grow stronger. Or this signal may remain anomalous. In that case, scientists may lean toward an explanation that it came from some very rare background effect.
What does this mean for the rest of us?For everyday life, nothing changes. But for our picture of the universe, this kind of result is important. Dark matter shapes how galaxies form and move. Finding out what dark matter is made of and how it behaves would answer one of the greatest mysteries of our time.
Catfishing used to mean pretending to be someone else online, usually to pursue a romantic relationship with someone who might eventually spend several episodes of an MTV show waiting in a suspiciously empty parking lot. But the newest breed of catfish does not need to steal another person's face.
Welcome to what I call "credential catfishing," the increasingly visible practice of fabricating the education, career, wealth, and status that signal authority online. Instead of borrowing someone else's face, the credential catfish turns their own life into fiction, building the story one post at a time. And Angel Victoria Murdock may be its most viral recent example.
Angel Murdock poses beside a Duke Physician Assistant Program sign in an image posted to her (now deactivated) Instagram Story. Credit: Screenshot from Reddit: r/InfluencerLoungeThe influencer and former Temptation Island participant spent nearly two years sharing what she portrayed as her journey through Duke University's Physician Assistant Program on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Followers saw her in scrubs, studying medical notes, displaying what appeared to be Duke Health identification, and filming "get ready with me" videos for supposed rotations in psychiatry, obstetrics, and gynecology. She also offered advice to aspiring physician assistants and spoke about the long hours and sacrifices of PA training.
Outside of her medical content, Murdock promoted fashion and beauty products, appeared in a Missy Empire clothing haul, and participated in TikTok Shop's affiliate program, which allows creators to earn commissions from sales.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.After "graduating," she posed in a cap and gown outside Duke Chapel, reportedly captioning her Instagram: "Today, I get to look back and realize that every late night, every sacrifice, every setback and every prayer was leading me right here."
There was just one problem: She had never attended the program. At all.
Murdock’s story began to unravel on Aug. 20, when a recent Duke PA graduate wrote in the subreddit r/InfluencerLounge that a classmate had discovered Murdock's videos the previous year and congratulated her on attending the same program. Within five minutes, the post said, Murdock blocked the classmate.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Members of Duke's 2026 PA class then began comparing notes. None recalled seeing Murdock in class, on campus, or at program events. Plus, in the graduation image, her academic hood was the wrong color, she was missing from the official class photo, and her name was never called during the program’s graduation ceremony, which remains available on YouTube.
Other elements of Murdock’s public identity also came under scrutiny. She described herself online as a licensed real-estate agent in North Carolina and Georgia, posting listings, house tours, and photos of purported clients. Yet neither state's licensing database listed her, and her named employer said she had never worked there. Murdock also claimed to have earned a double major in biology and psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, but — you guessed it — the university told the New York Post that she attended but did not graduate. (Murdock's main social-media accounts have since been deleted or made private.)
Murdock’s story may be ridiculously elaborate, but it points to a much bigger problem online: You can easily build an audience, earn people’s trust, and make money long before anyone stops to ask whether your background is legitimate in the first place.
Lying on social media can paySocial media makes it remarkably easy for anyone to lie about who they are. Post the same claim often enough, with enough photos and convincing details, and it can begin to look like a documented life. And Murdock is hardly the first person to build an audience around an identity that was not real.
In Australia, Dalya Karezi attracted more than 200,000 TikTok followers as "dr.dalya.s," wearing scrubs and a stethoscope while discussing reproductive and sexual health in videos that received as many as 15 million views. But Karezi was not a doctor. In 2023, she pleaded guilty to two charges of falsely representing herself as qualified to practice medicine.
Outside of medicine, Jebara Igbara, better known as "Jay Mazini," presented himself to roughly 1 million followers as a wealthy cryptocurrency investor, posting videos of himself handing out cash to strangers and workers. Federal prosecutors later said those displays were part of a manufactured persona used to attract investors. Igbara pleaded guilty to fraud charges and was sentenced in 2024 to seven years in prison after using his Instagram presence as "proof of success" to persuade victims to send him money. There's a Hulu documentary all about it.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Even this week, federal agents arrested the "Wide Deceiver," Daejon Labrayae Love, who prosecutors say used social media to pose as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and wealthy real-estate investor. Love allegedly photographed himself in 49ers gear, filmed workouts in a team helmet, and staged a contract-signing video while dripping in jewelry. He even appeared in a Google search listing him as a player, despite the NFL and the 49ers confirming they had never employed him.
Division II football player Uras Agee IV also allegedly posed as a Dallas Cowboys player for months and autographed footballs for Tampa's "Toys for Tots."
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.According to the Justice Department, Love used the persona to find, well, love — and persuade women to place money in nonexistent investments. Prosecutors say Love and his alleged accomplice, Taylor Jamie Chan, received approximately $1.3 million from 26 identified victims. Both men have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.There's actually a reason seeing the same story online over and over can make it feel so real. Psychologists call it the "illusory truth effect," a phenomenon in which repeated exposure to a claim increases its perceived accuracy, even when it conflicts with what we already know. Researchers believe that familiarity makes information easier for our brains to process, which can make it feel more trustworthy.
This doesn't mean you need to run a background check on everyone you follow. But if someone is giving medical advice, pitching investments, or using a supposed profession to earn your trust — and especially your money — it's worth checking. A huge following, a blue check, and years of convincing posts can make someone look legitimate. They don’t prove that the person is.
The good news is that many of these claims are easier to check than you might think. Medical and real-estate licenses are usually listed in state databases. Sports teams publish rosters, and many employers have staff directories. The key is to go straight to the organization that supposedly issued the license, awarded the degree, or hired the person, rather than to another social media post or an AI-generated Google result that may simply repeat the same claim.
Most people do not have the time (or the desire) to investigate everyone they follow. They should not have to. But when a creator's advice could affect your health, money, or future, it’s worth taking a moment to find out who is actually behind the content — and whether they're worth trusting.
Chad Powers has one of the most ridiculous concepts on TV right now: Disgraced college quarterback Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) dons prosthetics and a bad wig to become Chad Powers, unlikely walk-on star player for the South Georgia Catfish. Oh, and the whole thing is based off an Eli Manning prank video. (Eli and Peyton Manning are producers on the show.)
Naturally, the show still treats that crazy concept seriously. In Season 1, that seriousness manifested in Russ's internal struggles as he searched for redemption under an entirely different identity. That meant that when Powell was in Russ mode, the show operated more as a character drama. But when Powell donned the Chad makeup, the show functioned more as a zany comedy, complete with its fair share of cringe comedy and pratfalls.
SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know aboutThe result was silly fun. Even when Chad Powers' tone grew uneven, sometimes suffering from as much of an identity crisis as Russ, Powell's performance served as a strong unifier.
In Season 2, though, Chad Powers is taking every moment seriously. Yes, there are still jokes aplenty, and the Chad Powers prosthetics still manage to possess Powell like the Green Goblin mask (if the mask made you talk like a Southern chipmunk). But as Russ's lie begins to collapse around him and his co-conspirators, Chad Powers ups the ante and becomes a propulsive football thriller.
Chad Powers Season 2 is a killer thriller. Glen Powell and Perry Mattfeld in "Chad Powers." Credit: DisneyChad Powers Season 2 establishes its more thriller-tinged vibe right from the jump, with a fast-paced episode taking place almost in real time throughout a stressful game. After taking some intense contact and losing his prosthetic nose, Russ flees his trainers and goes on a mad dash around the stadium in order to get his face back into shape. What follows is a slick manhunt full of more disguises (including an eerie plastic Chad mask) and close calls. It helps Russ and Danny (Frankie A. Rodriguez) that Coach Ricky (Perry Mattfeld) is now involved, albeit reluctantly.
However, as more people are roped into the Chad Powers scheme, the more dangerous it gets. Russ, Danny, and Ricky spend much of the season on the back foot, fending off probing questions about Chad's odd behavior and family. Suddenly, a show that, on paper, is just Mrs. Doubtfire with football becomes a seriously suspenseful affair. Even the silliest scenes, like a sequence where Russ tries to pass his real father (Toby Huss) off as Chad's, are claustrophobic. You can feel the walls closing in.
And as the walls close in, Chad Powers raises its stakes. Discovering Chad's true identity wouldn't just ruin his life all over again. It would ruin Danny's. It would destroy Ricky's promising career. The shock could even cause Coach Jake (Steve Zahn) to have another heart attack, something he's already risking by returning to coach the team. Faced with all these consequences, Russ has to examine whether this last shot at football glory is really worth it, before someone gets grievously hurt.
While Russ is scrambling to cover his tracks, he'll find an unlikely enemy in backup Catfish quarterback Gerry (Colton Ryan). A hopeful punching bag in Season 1, Gerry is a downright menace in Season 2. From stalking to blackmail, he emerges as a true threat, and Ryan delivers a chilling performance that's a far cry from Gerry's optimistic naiveté in Season 1. Several Gerry scenes yanked me to the edge of my seat this season, especially in its fantastic final two installments.
By leaning into thriller conventions, Chad Powers manages to carve its own niche in a TV landscape saturated with sports comedies. The laughs keep flowing and the ensemble gels better than ever, but it's the suspense that truly separates Chad Powers from the pack and gives it its, well, power.
We're busy covering all the best deals that are dropping over Labor Day weekend. We've lined up the best Apple deals, the best mattress deals, the best Home Depot deals, and so much more. But what about the hungry? Won't someone think about food?
The good news for absolutely everyone is that many popular restaurant chains are launching limited-time deals over Labor Day weekend, meaning you can eat for free (or at a heavily discounted price). We've scoured the market for the best offers and lined up the best deals from the likes of Capital One Café, Firehouse Subs, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, and other popular spots.
These are our favorite Labor Day deals in 2026.
7-Eleven7Rewards members can grab a hot sandwich with a 20-ounce Coca-Cola or Pepsi fountain soda for $6. You can also get any roller grill item, a bag of 7-Select chips, and a large Big Gulp for $3 through Labor Day weekend.
BJ’s Brewhouse and RestaurantGrab the $13 Pizookie Meal Deal on Sept. 7, which includes a choice of one of eight select Brewhouse entrees alongside a signature Pizookie dessert.
BenihanaEducation professionals dining through Sept. 7 can pick up one eligible five-course hibachi entree and get a second entree for free with a valid ID.
Capital One CaféGet a free handcrafted beverage on Sept. 7. Just register your mobile phone number online to load a digital pass directly into your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet (limit one pass per customer).
Cheesecake FactoryScore a $10 bonus eCard when you purchase $50 in digital gift cards online through Sept. 7. The bonus card is redeemable on future visits from Sept. 8-30.
ChipotleChipotle is running a "Sunday Reset" special over the holiday weekend. Families and groups can score a buy-two-get-one-free entree deal on Sept. 6, from 3 p.m. to closing, when ordering online or in the app with the code SUNDAYS.
Cracker BarrelDine in by Sept. 7 and order any adult entree plus a Kids Meal to score a free collectible B’loonie Petz toy.
Del TacoDel Yeah! Rewards members ordering online or through the official app can get 20% off purchases of $10 or more all weekend long.
Eddie Merlot’sSpend $75 or more on online orders from Sept. 4-7 and knock $25 off your bill by using promo code WEEKEND at checkout.
Firebird’s Wood Fired GrillInner Circle loyalty members can order a full rack of Baby Back Ribs served with fries and fresh fruit for $19.95 from Sept. 3-7.
Firehouse SubsBuy any sub between Sept. 4-7 to unlock a second sub of your choice for just $1.
Hash KitchenSweet breakfast classics are marked down to $7 each from Sept. 4-7. Guests who sign up for the Brunch Club over Labor Day weekend score a free specialty coffee or Loaded Water.
HTeaOScore two gallons of iced tea for just $12 from Sept. 4-7.
Krispy KremeFrom Sept. 4-7, buy any dozen doughnuts or 16-count Minis at regular price and grab an additional dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for just $2 when using code BOGO2 online or in-store.
Kona GrillEducators can celebrate early by showing a valid school ID while dining in through Sept. 7 to unlock BOGO entrees from a select menu (limit two deals per table).
KrystalPick up an Original Sackful for $12 or upgrade to a Cheese Sackful for $15 on Sept. 7.
MoxiesDrop in during Happy Hour (3-6 p.m. on Sept. 7) to snag $12 featured cocktails, $12 shareable appetizers, $9 select glasses of wine, and $6 local craft beers.
Polly’s PiesGet a whole Banberry Pie for $14.99 through Labor Day.
Port of SubsFree delivery on all online or mobile app orders placed between Sept. 4-7.
Raise the RoostThe 24-piece Nugget Party Pack is $25 from Sept. 3-7. The bundle comes loaded with 24 chicken nuggets, two large sides, four biscuits, dipping sauces, and cinnamon-sugar hand pies.
Sonny’s BBQTake $25 off catering orders over $200 through Sept. 7 when you enter promo code 25OFFCATER at checkout.
STK SteakhouseTeachers and school staff receive BOGO entrees when showing a valid school ID through Sept. 7.
Sullivan’s SteakhouseApply coupon code WEEKEND at online checkout from Sept. 4-7 to take $25 off orders totaling $75 or more.
Teriyaki MadnessRewards members earn double loyalty points along with a 20% discount on all orders placed between Sept. 5-7.
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