Late 2025 sees AI and tech advancements, blockbuster films, college sports debates, and tax battles dominating headlines, plus new health revelations.

College Football World in Total Meltdown as Dan Lanning’s Oregon and Bob Chesney’s JMU Sit Worlds Apart Essentially Sports reported on December 21, 2025, that the College Football Playoff is facing a "total meltdown" over the inclusion of Group of Five teams like James Madison (JMU), following their significant loss to Oregon. Analysts Joel Klatt and Nick Saban argued that G5 teams cannot compete with Power Four programs and should have a separate postseason, questioning the current CFP structure. Despite impressive defensive stats for both teams, JMU's were primarily against weaker opponents, highlighting a stark talent gap. Critics view JMU's playoff berth as an "experiment" leading to uncompetitive games and preventing more deserving Power Four teams from participating, suggesting a reevaluation of the CFP committee's decisions. Source

Can Dan Bongino regain his stature in the conservative media world? The Guardian reported on December 21, 2025, that prominent conservative media personality Dan Bongino is preparing to return to his show after a brief stint as second-in-command at the FBI. His departure from the FBI, where he was appointed by Kash Patel, was hinted at by Donald Trump and confirmed by his radio replacement, Vince Coglianese. While supporters believe his government experience will enhance his credibility, others, like Laura Ingraham, suggested his return was driven by the media's lucrativeness. Bongino faces the challenge of addressing past inconsistencies, particularly his evolving stance on Jeffrey Epstein's death, as he transitions back to his "just-asking-questions" media persona. Source

The U.S. Treasury wants more states to adopt Trump's tax cuts. Few have done so The Los Angeles Times reported on December 21, 2025, that the U.S. Treasury is urging states to adopt the Trump administration's new tax cuts, including deductions for tips, overtime, and business equipment. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized states, especially Democratic-led ones, for not conforming, calling it "political obstructionism." While these cuts could provide significant savings for residents and businesses, many states are hesitant due to concerns about financial strain, particularly from increased costs related to new Medicaid and SNAP requirements. Only a few states have voted on the changes, with Michigan being the only one to opt into the tips and overtime breaks for 2026, offsetting costs by decoupling from federal corporate tax changes. Source

A Lifestyle Rx For Keeping Your Brain Young U.S. News & World Report highlighted on December 21, 2025, new research from the University of Florida demonstrating that healthy lifestyle choices can significantly reduce brain aging. The study, published in Brain Communications, tracked 128 adults and found that habits like stress management, sufficient sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, and fostering strong social connections were associated with brains appearing up to eight years younger and aging more slowly over two years. This suggests that even amidst challenges like chronic pain, health-promoting behaviors offer substantial neurobiological benefits, reinforcing the adage that "lifestyle is medicine" for brain health. Source

The Best Bluetooth Speaker Is $50 off Right in Time for Christmas Wired reported on December 19, 2025, that the JBL Flip 7, their top-recommended Bluetooth speaker, is available for $100, marking a $50 discount and its lowest tracked price. The article praises the speaker for its optimal balance of portability and sound quality, making it suitable for a wide range of users and lifestyles. Key features highlighted include IP68 dust and water resistance, a durable design, clear and robust sound with app-based EQ customization, up to 14 hours of battery life, and Auracast compatibility. This significant discount makes the JBL Flip 7 an excellent last-minute Christmas gift. Source

Dhurandhar Box Office Collection Day 16: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna Starrer Crosses Rs 500 Crore Mark; Check Day Lokmat Times reported on December 21, 2025, that Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller "Dhurandhar" has surpassed the Rs 500 crore milestone in domestic box office collections on its 16th day, reaching Rs 517.25 crore. The film saw a substantial increase in earnings on Saturday, nearly doubling its Friday collection with Rs 34.25 crore. Despite facing competition from James Cameron’s "Avatar: Fire and Ash," "Dhurandhar" maintained its strong performance, becoming Ranveer Singh’s highest-grossing movie. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film is inspired by real events and centers on a RAW agent, with a sequel already scheduled for March 2026. Source

‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ delivers a thrilling, coherent horror feast manilastandard.net reported on December 21, 2025, that "Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins," the 17th installment of the horror franchise, has delivered a "thrilling, coherent horror feast." Regal Entertainment president Roselle Monteverde praised the film's success, highlighting its top-notch CGI and strong ensemble cast performances across its three episodes ("1775," "2025," and "2050"). The movie blends gothic horror, supernatural scares, and dystopian chaos effectively. While largely coherent, some critics noted a limited number of jump scares and a somewhat restrained main antagonist in the final episode. Overall, the film is recognized as a significant and innovative holiday horror entry. Source

The Very Best Gifts for Dads of Christmas 2025 Wired, on December 17, 2025, published a comprehensive guide to "The Very Best Gifts for Dads of Christmas 2025," offering unique and practical ideas beyond generic presents. The article recommends a diverse range of items including a precision-machined Henson AL13 razor, comfortable True Classic Pima Crew Neck shirts, the Meater Pro Duo wireless meat thermometer, and American Peaks whiskey glasses. Other suggestions feature a Pure Over French Press, the Pax Flow vaporizer, a Leatherman Wave Alpha multi-tool, Craighill Chroma Scissors, the Infinity X1 Dual Power Flashlight, DJI's Power 2000 power station, Soundcore Aeroclip open earbuds, and innovative outdoor gear like the Tentstile Stingray suspended tent. Source

Netflix’s growing live TV ambitions now have a host The Verge reported on December 18, 2025, that Netflix is significantly bolstering its live TV ambitions by hiring ESPN host Elle Duncan to front its expanding slate of live events. Duncan, known for her sports broadcasting roles, will make her Netflix debut hosting next year’s "Skyscraper Live," a broadcast featuring Alex Honnold’s free solo climb of Taipei 101. This multiyear agreement underscores Netflix’s commitment to live programming, building on its prior deals for MLB games and the revival of "Star Search." The move signals a strategic expansion for the streaming giant into diverse live content. Source

Former Neuralink Exec Launches Organ Preservation Effort Wired reported on December 17, 2025, that Science Corporation, founded by former Neuralink president Max Hodak, is expanding into organ preservation. The brain-computer interface startup aims to create a more compact, portable, and long-term perfusion system to extend the viability of human organs for transplant and life support, improving on current cumbersome methods. Hodak was inspired by a case where a teenager could not be sustained. Science, which previously focused on neural interfaces and vision restoration (acquiring a retinal implant), views organ preservation as another "longevity technology," marking a strategic diversification of its research efforts. Source

Disclosure Day’s first trailer teases close encounters of a different kind The Verge reported on December 16, 2025, that the initial trailer for Steven Spielberg’s new film, "Disclosure Day," has been released, hinting at a narrative filled with intrigue. The trailer features Emily Blunt as a Kansas City newscaster who enters a strange, non-human-sounding trance on-air. Later, she is seen with a mysterious man, played by Josh O’Connor, who claims to possess the truth and appears to create crop circles, strongly suggesting extraterrestrial activity. Set to premiere on June 12th, 2026, the trailer deliberately raises more questions than it answers, building anticipation for the film's premise. Source

In 2025, wearables made a hard pivot to AI The Verge reported on December 16, 2025, that the year 2025 marked a definitive shift in wearable technology, with companies rebranding devices as "AI glasses" and "AI pendants." Initially focused on health and fitness, wearables are now increasingly seen as optimal platforms for AI due to their continuous on-body presence. This trend is exemplified by Meta's "AI glasses" and Google's distinction in its XR offerings, emphasizing hands-free AI interaction. New forms, such as always-listening pendants and pins from companies like Bee AI and Friend, are emerging to summarize conversations and provide personalized insights, cementing AI as the primary application for wearables. Source

OpenAI and Anthropic will start predicting when users are underage The Verge reported on December 18, 2025, that OpenAI and Anthropic are rolling out new initiatives to detect and manage underage users on their AI platforms. OpenAI updated ChatGPT’s Model Spec to prioritize teen safety, including enhanced guardrails and promoting offline support, and is developing an age prediction model to apply safeguards, with an option for adults to verify their age. Anthropic, which already restricts users under 18 from Claude, is creating a system to identify "subtle conversational signs" of minors for account disablement, while also working to improve Claude's responses to sensitive topics and reduce sycophantic behavior. Source