Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra has been delayed again. The project had already been pushed back in May from a planned 2025 release date to a rough early 2026 window. In a post on X today, Skydance Games said the title won’t be ready for even longer. “We’ve made the decision to shift our release window beyond 2026,” the statement reads.
Amy Hennig’s studio, which is part of Skydance, is the main driver of the project, which we know is a story-driven title with a quartet of Marvel characters in occupied Paris during World War II. Hennig was a core part of the creative team behind the Uncharted series, and was more recently a story consultant on Forspoken. She’s also been long tied to some mysterious Star Wars title, but that game has also been pretty light on details for a few years.
That’s two high-profile AAA delays in one afternoon. Fans worldwide will have to wait longer for the eventual arrival of Grand Theft Auto 6. Rockstar’s eventual mega-hit has been pushed to a November 19, 2026 launch date.
Evan Ross has shared his new restaurant venture with Ross Naess, his brother, and close friends, the latter being very limited. According to the actor and singer, the project, which appears to be a taco-themed restaurant named The Hideaway in Beverly Hills, is one of the happiest moments of his life. Selling tacos is the next step for Evan Ross, who has already music and film connections due to being the child of the iconic Diana Ross.
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Ross was quite open about his plans through a social media post where he indeed said “pride” in their work. ‘Thanks a lot @lamag! I couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of this fantastic restaurant adventure involving my close friends and my bro @rossnaess,’ he stated. He also shared his anticipation for ‘Taco Tuesdays’ at @thehideawaybh, hinting that the place would be serving Mexican food.
The married Ross to singer Ashlee Simpson has not stopped exploring beyond the entertainment field in his business ventures. The sibling, Ross Naess, is taking his mother’s, Diana Ross’s, union with Norwegian businessman Arne Naess Jr. as a reason why this is a family affair combining Hollywood with the culinary sector.
The post was met with lots of responses from friends and followers, including some famous names who also joined the fun. Actress Candece Campbell right away tagged the vocal coach Eric Vetro, saying ‘Ahem… @ericvetrovocalcoach you and Ev on the list ❤️’ – meaning that there is already a list with exclusive invitations being circulated in their circle.
DJWS also commented but took a different angle and made a joke instead by asking: ‘Are there any good looking guys or just this guy? @realevanross @sylvainbitton @ryanphillippe’ – he was referring to both Ross and other good-looking figures in public who could be involved in the project. The humor suggests that the restaurant might attract some celebrities.
The most significant response, though, came from Eric Vetro the vocal coach himself, who stated ‘I never thought of myself as being cool till I was on the same list as you @realevanross!!! 🌟’ Then, Ross’s wife Ashlee Simpson replied to Vetro’s comment with ‘@ericvetrovocalcoach ur cooler’ – thus showing the intimacy of their social and professional circle.
Owning a restaurant or investing in one has always been the most popular choice of investment for Hollywood stars as it brings them both profits and a place for personal gatherings. For Ross, who has already been through the family tree of entertainment legends, this move undoubtedly represents one of the branches of the expanding brand of the Ross family which is now not only in the music and film industry.
Aside from Ross’s declaration, The Hideaway BH is still a mystery, but the emphasis on Taco Tuesdays denotes a casual and approachable rather than fine dining vibe. Given Ross’s affiliations and the buzz from celebrity friends, the place is probably going to be another hot spot in the already rivalry-heavy restaurant scene of Beverly Hills.
It remains to be seen how Ross will depict the venture as not just a business venture but a “close friends and my brother” partnership. This personal touch reflects celebrity entrepreneurs who are increasingly nurturing a trend of investing in meaningful partnerships rather than just financial ones.
Moreover, the timing coincides with the broad cultural taco phenomenon that has taken over Los Angeles, the city of food trucks, and upscale taco shops. Ross appears to have everything right for a perfect mix of the latest trend and his personal celebrity draw.
Restaurant success will depend on food quality and the ability to keep restaurants at that delicate point of being an exclusive celebrity hotspot and yet a reasonably priced public dining spot. The Hideaway BH has already attracted the kind of buzz that new restaurants need to survive and thrive in competitive markets thanks to immediate engagement from Ross’s famous friends.
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Evan Ross considers this new restaurant project as one more stroke towards the multifaceted career he is building up to the entertainment legacy of his family while at the same time establishing his own identity as an entrepreneur. Ross’s restaurant venture is another proof of how the power of celebrity still dominates the culinary landscape of Los Angeles, creating places where business, pleasure, and family meet in delicious ways.
Not long ago, Niro Feliciano found herself sitting down to wrap Christmas presents for her four children at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, after already having attended a candlelight church service and hosted a dinner for extended family that same night.
It was a frantic end to a hectic holiday season and the moment she realized something had to change.
“I was like, this is just not healthy,” said Feliciano, a psychotherapist in Connecticut and a frequent guest on the “Today” show. “And I started to think, ‘We need to do this differently.’ Not just for me. For my family.”
Shelf Help is a wellness column where we interview researchers, thinkers and writers about their latest books — all with the aim of learning how to live a more complete life.
Feliciano loves the winter holidays with all their cozy rituals, but for most of her adult life she struggled to squeeze the cookie baking, holiday parties, Christmas movies and occasional picturesque sleigh rides into her already jam-packed life running a private practice while raising four kids with her surgeon husband.
“We run at an insane pace all the time, so as soon as I started hearing about holidays I used to get stressed. There was no bandwidth, there was no time,” she said. “And I kept thinking, ‘How am I going to do this?’”
In her new book, “All is Calmish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays,” published in October, Feliciano describes how she mindfully shifted her relationship to the holiday season by choosing to slow down, do less and focus on “connection over perfection,” as she puts it. In 31 short chapters — one for each day of December — she offers down-to-earth personal stories and advice for people who find themselves overwhelmed by the winter holidays, whether that’s because they are trying to do too much, or because they are dealing with soul-crushing issues like grief, loss, loneliness or illness.
“Over the 20 years now that I’ve been working as a therapist, I’ve found this is the time of year that’s the hardest for people,” Feliciano said. “My thought was, who doesn’t need a therapist during the holidays?”
Her clients used to joke that they wish she could come home with them and talk them through the season.
“The answer to that is no,” she said. “But now at least I can give them a book.”
Feliciano spoke with me about how she started feeling more present throughout the season, her transformative “silent morning” practice, how to handle grief at the holidays and why gifts have long been a trigger point for many of the women she knows, including herself.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
(Maggie Chiang / For The Times)
What is your relationship to the holidays?
My relationship to the holidays has evolved. Especially when I was young and figuring out family and so impacted by social media, it felt like we needed to do what everyone else was doing so our kids didn’t feel left out. We would get it all done, but at the end of it, I was feeling drained and not joyful.
I didn’t want my kids to feel like this is the way we do it, where you sacrifice all your joy for everyone else. So they started to see me slowing down, they started to see me doing less and hopefully feeling I was more present and connected with them while also taking time for myself.
How does social media affect our experience of holiday celebrations?
It’s huge. I think it has affected us on two levels. The first is the comparison, which affects our perception of what we really want. Like, look at my crappy decorations compared to this woman who is not Martha Stewart but she could be. Then all of a sudden comes, I don’t feel as content. I’m not as satisfied.
But scrolling on social media also has a literal impact on our brain chemistry. We are getting these dopamine hits and then our body tries to compensate for it and that puts us in a state where we are more irritable, more anxious, more depressed. It’s kind of a catch-22 because we’re so exhausted and tired that, what do we do? We go to mindless entertainment and the dopamine hit.
I didn’t want my kids to feel like this is the way we do it, where you sacrifice all your joy for everyone else.
— Niro Feliciano
In your book, you describe a practice you call “silent morning,” where you wake up early, light a candle, drink coffee and enjoy time by yourself, reading, journaling, praying or just sitting quietly before beginning the day. I’ve been doing it and I find it transformative. What does it do for you?
During the holidays, I did it several times a week and I think that made the most difference for how I felt at the end of the season. I felt like I created something that was just for me, and it was beautiful and it was something to look forward to and relaxing. Even if it was only for five or 10 minutes, it made a difference.
We don’t have a real tree anymore, so I always had a pine-scented candle that evokes the memory of winter and nature for me. I think part of it is figuring out what is going to evoke for you something beautiful and then incorporate it into the silent morning.
It feels like we’re supposed to experience joy during the holidays, but after the year we’ve had in Los Angeles — devastating fires, ICE raids, layoffs in the entertainment industry and beyond — some of us may find joy elusive this season. What do you suggest?
I go back to this idea that comes from dialectical behavioral therapy: Two things can be true. We can be living in very hard, painful circumstances and it’s important to acknowledge that and also recognize there are ways to experience joy; it’s just a matter of where to look. Oftentimes I think you have to make the choice that you want to experience joy and that you are going to look for it.
It may take a while to figure out how to do that, but if you think about what most matters in your life and if you do have some of those things, those are the areas we can connect with to find joy.
The holidays can be especially challenging for people who are grieving. What advice do you have for them?
I would say, for one, give yourself grace to not do things the way you’ve always done them. If it’s too painful, you can try something new. Also, don’t put pressure on yourself to make all these plans. You may not know how you are going to feel until that day. I think you just have to honor your feelings in the moment and surround yourself with people who will honor that for you.
Especially if it’s new grief, trust your intuition for what you need in that moment. Think about one person who you feel safe with, who wants the best for you, who you can be yourself with and spend time with that person during this season. It will help.
You also have a chapter on conflicts that can arise around disappointing gifts. Is this something that comes up a lot?
That has come up with my clients forever. So many women feel so disappointed by that particular piece. It’s like, we do this for everyone else, why can’t anyone do it for us? It is especially significant for me because my husband and I have struggled with this too. We are 22 years married and now I’m very intentional about buying myself gifts and giving them to him and saying, “Hey, wrap this for me,” but it was a serious point of contention early on.
Part of it was my parents were very busy immigrant physicians who came to this country to work. They didn’t have a ton of time all the time, but gift giving was one way they expressed love. For my husband who grew up in a very poor Puerto Rican household where there were no gifts, he never saw how to do it, he never received it, so it wasn’t important to him.
It’s only in the last couple years that I’ve figured out why this is so important to me — that it feels like, “You don’t love me if you don’t put thought into gifts,” and not recognizing that he never learned that language. It was my language. Now I can do this for myself and appreciate what my husband does to express love for me: It’s wrapping at 11 o’clock at night when he’s had 16 surgeries that day and suffering through it with me.
The Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR.) share price has doubled so far in 2025. But it’s gone off the boil a bit in the past month, as AI-related stocks in the US have wobbled.
What’s the relevance of AI to Rolls-Royce? It’s those nuclear power plants it’s building — the small modular reactors (SMRs). As well as other potential applications, many see them as perfect for powering AI server installations.
I see no need to panic right now. Rolls-Royce shares have lost 4.1% since their 52-week high at the end of September. That might be no more than random short-term fluctuation, perhaps with a bit of profit-taking creeping in.
But some analysts are voicing fears of a prolongued Rolls-Royce share price slide. So it’s got to be a good time to take stock.
What the naysayers say
I’ve been looking around at what some of the more bearish analysts have been saying recently. And at where they place their own estimate of the intrinsic value for Rolls-Royce shares. I’m seeing suggestions of around 565p to 930p among the bears. That suggests overvaluation to the tune of anywhere between around 25% and 100%.
What’s informing these downbeat outlooks?
Maybe, it’s in part due to a forecast earnings dip on the cards for 2025. I see a current consensus for 26.2p earnings per share (EPS) for the current year. Still, with first-half results in July, the company posted a strong 15.7p EPS — though that is an adjusted figure.
Now, a single period’s earnings shouldn’t mean much to long-term investors. And that’s especially true of a company whose contracts and revenue can be lumpy.
But it does hint at one thing. When a growth stock reaches this kind of high-profile status, investors tend to expect excellence at every step of the way. One result that comes in even just a bit below hopes, and the share price can take a tumble.
Valuation, valuation
What it has to come down to is valuation — and I can see some people thinking that’s a bit high now. Looking at the most commonly used valuation measure, the Rolls-Royce forward price-to-earnings (P/E) valuation stands at over 44. Other things being equal, lower is better. And that’s close to three times the long-term FTSE 100 average.
The P/E can be misleading. And in this case, the cash mountain Rolls-Royce is building up makes the P/E look richer than it really is. Forecasts suggest £1.8bn net cash by the end of this year, rising as high as £6.9bn by 2027.
And by then, the P/E would be down to around 30 if earnings forecasts prove accurate.
Crash or no crash?
So back to my headline question, are we heading for a Rolls-Royce share price collapse? I can see a possibility of a correction — maybe even a sharp one — if an AI slump takes hold of the US stock market.
And I could see the shares facing a bit of volatility in the next couple of years as we wait for the market’s lofty expectations to come good — hopefully.
But a collapse? I think the odds are probably against anything major. But I’m definitely considering buying if any significant falls provide better buying opportunities.
Ever since the Trump immigration raids began in Los Angeles in June, local leaders and community activists have criticized agents for sometimes making it difficult to identify them as federal law enforcement officials or refusing to identify themselves at all.
Now, an unexpected new group has expressed its own concerns: the FBI.
Citing a string of incidents in which masked criminals posing as immigration officers robbed and kidnapped victims, the FBI recently issued a memo suggesting agents clearly identify themselves while they’re in the field.
The FBI explained its reasoning in a three-page document sent to police agencies across the country last month.
In the memo, the FBI says criminals impersonating law enforcement “damages trust” between them and the community and that law enforcement has an “opportunity” to better coordinate with their local, state and federal partners, carry out informational campaigns to educate the public about impostors and for agents to show their identification when asked while out in the field.
Undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens have been detained by masked people on city streets, in hospitals, courthouses, and outside schools and places of worship over the last several months. California has banned the use of masks among law enforcement agencies, but on Tuesday a cadre of masked agents gathered in an offsite Dodger Stadium parking lot while carrying out more raids.
A man seeking asylum from Colombia is detained by federal agents as he attends his court hearing in immigration court in New York City.
(Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images)
The FBI’s memo, obtained through a records request by the national security transparency nonprofit Property of the People, was prepared by the New York field office and first reported by Wired magazine. It details several instances where people impersonated immigration agents.
In Florida, a man pretending to be an ICE agent kidnapped a woman who was in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. The suspect approached the woman on April 21, claimed he was there to pick her up and showed her his shirt that read ICE, the FBI said. The woman got in the suspect’s car and he drove her to an apartment complex, but she was able to escape.
In August, three men in black clothing and wearing vests robbed a New York restaurant and stole from their ATM. The suspects also beat the employees and tied them up. One of the employees willingly surrendered to the suspects when they heard them identify themselves as immigration agents, the FBI said.
The FBI also pointed to an April social media post where a man wearing a black jacket with an ICE patch stood outside a hardware store to intimidate day laborers. An image circulating on social media matching the description of the incident showed the man also wearing a red Trump hat.
“I don’t know if there is federal law that requires a standard police uniform,” David Levine, a professor of law at UC San Francisco said. “It’s good practice to have a distinguishing uniform. Because when you have federal agents dressing as ruffians, with scarves over their faces and glasses in a paramilitary fashion, then it’s so much easier for people to impersonate them.”
The FBI’s national press office did not respond to requests for comment, citing the government shutdown in an automated email response.
U.S. Border Patrol march after a show of force outside the Japanese American National Museum where Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding a press conference on Aug. 14 in Los Angeles.
Levine says it’s a person’s constitutional right under the 4th Amendment to ask a masked, federal agent to identify themselves.
“It takes a cool head under a tense moment to ask someone, ‘What’s your name? I can’t see your badge? Can you identify yourself?’” Levine said. “It’s practically impossible to ask all of that when you’re being thrown to the ground. But you do have the right to ask.”
There are plenty of examples of people allegedly impersonating law enforcement in California in recent years.
In April 2018, Luis Flores-Mendoza of Santa Ana was sentenced to eight years in prison for posing as a federal immigration officer in an attempt to extort $5,000 from a woman, who reported him to the police. The following month, Matthew Ryan Johnston of Fontana was sentenced to two years in federal prison for impersonating an ICE agent. In 2023 and 2024, police in Southern California announced arrests in two separate cases where men were accused of impersonating police to conduct traffic stops.
But state officials have sounded the alarm because of the Trump administration’s approach.
Earlier this year, following federal immigration raids in the Central Valley, two Fresno men were accused of posing as federal immigration agents and filming themselves harassing local businesses. The Fresno Police Department said the two men wore wigs and black tactical vests with letters deliberately covered up so they read “Police” and “ICE,” and confronting people at nearly a dozen businesses. The department said the men appeared to have done it for social media and declined to release their names.
Raymond Cruz, 56, places a sign on part of a “No Ice” mural in Inglewood on July 1.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
The following month, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta issued a warning to Californians about the rise of ICE impersonators and scammers looking to take “advantage of the fear and uncertainty created by Trump’s mass deportation policies. “
“Let me be clear: If you seek to scam or otherwise take advantage of California’s immigrant communities, you will be held accountable,” Bonta said.
In June, two additional local cases popped up that weren’t included on the FBI memo.
In one, Huntington Park police arrested a man who they suspected of posing as a Border Patrol agent. Police said the man possessed an unlicensed handgun and copies of U.S. Homeland Security removal notices and a list of radio codes for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Huntington Park Police Chief Cosme Lozano speaks at a press conference after a 23-year-old man from Los Angeles was arrested by Huntington Park Police on suspicion of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
In the other, police in Los Angeles County arrested a man driving a decommissioned police cruiser with control lights and a siren who allegedly had cocaine, a forged Homeland Security investigator’s badge and a pellet gun in his car.
In a statement, Property of the People Executive Director Ryan Shapiro said, “It’s rich the FBI thinks ICE has a PR problem in immigrant communities because of impersonators, while masked and militarized ICE agents are waging a daily campaign of terror against those very communities.”
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to requests for comment.
Kash Patel, director of the FBI, left, President Trump, center, and Pam Bondi, U.S. attorney general, during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15.
(Jo Lo Scalzo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In a statement to The Times, the office of Mayor Karen Bass said it’s unacceptable for law enforcement officers to operate without properly identifying themselves.
“The Mayor has been supportive of state legislation that would require immigration officers to identify themselves as well as make it a crime for law enforcement officers to wear a face covering while performing their duties, except for specific circumstances such as protection from hazardous smoke.”
Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes MacArthur Park, Cypress Park and Pico Union, said the FBI’s memo simply confirms what locals have known all along, even as they manufacture “confusion, fear, chaos and real danger.”
“Now even the FBI, under an administration that has aggressively expanded unconstitutional immigration enforcement, has confirmed that when agents don’t clearly identify themselves, it opens the door for violent impersonators to prey on vulnerable families,” Hernandez said in a statement. “That’s exactly why I co-authored the council motion requiring the LAPD to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, and to strengthen penalties for impersonating an officer. When even Trump’s FBI is warning that unidentified agents put us at risk, it’s a clear sign that this problem can’t be ignored any longer.”
Still, not everyone thinks agents will heed the FBI’s advice. Even if agents were to begin identifying themselves during sweeps, the distrust created from this summer’s sweeps will stay with community members for some time, advocates say.
“I don’t expect them to all of a sudden start walking around with no mask or start walking around and identifying themselves,” said Leo Martinez of VC Defensa, a coalition of local groups dedicated to protecting the immigrant and refugee populations of Ventura County. “More than anything, I think it’s a way for the FBI to put a little bit of distance between themselves and the ICE agents in the public relations sphere, but not really on the ground.”
Meghan Markle’sreturn to Hollywood could spell the end of her marriage.
That’s what one source believes as the Duchess of Sussex prepares to return to the big screen. Meghan has been married to Prince Harry since 2018, and the couple have two kids together. The pair left their royal duties years ago to relocate to Meghan’s home state of California.
“Meghan’s comeback isn’t just about acting – it’s about freedom,” a source suggests. She will be a part of the movie Close Personal Friends, with the Duchess spotted during filming in Pasadena.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have “separate” worlds, according to the source
Photo Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage
In public, they’ve been all smiles, but when the cameras are off, there’s apparently a different dynamic between the Prince and Duchess. Reports indicate the dynamic between the two has changed, with Meghan keen to be more involved in the acting scene. “He’s struggling with how separate their worlds have become,” a source told RadarOnline.
While Meghan reportedly only has a small role in Close Personal Friends, it feels much bigger. That’s because she’s being treated like the lead actress, according to a production crew member.
Although she and Harry are involved in several projects together, such as The Archwell Foundation, friends say Meghan’s ambitions are diverging sharply from her husband’s. “Meghan’s got her sights firmly set on Hollywood again,” a source says. Meanwhile, Harry’s focus appears to be on his charity and Invictus projects.
In addition to her acting, Meghan recently launched a holiday collection for her As Ever brand. Her products earned praise from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey.
Her upcoming movie is said to be more than just a side project for Meghan but rather a comeback. The second season of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan came out in August.
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE MEGHAN MARKLE’S RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD SIGNALS THE END OF HER MARRIAGE TO PRINCE HARRY?
People with poor heart health in middle age are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in later life, research suggests. A study of 6,000 people found those who developed the condition had elevated levels of a protein called troponin, which indicates heart muscle damage, up to 25 years before diagnosis. Participants with high troponin at the start of the study were 38% more likely to develop dementia.
Study author Professor Eric Brunner, an expert in epidemiology and health at University College London, said: “Damage to the brain seen in people with dementia accumulates slowly over the decades before symptoms develop. Control of risk factors common to both heart disease, stroke and dementia in middle age, such as high blood pressure, may slow or even stop development of dementia as well as cardiovascular disease.”
Troponin levels are often checked by doctors when they suspect a patient has suffered a heart attack.
Elevated levels without symptoms can also indicate ongoing damage to the heart muscle of problems with its function. This can have a knock-on effect, impacting blood vessel health and blood flow to the brain.
Researchers analysed data from the Whitehall II study, which has followed civil servants since 1985.
All participants had a troponin test between the ages of 45 and 69, then were tracked for an average of 25 years. Some 695 were diagnosed with dementia.
Prof Brunner added: “We now need to carry out studies to investigate how well troponin levels in the blood can predict future dementia risk.
“Our early results suggest that troponin could become an important component of a risk score to predict future probability of dementia.”
Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the research, said: “This study is an important reminder that our heart and brain health are inseparable.
“Our advice to focus on heart health throughout life also gives our brains the best chance of ageing well. That means keeping our blood pressure under control, managing our cholesterol levels, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.
“This also underscores why the British Heart Foundation is investing £10 million into its Centre for vascular dementia research, alongside the UK Dementia Research Institute, to find better ways to prevent and treat the devastating impact of vascular dementia.”
The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.
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One of the biggest bonafide television hits of the past several years is “Yellowstone,” created by John Linson and prolific screenwriter and producer Taylor Sheridan. The neo-Western centers on the saga of the Duttons, a wealthy family that runs the largest cattle ranch in Montana. This not only makes the family and their business a target for political opponents and competitors, but also raises the murderous tension between the Duttons themselves. “Yellowstone” ran for five seasons and spawned an entire franchise of spin-off series covering different aspects of the Dutton family history.
Though the main “Yellowstone” series may have ended in 2024, there are plenty of similar modern crime dramas and neo-Westerns. Many of these shows focus on modern family drama exacerbated by a prominent violent crime element. And just like with the Duttons and their workers, many of these shows feature a rural setting populated by blue-collar and blue-collar-adjacent characters. Here are 15 TV shows like “Yellowstone” that fans will want to check out after wrapping the Dutton family’s adventures.
Dallas (1978)
CBS
When it comes to engrossing family sagas filled with betrayal, greed, and melodramatic plot twists, no show ushered in these qualities into primetime soap operas like “Dallas.” The original 1978 series delved into the trials and tribulations of the Ewings, a wealthy oil family deep in the heart of Texas. The show’s breakout character is the conniving J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), constantly vying for greater power and affluence. Often butting heads with J.R. is his nobler younger brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy), who loathes his sibling’s shady business practices and lecherous ways.
Running for more than 350 episodes across 14 seasons, the original “Dallas” fully embraced its soap opera tone to weave an expansive family drama. Though Hagman is rightfully praised for his performance as J.R., the entire cast builds out a delightfully messy tale of familial strife. The show went on to create its own franchise, complete with continuation TV movies and a 2010 sequel series, exploring new generations of the Ewing family. Long before the feud within the Dutton family, there were the rivalries within the Ewings on “Dallas,” and they were certainly no less salacious.
Justified
FX
Prolific author Elmore Leonard wrote a number of crime stories featuring quickdraw U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Leonard’s character subsequently served as the protagonist, played by Timothy Olyphant, for the 2010 neo-Western series “Justified.” For his reckless behavior, Givens is reassigned to the Kentucky region where he grew up, placing him on a collision course with the local crime families. This includes Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), who tries to reform and assist Givens after a near-death experience.
Though Olyphant had memorably played 19th century lawman Seth Bullock on “Deadwood,” his performance as contemporary gunslinger Raylan Givens left an even greater impression. As Givens, Olyphant brings a laidback confidence that works well for his character in confronting the eastern Kentucky criminal underworld. Olyphant is perfectly matched by Goggins’ Crowder, an unlikely and unpredictable partner, unsure of what even he’ll do next. Packed with big twists and turns right through until the end, “Justified” helped popularize neo-Westerns years before “Yellowstone.”
Longmire
Netflix/Warner Bros. Television
Craig Johnson is another prolific crime author who leans more regularly into neo-Westerns than Leonard had with his work. Johnson’s most popular literary creation, Walt Longmire, was adapted for television in the 2012 series “Longmire.” With the titular protagonist played by Robert Taylor, the adaptation details Longmire’s adventures working as a county sheriff in small-town Wyoming. Longmire works alongside the tribal police at the nearby indigenous reservations, which have their own jurisdictions, and crimes link to a casino on reservation land.
While filmed primarily in New Mexico, “Longmire” takes advantage of its Wyoming setting with its sweeping landscapes. The show is a well-crafted neo-Western with its own sly sense of humor, albeit one that doesn’t compromise the more serious narrative stakes. Another quality to the series’ credit is how unflashy it is, relying on subtle charm and execution in weaving its modern crime drama. Bringing a reliable, workmanlike approach to the genre, “Longmire” is a rustically cozy watch, regularly exceeding its humble expectations.
Goliath
Prime Video
Before starring in “Landman” (more on that show later), Billy Bob Thornton played another down-on-his-luck professional with a complicated personal life in the Prime Video original series “Goliath.” Thornton stars as Billy McBride, a formerly successful lawyer who walked away from his own law firm and descended into alcoholism after a killer he acquitted subsequently massacred a family. McBride’s self-imposed exile is ended when he agrees to take on a wrongful death lawsuit that places him on a collision course against his old firm. Struggling to keep his personal demons in check, McBride gradually rebuilds his life and career in Los Angeles.
True to its title, “Goliath” has Thornton’s McBride taking on powerful figures and corporate entities that normally avoid major legal repercussions. This culminates in the fourth and final season, with McBride taking on the opioid industry, matched by J.K. Simmons giving one of the most villainous performances of his career. Thornton consistently excels in his performance as McBride, charting a vulnerable comeback story for the haunted attorney. A legal drama that’s rougher around the edges than most of its contemporaries, “Goliath” is a reminder that Thornton is one of the most underrated actors of his generation.
Ozark
Netflix
After building a successful career in comedy, actor Jason Bateman effectively pivoted to the crime drama genre with the Netflix original series “Ozark.” The 2017 series centers on married couple Marty (Bateman) and Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney), who secretly launder money for the Mexican cartel. Relocating from Chicago to Missouri, the Byrdes become embroiled with local crime families and other organized crime elements. In the face of these new enemies and rivals, the Byrdes expand their illicit operations as their own relationship endures ups and downs.
Bateman and Linney play beautifully opposite Julia Garner in a star-making performance as local crook Ruth Langmore who repeatedly crosses the Byrdes. Part of the show’s appeal is seeing how its conflicts continually build and build, leading to the thoroughly shocking series finale. A Southern twist on a familiar crime thriller scope that steadily raises the stakes with its web of intrigue, “Ozark” is a thrill-heavy tale proving there’s no honor among thieves.
The Last Cowboy
CMT/Paramount Network
Through shows like “Yellowstone” and movies like “Hell or High Water,” Taylor Sheridan has been keeping the cowboy spirit alive and well in television and film. With his 2019 reality series “The Last Cowboy,” Sheridan stages a real-life horseback riding competition for the next generation of cowboys, men and women included. The participants must accomplish a set of technical feats on horseback, including precise equestrian movements, at a high-stakes tournament in Las Vegas. In a documentary aspect to the show, the daily lives of the contestants and their connection to cowboy culture is revealed.
Running for five seasons and counting, “The Last Cowboy” maintains the rustic stakes and working-class personalities for which Sheridan’s work is known. Far from a Hollywood take on the archetype, the show chronicles the lives of men and women who build their careers around horseback riding nationwide. This elevates what could’ve been a cheap reality competition show into a fascinating portrait of modern cowboys.
Walker
Rebecca Brenneman/The CW
The cult ’90s crime show “Walker, Texas Ranger” might not have seemed like the logical idea for a modern reboot, but The CW’s 2021 iteration aired for four seasons. Jared Padalecki (“Supernatural”) stars as Lone Star lawman Cordell Walker, whose wife is brutally murdered at the start of the series. While struggling to raise two teenage children, Cordell moves to overcome the trauma of losing his wife and identifying and apprehending her killer. Later seasons have the Walker family face their old rivals as they uncover the uncomfortable history about their ranch and other old enemies from Cordell’s past.
Like “Yellowstone,” the 2021 reboot of “Walker” was a family-focused drama set on a generational ranch, with plenty of crooks and the occasional family feud threatening its characters. (That said, the CW series was considerably more family-friendly than the Duttons’ various shows, without compromising the stories’ stakes.) Some might prefer Chuck Norris’ ornery lawman dealing out justice with roundhouse kicks, but Padalecki’s Ranger brought his own charm.
Joe Pickett
David Brown/Paramount+
Like “Longmire,” the Paramount+ series “Joe Pickett” is a strong reminder that not all neo-Westerns have to be so constantly self-serious. The show stars Michael Dorman as its eponymous protagonist, who works as a game warden around Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. After discovering a poacher’s body, Pickett stumbles into a full-blown conspiracy involving a local wealthy and powerful family, endangering the wildlife Pickett is sworn to protect. This also puts Pickett’s family under threat, including his wife Marybeth (Julianna Guill) and their two daughters.
There is an underlying dry sense of humor to “Joe Pickett,” and Dorman plays those elements beautifully, portraying a man out of his depth but no less dedicated to his duty. There is a humorous vulnerability to Pickett that makes him feel more realized and relatable than most neo-Western protagonists, working to the show’s benefit. As unassuming as its title character, “Joe Pickett” is a great, laidback comfort Western that hits the right notes.
Mayor of Kingstown
Paramount+
For those who have forgotten how sharp Jeremy Renner’s acting chops are compared to his blockbuster movie work, Paramount+’s “Mayor of Kingstown” removes any doubt of his prowess. Renner stars as Mike McLusky, living in the fictional Kingstown, Michigan, whose biggest local industry is a private prison. After the death of his older brother, Mike becomes the de facto mediator between the prison industry and the town’s prominent criminal element. His role is threatened by conflicts between the local street gangs and new leadership at the prison, forcing him to constantly adapt.
Given its premise, “Mayor of Kingstown” provides a bit of a bleaker working class story than viewers may initially be expecting. The series balances these tones better as it progresses while building out a solid ensemble cast around Renner. The more power players that get involved, the richer the series becomes, challenging Mike in new ways and keeping the show fresh and exciting. A unique approach to the familiar crime thriller genre, “Mayor of Kingstown” showcases Renner in one of his best performances in years.
Outer Range
Prime Video
The 2022 Prime Video series “Outer Range” has all the hallmarks of a classic neo-Western, complete with family feuds and secrets, but also a whole science fiction element to it. Josh Brolin stars as Royal Abbott, who runs his family ranch in Wyoming and raises two adult sons with his wife Cecilia (Lili Taylor). The Abbotts are embroiled in a violent feud with the neighboring Tillersons, who have been plotting to obtain the Abbotts’ land. This conflict is upended and escalated when the Abbotts are visited by a strange woman named Autumn (Imogen Poots) and an otherworldly void appears on their pasture.
At its core, “Outer Range” is a mystery, in the grand tradition of other genre shows like “Lost.” Autumn presents plenty of twists and turns for the story, particularly as it takes on a time-bending angle. But through all the sci-fi mayhem, it’s Josh Brolin’s performance that keeps the story from becoming too fantastical to lose sight of its human element.
Dark Winds
AMC
Author Tony Hillerman’s pulp crime novels following Navajo Nation police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee were adapted into the 2022 AMC series “Dark Winds.” Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon star as Leaphorn and Chee, respectively, with each season covering a different mystery in the heart of the American Southwest. This includes deadly bank robbers hiding out on reservation territory or unrepentant killers on the loose in Leaphorn’s jurisdiction. Though Leaphorn excels at stopping culprits before they can wreak further havoc, his work costs his personal life enormously.
“Dark Winds” is a crime show that doesn’t get nearly enough attention, considering how good it is. McClarnon leads a strong cast while delivering the performance of his career as the no-nonsense Leaphorn, driven but damaged all at once. The show was executive-produced by Robert Redford, whose final acting credit was a cameo in its third season. A straightforward crime thriller that takes advantage of its Southwest setting, “Dark Winds” deserves far more love than it currently gets.
Tulsa King
Paramount+
Longtime movie action hero Sylvester Stallone plays one of the most vicious roles of his career as mob boss Dwight Manfredi in the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King.” After being released from a lengthy prison sentence, Manfredi is remanded by the mob to Tulsa to mind the mafia’s operations in the Midwest. Largely left to his own devices, Manfredi carves out his own criminal empire in the region, accruing associates to his expanding activities. This leads to Manfredi also gaining deadly enemies, including a local biker gang threatened by his growing power.
One of the most overtly funny shows created by Taylor Sheridan, “Tulsa King” mixes familiar mob tropes with crime comedy laughs. That change in tone is welcome, compared to Sheridan’s occasionally dour other shows, even if the humor is uneven. What hangs it all together is Stallone’s performance as Manfredi, an aging tough guy who isn’t afraid to play the fish-out-of-water in Oklahoma. A crime show that pokes fun at and subverts familiar mafia elements, “Tulsa King” is an enjoyable watch that coasts steadily on its charm.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Paramount+
Originally planned as another “Yellowstone” spin-off series, the 2023 Paramount+ show “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” went off into a standalone direction instead. David Oyelowo stars as the real-life U.S. Marshal based out of Arkansas in the 19th century. Tasked with keeping the peace in a largely lawless territory, Reeves sets out to protect the settlers on the frontier, bringing a real grit to his job. Reeves works alongside other criminal justice figures throughout the region while returning home to his loving wife Jennie (Lauren E. Banks).
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” plays out like a Wild West police procedural, which breathes new life into the genre. A solidly paced limited series, the saga of Reeves’ life in law enforcement unfolds across eight episodes, emphasizing the U.S. Marshals’ thankless task of maintaining order on the frontier. The show boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Donald Sutherland in his final television role, but the real standout is Oyelowo. As Reeves, the actor’s performance brings a subtle humanity to the titular and legendary lawman that carries the show.
Landman
Paramount+
Taylor Sheridan’s television streak continues with the 2024 Paramount+ original “Landman,” inspired by series co-creator Christian Wallace’s podcast series “Boomtown.” The titular occupation is something of a de facto land manager for big oil companies, with the show’s protagonist Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) filling this role. Norris is constantly called in to handle various crises around his company’s oil wells, starting with a deadly accident that kicks off the series. Norris balances this with his personal life, including his ex-wife Angela (Ali Larter) and their daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph).
Thornton elevates the proceedings throughout “Landman” considerably, with his performance as Norris keeping the show on track. This is particularly impressive, considering how consistently over-the-top the show gets with its plot developments, putting Norris through the wringer. These tones align well with those in “Yellowstone,” even if the stakes are markedly different for Norris’ adventures. “Landman” proves Thornton is the perfect actor to bring Sheridan’s work to life, with the series providing a showcase for his phenomenal acting talents.
Tracker
Colin Bentley/CBS
Crime author Jeffrey Deaver’s 2019 novel “The Never Game” was adapted into a hit 2024 CBS series under the title “Tracker.” The show stars Justin Hartley (“This Is Us”) as Colter Shaw, a loner survivalist who specializes in wilderness tracking skills. He makes a living off helping local law enforcement agencies and private clients who have dire need for his uncanny tracking abilities. In between jobs, Shaw’s family dynamics are explored, including the mysterious death of his father Ashton (Lee Tergesen).
Hartley is as effortlessly charming and ruggedly handsome as ever in his performance as Colter Shaw. This elevates the case-of-the-week formula for the show, along with the underlying story involving him and his family. Fitting within the show’s premise, “Tracker” feels more stripped-down than most of its network drama counterparts, taking advantage of its outdoor settings. A no-frills series that proves less can be more, “Tracker” consistently leans into its self-assured appeal to great effect.
If Greece is on your 2026 wishlist, here’s a straightforward way to trim your costs.
GHA DISCOVERY members can receive a one-time D$50 bonus, plus approximately 10% savings with member rates, when booking two or more consecutive nights at Divani Collection Hotels in Greece.
The offer applies to eligible stays booked and completed between November 4, 2025 and April 30, 2026.
What’s the Offer?
Divani Collection Hotels, part of the GHA DISCOVERY program, will award a one-time D$50 bonus on completed eligible stays of two consecutive nights or more, booked and stayed between November 4, 2025 and April 30, 2026.
You must book directly via Divani Collection Hotels website, the GHA DISCOVERY app, or the GHA DISCOVERY website to be eligible for the promotion.
How to Maximize the Promotion
You’ll earn the D$50 bonus plus the Base D$ on your Net Eligible Spend (pre-tax, service charges excluded, and excluding any portion paid with D$).
If you’re eyeing Athens or Meteora (one of my favourite places) for spring shoulder season, aim for flexible member rates so you can keep change/cancel options while still qualifying. If you have multiple rooms on one booking, only one room’s nights will count for the promo.
You’ll also earn D$5 by booking through the GHA DISCOVERY app, which is an effortless way to add a little more value.
Divani Palace Acropolis
If you’d like to save even further, you can consider purchasing D$ during discount promotions. We often see 15% off sales, and the next 15% discount promotion is set to go live on November 10, 2025, should you wish to wait.
You’ll still be eligible for the D$50 bonus from the promotion, as well as the D$5 by booking through the app, but you won’t earn any D$ back from the room rate when it is paid with D$.
Quick Example
Two nights at a Divani Meteora in December is currently priced at approximately $314 USD. With this promotion, you’ll receive D$50 from the promo, up to D$18 based on your GHA DISCOVERY status, and D$5 by booking through the GHA DISCOVERY app.
If you were to book this hotel as a Titanium member, you’d receive a total of D$73 back, which is about 23% in return.
The hotel is also currently offering a breakfast-included rate as the lowest room rate, which is a plus since you won’t need Titanium status for a complimentary breakfast benefit.
This can be a strong promotion for anyone planning to visit Meteora, especially since there are no major chains like Marriott or Hilton in the area.
You’ll also check off one of three brands toward achieving GHA DISCOVERY Titanium status, which requires stays at three different brands within the program.
Divani Meteora
How Does the GHA DISCOVERY D$ Work?
GHA DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) function as a fixed-value rewards currency, where 1 D$ = $1 USD. They can be redeemed at GHA properties worldwide for stays, spa treatments, dining, and other eligible expenses.
In my experience, the conversion rate used by the front desk has generally aligned closely with the spot rate, though it may vary slightly depending on the property.
However, there are a few limitations to be aware of.
D$ cannot be used toward taxes or service fees, only the base rate and eligible extras.
You’ll also only earn D$ on the post-redemption portion of your bill. So if you pay entirely with D$, you won’t earn any more back on that stay.
Redemption value is fixed, so there’s no opportunity for outsized value like with traditional airline or hotel points.
However, the upside is that earning and redeeming D$ is refreshingly straightforward. There’s no need to worry about dynamic pricing, blackout dates, or award charts.
For all others, D$ must be redeemed at the hotel during check-in or checkout, typically on pay-at-hotel rates, which are often more expensive and less flexible.
If you’re aiming to use D$ on a prepaid rate, be aware that many hotels don’t actually charge your card until arrival.
In these cases, I recommend contacting the hotel in advance to confirm whether D$ can be applied manually, and how to proceed.
Redemptions require a minimum of D$10, and if the reservation is cancelled and refundable, the D$ will be returned to your account—unless they’ve expired.
Is This Promotion a Good Deal?
Yes. Based on the sample pricing above, a Titanium member can see roughly 23% back in rewards when stacking the D$50 promo, Base D$, and the D$5 app bonus.
The return can climb higher if you buy D$ during discount sales and apply them to your stay, with the usual trade-off that you will not earn Base D$ on the portion paid with D$.
If Greece is on your calendar before April 30, 2026, it is worth pricing out Divani properties in Athens, Meteora, Corfu, and other locations to compare member-rate options and maximize your overall savings.
For two-night Greek getaways booked direct, Divani’s D$50 bonus is a clean, low-friction win. Stack it with member-rate savings and the D$5 app bonus, and consider timing your plans around a 15% D$ purchase promotion if you intend to prepay with D$.
Just remember that promotional D$ expire 12 months after issuance, that one room per booking counts for this offer, and that direct channels are required to qualify.
Pair the stay with a no FX fee card to avoid unnecessary charges and you have a straightforward, repeatable play for Athens, Meteora, or Corfu.
US employers axed about 153,000 workers last month — making it the worst October for layoffs in two decades and bringing total firings for the year so far to over 1 million, according to a new report that noted many companies blamed the latest layoffs on AI.
The last time the US saw a worse October in terms of firings was in 2003, when 171,874 people were laid off.
As in the aughts, the latest layoff numbers came amid a time of tech-driven realignment for the economy. Back then, the issue was changes in the telecom industry sparked by the rise of cell phones, experts say; today, it’s the advent of AI and automating tasks once done by humans.
US employers have slashed more than 1 million jobs this year and 153,000 jobs in October alone. dpa/AFP via Getty Images
Companies cited artificial intelligence in 31,039 of the October layoffs — second only to general cost-cutting — according to the report Challenger, Gray & Christmas released Thursday.
“Like in 2003, a disruptive technology is changing the landscape,” said Andy Challenger, the firm’s chief revenue officer.
AI was explicitly blamed for relatively few of the total job cuts so far this year — just 48,414 of them, according to the data.
October’s 153,074 job cuts marked a 183% spike from September — when 54,064 positions were slashed — and a 175% jump from the same month a year ago, Challenger, Gray & Christmas found.
Analysts and businesses having been using the firm’s reports, which usually draw little notice, while official jobs data has stalled because of the government shutdown.
Through the first 10 months of 2025, announced layoffs topped 1.09 million — a 65% increase from the 664,839 job cuts last year and the highest total since 2020, when pandemic shutdowns sent pink slips soaring.
At Target, incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke announced the company’s first major layoffs in a decade, cutting 1,800 corporate jobs. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post
“Some industries are correcting after the hiring boom of the pandemic, but this comes as AI adoption, softening consumer and corporate spending and rising costs drive belt-tightening and hiring freezes,” said Challenger.
The data shows technology and warehousing companies led October’s cuts.
Tech firms announced 33,281 layoffs, up sharply from 5,639 the prior month, while warehousing firms axed 47,878 jobs — a surge driven by automation and lingering overcapacity from pandemic-era expansion.
For the year, the tech industry has slashed 141,159 jobs so far — up 17% from the 120,470 that were announced through the same period in 2024.
Starbucks filed notice to Washington state regulators that it will lay off 974 employees in Seattle and Kent starting Dec. 5. Getty Images
The retail sector also remains under pressure, with 88,664 job cuts so far this year, up 145% from 2024, as chains face weaker discretionary spending and ongoing store closures.
“Over the last decade, companies have shied away from announcing layoffs in the fourth quarter, so it’s surprising to see so many in October,” said Challenger.
Warehousing, services, and consumer product firms also joined the retrenchment, while media and nonprofit organizations reported mounting losses tied to automation and reduced government funding.
Challenger said nonprofits have announced 27,651 job cuts this year — up more than 400% — while the media industry logged 16,680, a 26% increase.
Overall, companies cited cost-cutting in 50,437 October layoffs, followed by artificial intelligence, market conditions and facility closures.
The 153,074 job cuts from last month marked a 175% jump from the same month a year ago. Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
The layoffs seem unlikely to stop anytime soon.
Amazon, Target, Paramount Skydance and Starbucks have each moved to cut hundreds or thousands of positions, underscoring the breadth of the corporate pullback heading into the holidays.
At Target, incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke announced the company’s first major layoffs in a decade, cutting 1,800 corporate jobs — roughly 8% of its headquarters staff — as the retailer struggles with a sales slump and aims to “simplify how we work.”
Even as layoffs accelerate, hiring plans have slowed dramatically.
Employers have announced 488,077 planned hires through October — down 35% from last year and the lowest year-to-date figure since 2011.
Seasonal hiring has also cratered, with just 372,520 positions announced so far, the weakest pre-holiday total since Challenger began tracking the figure in 2012.
“At a time when job creation is at its lowest point in years, the optics of announcing layoffs in the fourth quarter are particularly unfavorable,” Challenger said.
“Those laid off now are finding it harder to quickly secure new roles, which could further loosen the labor market.”