Terrific news for SSE (LSE: SSE) shares. In spite of a smattering of protests, including a certain red-capped president saying “Stop the windmills”, a new wind farm development has been approved off the coast of the Scottish Borders.
The self-titled “UK’s clean energy champion” will be building what is expected to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm. It will provide enough power for the annual energy needs of Scotland twice over!
Britain’s solar production reached a new high in 2025 (a third higher than 2024) and Net Zero 2050 inches ever closer. Could this backdrop make the FTSE 100 energy company a terrific stock to buy? Is the share price of the country’s brightest green energy firm set to rise from here on out? Should I buy SSE shares?
Big targets
A brand spanking new windfarm does sounds promising. But the SSE share price moved about as much as one of its turbines on a windless day. That is to say, it didn’t really move. The share price has been more or less level for about 10 years now, too.
SSE might be leading the world in its investment in green energy infrastructure. But, the markets aren’t enamoured with the stock. All this investment is costly, too. SSE has high debt and a rebased dividend, both of which make this stock look less than attractive. Its forward dividend yield of 5.24% is competitive with other FTSE 100 companies. But, it’s some way below what I’d hope to achieve as a total return.
Analysts’ forecasts offer hope for the share price with an average target that’s 33.2% higher over the next 12 months. One analyst is predicting a 51.4% increase!
A buy?
Personally, I’m not buying stocks for the returns over a year. Looking longer term, though, the bigger question is that of wind’s role as an energy source. If offshore windfarms can slot into a country’s energy supply, then we might see SSE start to roll out the technology on a wider scale.
The firm has already expanded to other regions such as the SSE Airtricity division in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But is the technology really there for a widescale rollout yet? The UK doesn’t have enough battery storage for the wind it does produce.
The cost of wasted wind power this year has been £752m already. That’s money shelled out to wind farms to stop running because the grid can’t handle the surplus electricity. The introduction of more advanced batteries may put a stop to this problem. It may also make SSE look like a great buy years from now. But it’s not a stock I will buy at this moment.
Rita Ora recently ditched her usual fashion shenanigans to appear in what looks like a Mother Mary costume outside LA’s iconic Capitol Records. It is unclear why the British singer-songwriter was dressed the way she was, but it has generated mixed reactions among fans, who are more used to seeing Rita Ora in bikini shoots or modern outfits.
Rita Ora spotted in Mother Mary costume
In what seems to be a surprise out of nowhere, the “For You” singer was spotted outside LA’s Capitol Records in a Mother Mary costume. She dressed up in flowing white robes that resembled the kind Mother Mary wears.
Rita Ora was also surrounded by people and reportedly had a lamb at her feet. Moreover, she sported a matching headpiece flowing down the back of her hair. Ora’s costume also featured a fake, bright red 3D heart on her chest.
@BackgridUS posted the photos on X (formerly Twitter) and described the scene as, “Surrounded by a group of people and a lamb at her feet, the pop star folded her hands in prayer in a bold new look captured by legendary photographer #DavidLaChapelle seemingly acting out a famous Christian scene.”
#RitaOra swapped sequins for sainthood, posing as a Virgin Mary figure in flowing white robes against LA’s iconic Capitol Records backdrop. Surrounded by a group of people and a lamb at her feet, the pop star folded her hands in prayer in a bold new look captured by legendary… pic.twitter.com/xUt9kgCLJ6
In the photos, Ora can be seen holding out her arms on the side, possibly recreating Mother Mary’s stance. However, this entire ordeal seems to be too elaborate to be without a purpose. But as of now, there is no information about what this is supposed to mean.
Furthermore, Rita Ora’s Instagram mostly features photos of her flaunting her toned physique in stylish dresses and bikinis. This makes her latest look a far departure from her usual style.
Photo Credit: @ritaora / Instagram
Perhaps it is a shoot for a song or an advertisement, but hopefully, fans will soon find out about this mystery of the Mother Mary costume. The “Poison” crooner has also not posted the photos on her social media pages, making it even harder to comprehend.
Meanwhile, Ora continues to be active in both the music and film worlds. She will soon appear in movies like Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, He Bled Neon, and Voltron.
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on Mandatory.
Legendary investor Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has issued a stark warning regarding the future impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and humanoid robots, predicting a dramatic increase in wealth inequality that will necessitate a new “redistribution policy”. Dalio articulated his concerns, suggesting that these advanced technologies are poised to benefit the top 1% to 10% of the population significantly more than everyone else, potentially leading to profound societal challenges.
Speaking on “The Diary Of A CEO” podcast, Dalio described a future where humanoid robots, smarter than humans, and advanced AI systems, powered by trillions of dollars in investment, could render many current professions obsolete. He questioned the need for lawyers, accountants, and medical professionals if highly intelligent robots with PhD-level knowledge become commonplace, stating, “we will not need a lot of those jobs.” This technological leap, while promising “great advances,” also carries the potential for “great conflicts.”
He predicted “a limited number of winners and a bunch of losers,” with the likely result being much greater polarity. With the top 1% to 10% “benefiting a lot,” he foresees that being a dividing force. He described the current business climate on AI and robotics as a “crazy boom,” but the question that’s really on his mind is: why would you need even a highly skilled professional if there’s a “humanoid robot that is smarter than all of us and has a PhD and everything.” Perhaps surprisingly, the founder of the biggest hedge fund in history suggested that redistribution will be sorely needed.
Five big forces
“There certainly needs to be a redistribution policy,” Dalio told host Steven Bartlett, without directly mentioning universal basic income. He clarified that this will have to more than “just a redistribution of money policy because uselessness and money may not be a great combination.” In other words, if you redistribute money but don’t think about how to put people to work, that could have negative effects in a world of autonomous agents. The ultimate takeaway, Dalio said, is “that has to be figured out, and the question is whether we’re too fragmented to figure that out.”
Dalio’s remarks echo those of computer science professor Roman Yampolskiy, who sees AI creating up to 80 hours of free time per week for most people. But AI is also showing clear signs of shrinking the jobs market for recent grads, with one study seeing a 13% drop in AI-exposed jobs since 2022. Major revisions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that AI has begun “automating away tech jobs,” an economist said in a statement to Fortune in early September.
Dalio said he views this technological acceleration as the fifth of five “big forces” that create an approximate 80-year cycle throughout history. He explained that human inventiveness, particularly with new technologies, has consistently raised living standards over time. However, when people don’t believe the system works for them, he said, internal conflicts and “wars between the left and the right” can erupt. Both the U.S. and UK are currently experiencing these kinds of wealth and values gaps, he said, leading to internal conflict and a questioning of democratic systems.
Drawing on his extensive study of history, which spans 500 years and covers the rise and fall of empires, Dalio sees a historical precedent for such transformative shifts. He likened the current era to previous evolutions, from the agricultural age, where people were treated “essentially like oxen,” to the industrial revolutions where machines replaced physical labor. He said he’s concerned about a similar thing with mental labor, as “our best thinking may be totally replaced.” Dalio highlighted that throughout history, “intelligence matters more than anything” as it attracts investment and drives power.
Pessimistic outlook
Despite the “crazy boom” in AI and robotics, Dalio’s outlook on the future of major powers like the UK and U.S. was not optimistic, citing high debt, internal conflict, and geopolitical factors, in addition to a lack of innovative culture and capital markets in some regions. While personally “excited” by the potential of these technologies, Dalio’s ultimate concern rests on “human nature”. He questions whether people can “rise above this” to prioritize the “collective good” and foster “win-win relationships,” or if greed and power hunger will prevail, exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions.
Not all market watchers see a crazy boom as such a good thing. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Alman himself has said it resembles a “bubble” in some respects. Goldman Sachs has calculated that a bubble popping could wipe out up to 20% of the S&P 500’s valuation. And some long-time critics of the current AI landscape, such as Gary Marcus, disagree with Dalio entirely, arguing that the bubble is due to pop because the AI technology currently on the market is too error-prone to be relied upon, and therefore can’t be scaled away. Stanford computer science professor Jure Leskovec told Fortune that AI is a powerful but imperfect tool and it’s boosting “human expertise” in his classroom, including the hand-written and hand-graded exams that he’s using to really test his students’ knowledge.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.
Instagram changed the game. The platform no longer rewards spray and pray posting or lazy hashtag stacks. Today, discovery runs on intent signals, content quality, originality, watch time, and the social graph of sharing. If you bought followers, you already felt the hangover. Reach collapsed. Engagement flatlined. Trust eroded.
The good news is that the rules are finally fairer for creators who earn attention with original content and meaningful interactions. Instagram openly explains that it uses a set of ranking systems and signals across Feed, Stories, Reels, and Explore that prioritise relevance, interactions, and how likely someone is to enjoy and share your post.
Original beats recycled. Real beats fake. Shares and saves tell the system this post matters. Captions with natural language keywords help search and recommendations understand what your content is about. Hashtags are labels, not magic. Your path is simple but not easy. Create for humans, signal clearly to the system, and build a community that talks back and shares your work. That is how to get momentum again. That is how to get organic Instagram followers with speed and integrity. How to get organic Instagram followers starts with understanding the rules.
1. Understand the ranking system so you can work with it
Instagram is not a single algorithm. It is a collection of AI ranking systems tuned for each surface. Feed cares about who someone interacts with and whether they are likely to comment, save, or share. Reels cares about watch time, completion, replays, and whether people send it in direct messages.
Explore looks for signals that a post will delight someone who does not yet follow you. Your advantage lies in designing posts with these outcomes in mind. Make saves inevitable with carousels that teach something valuable. Make shares irresistible with brilliant one-liners in on-screen text. Invite comments with a question that is easy to answer but hard to ignore.
Then, publish consistently to your main Feed, as it remains central to discovery and growth. Additionally, engineers’ shareability in DMs is a significant signal. Instagram is also upgrading search and social SEO, which means your captions must carry the right keywords in natural language. How to get organic Instagram followers means designing for saves and shares, not just likes.
The end of hashtag hacks
Headlines about hashtags being over simplified a truth. Hashtags have become descriptive labels rather than a growth hack. Use a few accurate ones. Do not stuff. Focus on keyword rich captions, meaningful on screen text, and strong content fundamentals. How to get organic Instagram followers is not about chasing hashtag myths.
Photo by Walls.io
2. Commit to originality or be filtered out
Instagram now prioritises original content and reduces distribution for serial reposters. If your page relies heavily on borrowed clips, you can expect to be replaced by the original in recommendations. Smaller creators finally have a fairer shot when they publish original posts with clear value. Build your own creative signature. Film your own footage.
Add commentary that transforms a clip, and package insights in carousels that people save. The platform has publicly stated that it will provide more distribution to original work, prioritise original posts over reposts in recommendations, and even label reposted content. This is not optional. It is the new floor. How to get organic Instagram followers requires original work that the system can trust.
Practical originality tests
Ask if your post would still make sense without the source material. If not, add your research, context, or creative layer until it does. When referencing a trend, aim to publish the most insightful take in your niche within 24 hours. Avoid aggregation. The recommendation system is now built to push the original above the copy. How to get organic Instagram followers thrives on original takes delivered fast.
3. Rebuild your profile for search and discovery
Think of your profile as a search result. Your name field and bio should contain the obvious keywords your audience would type. Write captions that use natural language phrases your audience uses. Include those phrases in on-screen text for Reels. Add accurate alt text to your images for accessibility and discoverability.
Keep hashtags relevant and few. A clean profile picture, a pinned trio of best posts, and highlights that answer who you are, what you do, and what to watch first will improve conversion from profile visits to follows. How to get organic Instagram followers begins with a profile that matches your target audience’s intent.
Photo by Prateek Katyal
The caption and alt text checklist
Write the primary keyword near the start of your caption in natural language. Mirror the same idea in your on-screen text. Add descriptive alt text that states what is in the image and why it matters. Avoid keyword stuffing. It reads poorly and may reduce reach. How to get organic Instagram followers improves when captions speak human first.
4. Engineer content that people finish and share
The modern Instagram ranking systems reward completion and sharing. That means your first three seconds must hook, your middle must deliver tension and clarity, and your ending must create a reason to save or send. For Reels, open with a visual that earns the next second, use pattern breaks every two to three beats, and place your strongest line of insight right before the midpoint to keep viewers leaning in.
For carousels, slide one states the payoff, slides two to eight deliver the steps, slide nine recaps, and slide ten invites a save. Encourage sending to a friend who needs it rather than generic calls to action. When you optimise for watch time and messaging, you are speaking the language of the ranking systems. How to get organic Instagram followers is a function of finish rate and shares.
The DM share effect
Instagram has confirmed that share behaviour, especially in DMs, is a powerful indicator that content deserves distribution. Design with that in mind. Teach something useful. Make people look smart when they share your post with a friend or team. The Feed remains crucial, so publish there with intention. How to get organic Instagram followers accelerates when people send your posts privately.
5. Post where it counts and when it compounds
The main Feed remains the backbone of growth. Reels drive reach to new audiences. Carousels drive depth and save. Stories sustain relationships between. Publish at a daily rhythm you can sustain for 60 days. Once a day to Feed, three to four Stories, one Reel on alternate days, a weekly Live when you have a reason to gather. Calibrate with your own data. Look for patterns in watch time, saves, and DMs rather than obsessing over likes. Remember that the system is constantly adapting. The constant is audience delight. How to get organic Instagram followers means showing up where distribution happens.
Weekly cadence that scales
Monday teach. Tuesday case study. Wednesday opinion. Thursday collaboration. Friday community feature. Saturday behind the scenes. Sunday recap. This pattern builds habits with your audience and the ranking systems. How to get organic Instagram followers benefits from a cadence your audience can feel.
Photo by Jakob Owens
6. Stop buying followers and clean your list
Buying followers is not only pointless, but it can also breach platform rules and wider regulations when used to mislead. It drags down engagement rate, confuses the ranking systems, and damages brand trust. If you’ve ever bought followers, it’s time for a clean-up. Remove obvious fakes. Sanity check your audience geography and language. A smaller, honest base will outperform a bloated fake one. Instagram’s Terms say you cannot sell or purchase accounts or data. Regulators have also moved against deceptive follower buying at scale. Clean up and move on. How to get organic Instagram followers means earning attention, not faking it.
The reputational risk
Brands, journalists, and savvy users can spot fake audiences. Do not gamble with your credibility. Your work deserves better. How to get organic Instagram followers protects your reputation as you grow.
7. Nail your niche and your narrative
Generalists get ignored. Specialists get shared. Choose a narrow problem you solve or a single feeling you deliver. Write one sentence that defines your promise. Every post must deliver on that promise. Create recurring series with distinct names that your audience can instantly recognise. Film is in the same corner of your world, so your visual identity becomes a cue. The narrative should be straightforward. Who do you help? How do you help? Why this matters now. How to get organic Instagram followers becomes inevitable when people understand your values.
Real-world examples
Duolingo’s character-led humour makes language learning shareable. Ryanair’s cheeky voice turns aviation into social theatre. Gymshark mixes athlete moments with transformation stories that earn saves. Study how they stay on brand at speed and adapt those principles to your niche. The point is not to copy. The fact is to commit to a recognisable story engine that your audience wants to invite into their feed. How to get organic Instagram followers is easier when your story is unmistakable.
Photo by Souvik Banerjee
8. Build the community engine behind the content
Treat comments and DMs like a stage, not a chore. Reply quickly. Ask short questions that invite a second message. Use Close Friends on Stories to reward your top one hundred supporters with early looks or extra context. Run creator-to-creator collaborations that feel natural, trade value, not vanity. Use Broadcast Channels to deliver weekly announcements, helping casual followers remember why they followed you. Community actions also help ranking systems recognise you as a living conversation. How to get organic Instagram followers is really about building a community that talks back.
Collaboration that compounds
Find five creators at your level with overlapping audiences. Pitch a two-way Reel format with a clear shared payoff. Publish in the same week. Ask both communities to provide specific, easy-to-understand answers that help others. This is how you turn overlapping circles into growth.
How to get organic Instagram followers increases significantly when you establish and maintain trust.
9. Content systems that scale without burning out
Sustainable growth is a systems problem. Plan pillars, not individual posts. Record once, slice into multiple formats. A one-hour deep dive can create one Reel, one carousel, one Story set, one Live clip, and one newsletter segment. Keep a swipe file of hooks, track which ones drive saves and DMs. Reuse powerful openings with fresh middles. Use templates only when they serve the idea. If a template becomes the idea, you are invisible. How to get organic Instagram followers is a habit powered by systems.
The ten hook patterns that win
Ask a question that exposes a blind spot. Promise a result and prove it. Name a mistake and fix it. Share a before and after. Reveal a behind-the-scenes truth. Challenge a myth. Offer a checklist. Compress a process into three moves. Translate expert jargon. Tell a tiny story with a turn. Use each pattern with restraint so your audience feels surprise. How to get organic Instagram followers accelerates when you genuinely capture attention.
10. Social SEO for 2025 and beyond
Instagram keeps strengthening search and discovery. Your captions should read like a clear answer to a likely query in your niche. Include the exact phrase people might type, then expand with context and examples. Use a small set of relevant hashtags as labels. Add precise alt text. Combine on-screen text and spoken words that naturally repeat your core topic. This helps the system match your post to the right people, both inside Instagram and increasingly through external search. How to get organic Instagram followers improves when your language mirrors user intent.
Tools inside the app
Use the latest text tools and layout features in the editor to add clarity and emphasis. Clean, readable text on your first frame often increases stop rate and completion, which feeds the ranking systems the signal they crave. How to get organic Instagram followers benefits from crisp on-screen text that people can read at a glance.
1. Thirty-day action plan to reset your growth
Day 1. Rewrite your bio and name field with obvious keywords. Pin your three best posts.
Day 2. Audit your last ninety days to find your three highest savings and share rates. Make sequels.
Day 3. Draft five hooks and five carousels that answer the top five audience questions.
Day 4. Record three Reels that teach one valuable thing in under thirty seconds.
Day 5. Publish one carousel to Feed and three to four Stories. Invite replies with a one-word answer question.
Day 6. Publish one Reel with a strong opening shot and clear on-screen text.
Day 7. Review watch time, shares, and saves. Keep what worked. Cut what did not.
Day 8. Clean your follower list. Remove obvious fakes. Check audience geography.
Day 9. Launch a Broadcast Channel with a weekly Sunday note.
Day 10. Pitch a collaboration to two peers with a simple two-way idea.
Day 11. Create a carousel that addresses a common pain point in ten engaging slides.
Day 12. Publish a Reel that demonstrates a transformation in under twenty seconds.
Day 13. Reply to every comment. Send five DMs thanking new followers.
Day 14. Go Live with a mini workshop and save the replay.
Day 15. Repeat days 5 to 7 with new topics. Keep the cadence.
Day 16. Add alt text to your last six image posts.
Day 17. Create a Close Friends circle and reward your top supporters.
Day 18. Publish a controversial but constructive opinion with sources.
Day 19. Post a behind-the-scenes Story sequence with polls and questions.
Day 20. Publish a data-backed carousel. Cite sources in the caption.
Day 21. Recut your best Reel into a tighter version and publish again.
Day 22. Run a small user-generated content prompt and repost your favourites to Stories.
Day 23. Share a case study from your community.
Day 24. Publish a Reel designed for DM sharing with a clear send to a friend line.
Day 25. Post a Q&A Story and turn the best answers into a carousel.
Day 26. Collaborate on a Reel with a peer. Cross-publish.
Day 27. Publish a lengthy caption that solves a niche problem in depth.
Day 28. Audit metrics and select three formats to focus on.
Day 29. Plan next month with four weekly themes and a simple content calendar.
Day 30. Celebrate wins. Document what you learned. Repeat.
How to get organic Instagram followers becomes predictable when you run a plan like this for sixty days.
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile
12. The ethics of growth
Growth without integrity is a short story. Respect your audience and credit sources. Avoid manipulative bait. Be transparent about partnerships. Accessibility is a duty, not a decoration. If you measure success beyond numbers, you will make better posts and enjoy the process for longer. The system moves, but the principle is constant. Serve people first, and the platform follows. How to get organic Instagram followers is essentially about serving people generously.
13. Troubleshooting and recovery
If reach drops, run a diagnostic week. Post one Reel and one carousel every other day. Vary topics within your niche. Simplify your hooks. Cut intros by half. Put the payoff earlier. Ask for shares explicitly when the content is genuinely helpful. Check Account Status and Recommendations Eligibility. If you have repost heavy history, commit to original content for thirty days and watch your eligibility recover. Keep posting to Feed and engineer DM-worthy posts, as this is a strong signal. How to get organic Instagram followers after a slump is about consistency and clarity.
14. A final word from the inside
The platform has never been more merit-driven. Originality is rewarded. Small creators have a real shot when they craft posts that people finish and share. Keywords matter in captions, in on-screen text, and in the way you describe your work. Hashtags help classify, but they no longer carry you. Buy followers and you will pay twice. Play the long game and compound. The mechanics are public. The craft is personal. Take this playbook, make it yours, and build something you are proud of. How to get organic Instagram followers is a craft you can master.
The dream of effortless fame on Instagram has expired. Hashtags alone no longer unlock discovery. Fake followers sabotage trust and drain reach. The accounts thriving today are those that respect the system and respect their audience. They publish original ideas, optimise for completion and sharing, and shape profiles that search can understand. They collaborate rather than copy and they build conversations rather than chase vanity metrics.
The blueprint is clear. The ranking systems reward content that people finish, save, and send. The community rewards creators who consistently provide value. When you align with both, growth is no longer guesswork. It is the predictable result of a repeatable craft.
So if you are serious about how to get organic Instagram followers, commit to the principles outlined here. Think long term, act daily, and measure success in conversations as much as numbers. You will not only gain visibility but also build a lasting reputation.
The question is not whether you can still grow. It is whether you are ready to play the honest game. This is the only game left, and it is the one worth winning.
José Amorim This article was created exclusively for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is protected by copyright. Images are used for illustrative purposes under fair use. If you own the rights to any image and wish it to be removed, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will act promptly.
Microsoft did not publish any enforcement updates. However, Secure Boot certificates used by most Windows devices will be set to expire by Microsoft starting in June 2026. To avoid disruption, review Microsoft’s guidance and update these certificates in advance.
Each month, Readiness analyzes the newest Patch Tuesday updates and provides detailed, actionable testing guidance. This guidance is based on assessing a large app portfolio and a comprehensive analysis of the Microsoft patches and their potential impact on Windows platforms and application deployments.
This month’s updates require focused testing across network infrastructure, graphics subsystems, and authentication components. There are significant updates to core networking protocols,DirectX graphics functionality, and Bluetooth connectivity that demand immediate validation. These updates affect both client and server environments, with particular attention needed for organizations using Routing and Remote Access Services (RRAS) and those with complex Bluetooth device management requirements.
Instagram fixed a bug that caused the reach of some users’ Stories to shrink when they posted more than one Story a day, Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared on Friday. The fix addresses a common complaintshared by creators in the last year that they were disincentivized to use Stories because of how regularly using the feature impacted the number of people who actually saw their posts.
“People were complaining about getting less reach with their Stories if they posted lots of Stories in the same day,” Mosseri said in a video announcing the change. “That is not at all the intended behavior of Instagram.” Fixing the bug doesn’t mean every Story you add will be watched, but Mosseri says posting multiple Stories a day won’t negatively impact the reach of your Stories overall, especially your first Story.
For anyone who primarily uses Instagram to keep up with their friends, the change might not matter all that much. But much like YouTube, Instagram is an increasingly professionalized platform where people post in the hopes of expanding their reach and earning a living off their content. That creates an interesting dynamic between Mosseri’s regular announcements and users trying to suss out the nuances of the platform’s algorithm. For every new feature, like adding of comments to Stories, there’s subtler tweaks that can totally change creators’ content strategy.
Two months before its season 51 premiere, Saturday Night Livelost multiple cast members, including one long-running star. In just one week, the cast departures shocked fans as many wondered why these comedians were leaving SNL.
Below, Hollywood Life is breaking down everything we know so far about the reasons behind the SNL cast departures and who’s leaving.
Is SNL Ending?
No, SNL is not ending before its 51st season. The new season premieres on October 4, 2025.
Which Cast Members Are Leaving SNL?
The following comedians are leaving SNL before season 51:
Heidi is the only one who has yet to publicly comment on her SNL exit. She was with the sketch comedy series for eight seasons.
Why Is the Cast Leaving SNL? Departure Reasons
Devon was the first to confirm his departure from SNL in an Instagram carousel post, which featured a screenshot from a Text Edit note. The message read, in part, “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes, it was really cool. Sometimes, it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f**ked up lil family.”
Devon labeled his note, “wait..did he quit or did he get fired?” leaving the reason behind his exit up in the air. However, Emil revealed in his own statement that he was told he would not return for season 51, implying that he and the others may have been fired.
“I won’t be returning to SNL next year,” Emil confirmed in his Instagram statement. “It was a gut punch of a call to get, but I’m so grateful for my time there.”
Michael also expressed that his release from the show was a bummer for him. He wrote in an Instagram carousel, “Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was, but so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesnt begin to cover it, but thank you. I’ll miss it all, but I’ll miss the friends I made and seeing them everyday the most.”
Despite the heartbreaking news, it’s actually normal for SNL to cycle through different comedians. After almost each season, the show hires new faces once veterans leave.
In September, Ego decided to leave SNL after seven seasons. She wrote in an Instagram statement that she left on her own accord but did not name the reason why.
Who Is in the SNL Season 51 Cast?
Only James Austin Johnson was confirmed to be returning for season 51 by Lorne Michaels, himself. The rest of the cast presumably still features the following names who were in season 50:
Croatia is renowned for its beautiful beaches and rich culture, yet the town of Makarska remains a hidden gem with few tourists. Boasting white sandy beaches, a dramatic mountain backdrop, and a rich cultural heritage, Makarska offers an ideal mix of natural beauty and historical charm.
Nestled between the shimmering Adriatic Sea and the towering Biokovo mountain range, Makarska showcases some of Croatia’s most awe-inspiring scenery. Visitors are welcomed by a stunning coastline adorned with immaculate pebble beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant Mediterranean flora. Whether you’re basking in the sun on the famous Makarska Riviera or snorkelling in the azure depths of the Adriatic, the town’s coastal allure is simply irresistible.
Beyond its natural beauty, Makarska is steeped in history and culture, with a plethora of attractions waiting to be explored.
Wander through the cobbled streets of the Old Town, where quaint cafes, historic churches, and traditional stone houses reflect the town’s rich maritime history.
The iconic St. Mark’s Cathedral is also a Renaissance architectural masterpiece that offers panoramic views of the town and sea from its bell tower.
For those seeking adventure, Makarska offers a myriad of outdoor activities to cater to every preference.
Explore the scenic trails of Biokovo Nature Park, with its rugged cliffs, dense forests and hidden caves.
Set sail to the nearby islands of Brac and Hvar, where secluded coves, medieval towns and ancient ruins are waiting to be discovered.
After a day of adventure, treat yourself to the region’s delicious cuisine, inspired by both land and sea.
Savour freshly-caught seafood dishes, hearty grilled meats, and locally-produced olive oil and wine at one of Makarska’s many waterfront restaurants or cosy tavernas.
With its unmatched natural beauty, rich history, and endless array of activities, Makarska offers a truly unforgettable travel experience for discerning adventurers.
NATO is to bolster Europe’s eastern flank, including the use of UK military resources, after Russia’s “reckless and unacceptable” violation of Polish airspace.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced operation ‘Eastern Sentry’ on Friday, involving the deployment of equipment on the border with Belarus, Russia and Ukraine to deter potential Russian aggression.
Poland shot down Russian drones which flew over the country on Wednesday, something the military alliance has portrayed as an attempt by Moscow to test NATO’s military response.
It underlines long-held concerns about the potential expansion of Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine.
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Michael Clarke: Russia looking to frighten NATO
Russia said its drones went astray because they were jammed, but European leaders believe the incursions were a deliberate provocation by Russia.
“It’s reckless and unacceptable. We can’t have Russian drones entering allied airspace,” Mr Rutte told a news conference.
Image: Mark Rutte described Russian drones entering Polish airspace as ‘reckless’. Pic: Reuters
He added that allies, including the UK, France, Germany and Denmark, have so far committed to the mission with others set to join.
In a statement, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said: “The UK is fully committed to playing our part in NATO’s Eastern Sentry following the reckless and dangerous airspace violations by Russia”. It added that the details of the UK’s contribution would be announced soon.
Ms Cooper described her trip, which included a meeting with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine.
“The UK will not stand idly by as Putin continues his barbaric invasion of Ukraine,” Ms Cooper said, noting what she said was the Russian president’s “complete disregard for sovereignty” by sending drones into NATO airspace.
Image: Yvette Cooper met Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday. Pic: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Image: Pic: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Prince Harry also made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Friday, where he met with wounded service members.
NATO already has substantial forces in eastern Europe, including thousands of troops, but the alliance did not explain how many additional forces would be involved in the new operation.
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Prince Harry’s surprise visit to Ukraine
Speaking at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters, US General Alexus Grynkewich told reporters the additional resources will enable the alliance to “plug gaps in the line” and concentrate forces wherever they’re needed while improving communications across NATO’s entire eastern flank.
NATO detailed a modest number of additional military assets – including two F-16 fighter jets and a frigate from Denmark, three Rafale fighter jets from France and four Eurofighter jets from Germany.
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Meanwhile, new measures were announced by the UK against Russia on Friday.
They included bans on 70 vessels the UK says are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that transports Russian oil in defiance of sanctions.
Some 30 individuals and companies – including Chinese and Turkey-based firms – were also sanctioned for their part in supplying Russia with electronics, chemicals, explosives and other weapons components.
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Demonstrators came to the Missouri capitol building this week to oppose the Trump-backed redistricting of congressional voting maps.
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Brian Munoz/Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio
Missouri lawmakers have answered President Trump’s call to help maintain the Republican majority in Congress by redrawing the state’s voting map for the midterm election next year. The state Senate voted 21 to 11 to pass a map that would help a Republican candidate win a seat currently held by a Democrat.
The map now goes to be signed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, who unveiled the plan last month and called it a “Missouri First” map that reflects the state’s conservative values. Opponents have vowed to block it in court or with a public referendum.
Missouri Republicans have said the redistricting is aimed at preventing Democrats from retaking the U.S. House next year. And they contend that since the state commonly elects Republicans to statewide and state legislative posts, a map with seven Republican-leaning seats and one strongly Democratic district reflects political reality. Currently, the Missouri House seats include six Republicans and two Democrats.
“We can sit here and give all the political theater that we want. The question is, are we actually representing the constituency of Missouri with our congressional delegation?” Republican State Sen. Rick Brattin, who represents Kansas City suburbs, said this week. “A seven-to-one map does that.”
Senate Democrats said the redistricting push is illegal contending, among other things, that Missouri’s constitution doesn’t authorize redrawing lines in the middle of the decade. They say it dilutes the power of Black voters around Kansas City and they criticized Republicans for succumbing to Trump’s pressure after rejecting going after Cleaver in 2022.
“We’re no longer the Show Me State,” said state Sen. Stephen Webber, of Columbia. “We’re the ‘Yes Sir State.'”
Thousands of activists protested against the plan at the capitol on Wednesday. They have vowed to block it in court or possibly by gathering signatures to put the plan up to a statewide vote. They could have about 90 days to gather the 106,000 signatures needed.
Missouri is the latest state to move to redistrict and more could come. President Trump, saying it’s vital to his agenda that Republicans keep their control in Congress, called on Texas in July to draw districts that give the GOP an edge in winning five more seats. The Legislature there approved the plan last month.
Trump has called on leaders in Missouri, Indiana and Florida to redistrict to provide more possible Republican wins.
Democratic leaders in California have countered Texas by drawing maps that would help Democrats win five more seats in that state, but the proposal is pending approval from voters in an election Nov. 4. Leaders in Illinois and Maryland have not ruled out drawing new seats to help Democrats there.
Jason Rosenbaum covers politics for St. Louis Public Radio.
