The public will be able to copy and reproduce thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 in the new year, including flirtatious flapper Betty Boop,nine additional Mickey Mouse cartoons and novels from Agatha Christie and William Faulkner.
Why it matters: Copyright violations can run up a hefty price tag — but when works enter the public domain, creatives can legally reimagine American classics.
The U.S. is undergoing its fastest religious shift in modern history, marked by a rapid increase in the religiously unaffiliated and numerous church closures nationwide.
Why it matters: The great unchurching of America comes as identity and reality are increasingly shaped by non-institutional spiritual sources — YouTube mystics, TikTok tarot, digital skeptics, folk saints and AI-generated prayer bots.
The U.S. military "launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS" in Nigeria's northwest on Christmas Day following the targeting of Christians in the West African country, President Trump announced Thursday.
The big picture: U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on X it "conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria" in Sokoto State on Thursday at the direction of the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, "and in coordination with Nigerian authorities."
Christmas doesn't end at the tree — for many, it ends at the return counter.
Why it matters: Americans return tens of billions of dollars' worth of unwanted Christmas gifts every year, turning good intentions into one of retail's biggest annual money sinks.
Last Christmas, we showed you how people would use AI in their daily lives. This year, to save you from tears, we're telling you how they're choosing not to use it.
Why it matters: AI is reshaping how people work and create, but many are making deliberate choices about when to leave it on the sidelines.
As offices go quiet between Christmas and New Year's, security teams brace for a busy stretch fending off hackers.
Why it matters: Malicious hackers are opportunistic — and what's better than targeting a company and its data when they know the defenders will be away?
