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operators Everyone Knew About the A-Team How did the Alexander brothers, now convicted of sex trafficking and sexual assault, become real-estate elites in the first place? Revisit our report from 2024. By Bridget Read and James D. Walsh
2026 midterms The Last Stand of a MAGA Party Girl Lauren Boebert bucked Trump on Epstein, got ensnared in a sex scandal, and is now fighting for her political life. podcast By Jake Lahut
first person The Year I Learned to Live Alone by Living With Everyone After spending 20 years building a home around one person, I was forced to find roommates — and, eventually, myself. podcast By Erin Chack

Intelligencer

tremendous content

Natalie Harp Taps ‘Court Jester’ of AI Slop to Cheer Trump

Bill Pulte has worn many hats. Now he’s joined Harp in feeding Trump flattering memes and polling — often on poster board — to soothe his dark moods. By Margaret Hartmann

the white house Katie Zacharia Denies Being a ‘Robot,’ Blames Media for Firing The short-lived press secretary is still spinning for President Trump. By Bess Levin
poll position Final Pre-Midterms Polls Show Depth of Trump Slump There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Outside Trump’s MAGA base, he’s more unpopular than he’s ever been at the worst possible time for his party. By Ed Kilgore
bubble? How Can Sports Teams Possibly Be Worth This Much? They aren’t good businesses. They don’t make much money. And yet, American franchise valuations keep growing and growing. By Gary Sernovitz
roundup The Cheesecake Factory War Continues: All the Absurd Updates Obama launched several new jokes targeting Trump’s response, prompting retaliation by MAGA culture warriors. When will this madness end? By Chas Danner

the system
The Abandoned Florida Project Angie Nixon is showing national Democrats how to compete in a state they gave up on. By Zak Cheney-Rice

2026 midterms Senate Control Could Hinge on Alaska’s Weird Politics The state’s unique voting system, plus a late-breaking scandal over Democratic sponsorship of a fake candidate, could haunt the midterm results. By Ed Kilgore

2026 midterms Seriously, South Carolina Could Elect a Democratic Senator A new high-quality survey shows Democrat Annie Andrews and Republican Darline Graham dead even in this red state despite Trump’s rescue effort. By Ed Kilgore

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The Cut

cut covers

Jennifer Lawrence Hopes You Won’t Hate Her New Project

The A-list actor is getting into the celebrity-beauty game. Just hear her out. podcast By Angelina Chapin

advice ‘How Do I Stop Being a Control Freak on Vacation?’ Plan to relax. Also, to have one fight.
ooh shiny! ‘I’m Addicted to Buying Loose Diamonds on TikTok’ Are you dropping thousands of dollars on lab-grown gems while doomscrolling in bed, too?
former child stars Unpacking the Gosselin Family Abuse Allegations Collin Gosselin’s new memoir brings nearly two decades of tension back into the spotlight.

bag envy Rosalía’s Bag Takes Rosalía for a Walk And yes, it’s big enough to fit a body. By Sam Reed
prime day Our Senior Shopping Editor’s Fashion Essentials Are on Sale The best fashion-basics deals from Madewell, Gap, and Free People. By Hanna Flanagan
women’s basketball Everyone Skipped Work for the WNBA Finals The midday tip-off didn’t stop Usher, T-Pain, and a sold-out arena from cheering for the Dream. By Brooke LaMantia

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Vulture

theater review

A Few Good Men Invokes an Honor Code That No Longer Exists

Instead of making Aaron Sorkin’s 1989 play freshly relevant, real life has leached away its power. By Sara Holdren

SNL’s Opera Man Sings What We’re All Thinking About the End of Game of Thrones

playing dress up Celebrities Are Leaning Into Controversy This Halloween North West as Natalie Nunn, Natalie Nunn as North West, and more. By Isabella Albaig and Bethy Squires
tributes Ian McKellen Says Patrick Stewart ‘Wore His Heart on His Sleeve’ Stewart’s life long friend worried he was going to get “lost in Hollywood.” By Alejandra Gularte
i knowwwww Selena Gomez Is Proud She ‘Got Some Blue Going On’ What else would you wear to the Teen Vogue party? By Alejandra Gularte
tributes Hollywood Remembers Their Favorite Shakespeare Royal, Patrick Stewart Stewart died at the age of 86. By Alejandra Gularte

bad idea worth considering
Heidi Klum Should Be Something Normal for Halloween What about a ghost? By Tom Smyth

chat room
Love Is Blind’s Michaella Tried to Leave With Rob By Zoe Papelis

TV Recap

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Cupertino
S1/E4: The Split
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War
S1/E5: Stars — They’re Just Like Us
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The Real Housewives of Orange County
S20/E17: The Sky Top’s the Limit
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The Traitors New Blood
S1/E8: The Game Finally Moves Forward
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The Lowdown
S2/E4: Never Split Up

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The Strategist

electronics The Best Gaming Monitors, According to the Experts We asked the experts about the best 4K, ultrawide, and HD displays for every gamer. By David Murphy
hair tools I’ve Ditched All My Other Hairbrushes for This Tangle Teezer I’ve had countless drugstore brushes before, but they never performed like this one. By Arielle Avila
home An Eames Coat Hanger, Clearance Sofas, and More Tasteful Home Goods on Sale Plus a very early Black Friday sale on a shell-shaped sconce. By Erin Schwartz
holiday decor A Tree Skirt for Every Kind of Tree Free yourself from an unsightly tree stand. By Ambar Pardilla
saw something said something We Tracked Down Nathan Fielder’s Laptop Harness From The Rehearsal Turns out it’s a popular back-saving product among ER nurses, census workers, and Wi-Fi surveyors. By Katherine Gillespie

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Curbed

noticings

No, the Broker Doesn’t Come With the Apartment

Real-estate agents are posing in listing photos, promoting themselves along with the units. By Matthew Sedacca

state of the market The Latest Status Marker Is a 4-Bedroom Apartment And new luxury condos are loaded with them. By Matthew Sedacca
openings New Yorkers Now Have a Place to Elope, Vegas Style The ceiling is shiny, the organ is pink, and the officiants have included a goth Elvis and John Waters. By Adriane Quinlan
operators Everyone Knew About the A-Team How did the Alexander brothers become real-estate elites while raping or assaulting more than a dozen women? By Bridget Read and James D. Walsh

operators Alexander Brothers Are Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison Tal and Oren Alexander, former real-estate elites, along with their brother Alon still face at least 30 civil lawsuits and a case in Florida. By Kim Velsey
street fights Chinatown Residents Sue to Stop Manhattan Jail’s Late-Night Construction A Manhattan judge issued a surprisingly quick ruling that temporarily halts work after 6 p.m. By Matthew Sedacca
on set The Odd Luxury Rentals of You Can See Everything What we know about the dated, weatherworn homes where Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans hid from paparazzi before she reported to prison. By Adriane Quinlan

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Grub Street

trends

Why So Many New Restaurants Are Really Old Restaurants

New York restaurateurs are increasingly drawn to the idea of remaking old spaces into the best version of their former selves.

guides 5 Things to Eat (and Drink) This Weekend Ube coladas, pie flights, banana croissants, and more. By Oset Babür-Winter
restaurant review Good Time Country Buffet Is the Hottest Hot Bar How did an all-you-can-eat buffet become the buzziest restaurant in the East Village? By Matthew Schneier
openings Here’s Your First Look at Chad Robertson’s Altbau The Tartine co-founder’s Brooklyn bakery opens this week. By Oset Babür-Winter
the grub street diet Esther Choi Is Very ‘Cheffy’ About Her Omelets “They’re insanely picture perfect. No brown, ever.” By Adam Reiner

where to eat
The 43 Best Restaurants in New York Our critic has been deliberating, debating, and eating all over town to assemble his revamped survey. By Matthew Schneier

convenience All of Our Restaurant Recommendations, Mapped The best restaurants, the best new restaurants, and the best affordable restaurants — together in one spot! By Grub Street