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Employees in the programs will be placed on paid administrative leave. Agencies have the next few days to submit reports on how they are complying with the orders, including plans to fire them.

(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 22.

Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections: Sports Edition No. 121 for Jan. 22

Oclean X Ultra S: Two-minute review

I'd been reading about Oclean’s toothbrushes for a while and was impressed at how popular the brand had become in some markets in a short period of time. We already consider the Oclean X Pro to be one of the best electric toothbrushes, so I was rather excited when, in November 2024, the Oclean X Ultra S finally arrived in Australia, where I am based, after being released in the US in April 2024.

The Oclean X Ultra S is a sonic electric toothbrush that boasts some seriously smart features, including leverage bone-conduction technology to provide verbal feedback in real time to help you brush correctly. I’ve been using it since its Australian release late last year and there’s hardly been a day when I haven’t been scolded for doing something wrong.

What I mean by ‘scolded’ is that the voice alerts sound like a 4- or 5-year-old child telling you off. You’ll hear feedback like “over pressure” suddenly pipe up in your ear or, as has happened to me a few times, “hold the brush at a 45º angle”. I mean, you can’t exactly measure that angle while you’re brushing, can you? While I didn’t get scolded for brushing too quickly, there is a prompt for that too. The most common verbal feedback from the X Ultra S is to “switch area” every 30 seconds.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Despite sounding like a petulant child sometimes, I think the verbal feedback is helpful as I found it improved my brushing habits over time, although understanding what the voice is telling you to do isn’t always clear. It took me a couple of times to realize I was being told to hold the brush a certain way (at a 45º angle), and even the “switch area” prompt can occasionally sound a little incoherent over the brush’s buzzing. I would have preferred the voice prompts to be a touch clearer, but I’m really glad it’s not loud.

If you happen to live in a crowded house (or are traveling), people around you will barely know you’re being told off for not brushing particularly well. A few weeks after I began testing the Oclean X Ultra S, I traveled overseas for a 4-week family holiday and no one heard a thing when standing about two feet away from me. In fact, as a sonic toothbrush, the X Ultra S isn’t loud – the motor, despite delivering up to 84,000 movements per minute, doesn’t buzz above 45dB. To put that into perspective, that’s about how loud a library would get.

Brushing data is available in (gory) detail within the Oclean Care+ smartphone app. The toothbrush tracks 8 zones by dividing the oral cavity into 4 areas and counting the inner and outer sides of your pearly whites separately. It doesn’t, however, track the biting surfaces of your molars and premolars. Not only are you presented with a clover-shaped diagram to indicate your brushing score, number of times you’ve brushed that day and for how long, but a 3D movable denture diagram shows you how well you’ve done each session. You are also provided with information on how much excessive pressure you might have used or if there was any lateral movement.

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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

In fact, some of this information will be displayed on the bright color touchscreen on the brush itself, including the clover. This display comes on automatically as soon as you pick up the brush from its charging base or travel case, displaying a default mode based on the time of day – Sunrise Soothing in the morning or Sunset Clearout at night. A total of 6 modes are saved on the brush, including the so-called Exclusive Mode that you can select on the app from a choice of 14 (yes, there are a lot of brushing modes here!). You can even set up your own custom brushing mode if you want via the app and have it saved on the brush. Swiping downward on the side of the touchscreen will let you cycle through the 6 saved options.

The Oclean X Ultra S connects to the app via both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with a remarkably easy setup. While traveling, the brush can save up to 7 days of cleaning data, then transfer this information to the app when it’s back within the original Wi-Fi network. I was away for a total of 3.5 weeks on an overseas trip during my testing period and, sadly, wasn’t able to transfer the early brushing data to the app, but the last week of travel is visible on the app. Incidentally, this information can also be sent to the Apple Health app if you happen to be an iPhone user.

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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

While it comes with a small, round charging base that also doubles as its stand, there’s even a magnetic wall mount with a double-sided adhesive pad on it. Oclean says there’s wireless charging capabilities here but that didn’t work for me and, to be absolutely honest, I didn’t miss the feature at all – it seems rather superfluous to me when it has an impressive battery life of up to 40 days.

Admittedly, this remarkably long battery life will only be possible if you are brushing twice a day for just the recommended 2-minute session each, although I think the Oclean X Ultra S is capable of going longer. At the end of my 26-day overseas trip, the X Ultra S dropped down to 40% battery from a full charge, and that’s using the Unlimited Clean mode that let me brush for over two minutes each time (my average was 4 minutes). There are other brushes that offer similar battery life too, but I am yet to see a travel case that can charge the brush while you’re away.

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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

While it does seem to be relatively fragile compared to some of the travel cases that ship with say, Philips Sonicare and Oral-B electric toothbrushes, the Oclean X Ultra S has a case that looks premium and well made. Importantly, it has a USB-C port that can actually top up the toothbrush – something you’d be hard pressed to find with other popular brands. The case also stores two brush heads.

The X Ultra S comes with three replaceable brush heads in the box, each one catering to a different type of clean, like gum sensitivity or whitening. They look like any other sonic brush head, and the design of the brush itself isn’t anything remarkable. However, the color touchscreen is bright and looks rather smart when it's lit up. It’s capable of displaying festive greetings and showing you the weather. Even the light around the bottom of the brush, which goes from white to red when you’ve exerted too much pressure, adds to the brush’s aesthetic.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

All in all, the Oclean X Ultra S is one of the best electric toothbrushes I’ve used – available in Sage Green and Black colorways, it cleans really well in various modes and is arguably the smartest electric toothbrush yet. Perhaps a little too smart, because my only (tiny) issue with the brush is how the verbal feedback sounds – like a child scolding you. Other than that, this is a toothbrush you could definitely… well, sink your teeth into, but maybe consider buying it when it's discounted.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Oclean X Ultra S review: price & availability

• Announced at CES (January) 2024; released April 2024 in the US
• Available to buy now in the US and Australia; unavailable in the UK
• List price of $129.99 / AU$449.95

As mentioned earlier in this review, the Oclean X Ultra S made its debut in January 2024 at the CES tech trade show and quickly made headlines as the only talking electric toothbrush. It was subsequently released in the US in April 2024, then made its way to Australia in November 2024. While it officially hasn’t been released in the UK, it may be possible to find it on Amazon but being shipped and sold by third-party resellers.

The Oclean X Ultra S will set you back $129.99 in the US and a whopping AU$449.95 in Australia, which is a much higher pricepoint as compared to other markets, even taking taxes into consideration. However, the X Ultra S can be had for half its Aussie price during major sales (which it was during Black Friday 2024, just days after its release Down Under).

If you’re in the UK, I’ve seen it listed online from anywhere between £93 and £219.99 at third-party retailers. UK customers who would love to try an Oclean brush can opt for the X Pro Elite instead, which has a list price starting from £69.90.

Given its various smart features and its build quality, I think the Oclean X Ultra S is absolutely worth considering if you’d like to stop using a manual brush or are keen to upgrade to a new electric one. Just keep in mind that it might take you a while to get used to the verbal prompts – if you can be patient, you’ll definitely see an improvement in your brushing habits.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Oclean X Ultra S review: specs Oclean X Ultra S: score card Should I buy the Oclean X Ultra S? Buy it if...

You want the smartest electric toothbrush on the market

With its real-time voice prompts and feedback, plus a very detailed brushing report at the end of each session, the Oclean X Ultra S was designed to ensure you develop better oral hygiene.

You wear braces or have specific dental issues

Not only are there several brushing modes available via the app to cater to different needs, including one for people who wear braces, it also allows you to set up your own custom mode that would be best suited to you.

You travel a lot

Given its rather impressive battery life and the fact that the brush can be charged via its charging case using any USB-C cable, it’s a good one to take with you on the go.

Don't buy it if...

You want simplicity in your brushing routine

While its features can help improve oral hygiene, it’s also overkill for many users. If you don’t need all its bells and whistles, you can opt for a simpler electric toothbrush.

You prefer an oscillating electric toothbrush

While sonic toothbrushes like the Oclean are good for people with sensitive teeth and gums, some people might require the circular motion of an oscillating brush instead. In which case, you’ll need to opt for an Oral-B.

You don’t want to use an app

There’s no getting away from the Oclean Care+ app here – you’ll need it even to set up the brush and choose your preferred modes. If you don’t care for app dependency, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Also consider

If you aren’t sold on the Oclean X Ultra S or are looking for something different, below are a couple of options to consider – one is an oscillating toothbrush while the other is a sonic alternative.

Oral-B iO Series 6

If you want the power of rotating brush heads, Oral-B is the go-to brand and the iO Series 6 is a fantastic option that is frequently discounted, so you won’t need to shell out a lot of money for it. There are 7 brushing modes, a timer, pressure detection sensor and a basic travel case. Importantly, it’s easy to source the brush heads.

Read our in-depth Oral-B iO Series 6 review

Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige

Coming close to what the Oclean X Ultra S can offer – sans the voice prompts, although you still get real-time feedback via the app. It’s a beautiful-looking brush, with a very quiet motor, but gets you only 5 brushing modes. You will, however, be rather dependent on the app to make adjustments to the modes and brushing intensity settings.

Read our full Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige review

How I tested the Oclean X Ultra S

• Used for two months daily, twice a day
• Testing period included a 26-day overseas trip without the charging base
• Tried different brushing modes and brush heads

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I swapped out my Oral-B oscillating toothbrush for the Oclean X Ultra S in November 2024, soon after its release to the Australian market (I am Sydney-based). I’ve used it twice a day since (and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future), trying out different brushing modes already available in the app and trying to set up my own custom mode. It took me a few sessions to realize that the maximum voice feedback comes via the Exclusive Modes and, for me, that was what helped improve my brushing habits over time.

A planned overseas holiday about three weeks after I began testing the Oclean X Ultra S was an excellent chance to test its claimed battery life. I didn’t carry its charging stand and, although I knew I could use the travel case with any USB-C cable to top up the brush, I didn’t have the need to.

I’ve been using different electric toothbrushes over the years – both sonic and oscillating – and have used this knowledge to rate the Oclean X Ultra S.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed January 2025]

• Apple Intelligence has been opt in since it debuted in Oct. 2024, but the next iOS will automatically turn it on.
• The change is set to rollout with iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3
• Anyone can still turn it off in Settings, if you like.

Whether you’ve been waiting for Genmoji, Image Playground, or Notification Summaries – and the ability to turn these on or off on a per-app basis – the next version of iOS and macOS for your Apple Intelligence capable iPhone or Mac will toss you right into the deep end.

As spotted by 9to5Mac in the latest developers' betas of iOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, the latest version of the operating system will automatically enable Apple Intelligence.

This means that if you have an iPhone, Mac, or iPad that can run Apple’s suite of AI features, it’ll be turned on by default…so if you want to opt-out, you’ll need to hop into settings and turn it off.

It won’t be too much of a surprise that Apple Intelligence will be enabled, though, as the onboarding you'll see after you update the device will likely make it clear that it’s being turned on and what you’ll get.

Apple Intelligence currently offers an enhanced Siri – though not the entirely generational leap that is still promised to arrive later in 2025 – writing tools, integration with ChatGPT, Image Playground, Clean Up in Photos, custom Memories in Photos, and Genmoji, among others.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Apple writes in the release notes for the latest beta of iOS 18.3, “For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device.”

This change to auto-enable the AI suite of features out of the box comes after Apple Intelligence has been out since October 28, 2024, with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1—many of the features are still labeled as beta even in the latest versions of software for testing and Apple encourages folks to share feedback.

iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, which all dropped release candidate versions of the developer beta today, don’t introduce any of the already announced and very anticipated Apple Intelligence features. It’s more focused on bug squashing and offering more control around the criticized Notifications Summaries feature.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

With the latest edition of software, summaries for ‘News and Entertainment apps’ are turned off by default, you can turn the feature off on a per app basis, and these will be presented in italics to better make you aware that it’s in beta.

Considering Apple has rolled out the release candidate of the developer betas of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, the public beta equivalent of these will likely roll out next, followed by a full release for all eligible devices at some point in the near future.

And if you haven’t yet turned on Apple Intelligence, know that iOS 18.3 and its macOS and iPadOS equivalents will do so; just promise me you’ll have fun making Genmojis.

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• Apple Intelligence’s Notification summary controversy is a reminder that AI will improve with time, and I'm not giving up on it
• We asked Apple about how to get the most of its Sports app for the iPhone, and how it updates so fast
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Ulbricht operated the anonymous digital marketplace known as Silk Road when law enforcement arrested him. The pardon fulfills a campaign pledge Trump made to Ulbricht's Libertarian supporters.

(Image credit: Jim Watson)

Hegseth was voted out of committee Monday along party lines. The Senate is expected to take up his nomination soon; it is unclear how these new allegations will alter the trajectory of his nomination.

(Image credit: Jabin Botsford)

The option allows you to stream Netflix with commercials for $1 less than the Standard with Ads plan.

The Department of Justice will seek the death penalty for capital crimes "committed by an alien illegally present in this country." Lawyers say the order could be difficult to enforce.

(Image credit: Chuck Robinson)

Trump said those prosecuted for the attack on the U.S. Capitol had served long enough, and he sought to shift criticism to a set of preemptive pardons issued by former President Joe Biden.

(Image credit: Jim Watson)

• President Trump has signaled his intent to reverse Biden’s EV policies
• Trump declared a "national energy emergency"
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure spend will be paused

While the 47th US President's inauguration was arguably overshadowed by the number of tech bros and questionable world leaders who were invited, Donald Trump didn’t waste any time getting to work. As soon as he entered the White House, he signed a raft of executive orders.

In fact, President Trump told a massive crowd that was packed into an arena in Washington DC that he would revoke "80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration".

"The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity," he said to roaring applause.

Some of this would involve undoing work the previous Biden administration had carried out on protecting the environment, promoting the use of electric vehicles, and preventing further drilling for oil.

Whichever way you cut it, the new president appears to be coming down hard on electric vehicles and the infrastructure surrounding them. Here are the five ways these early executive orders could impact the future of EVs in the US.

EVs will likely become even more expensive

(Image credit: Myriam Joire)

Although he falsely labeled a number of Biden’s EV-friendly policies as a "mandate" (no such EV mandate exists in the US as it does in Europe), President Trump is keen to eliminate "unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies," according to Whitehouse.gov.

Read between the lines, and it looks highly likely that federal tax credits for purchasing new electric vehicles will be reduced or removed entirely.

Trump's executive orders will also slacken tailpipe emissions and promote fresh drilling projects for oil, which all point towards gasoline cars remaining the most affordable vehicles to buy and run in the near future.

It will become harder to publicly charge your EV

(Image credit: Nyobolt)

Inertia in an industry as gargantuan as the automotive space is difficult to slow, and the years of incentives for new electric vehicle customers in North America will see more EVs hitting the streets in the coming months and years.

In 2024, US customers purchased 1.3 million EVs - an increase of 7.3% on the previous year, according to Cox Automotive.

This is all well and good, so long as the charging infrastructure continues to grow to support the increase in the number of customers looking to charge, but Trump’s executive order seems to do just the opposite.

All funds for electric vehicle charging stations made available through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program are set to be paused while Trump’s administration reviews their "processes, policies, and programs for issuing grants, loans, contracts, or any other financial disbursements."

A pause in funds will lead to a pause in the rollout of new public EV charging stations and the potential scrapping of large-scale public projects, meaning charging infrastructure will be left to individuals in the form of home charging point installation.

Consumer choice will be restricted

(Image credit: Ford)

The Biden administration has already denied the US public the freedom to buy more affordable electric vehicles manufactured in China by initially slapping massive trade tariffs on them and then effectively banning them altogether under the pretense of national security.

It is still unsure whether President Trump will uphold these policies, but he has already threatened a 25% trade tariff on Mexico and Canada, close neighbors of the US and two important regions for electric vehicle manufacture and export.

General Motors, Ford, the Volkswagen Group, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz all produce cars in Mexico. At the same time, numerous automotive manufacturers and battery makers have earmarked huge sums for new vehicle and battery plants in Canada.

Many of these promises have recently been revoked, with the slow uptake of electric vehicles in Canada and North America to blame. However, Trump’s proposed 25% tariff has the potential to devastate Canada’s burgeoning automotive industry.

According to Maclean’s Canada, nearly 90 percent of vehicles made there are exported to the US, and more than 60 percent of auto parts made in Canada are shipped to US assembly plants.

It won’t take much for some of the world’s largest automakers to stop delivering electric vehicles to the North American market. This means consumer choice will be limited to the select few models that remain profitable for their manufacturers.

EVs will struggle to charge using clean energy

The holy grail of EV ownership is the ability to top up a vehicle’s battery cheaply and from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy, as this doesn’t require the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity and, therefore, drastically reduces the carbon footprint.

President Trump’s national energy emergency declaration has his administration temporarily withdrawing areas on the outer continental shelf from offshore wind leasing, citing the potential threat to marine life as a reason.

"We’re not going to do the wind thing," Trump said at the rally, according to The Verge, instead shifting his focus on increased gas and oil drilling.

The Unleashing American Energy Act will also review any policies that could stand in the way of drilling operations, including hydropower and biofuels.

Innovation will slow and China will continue to race ahead

(Image credit: BYD)

Although many of President Trump’s executive orders will directly impact potential EV customers in North America, they will also have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.

The mere act of pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, alongside Iran, Libya, and Yemen, means the US is no longer committed to slowing the devastating effects of climate change and will effectively allow the nation to pollute with gay abandon.

But more than this, vilifying the electric vehicle makes it a less attractive option for US-based automakers, meaning their willingness to innovate in this area is stymied by the desire to make quick profits - largely by selling the same gasoline and diesel vehicles they have done for decades.

Many legacy automakers are already lagging a long way behind Chinese rivals when it comes to EV technology. Still, this chasm is surely only going to get wider if one of the world’s superpowers turns its back on electrification.

You might also like

• BYD made more EVs than Tesla for the first time last year – proving that the world wants affordable electric options
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Lenovo Legion Go S: Two-minute review

In our 2023 review of the Lenovo Legion Go, we described it as a "PC handheld built for PC gamers." Its stunning 8.8-inch QHD+ display with a 144Hz refresh rate, combined with AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU and RDNA 3 graphics, delivered exceptional gaming performance. At CES 2025, Lenovo introduced the smaller-profile Lenovo Legion Go S, shaking up the design of its original Legion Go handheld while introducing the one feature that so many PC gaming handheld fans have been clamoring for: SteamOS.

The new Legion Go S begins with the stunning 8-inch WQXGA LCD display, boasting a 1920 x 1200p resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and VVR support. While the controller layout remains mostly unchanged, this version opts for a non-detachable design, a few missing buttons under the left D-pad, and features a smaller touchpad.

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(Image credit: Future)

Additional highlights include two USB4 ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD slot. The Legion Go S is also available in two color options, which vary based on the operating system buyers select. Both come packed with either AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme or Ryzen Z2 Go, which was co-developed alongside Lenovo as a Legion Go S-exclusive.

(Image credit: Future)

The Nebula Violet version comes packed in with SteamOS, making the Legion Go S the world’s first officially licensed PC gaming handheld powered by Valve’s popular operating system, first featured on the Steam Deck.

(Image credit: Future)

During my time with the handheld at CES, I tried a few games on it, including Portal 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. Outside of having some pretty fantastic performance for less graphically intensive games, SteamOS worked incredibly well during my time with it.

(Image credit: Future)

Playing around with the menu and selecting games felt as snappy as the Steam Deck, if not better, considering the newer hardware inside. Pushing various buttons and triggers felt as good as the bigger Lenovo Legion Go as well.

(Image credit: Future)

Many have complained about Microsoft’s lack of care for the rising handheld gaming PC market. Though the SteamOS version felt like an evolved Steam Deck, the Windows 11 version didn’t provide that same feeling on the Glacier White version of the Legion Go S.

The first game I tried on that model was Forza Horizon 5, one of the best open-world racing games available despite being a nearly five-year-old game. It ran quite well at mid-to-high settings.

There were additional games available on the handheld I tried, including Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, though the latter wouldn’t run during our hands-on with it.

Though Windows 11 does open up the opportunity to easily use Xbox Gamepass or other store launchers like Steam, Epic Store, and GOG, Microsoft’s OS continues to hold this configuration back like it does with other handhelds.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

There will be multiple price points for the Lenovo Legion Go S, based around spec configurations and the OS you choose.

The base SteamOS model will launch in May, priced at $499, and featuring the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. For $100 more, users can get one with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor alongside 1TB SSD.

The Windows 11 version featuring the Ryzen Z2 Go chip, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD drops this month for $729, with a cheaper $599 configuration with the Z2 Go, 16GB RAM, and 1TB of storage, expected to launch in May.

Lenovo Legion Go S: Specs Lenovo Legion Go S: Final thoughts

(Image credit: Future)

The Lenovo Legion Go S makes some clever strides by offering two distinct versions that cater to different gaming preferences.

So far, the SteamOS version stands out as a seamless and polished handheld experience, integrating with Valve’s Steam platform to deliver smooth performance, responsive controls, and an intuitive interface. The Legion Go S truly feels like a refined evolution of the aging Steam Deck.

Meanwhile, the Windows 11 model provides flexibility for broader gaming options, but struggles with the same software limitations seen in other Windows-based handhelds, like difficult menu navigation, inconsistent touchscreen responses, and more.

Considering the Windows 11 version is coming out the gate first, it’ll be interesting to see how far it can be pushed with some of the more graphically demanding games currently on the market once we get it in hand for a proper review, but no matter which system you go with, the Lenovo Legion Go S could very well be the PC gaming handheld to beat in 2025.

Donald Trump pardoned the creator of the world’s first dark-web drug market, who is now a libertarian cause célèbre in some parts of the crypto community.

The exit will cut a huge chunk from the World Health Organization’s budget, but the short-term financial gain for the US could come at the cost of disease outbreaks flaring up across the world.

Policy experts say the implications of Donald Trump’s executive order for EV owners—and the EV-curious—won’t be clear for a while.

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #591) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BOXER
• DITCH
• BATTER
• LAB
• CHIN
• JUDGE
• PIT
• LAWYER
• LECTURE
• HOLE
• WIZARD
• DISCUSSION
• TRENCH
• BOTTOMS
• SEMINAR
• MONK

NYT Connections today (game #591) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• GREEN: Can you dig it?
• YELLOW:  Learning formats
• BLUE: Get cape, wear cape, work 
• PURPLE: Add the opposite of “down”

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #591) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• GREEN: RESULTS OF SOME DIGGING
• YELLOW:  TYPES OF ACADEMIC COURSES
• BLUE: ONES WEARING ROBES 
• PURPLE: ___ UP

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #591) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #591, are…

• GREEN: RESULTS OF SOME DIGGING DITCH, HOLE, PIT, TRENCH
• YELLOW:  TYPES OF ACADEMIC COURSES DISCUSSION, LAB, LECTURE, SEMINAR
• BLUE: ONES WEARING ROBES BOXER, JUDGE, MONK, WIZARD
• PURPLE: ___ UP BATTER, BOTTOMS, CHIN, LAWYER

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

As someone who spends most of their life almost exclusively in denim and fleece, the idea of having to wear a robe to do my job seems utterly bizarre – although it could add a touch of panache to my day spent sitting in front of a laptop pretending to work.

It is really odd when you consider it and who decided the ONES WEARING ROBES had to wear robes anyway? Of the quartet in today’s Connections, a robe makes most sense for a boxer, considering they are wearing so little under them. Plus, they look good with your name on the back – something JUDGE and MONK robe merchants could learn from perhaps?

Only one mistake from me today, as I momentarily thought TYPES OF ACADEMIC COURSES could include JUDGE. What a fool.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 21 January, game #590)

• YELLOW: PUTDOWN BARB, CRACK, DIG, SLIGHT
• GREEN: SMALL LIKENESS DOLL, FIGURE, MINIATURE, MODEL
• BLUE: USED TO CLEAR SNOW PLOW, SALT, SAND, SHOVEL
• PURPLE: DOCTORS IN POP CULTURE NO, OCTOPUS, PEPPER, WHO

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #325) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Pixar this

NYT Strands today (game #325) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• CONE
• DRONE
• DRAW
• MALE
• LINE
• LATE

NYT Strands today (game #325) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Perfectly drawn

NYT Strands today (game #325) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 3rd row

Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #325) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #325, are…

• BRAVE
• CARS
• SOUL
• ONWARD
• ELEMENTAL
• RATATOUILLE
• SPANGRAM: ANIMATION

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Even though I could see that this Pixar-themed puzzle included RATATOUILLE, I still had to leave it until last – and even then struggled to connect the letters in the right order. What a tricky word to spell.

Sadly, Strands didn’t include my favorite Pixar movie – WALL-E – no doubt for punctuation reasons. Same for the magnificent MONSTERS, INC.

Whenever I catch myself taking life too easy, watching soccer in a reclined position with a bag of chips on my lap, I often snap out of my drooling stupor by thinking about WALL-E and the spacecraft full of fitless humans who have forgotten how to fend for themselves. Admittedly, this is most days.

Maybe I should buy a treadmill for my sports TV viewing. It’d make it harder to eat the chips, at least.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 21 January, game #324)

• CHERRY
• BOSS
• MAJOR
• PHAT
• FRESH
• RADICAL
• TUBULAR
• SPANGRAM: DATED SLANG

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1094) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1094) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1094) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1094) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1094) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• T

• W

• E

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1094) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1094, are…

• SLANT
• TRUNK
• WOOZY
• EATEN

Very happy to check out after seven turns – especially as today featured a rare outing for the letter Z.

WOOZY was my final word and although I was impressed with myself and dusting imaginary dust from my shoulders, the truth is that, after deducing that the word had to include a double-O, there were only two choices – WOOZY or BOOZY, one of which you experience after being one of the other. For once in Quordle, I guessed the right one.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1094) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1094, are…

• DEMUR
• BEZEL
• AFOOT
• SEGUE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN
• Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN
• Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY
• Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER
• Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE
• Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT
• Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY
• Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH
• Quordle #1085, Monday 13 January: EYING, GIDDY, CHEAP, PETAL
• Quordle #1084, Sunday 12 January: BRIEF, PETAL, WOMAN, FELON
• Quordle #1083, Saturday 11 January: ASCOT, FIBER, ROGUE, SMELL
• Quordle #1082, Friday 10 January: BIGOT, INLET, LEECH, TUNIC
• Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE
• Quordle #1080, Wednesday 8 January: MINCE, SADLY, RISEN, VOUCH
• Quordle #1079, Tuesday 7 January: CREED, FILET, ROUTE, TAPER
• Quordle #1078, Monday 6 January: PIVOT, WOOLY, GRUNT, GROOM
• Quordle #1077, Sunday 5 January: BORAX, JUDGE, CADET, SALON
• Quordle #1076, Saturday 4 January: CORER, CRATE, QUASI, EXIST
• Quordle #1075, Friday 3 January: PERKY, QUARK, NAVEL, SHEEN
• Quordle #1074, Thursday 2 January: UNIFY, SWORE, DEPOT, INTRO

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In the day since he's once again become President, Trump has signed more than 200 executive actions aimed at delivering on campaign promises such as lower energy prices, mass deportations and an end to birthright citizenship.

There's been a deluge of actions, orders and pronouncements during the President's first day. From tariffs to immigration to the January 6th pardons – we breakdown everything down.

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