America the Gerontocracy

According to one poll, at least 73% of Americans agree that there should be a maximum age limit for their political leaders.

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‘Going to Be Here Until Midnight’: Trump Reportedly Rambled Non-Stop During NY Deposition

Last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James claimed the Trump Organization illegally increased their profits by hundreds of millions of dollars by exaggerating the value of their properties.

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Authorities of Spain's Tenerife Estimate Damage From Fires Amount to $87 Million

MADRID (Sputnik) - The authorities of the Spanish island of Tenerife have estimated the damage caused by the worst fire in the last 40 years at 80.4 million euros ($87 million), Spanish media reported on Thursday, citing government sources.

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Constraints on US Military Aid to Kiev Could Be ‘Decisive’ Factor in Ukraine Conflict

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Resistance in Congress, depleted stockpiles, among other constraints on US military assistance, could be decisive factors in the Ukraine conflict, with both sides committed to winning and no diplomatic path in sight, experts told Sputnik.

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Ex-NATO Military Committee Chair Kujat Warns Switzerland Against Rapprochement With Bloc

BERLIN (Sputnik) - Former NATO Military Committee Chairman and Chief of Staff of the German Armed Forces Harald Kujat on Thursday warned Switzerland against the rapprochement with NATO.

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EU Must Rethink Africa Policy After Military Takeovers in Niger, Gabon - Borrell

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The European Union must review its policy towards the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea following twin military takeovers in Niger and Gabon, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday.

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Over 200,000 People Remain Without Power After Hurricane Idalia Ravages Florida, Georgia

The storm barreled through Florida on Wednesday, splitting trees, destroying buildings, and submerging infrastructure and vehicles in heavy rains. Footage from the ground also captured sailboats being lifted by high water levels and crashing into infrastructure.

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Undercover Biden

Earlier Wednesday, reports surfaced detailing that a new batch of emails had been obtained by the America First Legal group, and that the latest findings showed just how Hunter Biden involved himself in his father's dealings from planning White House events to using his the Biden name to gain access for associates.

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North Korea Holds Tactical Nuclear Strike Drill Simulating Strikes Against South Korea

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea, in response to the US-South Korea drills, has carried out a tactical nuclear strike drill simulating nuclear strikes at the territory of South Korea, the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) said Wednesday.

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Google AI-powered search gets better at citing its sources

Today Google announced some updates to Search Generative Experiment, its AI-powered search tool. It will now include info about relevant sites in the response and is expanding access to Japan and India.

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Majority of Voters Are Skeptical of Possible Biden Impeachment - Poll

While a majority of the poll's respondents have said that a vote should occur before an impeachment inquiry begins, the House speaker may neglect those opinions.

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US OKs First-Ever Defense Aid for Taiwan Under Sovereign State Finance Program

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul applauded the Biden administration announcing aid for Taiwan that for the first time ever will come through Foreign Military Financing (FMF), a program usually reserved for sovereign states or international organizations.

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Ramaswamy Hits Back After Eminem Files Cease-And-Desist Over GOP Hopeful's Use of 'Lose Yourself'

The 38-year-old GOP 2024 hopeful recently performed Eminem’s third-best-selling song at the Iowa State Fair, during which over a million people descended on the area in order to familiarize themselves with the 2024 Republican candidates.

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Ukrainian Drone Intercepted, Crashes in Ruzsky District of Moscow Region - Defense Ministry

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Ukrainian aircraft-type drone was intercepted early Wednesday and crashed over the Ruzsky district of the Moscow region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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Rare Blue Supermoon to Appear This Week With Special Appearance From Saturn

Get your cameras ready! The next super blue moon will not occur for another 14 years.

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New Book Reveals Biden White House Did Not Foresee Chaotic Withdrawal From Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 was unforeseen by the Biden administration as late as the beginning of that month, according to a new book by author Franklin Foer.

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Google Home just massively expanded its capabilities

New triggers for automation, and new functions, massively expand the possibilities for home automation with Google Home.

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Israel Looks to Implement Laser Defense System in Next Two Years

An Israeli official has announced that, within a year, “Israel will be the first country to have partial laser protection.” The official added that in just two years, the country will have full protection.

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Expanded BRICS Should Not Become Anti-West Platform, Avoid Return to Cold War

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Despite the upcoming expansion of BRICS, the bloc should avoid strengthening the anti-US and anti-West axis to prevent more antagonistic and challenging times which would split up the world again, experts told Sputnik.

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Neil DeGrasse Tyson Rebuffs UFO Claims: US Gov't Not ‘Competent’ Enough to Keep Aliens Secret

The matter of alien life has over the last several months remained a hot-topic button in the American news cycle, even more so after a US House Oversight Committee hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena, more popularly known as UFOs.

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EU Eyes Expulsion of French Ambassador From Niger as 'Provocation' That Won't Help Crisis

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The European Union considers the Nigerien military leaders' decision to order French Ambassador Sylvain Itte out of the country a "provocation" that does not contribute to a diplomatic settlement of the crisis in Niger, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said on Monday.

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Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for August 29

New day, new Wordle! We're here for you every day with some hints and help to help you figure out the solution.

If you just want to be told today's answer, you can jump to the end of this article for August 29's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Aug. 28.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that brings you the most joy. But if you like being strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Chicken piccata and a heist movie, anyone?

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #801 is...

CAPER.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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Russian Air Defense Shoots Down Ukrainian Drone Over Belgorod Region

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian air defense system destroyed a Ukrainian aircraft-type drone over Russia’s Belgorod Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

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Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for August 28

New day, new wek, new Wordle puzzle to solve — and would you look at that? It's the 800th one. Where did the days go? It seems like only yesterday we were being confused by those green and yellow squares popping up on what used to be Twitter. Sigh. We're still here for you, as we are every day, with some tips and tricks to help you figure out the solution.

If you just want to be told today's answer, you can jump to the end of this article for August 28's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Aug. 27.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that brings you the most joy. But if you like being strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

It's closely related to how you play Wordle.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #800 is...

WRITE.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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Honduran Prosecutors Detain Mayor of Brus Laguna on Drug Trafficking Charges

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The law enforcement agencies of Honduras stopped the activities of three drug trafficking organizations as part of a special operation, the country's Public Prosecutor's Office said on Sunday, adding that among the detainees was the mayor of Brus Laguna municipality, Wilmer Manolo Wood.

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Libyan Gov’t Removes Foreign Minister From Office Due to Meeting With Israeli Minister

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Abdul Hamid Al-Dbeibeh, head of the Government of National Unity of Libya sitting in Tripoli, removed on Sunday Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush from office because of her meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Italy.

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Russia’s Air Defense Destroys 2 Ukrainian Drones Over Bryansk Region - MoD

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two Ukrainian drones were shot down by the air defense systems over the Bryansk Region on Monday night, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

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'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for August 28, 2023

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need.

What is Quordle?

Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.

Is Quordle harder than Wordle?

Yes, though not diabolically so.

Where did Quordle come from?

Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running. 

How is Quordle pronounced?

“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.”

Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?

Yes and no.

Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.

After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.

What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?

Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times. 

Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset.

Is there a way to get the answer faster?

In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:

Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”

Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.

If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints:

Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?

One word has a double letter.

Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?

No.

What do today’s Quordle words start with?

P, A, F, and F.

What are the answers for today’s Quordle?

Are you sure you want to know?

There’s still time to turn back.

OK, you asked for it. The answers are:

1. PAINT

2. ALLOY

3. FORTY

4. FIBER

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Russia’s Lavrov Predicts Stronger BRICS Standing in G20 After Expansion

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov predicts that the BRICS club of emerging economies will have a greater sway in G20 after adding new members.

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Russian Film Festival Opens in China on Sunday

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A week-long Russian Film Festival will open in China on Sunday, offering free offline screenings organized by the Russian state movie agency Roskino, with the support of the Russian Culture Ministry and the China Film Art Research Center.

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Shooting in Jacksonville, FL Leaves Three Dead

A gunman in Jacksonville, Florida killed three people on Saturday after he entered a Dollar General with a gun and body armor in a racially motivated attack, police say.

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Lebanese Army Says Israeli Military Boat Entered Lebanon’s Territorial Waters

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The Lebanese army said on Saturday that an Israeli military boat had entered the country's territorial waters near the southern Lebanese city of Naqoura.

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'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for August 27, 2023

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need.

What is Quordle?

Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.

Is Quordle harder than Wordle?

Yes, though not diabolically so.

Where did Quordle come from?

Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running. 

How is Quordle pronounced?

“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.”

Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?

Yes and no.

Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.

After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.

What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?

Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times. 

Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset.

Is there a way to get the answer faster?

In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:

Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”

Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.

If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints:

Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?

No.

Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?

No.

What do today’s Quordle words start with?

V, B, S, and S.

What are the answers for today’s Quordle?

Are you sure you want to know?

There’s still time to turn back.

OK, you asked for it. The answers are:

1. VOWEL

2. BLUNT

3. STOKE

4. SHADY

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Videos Show Blasts at Romanian Gas Station That Killed 1, Injure Dozens

CHISINAU (Sputnik) - Four explosions hit a gas station in a Bucharest suburb on Saturday night, leaving at least one person dead and dozens of others wounded, officials said.

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Former Price is Right Host Bob Barker, Dead at 99

Barker was known for his optimistic energy, quick wit and charming demeanor. He taped The Price is Right five times a week, even in his later years as his age exceeded 80.

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Georgia Must Admit Responsibility for Aggression Against S.Ossetia in 2008 - President

TSKHNIVAL (Sputnik) - Georgia must recognize its responsibility for aggression and war crimes against South Ossetia in 2008, sign an agreement on the non-use of force and demarcate state borders, South Ossetia President Alan Gagloyev told Sputnik on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Russia's recognition of the republic's independence.

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US Restrictions on China Dictated by Ensuring Dominance in Pacific - Not Trade Interests

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Recent Biden administration restrictions to impede China's advances in different domains are not dictated by its economic interests, but instead stem from an effort to maintain US dominance in the Western Pacific, experts told Sputnik.

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Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for August 26

It's Saturday, and while mugshot history dominated this week, there's another Wordle puzzle to solve. We're here for you, as we are every day, with some tips and tricks to help you figure out the solution.

If you just want to be told today's answer, you can jump to the end of this article for August 26's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Aug 25.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that brings you the most joy. But if you like being strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Sing it.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #798 is...

CHOIR.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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Indictments Against Trump Unlikely to Help Going Into General Election - Poll

Trump has been indicted four times since leaving office: In New York, for alleged falsifying of business records related to hush money payments; in Georgia, for alleged attempts to overturn the election; in Florida, for his alleged mishandling of classified documents; and in Washington, DC, for his alleged role in the Capitol riot.

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North Korea's Satellite Launch is Exercise of Right to Self Defense - Envoy

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - North Korea is exercising its right to self-defense with its latest satellite launch attempt earlier this week, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song said on Friday.

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'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for August 26, 2023

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need.

What is Quordle?

Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.

Is Quordle harder than Wordle?

Yes, though not diabolically so.

Where did Quordle come from?

Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running. 

How is Quordle pronounced?

“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.”

Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?

Yes and no.

Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.

After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.

What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?

Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times. 

Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset.

Is there a way to get the answer faster?

In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:

Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”

Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.

If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints:

Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?

One word has a twice-occurring letter.

Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?

No.

What do today’s Quordle words start with?

L, S, B, and B.

What are the answers for today’s Quordle?

Are you sure you want to know?

There’s still time to turn back.

OK, you asked for it. The answers are:

1. LEASH

2. SMEAR

3. BASAL

4. BRIEF

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Russian Air Defenses Down 42 Drones Dispatched by Ukraine Near Crimea

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia was attacked early Friday by 42 Ukrainian drones, 33 of them were suppressed by electronic warfare systems, and nine were shot down by air defenses, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

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Behold, Trump's mugshot is here

He's scowling. His iconic hairdo is well-coiffed. And he's under arrest. Former President Donald Trump actually had his mugshot taken and, of course, it is already all over the internet. '

Tweet may have been deleted

Trump has been indicted four times now, but the mugshot came from the case in Georgia where he is accused of attempting to overturn the state's results in the 2020 presidential election. Other officials involved with the other cases declined to put the Republican frontrunner through the typical rigamarole people face when arrested — e.g. have their mugshot taken.

Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said in the lead-up to Trump turning himself that the president would be afforded no such special privileges this go round.

"Unless someone tells me differently, we are following our normal practices," Labat said, via NPR. "And so it doesn't matter your status. We'll have mug shots ready for you."

Still, when Trump turned himself in on Thursday it was unclear if the mugshot would actually happen. People of all political persuasions awaited it eagerly, so much so that it was trending on X (FKA Twitter). Now that it's here, it feels like a safe bet it'll grace merch for both haters and supporters of Trump.

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Trump Booked, Released From Fulton County Jail Over Georgia Election Interference Case

ATLANTA (Sputnik) - Former US President Donald Trump was officially booked into Fulton County Jail late Thursday on 13 charges related to his alleged role in an election meddling scheme in the state of Georgia, jail records revealed.

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No, Tucker Carlson's Trump interview doesn't have 230 million video views on X

On Wednesday night, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson interviewed former president Donald Trump on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Now, Trump and his supporters are claiming that Carlson's video has received hundreds of millions of views on Elon Musk's social media site. That's not the case.

"The Tucker Carlson Interview with me was a BLOCKBUSTER. Could hit 200,000,000 Views, and more!" Donald Trump posted on his social networking platform, Truth Social, on Thursday morning.

Trump later claimed that, at 230 million views, the Carlson video was now: "The Biggest Video on Social Media, EVER, more than double the Super Bowl!" (For context, the 2023 Super Bowl was watched by more than 115 million viewers.)

On Carlson's interview post on X, the views metric displayed 236 million views, as of the time of publishing, since it went live 21 hours ago.

However, the metric on X is not how many views Carlson's video actually received.

Mashable can report that, as of the publication of this article on Thursday evening, Carlson's Trump interview has received 14.8 million video views on X. 

On X, it's not entirely clear to most users what the views metric refers to — many people believe, falsely, that the video of Carlson's Trump interview received 220 million views more than it actually received.

A Mashable screenshot showing the actual video view count for Tucker Carlson's Trump interview, as seen on an older version of the Twitter app. This metric is no longer public on X. Credit: Mashable Screenshot

Why the discrepancy?

The views metric currently shown on X, displayed simply as "views," are tweet views. 

This number shows how many impressions a tweet receives. An impression is counted when a user actively goes to the tweet page or when a tweet appears in a user's timeline after being retweeted by another user. Views are also counted when a tweet shows up on a user's timeline via the recommendation algorithm. As such, a single user can be counted multiple times in the view count.

On the other hand, video views, which are no longer publicly displayed on X, count the number of times a piece of media content is played on the platform —although there are a few addendums to this metric. A video view on X is counted if the media plays for two or more seconds. And, if a user attempts to scroll past a video, but more than 50 percent of the player is still visible on the screen for that time frame, a video view is still counted. Autoplays are counted as well. 

To break down what this means for Tucker Carlson's Trump interview: The video itself was actually played only 14.8 million times, for at least two seconds of the more than 46-minute interview — or just over six percent of the total 236 million times someone saw the post on X.

As Mashable previously reported, under Musk, Twitter began removing the public video view count in May. The move came months after Musk added a "views" count metric to users' tweets. For a time, tweets displayed both metrics, which led to confusion about how many views a video actually received. Users often used the higher, albeit inaccurate, tweet view number to make their content seem more popular. Twitter then decided to quietly remove the smaller, albeit more accurate, number from public display. The company never announced the removal of the metric or gave an official reason as to why it was removed.

However, some older Android versions of the Twitter app continue to display the public video view metrics on X. Mashable has access to such a version of the app and was able to pull this data from it.

How does Trump's interview stack up on X?

Tucker Carlson made headline news when he launched a new show on Musk's platform shortly after his sudden departure from Fox News in April. However, the show, Tucker Carlson on X, was seeing a continuous decline in views episode after episode for months before bringing on some big guests over the summer.

For example, in July, Carlson brought on controversial right-wing influencer Andrew Tate for an episode. As of publication, that video has 17.9 million views on X. It has 107 million tweet views, or impressions. 

This means that, with less than half the impressions Carlson's Trump interview has received so far, his Tate interview has garnered over 3 million more video views. Carlson's show on X routinely showed impressions of around five to six times more than the actual video views per episode. However, for Carlson's Trump interview, the ratio of impressions to actual video views is nearly 17:1 

Carlson's big Trump interview was promoted as counter-programming to Wednesday night's first Republican primary debate of the year, one that the GOP frontrunner Trump skipped. Musk himself shared the interview with his more than 153 million X followers.

According to media reporter Brian Stelter, the GOP debate itself averaged 12.8 million viewers on Fox News and its online streams during the two-hour broadcast. And, of course, cable ratings are counted differently than online video views. That number is how many viewers were watching within an average minute of content.

Trump's supporters, using X's public view count data, have touted the Carlson interview as a big success. However, the real video view data – the numbers that Musk and company actively now hide from public view – paint a very different picture.

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11 scary horror movies that'll give you nightmares

It's never a bad time to love horror, but there's certainly never been a better time for the genre. Not only are they box office no-brainers, but the dizzying number of choices for what you can watch on streaming screens will make you scream. Luckily, we're here to help, with an equally impressive number of guides on which spooky, gory, and/or goopy flicks to watch on your service of choice.

If Shudder's your main gal, we've got a guide for her. Netflix is dripping with nasty goodies, as are Hulu and Prime Video. What if you want to watch something kinda scary but not, like, too scary? Understood! And what if you're in the mood for a creep show but feeling like a cheapskate? Hey, here's some free horror.

And what if you're in the mood for just an incredibly terrifying time? Well, "scary" is subjective, but I myself am a lifelong horror fanatic. I've been watching genre movies since I was a little monster myself, from gnarly exploitation and grindhouse films to black-and-white ethereal classics. After a great deal of thought, these are the 11 movies that still scare the absolute bejeezus out of me. Most likely, they will also inspire you to sleep with the lights on tonight. At the very least, you'll have fun finding out!

11. Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

The title is a bit misleading; this one's more of a slow burn than a roller coaster thrill ride, but its quiet and deliberate pace gets under your skin and stays there. The film follows Jessica and Duncan, a couple (played by Zohra Lampert and Barton Heyman) who have decided to move from New York City to an old house in the country after her release from a psychiatric institution. Accompanied by their friend Woody (Kevin O'Connor), they soon encounter unpleasant locals and a mysterious squatter (Mariclare Costello) who intends to seduce Jessica's husband. (Woody's right there!) Even worse, this flirtatious foe might be the vampiric spirit of a woman who drowned in the lake a century before. 

At the heart of this is Lampert's brilliant performance as Jessica, who desperately wants to appear sane despite seeing and hearing some truly frightening things. Who could shake the image of a bedroom full of leering old men, or a woman at the bottom of a lake in a wedding dress? Are the dead coming for these outsiders? Is Jessica hallucinating? We're never quite sure, thanks to ominous visuals and sound design, and the mystery lingers long after the credits. 

How to Watch: Let's Scare Jessica to Death is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Microsoft, and Google Play.

10. The Changeling (1980)

The Changeling is a favorite of Guillermo del Toro and Martin Scorsese, and it's easy to see why. The film utilizes eerie atmosphere, top-notch performances, and stealthy, lo-fi shocks. After all the jump-scare-filled haunted house flicks of recent years, it's refreshing to be scared senseless by something as simple as a rolling wheelchair in an empty house. 

After his wife and daughter are killed in a horrific accident, New York composer John Russell (George C. Scott) rents a long-vacant Seattle mansion — but soon finds the house is as haunted as he is. He begins hearing strange noises and having visions, and then he finds a hidden room filled with cobwebs and children's toys. As Russell uncovers the mystery of this uncanny abode, he finds himself up against a powerful politician, as well as more supernatural forces.

Peter Medak's film proves that the most subtle scares are often the most effective. When you hear a boy's voice on a tape recording of an earlier seance — one in which he had not been heard before — the hairs will stand up on the back of your neck.

How to Watch: The Changeling is streaming on Screambox and Peacock, and available for rent or purchase on Alamo on Demand, Prime Video, and Kino Now.

SEE ALSO: LaKeith Stanfield stars in 'The Changeling's twisted trailer

9. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea on a "Night of the Living Dead" poster. Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

This is the film that launched a thousand shambling zombie movies. George Romero's seminal work centers on a mysterious infection that brings the dead back to life to eat or infect the living, and a handful of strangers who are just trying to survive in an old farmhouse. At once a horror film, a meditation on societal breakdown, a chamber drama, and a tightly wrought thriller, this genre-defining film builds up an ever-present sense of dread that explodes in its last act, showing us things we never quite believed it would. More than a half-century later, it's still shocking to see a little girl killing her mother with a trowel, or a vigilante mob indiscriminately shooting zombies and the living alike, or all those undead hands reaching through boarded-up windows. 

Romero changed the zombie game here, and not just because he featured a strong Black hero (Duane Jones's brave Ben) in 1968. Later "infected" films often follow his template. A handful of them achieve the same level of shock; 2007's Rec is pretty terrifying, to be fair. But there's nothing quite like the growing feeling you get while watching Night of the Living Dead that, despite all filmic convention, these people might not get it together, rise to the occasion, or even survive the zombie apocalypse. And, let's face it: Slow-moving zombies are the stuff of nightmares. 

How to watch: Night of the Living Dead is streaming now on Max, Starz, the Criterion Channel, and Peacock.

8. Possession (1981)

Isabelle Adjani holds a knife in "Possession." Credit: Oliane/Marianne/Soma/Kobal/Shutterstock

Some of the scariest horror stems from the breakdown in relationships between people. Such stories rarely get as intimate (or as gooey) as they do in Andrzej Żuławski's Possession. Here, we witness a married couple (played by Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill) in West Berlin whose bond is crumbling because the wife is either having an affair, having a breakdown, or sleeping with a Lovecraftian terror from beyond that requires her to kill in order to sate its bloodlust. Or, most likely, all three. 

Increasing the weirdness quota, the story somehow also involves Cold War spies and mysterious doppelgängers. Possession is truly over the top from the start, reaching heights of hysteria that ultimately traumatized its stars. Adjani said in a 2002 interview (as quoted in Alison Taylor's book Possession), "Possession was an unfeasible film, and what I did in that film was just as unfeasible... Despite all the awards, all the honors that have gone to me, never again a trauma like that, a nightmare!" For his part, Neill said (via IndieWire), "I call it the most extreme film I've ever made, in every possible respect, and he asked of us things I wouldn't and couldn’t go to now. And I think I only just escaped that film with my sanity barely intact."

Possession is also deeply upsetting for the viewer: an operatic and terrifying depiction of marital collapse and psychosis. In the end, no amount of couples counseling will help these people. The film leaves us feeling like we’ve been through a war and a breakup. So, it's probably not a good pick for your next date night!

How to Watch: Possession is now streaming on Shudder and Metrograph at Home.

7. Ringu (1998)

Sadako (Rie Ino'o) comes to play in "Ringu." Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

You will be scared out of your wits by Ringu's infamous climax, if only because you'll finally be seeing for yourself the deadly footage that serves as the film's inciting event. But first, notice how ingeniously the film is constructed, building up to that terrifying ending. The first scene recounts an urban legend: Anyone who watches a mysterious videotape dies seven days later. A subsequent mysterious death sets journalist Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) on an investigation, in which every new detail she learns makes the situation stranger and worse somehow. The creepy video leads her to the legend (told through haunting flashbacks) of a malevolent child named Sadako (Rie Ino'o), who could scare people to death with her mind. Might she be doing her killing direct-to-video? Why is Reiko seeing a haunting man with a towel over his head popping into the real world? And what will she do now that her young son (Rikiya Ôtaka) has been urged by a ghost to watch the damned video too?

Ringu draws on Japanese traditions about onryō, vengeful spirits, as well a lurking fear also explored in David Cronenberg's Videodrome and Prano Bailey-Bond's Censor: What if there really was a video that could cause you serious harm by watching it? The low-budget aspects of the Japanese original (which was funded by director Hideo Nakato out of pocket) increase the sense of dread and the uncanny. And, finally, that climax, which involved reversing footage of Kabuki actress Rie Ino'o walking backward to show her crawling out of the screen, should keep you from turning on your screen for a week. 

How to Watch: Ringu is now streaming on Shudder and Screambox, and available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, and Alamo on Demand.

6. Session 9 (2011)

David Caruso looks nervous in "Session 9." Credit: Usa/Scout Prod/Kobal/Shutterstock

It helps a great deal that this film was shot in the abandoned Victorian-era Danvers State Hospital, a location that apparently terrified the cast and crew and looks like a place where nothing good ever happened. 

Gordon (Ken Loach regular Peter Mullan) is a cash-strapped contractor who works in asbestos removal, and he's committed himself and his crew (David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Brandon Sexton III, Josh Lucas) to clean up an abandoned institution in one impossible week. Not only are they under the gun, but they've all been pretty stressed out lately — both in general and with each other. Mike (co-writer Gevedon) discovers a box of therapy session recordings that he gets the other guys to listen to; the patient seems to have had dissociative identity disorder and at least one somewhat homicidal alter. And the more they listen to these eerie, scratchy tapes, the more they themselves unravel.

Each of these working-class men has deep issues and scars, and someone (living or dead) seems to have gotten hold of a lobotomy pick with which to work through their problems on the others. The final outcome of this pressure-cooker setup is unsettling, gruesome, and deeply chilling. 

Who would have expected a low-budget, largely overlooked movie starring CSI and meme star David Caruso, from the director (Brad Anderson) of Next Stop Wonderland, to be so scary? 

How to Watch: Session 9 is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV.

5. The Descent (2005)

Shauna Macdonald swims in a pond of blood in "The Descent." Credit: Celador/Pathe/Kobal/Shutterstock

Whether it's called the "submarine disease" or "cabin fever," you know or can imagine the feeling — the irascible, uncontrollable panic felt when forced to spend time in cramped and isolated places. At the least, Neil Marshall's film The Descent is a solid argument against ever going spelunking with your friends. 

Six female friends decide to do just that, as a way of renewing their friendship after Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) loses her husband and daughter in a car accident. Unfortunately, their guide Juno (Natalie Mendoza) leads them into an unexplored cave system. The entrance collapses, and things just go downhill from there. On top of their own mounting resentments, they come across ravenous, blind, cave-dwelling "crawlers." Designed after the vampire Count Orlok (Max Schreck) in 1922's Nosferatu, these crawlers have white, hairless bodies and very sharp teeth; they can crawl up walls, and they're very, very hungry. 

Like all good horror films, The Descent sympathizes with its protagonists while being completely heartless in the punishment it puts them through. The original ending is even more brutal than the American-ized "happy" ending. But, whichever version you pick, if you're not claustrophobic beforehand, you likely will be afterward. 

How to Watch: The Descent is now streaming on Max, and is available for rent or purchase on Redbox, Prime Video, and Apple TV.

4. The Exorcist (1973)

Regan (Linda Blair) writhes under the possession of a demon in "The Exorcist." Credit: Warner Bros/Hoya Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

You don’t have to have been raised Catholic to be absolutely terrified by The Exorcist. The film centers on a household plagued by the Babylonian demon Pazuzu, who has possessed a young girl named Regan (an iconic Linda Blair). When Regan begins acting odd, her mom — a successful film actress played by Ellen Burstyn — takes her to all kinds of doctors, where she's subjected to a battery of harrowing medical tests. At her wit's end, atheist Chris (Burstyn) enlists the help of Catholic priests in a last-ditch attempt to help her daughter.

While based in a specific rite, the film is light on theology and heavy on dread and indelible images that disturb us on a level below conscious thought. Why do those early scenes of the elderly priest Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) on an archaeological dig in Iraq feel so much like a nightmare? Why is that dream image in which the priest Damien Karras (Jason Miller) sees his elderly mother rising up from the subway so terrifying? 

By the time we’re shown an innocent girl turned demonic and bruised, via Dick Smith's brilliant makeup effects, our nerves are so rattled by all the ways the film has manipulated us that we fully expect to be subjected to something relentless. Which the film delivers. William Friedkin was a highly intuitive filmmaker who understood that, deep down, we're all terrified of some unnamed evil coming for us. 

How to Watch: The Exorcist is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Redbox, Apple TV, and Google Play.

3. Hereditary (2018)

Toni Collette looks terrified in "Hereditary." Credit: A24/Moviestore/Shutterstock

It might be best to go into Hereditary cold, like I did, in order not to know the most shocking twists awaiting in Ari Aster's brilliant debut. But even if you know what's coming, it's still deeply frightening. Because, if you follow the film's logic, they never really had a chance. That's what's so scary: The family at its heart was cursed from the start by the grandmother whose funeral they attend in the opening scenes. 

SEE ALSO: The real horror of 'Hereditary' is its realistic portrait of a family in grief

The film draws on modern fears that certain mental illnesses could be inherited, as well as more classical tragedies in which characters struggle to escape their fates. In this case, even the innocent children (Alex Wolff and Milly Shapiro) cannot break free of the curse placed on the family by granny and the creepy cult to which she mortgaged their souls, through their mother Annie (Toni Collette). 

Hereditary's scares are both cerebral and visceral, including spontaneous combustion, self-mutilation, and people covered in insects. Few horror films make such optimal use of the entire frame, here a sort of Where’s Waldo? for spotting naked cultists and possessed parents. A scene in which a character can be spotted levitating menacingly in a very dark corner of the room brought audible gasps from the audience when I saw the film. But this terror is alway rooted in strong characters. Toni Collette’s performance, in particular, veering from agonized grief to terrifying rage, often in the same scene, should have gotten her an Oscar nod, at the very least.

How to Watch: Hereditary is now streaming on Max and Kanopy, and is available to rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video.

2. Halloween (1978)

Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) looking over the top of a sofa with a knife in her right hand in "Halloween." Credit: ITV/Shutterstock

The genius of Halloween lies in its simplicity. It’s basically an extended chase scene in which a killer in a white rubber mask (famously, a spray-painted William Shatner mask) who has escaped from an institution slowly closes in on good-natured babysitter Laurie Strode (Academy Award-winner Jamie Lee Curtis in her screen debut).

Why does he do it? Because he's evil. The film keeps it chillingly basic. But John Carpenter and Debra Hill get every detail right, from the fluid Panaglide camerawork to Hill's pitch-perfect teen girl dialogue to the one direction — "Don’t act" — given to Nick Castle as The Shape, Michael Myers. And the final touch: Carpenter admitted he showed the film to a studio executive before music was added. She "wasn’t scared at all," so he quickly wrote one of the most iconic scores in horror history. 

When I was in second grade, an older kid told me this was the movie that would scare the snot out of me, and decades later, I can admit he was not wrong. 

How to Watch: Halloween is now streaming on Shudder, and is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Leatherface wields a chainsaw in "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." Credit: HA/THA/Shutterstock

Horror movies can be seen as fairy tales for adults. Viewed this way, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a fable in which a group of children, lost in the Dark Forest, intrude upon the home of a beastly family that nearly gobbles them all up. 

Forget the witch's house made of candy. Here, the furniture is made of bones, and characters are hung on meathooks, attacked with a chainsaw, and forced to feed their blood to a very elderly grandpa. Most terrifying of all is Leatherface, the hulking man-child who loves to get gussied up in human-skin masks and dance wildly in the sunlight with his running chainsaw. Live, laugh, massacre.

While macabre and darkly funny, this depiction of rural Texas cannibalism is absolutely nerve-shredding to watch on a big screen. Poor Sally (Marilyn Burns) is trapped in a farmhouse with a family of lunatic ex-slaughterhouse workers who want to have her for dinner. Director Tobe Hooper's later horror stories were a bit overshadowed by his first, which is a shame because Poltergeist and Salem's Lot are also scary as hell. But it's hard to top a masterpiece that's still terrifying nearly 50 years later. And no one has.

How to Watch: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is now streaming on Peacock and Shudder, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Alamo on Demand.

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