JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1135

With gifting season in full swing, Gizmodo rounds up tech presents across every budget, from under $50 to over $1,000, aiming to inspire thoughtful choices rather than pricey splurges. The guide spans pocketable helpers like Oda’s SD card holder and Anker’s SoundSync, playful picks such as the Lego Game Boy, and stylish or smart home standouts including a Govee floor lamp and a Casio-inspired G-Shock ring. Big-ticket options range from a 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 to Sony’s Bravia 9 and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Valve unveiled a new Steam Machine, a compact 6 inch cube running Linux based SteamOS and Proton to play Windows games, shipping in early 2026 where Steam Deck is sold. Promising background updates and about six times Deck power, it uses two AMD chips—Zen 4 CPU and discrete RDNA 3 GPU—inside a 3.8 liter chassis with custom cooling and an internal PSU. Upgrades are limited to the SSD and, with effort, RAM. It supports twin displays, USB and Ethernet, works with a new Steam Controller and Steam Frame headset, and pricing not finalized but comparable to a similar PC.

With Washington poised to reopen, SNAP benefits are expected to resume for about 42 million people, but days of delays have left deep anxiety and distrust. During the 43 day shutdown, the Trump administration resisted paying full food stamp aid, fought court orders, and in at least one state threatened to cut off grocery cards, local officials said. Families skipped or rationed meals as food banks strained—Boston alone moved 500,000 more pounds. A spending deal would fund SNAP for a year, yet safeguards remain thin, leaving the program vulnerable to future disruptions.

After nearly eight weeks away, House lawmakers return Wednesday to vote on a Senate-passed plan to end the record federal shutdown, now at Day 43. Speaker Mike Johnson voiced optimism, while President Donald Trump called the measure a big victory. Most Democrats plan to oppose it because it omits an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits. The package funds three spending bills, extends the rest through Jan. 30, reverses recent federal worker firings, guarantees back pay, protects jobs through January, shores up food aid, boosts security, and adds a provision enabling senators to sue over secret record searches.

President Trump will host a 7:30 p.m. private White House dinner Wednesday with a roster of Wall Street heavyweights, seeking deeper ties and fresh U.S. investment in manufacturing. Attendees include JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, Nasdaq’s Adena Friedman, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Morgan Stanley’s Ted Pick, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon, NYSE’s Lynn Martin and organizer Jeffrey Sprecher, plus Ken Griffin, Henry Kravis, Marc Rowan and Masayoshi Son. While bankers have pitched a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac IPO, sources say the discussion will center on affordability, though the agenda remained fluid.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said “substantial” tariff relief on everyday imports is coming soon, targeting items the U.S. does not grow, such as coffee, bananas and other fruit. He said the move should lower prices quickly. President Donald Trump also pledged to cut coffee duties and signaled a fast resolution with Brazil, the top U.S. coffee supplier, after raising tariffs on Brazil to 50% in July. Inflation has climbed each month since April to 3% in September, while coffee futures have jumped about 20% this year and roughly 45% over 12 months. Bessent sees sentiment improving by early 2026.

Visa and Mastercard unveiled a proposed settlement in their nearly 20 year fight with merchants over interchange fees, reshaping the honor all cards rule. If approved, retailers could refuse higher tier rewards cards or add surcharges, while receiving a 10 basis point fee cut for five years and 1.25% processing on standard credit transactions for eight years. Merchant groups swiftly opposed the deal, calling it inadequate and urging congressional action. The networks say it offers clarity and consumer protections. The settlement excludes American Express and debit cards and still faces court approval.

After a noncommittal start to the week, the Buccaneers got a lift Wednesday when running back Bucky Irving was seen taking part in the walkthrough, via a photo from Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. His official status will come with the injury report later. Irving has missed five games with shoulder and toe injuries, and head coach Todd Bowles said the shoulder, especially taking a hit, is the bigger hurdle. If he tests it well this week, Irving could be in play to return against the Bills this weekend.

U.S. stocks were mixed midday: the S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, the Dow rose 309 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.5%. AMD jumped 9.6% on a revenue outlook tied to accelerating AI momentum, while Nvidia swung on lingering valuation worries. IBM climbed on quantum progress; On Holdings surged after a profit beat; Circle Internet Group fell despite topping estimates. The 10 year Treasury yield eased to 4.06%, and traders see a nearly two in three chance of a December Fed cut despite Chair Jerome Powell’s caution. Overseas, indexes rose in France and South Korea.

Waymo will start offering freeway-capable robotaxi rides across San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, aiming to cut travel times by up to 50%. Initial access will go to riders who opt in through the app, with trips matched when available. The expansion extends service to San Jose, creating a unified 260-mile Peninsula area and adding curbside pickups at San Jose Mineta International Airport; Sky Harbor in Phoenix already has curbside service. Executives stressed safety, citing extensive closed-course and simulation testing, smooth freeway-to-street transitions, and new protocols coordinated with California Highway Patrol.