Latest news with #MadLibs
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Watched the Diddy Trial From the Courtroom. Then I Watched It on YouTube. Whoa.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Despite the very serious subject matter at hand, attending the Diddy trial in lower Manhattan can feel a bit like begging for entry into 'New York's hottest club.' A long entry line to the courthouse forms the day before, containing a Mad Libs of New York reporters and rabble-rousers, lawyers and lower-ranked celebrities. The competition for a coveted seat in the courtroom is incredibly stiff—there is even a daily fight between company-employed line holders and 'independent' line holders to save spots for pay. And in particular, one specific fault line is emerging outside the courthouse: between the tried-and-true journalists and those who make so-called new media—your YouTubers, TikTokkers, and livestreamers. And, make no mistake, new media are dominating the space. We all know that the media landscape is in a constant state of flux, but the trial of United States v. Sean Combs is one of these moments that should be understood as a marker in this metamorphosis. The Diddy trial has been full of nonstop drama: from constant bickering between the legal teams to outbursts and altercations inside and outside the courthouse, all peppering a constant stream of utterly shocking testimonies. But the people you're more likely to hear it from aren't legacy media publications but content creators and influencers. They line up every day, early, just like the rest of us, and take notes, just like the rest of us, but there's a distinct tension between how they present the trial and how we do. The ne plus ultra of new-media trial coverage is Stephanie Soo, a YouTuber and podcaster who got her start making mukbang videos but hit her stride when she pivoted to true crime on her video podcast Rotten Mango. These days, over 5 million YouTube subscribers tune in to watch Soo explain in great detail, for one or two hours, a real true-crime case, including the Combs trial—an amount big enough that Soo has unseated Joe Rogan as the top podcast on YouTube. I can understand why people like it: The videos are smartly crafted, with Soo explaining the case to a male voice off-screen who sometimes chimes in to ask follow-up questions (and is widely understood to be her husband, whose identity she keeps veiled). Soo's coverage of the trial is thorough. She reads official court transcripts while displaying segments on the screen as visual aids and does a great job at explaining legalese, like the reason why Casandra Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, had to be removed from the courtroom for a part of her testimony. It's not as if traditional broadcast media isn't its own sort of performance, but for new media, the relay of the news is more about the explicit creation of entertainment than it is a way to courier information, and Soo is no exception. When the trial first started, Soo came under fire from seemingly the entire internet for posting a video of her twirling in front of the courthouse while eating a PB&J. (The accusation was that she wasn't taking the trial seriously.) This then sparked a larger conversation about how she had ended up with a press badge in the first place, given her 'giddy' tone and the accusation that she is not a 'real' journalist. (Soo suggested in one video that Combs himself mouthed 'I know you' to her in court, though she added that he could have been talking to someone else.) While there's no universal answer to how we label journalists anymore, it certainly feels as if Soo has crossed some lines in how she has represented the case, for example in 'reenacting' portions of star witness and Combs ex Ventura's testimony. Soo overacts and injects emotion despite acknowledging, in a more recent video, that 'most of the time' the witness did 'not convey a lot of emotions.' Understanding that the disaffected tone Ventura used during her testimony was likely intentional (I listened in real time—there are no recordings or video that come out of the court), I found Soo's overplayed dramatics while reading Ventura's words to be insensitive at best, discoloring what is usually a fairly good recap of events. This 'performance' often extends beyond just the reenactment of testimony, sometimes taking over creators' entire vocal affect. Many of the trial's daily creators are YouTubers whose main coverage tack is conducting livestreams after the day's proceedings, sometimes right outside the courthouse. The videos of Tisa Tells, a Black news YouTuber who livestreams daily rundowns of the trial, come off as heightened and chaotic. She often streams from the center of whatever new chaos is unfolding outside the courthouse, so I understand how easy it is to make these reports seem breathless, and audiences certainly respond to the heightened energy. But I think it gives a sensationalized view of the whole ordeal, even though Tisa's lives stick mostly to what was actually said in the courtroom. Watching her feels as if you're on a video call with your charismatic friend reenacting the trial's biggest moments—coverage not really analogous to a news report. The real sauce of new media comes with their ability to ride the line between impartial recounts of who said what, with pointedly biased commentary on how they personally feel about it. Still, unlike the equally infamous trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, in which streamers' portrayal seemed to have taken a pro-Depp side and influenced the perception of the trial, in the Diddy case, the streamers are not pointedly swaying audiences to side one way or another. In fact, watching the content of new-media stars that I personally see in the courthouse, I was surprised by how concerned these creators seemed, not with whether Diddy is guilty but with how well the prosecution or defense is doing in laying out their arguments one way or another. They're assessing the case with the color that we, legacy media, can't always be so candid about. They explain the day's proceedings the way I would to my mother—not my editor. And that's the draw. Here's an example: During her recap of a testimony from a former employee of Combs to whom the prosecution offered immunity, Tisa said his 'vibes were off.' I absolutely felt this myself but couldn't quite figure out how to express it in print—because the precise ways in which said vibes were off are my own speculation, rather than confirmed facts. (In retrospect, maybe the best way is to say that he seemed strangely indebted to his former employer Combs.) Tisa's reenactments, commentary, and energy earned her a comment from a viewer who dubbed her 'the new and improved Wendy Williams,' signaling a changing future for even legacy gossips and talk show hosts. I often find myself agreeing with many of the new media, even if I'm also confused by their tone or editing style. YouTuber Make It Make Sense, who goes by Mims, gives lengthy recaps with commentary (at times analyzing the events and coming to the same conclusion as me), all while demonstrating an astute knowledge of the other extra players in the stories. He uses memes to emphasize his skepticism and shock at some of the witnesses' claims and certain legal tactics. For my money, the most entertaining and impartial of the creators I would see at the courthouse daily is Armon Wiggins, who reads testimonial quotes like you would read a passage aloud in a classroom and doesn't refrain in between from providing his commentary on how the legal teams are doing. This is in addition to his comedic full-body reenactments of the lighter-hearted scenarios that a witness merely describes, like Kid Cudi's referring to Combs as a 'Marvel supervillain.' There is one creator who might be pushing a biased narrative in this trial: Myron Gaines, known for his content under the name Fresh & Fit. Gaines is a popular manosphere personality with a controversial background working in Homeland Security, and his regular content often involves telling men to deprioritize women and telling women to devalue themselves. Gaines—who, fun fact, wrote a book titled Why Women Deserve Less (rated 4.8/5 stars on Amazon, with over 2,500 reviews)—often emphasizes on the sexually explicit texts Ventura sent that are in evidence and throws shade on her claims that she would rather trade the millions of dollars she legally won to get her agency back. He further describes the defense's cross-examination of her as 'slowly dragging her for being a whore.' But even his coverage, though near-manic at times and full of snide remarks regarding Ventura's testimony, also concerns itself with how well the legal teams are doing—it is no Depp/Heard situation. Often, the personas on display in the content are far from how these creators present in real life. Soo is reserved; Tisa is one of the kindest people you'll meet in the courthouse. Everyone remarks on the difference between talking to Gaines in person, during which he is reserved to the point of coming across as introverted—Soo called him 'meek' in one of her videos—versus watching his content online. Why is this trial so different from what spun out from the Heard/Depp trial? I think the leaked CNN video of Combs' assaulting Ventura (and his later public apology for it) has already made it clear that Combs has done some awful things. Now the question is centered more on if the prosecution can prove that Combs did awful things in the specifically criminal way it says he did. Hence the focus on the legal teams' competence. You know what also helps these new0media creators? A strong flow of cash. Soo is always the first person in line, getting the best seat in the house to view the proceedings, and taking one of the coveted 21 spots for her assistant as well. That's because, in a recent video, Soo stated that her team is spending more than '$1,000 a day to have line sitters just to make sure we get into that main courtroom.' She noted that she is paying this much because she knows that members of legacy media also have the money to spend on line sitters. That's true, in some but certainly not all (or even most) circumstances. But it's also the case that in this trial, there's one line for everyone that is eventually separated into media and nonmedia lines, whereas in other trials—like New York state's Donald Trump trial—legacy media is cleared through an entirely separate process and doesn't have to wait at all once they've secured their spot. For Soo, it wouldn't matter, anyway: She sits at the front of media line with her press credentials every day. The federal court seems to be trying to decide how to deal with this new pecking order. The new media has displayed a willingness to break the rules for views: Last week, an unnamed YouTuber was banned from the court for revealing the identity of a federally protected anonymous witness. Tisa told of when she tried to talk to Kid Cudi after his testimony but was harshly shut down by court marshals. Even the new media themselves seem confused about their designation and what to do with it. Soo told her audience that she was wondering 'why was Fresh & Fit Myron in the courtrooms,' given his misogynistic online performance—without realizing that they essentially have the same job. And this new social order isn't limited to what happens inside the courthouse; it applies to what happens outside it, a shift that new media have turned into their own story. Every day, people stand outside the courthouse, making TikToks and recording those waiting in line to get inside. At one point, infamous New York content creator CrackheadBarneyandFriends accosted Gaines outside the building and lambasted him for his misogyny (while herself saying questionable things about Sudanese people). Soo has spent significant time detailing her encounters in line—which she does eventually get in herself, relieving her line holder closer to when the courthouse opens—with some of the mentally ill and/or combative people often found milling around the courthouse, as well as weird interactions with self-proclaimed fans. SecretServiceSam, a TikTok comedian who has also been reporting on the case and the trial for a long time, is often the first to report news, because he interviews people who have gotten ejected from the courthouse, as well as other faces on the outskirts of the action. In other words, no matter what happens inside, these new faces are likely not going away—they're just becoming another part of the circus, toeing the line between redefining news and feeding their audiences' insatiable appetite for drama.
NBC Sports
04-06-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Pablo Torre: Belichick's UNC inner circle (including Mike Lombardi) is "deeply concerned" about Jordon Hudson
The Bill Belichick/Jordon Hudson story has officially reached the point at which new developments read like a game of drunken Mad Libs. On Tuesday, Pablo Torre appeared on Bill Simmons's podcast in an effort to squash a sudden beef that arose when Simmons, while discussing the 1978 film Heaven Can Wait, took multiple gratuitous shots at Torre's reporting on the Belichick-Hudson situation. While they generally got along, Torre seemed to be irked by Simmons's use of the phrase 'pretending to be a journalist,' which would reasonably seem to bother someone who is actually an accomplished journalist. And Torre tried to get Simmons to understand why Torre has spent so much time reporting on the Belichick-Hudson story. Torre's position is basically this. One, it's a big deal for someone who has been as buttoned up as Belichick for decades to be creating a massive distraction for his current football team. Two, sometimes you have to give the algorithm what it wants. Which is a different way of saying, as I said to Torre when we discussed the situation last week, 'We don't choose our stories, our stories choose us.' For any owner/operator of a media outlet that hopes to satisfy the fundamental business objective of generating enough revenue to consistently outpace expenses, some stories demand time and attention — because the audience is consuming that content. From the moment Hudson said, 'We're not talking about this,' anything regarding Belichick and Hudson is what everyone wants to read. (And, yes, we have exercised significant restraint and discretion in passing on potential stories that would have performed extremely well.) As to Torre's sudden and unexpected Tuesday visit with Simmons (which Sunday Simmons surely would have derided as a continuation of Torre's 'media tour'), I vowed not to write about it unless it contained news. And it did. In his effort to try to get Simmons to see the light, Torre said this: ""What if I told you that [Belichick's] inner circle of actual coaches on staff, including a certain Mike Lombardi, is deeply concerned about Jordon Hudson and her presence in the building?' Whether Simmons intended to or not, he quickly pivoted away from the loaded reference to Lombardi (a former employee of Simmons's platform, The Ringer) and focused on something former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman or former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had said on a podcast. It was a subtle but potentially significant pivot by Simmons, who quite possibly (if not likely) has spoken to Lombardi about this very topic — and who easily could have said to Torre, 'You're absolutely right about that!' or 'You're way, way, way off!' By spitting the bit once Lombardi's name was mentioned, Simmons deftly avoided what could have been a direct question from the ever-curious Torre. 'Bill, surely you've communicated with Lombardi about this. So what has he said?' The fact that Simmons didn't contradict Torre when Torre said Lombardi is 'deeply concerned' about Hudson's presence and involvement says plenty. And it helps explain why the previously loquacious consigliere has slammed the brakes on his own non-stop media tour in recent weeks. As to Simmons, we're now Torre-level curious. Surely, he has spoken to Lombardi. So what has Lombardi said?
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Believe Harry Styles' Latest Side Quest Sent Him to the Pope Announcement
In this week's real news that sounds like a Mad Libs game: Harry Styles was apparently spotted in the crowd of people outside of Saint Peter's Basilica on Thursday, May 8, waiting to see white smoke emerge from the roof of the Sistine Chapel to signal the selection of Pope Francis' successor. 'Harry Styles is so random, one day he's at the grammys winning album of the year, then he's running a marathon in japan, but he could also be in rome waiting for the announcement of the new pope, i love being his fan,' one X user wrote. Another added: 'Harry literally your unemployed friend on a random tuesday, marathon in tokyo? he's there. pope announcement? he's there.' More from Rolling Stone Malcolm Todd Steps Into the Pop Arena With Knockout Debut Ed Sheeran Taps Harry Styles, Central Cee for Letter Urging U.K. Government to Fund Music Harry Styles Las Vegas Residency Plans Aren't Just False Rumors, They Were 'Never' Discussed at All Other fans joked that the newly-appointed pope, Robert Prevost, who will go by Pope Leo XIV, was actually waving directly at Styles when he addressed a crowd gathered to greet him. The musician's spotting was part side quest, part manifestation. 'Sources say it is unlikely that Harry Styles will be named the new Pope due to scheduling conflicts,' one fan wrote in the week leading up to the conclave. Fans have been keeping tabs on Styles through sporadic updates from culture accounts like Pop Crave, which inspired the recent rise of Pope Crave. On April 26, the account shared: 'Harry Styles spotted leaving the studio in Berlin recently with his headphones on.' Just a few days earlier, a photo the account posted of Styles in Berlin racked up 10,000 reposts and 103,000 likes. Another update account, the Styles-specific Harry Crave, has been amplifying the yearning for his return for months. 'It has now been exactly 1,000 days since @Harry_Styles last released new music, making it the longest droughtrry so far,' the account posted on Feb. 12, counting the days since Harry's House arrived in 2022. Arguments followed about whether 'hrought' or 'droughtrry' is the proper term for 'Harry Drought,' signaling the dire need for his return and/or the return of people having hobbies. Styles popping up across Berlin, riding around London on Lime bikes, and attending Pope announcements in Vatican City make a strong case for getting offline and heading outside. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
New York Times
11-04-2025
- General
- New York Times
She Had All the Right Answers. So Did He, Eventually.
Simon Kyu Seung Yi likes to jokingly credit himself with Dr. Gem Marian Manalo's academic success. After all, he was her SAT coach during the summer of 2005 — reviewing math tips like the mnemonic PEMDAS rule order of operations and building vocabulary through Mad Libs. 'This guy must be a huge nerd,' Dr. Manalo said she recalled thinking, one of three students in the course. 'Who spends the summer tutoring students for the SATs?' She was 15, and about to enter her sophomore year at University Liggett School, a private school for prekindergarten to Grade 12 in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., where she grew up. 'I'd call on Gem because she always had all the answers,' Mr. Yi, now 38, said. He was a 19-year-old rising sophomore then at the University of Michigan, from which he eventually graduated with two bachelor's degrees: one in business administration, and the other in economics. 'He felt so much older than me,' said Dr. Manalo, now 34, who began her freshman year at Michigan the semester after he graduated. It was there that she earned a degree in art history and biology, followed by a master's degree in medical science from Boston University and a medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. She is now an anesthesiologist at Midtown Endoscopy & Surgical Center in Manhattan. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Buzz Feed
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- Buzz Feed
If Your Next Family Vacation Involves A Long Car Ride, You Probably Need These 28 Products
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. If your kids won't stop reading what the billboards say (even after you told them to stop), I suggest flipping open the road trip Mad Libs to ~nonchalantly~ stop them. 1. An over-the-seat organizer that'll hold everything your kid's heart desires 'cause telling them not to bring three mini plushies is a recipe for disaster — aka, you'll experience a meltdown before you even start driving. It can hold snacks, coloring books, and a tablet, so you never hear the words "Are we there yet?" But no promises, though. Promising review: "These were a last-minute purchase before a summer road trip with our 4- and 7-year-old sons, and I couldn't be happier! It's a great way to keep the car organized with games, toys, colors, devices, water bottles, etc. Definitely recommend for everyday and road trip uses!" — Kathy Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors). 2. A car cup holder and eating tray for when you're on a 12+ hour car ride 'cause you're gonna want to eat in the car to get to your destination before nightfall. With this, you can have something to eat over so you won't get ketchup from your double cheeseburger all over your clothes — happens to the best of us... Make sure to *not* eat while you drive — it's dangerous! Promising review: "I used it for a 13-hour road trip to Colorado for camping/wheeling, and it held up great. So nice to be able to throw snacks, fries, or whatever on there while I was driving. Perfect arm's length for everything I needed for the long drives. When I got home, I just removed the table part and used the big drink holder. Perfect to have a large water bottle in one and a big coffee tumbler in the other." — SamoanJoe Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available with different add-ons). 3. A fluffy pillow 'cause napping in the car not only hits different, but it'll make you feel like you're on the road for less time — which is super important on long hauls. Reviewers say this *actually* gives good support, so you don't have to press your head up against the window — and tweak your neck in the process... It's designed for kids *and* adults! Promising review: "My second grader used this while we road-tripped for two weeks. It eliminated that awkward contortion that kids do when they nap in the car. It was definitely one of our more useful purchases for the trip. Keep in mind that the pillow is large and can take up some space in a cramped car. Outside of traveling, my kid likes to use it inside the house since it's so soft. She naps with it on the bed or just snuggles with it while reading." — Sarah Aquino Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two styles and various colors). 4. Andddd, a super comfortable sleep mask when the car turns right onto a new highway and the sun is GLARING in your face. It's designed to fully block out light, leave no pressure on your eyes, and be comfortable in any sleep position you may find yourself in. And that's highly important when you *finally* feel comfy enough to fall asleep. Promising review:" Never thought I'd spend this kind of money on a simple eye mask, but I did and don't regret it at all. Yes, it's perfect for side sleepers; it doesn't move and blocks out every bit of light. The game changer is the space around your eyes so it's not pushing on your lashes. Buy this, and you'll never look back." — Jessica Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in eight colors). 5. A license plate game that'll make the minutes whizz by as you scour the lanes of traffic to find Alaska's plate — be patient, you'll probably find it once you get to Mt. Rushmore (everyone road trips there, after all). Plus, it's a great way to sneakily keep your kids from being on their tablets so much! The little pieces are magnetic, so they're less likely to end up underneath the seat! Promising review: "I love this for road trips. I bought this for our first road trip that was longer than we have ever gone. Now I take it every time we go more than two hours from home. I, the mom, love it the most. I'm always looking for plates now. Haha. A fun activity for the whole family to do that is not just iPad time." — Amanda Gainey Get it from Amazon for $12.68 (available in 10 other styles). 6. A Springer leak-proof water bottle with a built-in bowl, so when you pull off the highway to let your dog stretch their legs, you can give 'em a little H2O, too. Just squeeze the bottle to fill it up; when you're done, the bottle sucks the leftover water back in. That's especially useful when you're nowhere near a rest stop, and your dog is THIRSTY. Springer Pets is a woman-owned small business run by a mother-daughter duo (and the dogs who love them). They were also featured on Shark Tank! Promising review: "I am extremely happy with this purchase! We have two medium-sized dogs (30 lbs and 42 lbs), and this was a LIFESAVER. We beat the heat, car anxiety, and quenching thirst by providing our fur babies with much-needed water breaks. This bottle is 'mess-free' and was absolutely easy to provide water to our dogs even while we were driving. No water spills, no need for extra plastic water bottles or collapsible bowls. Throw some ice cubes in there, and you'll see it holds cool and fresh water for a good amount of time." — Tatiana Get the 22-ounce size from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors). 7. A kid's car seat lap organizer that'll make a great travel companion, thanks to the tablet holder, dry-erase board that doubles as a food tray, anddd pockets for whatever else your child insists on bringing. This will keep their crayons, markers, water bottle, toys, and coloring books all nice and secure, so you don't have to pull over to pick up anything off the floor. Some color options come with dry-erase markers and an eraser included. Promising review: "Are you a parent who is sick of picking up everything your kid accidentally drops off their lap while on a car ride? If not, lucky you. If you are… this thing is great! We recently went on a beach vacation that involved a 9-hour drive each way with my 4-year-old. Usually, he drops stuff while playing with it. With this, everything stayed on the tray! It also helped him balance his tablet to watch, held his drink and foodstuff in place without anything spilling, and gave him a space to draw and play on. Easy to take on and off for potty breaks." — Dawn Michele Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in 13 colors). 8. A Mad Libs on the Road sure to make you *and* the rest of your crew laugh like hyenas. It has 21 stories all about adventures on the road that'll surely get VERY whacky. Promising review: "Our 8-year-old and 3-year-old LOVE playing mad libs. We keep it in the car to play while we wait for the bus or on car rides. I like that it's educational, too — reinforcing parts of speech and practicing spelling and reading, as well as broadening their vocabulary. A must-have for every family!" — Chelsea Peterson Get it from Amazon for $5.57. 9. A memory foam car seat cushion if that dull, persistent feeling in your butt is ~driving~ you up a wall. This will help ease the discomfort and relieve the pain you can get in your legs. You'll love it so much, you may just want to put it on your pool chair as you lay and soak in the sun once you (finally) get to your destination. ☀️ Promising review: "It worked great for long road trips to help with fatigue and lower back pain. I never imagined this would work as well as it did, and as an added bonus, it worked as a great pillow when we needed to pull over for short sleep [breaks]. It's worth the price for the pain it relieved." — Jess Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three colors). 10. And a back cushion that offers lumbar support and can help improve posture so you don't feel as much pain creeping up on you when you're on hour two of the drive. The ergonomic design can be used to help with lower *or* upper back pain, depending on which bothers you the most. One reviewer with spinal stenosis who also drives 40+ hours a week said they're "grateful every day for this pillow." Promising review: "I bought a BMW with sport seats, and my back would hurt every time I sat in it. I tried several different pillows, but none of them helped. This one was a lifesaver — I can now drive for long periods without back pain, and it saved me from having to replace a brand new car." — Michael Shamis Get it from Amazon for $26.69 (available in various styles). 11. A Febreze Unstopables car freshener if the mix of fast food and your kids kicking off their shoes is making your car smell a little... FUNKY. Just clip this onto your AC vent so you can neutralize that and any other odor you want to hit the road. 😉 Promising review: "These are great and pretty strong. I made the mistake and tried another scent after using these, and you have no idea how much I'm still regretting it. The scent lasts long after the oil inside is done, and it hits you as soon as you open your door, without being overbearing." — camelia virgo-evans Get a pack of four from Amazon for $12.88 (available in three scents and five pack sizes) 12. A car power adapter that can charge six devices at once so when your child's tablet dies, you don't have to give up your charging slot. This way, everyone gets a fully charged device — which is very important when you're in the middle of nowhere and can't even play punch buggy. This comes with a lighter adapter and allows you to plug in four USB chargers and two AC outlets! Plus, it has a built-in fan so it won't overheat. Promising review: "I purchased this item for long trips with my grandkids to keep snacks cool in my plug-in cooler, but more importantly, for their medication that needs to be refrigerated. It has a cooling fan built into it. A few USB ports to charge electronics like phones and tablets, and regular plug outlets for anything else. I used so many things on it and all at once. Definitely pulled its weight. What a monster workhorse it is. It's compact enough and doesn't take up a lot of space. It's pretty quiet even with the fan running. It's great quality and the functionality is better than I expected. Such a cool little gadget. It would totally make a great gift for someone that travels a lot and spends a lot of time in their car. Will definitely buy this little beauty again." — Ginger Pasquale Get it from Amazon for $20.95+ (available in two sizes). 13. An auto bingo card — it combines I Spy and bingo into one thrilling game, even if it's not as thrilling as a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. Just close the *built-in* red windows when you find the thing (like a horse, fire hydrant, tow truck, etc.), and whoever screams BINGO first, wins! Reviewers love that their kids were taking in their surroundings instead of staring at screens! Reviewers love that their kids were taking in their surroundings instead of staring at screens! Regal Games is a small business based in Chicago, IL and has been around for over 70 years creating games for all ages. Promising review: "I purchased as a gift for my daughter to use in the car with her children. These are perfect to occupy them on long road trips. She keeps them in the seat pocket so they are readily available. The sliding door for each square makes it very easy to play. No added pieces or markers to have to use." — noreen Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five styles). 14. A sleek seat gap filler 'cause McDonald's fries, loose change, and other mystery tidbits are bound to pile up when you're in the car forever. Now you won't have to clean that weird, hard-to-reach area post-road trip. Amazon, Drop Stop is a small business that specializes in car accessories. Promising review:"Somehow my phone manages to ALWAYS fall perfectly between the large gap between my console and seat. And MAN when I'm driving it is so frustrating, because I can NEVER reach it without stopping the car, because it's wayyyy under my seat. Before I ordered this I tried the traditional insert that is a popular solution because it gives you extra storage and such, but it didn't fit the gap, it was loose, sloppy and would literally slide forward with the brakes. UGH, Those are now sitting on my bar waiting to be gifted to some lucky person hopefully with a smaller gap. I immediately ordered these and love love love them!" — Ronald & Shannon White Get a two-pack from Amazon for $24.99. 15. Or, a console side pocket if you want something that blocks stuff from falling into that deep crack and provides more storage for your things — AND adds an extra cup holder!! You'll ~roll~ up to your destination with three drinks and your phone and lip products in arm's reach. 😏 Amazon, The gap has to be *at least* .3 inches for this to fit — just FYI! Promising review:"I put this in last night and went to work today and everything was perfect. I did have to install the foam spacers (included) to make it a really snug fit. It would have still worked without it but I like things perfect. So now the coins go in the coin pocket and my keys and other work related accessories go in the bigger pocket. This is one of the best cheap life hacks you can get if you're a car person and/or just like being organized and neat." — R Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available with or without cupholder). 16. A mini car trash can that's cuter and more functional than just filling up a gas station plastic baggie. After a long day on the road, the last thing you want to do is pick up wrappers, napkins, and empty bottles, so have your kids throw their junk into this instead! You can secure it to a headrest for *extra* convenience. Promising review: "These are the perfect size. We are going on a road trip, so I got one for each of my front seats. They're not too bulky, and they hold a fair amount of trash. Love that they are adjustable and have pockets on the outside. Great for holding knickknacks or extra trash bags." — Katlyn Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors). 17. A Travel Tray you can slip into your cupholder to make snacking easy *and* safe as you drive cross country. Have the passenger princess pour your snack of choice into the little tray so your driver has plenty of fuel to run off of — aka a Monster energy drink and M&M's. Travel Tray is a small business that makes convenient products for easy snacking on the road. Promising review: "I bought this for our car seat to use during a road trip. It really came in handy, and it's so easy to clean and reinstall. Bonus that it's snug enough in the cupholder, but not so snug that it makes getting drinks out of the holder hard for the child. I would buy this again." — Emily Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in six colors). 18. A waterproof backseat pet protector 'cause your pup is ALWAYS sneaking their way up to the front no matter how many treats you throw back there. This not only gives them a comfy place to relax, but it also contains their shed hair and protects them from falling into the footwell if you slam on the brakes — which can happen on the highway! It's non-slip so your dog can have good traction on it. Plus, you install it by looping it around your headrests — easy peasy! Promising review: "Perfect for travel. Didn't get to test it much because my pup just HAD to be in the front seat with me the whole time. I bought the front seat cover to match, so I know the material is amazing. Pretty comfortable, canvas-type material. Easily cleaned and mostly water-resistant. Had a slight spill on the front seat cover that was wiped rather quickly, and none transferred to my actual car seat. The adjustable straps and backseat anchors are easy to install." — Ashley C. Get it from Amazon for $22.37+ (available in five colors and an optional dog seat belt). 19. A Munchkin Snack Catcher if your little one just loves to make their snacks end up everywhere but their mouth... This will be able to minimize the spillage thanks to its soft, protective flaps, so once they get hungry, their Goldfish go straight to their belly and not the car floor. Promising review: "I absolutely love these. They are easy to use, my kids love them, and they are great for preventing spills! The lid has a unique silicone-type opening that the kids can just squeeze their hands through and grab some snacks. I would recommend this due to its versatility for road trips, events, etc. I am writing this review after owning these cups for YEARS. I have purchased them over and over again. They're fantastic. Never broke either, I've ordered more as I lost the original, so great investment for help with a mess-free life." — Amazon12x Get a two-pack from Amazon for $5.96. 20. And a portable car vacuum because the best way to have a clean-ish vehicle post-road trip is to clean as you go — and this makes it possible! If your kid spilled their Goldfish crumbs everywhere (I WARNED YOU) or your dog's fur is all over your seats, you can quickly suck it up with this. It's powerful and can even fit in a cup holder! Promising review: "This little crumb-sucking machine is awesome! I have had mine for about six weeks now. As a mom of four, I find that my kids are always dropping crackers or dry cereal and then stepping on them. The car seats are known to have entire ecosystems in all the nooks and crannies. This vacuum tackles all of them without trouble. I leave mine in the trunk of the van plugged into the outlet back there so that it's always charged when I need it. Worth every dime! It hasn't died on me yet… And I've run it 20 minutes straight before." — Wundermama Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in five colors). 21. A comfy seatbelt shoulder pad so you don't have to tug at the strap that's uncomfortably chaffing your neck as you drive across Route 66 to sunny California. Reviewers who are shorter swear by this because it's soft, durable, and makes driving more enjoyable! Promising review: "We absolutely love these shoulder pad cushions in our car. The seatbelt, even at its lowest setting, would scratch my neck. I would be left with scratches on my neck as a result. My husband often pulls his shoulder strap out on long trips because he is uncomfortable. Since purchasing these, I no longer get scratches and my husband is comfortable even after eight hours in the car. Great purchase!" — Fourth Grade Teacher Get it from Amazon for $6.79 (available in 18 colors). 22. A battery-operated fan if the air in your car gets a little stuffy *but* you don't want to drain your gas by using the AC — I mean, you JUST filled it up, and you're in the middle of nowhere... This will circulate the air in your car without affecting the temp. Just attach it to a car seat or headrest, or stand it up on the middle console — yep, you can just put it where your heart desires. 💞 Promising review:" I really love this fan because you can literally hang it or stand it on just about anything. I took it on a 12-hour road trip and stopped for a couple of hours to take a nap, and the fan lasted on high for about 2–3 hours. I still haven't had to charge it since I got it, but I probably will soon. I have another long drive, and I'm camping, so it's great to have it with me. It's also super light but feels like a quality fan. Hardly made noise, and the low hum it did make was soothing to me. I recommend this fan!" — Kelsey O'Leary Get it from Amazon for $23.69 (available in three colors). 23. A tissue holder that clips onto your sun visor so you don't have a clunky box slipping and falling all over the place — and that makes the top tissue gross anyways... Now the next time your kid has a sneezing attack or feels a bloody nose coming on, you can quickly grab a tissue and hand it to them. They'll be *so* impressed with how prepared you are. People have also put napkins or disposable face masks in these! Promising review: "This is my second time buying it; this car tissue holder makes my car more organized and saves space. I love this car tissue holder! So when my sister got her new car, I ordered this again for her as a gift. She loves it, too. She said the design is amazing; the clip holds on tightly. When she is driving and needs a tissue. No more stopping alongside the road looking for the box. This car tissue case is attractive, elegant, and modern. Good quality!" — Cathy Get it from Amazon for $9.79+ (available in four colors). 24. A 3-in-1 car phone mount with a powerful suction cup that can attach to your dashboard or windshield — or just clip it onto your air vent! If you swear by your Apple or Google maps, this will keep your directions close by and up high so your eyes *stay* on the road. And if you take the wrong exit (that happens!), you are in a completely new part of the country after all... This has a retractable arm and 360° rotation for the perfect positioning you want. Promising review: "I had bought another auto phone holder but this was the best. Rather than placing it in the middle of my dash or blocking my front view, I placed it on the left of the steering wheel in an area that was already a blind spot. I was able to spin, bend, and tilt it to exactly the right position. The quick-release button for my phone is so convenient. It has held in place for three months now, even when the windows are down and the wind is blowing. Finally! My phone is not inconveniently taking up one of the spots in my cup holders." — Anonymous genius Get it from Amazon for $12.99. 25. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot so you can keep scrolling away on TikTok and Reels like you're in your bed at home. It offers 4G WiFi for up to 18 hours, connecting up to 10 devices so you *and* your fam stay connected to the world even if you feel like you're driving through Ghostown, USA. Promising review: "Portability and keeping me connected to the internet while traveling is the best. Kept my 6-year-old granddaughter connected to the internet while we drove for seven hours. Prior to that, she had only ridden in the car for no more than 60 minutes (and was not happy about it). Successful trip thanks to Solis Lite." — Steve P. Get it from Amazon for $91.99+ (available with different GB plans). 26. A portable multipurpose cooler you can place in the middle seat so your kids have access to everything (and I mean everything.) they want. It has two water bottle holders, side pockets (for toys, tablets, and overflow of stuff) andddd last but certainly not least, the middle is a COOLER. That means you can fill it to the brim with your child's favorite snacks so you never hear "IM HUNGRY" when you're two hours away from civilization. Bonus: the top of this can be used as a desk for coloring! Amazon PSA: *ONLY* use ice packs (aka ice is a no-no) for up to eight hours and do not leave perishable food in it without ice packs for more than 2 hours in a vehicle over 85 degrees F. Promising review: "Have had this bag for about 5 years now and used it for numerous road trips. We fill the main compartment up with snacks and the pockets with a few activities like car trip scavenger hunt cards. It's still going strong and plan to use it for an upcoming summer vacation. We do whatever we can to keep our young son content on days-long road trips and he likes to be able to access his own snacks and have an extra place to store his things. Part of the excitement of upcoming trips is filling this bin with road trip goodies that he normally wouldn't have access to." — lady.k Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two colors). 27. A little cleaner spray that comes with a microfiber cloth so your greasy fingers (from the large McDonald's fry) don't smudge up your car's touch screen, making you take the wrong exit to Disney World. I would say it's no big deal, but your kids say otherwise. Just spritz this onto the screen and wipe it dry! Promising review: "I have a touch screen display in my truck and my wife's car. In the sunlight, fingerprints show up like a crime scene. This product and the cloth remove all "evidence" of using the touch display and without leaving streaks or requiring tons of effort. I find it works best to spray the cloth and then the larger bottle is great for me in the truck, and the small one is perfect for my wife's sports car. Also, the cloth is modest in size, and that's a plus too." — Brian A. Get it from Amazon for $17.99. 28. A handy foldable doorstep if you have a rack or roof box on top of your car that's filled with allll the things you want once you get to your destination. It's designed to fit both feet so you can feel balanced *and* eliminate the need for a ladder — which doesn't get you that close to your roof anyway. Forget the days of getting your dirty shoes all over your seats to grab what you need up there! Amazon To use it, just hook this onto your u-shaped door latch in your vehicle's doors. This *new* design can fit any car. Btw, you might've seen this on Shark Tank! Rightline Gear is a small business that designs and manufactures outdoor gear for cars and people. Promising review: "Really well made. Very pleased with this product. I tested it on a 2025 Subaru Forester and it works great — no indication of denting the car body when using. Great product! I've spent years climbing up hanging on with my toes on the seats when installing pods. Well, no longer." — Al Harlow
