rb809rb – Page 157 – MagazinAisle

Michael Saylor Changes Strategy: Strategy Didn’t Buy Bitcoin This Week! Here’s Where He Invested!

Strategy, the largest institutional Bitcoin investor, has paused its Bitcoin strategy. While the giant company sold a significant amount of $BTC last week, it hasn’t made any sales this week, but it hasn’t made any new $BTC purchases either.

According to Strategy founder Michael Saylor, Strategy sold $466.7 million worth of MSTR shares but did not purchase any Bitcoin.

According to a July 13 SEC filing, Strategy sold 4.82 million shares of MSTR between July 6 and July 12 for net proceeds of $466.7 million.

The company did not make any Bitcoin purchases during the week and kept its holdings stable at 843,775 $BTC as of 12/07/2026.

At this point, Strategy increased its USD reserves by $450 million, raising its total reserves to $3.0 billion.

“Strategy has increased its USD reserves by $450 million. As of 7/12/2026, we hold 843,775 $BTC in our $BTC reserves and have $3.0 billion in our USD reserves.”

Especially in the face of recent Bitcoin declines and risks, Strategy and Saylor, which have been focusing on cash reserves to calm the markets, announced their Digital Credit Capital Plan in June. This plan stipulated that the company would hold reserves sufficient to cover at least 12 months of dividend payments.

As you may recall, the company also announced that it sold 3588 $BTC to increase its USD reserves.

*This is not investment advice.

July 13, 2026

Samsung Health App May Erase Your Data If You Opt Out of AI Training

Samsung is making it harder for you to opt out of AI training in its Health app.

As How-To Geek reports, users are seeing a notification when launching the app that introduces a new privacy toggle called “Consent to the use of health data for AI training and modeling.” If you toggle it off, the app warns that it will no longer sync your health data with your Samsung account.

“You will not be able to sync health data with your Samsung account and your health data will be deleted unless retained pursuant to applicable law,” the alert reads. “If retention is required, we will erase it as soon as the required retention period ends.”

It is unclear what user data Samsung will collect if the toggle is enabled. A support page cited by various news outlets indicates that it could have access to your body measurements, nutrition data, step count, sleep metrics, medication data, health records, and cycle tracking data.

We’ve reached out to Samsung to confirm and will update the story if they respond.

Recommended by Our Editors

For now, if you’re uncomfortable sharing the aforementioned data points, you can launch Samsung Health, head to Settings > Privacy, and disable the toggle next to “Consent to the use of health data for AI training and modeling.”

Of late, tech companies have been collecting copious amounts of user data because such real-world data can help improve the accuracy and performance of their AI models. Many AI companies are also facing lawsuits and scrutiny for allegedly scraping copyrighted or personal data without permission.

Fitbit Air Review: Affordable, Minimalist Health Tracking | All Things Mobile

About Our Expert

July 13, 2026

Oregon AG Drops Demand For Records & Motion To Delay Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

UPDATED, with comment from AG: Oregon‘s attorney general has dropped a civil investigative demand for Paramount to turn over records related to its efforts to secure federal approval for its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield also had asked a state circuit court judge to order Paramount to turn over the materials and to delay Paramount’s closing of its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by 60 days so the documents could be reviewed. A hearing has been scheduled for Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

A Paramount spokesperson said, “We are pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion to delay this transaction. It was the right decision and avoids an unwarranted effort to delay a lawful, pro-competitive merger.

“Antitrust authorities around the world have carefully reviewed this transaction, clearing it or concluding that it does not violate any competition laws. That regulatory record underscores what the facts, the law and the economics make clear: this transaction will create a stronger challenger to dominant global streaming and technology platforms, expand consumer choice, increase investment in premium content and theatrical distribution, and create more opportunities for creators and workers. We look forward to completing the transaction and delivering those benefits.”

Jenny Hansson, communications director for Rayfield, said in a statement, “Paramount made it clear that they weren’t going to comply with the investigative demand, and that they think they’re above the law. We’re not going to let them waste Oregonians’ resources on these games. We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general are said to be considering a legal challenge to the transaction.

Rayfield sought Paramount records of lobbying of federal officials, as well as its role in a statement that the DOJ released in support of the transaction. The attorney general also sought documents “related to the formulation and execution of lobbying strategies aimed at obtaining regulatory approval of the proposed merger, which Respond as internally named ‘Project Warrior.’”

In a court filing, Paramount has objected to the document requests, arguing, among other things, that they impose “burdens and demands which are disproportionate” to the Oregon investigation and are “of such marginal relevance that the value of any materials sought is outweighed by the burden imposed on Paramount in having to provide such information.”

“Lobbying activities and related communications are wholly irrelevant to whether the proposed acquisition ‘violates Oregon’s antitrust laws,’” the company’s legal team wrote.

July 13, 2026

Major League Soccer Bets on a Star-Studded Ad Campaign to Help It Capitalize on World Cup Fever

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears its end, Major League Soccer is using the global event to try and turbocharge its future, launching what the league says is the largest coordinated marketing campaign in its 33-year history.

The effort features the somewhat audacious tagline “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here,” while leaning into the star power of its owners and top athletes, including Inter Miami megastar Lionel Messi, LAFC star Son Heung-Min, Inter Miami owner David Beckham, Austin FC owner Matthew McConaughey, LAFC owner Magic Johnson and Philadelphia Union owner Kevin Durant.

“The FIFA World Cup is going to bring millions of new fans into the game, and our job is to make sure their soccer journey doesn’t end when the tournament does,” Radhika Duggal, the CMO of MLS, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “This campaign is about showing people that there’s a club, a community, and a story waiting for them every week in MLS. We’re meeting fans through culture, music, and entertainment, making it easy to discover the league, whether that’s on Apple TV or at their local stadium. MLS has never been more ambitious or more connected to the moments shaping culture, and we’re excited to welcome a whole new generation of fans.”

The campaign will kick off during Fox‘s coverage of the World Cup semifinals and final this week, and will continue via Apple TV and other linear, streaming, digital, social, and out-of-home platforms.

The campaign will also include elements from all 30 MLS clubs, with 22 of them offering “first match on us” promotions with free tickets. And it will include an Amazon Music Original cover of the Tribe Called Quest song “Can I Kick It?” — created exclusively for MLS. Produced by legendary producer DJ Premier and featuring new vocals and lyrics from breakout artist Samara Cyn.

“At a defining moment for soccer in North America, MLS is turning global excitement into lasting engagement and connection,” said Camilo Durana, executive VP & chief business officer of MLS. “As the World Cup inspires new fans, our clubs and communities are ready to welcome them as the season resumes and the next chapter of their soccer journey begins with MLS.”

MLS is betting big that enormous interest in the World Cup can translate into invigorated interest in its league, particularly if fans follow, say, Messi or Son. The World Cup has been a ratings bonanza for both Fox and Telemundo, garnering NFL-like numbers for games featuring the U.S. team, and Mexico-England’s blockbuster battle last week drawing more than 44 million people between the two networks and their streaming platforms.

MLS, of course, used the 1994 World Cup (the last one to be played in the U.S.) to launch, but the interest in this one is off-the-charts, and it is hoping that it can be just the thing to kickstart the sport as something that can be viewed as on par with the top leagues in a sports-obsessed country.

July 13, 2026

‘Digger’ Trailer: Tom Cruise Spent Days Listening to Alejandro G. Iñárritu Read Him the Script

Tom Cruise is known to be a student of film, the rare movie star who likes to speak at length about camera lenses and the crafts behind filmmaking. But one secret to his success? Getting directors to read to him aloud so he can better understand their visions.

He says he’s done this with multiple directors, including Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the filmmaker behind Cruise’s upcoming prestige play Digger.

“Alejandro took several days during which he was just reading the script to me and I’m listening to everything that’s in his mind, so that I can understand that, and then I know how to contribute to it, and bring that collaboration together,” Cruise said at a recent trailer event launch for Digger on the Warner Bros. lot.

During the event, he said multiple times that Digger is the culmination of his 40-year career, and it seems that will be the selling point in the coming months as promotion ramps up in preparation for release and an eventual awards campaign.

Indeed, the project is both a departure from his recent history and a return to form for the actor, who has spent the past decade almost exclusively in the world of franchise filmmaking. His $1.49 billion box office grossing Top Gun: Maverick “saved Hollywood’s ass” (to quote Spielberg), while his Mission: Impossible pushed the boundaries of action filmmaking and generated countless headlines for Cruise’s commitment to doing his own stunts.

Digger unveiled its first trailer to the world Monday, with Cruise almost unrecognizable under makeup and prosthetics. It’s the type of film Warner Bros. hopes will remind the world that in addition to being one of the last remaining movie stars, Cruis is also an Oscar-level performer who has been nominated for acting three times (1989’s Born on the Fourth of July, 1996’s Jerry Maguire and 2000’s Magnolia, in addition to a nom for producing Top Gun: Maverick).

A few days before the trailer hit online, Cruise assembled a group of journalists to the Warner Bros. lot for a moderated Q&A and meet and greet (complete with a giant shovel that he scaled for a photo-op).

Thank you for spending the day with me and sharing in our mutual love of cinematic storytelling on the legendary Warner Brothers Lot. pic.twitter.com/ufQGBs0wYQ

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) July 12, 2026

Cruise revealed that he was an instant fan of Iñárritu’s 2000 film Amores perros, inviting people to his home to screen it, even though the two would not meet for a few years later.

Iñárritu was not available to join Cruise for the Warners event, but he sent a video from London, where he is finishing Digger. He said that after 2015’s The Revenant (for which he won the second of his back-to-back directing Oscars), he had the idea for Digger, and spent years developing the movie, before approaching Cruise around seven years ago.

It’s Cruise’s first character actor style role since he wore prosthetics to play studio exec Les Grossman in the comedy Tropic Thunder.

“The transformation he went through was astonishing. ‘Alejandro, it took me 40 years to become this character,’ he told me once. And I think we both know what it means to carry an entire career into a single moment like this. We both knew that throughout our journeys, we had never done anything even close to this,” said the filmmaker in the video sent to the event.

Cruise re-iterated that the film is unlike anything that he’s made before.

“I have never had something that could challenge me in this way and neither has Alejandro when we went in, ever. And when you see this film, it’s totally original,” said Cruise.

Audiences will find out for themselves on Oct. 2.

July 13, 2026

Woot’s Best Deals of the Week : Get a 1-Year NordVPN Subscription for Just $24.99

When you want to save on tech, head to Woot. The Amazon-run site is basically a deals hub, featuring discounts every single day of the year on items across seven categories, including electronics. It’s not unusual to see markdowns on devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, and Microsoft. Outside of big sale events, it’s usually the best place to find low prices on high-end gadgets. However, items at Woot don’t last for very long. So, when you see something that catches your eye, don’t wait to add it to your cart, or it might be gone! Plus, Prime members automatically get free shipping.

Right now, you can take advantage of a $1,000 markdown on a Samsung 11-channel surround sound system and save $150 on luxe Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 earbuds. Plus, pick up a MetaQuest VR Headset for $320 less. The deals don’t stop there: snag the JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker for under $90, and pick up the award-winning Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $610 less.

Let’s take a closer look at the best Woot deals so you can start saving!

VPN Deal

NordVPN Standard

1-year digital code for PC, Mac, or mobile. Connect up to 10 devices at once

$24.99
at Woot

$69.99
Save $45.00

Get Deal

Boasting an extensive suite of privacy and security features, including advanced encryption, threat detection, and transparent data practices, NordVPN is not only the fastest VPN we’ve tested, but also the best value. It’s essentially a robust privacy ecosystem, using tools like NordPass for secure password management and NordLocker for file encryption and cloud storage. It’s our Editor’s Choice Pick for VPN, and right now, you can get an entire year’s subscription on sale for just $24.99.

VR Headset Deal

Meta Quest Pro

With 1,920 by 1,800 resolution (per eye), 90 Hz refresh rate, and 6DOF motion detection

$679.99
at Woot

$999.99
Save $320.00

Get Deal

Earning our PCMag Best of the Year Award in 2022, the Meta Quest Pro is an impressive standalone virtual reality headset with a level of performance that makes it suitable for professionals as well as enthusiasts. We were highly impressed by the eye- and face-tracking tech, color pass-through camera, and comfortable fit. Plus, the headset and controllers are all rechargeable, and you don’t need a PC to operate.

Smartphone Deals

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

1 TB, 14-hour tested battery life, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, Android 15, IP68 rating

$1,049.99
at Woot

$1,659.99
Save $610.00

Get Deal

Per our expert, Iyaz Akhtar, “The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the ultimate Android handset with top-of-the-line power, terrific cameras, a built-in stylus, and the most innovative AI features we’ve seen in a phone to date”. The large 6.9-inch screen provides an immersive experience for watching content, while the rounded corners and narrower body make the phone ergonomic and comfortable to hold. Performance is exceptionally smooth, too. It earned our Editor’s Choice Award last year, and right now, you can pick one up for $610 less.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

128 GB, 6.7-inch screen, Samsung Exynos 2400, 50MP front camera, 12MP rear camera, 17-hour battery

$429.00
at Woot

$649.00
Save $220.00

Get Deal

Marketed as the budget-friendly model in Samsung’s smartphone lineup, the Galaxy S25 FE still provides many flagship features, including high-performance cameras, a big, bright screen, and Samsung’s Galaxy AI tools. Plus, the build of the phone is durable with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ covering the front and back. This is an excellent option if you’re looking to be part of Samsung’s Galaxy realm for less, especially with this additional $200 discount.

Robot Vacuum and Mop Deal

iRobot Roomba Combo 2 + AutoEmpty Dock

With smart navigation, 120-minute run time, washable microfiber mop pad, and iRobot Home App

$159.99
at Woot

$499.99
Save $340.00

Get Deal

Save time, energy, and effort with the iRobot Roomba Combo 2. This powerful robot vacuum and mop features a four-stage cleaning system with four suction levels and three mopping levels that’ll clear your floors of any dirt, dust, and stubborn pet hair in one pass. It also empties itself, holding up to 60 days’ worth of dirt. You truly won’t have to lift a finger except for once every two months. Best of all, it’s marked down by $340 right now.

See how it compares to other robot vacuums we’ve reviewed.

Earbuds Deals

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

IP57 rating, 24-bit hi-fi codec, HD voice conversations, and intuitive touch-control

$199.99
at Woot

$249.99
Save $50.00

Get Deal

The sleek and stylish Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are a premium pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, offering a comfortable fit, excellent audio quality, and nifty AI features – and all for under $200 right now. In addition to crisp high-res audio, adaptive ANC technology automatically adjusts the noise cancellation in real time for a strong, smooth, and distraction-free listening experience. Plus, you can access Galaxy’s AI assistant hands-free and take advantage of live translation. We awarded their predecessor, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, a rating of “Excellent.” If you’re an Android user, these are a top pick.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6

All-day battery life, charging case, three microphones, IP54 rating, and single-button control

$99.99
at Woot

$249.00
Save $149.01

Get Deal

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 wireless earbuds boast strong, high-res audio with drive units adapted from their Px7 S2e headphones. Better still, aptX adaptive technology adjusts the sound dynamically for an optimal listening experience, whether you’re jamming to tunes, watching movies, or gaming. Plus, there’s active noise cancellation to make sure every detail remains clear in loud environments. You won’t be disappointed by these earbuds, especially with a 60% discount, bringing the price from $249 to $99.99.

Beats Fit Pro

H1 chip, Spatial Audio with head tracking, one-touch iOS pairing, IPX4 rating, USB-C charging

$109.99
at Woot

$199.95
Save $89.96

Get Deal

The Beats Fit Pro are designed to fit securely in your ears and stay in place, making them a compelling choice for those who find typical earbuds tend to slip out of their ears. In terms of sound, they deliver the classic bass-forward Beats audio profile, with above-average noise cancellation and adaptive EQ. We already recommend them for iPhone users who love strong bass, and now they’re $90 cheaper.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE

IPX4 rating, Auto Switch, EQ presets, Bluetooth 5.2, ANC and Ambient modes, on-ear controls

$74.99
at Woot

$149.99
Save $75.00

Get Deal

Currently on sale for under $80, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE are an affordable but quality option for Samsung users. They provide above-average noise cancellation with a bass-forward sound signature and crisp mics. We reviewed a prior model of these earbuds and especially appreciated how seamlessly they integrate across the Samsung device ecosystem. If you’re an Android user looking for capable earbuds on a budget, these are for you.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Core

Bluetooth 5.4, 35 hour playback time, intuitive on-ear touch controls, two eartip sizes

$39.99
at Woot

$69.99
Save $30.00

Get Deal

If you’re looking for the least expensive pair of wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, then you won’t find better than the Samsung Galaxy Buds Core (especially with this additional 43% discount). These cost-effective earbuds feature a clear, balanced sound with rich bass and reliable ANC technology. Plus, Galaxy AI enables nifty features, like live language translation. Like most other Galaxy Buds models, these integrate seamlessly with other Android devices.

More Deals on Earbuds

*Deals are selected by our commerce team

Headphones Deals

Sennheiser Accentum Wireless Headphones

AAC, AptX, AptX HD, and SBC codec support, 37mm dynamic drivers, adjustable five-band EQ

$79.95
at Woot

$199.95
Save $120.00

Get Deal

According to our expert, Tim Gideon, the Sennheiser Accentum Wireless Headphones “offer commendable active noise cancellation (ANC) and produce balanced sound with plenty of sub-bass power and high-frequency detail for half the price of category leaders from Bose and Sony” (and that’s at full price). Add a sleek design and a comfortable fit, and you’ll understand why we recommend them as a great value for wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones. With a 55% discount, bringing the price to well under $100, they’re practically a no-brainer.

Portable Speaker Deal

JBL Flip 7

IP68 rating, Bluetooth 5.4, Auracast, 16-hour playtime, lossless audio via USB-C

$89.95
at Woot

$149.95
Save $60.00

Get Deal

Designed to be on-the-go, the JBL Flip 7 produces respectable sound for its size with thumping mid-bass. It’s water-resistant and durable enough to bring on all your outdoor adventures, too. While it lacks some of the fancier features of other portable Bluetooth speakers, it’s a solid pick for a simple, bring-anywhere speaker, especially at a sale price of $89.95.

Recommended by Our Editors

More Speaker Deals

*Deals are selected by our commerce team

Sound System Deals

Samsung HW-Q990F Surround Sound System

11.1.4 ch sound, Wireless Dolby Atmos, Q-Symphony, SpaceFit Sound Pro, Adaptive Sound, Game Pro Mode

$967.99
at Woot

$1,997.99
Save $1,030.00

Get Deal

The Samsung HW-Q990F system features a powerful soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and rear speaker kit that work together to create rich, room-filling sound. The wireless soundbar automatically analyzes the environment to calibrate the sound to your space. At the same time, “Active Voice Analyzer” technology helps make sure dialogue and on-screen voices remain crisp, clear, and easy to understand. Plus, the sound system integrates easily with voice assistants and smart devices via Alexa, Chromecast, AirPlay, and more. It’s a robust, high-end sound system that’ll immerse you in your favorite on-screen content — and with more than a $1,000 markdown, now is the time to upgrade.

Curious how this model compares to other soundbars? Read our reviews for the best soundbars.

More Soundbar Deals

*Deals are selected by our commerce team

Smart TV Deals

Hisense 75-Inch S7N Canvas TV

144Hz Game Mode Pro, Art Mode, Multi-Channel 2.0.2 Surround Sound, Quantum Dot Technology

$1,197.99
at Woot

$2,499.99
Save $1,302.00

Get Deal

The Hisense S7N Canvas TV is a 4K QLED Google Smart TV designed to look like a piece of wall art. It’s ultra-slim in profile and hangs flat against the wall like a painting, so you can showcase beautiful art masterpieces (think Monet’s Water Lilies or the famous Mona Lisa) on the no-glare, hi-matte display when the TV’s not in use. In other words, it’s both high-end decor and smart tech — and right now, it’s over $1,000 off. You can see how it compares to other TVs we’ve tested at a similar size and price point.

More TV Deals

*Deals are selected by our commerce team

Computer Keyboard Deal

Razer BlackWidow V4 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Low profile 18.5mm build, Razer HyperSpeed, and 980-hour battery life 

$99.99
at Woot

$199.99
Save $100.00

Get Deal

Gaming should be fast and fun, which is why you need this highly responsive gaming keyboard. The Razer BlackWidow V4 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard features light, balanced keystrokes with an extra-durable build, including two layers of sound-dampening foam. You’ll also enjoy the versatility of a multi-function roller and media keys, along with two-sided RGB underglow lighting on each key. It’s also wireless, with the option to quickly cycle through up to three Bluetooth-connected devices.

Portable Charger Deal

Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock

Connects via the Lightning to USB Cable and Apple 5W USB Power Adapter

$19.99
at Woot

$79.00
Save $59.01

Get Deal

Compatible with all Apple Watch models and sizes, this handy charging dock lets you power up your smartwatch through wireless magnetic charging. You can lay the watch flat with the band open or prop the watch up on its side to enable Nightstand mode and use your watch as an alarm clock.

For more options, give a gander at our expert advice and tips for buying Batteries & Power.

Digital Pay Machine Deal

Square Handheld Pay Machine

24/7 fraud prevention and phone support, cordless design with built-in battery that lasts all day

$249.00
at Woot

$399.00
Save $150.00

Get Deal

The Square Handheld Pay Machine is a handy device for business owners, offering an easy way to take payments and issue receipts. It accepts all major credit and debit cards at a low, fixed rate with no hidden fees. Once a customer has tapped or inserted their card, the payment processes in just a few seconds, so you don’t have to waste any time. Plus, you can subscribe (and cancel anytime) to Square for Retail, Square for Restaurants POS, or Square Appointments, depending on what best suits your needs.

Looking for something else? Check out additional Woot tech deals for even more summer savings.

About Our Expert

July 13, 2026

Catherine Cohen Had Hailey Bieber’s Stroke. Now She’s Staging a One-Woman Show About It With Broadway Royalty.

Three years ago, Cat Cohen was lying in a hospital bed feeling despondent. She’d suffered a small stroke — terrifying enough given she was only 31 years old — and the doctors discovered that she had a hole in her heart and needed surgery to repair it, and it felt, for a brief moment, like the end of the world. But then Cohen, an actress, podcaster, and comedian known for her blend of cabaret and standup, had an epiphany: This was incredible material. “It really was a spark,” she says. She started taking notes on her iPhone about what was happening to her, things the doctors were saying, how her family was reacting — all elements that, trauma aside, she says were genuinely funny.

While she was on her phone after the stroke, she also saw a piece of reassuring news. “I read that Hailey Bieber had the exact same kind of stroke that I had, and it was my first flash of, I’m going to be okay,” she says. “She was already okay! She had a baby, she had her shit together. I was looking through her Instagram like, this is going to be me.”

The experience eventually became the fodder for her new one-woman show Broad Strokes, which she’ll perform at New York’s famed Lucille Lortel theater from July 14 to Sept. 5. Though she’s a veteran of the stage, and the show will include a half-dozen songs in her signature style, it’s her off-Broadway debut and her first foray into work with a specific narrative thru-line.

“The show begins with me discussing that I’ve always wanted to be exceptional, to be the main character, until something so intense and story-defining happened and I was like, fuck this shit,” says Cohen, who first performed the show during a monthlong residency at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “I discuss my healing, too, and the ending is open because I’m really still processing it.”

Cohen has had dreams of being on Broadway (and “in the movies,” as she put it) since the very beginning. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and though she’s half Jewish, went through the traditional Southern experience of attending Christian youth groups. The east coast eventually beckoned, and she went to Princeton; she found her way into comedy after graduating and moving to New York without a clear path to a career onscreen. “When I was starting out, it was like I don’t know what auditions are, I don’t have an agent, I don’t know anything,” she says. “But you can write stuff and then get onstage anywhere in New York.” She studied the work of comedians she was inspired by, did time at Upright Citizens Brigade, and started doing standup, later settling into regular gigs at Joe’s Pub and Club Cumming (co-owned by the actor Alan Cumming).

That work earned her a manager, and the chance to start auditioning in earnest. Her first “real” (Cohen’s words) job was a 2019 episode of the HBO dramedy High Maintenance, which kicked off a steady flow of guest roles: Search Party, What We Do in the Shadows, Girls5eva, and then a larger arc on season four of Only Murders in the Building. At the time, she says, the wait felt interminable. “You’re watching people in your circle pop off right away, and you’re going on Instagram thinking, I want to do that, I want to go to that, why am I not? And then you realize, okay honey, why don’t you sit down and write something and then maybe someone will care. Stop being a bitch.”

After leaving the hospital in 2023, Cohen couldn’t stop writing. It mostly flowed, but she was mindful of the tone. “Since I’ve never dealt with material that is more serious, my fear was being maudlin,” she says. “I feel maudlin every day! I felt it in the hospital, too. But onstage, I’m like, who cares? I was desperate to keep it light.” She went on Mike Birbiglia’s podcast Working It Out and told him she was scared of introducing something upsetting in her comedy and alienating people. “He is the master of the one man show — Sleepwalk With Me was just so fucking good — and he was really encouraging that I would be fine.”

Once it became clear that she had something special — and very specific — on her hands, she started looking for collaborators. She teamed up with producers Mike Lavoie and Carlee Briglia, who produced Oh, Mary! as well as standup specials for Colin Quinn and Mike Birbiglia. The pair suggested Alex Timbers, the Tony-award winning director of Moulin Rouge!, also known for David Byrne’s American Utopia, Gutenberg! The Musical and Nick Kroll and John Mulaney’s Oh Hello!, to helm the show. “Timbers had reached out to me years ago just to say I like your work and we should know each other, which was a dream come true, and it was one of those things where there wasn’t much for us to talk about work-wise but it was nice to know him,” she says. “But then we met again for Broad Strokes and the connection was instantaneous.”

Cohen has released two comedy specials, 2022’s The Twist…? She’s Gorgeous, with Netflix, and the 2024 VEEPS hour Come For Me. But this is her first time developing her work with someone else in such close collaboration. “I’ve never had someone to talk through structure, and storytelling. He changed my life, because the end of the show really wasn’t clicking for me. He pointed out there should be a song, and then I went and wrote it and it was literally fixed.”

At the same time that Cohen was developing Broad Strokes, her onscreen career was popping off. Her audition strategy is, in her words, to put herself on tape for literally everything. “I’ll fly across the country to do an audition, I don’t care.” That strategy scored her a small but memorable role in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, playing publicist to Elle Fanning’s Rachel Kemp. Her time in the film even brought her to the Academy Awards for the first time, an experience she describes as both magical and more nuanced than it may have appeared on her Instagram posts. “I want people who saw that I went to know, by the way, that I was there by myself and that it was awkward,” she says with a laugh. Trier pushed for the entire cast to get tickets to the big event, and the invite came through last minute (and with no plus-one). After missing out on Sentimental Value‘s Cannes Film Festival premiere (“I was invited, but I would have had to pay for my own flight”), she decided to go despite the occasionally-humbling circumstances.

“The Oscars were like, ‘You can do the red carpet, but you’re going to have to come at 1:30pm,’” she says, which meant she was the first to arrive and then waited for hours for the show to start. When they won best international feature film, she watched from the nosebleeds. “Elle made sure to tell me that I won, I should come onstage with everyone, because she is the best, but I was up in the mezzanine and would have had to repel down,” says Cohen. “I was like, ‘That’s so sweet of you to think I’m sitting that close.’ Honey, I’m repelling.’”

After the Oscars, she shot a romantic comedy for Prime Video, alongside Kiernan Shipka, Cole Sprouse and Megan Mullally (who Cohen says has her dream career), and she’s shopping a few pilot ideas to networks. She hopes to get the chance to film Broad Strokes for a wider release on a streaming platform, and that its iconic venue lures in a few local celebrities. “I would love for Sarah Jessica Parker to come and then I want her spreading the word,” she says. And, ultimately, Cohen is searching for new material for the next show. As her personal circumstances improve — her career is blossoming, she’s planning a wedding — her standup ideas tend to dwindle. “For so long comedy has been about men just fucking around, and I don’t want to have to be a disaster just for material,” she says. “The real question is, how do I make sure my life is going well, and keep one foot in things that are interesting and funny?”

July 13, 2026