The Oscar-winner’s daughter Lorraine Nicholson marked his 89th birthday on Thursday by posting a rare photo of him on Instagram.
The pic, posted on Lorraine’s Stories, shows Jack clapping and smiling with a clapping Joni Mitchell sitting next to him. Lorraine didn’t indicate when the photo was taken, but simply wrote on the photo, “¡¡ 89 !!” after posting a photo of a younger Jack in a Coca-Cola shirt with, “89?”
Lorraine last posted a photo of her father in January, also on Instagram.
Lorraine is one of Jack’s six children. Her mother is actress Rebecca Broussard, whom he also shares a son, “Smile 2” star Ray Nicholson.
Jack made his acting debut in 1958 in Roger Corman’s “Cry Baby Killer.” What followed was a prolific career spanning more than five decades. He has earned three Oscars and BAFTAs, six Golden Globes and even a Grammy Award.
His last Oscar nomination was for best actor in 2003’s “About Schmidt” followed by his last film work, a supporting role in James L. Brooks’ “How Do You Know” with Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson.
Nicholson was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1994, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1999 and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2001.
He last appeared at the Oscars in 2013 to present best picture with First Lady Michelle Obama.
John Ternus was unavoidable when Apple debuted the Macbook Neo. He kicked off an intimate media event for the Neo, introducing it as a transformative machine for Apple thanks to its low $599 cost ($499 for education customers) and premium build quality. He was interviewed on Good Morning America, the sort of prominent media feature CEO Tim Cook typically handles. And when I asked Apple workers about the Neo at its launch event, they almost always brought up Ternus’ vision of the laptop.
For all intents and purposes, Tetanus was Apple’s frontman for the MacBook Neo.
Ternus is slated for his coronation as Apple’s CEO on September 1, and the Neo is not only a feather in his cap, but a likely indication of the company’s approach to products going forward. It’s a sign that Apple is getting more comfortable taking risks.
Apple lives and dies on its own premium image. It completely gave up on making cheap iPhones like the SE and 5C, and the $599 iPhone 16e and 17e are more expensive than typical mid-range Android phones (though the $249 Apple Watch SE is admittedly one of the cheaper smartwatches around.). It was risky to shove a mobile processor into a full-fledged computer, which could have made it too weak. And it was a gamble to stick with a meager 8GB of RAM, practically sacrilegious within the Apple pantheon. It’s not breaking new ground for product categories, but the Neo, in being a budget laptop at all, is surprisingly un-Apple.
A citrus MacBook Neo on a table outside. (Devindra Hardawar for Engadget)
And yet, thanks to Ternus’s hardware leadership and Apple’s command of its software, the MacBook Neo has been a resounding success. It has the best build quality, screen, keyboard, speakers and trackpad that I’ve ever seen in a $600 laptop. As I wrote in my review, “every Windows PC maker, including Microsoft, should be ashamed.”
While we don’t know the full build cost for the Neo, Apple’s margins for selling it will undoubtedly be far slimmer than the MacBook Air or Pro. But the Neo is more than a profit maker. It’s a device that can serve as a gateway to the Apple ecosystem for kids and students. Even better, it could easily tempt over Windows users.
We can’t give Ternus all the credit for the Neo, of course, there’s an entire team of product managers and engineers below him doing the actual design work. But it’s hard to deny the flex of building a $600 laptop that doesn’t feel like total garbage. The MacBook Neo surprised me, a jaded technology reporter, on practically every level. And its existence makes me wonder how a Ternus-led Apple could continue to iterate without compromising quality or Apple’s signature attention to detail.
Ternus is the rare Apple engineer who has played a role in almost all of its existing products — in his 25 year tenure, he’s taken charge of building the Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch. That gives him a unique perspective of where the company could go next, as well as how Apple could stretch its own capabilities. And based on what I’ve seen of the MacBook Neo, it’ll be interesting to see how Apple reshapes itself for the future.
Crypto once faced strong rejection from banks, regulators, and mainstream media. Many institutions dismissed it as speculation or worse. That narrative shaped public perception for years. Now the tone feels completely different. Banks build blockchain products. Governments approve ETFs. Media outlets cover crypto daily. This change looks dramatic on the surface.
However, crypto adoption trends reveal something deeper. Institutions did not suddenly believe in crypto. They simply adjusted their strategy. They moved from resistance to participation. This shift reflects power, control, and survival. Financial systems rarely ignore disruptive technology forever. They adapt when resistance no longer works.
The banks that told you crypto was a scam are now building crypto products.
The governments that said they’d ban it are now issuing permits for ETFs and debating digital currencies.
The financial media that mocked it is now covering it daily.
They didn’t change their minds.…
— Lark Davis (@LarkDavis) April 24, 2026
Banks Move From Criticism To Participation
Banks once labeled crypto risky and unreliable. Many warned customers to stay away. That messaging created fear among traditional investors. Today, the same banks explore custody services and blockchain infrastructure. They build trading platforms and integrate digital assets. This institutional crypto shift did not happen by accident. Banks saw rising demand they could not ignore. Clients wanted exposure to crypto markets. Ignoring that demand meant losing business.
Governments Rewrite The Rules Instead Of Banning Crypto
Governments initially took a hard stance against crypto. Some countries threatened bans. Others imposed strict regulations. Now the conversation looks very different. Authorities approve crypto ETFs and discuss central bank digital currencies. This shift in government crypto policy highlights a strategic pivot.
Governments realized banning crypto would not stop its growth. Decentralized networks operate beyond traditional control. Instead of fighting it, regulators now aim to manage it.
They introduce frameworks that bring it into the regulated system. This approach allows oversight while supporting innovation. Crypto adoption trends reflect this balancing act. Governments want both control and participation in the digital asset economy.
Media Narrative Evolves With Market Reality
Financial media once mocked crypto openly. Headlines focused on volatility, scams, and failures. That narrative shaped public skepticism. Today, coverage looks far more balanced. Major outlets track prices, report developments, and analyze trends. This change aligns with the broader crypto market narrative.
Media organizations follow audience interest. As it gained traction, demand for coverage increased. Ignoring crypto meant losing relevance. This shift does not mean complete support. It reflects adaptation to changing market realities. This adoption trends again explain the transition. As adoption grows, narratives evolve to match audience expectations.
What This Means For The Future Of Crypto Markets
This shift carries major implications for investors and users. Institutional involvement brings credibility and liquidity. It also introduces new risks and dynamics. Regulation will likely increase as governments refine policy frameworks. This could stabilize markets but limit certain freedoms.
At the same time, innovation will continue. Blockchain technology evolves rapidly, driven by both startups and institutions. The crypto market narrative will keep changing. Public perception will follow institutional behavior closely. This adoption trends suggest long-term integration into the financial system. It will not replace traditional finance entirely. It will merge with it.
The Bigger Picture Behind The Change
This transformation tells a broader story about power and adaptation. Institutions rarely abandon control willingly. They adjust strategies to maintain relevance. This is challenged the traditional system in ways few technologies have. It forced banks, governments, and media to respond. The result is not a complete shift in belief. It is a calculated move toward participation. This adoption trends highlight this reality clearly. The system did not change its mind. It changed its position.
Last April, quantum computing research company Project Eleven announced it would reward anyone who could crack Bitcoin’s cryptography within a year with 1 Bitcoin (BTC).
The competition has ended, and one person won 1 Bitcoin for breaking the 15-bit encryption using a quantum computer.
According to The Block, researcher Giancarlo Relli won the competition launched by Project Eleven. Relli derived a 15-bit elliptic curve cryptographic private key using a quantum computer and received 1 Bitcoin as a prize.
This competition shows that quantum computers are beginning to break the elliptic curve cryptography used in Bitcoin.
Project Eleven described this result as the largest quantum attack on elliptic curve cryptography to date.
However, Project Eleven stated that Bitcoin wallets are protected by 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography, and comparing this level of security to the 15-bit key broken in this experiment is difficult and illogical.
Project Eleven recently stated that approximately 6.9 million Bitcoins are held in wallets where their public keys are visible on the blockchain, and that these wallets could be vulnerable to quantum attacks if sufficiently robust systems are developed.
As is known, discussions about quantum risks for Bitcoin and altcoins have increased in recent months. In a paper published by Google last March, it was estimated that breaking 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography might require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits.
Writer and proudcer Jez Butterworth is making a new home with Universal Entertainment.
Butterworth has signed a five-year overall deal that will cover both TV/streaming and film projects. He’ll work with Universal Studio Group on the TV side and Universal Pictures for movie development. Butterworth will also continue working with 101 Studios, which is behind two series, MobLand and The Agency, on which Butterworth is an exec producer and writer (both stream on Paramount+). 101 Studios signed a production deal with NBCUniversal last year as part of Taylor Sheridan moving his overall deals to NBCU.
“Jez Butterworth is a versatile creator whose storytelling has a way of getting under your skin,” NBCU Entertainment chair Donna Langley said in a statement. “Whether it’s on stage or screen, his distinct voice is surprising and intense but always deeply human. Having the opportunity to work across the entire Universal Entertainment ecosystem will provide multiple entry points for Jez to make a lasting impact at the studio.”
Said Butterworth, “I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to join Donna and the team at Universal. I feel fortunate to continue my incredible partnership with 101 Studios and Chris [McCarthy] while I embark on this new adventure.” Former Paramount co-CEO McCarthy also made the move to NBCU last year and will help manage the company’s relationship with Sheridan, who is moving his film deal to NBCUniversal this year, with TV to follow in 2029.
Butterworth’s writing credits also include Ford v. Ferrari, Edge of Tomorrow, Fair Game and the series Britannia, among others. He is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen.
The Hollywood Reporter and the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance teamed up on Thursday for an inaugural celebration of Hollywood environmentalism, with a special appearance from former Vice President Al Gore.
The Sustainability in Entertainment Honors event, held at Hotel Bel-Air, was timed to THR‘s annual Sustainability Issue and was led by a keynote conversation between Gore and Bradley Whitford, in honor of the 20th anniversary of An Inconvenient Truth. The Oscar-winning documentary followed the former politician as he campaigned to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and called for immediate action to save the planet.
Whitford introduced Gore on stage by declaring him “the leader that all of our children deserved.” The VP started the conversation by looking back at the start of An Inconvenient Truth, which began with him developing an environmental slideshow while still in the White House (“Steve Jobs asked me to join the Apple board soon after that, and said, ‘You know, Al, we have these things called computers now,’” mocking his old-fashioned method.) He then agreed to promote 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow because of its climate change warnings, joking, “and the press said, ‘Well, isn’t this fictional?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s not as fictional as the Bush-Cheney account.’”
That connected him with Day After Tomorrow producer Laurie David, who told him his slideshow should be a movie. “I thought that was a crazy idea,” Gore admitted. Looking back now, he continued, “I’m so glad I was wrong, because the impact of the movie from my own personal experience — I travel around the country and in other countries, people still come up and talk about it and what the impression was.”
“I can’t think of another movie that puts an issue out there in a way that validated the public discussion. I can’t think of anything else that came close to this,” Whitford emphasized, noting the power of storytelling that he experienced personally with The West Wing, as he teased, “we did fix the Middle East in two episodes.”
Gore joked back, “And I was going to say about An Inconvenient Truth, if it hadn’t been for me, we might have a big problem right now.” But despite the escalating climate crisis, Gore said he still believes there are a lot of reasons for hope.
Bradley Whitford, Geena Davis, Al Gore and Ed Begley Jr.
John Sciulli/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
“We’re in a climate policy recession right now because of the current U.S. president, mainly, and because of the massive spending and lobbying by the fossil fuel polluters. But the polls, just in the last week, confirmed that public opinion here in the U.S. is that it’s matching its highest record ever,” he explained. “People understand that we have to solve this. There’s a certain amount of what’s called ‘climate hushing’ going on now. That’s not climate denial; climate hushing is where business people who are scared of Trump or scared of one of the Broligarchs or something will kind of downplay the issue, but the underlying concern is very, very high, and so there is a lot of hope.”
He pointed specifically to the massive growth in solar power and electric vehicles over the last two decades and put much of the blame on the fossil fuel lobby, who have “spent billions and billions of dollars deceiving people” and have “captured enough of the politicians and policymakers to be in effective control of the policies that affect their business model.” Gore also admitted he was surprised that the politicalization around climate change has lasted so long, thinking it would become a bipartisan issue like fights against tobacco and healing the ozone layer.
The conversation ended with Whitford expressing his concerns about AI and the energy it uses, to which Gore responded, “It’s a serious concern; it is not a cause for panic. If you look at all of the generative AI data centers worldwide as it exists today, their emissions are less than half of what is coming from uncovered landfills … what we need is political will to start looking at the solutions in a very rational and prioritized way.” He did however note that when it comes to AI’s use, “I’ve never seen anything remotely like this. I go along with those who say this is by far the most important and significant scientific revolution in all of history.”
Along those lines, Gore urged, “We have to rekindle the spirit of America and revive the quality of our democratic discourse and bring democracy back to life, IRL — in real life — not by bots on the internet and thinking that’s going to do it,” while emphasizing how Hollywood storytelling could have a significant impact at this moment. “We have the biggest challenge that Americans have ever had in holding onto our democracy, holding onto American values.”
Paradise‘s John Hoberg, Sarah Shahi and Stephen Markley.
Joe Scarnici/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Elsewhere during the programming, THR editor-in-chief Maer Roshan and publisher Lori O’Connor delivered remarks, and several Hollywood productions were recognized for their sustainability efforts. Paradise received the Achievement in Sustainable Storytelling honor, presented by actress Sarah Shahi and accepted by writer-executive-producer John Hoberg and writer Stephen Markley.
In their speech, Markley called out the entertainment industry’s poor track record for telling environmental stories, saying, “In the past four years, the industry has collectively greenlit a handful of stories about the climate crisis and that silence has played a direct role in shaping the disregard we see in the public imagination. The world is 1.5 degrees hotter, with endless disaster befalling people on every continent, and every story we greenlight that does not reflect that reality is essentially science fiction. Denial continues to be a piss poor strategy, yet even after 16,000 homes in our home city burned to the ground, I can tell you from experience, it’s never been harder to get something greenlit about the climate crisis.”
The Boroughs creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews.
Joe Scarnici/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
New Netflix series The Boroughs was honored with the Achievement in Sustainable Production award, presented by Netflix’s Jinny Howe to creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews; Grey’s Anatomy was recognized with the Legacy of Sustainable Storytelling honor, with actors Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. presenting to showrunner Meg Marinis and Shondaland chief content officer Alison Eakle.
James Pickens Jr., Meg Marinis, Alison Eakle, Chandra Wilson and Caterina Scorsone of Grey’s Anatomy.
John Sciulli/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
The event also featured a conversation on the state of Hollywood sustainability, moderated by Sustainable Entertainment Alliance executive director Sam Read with director Kat Coiro, Netflix sustainability officer Emma Stewart, Adam Umhoefer (executive, community & impact at CAA) and Gabriele Almon (senior director, advocacy at the Television Academy).
The chat touched on the need for more climate storylines, the push to normalize talking about sustainability on set and asking questions, the importance of talking to sustainability officers at Hollywood companies to help put plans in motion and the desire to change the way things have been done in the industry for decades, despite pushback.
“I remember starting out and feeling so proud of myself for having one of my first big jobs, and I walked out by a dumpster that was filled to the top with plastic bottles that had been used in one day of creating a story. It completely deflated me because I said, ‘I love my job, but I don’t want to be part of this huge problem,’” said Coiro, who recently directed You, Me & Tuscany. “And we are big; movies and television shows, there’s so many people working, there’s so many resources that need to come together to make a story. So how can we be responsible? That was the impetus for me: How can we tell great stories that are entertaining and also not be completely irresponsible?” She added, “I would love to walk away from a set and have created the minimal amount of waste and feel like I created the story, but not a big, giant pile of trash.”
Emma Stewart, Adam Umhoefer, Gabriele Almon, Kat Coiro and Sam Read.
Joe Scarnici/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Jez Butterworth has signed a five-year film and television deal with Universal Entertainment, Variety has learned. The deal will begin in January 2027.
“Jez Butterworth is a versatile creator whose storytelling has a way of getting under your skin. Whether it’s on stage or screen, his distinct voice is surprising and intense but always deeply human,” said Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment. “Having the opportunity to work across the entire Universal Entertainment ecosystem will provide multiple entry points for Jez to make a lasting impact at the Studio.”
On the film side, Butterworth will work with the Universal Pictures team led by Peter Cramer. On the TV side, he will work with Pearlena Igbokwe’s Universal Studio Group for potential linear and streaming projects.
This marks the latest major deal announcement for NBCUniversal. As previously reported, Taylor Sheridan is already at work on film projects for Universal, while the “Yellowstone” mastermind will begin a new TV overall deal with NBCUniversal starting in 2029. Likewise, Sheridan collaborators 101 Studios and former Paramount boss Chris McCarthy have production deals that began at the top of this year.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to join Donna and the team at Universal,” Butterworth said. “I feel fortunate to continue my incredible partnership with 101 Studios and Chris [McCarthy] while I embark on this new adventure.”
Butterworth most recently collaborated with 101 Studios and McCarthy on the Paramount+ show “Mobland” starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren. He is also behind the spy show “The Agency” for Paramount+. Both are currently prepping their second seasons. His film credits include “Edge of Tomorrow,” the James Bond film “Spectre,” “Ford v. Ferarri,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” and “Get on Up.”
Butterworth is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
The shooting of the most recent “Summer House” reunion has been rocked by leaked audio spoilers from the cast talking about the controversial relationship between stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson. Now Bravo has released a statement revealing that the network is looking into leak.
“The ‘Summer House Reunion’ audio leak represents a serious breach of trust and a clear lack of respect for the cast, crew, and the integrity of the production process,” the statement that was posted to X on Friday morning reads. “We take this matter very seriously and have launched a full investigation and we will take appropriate action based on our findings.”
Additionally, host Andy Cohenresponded to a fan on Threads on Friday morning, who warned him, “Andy Stay offline please you won’t like the news.”
“I don’t,” he responded. “On my way to eye surgery and just reading about it. People laid their souls out emotionally for ten hours yesterday and its disgusting and illegal for someone to leak or distribute this. It’s disrespectful to the work and tears the cast put in yesterday. Let the season play out. You will see it all in due time.”
EMURGO, a blockchain infrastructure firm and co-founder of Cardano, introduced the SecondFi application at Money20/20 Bangkok. The product is a mobile neofinance platform with self-custody, allowing users to manage funds without intermediaries.
SecondFi combines payments, trading, savings, and staking in one interface. The app supports card payments at global merchants, transfers between crypto and fiat, and multichain staking.
SecondFi is designed for users without prior crypto experience. The interface removes technical barriers and allows onboarding without complex setup. The company positions the product as a step toward broader adoption of decentralized finance in everyday use.
The release follows EMURGO’s earlier payment initiative with Wirex, where the Cardano Card was introduced. SecondFi expands this direction from a single payment product to a wider financial platform.
President Donald Trump’s command of U.S. financial and economic policy may have taken a step closer now that his Department of Justice has backed down from an investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, meaning his nominee to replace Powell may now have an open path to confirmation.
Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh, whose own considerable wealth includes some crypto-world assets, is awaiting a final vote from the Senate after appearing in a confirmation hearing this week. Trump, who has relentlessly blamed Powell for maintaining overly high U.S. interest rates, chose Warsh to remedy that, but Republican Senator Thom Tillis had promised to block the confirmation as long as the DOJ pressed an investigation against Powell for cost overruns in a Fed building project.
That criminal probe was dropped on Friday, and Attorney General Jeanine Pirro said the DOJ asked the Fed’s inspector general to look into the renovation situation and issue a report. When the news emerged, Kalshi’s prediction betting on Walsh’s confirmation before May 15 shot up from about 30% odds to more than 80%.
“I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas,” Pirro wrote in a post on social media site X. “Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.”
Putting his own people atop the Federal Reserve not only equates with Trump’s greater influence over U.S. monetary policy, but it also leaves him with more allies on the Fed board as it makes decisions about financial policy — including implementing rules that govern the crypto industry and stablecoin issuers.
Because of Tillis’ threat, Warsh may have been in a holding pattern as long as the DOJ pursued its investigation, which could have left Powell in charge of the Fed indefinitely, well beyond the May 15 expiration of his term. Now, the Republican-majority Senate may be able to move more quickly toward confirmation of the nominee, who insisted during his hearing that he would act independently of White House direction.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee that’s considering his nomination, dismissed the move and noted the administration is still pursuing Fed Governor Lisa Cook in court.
“This is just an attempt to clear the path for Senate Republicans to install President Trump’s sock pocket Kevin Warsh as Fed chair,” Warren said in a statement. “Let’s be clear what the Justice Department announced today: They threatened to restart the bogus criminal investigation into Fed Chair Powell at any time while failing to drop their ridiculous criminal probe against Governor Lisa Cook.”
Tillis called Warsh a “great nominee.” In his own posting this week on X, the senator said he’d vote yes on Warsh once the DOJ backs off of Powell:
“I look forward to supporting him out of committee once the DOJ drops their bogus investigation into Chairman Powell that threatens the independence of the Fed.”
