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NBA Fantasy: Waiver wire adds as playoffs loom

The Kings’ Nique Clifford has started and played at least 39 minutes in each of the past three games.

The start of the fantasy basketball playoffs is right around the corner in most leagues. Injuries have made playoff pushes difficult, but there are still some appealing players to target on the waiver wire. Here are six players to consider adding who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.

Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (45% rostered)

The Pelicans may have one of the worst records in the NBA, but they are one of the healthiest teams in the league right now. Zion Williamson returned Tuesday after missing just one game with an ankle injury. Trey Murphy III is back from his shoulder ailment and Dejounte Murray is playing again. The Pelicans don’t own their first-round pick in the 2026 Draft, so they aren’t really incentivized to rest their players to improve their lottery odds.

Even with the Pelicans healthy, Bey is playing heavy minutes. Over their last 11 games, he averaged 33 minutes. That helped him produce 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 3-pointers a night. In what has been a breakout season for him, he looks to be locked into a prominent role. He should be rostered in more than half of leagues.

Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors (42% rostered)

Stephen Curry is expected to miss at least another week with a knee injury. The star guard sat out the entire month of January and there haven’t been many positive updates regarding his recovery. It might make sense for the Warriors to shut him down if they were out of the playoff picture, but they currently occupy the eighth seed in the Western Conference and aren’t in any real danger of falling out of the Play-In Tournament. Still, with a spot in the tournament likely all but wrapped up, the Warriors could remain cautious with Curry and not bring him back until closer to the playoffs.

Curry being sidelined has opened up added minutes and responsibilities for Podziemski. He has become a valuable fantasy contributor, averaging 15.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 3-pointers over his last nine games. That type of all-around production warrants rostering him in the majority of formats.

Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz (42% rostered)

Keyonte George recently returned from injury for the Jazz. That has been their only positive news lately as their frontcourt continues to drop like flies. Lauri Markkanen is now dealing with a hip injury that will force him to miss a minimum of two weeks. Given how blatant the Jazz have been about trying to improve their lottery odds, it’s possible that we have already seen the last of Markkanen for the season.

Filipowski has remained a regular in this column as the Jazz continue to rule out big men for the season. Over their last seven games, he has averaged 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.9 3-pointers. There is no reason that he shouldn’t be rostered in more than half of fantasy leagues.

Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings (38% rostered)

Raynaud was in this column last week and was only rostered in 38% of leagues, a fact that has not changed. Since then, he has played three games. He produced two double-doubles on his way to averaging 20.0 points and 9.7 rebounds. Across his last nine games, he has recorded 15.8 points and 11.0 rebounds a night, while shooting 60.4% from the field and 87.0% from the free-throw line.

The Kings don’t have much choice but to play Raynaud a lot right now. Dylan Cardwell (ankle) should be out for at least a couple more weeks, so Precious Achiuwa and Drew Eubanks are the only real competition for playing time. Achiuwa is needed more at power forward right now with Keegan Murray (ankle) out, which makes Raynaud even more appealing in fantasy.

Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings (27% rostered)

The Kings have the worst record in the NBA for a reason. They entered the season without much of a margin for error. Once injuries set in, things went downhill quickly. In addition to all their missing big men, Zach LaVine (finger) and De’Andre Hunter (eye) are out for the season. This is the time for them to give more opportunities to their younger players, one of which is Clifford.

Clifford has started and played at least 39 minutes in each of the last three games. Going back even further, he has averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.3 3-pointers over his last 13 games. With no shortage of playing time on the horizon, Clifford has a great opportunity to remain productive.

Brandon Williams, Dallas Mavericks (18% rostered)

Cooper Flagg (foot) has missed eight straight games for the Mavericks. The team is now eight games out of the last spot in the play-in with only 21 games left to play. Their chances of making it are slim, to say the least. Flagg needs to play 16 more games to qualify for the Rookie of the Year Award, which might be the only reason for the team to even consider playing him right now.

One player who is on the rise as the Mavericks continue to rack up losses in Williams, who has averaged 24 minutes over the last 10 games. That helped him average 15.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He is not a good 3-point shooter, making just 23.6% of his attempts from behind the arc for the season. Still, he shoots 47.2% from the field overall. He’s not a must-roster in 10 and 12-team leagues, but he does have appeal in deeper formats.

March 5, 2026
Baba Vanga and Nostradamus’ 2026 predictions resurface following Iran conflict

Two alleged clairvoyant figures may have correctly predicted one of the biggest events of 2026 so far.

Nostradamus and Baba Vanga are known for their many predictions for humanity, which span over centuries.

While the French seer is known to be one of a select few prophets who believe they have been eerily correct in some of their predictions long after their death, Baba Vanga has managed to do the same after dying back in 1996.

The former passed away in the 16th century, though not before writing a book called Les Prophéties, which is known for its future forecasts and coincidentally predicted world-altering events.

On the other hand, Baba Vanga, a Bulgarian mystic, spoke of many prophecies which would happen in the years following her death.

But both of them have correctly predicted that a war would ensue in 2026.

Nostradamus has made several predictions about humanity which has spanned hundreds of years after his death (Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images)

In all fairness, Nostradamus also predicted global conflict in 2025, which we did see between Russia and Ukraine.

People have remained sceptical about their predictions though, and how their words could be misinterpreted due to the vague nature of some of them.

But one thing is clear, they both predicted that a ‘global war’ or ‘great war’ would take place this year.

Nostradamus wrote in this quatrain: “Seven months great war, people dead through evil/ Rouen, Evreux the King will not fail.”

Many think theat this is linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as they linked it to a previous phrase from the astrologer, which read: “Within two cities, there will be scourges the like of which was never seen.”

This has previously been linked to the atomic bombs dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

Baba Vanga also foresaw that ‘global wars’ would take place, as she believes that Earth may never really know peace.

We’re only in March, and this has already come true as the US and Israel are currently locked into a conflict with Iran, as both sides have launched missiles at each other’s territories and bases.

President Donald Trump even confirmed that the US has commenced ‘major combat operations’ against the Middle Eastern nation.

US bases in nearby Gulf countries have been targeted by Iran, with some debris from missiles crashing into populated areas.

Trump said he expects the conflict to last around a month (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

She claimed that in 2026, World War 3 would kick into gear, claiming that tensions between global powers will escalate and that there was even the the potential for the Chinese takeover of Taiwan to reach new heights.

The Bulgarian also said there may have been a direct confrontation between Russia and the US.

Baba Vanga also warned us of AI, explaining that it could become a major problem, with 2026 likely to mark a shift in the tides, where AI’s progress ends up dominating humanity.

While I, Robot already told us this years ago, it may be far beyond an enjoyable film – it could be our reality.

March 5, 2026
FATF Flags Peer-to-Peer Stablecoin Transfers as Top Money Laundering Risk
In brief

Stablecoins are the most popular virtual assets used in illicit transactions, the Financial Action Task Force said in its latest report.

P2P transfers via unhosted wallets represent a key vulnerability in the stablecoin ecosystem, the global AML watchdog noted.

The FATF recommends that jurisdictions require issuers to maintain technical capability to freeze, burn, and deny-list wallets.
Peer-to-peer stablecoin transfers have become a “key vulnerability” contributing to money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions evasion, according to a report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body established by G7 countries to set global anti-money laundering standards.

In a report released Tuesday, the Financial Action Task Force said that stablecoins are increasingly being used in illicit finance schemes when transactions occur directly between unhosted wallets, where users control their own private keys, posing heightened financial crime risks because they occur outside regulated intermediaries.

“Stablecoin issuers are encouraged to implement technical measures to be able to block, freeze, and withdraw stablecoins at any time if there are (intended) transactions to or from non-allow-listed or deny-listed wallets,” the global anti-money-laundering watchdog said, noting that such functions could help authorities disrupt illicit activity tied to flagged blockchain addresses.

Stablecoins and regulators

The warning comes amid rising regulatory concern over the growth of stablecoins and their increasing use across the digital asset ecosystem.

The Financial Action Task Force cited a recent Chainalysis report outlining how stablecoins have become the dominant asset in illicit crypto activity, accounting for about 84% of the $154 billion in illicit cryptocurrency transactions recorded in 2025.

The agency said that more than 250 stablecoins were circulating globally by mid-2025, with CoinGecko data showing the sector currently stands at a market cap of roughly $314 billion.

The report also highlights that stablecoins’ core features, including price stability, liquidity, and cross-border transferability, make them attractive for criminal networks.

Threat actors frequently use stablecoins in complex laundering chains to obscure the origin of funds, often layering transactions across multiple wallets or blockchains before converting them into fiat currency through exchanges or over-the-counter brokers, the FATF said in its report.

“Compared to more volatile assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ether (ETH), stablecoins like USDT (Tether) and USDC (Circle) offer a relatively stable medium for moving proceeds,” the agency noted.

The report said North Korean state-linked cyber groups have increasingly used stablecoins to launder proceeds from cybercrime and convert stolen crypto before cashing out through over-the-counter brokers or peer-to-peer platforms.

Meanwhile, Iranian actors, including those linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have leveraged stablecoins and other virtual assets to finance proliferation activities, obtain drone components and high-tech equipment, and transfer funds to sanctioned groups in the region, according to the watchdog.

The FATF and stablecoins

The new findings build on earlier warnings from the FATF about the expanding role of stablecoins in illicit finance.

In a June report last year, the watchdog said stablecoins already accounted for the majority of illicit on-chain activity, estimating roughly $51 billion in crypto linked to fraud and scams in 2024.

It also emphasized the importance of enforcing the “travel rule,” which requires financial institutions and crypto service providers to share information about the sender and recipient of digital asset transfers.

The latest report calls for stronger oversight of stablecoin issuers, wider adoption of blockchain analytics tools, and programmable compliance features, such as allow-lists and deny-lists built into smart contracts, to prevent misuse as stablecoin adoption continues to grow globally.

Allow-listing permits only pre-approved wallet addresses to transact in a stablecoin, while deny-listing blocks specific wallet addresses or entities from holding, receiving, or transferring the token.

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March 5, 2026
Ethereum ETFs Draw In $169M, Highest Level in Two Months
In brief

U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs saw inflows of $169 million Wednesday, the highest level since January 14’s $175 million.

Ethereum climbed 4% to $2,135 after dipping below $2,000 psychological level.

Analysts cite Middle East tensions, price resets, and regulatory progress as drivers.
U.S. spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds posted inflows of $169 million on Wednesday, according to CoinGlass data.

Wednesday’s Ethereum ETF inflows were the highest in two months, coming close to January 14’s $175 million netflow.

Ethereum is up 4.3% over the past 24 hours, trading at $2,130 after its recent dip below the $2,000 psychological level, according to CoinGecko data.

The uptick in crypto ETF demand is a three-fold development involving the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, investors repricing their risk after the sustained downtrend and price comparison, and marginal regulatory progress, analysts told Decrypt.

The Iran conflict has forced investors to “rethink how their portfolios are built,” Nick Motz, CEO of ORQO Group and CIO of RWA-focused lending protocol Soil, told Decrypt. “Digital assets have come back into that conversation pretty naturally as non-sovereign stores of value.”

Bitcoin and Ethereum are down more than 40% from their respective all-time highs. Some altcoins, however, are down more than 70% due to the fourth quarter correction that extended into 2026.

“The persistent panic of the recent period had already suppressed prices into a range nearing a market bottom. Simultaneously, the marginal clarity regarding the U.S. regulatory path has led some institutional capital to show signs of rehabilitative position-building,” Tim Sun, senior researcher at HashKey Group, told Decrypt.

Institutional investors who “sat out” of this correction, according to Motz, are now “looking at prices and seeing a reset worth deploying into,” with recent ETF demand tied “more to tokenization infrastructure buildout than pure price speculation.”

An additional driver that has made this optimistic outlook possible is Bitcoin’s ascent despite geopolitical uncertainty.

What’s next?

“What we’re probably seeing is a tactical rotation inside a still-cautious positioning—not a conviction-driven re-entry,” Motz said, tempering his take despite a reemergence of palpable demand surrounding ETFs.

Sun took a similar stance, noting that the current conditions were “insufficient to confirm” a trend reversal.

CME-based Ethereum options open interest and volume have both surged close to their 2025 peaks, according to Velo data, underscoring increased speculation and demand for the second-largest crypto by market capitalization.

Though experts highlighted a cautious outlook for the short term, over a longer-term timeframe, they remained bullish.

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March 5, 2026
Map shows how big Iran is compared with the 50 US states

The United States and Israel have continued to bombard Iran, killing at least 1,045 people since Saturday.

Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks on Israel and several Gulf countries, causing multiple fatalities.

According to recent polling, only one in four Americans approves of the US strikes on Iran. Approval among supporters of President Donald Trump’s Republican Party is stronger but not resounding with 55 percent saying they approved of the strikes, 13 percent disapproving and 32 percent unsure.

About 74 percent of Democrats disapproved of the strikes with 7 percent approving and 19 percent unsure.

How big is Iran?

Iran is the 17th largest country in the world by area, just behind Sudan and Libya. It covers about 1.65 million square kilometres (636,000sq miles).

To put that into context, Iran is about one-sixth the size of the United States, about one-fifth the size of Australia, roughly half the size of India, about four times larger than Iraq and about 80 times larger than Israel.

Iran is located in Western Asia and shares a land border with seven countries, the longest being with Iraq, followed by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Armenia.

(Al Jazeera)

How big is Iran compared with the 50 US states?

Iran is nearly as large as the largest state in the US, Alaska, and more than twice the size of Texas. To equal the landmass of Iran, you would need to combine the areas of Texas, California, Montana and Illinois.

If you placed Iran over the US East Coast, it would swallow almost everything from Maine down to Florida.

The map below shows how big Iran is compared with each of the 50 US states.

(Al Jazeera)

Iran at a glance

With 92 million people, Iran’s population represents about a quarter of the nearly 350 million people of the US. Most of the population live in the western half of Iran, where rugged mountains, fertile valleys and river basins sustain the population.

The country is rich in oil and gas, ranking as the world’s ninth largest oil producer and third largest natural gas producer.

Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) is $375bn, ranking it 43rd globally, and it has an unemployment rate of about 9.2 percent.

(Al Jazeera)

In the north, high-altitude areas endure long, bitterly cold winters. Farther south and east, the climate shifts dramatically. Iran’s central and southern provinces experience intense summer heat. The southwestern city of Ahvaz has recorded temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), among the highest ever measured.

Iran’s vast central plateau is comparable to the arid stretches of Arizona or inland California, sparsely populated and shaped by a harsh desert climate.

Where are Iran’s main population centres?

With 9.6 million inhabitants, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran. Its scale is comparable to New York, the most populous city in the United States, which has 8.5 million residents within its city limits. Both serve as the cultural and economic hearts of their respective nations.

(Al Jazeera)

Tehran has been the capital since 1795, but the city’s history dates back more than 6,000 years.

Mashhad in the northeast is Iran’s second largest city with 3.4 million people, putting it in the range of Los Angeles, which has about 3.8 million people.

Mashhad has a history spanning more than 1,200 years and is a major religious and cultural centre. It is home to the Imam Reza Shrine, which attracts millions of pilgrims from around the world every year.

Isfahan, the third largest city, is home to 2.3 million people and is comparable to Houston, which has roughly the same number of people.

More than 2,500 years old, Isfahan was once the capital of the Safavid Empire, which lasted from 1501 to 1722. The city has major educational institutions and is a centre for textiles, steel, manufacturing, and the nuclear and aerospace industries. The wider region of Isfahan is home to one of the nuclear sites bombed by the US towards the end of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June.

Other populous cities across Iran include: Shiraz (1.7 million), Tabriz (1.7 million), Karaj (1.6 million), Qom (1.4 million) and Ahvaz (1.3 million).

March 5, 2026
Iranians ‘ready to disgrace’ US troops if they invade, top official says

Top Iranian official Ali Larijani has stressed that his country is prepared to confront a possible invasion from the United States, pledging to capture and kill US troops if they enter the country.

Thursday’s statement comes as US officials, including President Donald Trump, refuse to rule out deploying forces inside Iran.

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Larijani, who serves as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, warned that such actions would have dire consequences.

“Some American officials have stated that they intend to enter Iranian territory on the ground with several thousand troops,” Larijani said in a statement.

He then added a pointed reference to Iran’s former supreme leaders, Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei, the latter of whom was killed on Saturday in a joint US-Israeli strike.

“The valiant sons of Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei are waiting for you, ready to disgrace those corrupt American officials by killing and capturing thousands,” he said.

Larijani, who was a close adviser to the assassinated supreme leader, is believed to be one of the most powerful figures in Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed Larijani’s remark on Thursday, saying that Iran is not afraid of a possible US invasion.

“No, we are waiting for them,” Araghchi told NBC News, adding that a ground offensive would be a “big disaster” for US troops.

Israel and the US have dropped thousands of bombs on Iran since the latest conflict began on Saturday, and Tehran has responded with missile and drone attacks across the Middle East.

Trump has said that the war is proceeding better than expected, with the US and Israel in control of Iran’s skies and striking the country with no reprieve.

But Tehran has projected defiance, vowing to continue fighting to avenge Khamenei and repel the US and Israeli attacks.

“We will not negotiate with the United States,” Larijani said earlier this week.

Venezuela as a model for Iran?

In the aftermath of Khamenei’s death, there have been few signs that Iran’s new leadership is willing to work with Washington.

But Trump has nevertheless expressed a desire to see Iran’s government follow the model set by his January 3 attack on Venezuela, which involved replacing the head of state with a figure who is friendly to the US.

In Venezuela, US forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and transported him to the US for trial. Within days, Maduro was succeeded by his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, with the backing of the US.

Rodriguez has since been cooperating with the US, including by allowing the Trump administration to sell millions of barrels of Venezuela’s oil. The rest of Venezuela’s government, meanwhile, has remained largely intact.

“What we did in Venezuela, I think, is the perfect, the perfect scenario,” Trump told The New York Times on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Trump added that he would like to be “involved in the appointment” of Khamenei’s successor, like he had been “with Delcy in Venezuela”.

Trump also voiced opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei, the slain supreme leader’s son, who is believed to be one of the frontrunners to succeed his father as head of state.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” the US president told Axios.

The next supreme leaders will be chosen by a body of religious scholars known as the Council of Experts.

Later on Wednesday, Araghchi warned Trump that the plan for a quick military victory against Iran has failed.

“Your Plan B will be even bigger failure,” Araghchi wrote on X.

He then questioned whether Trump’s “America First” platform was prioritising US priorities — or Israel’s. The foreign minister also blamed the Trump administration for scuttling recent negotiations to deescalate tensions between the US and Iran.

“The truth: Chance for unique deal burned after the ‘America Last’ cabal obscured ‘significant progress’ we made in negotiations. ‘Israel First’ always means ‘America Last’,” Araghchi wrote.

The US and Iranian officials held talks in Geneva days before the Trump administration and Israel launched the war.

March 5, 2026
Oscars 2026 Presenters: Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, Robert Downey Jr. and More Join Star-Studded Lineup

Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Gwyneth Paltrow are set to present trophies at the 98th Academy Awards.

Raj Kapoor, the show’s executive producer and showrunner, and Katy Mullan, an executive producer, announced the group as the third official round of presenters to join the upcoming ceremony.

Previously announced Oscars presenters include Adrien Brody, Javier Bardem, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Maya Rudolph and Zoe Saldaña.

Although Mescal and Infiniti are not individually nominated for their respective appearances in “Hamnet” and “One Battle After Another,” both films have been recognized by the Academy; “Hamnet” received eight nominations and “One Battle After Another” received 13.

Brody, Culkin, Madison and Saldaña return to the stage as last year’s Oscar acting winners and will honor a new crop of victors, although the Academy has not yet confirmed which categories they will present.

The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the coming weeks.

This year’s nominations are led by Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking vampire film, “Sinners,” which garnered an all-time high of 16 nominations. Following close behind is “One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, with a total of 13 nods. Both films are nominated for best picture alongside “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value” and “Train Dreams.”

Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 15, at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT, with the official live red-carpet show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

March 5, 2026
‘High Potential,’ ‘9-1-1’ and ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ Renewed at ABC

ABC has renewed three of its scripted series for the 2026-2027 broadcast season: “High Potential,” “9-1-1” and “9-1-1: Nashville.”

“High Potential” was renewed for its third season. The series stars Kaitlin Olson as “a single mom with an exceptional mind, whose unconventional knack for solving crimes leads to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective (Daniel Sunjata),” per the official logline. The series was created by Drew Godard, who executive produces alongside Sarah Esberg for Goddard Textiles, showrunner Todd Harthan, Marc Halsey and Olson.

“9-1-1” will return for Season 10. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and showrunner Tim Minear, the series “explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders — including police officers, firefighters and dispatchers — who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping conditions,” per the official logline. “These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives. The show draws from the real lives of first responders who regularly face situations that are often unpredictable, intense and uplifting at the same time.” The cast includes Angela Bassett, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Oliver Stark, Kenneth Choi, Aisha Hinds, Ryan Guzman and Gavin McHugh. Executive producers include Murphy, Falchuk, Minear, Bassett, Peter Krause, John J. Gray, Brad Buecker, Lyndsey Beaulieu, Ted Griffen and Robert M. Williams.

“9-1-1: Nashville” will return for its second season. The newest addition to the “9-1-1” franchise, the series follows first responders through both their work and a “family saga of power and glamour set in one of America’s most diverse and dynamic cities,” per the official logline. The cast includes Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Hailey Kilgore, Michael Provost, Juani Feliz and Hunter McVey. Executive producers include Murphy, Falchuk, Minear, Bassett, Buecker, Chris O’Donnell and showrunner Rashad Raisani.

The renewals come after the previously announced Season 6 greenlight for “Abbott Elementary.”

March 5, 2026
Netflix just bought an AI startup founded by Ben Affleck

Netflix has acquired an AI filmmaking startup called InterPositive, according to a report by Variety. This is a company that was founded by actor Ben Affleck back in 2022. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it. Affleck has been operating the company in stealth mode for the past few years, so this is pretty much it’s big coming-out party.

The terms of the acquisition haven’t been disclosed, but Affleck will remain on as a senior advisor to Netflix. Additionally, the entire staff will be absorbed into the streaming platform.

Affleck says he started the company after “observing the early rise of AI in production” and realizing how the “models came up short.” The company makes tools that generate AI models based on an existing production’s dailies. This lets filmmakers use the model in the post-production process to do stuff like mix and color, relight shots and add visual effects.

Affleck adds that this tech is “not about text-prompting or generating something from nothing.” Netflix says the company will keep “filmmakers at the center of the process.” The company recently used generative AI tools to whip up a VFX shot in a show called The Eternaut. It’s also been using AI to make ads more intrusive. We’ll have to wait and see if creators do indeed remain at the center of things. Netflix will offer access to InterPositive’s tech to creative partners but has no plans to sell it commercially.

To Affleck’s credit, he seems to have a nuanced understanding of modern AI tools. “We also need to preserve what makes storytelling human, which is judgment,” he said. “The kind that takes decades to build, experience to hone and that only people can have. I knew I had a responsibility to my peers and our industry, to protect the power of human creativity and the people behind it.” However, it’s worth reiterating that the company is no longer in Affleck’s hands, as he is now just an advisor.

March 5, 2026
Roku is launching a trivia game called… Roklue?

Who needs Half-Life 3 or Beyond Good & Evil 2? Roku, in an attempt to gamify content discovery on its platform, has cooked up a gaming announcement for the ages. Behold: Roklue. Yes, that’s a real name that someone with a job title and (likely high) salary came up with.

Roklue (shudder) will quiz players on “the movies and TV shows that everyone is talking about,” along with classic “beloved favorites.” When it references a movie or show, it will provide a link for you to tune in on your device. The initial version is an Oscar season tie-in (“Roklue: Awards Season”) that debuts on Saturday. This inaugural version is produced by B17 Entertainment, a Sony-owned company.

Roku says it will rotate thematic content throughout the year. Variety reports that those will center around music festivals, the Emmys and holidays.

Apart from that name, which should come with a gag-reflex warning, Roklue sounds harmless enough. You play a trivia game to find new stuff to stream; Roku grows its engagement. Win-win. But with corporate schemes like this, it’s always worth wondering where further monetization might eventually come into play. Think something like linking to series on platforms you don’t yet subscribe to. (Hello, kickback.)

On March 7, you’ll find the free Roklue (ick) game on your Roku home screen, no download required.

March 5, 2026