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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Pete Buttigieg has taken over the airwaves lately, becoming one of the Democrats' best spokespeople.</li><li>His versatility and appeal to swing voters are crucial to the party right now.</li></ul><p>Ever since Kamala Harris became the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-endorses-kamala-harris-after-dropping-out-2024-7">presumptive Democratic nominee</a>, Pete Buttigieg has been dominating the TV interview circuit.</p><p>The Transportation Secretary and former Indiana mayor has appeared on CNN, The Daily Show, MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki," MSNBC's "Deadline White House," and Fox News Sunday just since <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-dropping-out-presidential-race-2024-7">President Joe Biden dropped out</a> of the 2024 race. He also went on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher two days prior to Biden's bombshell announcement.</p><p>The newly fired-up Buttigieg has become the Democrats' best and most ubiquitous spokesperson — not just because he's a great talker who believes in his cause, but also because he has a unique knack for appealing to swing voters and moderates.</p><p>And that's exactly what the Democrats need most right now in their race to defeat Donald Trump.</p><p>"He's able to hit it out of the park in all of those venues, which are just such unique venues and very different with different audiences," a Democratic strategist who has worked closely with Buttigieg told Business Insider. "But we need to be communicating on all of those platforms if we're going to win."</p><p>Partly what makes Buttigieg such an effective communicator for his party is that he's versatile in many ways.</p><p>He can talk about climate policy and still relate it to everyday Americans — as he did with Kaitlan Collins on CNN. He can refute JD Vance's argument that childless people aren't committed to the future of the country by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-praises-pete-buttigieg-interview-jd-vance-childless-2024-7">bringing up his own experience in the military</a> before he had children — as he did on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. And he can spar with conservatives while calling out data that disproves their criticisms of the economy under Biden — as he did on Fox News.</p><p>"It's the fact that every time he comes out to say something, he says something totally different," the Democratic strategist said. "He's not recycling hokey one-liners. He's being authentic and having very genuine moments in every interview, and he's also talking in a way that brings it back to real people, which was always such an amazing skill set of his."</p><p>And that ability is what has drawn Democrats to him, the strategist said.</p><p>"He's one of the few people in the Democratic Party who has the ability to both go on Fox News and take on bad faith arguments and appeal to the moderate, sway-able voters that we need to win back if we're going to win this election cycle," the strategist added.</p><p>Buttigieg has also gained some fame on social media. Several clips of him on Fox News critiquing Trump's track record in office have been shared on multiple TikTok accounts, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meidastouch/video/7396746237178940715">one of which</a> has already been viewed more than a million times and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@couriernewsroom/video/7396708112058617118?q=pete%20buttigieg%20fox%20news&amp;t=1722457301136">another more than 600,000</a> times. A <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/buttigiegwins">fan account on X</a>, which says it keeps track of "Secretary Buttigieg's wins and best moments," has more than 50,000 followers.</p><p>As one Democratic digital strategist, Keith Edwards, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4798758-buttigieg-media-harris-vp-contender/">The Hill</a>:</p><p>"Pete is an expert at creating viral moments. I don't think he does that on purpose, I just think it's an innate talent he has."</p><p>Edwards declined to provide comment for this story.</p><p>It's not just TV hosts, Democrats, and social media users who love Buttigieg — voters do too.</p><p>An <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2024-07/Topline%20ABC_Ipsos%20Poll%20July%2027%202024.pdf"><u>ABC News/Ipsos poll</u></a>, conducted July 26-27, surveyed Americans about their opinions on nine of the most eligible contenders for Harris' VP position, and Buttigieg tied for second place in terms of net favorability. He was one of only two Democrats on the list, along with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, that a majority of respondents had heard of.</p><p>Buttigieg has come a long way from his humble days as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He became known to the country as "Mayor Pete" during his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2020. He made history when, under the Biden administration, he became the first openly LGBTQ member of a president's cabinet. Then, he was considered one of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/names-floated-kamala-harriss-veep-if-biden-drops-out-election-2024-7">top options to become Harris' running mate</a>, though that is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harris-vp-pick-roy-cooper-gretchen-whitmer-rule-selves-out-2024-7">looking less and less likely as her list narrows</a>.</p><p>And now, he's reminding Americans on TV screens around the country what he cares most about: the future of the country.</p><p>"Pete Buttigieg cares about America and he understands the stakes in this election," the Democratic strategist told BI. "And even if you don't agree with him, he's someone who you should be open to listening to because he is coming from such a pure and genuine and unique place at a time when our politics is very cynical and stale. And I think that plays into part of the appeal."</p>

How Pete Buttigieg became the Dems' most ubiquitous — and best — TV spokesperson 

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<ul><li><keyword id="22862470" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iQOO-Z9s-Pro" source="keywords">iQOO Z9s Pro</keyword> comes with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor with up to 12GB RAM.</li><li>The phone is ideal for gaming and multitasking, with 80W fast charging</li><li>iQOO Z9s Pro sports a sleek, contemporary design, offering a lightweight and comfortable grip.</li></ul><br />iQOO, over the years, has carved a niche for itself in the smartphone market and has various mid-range phones that promise the best performance at a relatively affordable price point. And the iQOO Z9s Pro also falls under this category. We, at Business Insider India, have been using the iQOO Z9s Pro for over a month and after our testing, we can confidently say that this is the smartphone that can give you good performance for under Rs 25,000.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="6" msid="115764952" hostid="261" sizebytes="904220"></div><br />In India, the iQOO Z9s Pro’s price starts at Rs 24,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model. The 8GB RAM variant with 256GB storage is priced at Rs 26,999, while the top-end model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage comes in at Rs 28,999. For our testing, we used the top-end model in white colour. So, should you go ahead and buy the iQOO Z9s Pro? Let’s find out. <br /><br /><h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Design and display<br /></h2><br />The iQOO Z9s Pro sports a sleek, contemporary design, offering a lightweight and comfortable grip. The phone features a sturdy glossy back panel with a marble feel to it which is visible when the lights are on. The phone, at a glance, looks quite stylish and will stand out in a crowd. I personally am not a fan of prints but the marble feel on the iQOO Z9s Pro looks quite elegant and not at all overdone. Then there is the familiar square camera module and the iQOO branding. The camera module is surrounded by a metallic finish border which elevates the whole look.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="10" msid="115764970" hostid="261" sizebytes="833759"></div><br />At the bottom is the USB Type C charging port and sim tray. The right edge houses the power and volume buttons that are quite easy to get to while holding the phone in one hand. The left edge is left completely free. The edges also sport a silver metallic finish and are worth noticing. The phone comes with a curved display which further enhances its look.<br /><br />During my usage, I didn’t see any fingerprints on the back panel which is a huge plus. The front, however, did form smudges and gathered dust quickly.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="3" msid="115764994" hostid="261" sizebytes="1688002"></div><br />Due to its curved display, rounded edges and glossy back, the phone is comfortable to hold and use with just one hand. However, it can also easily slide from your hand if you aren’t paying attention. Hence, it is best to always use it with the cover that comes packed with the phone.<br /><br />The phone’s display is a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and vivid colours, ideal for multimedia and gaming enthusiasts. This high refresh rate is excellent for gaming and general use, delivering a seamless experience. The phone can be used comfortably outdoors too, but a tad more brightness would have been even better.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="2" msid="115764963" hostid="261" sizebytes="1914142"></div><br /><br /><h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Performance<br /></h2><br />Equipped with the <keyword id="21694334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Qualcomm-Snapdragon-7-Gen-3" source="keywords">Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3</keyword> processor and up to 12GB of RAM, the Z9s Pro is a powerhouse in terms of performance.<br /><br />Everyday tasks and multitasking feel incredibly smooth, while gaming performance is also impressive. The phone could easily handle titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings without a hitch. The cooling system helps prevent overheating during prolonged sessions, making it a reliable choice for gamers. The phone also includes virtual RAM expansion, giving it an edge in handling demanding applications.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="1" msid="115765018" hostid="261" sizebytes="1900985"></div><br />Talking about the software, even though the phone offers a clean experience with customisable themes and settings, it does come with pre-installed apps, which may be a slight drawback for those who prefer a streamlined interface. The good news is that most of these can be uninstalled, and the UI is generally responsive with minimal lag.<br /><br /><h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Camera<br /></h2><br />The Z9s Pro comes with a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens in the back. The phone also sports a 16MP selfie camera. Overall, the camera performs well in good lighting conditions. Night-time photography too is decent for the price. <br /><br />In daylight, the primary camera captures crisp details and vibrant colours.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="12" msid="115765082" hostid="261" sizebytes="1558728"></div><br />The front camera too performs well and captures your selfies in style. However, the edge detection might feel tad off at times. But this isn't a dealbreaker considering the price of the smartphone. <br /><br />  <div type="image" title="15" msid="115765094" hostid="261" sizebytes="833942"></div><br />  <br />The portrait shots from the rear camera are simply stunning.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="16" msid="115765109" hostid="261" sizebytes="1266524"></div><br />I also used the Master B/W mode and the Vintage film mode and loved the results.<br /><br />  <div type="image" title="13" msid="115765126" hostid="261" sizebytes="2287590"></div><br />While the phone captures impressive detail and colours, the details start fizzling out when you zoom in. Even at 2x, the details start going a bit amiss and by 10x, the performance drop in camera is quite noticeable. But this isn’t a big concern.<br /><br />At night too, the phone can capture some decent shots for its price point. <br /><br /><h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Battery and charging<br /></h2><br />With a 5,500mAh battery, the iQOO Z9s Pro easily lasts a full day of moderate usage. For heavy users, 80W fast charging comes in handy, taking the battery from 0 to around 50% in just 20 minutes. This quick top-up time is a big plus for those who are always on the go. The phone also comes with a charger in the box so you don’t have to buy one separately.<br /><br /><h2>iQOO Z9s Pro: Final verdict<br /></h2><br />  <div type="image" title="5" msid="115765350" hostid="261" sizebytes="1316258"></div><br />The iQOO Z9s Pro stands out in the mid-range segment with its powerful processor, smooth display, and decent camera setup. However, minor improvements in low-light camera performance and UI polish could enhance it further. For users focused on performance and gaming, this phone delivers robust value and is a worthy option in its price bracket.<br />

iQOO Z9s Pro review: Excellent performance in a budget

<ul><li>The <keyword id="22511807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL" source="Orion">Google Pixel 9 Pro XL</keyword> is the latest flagship offering from Google.</li><li>The device is priced starting at ₹1,24,999 and is available in two variants.</li><li>Here’s my review of the Pixel 9 Pro XL that will help you decide if you should buy the device.</li></ul>Google launched the Pixel 9 series, consisting of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the company’s flagship smartphones a few months ago. This time around, Google launched three devices unlike last year Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones.<br /><br />The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the successor of the Pixel 8 Pro, offering a similar size and features. This year’s Pixel 9 Pro offers flagship hardware while offering a smaller display and battery. With the three devices, Google is offering a similar line-up to Samsung and Apple.<br /><br />I have been using the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a few weeks now, and here’s my detailed review of the latest smartphone from Google.<br /><br /><h2><keyword id="22405856" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-Pixel-9-Pro-XL-price" source="Orion">Google Pixel 9 Pro XL price</keyword> and availability</h2>The Pixel 8 Pro has been priced at ₹1,06,999 for the 128GB variant and ₹1,13,999 for the 256GB variant. It comes in Blue, Beige and Obsidian colour options and is available from Flipkart.<br /><br /><h2>In the box</h2><ul><li>Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone</li><li>USB Type-C cable</li><li>SIM ejector tool</li><li>Documentation</li></ul><h2>Pixel 9 Pro XL specifications</h2><br /><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Particulars<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Specifications<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Display<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.8-inch Quad HD+ LTPO OLED<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Refresh rate<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">120Hz<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Protection<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chipset<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Google Tensor G4<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Variants<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Rear camera<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">50MP + 48MP + 48MP<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Selfie camera<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">42MP<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Battery<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5,060mAh<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Charging<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">37W<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Wireless charging<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">23W<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Fingerprint sensor<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">In-display fingerprint sensor<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Weight<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">221 grams<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Water resistance<br /><br /></td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">IP68<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2>Pixel 9 Pro XL pros and cons</h2><h3>Pros</h3><ul><li>Software and performance<br /></li><li>Camera<br /></li></ul><h3>Cons</h3><ul><li>Price <br /></li></ul><h2>Design and display</h2>Google has overhauled the design of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, making major changes to the design when compared to the Pixel 8 Pro. The search giant has opted for a flat display, flat sides and a revamped camera module.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Back 2" msid="115487059" hostid="261" sizebytes="64462" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pixel 9 Pro XL rear design&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The device comes in Hazel, Porcelain, Rose Quartz, and Obsidian colour options. I tested the Rose Quartz colour variant of the device.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="right side" msid="115487089" hostid="261" sizebytes="52702" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Rounded corners on the Pixel 9 Pro XL&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The device comes with flat sides, with rounded corners for its aluminium frame, that give it a premium feel while holding. At first look, you may get an iPhone-like look, with people even mistaking it for an iPhone during my usage, but this clears up immediately after looking at the pill-shaped camera module.<br /><br />The aluminium frame comes with a glossy finish and is slightly slippery. The aluminium frame also attracts dust fingerprint smudges easily. For these reasons, it might be a good idea to use the device with a case.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Camera" msid="115487108" hostid="261" sizebytes="28950" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The pill-shaped camera module&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />It comes with a large pill-shaped camera module that houses the triple camera setup, a temperature sensor and the LED flash. Apart from the camera module, the device comes with Google’s logo at the back.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Right" msid="115487125" hostid="261" sizebytes="62716" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Power button and volume rockers on the right&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The power button and the volume rockers are placed on the right side. Unlike a lot of other devices, the Pixel 9 Pro XL continues to place the power button on top and the volume rockers below it.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Bottom" msid="115487162" hostid="261" sizebytes="47264" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Ports at the bottom&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />At the bottom, you get the speaker grille, a USB Type-C port, a microphone and the SIM tray.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="IMG20240818172922" msid="115487276" hostid="261" sizebytes="46502" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pixel 9 Pro XL top&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />At the top, you get the mmWave antenna cover and a microphone.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Ch" msid="115487285" hostid="261" sizebytes="30756" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Made in China text on the Pixel 9 Pro XL&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />On the left, apart from antenna lines, the device comes with “Made in China” written for some reason.<br /><br />Coming to the display, the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes equipped with a large 6.8-inch Quad HD+ LTPO OLED display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate, up to 3,000 nits brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Display" msid="115487313" hostid="261" sizebytes="72596" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pixel 9 Pro XL display&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The device sports a good display, which offers accurate colours and offers good visibility, even in direct sunlight. The display is excellent, with the high refresh rate offering a good experience while gaming and watching content.<br /><br /><h2>Software and performance</h2>The Pixel 9 Pro XL runs on Android 14 out of the box and is promised to get seven years of Android updates and security patches. The software is the highlight of the Pixel lineup and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is no different. The device offers an Android experience as imagined by Google, the operating system maker.<br /><br />As expected, the device comes loaded with AI features in the form of Gemini. To enable users to make the most out of the AI features, Google is offering a one-year premium subscription to Pixel 9 Pro XL users, giving them access to Gemini Advanced, 2TB of Google Drive storage and more.<br /><br />The device comes pre-installed with Pixel Studio, a new GenAI image generation app from Google, allowing users to generate images easily on the go.<br /><br />You also get access to Gemini Live, a live-chat version of Gemini, which allows for voice-enabled interactions.<br /><br />In what might excite most photography enthusiasts like myself, the device also comes with a more powerful Magic Editor, giving access to a ton of new tools.<br /><br />Talking about AI and photography, the new Add Me feature is excellent, especially for those who often end up being the ones to take group pictures and regret not being in them. The new Add Me feature allows you to take a group picture and then hand your phone to your friend and then join the group for another picture, then using AI to blend them into one image to make the perfect group picture.<br /><br />I used this feature during one of my trips and found it to be quite useful. Once you get the hang of it and remember to stand in the correct place, it works quite well.<br /><br />The Pixel 9 Pro XL is powered by the Google Tensor G4 chipset built on Samsung’s 4nm process. It comes with 16GB of RAM and offers up to 512GB of internal storage.<br /><br />If you are hoping for a drastic performance improvement compared to the predecessor, you might be disappointed. It offers an incremental improvement in performance but can easily handle everything that you throw at it.<br /><br />One area the chipset and the device has improved a lot over the Pixel 8 Pro is thermal management and proper connectivity. These were some of my biggest issues with the last-gen devices and Google has made a significant improvement in this aspect.<br /><br />The Pixel 9 Pro XL is powered by a 5,060mAh battery with 37W wired and 23W wireless charging support. The device offers a day’s battery life with normal usage.<br /><br /><h2>Camera</h2>The camera is the strongest selling point of Pixel smartphones, and unsurprisingly, the Pixel 9 Pro XL excels in this regard.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="Rear cam" msid="115487382" hostid="261" sizebytes="53002" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pixel 9 Pro XL rear camera&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />Coming to the camera department, the Pixel 9 Pro XL features a triple camera setup at the back, consisting of a 50MP primary camera with Samsung GN2 sensor with OIS, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera with Sony IMX858 sensor and a 48MP 5X telephoto camera with Sony IMX858 sensor with up to 30x digital zoom.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="PXL_20240818_123753737" msid="115487547" hostid="261" sizebytes="186394" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Image captured while moving&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The smartphone supports zero shutter lag, which means it captures photos at the same moment you tap on the shutter button. This is very handy when trying to capture moving subjects, especially kids and pets.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="PXL_20240818_124521580" msid="115487564" hostid="261" sizebytes="84032" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Image captured in natural lighting&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The smartphone’s daylight camera performance was excellent, with accurate colour reproduction, dynamic range, and well-defined details. The portrait mode is excellent in both daylight and indoor conditions.<br /><br /><div type="image" title="n" msid="115487621" hostid="261" sizebytes="147076" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Image captured using night mode&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />The Pixel 9 Pro XL also performs excellently in low-light and night conditions, capturing well-detailed, colour-accurate photos despite the challenging lighting conditions. The images turned out to be sharp and clear, with adequate details and minimal noise.<br /><br />On the front, the Pixel 9 Pro XL features a 42MP selfie camera. The front camera can easily capture good selfies in normal lighting and low light conditions.<br /><br /><h2>Verdict</h2>The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the best device in the current Pixel lineup and one of the best Android smartphones out there. The device offers an excellent user experience, a premium design and good cameras. It offers good performance and ample storage, ticking off a lot of the boxes.<br /><br />At the same time, the Pixel 9 Pro XL commands a premium price and while enthusiasts may like the stock Android experience, the lack of customisation may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you are looking for a stock Android experience with powerful hardware and are willing to pay a premium, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is an excellent option.<br /><br /><em>Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a purchasing guide or recommendation. We advise readers to do additional research, including hands-on usage of the device at a retail outlet, before making a decision.</em><br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-review/articleshow/112497472.cms">Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review – the complete package</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-12-review/articleshow/108723955.cms">OnePlus 12 review: A feature-packed device with promising battery back-up</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/asus-rog-zephyrus-g16-review/articleshow/115054981.cms"><strong>Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 gaming laptop review – With a big AI boost</strong></a><br />

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review – the best Android experience

Best 55-inch TVs with Dolby audio in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I wanted my husband to have a memorable 50th birthday without going over budget.</li><li>Weeks before his birthday, I cleaned out our storage unit to save some money and bought a present.</li></ul><p>I was determined to make my husband's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kate-winslet-celebrate-50-birthday-dinner-party-midlife-2024-8">50th birthday</a> extraordinary on an ordinary budget.</p><p>I knew it would be <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/milestone-birthday-trips-with-sisters-mom-2023-11">an extra tough milestone</a> for him. His parents died over a decade ago. His closest relative was a sister 2000 miles away. And after 23 years in Los Angeles, most of our friends had moved away or moved on. He works long hours and then comes home to his second shift as a dad to our disabled son.</p><p>He doesn't get celebrated very often. So, I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/husband-and-i-nothing-in-common-still-madly-in-love-2023-10">wanted to make him feel special</a>.</p><h2 id="22dcd91d-88ab-47d5-97d7-27c1df150623">I emptied our storage unit</h2><p>A few weeks before his birthday, in an effort to save $250 a month, we cleaned out our <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boxes-storage-year-minimalism-move-interrupted-how-it-works-2024-3">storage unit</a> after 15 years and dragged everything home, leaving a mess of boxes and bags scattered around the house. I took my $250 savings and bought the record player he'd mentioned wanting months ago. It was on sale for $200. It was a nice gift. It was "enough," but it didn't feel that way.</p><p>Exhausted and overwhelmed from our day-to-day lives, I struggled to think of what else I could do to show him I loved him. My own <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/what-is-depression">depression and anxiety</a> had been weighing on me heavily, but I was determined not to let it get in the way of a celebration that we all needed.</p><p>When I was out doing our <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-i-make-groceries-last-longer-remote-living-2023-1">regular grocery shopping</a>, I started collecting smaller gifts like candy bars and his favorite chips and cookies to wrap up as extra gifts. I thought it would be fun for him to have more things to open.</p><h2 id="7e315cf9-9902-4f2f-b6be-d86ac6ca8701">I wanted to give him 50 presents</h2><p>A vision emerged. What if he could open <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/gifts/best-amazon-gifts-under-50-dollars">50 presents</a>? Even if the presents weren't all that impressive, at least my effort would be. I started wrapping up items around the house, like a package of toilet paper, an old tape measure (we own three and can never find any of them), and even a government-issued COVID test.</p><p>I still had a long way to go to make it to 50. I sat on our bedroom floor wrapping up a handful of leftover glowsticks from my son's birthday a few months earlier, surrounded by storage boxes, wondering where I was going to find 25 gifts for free. The answer was, of course, right in front of me.</p><p>I started sifting through the storage boxes, laughing and crying at the assortment of items we had somehow decided we absolutely had to hang on to over the course of our 22-year relationship. Everything seemed like a treasure — even the blurry picture ID I'd gotten from the check cashing place we used when our credit was too bad even to open a bank account. I found his mom's ceramic duck collection, a phone directory from the town he'd lived in when he was born 50 years earlier, and a non-working video camera I'd won on a game show.</p><h2 id="aa8d7d05-ec96-46fc-be18-4648e7e76226">I found so many memories</h2><p>I met him at a bar on New Year's 2001. I never imagined our lives together would last into our 50s. The boxes from the storage facility were like time capsules filled with memories, both hilarious and heartbreaking.</p><p>A few days before his birthday, my husband asked why I'd ordered six rolls of wrapping paper, and I smirked and shrugged. The night before his birthdays, I locked myself in our bedroom for hours.</p><p>I wrapped up my 15-year-old acting headshot from the days when I'd tried to "make it" in Hollywood.</p><p>I wrapped up the MapQuest directions he'd printed out to find his way to the job he's still working at today.</p><p>I wrapped up the police report of his car being stolen. We didn't have the money to get it out of impound and ended up taking the bus for seven years after that. Now, we each have our own car — they're not new or fancy, but if we could have told the younger, bus-riding versions of ourselves that we had our own cars, we would have thought we ended up rich.</p><h2 id="3b9016ff-ed94-4106-ae56-7f42acecc5b6">He was shocked</h2><p>When he saw his 50 gifts on his birthday morning, he was shocked.</p><p>His birthday turned out better than any Christmas we'd spent together. He loved the record player and the candy. He loved the glowing year-end review he'd received from his boss in 2009. And, of course, everyone loves toilet paper.</p><p>"Ahhh! A tape measure!" he exclaimed at gift #40. "Where did you find it?" he asked.</p><p>Every time he opened a gift, we reminisced. "Oh my God, remember MapQuest?" we laughed. "How were we driving around while looking at pieces of paper?"</p><p>Digging deep into the bottom of a cracked plastic bin, I found the piece de resistance for the final gift — #50. It was a VHS screener copy of the made-for-TV movie "Last of the Blonde Bombshells." He and his best friend used to hide it in each other's apartments to make each other look like dorks if they were having a date come over. I made sure it was the last gift that he opened. He was doubled over laughing.</p><p>In the end, I did go over budget on gifts. I splurged on a gourmet dinner at one of the fanciest restaurants in the city and put the bill on a credit card. Then I tucked my copy of the receipt away in a drawer at home, already saving up gifts for his 60th birthday down the road.</p>

I gave my husband 50 presents for his 50th birthday. I dug through memories of our years together to surprise him.

<p>Once upon a time, Heather Graham really wanted to play a murderer.</p><p>Fresh off career-making turns as the porn star <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heather-graham-terrifying-nude-scene-boogie-nights-2023-4">Rollergirl in "Boogie Nights</a>" and the short shorts-wearing CIA agent Felicity Shagwell in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," Graham wasn't having trouble getting work. It just wasn't necessarily the work she wanted.</p><p>When she heard about Patty Jenkins' plan to write and direct "Monster," the 2003 film about Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute sentenced to death after killing seven of her male clients, she longed to let loose and embody someone completely different than the hot-but-sweet girls she kept being cast to play.</p><p>"I wanted to play a role like this angry, horrible, mad serial killer," Graham recalls.</p><p>The opportunity to work with Jenkins, then an up-and-coming writer and director, was also enticing. "That was a story written by a woman about a woman," Graham says. "I'm just really intrigued, not only as an actress but as an audience member, by movies that are from a female storytelling perspective."</p><p>The role ultimately went to Charlize Theron, who won an Oscar for her performance. But Graham didn't dwell on what could have been. Instead, she kept grinding, working across studio films and indie projects — and in the meantime, she started creating the parts she wanted to see herself in.</p><p>"I think that it's probably one reason why I got into writing and directing," Graham tells BI. "Because sometimes I feel like the things that really spoke to me, and that I felt I really related to, were not always the things that people were thinking of me for."</p><p>A decade after "Monster," Graham wrote her first screenplay, which later became her 2018 directorial debut "Half Magic," about three female friends who bond over their frustrating dating lives.</p><p>Her second project as writer-director-star, "Chosen Family," in theaters now, strikes a personal chord. Graham plays Ann, a chronic people-pleaser who learns to put herself first and lean on her friends while navigating a dysfunctional family dynamic and an equally dysfunctional romantic relationship.</p><p>In addition to imbuing "Chosen Family" with details from her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/actress-heather-graham-f60f8c47">personal relationships</a>, Graham sees the film as a statement: after all those years of relying on others to give her the roles she wanted, now she's taking control. </p><p><span>"I wanted to write something that was meaningful to me and to take the power back. Not try to get hired and try to convince people and try to get people to hire me," </span>Graham says. "Just to hire myself, basically."</p><p>For the latest interview in BI's<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/role-play-series"> "Role Play" series</a>, Graham discusses the role her religious parents made her turn down, crushing on Kyle MacLachlan while playing his love interest in "Twin Peaks," and her upcoming foray into TV.</p><h2 id="34025711-8577-4b45-b668-e70e190dd81b">On becoming a sex symbol despite being a nerd and why she was intimidated by her future costar Julia Stiles</h2><div type="image" title="Heather Graham posing seductively on a bed in &quot;Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.&quot;" height="1310" width="1746" msid="113967329" hostid="261" sizebytes="182704"></div><p><strong>In the 1990s and 2000s you were being cast pretty consistently as the "hot girl." Meanwhile, you've </strong><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.today.com/popculture/californication-star-heather-graham-knows-inside-shes-big-nerd-1d79544163"><strong>spoken</strong></a><strong> about how you were actually a nerd as a teenager. What was it like to have that tension between how you perceived yourself and how you were being perceived by people who were casting you?</strong></p><p>I mean, on one hand, it was really amazing because I was an insecure, nerdy kid. I had a 5.0 grade point average. I was seen to be not very pretty. And then to get cast as the cute cheerleader — I mean, that was what I was trying to be in reality, but wasn't.</p><p>But then it sort of felt that I was being seen as this person that wasn't exactly who I was. I think I always felt more like I'm this kind of Bridget Jones, kind of a little bit funny, a little bit insecure, sort of more of just a normal person. But then, I guess in some ways, I was perceived as a sex symbol.</p><p><strong>Did you ever bristle against that perception of you?</strong></p><p>I think I had mixed feelings. There was a part of me that really liked it because it's fun, and it felt almost like I was playing a role when I went to premieres. I was pretending to be this sexy movie star person when, in reality, I knew that I was just this nerdy kid.</p><p>And then, of course, I wanted to also be sometimes getting different work than I was getting, so that was frustrating.</p><p><strong>Julia Stiles plays your sister in "Chosen Family." The two of you were young actors at similar times and are now still working decades later as adults. Did you two know each other in the late '90s?</strong></p><p>I think I was at a party with her before, but, to be honest, maybe I found her kind of intimidating? I think she comes across really powerful and cool, and I just had never had the opportunity to really talk to her.</p><div type="image" title="Heather Graham and Julia Stiles in &quot;Chosen Family&quot;" height="2832" width="4240" msid="113967328" hostid="261" sizebytes="660198"></div><p>It was her participation and her attachment to the movie that got it green-lit. I'm so grateful to her, and I think that we're both in a similar situation in that she just directed a film, and we both were trying to find financing for our films. And when she agreed to do it, she's like, "I just have to make sure that it's not during the time I'm directing my movie." And I said, "I can totally understand that," because, when I would get offered acting roles, I'd be like, "Well, I got to make sure it's not when my movie's happening."</p><p>We both are excited to get behind the camera now. And also, it's cool that both of our careers have lasted a long time. I think she's a super smart, really cool person.</p><h2 id="669f4523-4c09-4391-af28-1bfca2855c09">On turning down a role in 'Heathers' before playing a porn star in 'Boogie Nights'</h2><div type="image" title="Heather Graham in Boogie Nights" height="528" width="704" msid="113967326" hostid="261" sizebytes="15238"></div><p><strong>Is it true you were offered a role in "Heathers" and had to turn it down?</strong></p><p>I was offered the role of the lead Heather, and I auditioned for it, and I was excited. My father is extremely religious, and he was basically like, "We're going to kick you out of the house if you do this part."</p><p>So I turned it down because I hadn't graduated high school yet, and I thought I'll just graduate high school. And then after I graduated, I luckily didn't have to ask their permission anymore. But that was frustrating.</p><p><strong>And that was when you were able to take things like Rollergirl, who was a porn star, in "Boogie Nights"?</strong></p><p>After the stuff that happened when I was in high school, I decided to not include them. I mean, once I moved out, they were never a part of any decisions after that.</p><p><strong>Did you have any other roles you regretted turning down?</strong></p><p>Yes. And, in fact, it haunts me to this day, but I don't know if I want to talk about it.</p><p>Because, yes, I have had a few things that I turned down that I look and go, wow, that was dumb. Super dummy. But I don't want to dwell on it because I'll just get too bummed out about it.</p><h2 id="f28bbc1b-8195-400a-8be5-669560aa2eb2">On leading a show that got pulled after one episode and whether she'd go back to TV</h2><div type="image" title="Jay Harrington and Heather Graham in &quot;Emily's Reasons Why Not&quot;" height="2000" width="3000" msid="113967334" hostid="261" sizebytes="288968"></div><p><strong>Many of your best-known roles were in movies, but there was a time when you were set to lead a TV series, "Emily's Reasons Why Not," in 2006. That didn't end up continuing after the first episode. How did that moment in your career feel?</strong></p><p>I was bummed out. And it's kind of out of my control, really, at the end of the day.</p><p>That was definitely a job that I was offered, and I thought the people involved were interesting. And I liked the premise. I think I just was in love with "Sex and the City," and I thought this could be a fun dating show. The network just didn't really believe in it, and they pulled it after an episode.</p><p><strong>It also kind of seems like something that could've benefited from the streaming model that exists now and didn't exist then, where some shows just work better as an all-at-once release rather than week-to-week.</strong></p><p>Yes. You can cater to niche markets more. When there were only four channels, and you really had to just be on one of those channels, and now there's so many more options.</p><p><strong>Would you want to do more TV?</strong></p><p>I did option a Liane Moriarty book. She wrote <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shailene-woodley-big-little-lies-season-3-interview-2024-9">"Big Little Lies"</a> and I have this book of hers called "The Hypnotist's Love Story." I'm working on it with my friend, Deb Fisher, who is the writer-showrunner of "Ginny &amp; Georgia," and hopefully we're turning that into a limited TV series. We're working on that right now. That's my next thing I would love to do.</p><h2 id="fc34b380-841b-4db1-b329-88dd731cdae8">On crushing on Kyle MacLachlan when she got hired on 'Twin Peaks'</h2><div type="image" title="Kyle MacLachlan and Heather Graham on &quot;Twin Peaks&quot;" height="1138" width="1520" msid="113967333" hostid="261" sizebytes="48172"></div><p><strong>One of your earliest roles was Annie in "Twin Peaks." A lot of fans were bummed that Annie didn't show up, or really get addressed at all, in "The Return."</strong></p><p>That's so nice. Well, tell David Lynch.</p><p>I had a big crush on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kyle-maclachlan-movie-tv-roles-dune-twin-peaks-2024-4">Kyle MacLachlan</a> when I was asked to be in that show. It was kind of a dream come true because I was watching it and being like, "Oh, my gosh. Agent Cooper is so cute." Then I got to do scenes with him.</p><p>I mean, of course, he was dating Lara Flynn Boyle at the time. But it was just really fun to get to do those scenes with him.</p><p><strong>Did he know about your crush?</strong></p><p>I don't know. I was so young. I think I was 20 or 21, so I was probably too insecure to tell him I had a crush on him.</p><p><strong>Were you surprised that you weren't asked back for "The Return"?</strong></p><p>I mean, I was bummed. But at the same point, I wasn't part of the original cast. If you think about the first season, that was what it's super famous for. I wasn't in the first season, so it wasn't that shocking to me.</p><p><strong>Are you familiar with "The Final Dossier," the book "Twin Peaks" co-creator Mark Frost wrote that filled in the gaps about what happened in the interim between the original series and "The Return"? Annie is mentioned in that.</strong></p><p>Really? I don't know if I ever saw that. What happens? I think it's not good, right?</p><p><strong>Essentially, according to the book, Annie stays in a catatonic state, only emerging from it on the anniversary of when they went into the Black Lodge to say, "I'm fine."</strong></p><p>Wow. Well, I'm still alive! It kind of was a mystery, it was sort of unclear whether I died or not. But, wow, that's cool.</p><p><em>This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.</em></p><p><em>"Chosen Family" is now in theaters and available on demand.</em></p>

Heather Graham's best career decision? Hiring herself.

<bulletContentEmbed name="B0CH8X68TS" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B0CH8X68TS_head"><div type="image" title="Haier12" msid="106774739" hostid="261" sizebytes="76632"></div></columnHeadThumb>B0CH8X68TS</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B0CH8X68TS_body"><bulletContentRow name="B0CH8X68TS_5684312831641421"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Haier 55 inches 4K Ultra HD Smart LED Google TV L55FG</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Haier 4K Ultra HD TV offers a captivating viewing experience with its 3840 x 2160 resolution, Dolby Vision, MEMC technology, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Enjoy a wide-angle view at 178 degrees. Connect seamlessly with 4 HDMI and 2 USB ports. The immersive 30W Dolby Atmos sound complements the stunning visuals. Its smart features include Google TV, Hands-free Voice Control, Chromecast, and easy access to popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. A complete entertainment package with cutting-edge display and user-friendly functionalities.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>Buying a good TV is not that difficult today as there are many options available from different brands. It’s also become quite easy to get a large screen TV without having to spend a bomb. A 55-inch TV is ideal for your entertainment experience as it fits right in the middle between small and extra-large screen TVs. You can get a 55-inch TV with 4K displays, good sound output and support for all popular OTT apps.<br /><br /><br />So here’s a list of the best 55-inch TVs you can buy under ₹50,000 in India.<br /><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B081Z1RQLV" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B081Z1RQLV_head">      <div type="image" title="Recommended" msid="85455484" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B081Z1RQLV</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B081Z1RQLV_body"><bulletContentRow name="B081Z1RQLV_7515428954344473"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Mi TV 4X</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Mi TV 4X features a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s a smart TV that runs on the Android TV interface with its custom PatchWall launcher. It comes with built-in Wi-Fi support, and popular apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video. You can also download games and apps from the Google Play Store and Chromecast from your smartphone.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B081Z1RQLV_9469465874275836"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The smart TV also comes with support for Google Assistant and a built-in Chromecast. The Mi TV 4X has 20W speakers powered by Dolby Audio and DTS-HD, and it comes with 3 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B089KVCGCV" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B089KVCGCV_head">      <div type="image" title="Alternative pick" msid="85455505" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B089KVCGCV</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B089KVCGCV_body"><bulletContentRow name="B089KVCGCV_6255668331068746"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Vu 55UT Smart TV</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Vu 55UT is another 55-inch smart TV you can go for. It has a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display with Dolby Vision and a bezel-less design. The smart TV has 30W sound output with Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual-X Surround Sound, TruBass HDX and TruSurround X. It runs on Android 9.0 Pie with access to apps from the Google Play Store.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B089KVCGCV_3780768596704135"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Vu 55UT smart TV also has Chromecast built-in. Its remote control comes with dedicated hotkeys for YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and Google Play. You get 3 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports with the Vu 55UT smart TV.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B08MM4LK85" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08MM4LK85_head">      <div type="image" title="Recommended" msid="85455521" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08MM4LK85</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08MM4LK85_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08MM4LK85_5877439949253524"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Hisense 55A73F Smart TV</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Hisense 55-inch smart TV stands out for its JBL 6 speaker system and 102W output. It also has support for Dolby Atmos. The 55-inch display is a 4K Ultra HD panel with Dolby Vision HDR, HDR 10+, and HDR 10. The smart TV also has a near bezel-less design. It runs on Android TV 9.0 Pie with access to apps from the Google Play Store. Its remote control has dedicated hotkeys for Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08MM4LK85_2309696409632782"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Hisense 55-inch smart TV has 3 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports. It also comes with Chromecast built-in and Google Assistant.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B08FD3269H" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08FD3269H_head">      <div type="image" title="Budget friendly" msid="85455561" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08FD3269H</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08FD3269H_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08FD3269H_7169433376154559"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">TCL 55P615 Smart TV</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This smart TV from TCL features a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display with HDR 10 and very thin bezels. It comes with features such as 4K upscaling for enhanced content viewing, and micro dimming that enhances the black and white parts of the display. The smart TV comes with built-in Wi-Fi and runs on Android TV.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08FD3269H_5849760630652464"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It also comes with support for Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store for access to over 5,000 apps. The TCL 55-inch smart TV offers 24W sound output with Dolby Audio. It comes with 3 HDMI ports and 1 USB port.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B08Y1JM3FB" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08Y1JM3FB_head">      <div type="image" title="Alternative pick" msid="85455585" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08Y1JM3FB</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08Y1JM3FB_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08Y1JM3FB_2021348325233986"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Redmi X55 Smart TV</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">The Redmi X55 smart TV comes with a 4K Ultra HD display that offers a 178-degree viewing angle. It also features Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Vivid Picture Engine. You get 3 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports for connectivity on this smart TV. It also offers 30W sound output with Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Atmos. The Redmi X55 smart TV runs Android TV 10 with Xiaomi’s PatchWall launcher</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08Y1JM3FB_6839105656774762"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">It has features such as kids mode with parental control, smart curation, universal search and more. It also comes with Chromecast built-in and Google Assistant for hands-free control.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br /><br /><bulletContentEmbed name="B087JYRGDG" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B087JYRGDG_head">      <div type="image" title="Budget friendly" msid="85455608" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B087JYRGDG</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B087JYRGDG_body"><bulletContentRow name="B087JYRGDG_4775332588898027"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">AmazonBasics Fire TV</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">If you don’t want to go through the hassle of buying a Fire TV Stick then you can simply get the AmazonBasics Fire TV. It has a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display with a 60Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and HDR 10+. It runs on the Fire TV OS with built-in Alexa for voice controls. It also has a DTH set top box integrated for TV channels.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B087JYRGDG_7147846415921765"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">You also get access to over 5,000 apps from the Fire OS Store. The Fire TV comes with built-in 20W speakers powered by Dolby Atmos. It has 3 HDMI ports, 1 USB 3.0 port and 1 USB 2.0 port.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed><br />

Best 55-inch TVs under ₹50,000 in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon has many little-known nooks and crannies, including an overstock outlet.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-outlet">Amazon Outlet</a> offers limited-time deals in categories, like clothes, electronics, and toys.</li></ul><p>As someone with two small children and an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fear-of-driving-get-over-license-2023-12">aversion to driving</a>, I've had an Amazon delivery save the day more than once. But my favorite part of Amazon is its outlet, which has saved me hundreds of dollars.</p><p>Amazon Outlet offers bargains on overstock and clearance items, from power tools to pet supplies. On an average day, prices are often up to 50% off retail, and <a target="_blank" href="https://us.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GW3L8JX7Q9FH8ALB">lightning deals</a> can feature even bigger discounts.</p><p>With <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/amazon-prime-day">Prime Day</a> set to occur next month, now's the time to get ahead and learn what you should look for to get the best discounts possible.</p><p>Here's how I use Amazon Outlet to get the most bang for my buck.</p><h2 id="2906e1d1-807f-4553-8657-e2b33d44985c"><strong>I maximize my savings with limited-time deals</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Amazon prime boxes stacked together" height="671" width="1024" msid="111237526" hostid="261" sizebytes="47572"></div><p>One of my biggest tips is to monitor the limited-time, limited-quantity offers in Amazon Outlet — they change often. Although they're available throughout the year, they proliferate during <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/amazon-prime-day">Prime Day</a> and other special shopping events.</p><p>To locate the best limited-time deals, I scroll to the Shop by Category section of Amazon Outlet's homepage, click Overstock Deals, and filter the results by department to make the list manageable.</p><p>Then, I use the list's sorting tool to place the items with the steepest discounts at the top.</p><div type="image" title="Amazon Outlet page with discounts" height="734" width="1198" msid="111237529" hostid="261" sizebytes="88222"></div><p>By applying this method to the health and household department, I quickly found two items I've been seeking: throw-pillow covers (two for $8.99, originally $17.99) and 6-inch ceramic plant pots with hand-painted designs (two for $12.49, originally $24.99).</p><p>While shopping, I also came across a coupon that reduced a discounted bench cushion's price even further from $36.99 to $16.64.</p><h2 id="1919a03a-3031-4f5d-a398-98f0ab2a1133"><strong>The outlet has a little bit of everything, including big-name brands</strong></h2><p>In addition to helping me furnish an empty house on a small budget, Amazon Outlet has become my <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/easy-trick-buying-gifts-hard-to-shop-for-people-2023">go-to place for buying gifts</a>.</p><p>I've often seen deals on OXO and Rachael Ray kitchen gadgets, as well as toys from popular brands such as Hot Wheels and Squishmallows.</p><p>In the toys section, I recently spotted a Little Tikes ride-on garbage truck marked down from $49.99 to $26.53, a three-pack of Melissa &amp; Doug Created by Me craft kits discounted from $29.99 to $15.49, and Mattel's "Jurassic World" plush dinosaurs slashed from $21.99 to $6.35.</p><p>Grown-up interests are also well represented in the product selection. I've found deals on things from Coleman tents and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fjallraven-raven-28-review">Fjallraven backpacks</a> to Smashbox cosmetics and Fabletics leggings.</p><p>I've also been tempted to buy footwear from Amazon Outlet after seeing discounted boots from Frye and Dr. Martens.</p><p>Ultimately, the thrill of the bargain hunt is what brings me back to Amazon Outlet. Brimming with surprises and dollar-stretching possibilities, the New Arrivals section is my first stop, and the Last-Chance Savings area is often my final one.</p>

Amazon Outlet is the retailer's best-kept secret. I've saved hundreds of dollars buying name-brand products for over 50% off.

<p class="drop-cap">Ben Higgins, 35, could be your prototypical politician.</p><p>Charming, handsome, and well spoken, Higgins uses his work as an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/kitchen/generous-coffee-review">entrepreneur and philanthropist</a> to help fight poverty. He's also an independent who doesn't identify strongly with either side of the political spectrum.</p><p>"It's very topic by topic for me," he said. "It's very much understanding the issue, hearing the story behind the issue, hearing why people believe what they believe, and then trying to make logical, rational solutions and decisions."</p><p>If Higgins' name sounds familiar, it's probably because you saw him on television — and not during a debate. Higgins served as the 20th American Bachelor on ABC's long-running and wildly popular romance reality show. Higgins did somewhat attempt to use "The Bachelor" as a jumping-off point into politics; back in 2016, he was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thewrap.com/ben-higgins-bachelor-congress/">given the opportunity to run for state representative in Colorado</a> while working on his own spinoff show. But that bid was incredibly short-lived.</p><p>"That ran into issues over time, mostly legally, with how that was going to be filmed and who they were filming and how they were showing it. And that's ultimately why my campaign had to end," Higgins said — seemingly nodding to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/25/disney-abc-forces-ben-higgins-drop-colorado-house-race/">reports</a> that the corporate overlords at Disney, which owns ABC, did not want to televise the former Bachelor's political ambitions. (The Disney-owned channel set to air the spin-off said at the time it had concerns broadcasting a show featuring the campaign "could raise significant compliance issues under Colorado election laws.")</p><div type="image" title="Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell discuss &quot;The Bachelor&quot; at AOL Studios in New York on March 15, 2016 in New York City." height="2000" width="3000" msid="113455139" hostid="261" sizebytes="203656"></div><p>Bachelor Nation's aversion to comingling political ambitions with the TV show makes some sense. Popular culture has for years been breaking into niche after niche. You can exist in a bubble of "The Bear" watchers without ever joining the masses watching "Young Sheldon." But "The Bachelor" is different: It's perhaps one of our last monocultures, alongside stalwarts like the NFL. The show, which kicked off in 2002, has had its ratings stumbles over the years, but it has recently experienced <a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2024/03/the-bachelor-joey-record-ratings-hometown-dates-abc-1235846511/">a viewership resurgence</a>, with just over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thewrap.com/the-bachelor-season-28-finale-ratings-abc/">6.3 million people tuning in to watch the finale of Joey Graziadei's season</a> in March. "The Golden Bachelor," which featured contestants over the age of 60, delivered blockbuster ratings in late 2023, reaching the coveted <a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/the-golden-bachelor-35-day-delayed-viewership-abc-1235805784/">18-to-49 market</a> while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/arts/television/golden-bachelor-senior-center-watch-party.html">courting older viewers</a>. Given the franchise's relatively strong position, why risk that power by mixing in the messy, polarizing, and exhausting world of American politics?</p><p>But under the surface, "The Bachelor" is already a political show. Whitewashed, vaguely Christian, and deeply heterosexual, the presentation of "The Bachelor" is a lot like the median US voter, which is also the exact audience it's long catered to. Its fandom reaches across a wide spectrum of the population in a way few other forms of mass media do, and the show itself reflects many of the broad sociopolitical themes in America. So it might be worth accepting the rose and looking at what the show tells us about the country. By understanding "The Bachelor," we can better understand the political landscape of America — and maybe even glean a little insight into this year's election.</p><h2>Who will win the 2024 rose?</h2><p>Graziadei, the Bachelor who delivered monster ratings in the spring, made a cameo in February at a different kind of rose ceremony. Instead of looking for love on his own, Graziadei was helping the second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, <a target="_blank" href="https://bachelornation.com/2024/02/14/joey-graziadei-visits-the-white-house-and-helps-the-second-gentleman-give-the-vice-president-a-rose/">present a rose to Vice President Kamala Harris</a> in honor of Valentine's Day. It was a moment that breached the fourth wall of "The Bachelor": a lead openly acknowledging and becoming a part of politics. (The White House declined to comment on the collaboration.)</p><p>When Chad Kultgen and Lizzy Pace, the cohosts of the popular "Bachelor" podcast "Game of Roses"<em> </em>and coauthors of "How to Win The Bachelor," saw the video of Graziadei at the White House, they were stunned. Their podcast examines the game mechanics of "The Bachelor" like a sport — akin to its fellow monoculture, the NFL — and goes in deep with statistical metrics to analyze contestants' strategies and plays. Pace said she "screamed" when the video came out.</p><p>"I couldn't believe what I was looking at," she told us. Kultgen, for his part, theorized that it was orchestrated by Harris' people — you wouldn't see a producer or ABC reaching out to the White House for a collab.</p><p>"Whoever's part of putting together their propaganda is saying: We need to get 'The Bachelor' in here," Kultgen said of the strategy by the vice president's team.</p><div type="image" title="Joey Graziadei smiles in front of the Bachelor mansion in a blue suit, white shirt, and black tie." height="2400" width="3000" msid="113455146" hostid="261" sizebytes="213676"></div><p>Beyond the holiday-themed video, the Harris campaign's desire to court Bachelor Nation was also made clear by a line tucked away in a recent press release about its big plan to spend $90 million in August on advertising.</p><p>"Ads will be targeted to high-impact programming that reaches the voters Team Harris-Walz needs to reach to win 270 electoral votes," the press release said. "That includes local broadcast and cable programming and non-political programming like The Bachelorette, Big Brother, The Daily Show, Love &amp; Hip Hop: Atlanta, and The Simpsons."</p><p>During a political season that is awash in advertising, the campaign is sending a clear signal: The demographics it can reach during breaks from the rose ceremony could be key to swinging the election.</p><p>The focus on Bachelor Nation also makes sense given the franchise's viewership is dominated by one of the most crucial swing votes of recent elections: white women. A 2020 <a target="_blank" href="https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/33065-bachelor-nation-profile-poll">study from the polling firm YouGov</a> found that about three-quarters of "Bachelor" fans were women and that a similar share was white. The fandom is split between younger and older viewers; about one-third of viewers were between ages 25 and 44, while roughly one-quarter were 65 or older<strong>.</strong> In the past two presidential elections, white women were the most closely split demographic subgroup tracked by major exit polls. In <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2016/results/exit-polls">2016</a>, Donald Trump won over 52% of white women against Hillary Clinton's 43%, exit polls found, while Trump bested Joe Biden in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/exit-polls/president/national-results">2020</a> among white women 55% to 44%. That relatively close divide is set to continue in 2024. In the Pew Research Center's most recent national poll, conducted between August 6 and September 2, Trump led among white women with 54% of the vote to Harris' 45%. As in the exit polls from the past two elections, that 9-point difference was the smallest among the race and gender groups studied in the poll.</p><p>The close divide is even more apparent in key swing states. A <a target="_blank" href="https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3904">Quinnipiac swing-state poll</a> conducted between September 4 and September 8 found a tight race between Trump and Harris in Georgia and North Carolina, and the cross-tabulations suggested that white women could be a deciding factor in each state. Trump had a strong 64% to 31% lead over Harris among white women in Georgia, but in North Carolina, Harris led among the demographic 51% to 47%. It shows how this group could decide the next election.</p><p>And rather than catering to one side of the political aisle or the other, Hulu, the platform that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/where-to-watch-the-bachelorette-season-21">hosts "The Bachelor" for streaming</a>, has robust bipartisan usage. In a <a target="_blank" href="https://pro.morningconsult.com/morning-consult-intelligence">Morning Consult Intelligence</a> poll of 27,633 people from January 1, 2023, to September 9, 2024, about half of US adults said they used Hulu. As for the demographics of that usage, about 56% of Democrats and 55% of Republicans said they used Hulu — with Republicans in particular seeing a spike during the most recent season of "The Bachelorette."</p><p>The overlap between the swingiest demographic and the "Bachelor" audience suggests Bachelor Nation has value to those who seek to lead our nation.</p><h2>A tense history of race and religion</h2><p>As much as "The Bachelor" can tell us about the state of the country's politics, America's shifting landscape has also been reflected back into the reality of the show. For most of its run, the show has operated within a certain framework: Politics are never overtly discussed, and neither are hot-button issues like abortion or guns. Things like a nonwhite lead or a predominantly nonwhite cast are still relatively new in the world of "The Bachelor." It's also rooted in an omnipresent but barely visible sense of Christianity. Contestants are assumed to be Christian until they're not — but skew too evangelical, and you're edited to look a little less religious.</p><p>"I actually find 'The Bachelor' to be very political. When I watch the show, it, to me — it is pretty obvious that it's a conservative-leaning production," Natasha Scott-Reichel, a cohost of the popular "Bachelor" and pop-culture podcast "2 Black Girls, 1 Rose," said. While the show might be aiming to be apolitical, that's a statement in and of itself.</p><p>"The void of diversity for so long is within itself a statement about its politics — that it is trying to cater to this Middle America that is very afraid of conversations, particularly surrounding race or sexual identity or sexual orientation," Scott-Reichel said.</p><p>In the past few years, however, politics and the contestants' political identities have begun to spill into the carefully maintained middle of the road. For the Americans who have seen their loved ones — or even themselves — galvanized out of political apathy in the wake of the 2016 and 2020 elections, it's a transformation mirrored by their favorite reality show.</p><p>In 2018, Claire Fallon — a cohost of the popular "Bachelor" podcast "Love to See It" — accidentally helped kick off one of the first public cracks in the "Bachelor" veneer of apoliticism. Before the Bachelorette Becca Kufrin's season even kicked off, Fallon and her cohost, Emma Gray, helped <a target="_blank" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bachelorette-premiere-garrett-yrigoyen_n_5b0837d9e4b0fdb2aa5342b6">corroborate accounts</a> that Garrett Yrigoyen, the eventual winner, had been liking posts from right-wing Instagram pages. Kufrin was a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bachelorette-becca-kufrin-garrett-yrigoyen-social-media-instagram-scandal-2018-5">fairly public liberal</a>, which turned the whole viewing experience from a fairytale love story into something much more realistically American: two people who were dating and did not realize they had drastically different political views. That moment was a pivotal tiptoe toward something new. Yrigoyen apologized for his likes and discussed how it strained him and Kufrin as a couple. But the conversation didn't broach the substance of those likes. The couple split in 2020, and Kufrin <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bachelorette-becca-kufrin-vote-election-2021-1">later told Business Insider</a>'s Anneta Konstantinides that if she were to become the Bachelorette again, the first thing she'd do when she walked into the house would be to ask everyone whom they voted for.</p><p>"There's no way in hell they'd show that conversation," she said.</p><p>And while the fan base moved on to its next Bachelor — Colton Underwood, a former NFL player who later came out as gay and <a target="_blank" href="https://people.com/tv/colton-underwood-jordan-c-brown-relationship-timeline/">married a Democratic strategist</a> — Fallon said politics started to become an active topic of discussion in the parasocial world of its loyal fan base. Higgins thinks the fascination with contestants' politics and likes goes back to something at the core of the show: relatability (he believes this is why he was handed the lead role). People want to see themselves in contestants, and that includes some of their closest-held beliefs.</p><p>"I think people are still looking for that relatability, and so they're intrigued with, 'Well, I like you for what I see on television, but do I like you for actually what you stand for politically?'" Higgins said.</p>          <p>The Kufrin-Yrigoyen situation was mostly quelled (or at least forgotten) in the court of public opinion, and as Fallon said, the show erected barriers against the rising tides of political polarization, working hard to keep itself out of it. But soon, the barriers were fully breached. The 25th season of "The Bachelor," which aired in early 2021, featured the <a target="_blank" href="https://people.com/tv/matt-james-official-bachelor-cast-meet-the-32-women/">franchise's first Black male lead</a>, Matt James, who was 28 when the show was filming. Rachael Kirkconnell, the season's eventual winner, caused a whirlwind of controversy when photos emerged on social media of the contestant <a target="_blank" href="https://people.com/tv/rachael-kirkconnell-dropped-out-college-greek-life-after-she-learned-formal-racist/">attending an antebellum-plantation-themed party</a> a few years prior. The reaction was furious. James' and Kirkconnell's finale, broadcast live after the pictures had come out, eschewed the traditional "Bachelor" ending of checking in on the happy couple in favor of a two-hour discussion on race in America. The franchise's longtime host, Chris Harrison, was fired after defending Kirkconnell's photos — even though she was on a tour apologizing for them. A franchise that had long aimed to sit in a happy apolitical parallel-universe America unburdened by the country's often dark history was thrust onto one of the nation's core cultural fault lines.</p><p>"That was a moment where the political turmoil in our country created an internal conflict for the show that it couldn't really resolve," Fallon said. Since then, it's been difficult for the show to avoid politics despite desperate attempts to steer away from them. And as Justine Kay, the other cohost of "2 Black Girls, 1 Rose," noted, it took making a Black woman the Bachelorette — the well-regarded Charity Lawson — to <a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2023/08/the-bachelorette-season-20-delayed-viewing-ratings-fantasy-suites-abc-1235520103/">lure audience members back</a> to the show, which had been <a target="_blank" href="https://collider.com/the-bachelorette-season-20-successful-marriage/">dealing with its own rating slump</a>.</p><p>Since then, much like the rest of America's interest in the daily machinations of Trump-run Washington, the fans' fascination with the contestants' politics hasn't evaporated but seems to have become more tempered. After all, President Joe Biden's tenure has often <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/11/joe-biden-2024-election-post-policy-era/676157/">been</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/joe-biden-2024-donald-trump-boring-important-1234723195/">deemed</a> boring, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-economy-is-bidenomics-working-policies-progress-unnoticed-2023-9">marked instead by quieter policy work</a>. In the same vein, over the past few seasons, prominent contestants have reportedly liked right-wing and Trump-leaning posts; those revelations haven't seemed to rock the fan base as much as in the past.</p><p>"Partly what we're seeing is that it feels like the battle for cultural dominance in the form of 'Bachelor,' within the franchise, is no longer a fever pitch," Fallon said. "It feels like the liberal viewers sort of won."</p><p>Kultgen tied that sentiment to the larger political landscape. During the Trump administration, right-wing posts and sentiments were not given an inch of space because every moment felt like a crisis. The "Bachelor" fan base's newfound shrugging might reflect the cultural and political spotlight Trump has lost; he's a candidate who can become effectively trolled over claims around <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-trolled-donald-trump-about-rally-crowd-size-2024-9">how many people are showing up to watch him</a>. In the past — like in 2018 — questioning Trump support was a brave new world for Bachelor Nation. Now it's become almost the default. It's ironic that the reality-TV-show candidate has lost the reality-TV viewers. Of course, that's not to say that the "Bachelor" fan base, or contestant base, became leftist overnight. But the carving of centrist, left-leaning politics as the new base expectation is a development years in the making. This time, there was no larger-scale reckoning onstage with the ramifications of liking Trump; the show has done that, something that would've been unheard of a decade ago. And if that's where the winds of the monoculture are blowing, the Harris-Walz campaign ad spend might be a good bet.</p><p><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/juliana-kaplan"><em>Juliana Kaplan</em></a><em> is a senior labor and inequality reporter on Business Insider's economy team.</em></p><p><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/andy-kiersz"><em>Andy Kiersz</em></a><em> is a quantitative editor on Business Insider's economy team.</em></p>

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