Hump day recommendations, April 2, 2025

Watch:The Laundromat.” Two legends of comedy who were also gifted young actors. Two greats who died too young. No words. Three minutes and 23 seconds. – Willis

Appreciate: “All Our Ordinary Stories,” by Teresa Wong.This book focuses on the relationship between a daughter and her immigrant parents. It was the first graphic novel I’d read since Art Spiegelman’s “Maus” series, so it’s not a genre I know well. But I was impressed by the simplistic/universalist appearance of the illustrations and words — and how they left room for the reader to fill in the blanks in powerful ways. – Tracy

Consider: the heretic. A new leader comes to power with a radical idea that enrages the old power brokers, upends the establishment, and ends up tearing apart society. In the 17th century BC, the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten was one of the world’s earliest monotheists, professing the cult of one god, the Sun deity Aten, and ordering the closure of all other temples. He ended up deposed and despised. But what made him tick? What made those around him support or oppose him? Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz’s beautiful, Rashomon-style novella “Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth” is a series of imagined interviews with Akhenaten’s friends, foes, and, ultimately, his enigmatic, famously beautiful wife Nefertiti. It's an exploration of power, faith, and truth that is as timeless as the sun. – Alex

Finish: “The White Lotus.” The third series of creator Mike White’s hit show is set to climax on Sunday night. The latest rendition, set in Thailand, has had mixedreviews. As usual, the show follows some ultra-elite, amoral holidaymakers who seek a relaxing vacation only to stumble upon a heap of unwelcome and unsettling surprises. The third installment departs from previous seasons, though, in how it promotes cinematography and meme-worthy conversations over plot — to the detriment of the series. Even with the lack of a strong storyline, it will be fascinating to see how White ties together all the loose ends in the finale. – Zac

More from GZERO Media

In this new episode of Tools and Weapons, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith sits down with Ted Sarandos to discuss how bold leadership and a culture of innovation keep Netflix ahead, not just as a media company, but as a force shaping both industries and audiences. Ted shares how intuition and data combine to turn daring ideas into practical solutions, from scaling storytelling across 190 countries to relentlessly creating content that gets under the skin of viewers and makes them feel deeply connected to the stories they watch. Subscribe and find new episodes monthly, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on October 24, 2025.
Sputnik/Alexey Babushkin/Pool via REUTERS

The US president imposed sanctions on the two largest Russian oil firms. The effectiveness of this strategy depends on whether it forces China and India to stop buying Russian crude.

- YouTube

The real US-China AI race isn’t about who builds the most powerful technology, but who applies and governs it in ways that strengthen—rather than undermine—society, Tristan Harris tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.