Leah Feiger: So it’s a really good question actually, and it’s one that I’ve thought about for quite some time. I think if it’s not annoying, I want to read this quote from Scott Kupor, the director of OPM and the former managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to be clear, just to remind everyone where people are coming from in this current administration. He posted this on X late last month, and this was part of Reuter’s reporting. So he posts, “The truth is, DOGE may not have centralized leadership under USDS anymore, but the principles of DOGE remain alive and well, deregulation, eliminating fraud, waste and abuse, reshaping the federal workforce, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.” Which is the exact same, the thing that they’ve been saying this entire time, but it’s all smoke and mirrors, right? It’s like, oh no, no, well, DOGE doesn’t exactly exist anymore. There’s no Elon Musk character leading it, which Elon Musk himself said on the podcast with Joe Rogan last month as well. He’s like, “Yeah, once I left, they weren’t able to pick on anyone, but don’t worry, DOGE is still there.” So it feels wild to watch people fall for this and go like, “DOGE is gone now.” And I’m like, they’re literally telling us that it’s not.

Zoë Schiffer: I think one thing that does feel honestly true is that it is harder and harder to differentiate where DOGE stops and the Trump administration begins because they have infiltrated so many different parts of government and the DOGE ethos, what you’re talking about, deregulation, cost cuttings, zero-based budgeting, those have really become kind of table stakes for the admin, right?

Leah Feiger: I think that’s such a good point. And honestly, by the end of Elon Musk’s reign, something that kept coming up wasn’t necessarily that the Trump administration didn’t agree with DOGE’s ethos at all. It was that they didn’t really agree with how Musk was going about it. They didn’t like that he was stepping on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and having fights outside of the Oval Office. That was bad optics and that also wasn’t helping the Trump administration even look like they were on top of it.

I try to test every individual product critically and neutrally, but sometimes a brand comes along that seemingly cannot miss. We have liked everything we’ve tried from Silk & Snow, and right now the company is hosting a Cyber Week Sale that runs through December 7. You can save on some of our favorite bed frames and mattresses that we’ve tested long-term in our own homes, and if you prefer to browse on your own, the sale offers up to 35 percent off site-wide. I’ve rounded up the highlights on WIRED-tested gear below.

WIRED Featured Deals:

Silk & Snow Bed Frame With Drawer Storage for $560 ($140 off)

In our Bed Frame Buying Guide, I say that Silk & Snow could charge more for this bed frame—but right now, it’s 20 percent off. Assembly is a little bit annoying. But the fabric-covered headboard is gorgeous, and the frame is sturdy. My favorite part is the drawer cleverly concealed at the foot of the frame, with its two partitions and its magnetic closure. It does feel a little jarring if you open and close the drawer while your partner is in bed, but I like having extra storage in my room, especially since this frame is too low to the ground to allow for stashing things under it.

Silk & Snow S&S Organic Mattress for $765 ($235 off)

Courtesy of Silk & Snow

Silk & Snow

S&S Organic Mattress

The S&S Organic Mattress is the best organic latex mattress. It’s very soft and offers a lot of pressure relief and support, but the responsive material means it’s better suited to solo sleepers than it is to couples. It feels like a soft, dense marshmallow, per our sleep reviewer Julia Forbes, who advises using lightweight blankets and cooling sheets if you’re a hot sleeper and also raved about the lengthy year-long sleep trial. As part of the Cyber Week sale, you can choose between a free sleep bundle (with a sheet set, a duvet, two microfiber pillows, and a mattress protector) or you can opt out of the bundle to get an extra 10 percent off your mattress.

Silk & Snow Wooden Bed Frame for $1,040 ($260 off)

This bed frame from Silk & Snow made our list of the best Thuma dupes. The Japanese joinery platform frame comes in your choice of natural rubber wood or cortado acacia wood, each in two different finishes. Assembly is pretty easy and doesn’t require any special tools, and you’ll get a robust five-year warranty. The resulting frame is sturdy and gorgeous, though we recommend having a helper around if you need to disassemble the frame to protect the finish on the wood.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

Other Good Lubes

Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of different lubes, and some of them are pretty good if not exactly the best in any particular category. For those, we have this section.

Other Good Lubes

Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of different lubes, and some of them are pretty good if not exactly the best in any particular category. For those, we have this section.

LubeLife Water-Based Lubricant for $8: Not only does LubeLife make a stellar silicone lube, but their water-based lubes are great too. At the moment, I’m really enjoying their most recent water-based lube—they have a long and impressive line of these types of lubes—that’s surprisingly long-lasting for something that’s water-based. It’s also super smooth, feeling 100 percent natural, never gets that awful sticky or tacky texture that some water-based lubes develop over time, and upon tasting it, I noticed it had a very slight sweetness to it. While I haven’t used this lube during oral sex, I can definitely see it being a major asset in my performance.

Playground Free Love Lube for $18: If you’re susceptible to UTIs, bacterial vaginosis (BV), or similar infections, then this is the lube for you, as it’s been scientifically proven to both reduce and prevent such vaginal issues. Free Love is also free of glycerin and fragrance, both of which can lead to yeast infections and general irritations. Although Free Love is extremely smooth and makes for a great complement when trying to avoid friction, the biggest selling point is that it will protect you from infections that some other lubes just can’t.

Dame Arousal Serum for $30: I’m not a huge fan of warming or tingling lubes and have yet to try one that makes me a true believer. But Dame’s Arousal Serum comes close. This is a warming, tingling, water-based lube that uses peppermint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, and ginger oil to provide some extra sensation during sex. If you have sensitive skin, I’d leave these products alone, but if you don’t and want to try a stimulating lube, this is the one I’d recommend. Try it on a non-genital area first to ensure you know how your skin will react.

Maude Shine Water-Based Lube for $25: This used to be our top pick. It offers a silky-smooth texture, though it’s on the thicker side for a water-based lube. Thicker water-based lubes typically last longer between applications. Using the thumb test, this lube gives you a slick but smooth cushion between your fingertips, which is a good indicator that it’s going to keep things nice and slick.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.