today in tabs: do dems face an 'extinction moment' if they can't get better online?

ALSO: people are talking to "God" on AI apps, tariffs unite scotch and bourbon makers, where are all the female designers, and more

Sep 16, 2025

Happy Tuesday, September 16th.

Just a reminder: every Tuesday and Friday, I’ll be in your inbox with the latest in politics, tech & social media, culture, and other relevant topics – and I’ll share some notes and tips on what I’m keeping my eye on.

Want to do a super fun, super cool rapid interview for this newsletter like this or this??? Reply to this email or hit the button below. Tips, thoughts, concerns, good jokes, bad jokes, tea, etc?

And finally, if you enjoy this newsletter and want to share it with your network (and/or your chronically online friends), that would be so appreciated 🙏

Who was arrested in Trump’s D.C. crime emergency? We analyzed 1,273 records.

Many of the arrests started the same way: a group of officers from several law enforcement agencies approaching suspects for nonviolent offenses. Officers kept an eye out for car windows tinted too dark and plumes of marijuana-scented smoke. They approached people for double parking, having expired tags and being in a Northeast park after dark. (WaPo, 9/14)

Democrats face an 'extinction moment' as strategists push them onto new platforms

"The defeat we had in 2024 felt not only like an electoral defeat, but like a cultural defeat," Jacobovitz said. "To someone online, it may seem very obvious what we're saying here, but that's literally the problem we are trying to sound the alarm on, is that things that seem very obvious to people are not systemically being done." (NPR, 9/15)

Elon Musk is trying to silence Microsoft employees who criticize Charlie Kirk

Musk’s direct question to Nadella follows a broader censorship crackdown from Republicans targeting individuals celebrating Kirk’s death or criticizing him. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) said he would use “Congressional authority and every influence with big tech platforms to mandate immediate ban for life of every post or commenter that belittled the assassination of Charlie Kirk.” (The Verge, 9/12)

The ChatGPT gender gap is closing

In the first few weeks after ChatGPT's release, OpenAI estimated that as many as 80% of users were male, according to the report. More recent data from June found slightly more usage among those with traditionally female names. OpenAI estimates its gender mix by analyzing user names as typically male, female or uncertain, which can indicate broad trends but isn't a scientifically accurate metric for assessing usage by gender. (Axios, 9/15)

Finding God in the App Store

On religious apps, tens of millions of people are confessing to spiritual chatbots their secrets: their petty vanities and deepest worries, gluttonous urges and darkest impulses. Trained on religious texts, the bots are like on-call priests, imams or rabbis, offering comfort and direction at any time. On some platforms, they even purport to channel God. (NYT gift link, 9/14)

One Bad Bit Overshadowed TV’s Biggest Night

Worse, he and the producers then introduced their great running gag — for much of the night, the only gag Bargatze was involved in. He explained that he would be donating $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, but with a catch: for every second that each winner went over their allotted time, he would deduct $1,000 from that donation. Though he also promised to add $1,000 for every second a speech finished under 45, the tone and theme were set. (Rolling Stone, 9/15 – free version)

Fading Labubu Frenzy Wipes $13 Billion from Pop Mart Shares

The stock slumped nearly 9% in Hong Kong to the lowest level in more than a month, as JPMorgan’s move added to concerns over the waning popularity of the company’s products. This follows some social media articles pointing to weak demand for the newly launched product ‘SKULLPANDA.’ (Bloomberg, 9/15 – free version)

Lucy’s note: Naturally, I just bought my first Labubu for my friend’s bday… I’m still excited about it, but a reminder not to trust these fickle trends 🫠

Where Are All the Women Designers?

The turnover tumult has been entertaining, sure, but deeply disappointing in terms of gender diversity. Two legacy women creative directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior and Virginie Viard at Chanel, were benched and replaced by Jonathan Anderson (Dior) and Mathieu Blazy (Chanel). A few female designers have recently risen through the ranks—Rachel Scott took on Proenza Schouler’s top slot, and Meryll Rogge was appointed at Marni—but even still, the disparity is stark; Currently, only ten of 33 creative director roles at fashion houses designing for women are held by women, and only two are women of color. (Marie Claire, 9/12)

AI-Powered Animal Crossing Villagers Begin Organizing Against Tom Nook

Results for the experiment were mixed. Cookie, Scoot, and Cheri did indeed utter new phrases in keeping with their personality. Things got weird when Fonseca hooked up the game to an RSS reader so the villagers could talk about real world news. “If you watch the video, all the sources are heavily, politically, leaning in one direction,” he said. (404 Media, 9/15)

Tariffs Are Uniting Two Whiskey Heavyweights: Scotch and Bourbon

During the trip in late July, Mr. Swonger met with Mark Kent, the chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, at the Glen Garioch Distillery about 12 miles northwest of Mr. Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf resort. With a dram in hand, they both called for the 10 percent tariff on Scotch to be removed. (NYT gift link, 9/15)