today in tabs: dr. oz’s war on cookies

ALSO: which Pinterest 2026 prediction are you, an “AI Scent Advisor," why being a woman in the workplace is officially even harder than it already was, and more

Happy Tuesday, December 9th. Good to be back in your inbox :) I have ONE more final left, so lawyers and law students… please keep those survival tips coming.

FYSA, 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.

I’M ALSO LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO DO MINI INTERVIEWS FOR OPEN TABS :) 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 🙏

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Mom of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew rejects White House narrative of her ICE arrest

While it is not uncommon for the White House and DHS to make disparaging statements about undocumented immigrants, Ferreira said she was offended by their remarks. Her son is a Leavitt, and she said she sees that side of the family frequently while visiting the boy or cheering him on at school or in sports. Karoline Leavitt, who Ferreira said was once like a younger sister to her, is among the most vociferous champions of President Donald Trump’s campaign to deport millions of immigrants. (WaPo, 12/7)

Rep. Adelita Grijalva says she was pepper-sprayed during ICE raid

Grijalva said she identified herself as a member of Congress and described the agents at the scene — with the exception of one — as “being rude and disrespectful.” She said members of her staff and the media were also pepper-sprayed and that two people were arrested at the raid. (POLITICO, 12/5)

• Lucy’s note: These videos (content warning, not graphic but intense) are insane – and even more insane to consider that this is just one of many occurring every day that we happen to have comprehensive footage of

Dr. Oz Tells His Federal Employees to Eat Less

“We all love a fun cookie swap and potluck this time of year. With several teams across CMS hosting holiday gatherings this month, I am sharing some strategies to help you make healthier choices—while still indulging in festive treats,” Oz wrote in his latest missive, which appears as a recurring section in his weekly bulletin titled “From the Administrator’s Desk,” according to emails viewed by WIRED. (WIRED, 12/8)

• Lucy’s notes: absolutely comical levels of Grinchiness if the Grinch was also a toxic almond parent

America has a new clash of civilizations — with European liberals

Europe, the document continues, will be “unrecognizable in 20 years” if present trends continue. And the document contains what is effectively an endorsement of European far-right parties: “America encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of spirit, and the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed gives cause for great optimism.” It also calls for “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations.” (Vox, 12/5 – free version)

AI boom fuels “environmental justice” fears in communities of color

Massive data centers require vast quantities of water, energy and land. Many of these centers are clustered in regions where marginalized communities already face higher levels of air pollution, industrial zoning and climate vulnerability. (Axios, 12/8)

ICEBlock app maker sues Trump administration over its pressure on Apple to remove app

The maker of an iPhone app that flagged sightings of U.S. immigration agents sued the Trump administration for free speech violations on Monday, alleging that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi used her “state power” to force Apple to remove the app. (AP, 12/8)

Charlie Kirk tops Wikipedia’s list of most-read articles in 2025

Although Kirk was a well-known figure in the US as co-founder of the Turning Point USA organisation, his death attracted headline coverage around the world. More than 40% of the views for the most-read article on English-language Wikipedia in 2025 came from outside the US, according to data from the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation that operates the website. (The Guardian, 12/2)

Estée Lauder’s Jo Malone is launching an “AI Scent Advisor” to convince people to buy perfumes without smelling them

Gen Z is driving something of a fragrance boom at the moment, and Estée Lauder is looking to continue cashing in by debuting an “AI Scent Advisor,” developed with Google Cloud, that it hopes will convince online shoppers to spend north of $100 on fragrances through a chatbot conversation that tries to capture the intangible experience of smelling. (Sherwood, 12/5)

NOTE: I’m sure we’re all about to see a billion articles dissecting this… but the PINTEREST 2026 TREND PREDICTIONS just dropped! Tag yourself, I think I’m scentstacking, pen pals, and cool blue

Stop, Shop, and Scroll

In traditional marketing, it was understood that brands had to expose consumers to their message three times before they actually engaged with it, like going physically to a store to buy a product. In the age of social media and algorithmic overload, that number is now seven, says Mara Einstein, a marketing-professional-turned-critic and author of the book Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults. For one, the vastness of the internet has allowed for the number of available products to bloat beyond imagination — there are simply too many things. (The Verge, 12/8)

• Lucy’s note: whoever is doing these graphics/formatting at The Verge is unbelievably talented

‘You had the entire rainbow’: Pantone’s ‘Cloud Dancer’ sparks creative criticism

Ironically, the choice of colour has not inspired a sense of calm in the creative community but ignited a debate with some marketers disapproving of the spectral white shade. In an industry facing constant upheaval with restructures, job cuts, and major takeovers, does it really need to be so dull—or is there still space and desire for boldness? (Campaign, 12/8)

Corporate America ‘risks rolling back progress’ for women, says new report

For instance, for the first time, the researchers asked companies about their commitment to “women’s career advancement.” A small majority (54%) said they placed a high priority on it, and less than a majority (46%) said the same for the advancement of women of color. Another 21%, meanwhile, said they give little to no priority to advancing women. In addition, companies’ stated commitment to the broader idea of “gender diversity” has been declining since it hit a high of 88% in 2017. (CNN, 12/9)

‘Heated Rivalry’ Is a Steamy Sensation. Author Rachel Reid Hopes It Changes TV Romance for Good

A lifelong Montreal Canadiens fan, Reid says the series started with her imagining what it would like for an NHL player to come out and be “happy, safe and fulfilled by doing that.” (The NHL has never had an out active player.) (TODAY, 12/7)

Lanternfly honey has arrived. Just don’t ask how it’s made.

But honey nonetheless, a darker, mysterious new kind that’s shaking up the beekeeping world. The phenomenon first happened several years ago in Pennsylvania, where the spotted lanternfly was discovered in the United States around 2014 after apparently hitching a ride from China aboard a shipment of stone. (WaPo, 12/7)

Extra Credit 🤓

possibly his best work yet

@jake_amazingBallad for photo dump slide 2 #photodump #ugly

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Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:

• “what even is ‘the economy?’” from

  Sally Hett
  + ★culture vulture★

  • helpful + important! often in politics, we say something so much… we forget what it actually means

• “Cool Sites for Real Music Discovery” from

  ✧ brooklyn 𓆏
  of offline crush

  • re-upping an oldie but a goodie, it’s never too early to start getting prepped for your Wrapped/Replay 2026

This week’s Kalshi trend that I’m watching is:

screenshot taken at 11:15 AM ET on 12/9/25

That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!