today in tabs: gen z embraces the crashout

ALSO: an app that tells you when 🧊 is nearby, Blank Street Coffee gets some serious US competition from a popular foreign brand, and more

Jul 01, 2025

Happy Tuesday, July 1st. Welcome to a whole new month ☀️

A tiny bit of house-keeping here at the top: doing an extra-long OT send today because we will not have an OT newsletter on Friday! I will be spending the day in our nation’s capital with friends + loved ones, trying not to boil alive or perceive any Tr*mp tourists ⛱

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 🙏

American Pride Slips to New Low

A record-low 58% of U.S. adults say they are “extremely” (41%) or “very” (17%) proud to be an American, down nine percentage points from last year and five points below the prior low from 2020. (Gallup, 6/30)

Sound Familiar? Democrats Lay Groundwork for a ‘Project 2029’

The undertaking, which has not previously been reported, strikes at the heart of a raging debate consuming Democratic lawmakers, strategists and policymakers: whether the root of the party’s problems is its ideas or its difficulty in persuading people to embrace them. (NYT, 6/30)

Supreme Court takes up major campaign finance case over federal limits on coordinated spending

The court's review of an appeals court ruling that upheld the coordinated spending limits set up a high-stakes campaign finance dispute that will be heard in the court's next term, with a decision expected just months before the 2026 midterm elections. (CBS News, 6/30)

‘Britain’s Fox News’ tries to crack America

The broadcaster has shaken up rolling TV news coverage in the U.K. with a more stridently right-wing editorial line. It said Monday that it will set up a Washington bureau and launching a nightly two-hour dedicated U.S. show hosted by Bev Turner. (Politico EU, 6/30)

Facebook is asking to use Meta AI on photos in your camera roll you haven’t yet shared

The feature is being suggested to Facebook users when they’re creating a new Story on the social networking app. Here, a screen pops up and asks if the user will opt into “cloud processing” to allow creative suggestions. (TechCrunch, 6/27)

Lucy’s note: This probably goes without saying, but please don’t opt into this if you value your privacy on any level (and make sure your parents and grandparents don’t accidentally do it!).

‘I wanted to do something to fight back’: This iPhone app alerts users to nearby ICE sightings

ICEBlock is designed to be an “early warning system” for users when ICE is operating nearby, Aaron said. Users can add a pin on a map showing where they spotted agents — along with optional notes, like what officers were wearing or what kind of car they were driving. (CNN, 6/30)

The four-day workweek gets a new booster: AI

Instead of firing people, proponents argue that firms share the gains of improved technology by giving workers some of their time back. Instead of fearing AI will replace them, workers welcome its advancements and figure out creative ways to leverage the tech. (Axios, 6/29)

Jools LeBron and Viral Nation Launch Docuseries 'Beyond Demure'

Beyond Demure follows Jools’ pursuit of lasting fulfillment—from personal milestones like funding her transition, to brand collaborations with Netflix, Verizon, and PopSockets. It’s a story of transformation, joy, and how one viral moment became a springboard to a life lived out loud. (Viral Nation press release, 6/20)

Lucy’s note: I personally need a secondary series examining the chokehold that “very demure, very cutesy” had on American political digital media last summer 👀

What Makes Someone Cool? A New Study Offers Clues.

The study, which was published on Monday in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, surveyed nearly 6,000 participants from 12 countries around the world. Their beliefs about what’s “cool” were similar regardless of where the study participants lived, and despite differences in age, income level, education or gender. (NYT, 6/30)

China’s biggest coffee chain opens its first US locations

Its first two US locations are opening Monday — both in New York City — marking an escalation in competition against Starbucks and other coffee chains, such as Dutch Bros., that have successfully built a loyal following in targeting Gen Z drinkers with TikTok-worthy drinks at affordable prices. (CNN, 6/30)

WNBA expanding to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia over next five years

Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia the season after, assuming they get approval from the NBA and WNBA Board of Governors. Toronto and Portland will enter the league next year. (AP, 6/30)

Why is everyone crashing out?

If therapy’s relatively unpopular, social media is booming, and it seems like many teenagers and young adults have turned to their favorite influencers and online advice to get through tough times. On TikTok, for example, “crashouts” are often encouraged as a necessary form of catharsis. (Vox, 6/30)

The 50 best airports in America, ranked

We learned travelers adore airports that are easy to get to (and through) above all else. People love light-filled spaces with soaring ceilings. Recent renovations help, too. Van Dam fed your nominations into the algorithm, but he also factored in more than 450,000 Yelp reviews for airport shops, restaurants and the buildings themselves. (WaPo, 6/26)

Lucy’s note: I don’t know how folks who live near the other top airports feel… but having DCA as #3 is actually criminal.

'Phineas and Ferb' creators spill the secrets of 'Squirrels in My Pants' and the show's other beloved songs

In this clip from the full interview (now available on YouTube), Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko asks Povenmire and Marsh to reflect on the unexpected popularity of "S.I.M.P. (Squirrels in My Pants)" — which became a popular TikTok meme — and how it's affected their approach to Season 5. (Mashable, 6/27)