today in tabs: gen z isn't apathetic – they're allergic to b*llshit
ALSO: TikTok and Fifa make a deal, the rise of the analog bag, young men still love Barack Obama, and more
Happy Friday, January 9th. And happy 2026!
WELCOME :)
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.
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We are kicking off 2026 incredibly strong with some texts from Arianna Jones, the Executive Director of NextGen America. Arianna + team run one of the leading organizations building power for young voters, both in on years and off – and thus far, NextGen has registered over 1.6 million young people to vote (!!). As you can imagine, this is a big year for them, and you can follow along here on Substack over at NextGen America :)
LR: We’re at the very beginning of a major electoral year – and one in which Gen Z will play a huge role in who controls Congress. What are three things that you think people misunderstand about Gen Z as voters?
AJ: First: Despite what clickbait headlines will tell you, Gen Z doesn’t support political violence. They just don’t believe the current political tools actually work.
There’s been a wave of headlines lately suggesting young people are somehow more accepting of political violence, and I think that framing is lazy at best and dangerous at worst. We’ve raised an entire generation in a country where kids practice “run, hide, fight” drills before they learn basic math. Young people have watched adults in charge promise action on guns, climate, healthcare, housing, and then deliver very little. When institutions don’t work, people don’t magically become more trusting of them. They become more skeptical. If you’re handed a system that repeatedly fails to protect you, it’s not shocking that you question the legitimacy of the system. Saying “Gen Z supports political violence” is flashier than saying “Gen Z is exhausted by broken promises,” but the latter is closer to the truth.
Second: No party owns the youth vote.
After the 2024 election, everyone rushed to declare that young voters had “moved right.” Then a few months later, the narrative flipped and suddenly Gen Z was “coming home” to Democrats. Both takes miss the point. What the data actually shows, including what we see internally, is that young people aren’t transferring loyalty from one party to another. They’re withholding trust altogether. They’re opting in or opting out based on whether leadership shows up with real results. And it’s clear that support for Republican leadership may be dropping, but that doesn’t automatically translate into enthusiasm for Democrats. Young voters want proof. They want results. Like anyone else, their trust has to be earned through action. That’s not volatility, it’s accountability.
Third: Gen Z is not apathetic. They’re allergic to bullshit.
There’s this persistent myth that young people don’t care. Our experience has been the opposite. When we actually reach out, when we ask real questions instead of delivering canned scripts, young people show up. They answer calls. They want to talk. They’re paying close attention to what’s happening and they’re deeply anxious about what it means for their futures. What they’re disengaging from isn’t politics. It’s hollow participation. Campaigns like Zohran Mamdani’s showed what happens when you center connection and community instead of just transactions. People didn’t just get politically activated. They built relationships. They found each other. When young people feel seen, listened to, and part of something real, they don’t need to be dragged to the polls or into the work. They show up willingly.
LR: It’s no secret that 2025 was… an interesting year in politics (and in general). How do you stay positive and hopeful when things feel especially dark?
AJ: I don’t think optimism comes from pretending things aren’t bad. It comes from watching people choose to show up for each other anyway. So, what keeps me going is watching young people choose solidarity over isolation. Building power. Participating in mutual aid. Showing up and organizing, even when it’s inconvenient or risky. Hope isn’t a mood, it’s a choice. It’s when people refuse to numb out and instead ask each other, “Who else is feeling this, and what can we do together?” Witnessing that through our work at NextGen, seeing that fight keeps me hopeful.
LR: Digital campaigning is at a pivotal moment: young people are more online than ever, but also craving more real, offline connection than ever. How can organizers and campaigns meet this moment?
AJ: By refusing to treat online and offline as competing forces. Young people don’t experience the world through neat funnels or traditional political pipelines. They move through memes, subcultures, group chats, and cultural moments that campaigns can miss. Digital space is where attention starts. In-person space is where trust forms. The mistake is thinking one can replace the other. The goal isn’t just clicks, it’s relationships. That means being willing to experiment, try things that might fail, and build people’s political muscles over time instead of asking for everything at once. Culture opens the door and community keeps people inside.
LR: You’re building a dream voter-engagement tour with three musical artists in 2026. Who’s on the lineup, and why?
AJ: Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo.
Not because they’d endorse the “right” candidate, but because they understand how their audiences think. They engage on issues, not party loyalty. They’re values-driven without being scripted. They’re outspoken on issues they care about and they don’t contort themselves to fit traditional political expectations. Sabrina has been vocal on trans rights. Bad Bunny has used his platform to speak out on immigration and anti-ICE policies. Olivia Rodrigo has used her platform to support reproductive rights.
Also, I like their music.
LR: If NextGen America were a coffee order (milk included), what would it be?
AJ: Cold brew. Oatmilk. Shot of espresso.
Campaigning under threat: How political violence is already shaping the next Democratic primary
Future campaigns will be defined more than ever by security – who needs it, how much they need, and who can pay for it – in ways that are likely to change who runs for high office and how they interact with voters. Parades, for many top contenders, are out, along with most other outdoor events. Bulletproof glass and other upgrades have been quietly made to offices and residences. Many crowds are now seeded with undercover officers, especially for governors with state trooper details. Staffers are getting used to being asked questions like whether they want protective snipers to be covered or visible. (CNN, 1/7 – free version)
Lucy’s note: And while we’re on the topic of horrific, senseless, political violence: dropping the GoFundMe for the family of Renee Good, who was murdered this week by ICE, right here
Gambling platform Polymarket not paying bets on US invasion of Venezuela
After Polymarket clarified that the seizure of Maduro did not qualify for a winning bet, the odds of an invasion before the end of January crashed to below 5%. Traders have placed more than $10.5m on bets of an invasion this year, with the majority on a 31 January deadline. (The Guardian, 1/7)
Lucy’s note: The most 2026 headline I’ve seen this far…
Heritage paper on families calls for ‘marriage bootcamp,’ more babies
A report from the Heritage Foundation, titled “Saving America by Saving the Family,” urges President Donald Trump and lawmakers “to save and restore the American family” through massive tax credits for families with more children while capping alimony payments, enacting strict work requirements on social benefit programs, discouraging online dating, creating marriage “bootcamp” classes and more. (WaPo, 1/8 – free version)
Barack Obama More Popular with Young Men Than Joe Rogan or Donald Trump
A new poll, conducted by Democrats’ group Speaking With American Men and first reported by Puck News, showed that Obama remains popular among the demographic. It found that 56 percent of respondents viewed Obama positively. YouTuber MrBeast follows with 55 percent favorability. (Newsweek, 1/8)
The First Meme of 2026 Is About Not Explaining Yourself. And Buttons.
Tamara’s retort, and her unwillingness to explain further, quickly became an “if you know you know” joke that has spread widely, thanks partly to the fact that no clarity was given about how buttons might help soften the unstoppable march of time. (NYT gift link, 1/7)
TikTok picked by FIFA as video content partner at 2026 World Cup
The World Cup tie-in will see creators get special access at the 48-nation tournament being co-hosted in 16 cities — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada — from June 11 to July 19. FIFA said World Cup broadcast rights holders can livestream parts of the 104 games at a dedicated hub on the TikTok app, which has more than 170 million users in the U.S. (AP, 1/8)
YouTube will now let you filter Shorts out of search results
As part of a few changes to its search filters, YouTube is going to allow you to search specifically for Shorts or longform videos. Right now, a filter-less search shows a mix of longform and short form videos, which can be annoying if you just want to see videos in one format or the other. (The Verge, 1/8 – free version)
Diary entries, text messages, and late-night emails: 9 revelations from newly unsealed court documents in Musk vs. Altman
The documents provide a rare window into the inner workings of Silicon Valley — from late-night texts to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to debates between Altman and Musk about OpenAI’s future. The documents also include previously unreleased writing from Nadella, as well as several entries from the personal diary of OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman. (Business Insider, 1/9)
K-pop might win at the Grammys for the first time
She argues that acknowledgment of Korean entertainment from U.S. entertainment industries is more symbolic of U.S. cultural dominance slipping than “K-pop being really good, because K-pop has been really good for a really long time,” she says. “This is all recognition of just global storytelling improvement, global taste-making improvement.” (AP, 1/9)
The rise of the analogue bag: fashion’s answer to doomscrolling
So-called analogue bags, filled with activities such as crosswords, knitting, novels and journals, have become the unexpected accessory of the season. They are being championed by millennials and gen Z as a way to reduce screen time. Similar to a prep bag, the idea is that the bag or basket should contain the essentials needed to remain offline for as long as possible. One user describes it as a “toy box for your attention span”. (The Guardian, 1/9)
Trisha Paytas Says She’s Considering Running for Congress in 2026
In her TikTok, Paytas said her “main goal” if she were to win office would be to increase the age requirements for participating in the adult entertainment industry to 25. (Paytas estimated in a 2021 Vulture profile that 70 percent of her income at the time came from OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform known for adult content.) (People, 1/6)
Lucy’s note: If you don’t know who Trisha Paytas is, I would highly recommend a Google – this could get very interesting
‘Weird Medieval’ Fashion Might Be the Solution to Dressing for Strange Times
Amid widespread turmoil, medieval style feels like a veil of protection. “It’s the perfect combination of strength and horror and femininity,” says the stylist Genesis Webb, who recently put Chappell Roan in several medieval-inspired outfits, ranging from a Piers Atkinson hennin hat to a gauzy Y/Project gown complete with chain mail gloves and a cross necklace. (Elle, 12/30)
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Extra Credit 🤓
“The loneliness crisis isn’t just male” from Lakshya Jain and The Argument
“Instagram is betting on the momentum, not the reaction” from Rachel Karten of Link in Bio
Yet another incredibly smart and thoughtful take from Rachel
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Tuesday!