today in tabs: gen z understands urgency because it is all we have ever known
ALSO: NY-12 candidate Liam Elkind talks running for office + bagel orders, young GOPers are trying to mess with the census, somehow the box office is doing great, and more
Happy Friday, October 10th. You, too, are 10/10 :)
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.
Want to do a super fun, super cool rapid interview for this newsletter like the one below??? Reply to this email or hit the button below. Tips, thoughts, concerns, good jokes, bad jokes, ☕️, 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 🙏
As a born-and-raised NYer, I am VERY excited about today’s texts… they’re from Liam Elkind, non-profit leader, fellow Gen Z-er, and candidate for Congress in NY-12! Enjoy (and please take note of the bodega order, it is a GOOD one).
LR: There has been much ink spilled about members of Gen Z running for Congress – positive things, negative things, and just about everything in between. What made you decide to run for office now, and what do you think Gen Z candidates, in general, can bring to the table that other generations may not?
LE: This spring, I went to an event here in the district with my 32-year incumbent Congressman. I went up to him and I asked, “What’s the plan? How can we fight back against Trump and protect our Democracy?”
He said not to worry because Donald Trump would crash the economy with his tariffs, that Democrats would win back the House in the midterms, and that the best thing I could do would be to donate to the DCCC.
Not only was that answer dispiriting, it was insufficient. It was insufficient because if you’re 30 years old, you’ve never voted in a Presidential election without Donald Trump on the ballot. You’re still a decade away from buying your first home. Healthcare, housing, the basic necessities of life have become completely out of reach. It’s why I got in this race—because we need new leaders who get the emergency we’re in and will do everything they can to get us out of it.
Young people understand the urgency of this moment because it is all we have ever known. But as young people, we are also desperate for something new. We are desperate to be able to afford to start our own families and buy a home and live our own version of the American Dream.
And for those of us who can’t afford all the things that previous generations thought were normal, we will attack those challenges with urgency. Ultimately, that is what I and other young candidates are offering. A sense of urgency to live normal lives where we can afford a home, healthcare, and peace of mind.
LR: New York politics has a long history of reformers shaking up the system. What’s one part of the status quo in DC that would be your first priority to reimagine in Congress?
LE: Part of the reason I challenged the Dean of the New York Congressional delegation is because our system is in desperate need of reform. From universal healthcare to a ban on corporate PAC money to publicly financed elections to term limits for members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices, I have a ton that I’d want to get done. That said, the reality is that our system stands in the way of progress more often than not.
As such, one of the things I would focus on would be working to convince my future Democratic colleagues to clean up our own house first. And I can think of no better place to start than reforming our own committee seniority rules.
For example, I think we should implement term limits for committee chair roles and elevate the best members to those roles, not just the most senior members. And while it pains me to say this, this is actually something that the Republicans do a much better job doing. Republicans limit their members to three terms as head of a committee, and so they’re way better at recruiting younger leaders. Democrats don’t, so we have chairs serving way longer than they should, which creates a backlog of leadership and results in the kind of gerontocracy we’re seeing today. Just this year, three House Democrats passed away, allowing Trump’s billionaire bill to pass by just one vote. These are self-inflicted losses, and we have to start acting like our country depends on it—it does.
Another great example of this is when Gerry Connolly and AOC were squaring off to serve as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. While Rep. Connolly, of blessed memory, was a committed public servant who represented his constituents in Virginia well; he was obviously not in a position to be leading that committee. On the other hand, AOC is one of the most dynamic leaders in our party and country who would have been able to lead that committee with the sort of grit and clarity we desperately need.
Ultimately, Rep. Connolly ended up passing while in office. And while that is a tragedy, it is also a tragedy for the party to relegate generational talents like AOC to the sidelines of Congress.
LR: Speaking of New York, I know that those of us who were there during the pandemic will never forget what those long months were like. I know you were very involved in relief efforts. What are the main lessons you learned from that time period?
LE: When COVID hit, I put my phone number on a flyer and passed it around town, offering to help deliver food to anyone who needed it. Within 72 hours, 1,300 volunteers stepped up to join me. Over the last five years, 15,000 people joined our grassroots efforts, serving neighbors in need.
It was a beautiful lesson in the power of community organizing—and also a scathing indictment of our government. For months, if you reached out to the government and asked for help getting food, they’d say to call me.
Our social safety net shouldn’t rest on one guy picking up his phone. We need our leaders to answer the call. We deserve a government that answers the call.
LR: What is your hottest take about NYC?
LE: I was born in New York; I hope I die in New York. When I die, chuck my body in the Hudson River. There is something truly special about this city—a city brimming with energy and possibility.
My hottest take is that New Yorkers are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. I know we have a rep for being… not the friendliest. But the truth is we’re just in a rush! Ask a New Yorker for directions and soon you’ll have eight people surrounding you and giving you different directions to go. So trust me—we’re friendly! We just might not always seem it at first.
LR: You walk into your home-base bodega with $20. What are you grabbing?
LE: Toasted everything bagel with chicken, avocado, and a fried egg. And a black tea. Or a matcha if I’m feeling creative.
Young Republicans challenge 2020 census results as part of wider GOP attack on head count
Two young Republican groups have challenged statistical methods used to produce the results of the 2020 census, four years after the numbers were released, as the GOP continues its growing attack on the numbers from the last U.S. head count. (AP, 10/10)
Inside billionaire Peter Thiel’s private lectures: Warnings of ‘the Antichrist’ and U.S. destruction
The billionaire’s lectures were also notable as a forceful display of religiosity in an industry that has historically been secular. Christianity has recently become a significant presence in some influential tech circles, in part because of ACTS 17 Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading Christian principles inside the tech industry that organized the Thiel lectures. (WaPo, 10/10)
Mamdani ally weighs challenging Hakeem Jeffries
Ossé, who backed Mamdani in the mayoral primary and headlined a rally and canvass efforts for him, has spoken privately with progressive groups about potentially taking on Jeffries in the Democratic primary next year, the sources said. The discussions are in the beginning stages, but some organizations have expressed interest in an insurgent campaign. (Axios, 10/8)
Lucy’s note: This turned out to be a very NY-heavy newsletter! For those unfamiliar, Chi Ossé is very, very good at socials.
The Conservateur, a.k.a Vogue for Trumpers, Now Comes in Podcast Form
Franklin and Kinsey say a joint prayer, fix their posture, and take a small sip of their mimosas. They are ready to record the debut episode of Sincerely American, the first podcast from The Conservateur, the right-wing lifestyle publication previously dubbed “Vogue, but for Trumpers.” (Vanity Fair, 10/8)
New California law bans loud ads on streaming services for ‘peace and quiet’
The legislation, signed into state law by the governor, Gavin Newsom, forces the powerful streaming platforms to comply with existing regulations that have barred television broadcasters from bombarding the eardrums of viewers with overly loud commercials since 2010. (The Guardian, 10/6)
Furloughed federal workers post “shutdown diaries” on social media
Furloughed workers are sharing “day in the life” videos on Instagram and TikTok, documenting how they’re filling their days as they wait for the government to reopen. Think “GRWM” videos, but instead of getting ready to head into a 9-to-5, they’re tackling chores they’ve been putting off, signing their furlough notices, going to the gym, taking on side hustles, applying for jobs, finding gray hairs or just … doing nothing. (Axios, 10/7)
Our Brains Evolved to Socialize—but Max Out at About 150 Friends
This number, Dunbar believes, has held steady since the advent of our species, and is unchanged even in the digital age of social media. To test his theory, he dived into historic texts and archaeological data, and even studied church congregations. He found that 150 was reflected in eclectic groups including hunter-gatherer kinship networks, Bronze-Age communities, Anglo-Saxon villages in medieval Europe, Mormon wagon trains in the 19th century and modern German trailer parks. (WSJ, 10/7 – free version)
Say it quietly, but 2025 could be the best year for the box office since before the pandemic
With a sequel-packed slate in the final months of the year, “Wicked” and “Zootopia” follow-ups land in November and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” drops the week before Christmas, it would take some pretty big flops for this year not to become the first to break through the $9 billion barrier since 2019. (Sherwood, 10/8)
They Got to Live a Life of Luxury. Then Came the Fine Print.
Affirm is one of several companies lending money to customers through a “Buy Now, Pay Later” model: Users make a fractional payment on a purchase while postponing the rest of the balance for several weeks, or sometimes even months or years. Under this delay-pay system, the lender typically scoops 2 to 9 percent of each transaction from the retailer, while the customer gets to enjoy her wares right away instead of having to wait until she’s paid them off in full, as was the case with layaway plans of decades past. (NYT gift link, 10/7)
39% of Americans Regularly Notice Where Products Are Made
Adults aged 60 and older are the most likely to say they are aware of the country where products are from, as 49% say this is the case most of the time or always. This compares with 39% of those aged 45 to 59, 34% of 30- to 44-year-olds and 28% of 18- to 29-year-olds. Similarly, Republicans (43%) and independents (40%) are significantly more likely than Democrats (34%) to say they are aware of the country of origin at least most of the time. (Gallup, 10/7)
Drake Loses Defamation Suit Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
In tossing the suit, Judge Vargas compared rap diss tracks to forums like YouTube and X where people are able to spout off, as opposed to anything resembling journalistic reporting or straight news. “The average listener is not under the impression that a diss track is the product of a thoughtful or disinterested investigation, conveying to the public fact-checked verifiable content,” she wrote. (Rolling Stone, 10/9)
Popular Spice Recalled Over Lead Levels as Millions Warned
Durra Ground Cinnamon sold in 100-gram plastic containers is being recalled by distributor Eureka Inc. of Pomona, California, because it “has the potential to be contaminated with lead,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday. (Newsweek, 10/8)
Lucy’s note: Now cinnamon in cozy season has LEAD, what ELSE??? (also, though, proof that we really do, in fact, need a real FDA!)
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Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“Journalist vs. Creator” from
(paid but so worth it! and the preview itself has some good food for though)As one of the many online political people that now straddles this divide (and has one conception of myself whereas I think some people have another)… I really appreciate pieces like this.
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Tuesday!