today in tabs: i deserve nba money
ALSO: christmas is already on backorder because of Trump's tariffs, NY's Dem establishment is apparently allergic to good candidates + winning, and more
Happy Tuesday, July 22nd.
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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Less selection, higher prices: How tariffs are shaping the holiday shopping season
With summer in full swing in the United States, retail executives are sweating a different season. It’s less than 22 weeks before Christmas, a time when businesses that make and sell consumer goods usually nail down their holiday orders and prices. (AP, 7/20)
Trump administration ends 988 Lifeline's special service for LGBTQ+ young people
The nation's Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988, shuttered the specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth this week. The move came a day after the Lifeline marked three years since its launch. During this period, it has fielded more than 16 million calls, texts and chats. Nearly 10% of those contacts have been from gay and transgender young people, according to government data. (NPR, 7/19)
Wary Democratic establishment keeping New York's Mamdani at arm's length
Mamdani's plans to freeze rents for stabilized apartments, increase taxes, build city-owned grocery stores and provide free child care for all children — along with his criticisms of corporations and the police — have freaked out many Democrats close to the party's political center. (Axios, 7/21)
A Startup is Selling Data Hacked from Peoples’ Computers to Debt Collectors
On its website, Farnsworth lays out several potential uses for that stolen data. This includes “skip tacing,” presumably a typo of skip tracing, which is where a private individual or company tracks someone down who owes a debt. The website says users can “find debtors up-to-date addresses.” Another use case is to “Find high impact evidence that can make/break the case of million dollar lawsuits, high value divorce cases, etc.” (404 Media, 7/21)
Altman plans D.C. push to "democratize" AI economic benefits
Altman wants to continue driving debate over the effect AI will have on jobs. In an appearance Tuesday at a major Federal Reserve conference, Altman will offer what an adviser calls a "third path" between the bulls and the doomers. (Axios, 7/21)
Who Is Watching All These Podcasts?
Recently, The New York Times asked readers if and how they consume video podcasts. Many of the respondents said they played video podcasts in the background while attending to work or chores, and still treated podcasts as audio-only products. A few said they liked being able to see the body language of podcast hosts and their guests. (NYT gift link, 7/20)
'United' WNBA All-Stars wear 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts
The fans echoed the message players sent during warmups Saturday night when they wore black shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us." The collective demonstration occurred two days after more than 40 players met with the league in the latest round of collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The players didn't think the meeting produced enough progress with a late October deadline looming. (ESPN, 7/19)
How Portnoy Got to Fox
Portnoy’s past did not scare away Fox executives. Back in 2017, ESPN famously canceled a late-night Barstool-branded show after one episode, blaming the decision on internal backlash from employees upset with his non-P.C. commentary. There’s a sense at Fox that Portnoy is older and wiser now. Also, Fox has a sturdy corporate appetite for rogue personalities. (Puck, 7/17 – free version)
Bros, Budweisers, and Divorced Dads: Butt Rock Is Back, Baby
The audience for these bands is more confusing than ever, split between the extremely online humorists and the more earnest ticket buyers, who probably never stopped loving these bands in the first place. Between them is where the irony starts to blur: Were Creed and Nickelback unfairly rated? And if so, who are they even for anyway? (Rolling Stone, 7/21 – free version)
Has Trader Joe’s Made It to London? Only as an Accessory.
Though Trader Joe’s does not have a single location in Britain, the chain’s large cream and navy tote bags can be spotted all over London these days. Their popularity was clear on a recent sunny afternoon in East London, where the bag swung from many a shoulder. (NYT gift link, 7/21)
Chris Martin Jokingly Warns Fans About ‘Jumbotron Song’ at First Coldplay Gig Since Viral Moment
At Coldplay’s Madison, Wisconsin concert Saturday, the band’s frst show since the Gillette Stadium concert that lit the internet aflame, Martin prefaced “The Jumbotron Song” with a disclaimer. (Rolling Stone, 7/20 – free version)
The Marías share their favorite spots on Google Maps
To celebrate, the band curated an exclusive Google Maps list highlighting “dream spots” that inspire creativity. It includes everything from art galleries and green spaces to vintage shops and drive-in movie theaters. Discover more than 100 of the band’s favorite places across their tour cities including Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Raleigh, Tucson and Vancouver. (Google’s The Keyword, 7/21)
Lucy’s note: I try not to give Big Tech their flowers, especially when it comes to ever-increasing marketing tactics, but… this is really cool.
How 831 Stories Is Building A Fandom-First Book Brand
Before it had commissioned any books, 831 led with the idea of romance reading as a lifestyle by releasing a line of hats with popular romance tropes spelled out in cursive, including “celebrity / normal person,” “fake relationship,” and “second-chance romance.” Celebrities from Chloe Kim to Kristen Bell have been photographed in 831’s signature hats. (AdWeek, 7/18)
Lucy’s note: Potentially relevant to a lot of us here, the protagonist of their first book is apparently a political strategist lol.
Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“Long Live Stephen Colbert” from
of"‘trauma, grit, destiny’" from
of“Will our kids watch any of this year's movies?” from
of +
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!
Thank you!