today in tabs: palantir probably has your SSN
ALSO: TikTok trends are losing steam, consumers are using Klarna for groceries, and more...
Happy Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025.
Since this is the *first* official send of the Open Tabs newsletter, I want to take a moment and thank you all SO much for being here!
I also wanted to vibe-set for a minute, so you know exactly what you’re getting: 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.
Call it semi-daily clips, an executive brief (where you all are the executives), whatever you wish – I’m here to make sure you’re informed, up-to-date, and also have interesting and important stories to share that no one else is paying attention to yet.
If you’re a fan (like I am) of publications like by , by , , WIRED, The Verge, The Cut (ironically… or maybe not), and, of course, , then you’re in the right place!
And I want to reiterate that my inbox + DMs are always open. Have comments, questions, tips, or things you think I should be looking at? Drop me a line 🎣
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 🙏
Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans
In March, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the federal government to share data across agencies, raising questions over whether he might compile a master list of personal information on Americans that could give him untold surveillance power. (NYT, 5/30)
Consumers Are Financing Their Groceries. What Does It Say About the Economy?
Consumers can break up gasoline purchases into installments or pay for the burrito or burger order delivered to their home in bite-size pieces. People are going on social media to share tips on how to use the short-term financing even for rent. (NYT, 6/2)
Lucy’s note: It’s headlines like this that I get so frustrated by: people are using Klarna and other services that provide essentially short-term loans to buy GROCERIES… which is a fairly unambiguous sign that the economy is really, really f*ckin bad.
Trump's Truth posts mix wild conspiracies with market-moving policies
President Trump's Truth Social account is full of jarring juxtapositions: major trade policy announcements and presidential nominations broken up by bizarre conspiracies and personal boasts. (Axios, 6/2)
From Mob Wife to MAGA Woman: TikTok Trends Are Losing Steam
Yet of the more than 100 micro-trends tracked by market-intelligence company Trendalytics across social media, online search and e-commerce, 60% are declining while only 20% are gaining traction. (Bloomberg, 5/30 – free version)
More than half of top 100 mental health TikToks contain misinformation, study finds
The experts established that 52 out of 100 videos offering advice on dealing with trauma, neurodivergence, anxiety, depression and severe mental illness contained some misinformation, and that many others were vague or unhelpful. (The Guardian, 5/31)
It’s Waymo’s World. We’re All Just Riding in It.
It cracked a million total paid rides in late 2023. By the end of 2024, it reached five million. We’re not even halfway through 2025 and it has already crossed a cumulative 10 million. At this rate, Waymo is on track to double again and blow past 20 million fully autonomous trips by the end of the year. (WSJ, 5/30 – free version)
Gen Z Doesn’t Want to Start a Bar Tab
His ethos reflects a growing phenomenon among Gen Z bargoers: an aversion to opening bar tabs. Much to the dismay of bartenders, many 20-somethings prefer to close out and pay after every drink, no matter how many beverages they end up ordering. (NYT, 5/31)
Lucy’s note: I thought this was just me and my friends! But apparently, it’s all of us because we all have anxiety 🫠 curious to see if the second (and fairly distinct) half of Gen Z does the same when more of them come of age.
Wikipedia is raising money ahead of its birthday with a streetwear collection
A text excerpt from “The Blue Marble” Wikipedia page is below the image, which is one of the most widely reproduced images in the world and “celebrates the freedom of knowledge,” according to the product description. Wikipedia’s serif “W” logo is featured throughout. (
, 5/29)
We Bought a ‘Peeing’ Robot Attack Dog From Temu. It Was Even Weirder Than Expected.
Clippy is a robot dog. Of sorts. And he (my son assures me that it’s a he) is clearly influenced by the remarkable, and somewhat terrifying, robotic canine creations of Boston Dynamics—a renowned company that’s leading the robot revolution. (WIRED, 6/1)
4 ways women are physically stronger than men
The myth of female fragility is relatively modern. For most of human history, women were hauling gear, tracking prey, and walking eight to 10 miles a day — often while pregnant, menstruating, nursing or carrying children (one estimate found that hunter-gatherer women covered more than 3,000 miles in a child’s first four years of life). (WaPo, 6/2)
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!