today in tabs: sandwich man gets his day in court

ALSO: HAPPY EDAY, why "bird theory" is all over TikTok, Martha Stewart is coming for Gen Z, and more

Nov 04, 2025

Happy Tuesday, November 4th. Happy ELECTION DAY 🗳️🗳️🗳️ If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, there’s still time!

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.

I’M LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO DO MINI INTERVIEWS FOR OPEN TABS :) 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 🙏

Voters broadly disapprove of Trump but remain divided on midterms, poll finds

Democrats can find few bright spots of their own in the new survey. Americans see the president and the two political parties as out of touch with their lives. But Democrats — whose popularity has hit low points in other national polls this year — are judged most harshly. While 63 percent of Americans see Trump as out of touch and 61 percent see Republicans that way, 68 percent say the Democrats are out of touch. There has been no improvement for Democrats since a similar poll last April. (WaPo, 11/2)

Lucy’s note: yeah… this is just so unbelievably bad

Trial Begins for Man Accused of Lobbing a Sandwich at a Federal Agent

Sean C. Dunn, a former paralegal for the Justice Department, will instead go to court to fight a misdemeanor assault charge in the August episode. A video of it circulated widely on social media, making him a symbol of local opposition to President Trump’s deployment of troops and federal agents in Washington. (NYT gift link, 11/3)

The Science Behind the “Bird Theory”

In the bird theory’s case, if the test subject brushes off the bird comment or treats it like an unnecessary quip, the response could signal deeper communication problems and issues with reciprocated attention. The bird theory has gone through waves of popularity as a filmed relationship “test” on social media, but none more inescapable than its recent resurgence over the past couple of weeks. (Cosmopolitan, 10/30)

AI Artist Xania Monet Debuts on Adult R&B Airplay — a Radio Chart Breakthrough

What’s the difference between that song and the other 103 titles that have made the chart this year alone? Xania Monet (first name pronounced “zuh-Nī-ah,” rhyming with Shania, as in Shania Twain) is an AI-driven artist, the product of a poet named Telisha Jones, and her song’s chart arrival marks the first known instance of an AI-based act to earn a spot on a Billboard radio chart. (Billboard, 11/3)

No, ChatGPT hasn’t added a ban on giving legal and health advice

The new policy update on October 29th has a list of things you can’t use ChatGPT for, and one of them is “provision of tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal or medical advice, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional.” (The Verge, 11/3)

The 2025 New York City Marathon saw a record number of runners

According to event organizer New York Road Runners (NYRR), the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon saw ~59,000 runners — which would be the most participants of any recorded marathon in history, beating the record set at the TCS London Marathon in April of ~56,600 finishers. (Sherwood, 11/3)

Lucy’s note: explains why there appeared to be DOZENS of people I follow on IG running???

Botox boom: Millennials almost matching Gen X shot for shot

Gen X is leading the charge, with about 39% of all neurotoxin procedures in the past year, Qsight senior data scientist Duey Xu tells Axios. Millennials “have rapidly gained ground in recent years,” now up to 35% of procedures, Xu says. Gen Z is starting to become part of the trend, too. Those born after 1997 make up 6% of patients. (Axios, 11/1)

Martha Stewart wants to be Gen Z’s Martha Stewart

Entertaining, originally published in 1982, has been out of print for years, but interest in the 300-recipe compendium that spawned Stewart’s business empire spiked last year, after CNN and Netflix both released documentaries about her. The book’s publisher said it decided to reissue the book (a rare move) after new young fans started elbowing for vintage editions. (Morning Brew, 11/3)

Lawsuit Against Spotify Claims ‘Billions’ of Drake Streams Were ‘Fraudulent’

The suit was filed in California District Court on Sunday night with rapper (and cousin of Snoop Dogg) RBX named as the lead plaintiff. While the most eye-popping allegations in the suit relate to Drake’s streaming numbers, there are no specific accusations of wrongdoing against the “Nokia” rapper. Only Spotify is named as a defendant. (Rolling Stone, 11/3 – free version)

After the vibe shift, Ford ads got weird

But the America that Ford is selling has changed over time. Watched in succession, Ford ads tell us the story of what America is ready to pay money to believe itself to be. If we look at Ford right now, we’re seeing what America thinks it can sell in a moment with a powerful amount of anxiety over what American is all. (Vox, 11/3 – free version)