today in tabs: the shaheens are fighting 😢

ALSO: MAHA <3s Elizabeth Holmes, TikTok shop is the size of eBay, the rise of freaky caesar salads, and more

Nov 11, 2025

Happy Tuesday, November 11th. Since it’s 11/11, do we just get to keep making wishes all day?

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 🙏

Democrats Are So Angry, One Senator Faces Blowback From Her Daughter

Supporting her mother’s vote would have left the younger Ms. Shaheen in a much weaker spot for her primary race to fill the seat being vacated by Representative Chris Pappas. (He is running for the Senate seat now occupied by Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring.) In the interview, Stefany Shaheen said that she had talked with her mother about the Senate discussions but declined to get into details. (NYT gift link, 11/10)

Lucy’s note: I think this paragraph pulls out a key element… none of the eight senators who caved are up for re-election in 2026. So, yes, I think it’s very fair to be mad at them specifically, but it’s a safe bet that there was some broader Dem coordination here.

“Shocking” number of white clergy run as Democrats in 2026

Dozens of white clergy are signing up to run as Democrats in 2026, as progressive faith leaders push back on the political dominance of the Christian right. Democrats have a track record of Black clergy running for office, including Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). But when white pastors have run, it’s usually been as Republicans. (Axios, 11/9)

Lucy’s note: pairing this with this story out of Texas… I don’t know what exactly happened here, but a reminder we MUST vet and also keep an eye on the following tab

MAHA Is Embracing Elizabeth Holmes. Here’s Why.

For those who believe the health system is controlled by a conspiracy of major corporations, Holmes is a victim of Big Pharma. For biohacking enthusiasts who are into wearable devices, Holmes was an early adopter of the technology — even if the product never actually worked. For mothers who see themselves as protectors of their children, Holmes is simply a mom who is trying to provide the best care for her family under trying circumstances. (POLITICO Magazine, 11/11)

Democrats seek investigation into agency messages blaming them for the shutdown

The lawmakers point specifically to a rule that prohibits the executive branch from using funds for “purely partisan” purposes. They are asking for more information from the GAO to see if several agencies violated laws that pertain to ethics and partisan political activity. (NBC News, 11/10)

TikTok Launches Podcast Network with iHeartMedia

TikTok and iHeartMedia have teamed up to create the new TikTok Podcast Network, a portfolio that will house up to 25 podcasts hosted by TikTok creators. The shows will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will air across all major audio platforms. (AdWeek, 11/10)

TikTok Shop Is Now the Size of eBay

Based on that data, the analytics firm EchoTik estimates TikTok Shop sold $19 billion worth of products globally from July through September of this year. The United States, its largest market, accounted for $4 billion to $4.5 billion in sales, an increase of about 125 percent compared to the second quarter of 2025. (WIRED, 11/7)

Lucy’s note: Sorry that this section is VERY TikTok news-heavy today… but it is notable as these definitely do not seem like the actions of a company that might get booted out of the US in some way, shape, or form anytime soon

The ‘Dead Internet Theory’ and the rise of synthetic politics

AI-generated posts receive inflated engagement from bot networks, which in turn triggers platform algorithms to prioritise them. The result is a self-reinforcing loop in which synthetic signals create the illusion of widespread political support. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition and rebranding to X, there has been a surge in AI-generated memes and misinformation, often amplified by algorithmic changes that deprioritise fact-checking. Scholars describe this as algorithmic authoritarianism: governance through the invisible control of attention. (The Loop, 11/11)

TikTok Users Are Scrambling to Decode the Meaning of “LTN” — Are You a Normie?

Turns out, “LTN” is an acronym blended together with an older internet slang term. It’s an acronym for “low-tier normie.” It’s part of an unofficial ranking system — alongside “MTN” (mid-tier normie) and “HTN” (high-tier normie) — used to categorize how “normie” someone is, often in a joking or ironic way. (Distractify, 11/5)

Freaky Caesars & More Restaurant Trends You’ll See In 2026

At Infatuation, our team of writers and editors visits around 200 restaurants per week in 70 cities across the country. We’ve seen some things along the way: one too many salads described as “lettuces”, unnecessary tableside presentations, and barstools without backs come to mind. But the one pattern we predict to have real staying power is everyday comforts getting the luxury treatment. (The Infatuation, 11/10)

Want to quit your smartphone? Join this club.

For the past few months, a shadowy company called Dumb and Co. has been convincing people in Washington, DC, to ditch their smartphones for a month. It’s part of a project called Month Offline, where participants get a flip phone and access to a support group to talk about algorithms, doomscrolling, and why smartphones make us feel so lonely. (Vox, 11/6 – free version)

These Pastas Could Vanish from U.S. Shelves If Trump Rolls Out 107% Tariffs

Italian pasta imports have long been a staple on American grocery shelves, representing both a key culinary link and a major trade relationship between the United States and Italy. This escalation follows an anti-dumping probe by the Department of Commerce into whether Italian pasta producers are exporting at rates that undercut U.S. companies. (Newsweek, 11/10)

Lucy’s note: Interestingly, this is a tariff fight that actually pre-dates the second Trump term.

Flying private no longer a shutdown disruption avoidance hack

Taylor Swift is now effectively banned from several major airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted private jets at a dozen domestic air hubs starting yesterday in order to relieve the strain on understaffed air traffic control towers during the government shutdown. (Morning Brew, 11/11)