today in tabs: the 'yelp for people' apps are, as expected, a total mess

ALSO: private prisons are making obscene money from Trump's (unconstitutional) immigration policies, TikTok has a new tool for travel creators, restaurant run clubs, and more

Aug 12, 2025

Happy Tuesday, August 12th.

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 this or this??? Reply to this email or hit the button below. 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 🙏

Trump orders homeless he passed en route to golf course to leave Washington DC

The post was illustrated with four photographs, all apparently taken from the president’s motorcade along the route from the White House to his golf course. Two of the images showed a total of 10 tents pitched on the grass along a highway on-ramp just over a mile from the White House. (The Guardian, 8/10)

Lucy’s note: This comes as Trump plans to deploy the National Guard and places the DC police under federal control (an urgent reminder of why DC statehood is very, VERY needed).

He was the first to tell Biden to step down. Now, will he?

Doggett rejects any comparison to Biden and sees no contradiction in his determination to keep his seat. His qualms with the then-president were in his low polling and declining physical fitness, he said. Doggett, on the other hand, remains well regarded in Austin and hasn’t faced any critiques about his fitness for office. The only ding against him, he says, is his age. (WaPo, 8/11)

Companies aiding Trump’s immigration crackdown see ‘extraordinary’ revenues

Palantir, the tech firm, and Geo Group and CoreCivic, the private prison and surveillance companies, said this week that they brought in more money than Wall Street expected them to, thanks to the administration’s crackdown on immigrants. (The Guardian, 8/10)

Lucy’s note: As you can prob tell from this section, I am very impressed with The Guardian’s journalism (and their no bs headlines) during Trump 2.0.

TikTok is rolling out a new way for creators to make money from travel videos

TikTok has launched an integration with Booking.com that lets users enter check-in and check-out dates and book available rooms at specific hotels. Each hotel has a dedicated landing page with information about prices, amenities, reviews, things to do nearby, and related TikTok videos about the property. (Business Insider, 8/8)

A Tea App Competitor Aimed at Men Is Also a Hot Mess

TeaOnHer, meanwhile, advertises that its "community helps you identify concerning behaviors patterns, safety red flags, and positive dating experiences from verified sources." Basically, it borrows Tea's anonymous gossip feature, but not the sturdier safety resources. (LifeHacker, 8/8)

Inside the automated warehouse where robots are packing your groceries

Few humans are required to supervise the robots or work alongside them. Even tech support is handled remotely, by a team in Bulgaria. At one point, I see a robot’s cheery green LEDs turn amber, indicating a problem. It quickly halts, and sits there, flashing orange, for 30 seconds or so, then pings green and trundles happily on again, no in-person help required. (The Verge, 8/10 – free version)

Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in their sandal design

Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches. (NBC News, 8/10 – originated with an AP video).

Gen Z's Summer Isn't Just a Vibe—It's a Whole Crafted Persona

According to a new poll of 2,000 U.S. women aged 18-42, 74 percent said they are actively channeling a specific "summer vibe" this year. The study, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by smoothie brand Jamba, highlights a growing cultural phenomenon. (Newsweek, 8/10)

Social media is obsessed with ‘performative men’ – also known as men

This freshly minted archetype is the amalgamation of a trove of tropes, precisely selected and arranged by men to convey an air of progressively enlightened, nontoxic masculinity. This can be signaled through fashion choices (a little shirt, somewhat large pants, a ludicrously capacious bag), ostensibly non-sartorial accessories (the matcha, the book of essays by bell hooks) and strategic public displays of existence (the table for one at a crowded cafe). (WaPo, 8/11)

Lucy’s note: BIG fan of this piece, the title made me actually lol.

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Tops the Billboard 100 With Huntr/x’s ‘Golden’

As per Billboard, “Golden” is the ninth song from the Korean pop genre to dominate the Hot 100. Additionally, it’s also the most recent No. 1 performed by a fictional ensemble from a film, the last being Encanto‘s viral “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which enjoyed a five-week stint at the coveted spot in February and March 2022. (Gizmodo, 8/11)

Why Restaurant Workers Are Trading Late Nights for Morning Runs

The unique spirit of each run club reflects their respective restaurant kitchens. The chefs at Eleven Madison Park, who cook with rigorous Michelin-starred exactitude, often run Central Park’s hilly six-mile loop. “We get addicted to the feeling of pushing ourselves,” chef de cuisine Dominique Roy says. “But it’s competitive too.” (Bon Appetit, 8/12)