today in tabs: amy klobuchar wrote an NYT op-ed about sydney sweeney because nothing makes sense anymore
ALSO: what's next in the battle for our maps, the rise of 'many on one' social media stunts, Labubumatchadubaichocolate, and more
Happy Friday, August 22nd.
WELCOME :)
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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**Quick programming note! First, apologies for the delayed send this Friday evening. Between starting law school this week and trying to find hiking boots for a trip to Iceland next week (truly insane of me to schedule these things concurrently!!), this week has been wild. If you have tips for Iceland and/or law school, I would love to hear them.
Additionally, Open Tabs will be on a break until Friday, September 5th. This is my first break since starting the newsletter, and I shall miss you all dearly – but I’ll see you then :)
Amy Klobuchar: What I Didn’t Say About Sydney Sweeney
That’s why it is urgent for Congress to immediately pass laws to protect Americans by preventing their likenesses from being used to do harm. I learned that lesson in a visceral way over the last month when a fake video of me — opining on, of all things, the actress Sydney Sweeney’s jeans — went viral. (NYT gift link, 8/20)
Lucy’s note: This headline is a fever dream.
What's next in the battle over redistricting as the Texas House passes new GOP maps
With Texas set to fully enact its new plan as soon as this week, urged on by President Donald Trump, California Democrats are moving quickly to implement a plan to carve up their state's maps in retaliation. Meanwhile, top Republicans in states like Indiana, Missouri and Florida continue to talk about tweaking their maps to create more Republican-controlled congressional seats in the 2026 elections. (NBC News, 8/20)
RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.
They were preparing to submit their study for publication when newly inaugurated Trump put Kennedy in charge of America’s health. Despite having made chronic health conditions the focus of his agenda, Kennedy has quietly abided environmental policies that will exacerbate these problems, including autism. (ProPublica, 8/20)
Park ranger fired after hanging trans flag in Yosemite National Park
Now, according to Joslin, their contract has allegedly been terminated despite their claim that they carried out the protest “in my free time, off duty, as a private citizen”. In a social media post on Monday (18 August), they said they had lost “my dream job… for practising my first amendment right [which protects freedom of expression and religion]”. (Pink News, 8/19)
Revenge of the Followers
The staged intermingling of stars and their audiences is a staple of modern celebrity culture. But one-versus-all stunts promise fans more than just autographs or selfies. They physically embody interactions once confined to bytes and screens. (NYT gift link, 8/22)
7 in 10 say false information online ‘major threat’ to US
Americans ages 65 and older were more likely to say the spread of false information online, infectious diseases and terrorism are major threats to the country, compared to those under the age of 30, according to the survey. (The Hill, 8/20)
Expanding Hype Literacy to Protect Democracy
This is a paradigmatic case of technology hype. This phenomenon, as we study in the ‘Hype Studies’ research arena, has a social, cultural, political and economic nature. Tech-hype is characterized by the fascination with future-oriented technologies: exaggerated and unrealistic promises of value development are coupled with a strident optimism that captures the attention of investors, technologists, politicians, journalists, and the general citizenry. (Tech Policy Press, 8/21)
What kids don’t want you to know about Gen Alpha culture
It’s no surprise that a generation of kids who spent formative years in lockdowns and remote school would feel starved for community. To me, another desire was more striking: The top goal for Gen Alpha and Gen Z, according to research by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, is to feel safe. (Vox, 8/21 – free version)
6 in 10 Gen Z Workers Are Quiet Vacationing This Summer
Gen Z workers are the most likely to engage in the practice, with 66% saying they've taken time off without notifying their employer this year. Quiet vacationing is also more common among executives (65%) and fully in-person workers, all of whom reported taking a secret vacation in 2025. (Yahoo Finance, 8/20)
Singles Are Sick of Dating Apps. But There Are 2.5 Million on Raya’s Waitlist.
It’s anyone’s guess exactly how big Raya’s user base is, as the company will only place it in the low six figures. Tinder, by comparison, has 50 million monthly active users. Daniel Gendelman, Raya’s founder and CEO, says that every potential investor has asked him the same question: Why don’t you let more people in? (WSJ, 8/21 – free version)
IRL Brain Rot and the Lure of the Labubu
The ugliness is a feature, not a bug. Just in the past month, people have taken to stringing together these signifiers into one manic phrase, Labubumatchadubaichocolate, as a way to refer to a broader Zeitgeist and its elaborately artificial aesthetic. It may appear nonsensical, but its nonsense has a purpose. (The New Yorker, 8/20 – free version)
Morgan Wallen & ‘I’m the Problem’ Won’t Be Submitted for 2026 Grammy Awards
As Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem sits at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the 11th non-consecutive week, Billboard has learned that his team will not submit the album, any of the 37 songs on the voluminous set, or Wallen for consideration for the 68th Grammy Awards, to be held Feb. 1, 2026. (Billboard, 8/19)
A British restaurant is launching the UK’s first water menu
Binder curated La Popote’s water menu, which features a selection from across Europe, including Britain, France, Spain and Portugal. Prices range from £5 ($6.80) for a large bottle of his Crag brand to £19 ($26) for The Palace of Vidago, a Portuguese sparkling water. (CNN News, 8/19)
Parity research indicates women’s soccer fans show above-average loyalty to sponsors in the space
According to the report, women’s soccer fans tend to pay attention to athlete endorsements and are 34% more likely than other women’s sports fans to trust athletes “a lot.” Athlete product collabs are the primary way they want to see brands activate, with nearly half saying they would be likely to engage with brands that do so. (The Gist, 8/22)
Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“When Ideology Becomes Dogma” from
“Cracker Barrel’s new logo is so bad it’s costing it money” from Morning Brew
This is technically a standalone piece on their site (I think)… but big fan of the Morning Brew newsletter!
That’s all for now – I’ll see you in two weeks!