today in tabs: where ai chat bots get their news

ALSO: Gen Z wants to go back to work (but not all the time), the US gov is choosing to burn contraceptives instead of giving them to people, and more

Jul 25, 2025

Happy Friday, July 25th, 2025.

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.

Want to do a super fun, super cool rapid interview for this newsletter like the one below??? Reply to this email or hit the button below. Tips, thoughts, concerns, good jokes, bad jokes, ☕️, 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 🙏

QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE! We have a bit of a shorter OT this Friday as I am with the fam this week and headed off in a sec to go museum hop and try not to melt! Hope wherever you are, you are savoring this last Friday of July ☀️

US-funded contraceptives for poor nations to be burned in France, sources say

U.S.-funded contraceptives worth nearly $10 million are being sent to France from Belgium to be incinerated, after Washington rejected offers from the United Nations and family planning organisations to buy or ship the supplies to poor nations, two sources told Reuters. (Reuters, 7/24 – free version)

Lucy’s note: You must be f*cking kidding me. The degree to which it was all never actually about wasteful government practices…

Trump Told Park Workers to Report Displays That ‘Disparage’ Americans. Here’s What They Flagged.

Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, said many Park Service employees are obeying the executive order even though they disagree with it. (NYT gift link, 7/22)

Lucy’s note: We chatted about the merch aspect of this two weeks ago, but now, we have some more specifics on what language/topics are getting flagged: signs about climate change, slavery, and the imprisonment of Native peoples…

French President Macron sues right-wing podcaster Candace Owens

In an eight-part podcast she created and in social media posts, Owens promoted “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions” to boost her platform and make money, the lawsuit alleges. Among the claims are that Brigitte Macron stole another person’s identity; that she and the president were blood relatives engaged in incest; and that they were committing forgery, fraud and abuses of power, the lawsuit said. (WaPo, 7/23)

IRS considers eliminating non-English language tax services

Trump administration officials are considering eliminating multi-language services at the IRS, according to records obtained by The Washington Post and two people familiar with the situation, a move that would make it dramatically more difficult for non-English-speaking individuals to file their taxes. (WaPo, 7/25)

What news sources AI chat bots read

Muck Rack input more than 1 million realistic user prompts into ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude and analyzed the citations. 96% of links cited by AI sit squarely within the purview of communications and corporate affairs, per the report. 37% of inquiries cite external blogs or content (those not owned by the company or product targeted in the query) and 27% cite news stories produced by journalistic entities. (Axios, 7/23)

Uber will let women drivers and riders request to avoid being paired with men starting next month

The company said the rider’s preference isn’t guaranteed but the feature increases the chances women will be paired in the app. Uber will pilot the program in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit. The company also said it tested the feature in countries such as France, Germany and Argentina. (NBC News, 7/23)

Florida Is Now a Haven for Unproven Stem-Cell Treatments

Under a new law that went into effect July 1, doctors in Florida can administer unapproved stem-cell therapies for wound care, pain management, or orthopedic purposes. The law comes amid growing support for medical freedom in the United States, an idea espoused by Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and it could prompt other states to follow. (WIRED, 7/24)

Fully Remote Work Least Popular With Gen Z

Gen Z workers in the U.S. are the least likely generation to prefer exclusively remote work, according to Gallup’s latest May 2025 findings. Only 23% of remote-capable Gen Z employees say they would prefer fully remote work, compared with 35% among each older generation. (Gallup, 7/23)

Nearly Third of Kids Now Look to AI for Emotional Support

In a May 2024 YouGov survey, 50 percent of respondents said the 24/7 availability and immediate access made AI chatbots helpful for mental health purposes. And 38 percent cited the chatbots' non-judgmental interactions as a pro. (Newsweek, 7/22)

American Eagle is betting big on Sydney Sweeney

Sweeney has fans across genders, and the brand purposefully photographed her in men’s jeans featuring “clever, even provocative language” to display in the men’s sections, Brommers said. Visitors to American Eagle’s more than 800 stores nationwide can expect to be greeted with pictures of Sweeney and the tagline, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.” (Marketing Brew, 7/23)

Target is changing one of its biggest customer perks

That’s changing beginning July 28: The price match policy will be valid only if customers found an item for a cheaper price at Target’s stores or website within two weeks of purchase. It will no longer apply to Amazon and Walmart prices. (CNN, 7/22)

Lucy’s note: Everyone, say it together now… RECESSION INDICATOR 🙃

‘Are My Student Loans About to Become Unaffordable?’

Everyone enrolled in the SAVE plan, which has been tied up in court for more than a year, will remain in forbearance until that court rules on whether SAVE is constitutional or not, says Rae Kaplan, a lawyer who specializes in student-debt relief. “So you don’t need to start paying, but your total balance is about to start growing,” she explains. (The Cut, 7/24 – free version)