today in tabs: who wants a MAHA subscription box
ALSO: the endless August recess is getting to Dems and GOP members, the golden age of Josh, the right way to 'clock it,' and more
Happy Tuesday, August 26th.
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 🙏
PROGRAMMING NOTE: I know I said I’d be on hiatus until Friday, September 5th. BUT there was so much good stuff this weekend, I’m sneaking one more send in. I am getting on the plane very soon, so we will actually be on break until then. If anyone has Iceland recs, please send them my way!
Trump Is Holding Immigrants at a Former Japanese Internment Camp
The Trump administration opened an immigrant detention site at a former Japanese internment camp in Texas, leading to condemnation from politicians, advocacy groups, and descendants of survivors of the WWII-era program. (Rolling Stone, 8/23 – free version)
A ‘MAHA Box’ Might Be Coming to Your Doorstep
Millions of Americans might soon have mail from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The health secretary—who fiercely opposes industrial, ultraprocessed foods—now wants to send people care packages full of farm-fresh alternatives. They will be called “MAHA boxes.” (The Atlantic, 8/20 – free version)
‘No magic fixes’ for Democrats as party confronts internal and fundraising struggles
At least a couple of DNC members privately considered bringing a vote of no confidence against Martin this week in part because of the committee’s underwhelming fundraising, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation who was granted anonymity to share internal discussions. (AP, 8/24)
The Endless August Recess
Steve Bannon had complained on his podcast, “War Room,” that Republicans were being opaque about what the bill really was. Meanwhile, Democrats were hosting their own town halls, where many delighted in calling it the “Big Ugly Bill.” When I sat in on one hosted by Representative Suhas Subramanyam, of Virginia, I saw that Democrats weren’t having an easy time of it, either. (The New Yorker, 8/25 – free version)
Perplexity to Let Publishers Share in Revenue from AI Searches
The startup, which is building an artificial intelligence search engine to compete with Google, has allocated $42.5 million to be distributed among publishers in the program, according to Perplexity Chief Executive Officer Aravind Srinivas. (Bloomberg, 8/25 – free version)
Mississippi’s onerous new social platform law (and the threat of big fines) has led Bluesky to block its users in the state
It applies to social platforms regardless of their content or purpose. The penalty a platform can face for non-compliance can reach $10,000 per user. And Bluesky’s 38 million users, while impressive for a newish platform, makes it a pipsqueak next to the Metas, Twitters, and TikToks of the world. (Nieman Lab, 8/25)
The Creator of “Subway Takes” One Hundred Per Cent Disagrees
“Subway Takes” is the TikTok version of the “Tonight Show”: wholesome, relatable comedy, even if some episodes do acknowledge the existence of opioids and dick pics. The premise is exactly what it sounds like. The host, Kareem Rahma, sits on a New York subway and asks, “So, what’s your take?” The guest slings a take—“The internet rocks,” for example, or “Naps are the most disgusting thing”—and Rahma responds, right away, with “A hundred per cent agree” or “A hundred per cent disagree.” (The New Yorker, 8/24 – free version)
‘Clock it.’ We’re all finger-clapping wrong.
Some veterans of an underground LGBTQ+ scene, who were finger-clapping long before the gesture had a name, have been upset that many people using it now have no idea where the gesture came from, what it means, or even which fingers they’re supposed to use. The clap’s surging popularity can feel especially galling to the queer ballroom community, which pioneered the gesture, as the rights of transgender people have been rolled back. (WaPo, 8/24)
It's the golden age of 'Josh'
On a more serious note, Joshes who spoke with NBC News said they too have noticed their name come of age, signaling a greater shift in society — away from boomer Bobs and Dougs, and toward a younger generation of Gen Xers and millennials who, after many years waiting behind older generations, are finally coming to power. (NBC News, 8/25)
Why Gen Z conservatives love the ‘Reagan Bush ’84’ tee
Whether genuine vintage or newly manufactured to look retro, the red, white and blue shirts with the classic serifed font “Reagan Bush ’84” logo have been a mainstay for more than a decade, even as the Republican Party itself has undergone galloping shifts. Think of it as the conservative take on a band shirt or the once-ubiquitous Che Guevara tee. (WaPo, 8/25)
From American Eagle to Swatch, why brands seem to keep getting it so wrong
“No brand can afford to fake understanding. No brand can ‘committee its way’ to connection. No brand can focus-group its way to authenticity. In 2025, customers can smell the difference from a mile away,” he added. (NBC News, 8/24)
Stop AI-Shaming Our Precious, Kindly Em Dashes—Please
It’s gotten so bad that people on random subreddits are having to issue PSAs informing their fellow users that em dashes were not invented by ChatGPT. These people are heroes of our time. Normally I’m an enthusiastic advocate of AI-shaming, but I will not stand idly by while you make the em dash a pawn in your dirty game of bot-spotting. (The Ringer, 8/20)
* full disclosure, I got this tweet from theSkimm, it was just too good not to share
Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“neural networks are changing our vibes” from
of“Zohran’s Scavenger Hunt and the Forgotten Socialist Mayor of New York” from
Here’s what people in the US are Googling today by relevance (significant and recent trends):
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on September 5th!