from the chat: rich girls, rebrands, and the death (rebirth?) of “bop”
ALSO: Trump DOJ has to drop their crusade against law firms with spines, 8 facts about Americans and TikTok, an upcoming planetary parade, and more
Happy Tuesday, March 3rd! ☘
FYSA, 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 ALSO 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), or buy me a matcha, that would be so appreciated 🙏
TWO BIG UPDATES, WOOHOO! One is directly about GCC, one is not lol.
FIRST, I know there are a TON of people in the progressive space, and especially in the progressive digital/new media space, looking to hire or be hired. I am personally not the best at keeping track of notes I get about that so I want to create a dedicated space here! IF YOU ARE HIRING FOR A FREELANCE, PART-TIME, OR FULL-TIME ROLE in progressive politics, social media, new media, tech, culture, etc., please feel free to share that role HERE, and I will include it in this newsletter if it’s a fit!
Some examples of opportunities that I think would be great for this audience (all real jobs, largely pulled from some of my personal faves in the space, Arena Careers, Democracy Notes, and The Publish Press):
Iowa Senate Democrats/Senate Majority Fund: Digital Media Director ($5,000 per month)
Tailwind Partners: Digital Content Creator ($4,000 per month)
Civitech Researcher (Contract) ($15 - $18.50 per hour)
The Publish Press Social Media Freelancer ($50 per hour)
Future Caucus Coordinator, Policy Innovation Lab ($58,656-62,328 per year)
Morning Brew Senior Video Producer ($100,000-130,000 per year)
SECOND, whilst law studenting, I am also helping my fabulous former team at COURIER (the national team, with over 4.5 million followers across platforms b/c they are the bestest in the biz) in a partnerships capacity (especially for folks in DC and NYC)! So please reach out if you’re interested in working together (and invite us to your gatherings and happy hours if you feel so inclined, I promise we are really cool and fun!).
But first… et tu, AP?
We texted 1,000 Americans about U.S. strikes in Iran. Here’s what they said.
Americans oppose Trump ordering airstrikes on Iran by 52 percent to 39 percent; 9 percent say they are unsure. Opponents are more passionate, with about 4 in 10 strongly opposing the strikes, whereas just over 2 in 10 strongly support them. (WaPo, 3/2 – free version)
Justice Department moves to drop defense of Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms
In papers filed with the U.S. appeals court in Washington, D.C., the Trump administration said it would be voluntarily dismissing appeals of lower court decisions that found the executive orders punishing the four firms were unconstitutional. The firms are Perkins Coie; Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP; Susman Godfrey and Jenner & Block. (CBS News, 3/2)
Lucy’s note: turns out standing up for yourself and democracy IS the right move – very embarrassing for all the firms that didn’t!
Supreme Court blocks law against schools outing transgender students to their parents in California
The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for California schools to tell parents if their children identify as transgender without getting the student’s approval, granting an emergency appeal from a conservative legal group. The order blocks for now a state law that bans automatic parental notification requirements if students change their pronouns or gender expression at school. (AP, 3/2)
Mamdani has used Signal for government business as mayor
Three people with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO that as mayor Mamdani has used the encrypted messaging app to communicate with fellow elected officials and political advisers. In at least one instance, he’s discussed government business over the app, according to one of those people, who like the others, was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue. (POLITICO, 3/2)
Lucy’s note: two thoughts here – first, y’all know I love him, but we really can’t be doing this! second, I think a lot of us here have used the government-improved messaging systems, and they are unbelievably clunky to the point that it’s pretty inhibitive to productivity. perhaps, in addition to all the other things, this rash of Signal use is strongly gesturing to the fact that we seriously need to update governmental digital infrastructure and infrastructure as a whole…
8 facts about Americans and TikTok
Roughly one-in-five U.S. teens report being on TikTok “almost constantly.” Black and Hispanic teens are more likely than White teens to be almost-constant TikTok users. (In that survey, there were not enough Asian teens in the sample to be broken out into a separate analysis. As always, their responses are included in the general population figures.) Teen girls are also slightly more likely than teen boys to report this kind of use. (Pew Research, 3/2)
First Snapchat, now TikTok: Instagram has mastered the art of borrowing features
While it might be true that if you see a funny TikTok video, you can expect to see the same content recycled on Reels a few weeks later, for Insta users (and Meta’s mighty advertising machine), it doesn’t seem to matter. The once photo-focused app’s daily user count has overtaken TikTok’s in the US once more, according to data from Similarweb, a digital market intelligence company. (Sherwood, 3/2)
Clout-Chasing DJs Are Faking Co-Signs by Dubbing Over Crowd Videos. Will Labels Bite?
Now, a new test of the DJ ecosystem has reared its insidious head: the clout deepfake. This disturbing trend has taken on a couple of forms — so far. The first is the simplest: namely, fledgling dance producers have been hijacking footage of big-name DJs playing to jumping crowds, overdubbing their own music onto it, sharing it to their socials, claiming clout that doesn’t actually exist, and fooling fans and potentially even record labels in the process. (Rolling Stone, 3/2 – free version)
Snap, Crackle, and “Bop”
“Bop” used to mean a catchy song; online, it has become shorthand for a woman monetizing her sexuality. Depending on whom you ask, it stands for Baddie On Point, Body On Payroll, or Blown-Out followed by an anatomical reference. The term is elastic. The mechanics are not. Influencers sell products. Bops sell access to themselves. (Air Mail, 2/28 – if you submit an email, it should be free)
Lucy’s note: if you also saw this all over your feed but were super confused about what was actually being described, the TL;DR is (mostly) already wealthy girls are further monetizing their content by funneling viewers/engagment to OnlyFans, which we knew – the new piece is that they have a name, which is “Bop” (and then they randomly interviewed an anonymous Brearley mom who was very chatty)
Why Are So Many Women Getting ADHD Diagnoses in Midlife?
When estrogen levels decrease, especially for longer stretches like postpartum or during perimenopause, so does dopamine, resulting in a sustained state of disarray. Kooij says, “That’s when women tell us, ‘We can’t function. We’ve lost ourselves. I don’t recognize myself; this is not how I am.’” (The Cut, 2/26 – free version)
Starbucks revamps chai, goes purple and coconut for spring
The March 3 launch leans into two powerful consumer trends — personalization and social-ready drinks — while modernizing one of Starbucks’ longest-running menu staples: chai. It’s the latest step in CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” reinvention plan, as the company pivots from menu simplification back to growth and innovation. (Axios, 3/2)
A Crisis in the Alps: Airbnb, Climate Change and Americans
The Alps have long been a destination for winter tourism, filled with legendary ski towns like Chamonix, Kitzbuhel and Val d’Isère. But recently, the resort towns that dot the mountains from Austria to France have reached what people here say is a crisis point, facing changes that threaten their cultures and even survival, as demand for short-term tourist rentals reshapes towns where skiing has traditionally only been part of their identity. (NYT gift link, 3/2)
9 night sky events to see in March, from a blood moon lunar eclipse to a planetary parade
March brings one of North America’s most buzzed-about astronomical events—a total lunar eclipse, which is visible across the U.S. But the eclipse is only the beginning. The month’s interstellar wonder continues with planet conjunctions, above-average aurora borealis odds, and increased Milky Way core visibility. (NatGeo, 2/26 – free version)
Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“🌻 AI vs. the pentagon” from Jasmine Sun
“Missouri candidates start filing for a district that may not exist” from David Nir and Jeff Singer of The Downballot
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!