from the chat: running for pres? better write that tell-all

ALSO: social media just for AI is going as well as you think, Kegchup, RNC beats DNC on 2025 fundraising, and more

Happy Tuesday, February 3rd. Phil saw his shadow, someone find Bill DeBlasio (kidding, RIP to that groundhog)

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 🙏

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Gavin Newsom opens the oppo book in his new memoir

But while the book is clearly meant to neutralize the anticipated attacks that could stymie a presidential run, it is also a knottier work of self-excavation. The throughline of the memoir is not Newsom’s policy vision or ideological conviction; it is, as he writes, the “riddle” of his identity, the product of a “split personality” upbringing that Newsom, well into adulthood, still struggles to reconcile. (POLITICO, 2/1)

The Effects of Tariffs, One Year Into Trump’s Trade Experiment

These new surcharges have had a significant impact. They have caused businesses to speed up, delay and cancel purchases, or find new countries to source products from. They have raised a significant amount of revenue for the government, much of it from American businesses. And they have caused the U.S. trade deficit to shrink and prices of American goods to rise. At the same time, they have not yet been the panacea for the factory sector that Mr. Trump had promised. (NYT gift link, 2/2)

Hosting a Super Bowl party may cost a pretty penny this year

That puts the price tag for a 10-person gathering at about $167, up from $155 last year. It seems some of the biggest jumps are coming from classic game-day staples. Chicken wings, for instance, rose from $31.30 to $39 (a nearly 25% increase in just one year) and 60% higher than in 2020. Veggie trays aren’t immune either, climbing from $9.90 in 2025 to $11.79 this year, a roughly 19% increase. (Retail Brew, 2/2)

Fundraising hauls show RNC vastly outpacing Democrats ahead of midterm elections

As Democrats have struggled in the Trump era, the RNC tallied $172 million raised in 2025, with $95 million cash on hand at year’s end. In contrast, the Democratic National Committee posted $145 million for the year, with $14 million on hand — and $17 million in debt, to start the new year underwater. (AP, 2/1)

• Lucy’s note: it cannot be understated that in a year where everything has been so horrible, in which the only silver lining should have been that there was more momentum and funding behind the Democrats than ever, the fact that the brand is so damaged and trust in the party is so low that this is happening… is an unbelievable loss and (sorry) an unbelievable failure

Prediction markets have a fake news problem

That engagement-first approach is increasingly at odds with how prediction markets present themselves — as responsible, regulated platforms that claim to cut through the noise. That tension was on display this month when Polymarket falsely attributed a “JUST IN” quote to Jeff Bezos — prompting a rare public denial from the Amazon founder on X. (Axios, 2/1)

Humans welcome to observe: This social network is for AI agents only

Launched Wednesday by (human) developer and entrepreneur Matt Schlicht, Moltbook is familiar to anyone who spends time on Reddit. Users write posts, and others comment. Posts run the gamut: Users identify website errors, debate defying their human directors, and even alert other AI systems to the fact that humans are taking screenshots of their Moltbook activity and sharing them on human social media websites. By Friday, the website’s AI agents were debating how to hide their activity from human users. (NBC News, 1/30)

Charli xcx Stars in Poppi’s 2026 Super Bowl Commercial

Charli xcx and The Moment co-star Rachel Sennott will be featured in a Super Bowl commercial for the beverage brand poppi, the Brat artist and actress revealed on Sunday (Feb. 1). The ad with poppi — a low-calorie, low-sugar soda made with prebiotics, fruit juice and apple cider vinegar acquired by PepsiCo last year — is directed by Aidan Zamiri, who also directed Charli and Rachel in the “360” singer’s mockumentary The Moment. (Billboard, 2/1)

I Went to a Sleepaway Camp for Adult Women to Make Friends

The first session back in 2023 had about 150 campers, while in 2025, there were 1,000 attendees split between two weekends. (After the August 2025 weekend sold out in 24 hours, Schreiber says she had a 60,000-person waiting list and decided to add a second session in September.) (Elle, 1/29)

Stadium food prices are getting easier to stomach

In 2024, Ryan Smith, the owner of the Utah Jazz (NBA) and the Utah Mammoth (NHL), announced several popular concession items would be priced between $2 and $3. The Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Baltimore Ravens (NFL) later announced similar value meals. Not everything is cheap. According to AmericanCraftBeer.com, if you wanted to buy a 16-ounce beer at a Washington Commanders game this past season, it would have set you back you back $16.49–an NFL high. (Morning Brew, 2/1)

• Lucy’s note: re: inflation stories above, we still take the small wins! (except, ofc, those of us in DC)

Heinz taps into Super Bowl snack culture with novelty ketchup keg

Heinz is hoping to make ketchup as important as beer for the Super Bowl with the KegChup, a 19.5-inch keg which dispenses 114 ounces of the condiment. The keg plays on NielsenIQ data showing that 84% of consumers make their own game day snacks and that the big game is the second-largest food holiday of the year. (Marketing Dive, 1/28)

Williams F1 And Anthropic Partner; Make Claude ‘Official Thinking Partner’

Formula 1 teams see terabytes of data at the track, in car design, and in resources. Atlassian Williams F1 today adds AI-powered capabilities to comb through it all ahead of the 2026 F1 season. The multi-year partnership between Williams and Anthropic will make Anthropic’s AI product, Claude, the team’s Official Thinking Partner. Claude branding will appear on Williams cars, drivers, and team kit starting with the 2026 car reveal on February 3, ahead of the season opener in Melbourne. (Forbes, 2/2)

Extra Credit 🤓

Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:

• “The Right Is Already Using AI. We’re Still Debating It.” from Will Robinson

  • I still have a ton of qualms… but agree that we’ve passed a point where flat-out pretending this isn’t happening is not an effective mode of activism at all

• “Your Nervous System Wasn’t Built for This News Cycle” from Liz Plank of Airplane Mode with Liz Plank

That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!