from the chat: the oura ring capture of dc
ALSO: boy kibble, the Gen Alpha banking app (??), how we're able to see every detail of the Winter Olympics this time around, and more
Happy Tuesday, February 10th!
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 🙏
Less than 14% of those arrested by ICE in Trump’s 1st year back in office had violent criminal records, document shows
Nearly 60% of ICE arrestees over the past year had criminal charges or convictions, the document indicates. But among that population, the majority of the criminal charges or convictions are not for violent crimes. For example, while Mr. Trump and his aides often talk about immigration officials targeting murderers, rapists and gangsters, the internal data indicate that less than 2% of those arrested by ICE over the past year had homicide or sexual assault charges or convictions. (CBS News, 2/9)
Why Washington’s all-in on smart rings
It’s paying off. The Defense Department, Oura’s largest customer, now provides rings to certain soldiers and civil servants as an employee benefit. In Congress, they are a hot accessory for representatives and senators as different as Bronx Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Idaho Falls Republican Mike Crapo. Besides buying the rings, lawmakers have gone to bat to protect Oura from Chinese and Indian competitors. (POLITICO, 2/9)
Lucy’s note: ok but… the amount of highly personal data that Oura must have on key people in US government and leadership is more than a little terrifying
Trump criticizes ‘loser’ Team USA skier Hunter Hess over press conference comments
“It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said, in response to a reporter’s question to the team about “what it means to wear Team USA and the American flag in the hopes of trying to bring some unity” to the U.S. in the midst of ongoing domestic tensions. (ABC News, 2/9)
Lucy’s note: I think it’s now required that Trump tries to do what Hunter Hess can do
OpenAI in talks with Abu Dhabi’s G42 to create specialized ChatGPT version for UAE
The fine-tuned version is being designed for use by the country’s government, OpenAI officials told Semafor. When complete, it will be one of the first examples of a local implementation of the popular chatbot, offering a glimpse into how American tech companies will handle a global AI expansion that may require regional versions of the technology. (Semafor, 2/6)
MrBeast just bought a banking app
Step is one of many mobile-only banking services, similar to Monzo or Revolut, but specifically aimed at teens, which may explain why Donaldson chose it over its rivals — his audience is mainly Gen-Z and Gen Alpha. Step’s investors also include Gen-Z influencers Josh Richards and Charli D’Amelio, the latter of whom has appeared on MrBeast’s YouTube channel. (The Verge, 2/9 – free version)
The Technologies Changing How You’ll Watch the 2026 Winter Olympic Games
Much of that technology has never been used at the Games before, says Yiannis Exarchos, the managing director of Olympic Broadcasting Services and executive director of Olympic Channel Services. The two organizations are responsible for producing much of the television, radio, and digital coverage, and content on Olympics.com. “In Milano Cortina, people will have unprecedented experiences,” Exarchos says. (WIRED, 2/7)
All the Hidden Symbols and Meanings You May Have Missed in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Set
As Bad Bunny performed his political party track “El Apagón,” viewers saw the same cane workers from the start of the show hanging from electric poles. “El Apagón” literally means “blackout.” The song talks about both Puerto Rican pride and the frustrations of dealing with the frequent blackouts that plague Puerto Rico. The longest blackout in American history was the nearly year long blackout Puerto Rico suffered after Hurricane María. (Rolling Stone, 2/9 – free version)
Lucy’s note: the walking grass is the new left shark, pass it on
The Football YouTubers Who Are Therapists for Troubled Fans
Male sports fans are not a cohort known for being comfortable with vulnerability, and often listeners DM their favorite YouTuber or podcaster about football, or a segment on the show, over the course of months or years before feeling comfortable enough to really open up. Or they write, vaguely suggesting they’re going through a tough time, and they just need prayers or someone to listen to them. Ask Pate what the most common things men need to talk about right now, and he’s clear about it. “Broken homes, by ten miles,” Pate said. (NY Mag, 2/7 – free version)
Move Over, Girl Dinner. Boy Kibble Has Arrived.
Boy kibble — also known as “human kibble” since women eat it, too — is a ruthlessly efficient, male-coded rejoinder to the extemporaneous charms of “girl dinner.” The latter is a TikTok term for the assemblage of light bites that women sometimes cobble together and eat as a meal, with little care for gastronomic coherence. Boy kibble, in contrast, focuses on some nutritional ideal — here a mix of carbs, protein and fiber — that helps one achieve a specific body type or fitness goal. (NYT gift link, 2/9)
Angry Orchard Wants Your Ex’s Stuff—And They’ll Pay You For It
Once the items arrive, Angry Orchard will send you cash toward a fresh case of cider, effectively turning relationship baggage into something actually useful: a stocked fridge and a fresh start. And don’t worry, the items won’t just get tossed. Angry Orchard says everything will be sorted and donated, meaning your ex’s forgotten junk might actually do some good. (Delish, 2/8)
Why this country declared an ocean current collapse a national security risk
Sometime over the next 100 years, human-driven warming could disrupt a vital ocean current that carries heat northward from the tropics. After this breach, most of the world would keep getting hotter — but northern Europe would cool substantially, with Iceland at the center of a deep freeze. Climate modeling shows Icelandic winter extremes plunging to an unprecedented minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea ice could surround the country for the first time since it was settled by Vikings. (WaPo, 2/10)
Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“Books are the OG influencers.” from the Selleb Sisters
If you are looking for a fun (although will make you desperate for the next book) read, highly recommend The Most Famous Girl in the World by Iman Hariri-Kia!
“Virality is dead” from Ana Andjelic and Leland Maschmeyer of The Sociology of Business
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!