from the chat: ticketmaster, count your days
ALSO: Trump says he has a secret "discombobulator" weapon, TikTok micro-dramas take over, Heated Rivalry takes off in Russia, and more
Happy Tuesday, January 27th.
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 🙏
I don’t know about you all, but I couldn’t post a thing on TikTok this weekend about ICE and then about anything… and, no, I don’t realllyyy think it was because of a power outage. In an effort to create some small paper trail, I have some screenshots from bigger creators who couldn’t post anything about ICE and anecdotes from people who had these issues – and if you have any documentation/anecdotes/stories to share or know anyone who does and could send them my way, that would be very appreciated! (Btw, if you reply to any GCC email, it goes to my inbox.)
Democratic congressman punched in racist attack at Sundance film festival
The attacker “apparently shocked other people in the bathroom by talking about how proud he was to be ‘white’. He then allegedly punched Frost, after he left the facilities,” Variety reported, citing a source at the party. (The Guardian, 1/25)
Trump claims secret ‘discombobulator’ weapon was used to help capture Maduro
President Donald Trump said the US used a weapon he referred to as a “discombobulator” to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro this month, but a senior US official said he’s likely conflating tools used by the US military. (CNN, 1/25)
Lucy’s note: … it’s giving dementia and also Dr. Doofenshmirtz cosplay
Senate Democrats To Host Creator Summit
Senate Democrats are planning their first-ever summit for creators, independent journalists and new media, according to an invitation seen by Scalable. The full-day event—hosted by the Senate Democrats’ Strategic Communications Committee—will take place on February 11 at the US Capitol. (Scalable, 1/21)
TikTok moderation has pushed some news creators to the limit
On Jan. 5, one of TikTok’s biggest news-focused content creators, Dylan Page (aka News Daddy), announced that he was temporarily leaving the platform. Page, who has over 18.2 million followers on TikTok, cited an increase in censorship and dramatically decreased views during the critical news cycle as his reason for leaving (at the time, the U.S. government’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro). (Digiday, 1/26)
Meta, TikTok, YouTube to stand trial on youth addiction claims
Her lawsuit is the first of several cases expected to go to trial this year that center on what the plaintiffs call “social media addiction” among children. It will be the first time the tech giants must defend themselves at trial over alleged harm caused by their products, the plaintiff’s attorney Matthew Bergman said. (Reuters, 1/26)
TikTok-like microdramas are going to make billions this year, even though they kind of suck
First popular in China, microdrama apps are poised to have a breakout year in the U.S. app market. According to the app intelligence firm Appfigures, ReelShort reached roughly $1.2 billion in gross consumer spending in 2025, up 119% from 2024; another leading app, DramaBox, made $276 million in gross consumer spending last year, more than doubling its 2024 numbers. (TechCrunch, 1/23)
AI-generated doctors are dispensing dubious health advice
The fake Dr. Valentine is one of more than two dozen accounts identified by Indicator that feature synthetic doctors and medical professionals across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube. They collectively have more than 8.5 million followers or subscribers, and often receive tens or even hundreds of thousands of engagements on their content. (Indicator, 1/26)
Lucy’s note: I can only get the preview link, but they were generous with the paywall spot, and it’s very worth being aware of!
Harry Styles Fans in Uproar Over “Gross” Tour Ticket Costs: “A Shock to the System”
Buyers were told in the queue for MSG tickets: “Tickets for this event have been priced in advance by the tour from $50 – $1,182.40, including service fees. Ticket prices will not change during the presale or onsale. Price ranges do not apply to VIP packages. Tickets are subject to availability.” Ticketmaster has previously maintained it does not determine pricing or use dynamic pricing — where prices are hiked based on demand. (The Hollywood Reporter, 1/27)
Football’s dominance will not last forever
Klosterman is especially interested in football as a mediated experience. After all, it’s a game that most fans have never played, can’t meaningfully simulate, and only encounter through television. And yet we can’t get enough of it. Why is that? And why is it that football, of all things, continues to function as one of the last true monocultural rituals in a fragmented media landscape? (Vox, 1/26 – free version)
‘Heated Rivalry’ is a hit in Russia, where LGBTQ+ content is heavily censored
Most Western streaming platforms ceased operations in Russia after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Russian distributors rarely get rights to new Western projects, yet the series circulates widely thanks to lax piracy laws. In a country where the LGBTQ+ movement is legally designated as extremist, the show has nonetheless become a cultural flash point. (WaPo, 1/24 – free version)
In Search of a Platonic Co-Parent
Interest in platonic co-parenting is growing, with specialty apps experiencing substantial growth over the last few years. Modamily, the app Ms. Reid is using, connects people looking to start a family through dating, sperm donation or platonic co-parenting. In 2020, the app reported having 30,000 users registered to the platform. By 2025, that number was 100,000. (NYT gift link, 1/24)
Meet the Alaska Student Arrested for Eating an AI Art Exhibit
“He was tearing them up and just shoving them in as fast as he could,” said Ali Martinez, a witness to the event. “Like when you see people in a hot-dog eating contest.” According to the police estimate, around 57 of the 160 images on the wall were destroyed. (The Nation, 1/22)
Patagonia takes drag queen Pattie Gonia to court in trademark infringement lawsuit
Patagonia claims in its complaint that the overlapping names have already confused customers, and that a recent move from the drag queen to sell her own branded apparel goes against a prior agreement the two parties had. The company is seeking a “nominal” $1 in damages. (Fast Company, 1/22)
Lucy’s note: Patagonia, SURELY we have bigger fish to fry right now
Sydney Sweeney climbs Hollywood sign to hang up bras for lingerie line promo, could face charges
Sweeney’s cheeky promo didn’t land well with Hollywood Chamber CEO Steve Nissen, who told Entertainment Weekly in a statement that the production with Sweeney was “not authorized by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce nor did we have prior knowledge of it.” (Entertainment Weekly, 1/26)
Lucy’s note: Sydney Sweeney potentially getting charged for trespass and/or vandalism for hanging bras on the Hollywood sign… 2026 bingo is off to quite a start
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Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“What UNASB’s All About” from Unfortunately Not A Sound Bath
an explainer on all things UNSAB, which was just in the NYT!!!
“The politics of posting” from Amanda Litman
really great, nuanced take on this – and a rule I’ve been trying to hold myself to is that I must fully and completely take any civic action, etc. myself before telling anyone else that they need to do
“TV is the President” from Gabe Fleisher of Wake Up To Politics
That’s all for now – I’ll see you on Friday!