the way mariska hargitay just did more than most members of congress ever will (sorry)
ALSO: BookTok takes over Hollywood, an *unexpected* Met Gala investigation, how bad actors look "good" after natural disasters, and more
Happy Tuesday, May 5th!
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.
And don’t forget to head to the bottom of the newsletter for the GCC JOBS CORNER! Today, we’ve got EMILYs List and Chorus.
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 🙏
QUICK NOTE: DONE with finals, thanks for bearing with me! And if anyone is/knows anyone who is going to law school in their late 20s, tell them it’s 100% worth it… but also be prepared for your back to hurt in a way it never did in undergrad.
Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill by mail for now
Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. on Monday issued an order that temporarily allows patients to continue accessing a widely used abortion pill through the mail. The decision came after two drugmakers filed emergency appeals to the high court fighting a Friday ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans that reinstated a requirement that the drug, mifepristone, can only be picked up in person. (WaPo, 5/4 – free version)
Trump’s attempts to remake D.C. fall flat with Americans
More than half (56%) of respondents oppose Trump’s $400 million ballroom project, which he’s adamant is necessary for national security, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted April 24-28. Just 28% of respondents said they strongly or somewhat supported the remodel, which is locked in an ongoing legal challenge. (Axios, 4/30)
How white nationalists are exploiting natural disasters to manipulate people online
White nationalists from a group called Patriot Front came to deliver food and supplies and clear debris. They then posted videos and photos on social media of themselves helping out. But as 60 Minutes reported, a big part of why they are there is to use these disasters as an opportunity to gain followers on the ground and online. (CBS News, 5/4)
‘Law & Order: SVU’ Star Mariska Hargitay’s Rape Kit Backlog Campaign Marks Legislative Wins in All 50 States
On Friday, it was announced that after 16 years, the End the Backlog campaign has successfully driven rape kit reform legislation in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Maine became the final state to enact at least one of the campaign’s six pillars of reform, marking a nationwide breakthrough in efforts to eliminate the backlog of untested rape kits and help prevent future backlogs. (The Hollywood Reporter, 5/1)
Workplace Apps Are Collecting—and Selling—Employee Data Without Their Knowledge
“Collectively, these apps account for over 12.5 billion downloads on Google Play alone,” the Incogni post on the findings said. “On average, workplace apps collect around 19 data points and share approximately 2 data types [per user]. The three Google and Microsoft apps (Gmail, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams) cluster at the top of the collection spectrum, each gathering 21–26 data types.” (Inc., 5/2)
It’s a Weird Time to Be Named Claude
Many Claudes have never met another who shares their name. Now they’re adjusting to what it means to share it with something else entirely. Last year, Claude Wade, then chief technology officer and global head of business operations at American International Group Inc., helped procure Claude AI for use at the New York-based commercial insurer. The discussions about Claude — with Claude — quickly became confusing. (Bloomberg, 5/1 – free version)
So Long Jeeves and Ask.com, Relics of Yesterday’s Internet
It rebranded as Ask.com and as part of the reimagining, the site also ditched the character of Jeeves in 2006. Scrappy but inventive, the site was one of the first to introduce hyperlocal map overlays to its searches and incorporate thumbnails of webpages. (NYT gift link, 5/3)
How BookTok is reshaping Hollywood
Nearly half of the original drama series that premiered on Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video from January 2024 to June 2025 were book adaptations, according to a March report by the Publishers Association. Among the top 50 highest-grossing films from 2020 to 2024, adaptations earned 57% more at the box office than non-adaptations. (Axios, 5/4)
A study shows that cellphone bans didn’t improve US students’ test scores
The study sampled phone location data from more than 40,000 schools from 2019 to 2026 and showed that there was a temporary rise in disciplinary incidents and a short-term drop in student well-being, which was attributed to short-term disruption. However, the study revealed that student well-being improved in later years and disciplinary actions fell in the long term. (Engadget, 5/4)
How do stars pee at the Met Gala? An investigation.
You will be shocked — shocked! — to learn that Big Fashion does not want to talk about pee. “She is unable to provide [a] quote for this,” said the agent for stylist Petra Flannery, who has dressed Emma Stone and Zoe Saldaña. “Samantha will unfortunately have to pass at the moment,” said a representative for stylist Samantha McMillen, who has dressed the Fanning sisters, Elle and Dakota. (WaPo, 5/4 – free version)
Cherie DeVaux becomes first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as Golden Tempo takes historic win
DeVaux, who is also the second woman trainer to win any Triple Crown race after Jena Antonucci won with Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont Stakes, won the Derby with her first entrant after starting her own independent stable in 2018. She is also the first woman trainer to win both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in the same year. (NBC News, 5/2)
‘De-extinction’ Startup Wants to Revive Antelope Killed Off by South African Colonists
The company’s scientists have reportedly reconstructed a 40-fold genome of the historic bluebuck (Hippotragus leucophaeus), a robust marker of so-called “fold coverage” promising breadth and redundancy for the firm’s genomic sequencing data on this extinct species. Colossal also said it managed to produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from roan antelope, meaning that the creature that once market-corrected the bluebuck in Africa’s grassy southwestern ecosystem has now been enlisted to help bring it back from extinction. (Gizmodo, 4/30)
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Extra Credit 🤓
Some newsletters I thought were excellent recently:
“They Want You to Think Abortion Pills Are Illegal” from Jessica Valenti + Kylie Cheung of Abortion, Every Day
“Welcome to the Scam Economy” from Rynn Reed of Signal Break
“The Botox Psyop” from Haley Nahman
That’s all for now – I’ll see you next week!
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