What to Read, Watch and Listen to This Long Weekend
By Stacy Lee Kong
Image: Disney
Hi, hello! It’s Friday, it’s a long weekend, and I wanted to try something new: this week, instead of writing an essay myself, I’m rounding up some of my favourite recent reads, plus a few things to watch and listen to, as well—call it an extra-, extra-long And Did You Hear About section. From the AI bunnies that fooled us all (and please don’t tell me if they didn’t fool you, because I feel embarrassed enough about the whole thing, sigh) to a really thought-provoking essay about becoming a mother at 50 to the Justin Bieber remix that has been stuck in my head for days, here are 20+ recommendations that promise to be entertaining, thought-provoking or otherwise worth the click.
(P.S., if you enjoy these recommendations, a reminder that paid subscribers get access to curated list of the most interesting things on the internet at the end of every newsletter. Upgrade here!)
The people who told The Cut how they afford their summer Euro trips. Spoiler: they mostly… can’t.
The entire Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle x eugenics discourse. (Dishonourable mention: Dunkin Donuts’ new ad, featuring The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Gavin Casalegno, which also leans on the idea of ‘good’ genes.)
On the other hand, Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluffs collection, which launched in June and was designed by alumni of Morehouse and Spelman, sends a very different message.
Current Affairs’ recent piece on the rise of the ‘idiot interviewer,’ pegged to the Nelk Boys’ interview with Benjamin Netanyahu.
All the paparazzi photos of the guest stars who are currently on set for the The Devil Wears Prada sequel—and Vogue’s argument that seeing this much BTS footage ruins the experience of watching the actual movie.
More Perfect Union’s report on environmental racism, and why the mostly Black residents of a Memphis neighborhood are hit the hardest when Elon Musk brings a supercomputer to town.
This deep dive into how the world’s largest zipper company is navigating Trump’s tariffs. (Which is really about how the global supply chain works, and whether it can continue to do so in the future.)
The TikToker who’s making a series of questions to ask your boyfriend when he’s busy and/or tired, all of which are delightfully unhinged.
Reddit’s (possible) status as the last website standing.
Michael Harriot’s argument that Black Twitter is dead.
This thoughtful and honest essay by a woman who had her first child at 50.
Iran’s beautiful brickwork, which has recently been going viral on my social media feeds.
New research that—surprise, surprise—finds AI is probably not good for anyone. This time, it’s about Google’s AI-powered search, which is destroying internet traffic.
The Maple’s new project, Subsidizing the Occupation, which breaks down how Canadian charities are financially supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.
This excellent Lux magazine essay on surveillance culture, erotic privacy and how a rise in societal puritanism correlates with a punitive approach to relationships.
THE lightskin Bieber remix of “Yukon” by DJ Hunny Bee.
Choreographer Jamaal Burkmar’s viral TikTok about why art is always political, and the art movement that developed in his comment section in response.
The Washington Post’s recent profile of Ms. Rachel.
Justin Timberlake’s Lyme disease diagnosis, which puts him in the company of many (MANY) other celebrities who have gone public with their own Lyme stories. These pieces are older, but there has been some good reporting on the very real Lyme epidemic in the U.S., and what happens when a diagnosis like this becomes part of your identity.
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