Matt Gaetz, Trump’s attorney general pick, and the FTC’s Lina Khan share some surprising views on Big Tech

Like the Biden administration, Gaetz has been a regular critic of Big Tech, though his reasons are much different.

President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he is selecting Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general sent shock waves through Washington, D.C.—and certain other parts of the country. The selection has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, who openly wondered whether Gaetz could be confirmed, even in a Republican-controlled Senate.

Mattel apologizes for its ‘Wicked’ box, Target introduces ‘Hot Santa,’ and McDonald’s gets a Doodles NFT cup

These are the branding stories we’re reading this week.

This week in branding news, a Mattel packaging misprint went viral, Target introduced a new character named “Kris K.” (aka “Hot Santa”), and Pharrell Williams debuted cobranded holiday cups with McDonald’s. Here’s the news we’re keeping track of.

These unironic Doge memes are the perfect branding for Elon Musk’s DOGE mess

Musk, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy and a horde of terminally online bros, are X-branding the new Department Of Government Efficiency with AI-generated Doge memes.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are going full Dr. Frankenstein and Igor to create a new governmental monster called DOGE, the Department Of Government Efficiency. The double act argues that this incoming new bureaucracy will slash government agencies and spending to the bone in their effort to make America great again.

If Trump kills the EV tax credit, what happens if you buy an EV in early 2025?

This might be a good time to buy an electric car.

Trump wants to get rid of the EV tax credit—and it’s possible that he’ll convince the incoming Republican Congress to go along with that plan. But what does that mean if you buy an electric car early in 2025, before any changes happen?

Gardening, anyone? Cannabis brands get sneaky with their TikTok marketing

Brands like Cann seltzer are using ‘gardening’ and emojis to get around content filters on TikTok and other social media platforms.

Branded is a weekly column devoted to the intersection of marketing, business, design, and culture.

Your daily NFL trivia game, Friday edition

Think you can figure out what NFL player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out.

We’re back for another day of the SB Nation in-5 daily trivia game, and we’re returning to our system of a new article each day for the game.

We tried using a single article for the game, updated with the latest game each day, but it was creating a bit of an unwieldy experience in the comments. So, we’ll have the current day’s game plus the previous three days in each...

How to Design a Real-Life Hot Wheels Loop

You should absolutely not build this thing. But it’s still fun to think through the physics.

Some of Substack’s Biggest Writers Rely On AI Writing Tools

An analysis of Substack’s top newsletters estimated that around 10 percent publish AI-generated or AI-assisted content.

‘I'm Going to Bluesky’ Is the New ‘I’m Moving to Canada’

Users frustrated with Elon Musk’s handling of X and closeness to president-elect Donald Trump are fleeing to Bluesky—an easier migration than leaving the US.

How Daily Paper’s Founders Are Honouring Their African Heritage With Their New Football Kits

"Football is something that connects us all, especially in Africa. These kits are more than just football attire; they are about belonging,”

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X users are fleeing to BlueSky: Here’s a quick-start guide on how to sign up

By now, you've probably heard about users fleeing Elon Musk's X. Yes, there have been a few other moments over the years since Musk acquired then-Twitter when users decided to leave — there was even at least one attempt to create an alternative Twitter before ownership by Musk was even seen as a possibility.

But this time the exodus appears to be significantly bigger. Following the 2024 presidential election results and Musk's support for President-elect Donald Trump, users have been...

How Marigolds Became Central to Hindu Rituals in India

Originating in North America, the blossoms have become central to Hindu rituals in India.

Chemist Identifies Mystery ‘Blobs’ Washing Up in Newfoundland

A researcher thinks he knows what has been coming ashore on miles of beaches. Canada’s environmental agency says it is still looking into it.

New Zealand Parliament Suspended as Maori Lawmakers Perform Haka to Protest Bill

Opposition lawmakers performed the traditional dance during a reading of a bill that would redefine the country’s founding treaty with its Indigenous people.

A Surge of New Restaurants Drives New York City’s Storefront Revival

Store vacancy rates are still above prepandemic levels, but new food and drink businesses, led by Mexican, Japanese and Caribbean kitchens, have helped fill the void.

Moldova Uncovers Fraudulent Scheme to Get Criminals Off Interpol Blacklist

Suspects sought on various charges, including drug trafficking, paid officials to exploit a mechanism intended to protect asylum seekers, according to Moldovan and French investigators.

Matt Gaetz Is the Perfect Man for the Job

Trump’s choice to lead the Justice Department is a flagrant provocation that is, like a pulpy B movie, so bad it’s good.

Why We Got It So Wrong

It turns out a lot of people don’t behave like ambassadors from this or that group. They think for themselves in unexpected ways.

This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump’s Return

Liberal democracy offers moral constraints without problem-solving. Populism offers problem-solving without moral constraints.

Chuck Hagel: The Risk of Dragging Politics into the Military

Political independence and ethics are the bedrock of our armed forces. Today, I am concerned that both are in danger.