What's Happening
Politics
Cracks in the MAGA Wall
What's going on: Some of the GOP’s loudest voices are breaking with President Donald Trump — and the party — on key domestic issues. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) recently slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) over the government shutdown, even siding with Democrats on health care subsidies. She said: “There’s a lot of weak Republican men, and they’re more afraid of strong Republican women.” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) criticized Trump’s decision to deploy Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, saying it violates states’ rights and arguing that the GOP would be up in arms if a Democratic president did the same to a red state. Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called out the administration for pressuring ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel.
What it means: These cracks could grow if Republican leadership doesn’t quickly calm the party’s internal tensions. While most GOP lawmakers still back Trump, the government shutdown — now in its 15th day — has become a political stress test that could push the party to the brink. Some Republicans in swing districts want to reopen the government sooner rather than later, worried that voters could take out their frustration in next year’s midterms. Whether those concerns translate into votes remains to be seen, but a Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s approval rating dropped to 40% over his handling of crime and the rising cost of living. The White House is dismissing the interparty criticism, but analysts say the dissent signals a broader unease — and it’s not likely to fade anytime soon.
Related: Two Former Dem Presidents Praised Trump’s Israel-Hamas Ceasefire (Axios)
US News
Instagram Goes PG-13
What's going on: A year after Instagram overhauled its teen settings under pressure from parents and lawmakers, the platform says it’s tightening the reins again. On Tuesday, it announced another round of changes aimed at boosting child safety: PG-13 ratings — yes, like the movies. Meta, which owns Instagram, says the update will block users under 18 from seeing content deemed PG-13 and above, such as partial nudity, by the end of the year. (Users will be able to opt out with parental permission.) For what it’s worth, actual movies with this rating include Titanic, Happy Gilmore 2, and It Ends with Us. The new “age-gating” policy will also cover chats with Meta’s AI bot, which Congress is currently investigating for inappropriate “sensual” chats with children.
What it means: Instagram hopes a familiar rating system will reassure parents — and maybe earn the company a few nods of approval. But critics say the bar for “trying” is pretty low. The bigger question: Will it work? Analysts doubt it, noting that teens have a long history of lying about their ages online to get around restrictions. (Meta says it has age prediction technology to help catch teens.) The new features come as parents grow increasingly wary of Meta and other tech companies. OpenAI’s ChatGPT recently rolled back some mental health safeguards, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate — despite facing a lawsuit that alleges the company was involved in a teen’s suicide.
Related: A New Analysis Found That Texas Public Schools Look a Lot Like Bible School (NYT Gift Link)
Technology
The AI Necklace That Nobody Asked For
What's going on: In a world where people are falling in love with chatbots and using them as therapists, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to sell you an AI “Friend.” Literally called Friend, the company behind the $129 necklace and app is getting absolutely roasted. Billboards across New York meant to hype the device — with lines such as “I’ll never leave dirty dishes in the sink” — have been vandalized with messages like “GET REAL FRIENDS.” The tool, which listens to everything you say and everything around you, has raised major privacy concerns. Critics also call it “an incredibly antisocial device,” but the founder has a different take: “I would say that the closest relationship this is equivalent to is talking to a god.”
What it means: Friend is the latest Silicon Valley experiment in dystopian emotional tech. While many founders claim they’re tackling loneliness, experts warn these tools often push people further into isolation. And judging by the vandalized billboards, the only real bond Friend has created is a communal roast of tech’s savior complex. People aren’t buying it — literally or emotionally — even if the AI promises it will “never cancel dinner plans.” (Spoken like a true bot that doesn’t get the relief of canceling.) Most of all, Friend doesn’t appear to understand friendship. As one expert told Business Insider: “Friendship is not an arrangement where sycophants walk around us listening to our every word and complimenting us and applauding our every thought.”
Related: These Companies Didn’t Know Trump Tapped Them To Rebuild Gaza (Wired)
Highlight Reel
BY SKIMM SPORTS
The week's sports news and culture stories, ranked.
Hang it in the Louvre: A’ja Wilson brought out her pink tambourine after winning the WNBA finals — and it has a deeper meaning than you’d think.
Winning: Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm are teaming up for a powerful reason — the celebrity match we’ve been waiting for.
Chaotic: Whatever is happening between UNC and Bill Belichick should probably get sorted out before the next game.
Can’t-miss NWSL matchups: Friday, Oct 17: Bay vs North Carolina Courage - 10 pm ET on Prime Video. Saturday, Oct 18: Houston Dash vs Kansas City Current - 7:30 pm ET on ION, followed by the San Diego Wave vs Chicago Stars - 10 pm ET on ION.
P.S. Subscribe to our Skimm Sports newsletter for more weekly highlights on and off the field.
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