Volv Concierge #60

Hey, fam. Shannon here, back with this week’s lowdown. But before we get to the news...

🗞️ Here are some interesting headlines:

• Parents are hosting sex watch parties for their kids

• The world’s richest man built the healthcare system to keep you sick

• Gen Z’s new ‘it’ career is putting skin in the game

• TikTok outs ‘pedophile’ teachers scandal after years of coverup

• Leonardo DiCaprio reveals why he doesn’t date women over 25

• WATCH: YouTuber says she smokes her dead dad’s ashes

👍👎 What’s trending?

What’s in: Pillow menus + AI giving haircuts + watching influencers starve + Trump 2.0 aesthetic

What’s out: Suburbs + well-fitting jackets + draft beer

🥊 What’s happening in pop culture and sports?

One Direction has, in a way, reunited, but nobody wanted it to happen this way. A sobbing Harry Styles was spotted joining his ex-bandmates at Liam Payne’s funeral—among the first mourners to arrive.

The world is bidding farewell to the King of Clay: Rafael Nadal has officially played his last tennis match, ending a mindblowing 23-year career. However, Mike Tyson’s big fight with Jake Paul got the most attention in sports this week. It had wild moments (see: a bitch slap, a $250,000 offer for porn, Netflix flailing, was it staged?), and Tyson’s loss was seen as “another Trump win.” Tyson and Paul walked away with $20 million and $40 million each, but the real winner? Elon Musk’s X.

Gotta say, the fight came at a great time for X, which has been going through a massive X-odus, if you will. All the ‘Twitter alternatives’ have had a great week: Bluesky hit 20 million users, Mastodon is also doing well. WHY are people leaving in droves? Musk’s refusal to leave Trump’s side and acting as ‘co-president’ might have something to do with it. And if you haven’t seen the Elonia memes yet, what rock are you living under?

🏠 Home turf

Trump’s cabinet picks have been a major point of contention and endless inspiration for memes, culminating, as these things do, in a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch. The guy Obama described as a ‘snake oil salesman’ will lead Obamacare and affect the lives of 150 million Americans. Even Tiger King has offered to join in on the fun.

All kidding aside, the President-elect’s pick for Attorney General is getting the most heat right now, with claims that Matt Gaetz participated in several “drug-fueled orgies.” Hackers have gotten involved, too, but what they’re going to do with the info is still unclear.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris is STILL asking for donations—raising $1 billion was clearly not enough as rumors swirl about Oprah lying about not getting paid by the Harris campaign.

🌎 World affairs

TWO ominous headlines about World War III breaking out—both Germany and Russia are prepping for it. The US has okayed Ukraine to use missiles deep inside Russia—things could only escalate from here. Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel PM Netanyahu is offering a $5 million reward for each hostage safely returned...

Everyone’s clearly on edge, but you know what else is taking over the world? Celebrity lookalike contests. We’ve seen several already: Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, Jeremy Allen White, and Dev Patel. Here’s why everyone is obsessed. But with the late John F Kennedy getting the same treatment, some people are already over it.

That’s all for today. If somebody is still sending you this newsletter, you’ve got to get your own—sign up over here. Also, your feedback is really important to us, so please take a moment to share your thoughts.

This newsletter was edited by Ishita Sen.