Open Tabs

Articles, ideas, and curiosities that linger,  the ones still open in my browser and in my brain. (Is this why I have 45 tabs open at all times?)  

Do the Democratic Socialists of America really believe in democracy?

I was born under an authoritarian regime. My family left everything behind for the privilege of democracy and capitalism, and I worry people forget how fundamentally at odds socialism and democracy really are.

A Journey Into the Heart of Labubu
Pop Mart’s global takeover is a masterclass in marketing, and how great storytelling and fabricated scarcity can use consumerism to shape culture and demand.
 

Doing almost anything is better with friends, research finds
I love when science validates my habits. Friendship sustains my life and it’s something I never stop nurturing. This article reminded me of a favorite from a few years back.
 

Violence Entrepreneurs 
This isn’t a political crisis - it's a human one. Misinformation, guns, and neglect are colliding in ways that give lost young men the means to turn their anger into violence. Both sides have a responsibility to help repair it.
 

This Isn’t Crisis Response. It’s Crisis Construction. 
Eight years ago, upon seeing the first images of children separated from their families, held in cages - I jumped on a plane to visit the first detention center in Tornillo, Texas. I quit my job and started building I Am A Voter to fix what felt so broken in our country. This country saved my life and granted us asylum - I was not and will never be ok with the way we were treating the most vulnerable populations.
 

I asked a simple question at a pro-Palestine protest and it turned ugly
After decades of progress in understanding how language, actions, and communication shape empathy, I never thought we’d see antisemitism this overt again. Matthew Syed couldn’t even ask a question at a protest without being met with a torrent of abuse.
 

A Conversation with Reza Pahlavi 
In a time when so many of us are searching for hope and leadership, the remarkable Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi leads with true clarity, vision, commitment, and strategy. He makes it clear that Iran’s future will not be secured by hope alone, but by the coordinated action from the Iranian people - and by the conviction that a democratic state is both possible and within reach. He is unflinching in his assessment that the regime is weakening, and that the time to act is now. Pahlavi calls on world leaders and the Iranian diaspora to commit to action, to stand with the people, and to help turn this vision into reality.
 

Gossiping is Smarter Than You Think 
I’ve been waiting a long time for someone to prove me right on this one.