The Buttigieg beard effect™️ is alive and well
I know times are tough, but can I say something?
It was a big week; first, the new Pope overshadowed Trump and his bs UK trade deal announcement, and then Pope’s adorable older brother overshadowed the Pope, confessing to reporters that his brother 1) plays Wordle and Words with Friends 2) watched Conclave to prepare and 3) is a White Sox fan. Most importantly, we learned via his Twitter that he hates JD Vance! Popes! They’re just like us!
Coming next week! A summer tip guide from my hottest and most interesting friends. Also, whatever other chaos is going on in the world, but made giggly. You don’t want to miss it!
In politics: After his previous nominee was found to have inconsistencies (lies) in her resume, Trump picked a MAHA influencer who dropped out of her surgical residency to become the next surgeon general, which does have me wondering why he didn’t pick me, a woman very good at Googling medical conditions and playing Operation. Casey Means did at one point practice functional medicine in Oregon, but her medical license is inactive. She wrote a book called Good Energy, said birth control pills signal a “disrespect of life,” questions childhood vaccines, published a poem called “The Devil’s Wellness Plan” with the help of AI, and thinks we all just don’t know our local farm animals well enough:
Means’ nomination is historic in multiple ways: It’s the first time a non-physician has been chosen for the role of—checks notes—top physician; and, it’s the first time a surgeon general nominee has been able to answer the question, “where did you do your residency?” with “I didn’t finish it, but I know a great cow.”
Quick tips: Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk has finally been freed after six weeks in a Louisiana detention center. The mayor of Newark, NJ, Ras Baraka, was arrested for allegedly trespassing at an ICE facility—an illegal private prison where migrants are being held—among members of Congress who were there to “exercise [their] oversight” and see what the conditions were like. And in more troubling travel news, Newark airport faced another 90-second radar outage, the second since last week, which is sure to impact the Google rating, a thing airports apparently have.
In beards: In what I am officially calling the Buttigieg beard effect™️, this week Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) debuted his take on the look while letting it rip at a subcommittee hearing with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, whom he accused of reckless spending and violating the Constitution. Yes, chef senator.
Meanwhile, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg once again rocked his recently-debuted facial hair—the subject of much online attention after his appearance on the Flagrant podcast—on Jen Psaki’s new MSNBC show, and big time Hot Tip crush Congressman Greg Casar (D-TX)—whose beard has always been there, it’s just great—eviscerated his Republican colleagues during a ridiculous DOGE subcommittee hearing this week. So my question is, who will join the brave non-shavers next? Because even though it’s nearly summer and I’m perhaps just losing my mind because it’s hot in LA and we’re rapidly descending into fascism, it’s working so well on all of their faces that I find myself contemplating a deeply unserious but important political theory that I think could actually solve Democrats’ problems forever—
Things that made me emotional this week:
New Pope: As a Jewish gal, this one surprised me. But seeing thousands of overjoyed people gathered in Vatican City, and a deeply humbled new leader introduce himself (one who has definitely had a Portillo’s hot dog, no less) did in fact make me cry.
Thunderbolts*: Director Jake Schreier and Florence Pugh had me weepy twice in two hours, and while I wish Marvel had perhaps waited more than three days to announce the major spoiler (don’t click if you don’t want to know!!!) it’s the most moving, artistic piece to come out of the MCU since my beloved Wandavision, and is also a ton of fun. What I thought would be just a silly gang of misfits saving the day ended up being a thoughtful—if slightly on the nose—exploration of mental health through a superhero lens, and me and my AMC A-List will likely be back to see it again this week. Tears will also likely ensue again.
Katie Ledecky & Gretchen Walsh: Both of these gals broke their own world records at a (relatively small) pro-series swim meet, which is not a thing that happens often.
Ewephoria sheep’s cheese: My friend Chase and I stopped by McCall’s Meat & Fish Co. in Atwater Village this week and met LA’s loveliest cheesemonger, who convinced two people with sensitive stomachs dipping their toes back in dairy to go the sheep’s milk route. He was right, it rocked, and I am forever grateful.
And before you go, watch this:
First time a non-physician is chosen to be the "top physician" seems like a pretty low point for us. sigh.
Especially love the YouTube clip. The hips, I mean tips, continue to get knocked out of the park.