This week, we’re staring down the end of the world as we know it. Or at least that’s what a former Anthropic employee would have us believe. We get into the global freakout over his AI doomsday warning and, more importantly, the internet’s absolutely unhinged response.

Then, a little consumerism to soothe the existential dread. Apple has a foldable phone, the memes are already folding in on themselves, and Gap has somehow dropped the must-have bag of the moment and muscled its way back into the fashion conversation.

Plus, Sydney Sweeney has another ad controversy on her hands, this time with women in sports weighing in. And finally, HYROX gives us a story so down and dirty, so deeply gross, that naturally we have to discuss it.

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies.

https://tinyurl.com/mpzuy8mb

Happy Thursday you Pop Culture Junkies!

This week, we’re going out with Amy Sacco and Bungalow 8, inspired by Vanity Fair’s fabulous look back at the club that defined an era of New York nightlife.

We’re also talking Dolly Parton, her extraordinary cultural impact, and some of the controversy that followed her death. Plus, the Callaway golf scandal and its increasingly messy fallout.

And finally, Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival was a massive success. We get into why it worked, why it mattered, and what it says about the kind of cultural world Olivia is building around herself.

Dolly. Bungalow 8. Golf drama. Olivia. Let’s go.

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We are Trump-free, but we cannot ignore the bunny boiler of the moment. Natalie Harp has the internet in a chokehold with those letters. We break down why everyone from Secret Service to Saturday Night Live writers is paying attention.

Brand drama alert. LoveSac picked a fight with a comedian over a 24-box couch and lost the internet's sympathy fast. Then Hermes did Hermes things to comedian Zarna Garg and her daughter, and the girl did not hold back on socials. More brand chaos is brewing, so tune in next week for the full scoop on Calloway Golf and that driver ad nobody should have approved.

Gwyneth strikes again. This time it is a very fancy, very off the record dinner for Sam Altman that nobody asked for. Her clapback invite list, featuring M3GAN and Chanty Beluga, might be the best part of this whole saga.

Oh, Ben Affleck is a meme again!

And finally, I am staying far away from the genuinely heartbreaking Lindsay Clancy trial itself. But I cannot skip why the internet cannot stop talking about the prosecutor. Specifically, her bows. We unpack the theory, the backlash, and why courtroom fashion is somehow a whole debate now.

https://popculturemondays.com/2026/08/24/lovesac-drama-hermes-lock-up-shoe-madness-gp-strikes-again/

This week, we are diving straight into the chaos and glamour across our feeds. We kick things off out East with Bethenny Frankel’s Supermodel Cafe pop-up in the Hamptons—and, more importantly, the brutally honest influencer reviews that have taken over TikTok. 

From there, we pivot to campus culture: the ever-evolving spectacle of Bama Rush and SEC RushTok, alongside the wild rise of professionally designed, ultra-luxe dorm rooms.

Then, the generational warfare heats up as Gen Alpha creators ruthlessly parody Gen Z influencer food reviews (and honestly, we can’t look away). 

We’re also breaking down the viral "RATATA" lip-sync craze taking over FYPs, and wrapping up with the rise of the natural birther movement and the ever-expanding world of TikTok granola moms. 

Tune in for all the cultural commentary, laughs, and hot takes!

I am officially the last remaining human on Earth who has never seen Rüfüs Du Sol live, and watching everyone's tour footage is testing my spirit. Speaking of wild video, we pivot to the stunning, surreal camera footage captured during the recent earthquake in Colombia that had everyone on social media doing a double-take.

We take time to celebrate the incredible life, vibrant legacy, and immense global impact of Syd Towle following her tragic loss, reflecting on the lasting impression she left across the internet and beyond.

On a lighter note, we dive into the fun, chaotic trends currently taking over TikTok this week—including the viral, bittersweet moment between a dad and his toddler that has the entire internet in tears because the little guy announced he's officially ready for a "big boy bike."

Finally, we hit the screen with Robert Pattinson’s work as Chris Hansen in Primetime, followed by our full breakdown of two major new streaming releases hitting Hulu: the long-awaited adaptation of The Shards and the relentless new drama Furious.

NYT inflammation article (gifted):

NYT story on Syd (gifted):

Syd’s obituary:

This week Brooke breaks down the guys who gave us all the ick: Morgan Wallen, Jonah Hill, Sam Altman, and TikTok’s Viktor.

Plus:

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We are back with another packed episode of Pop Culture Mondays on Thursdays, covering influencer travel, internet surveillance, viral animals, blockbuster movies, and one unforgettable arrest outfit.

First, Brooke breaks down how TikTok and Instagram have turned Europe into an overcrowded, overshared backdrop—and why a recent trip to Paris made her rethink how much we share online.

Then, we get into Meta AI glasses, the creepy reality of being filmed without knowing it, the Netflix documentary trend, tan-maxxing, and the darker consequences of going viral.

We also meet Jimothy, the short-spined raccoon uniting the internet, before diving into The Odyssey, Sheep Detectives, Tom Hiddleston’s Pompeii obsession, and the Andrew Tate memes taking over the timeline.

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We are back with another packed episode of Pop Culture Mondays on Thursdays, and this week we are diving headfirst into everything from sports obsession to internet chaos.

Then, we transition to a different kind of athletic endeavor: Hyrox. It is the fitness obsession taking over the globe, and we are breaking down why absolutely everyone is suddenly obsessed with running and burpees.

Next, we shift gears to politics and the internet rumor mill. The shocking, sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham has unleashed a wave of conspiracy theories that feel almost too on the nose to ignore, while sparking some very specific celebrations across the internet and the gay community.

Finally, we wrap things up with a little candy: the viral mystery of the Zara death trousers and Gen Z’s never-ending obsession with the latest season of Love Island.

This week, we are unpacking an another massive week in pop culture—from stadium seats to small-town grocery store aisles.

Trump and FIFA: The massive political spectacle that took over the tournament.

US Team vs. Belgium: Breaking down the vibes and the heartbreak after the US squad's devastating exit.

The Striking Viking: Norway’s 6-foot-5 hulking superstar, Erling Haaland, single-handedly winning the internet 

Cape Verde’s Moment: The absolute cinematic underdog energy they brought to all of us. 

The Swift-Kelce Royal Wedding

We have officially entered the married era. We are breaking down everything from the star-studded Madison Square Garden nuptials. 

TikTok Drama: The Grocery Store Simulation

Influencer Catherine Ebs went to a normal regional grocery store on a holiday weekend, called it "so small town," and claimed the entire thing felt like a simulation. We dissect the peak lack of self-awareness, the phantom hunt for 100 percent beef hot dogs, and why the internet is completely roasting her.

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Grab your ranch dressing and your tinfoil hats, because this week we are covering it all! 

We also check out the nation's capital where a mysterious green algae is staging a hostile takeover of DC. 

Finally, we deconstruct the internet's latest "top-secret conspiracy": the Dialog tech conference. Spoiler alert: It wasn't a secret society gathering... just a bunch of tech peeps in a room.

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