The plan to “save” TikTok is starting to come into focus. On Tuesday The Wall Street Journalreported more details about a deal between the US and China as the two sides are apparently “finalizing” specifics of the arrangement.
According to the report, TikTok’s US business will be owned primarily by a group of US investors, which will have a “roughly” 80 percent stake in the entity. The group includes longtime TikTok partner Oracle, as well as Silicon Valley VC firm Andreesen Horowitz and the private equity firm Silver Lake. Chinese shareholders will have a minority stake that keeps their ownership under the 20 percent threshold required by law. The US government will also reportedly get to choose one board member for the “American-dominated” body.
Reports about such an arrangement have been swirling for months, with President Donald Trump saying that a deal could be “about two weeks” away. It seems that Chinese officials have finally signed off on the new arrangement, with a Chinese regulator saying earlier this week that the new US version of TikTok to use the Chinese algorithm.
Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that “TikTok engineers will re-create” the app’s algorithm for a brand new TikTok app using technology licensed from ByteDance. The company is reportedly testing the new app. Oracle will oversee US user data for the operation; TikTok and Oracle have partnered on data security following previous negotiations between the company and the US government.
Even though a final deal is apparently close, it could still take some time before it’s finalized. In the meantime, Trump extended the deadline that would have banned the current version of the app in the US . On Tuesday he told reporters at the White House he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday “to confirm everything.”
Conspiracy theories about the death of Charlie Kirk have inundated X, TikTok, and Instagram in recent days. And while crackpot ideas have always followed major world events, there’s no denying that they’re much more common and widespread in the age of social media.
Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing influencer, was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The graphic killing was captured on video from several angles since many people in the audience were filming his discussion, quickly uploading footage in the immediate aftermath.
The suspect in the killing, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, turned himself in to authorities late Thursday night local time, according to CNN. But the internet has been flooded with conspiracy theories about Kirk’s death, both before and after Robinson’s arrest.
FBI Director Kash Patel appeared on Fox & Friends on Monday morning, where he made various claims about the shooting that haven’t been formally presented to a court yet, much less confirmed. But if the broader picture that’s emerging is true—that one man acted alone by firing a rifle from a rooftop—many of the conspiracy theories that have popped up are absolutely ridiculous.
Below, we’ve got some of the most common categories of conspiracy theories circulating on social media right now.
‘AI Wrong Man’ theories
After the shooting, the FBI released images of the suspect showing him in sunglasses. The screenshots were pixelated and low quality, which led people on X to run them through Grok in an effort to get a better look. The problem is that running images through AI that attempts to upscale them doesn’t give you a better or more accurate image.
Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer with close ties to the White House, shared three images after screenshots of the suspect were first released by the FBI. One of the three images was the original screenshot. Two others were fake AI-enhanced images, giving her followers the impression that they were legitimate pictures of the man.
We looked at this problem earlier this month when people on social media were running Donald Trump’s photos through AI. The upscaler gave Trump a gigantic lump on his forehead, leading people to insist he had a serious medical condition. But that’s just what AI does to low-quality images. It will take shadows or creases in a person’s face and distort an image while attempting to make it look clearer.
We saw something similar happen during the Academy Awards in 2022 when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. The screenshots that people were taking from TV and then blowing up appeared pixelated. To fix that, people ran them through upscalers, and it created what looked like a weird prosthetic on Rock’s face. From there, a conspiracy theory emerged that there was a pad protecting Rock’s face, leading people to insist the whole thing had been planned in advance.
This is how conspiracy theories take off now, and they’re incredibly predictable. In fact, when Gizmodo saw folks on X running images of the suspect in Kirk’s shooting through Grok, we knew people would inevitably compare those fake images to the real mugshot. And sure enough, that’s exactly what’s happened.
A TikTok account called Politic Nick posted a video Saturday comparing an AI-manipulated image of the suspect to the mugshot that was released.
“Okay, these are two different people here,” the creator said. “The mouth is different, the chin is different. The face is shaped different. The nose is sharp on the left. His nose is sharp. His lips are different I mean, come on.”
That video has racked up 1.4 million views and it’s an incredibly popular sentiment on other platforms like X, where high-profile accounts like Jackson Hinkle and Anastasia Maria Loupis have focused on the mouths in both images. “They think you are stupid,” Loupis tweeted.
But the reason they look different is that the AI “enhanced” image did not present anyone with a more accurate impression of what the suspect looked like. These tools are not magic and can’t provide you with a better idea of his appearance. All the computer did was extrapolate from the information that was there. And it seems like all the people who’ve grown up on TV shows where investigators can “zoom and enhance” think that’s how it works in real life.
‘Just Look Harder’ theories
Another big bucket of conspiracy theories might best be described as “Just Look Harder” theories. The idea is that if you stare at someone in the background of a video from Kirk’s talk, you’ll discover a conspiracy hiding in plain sight.
This was a common tactic on X as millions of people were watching the extremely graphic videos of Kirk dying across all the major platforms. In the hours after Kirk was shot, a popular theory emerged that someone standing to Kirk’s right was giving “signals” to some unseen shooter.
There were clearly no signals, as anyone could see. But the power of suggestion, combined with watching the same horrific events played over and over, convinced a lot of people that perfectly normal behavior (one guy just had a phone in his hand) was somehow suspicious.
One of the most outlandish claims still circulating on social media is focused on a man who was standing near Kirk during his talk on campus. Val Venis, a former WWE wrestler who went by the name Big Valbowski, has helped share the theory that the unnamed man used something called a “palm gun” that was concealed in his fist as he moved his shirt sleeve to kill Kirk.
The claim is absurd, and it appears that online dipshits have only gravitated to the idea because the man in the video scratches his arm at the same time that Kirk was shot. That’s seriously all it was, as you can see in the censored clip we’ve got below. There’s no evidence that this man was doing anything but touching his own arm.
GIF: X with a redaction by Gizmodo to protect the identity of someone who was clearly just touching their own shirt
One video shared by Venis has over 17 million views on X at the time of this writing. Others from Venis sharing edits of the same incident have several million more. And there’s so clearly nothing there beyond a person touching their own arm and moving their shirt a little bit.
‘Everything is Trans’ theories
Another bucket of conspiracy theories around the death of Charlie Kirk includes the idea that the killing must’ve been perpetrated by someone who is trans. The false idea that trans people are disproportionately represented as killers seems to have roots in a 2023 school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that killed seven people, including the shooter. The perpetrator in that case was indeed trans, and now X is flooded with claims that a shooter must be trans whenever a new mass shooting makes the news. As Politifact notes, trans people are much more likely to be the victims of violence rather than perpetrators.
After Kirk was killed, at least three different trans people were falsely blamed for the shooting on X, by Gizmodo’s count. Posts went viral with wild claims about various people who had absolutely nothing to do with Kirk’s death.
After it became clear that the suspect in this case was a cisgender man, the internet mobs tried to find other trans connections wherever they could. The Wall Street Journal initially reported reported Thursday that the bullet casings found at the scene were in some way “expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology,” citing a bulletin from the ATF. And while the newspaper edited the article later in the day to say that such a claim should be treated “with caution,” the damage was done. It turned out there was nothing on the bullet casings that mentioned the trans community.
It became so ridiculous that The Onion even wrote an article joking about how the suspect once had an Uber driver who was trans. But right-wing political operatives online are still obsessed with the idea that trans people are uniquely dangerous. FBI Director Kash Patel was asked whether Robinson’s roommate was trans and in a relationship with Robinson. Patel, who has a history of spreading conspiracy theories about QAnon and the January 6th insurrection, said that was true without providing any evidence.
Lots of unexplained questions remain
It’s easy to understand why conspiracy theories proliferate. Whenever a case unfolds, there are perfectly reasonable questions about facts that may not be known.
Countless questions remain about a motive for Kirk’s shooting and the potential political affiliation of the suspect. And it seems guaranteed that misinformation and disinformation will continue to run rampant on social media as we learn more. Unfortunately, guys like Kash Patel are not helping the situation as they rush to post on X before all the facts are truly known.
Patel wrote on the day Kirk was killed that, “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.” But that was premature. The person they had in custody was just an attendee there to hear Kirk speak. And while it’s completely normal for shitposters to spread misinformation far and wide before the facts are known, we now live in a world where that shitposter happens to be the director of the FBI.
A woman explained her reasoning as to why she takes a new route every time she walks her dog—even if she has nice neighbors. In a video with over 49,000 views on TikTok, Alexa Abney (@alexaabney69) discussed her safety precautions while walking her pet.
“I take my dog for a walk every single night for 45 minutes to an hour,” Abney said. “I walk from a different route every single night because I don’t want someone to learn my route and follow me.”
“There’s this old man in my neighborhood that’s so sweet, and he always has treats, and he always gives all the dogs walking a treat,” she said. “In my mind, he’s a nice man that’s giving my dog a treat.”
However, Abney said she also realizes in her mind that this man is “befriending” her dog, which can be a red flag.
“He’s befriending my dog so that my dog associates him with treats so that when he breaks into my house to murder me, my dog doesn’t bark [or] throw a fit,” she said. “He already associates him with treats and he won’t attack him.”
While she admits that it’s a “stretch,” Abney said it can happen.
Viewers affirm her concerns about dog walking
Viewers were quick to affirm her feelings, especially given how dangerous the world can feel for women.
“I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but also I don’t trust people by default and that has kept me/gotten me out of many bad situations,” one commenter wrote. “One of the main reasons is not accepting things from people I don’t know or engaging in conversations with random people coming up to me. While the treats are a nice gesture, you can buy your dog their own treats yourself.”
One viewer added that distrust is often necessary. “Paranoia is an unrealistic trust. It is realistic to not trust a man,” they said. “It’s not a stretch, it’s your brain functioning properly. If those thoughts are coming up it may be your intuition telling you that man is off.”
Another commenter said, “It’s not paranoia, you’re smart and proactive. Many many many many people are not here because they did not think this way when they should have.”
What’s the Idaho 4?
One viewer referenced the “Idaho 4,” the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students. The victims, Madison “Maddie” Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, were killed in an off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022.
Authorities charged Bryan Kohberger in the case, and he has since pleaded guilty to killing the four students “willingly, unlawfully, deliberately and with premeditation and malice with forethought.”
For many TikTokers, the reference underscored how easily people can exploit others’ trust. They noted that caution, even when it feels extreme, can protect people from harm.
A woman was on a road trip when she was stopped by an unexpected roadside attraction: a herd of wild donkeys.
Lin, who posts to TikTok under the username @infinitebbt, took the trip earlier this year as she drove from California to Nevada, and made some unusual friends on the way.
It begins with her car’s alert system warning her about several blockages around her car—and then pans to the window, where two donkeys are watching her.
Multiple donkeys crowd around the car, gazing in the window and interacting with each other. At one point, she shows two more donkeys standing right in the middle of the road.
“Wild burros,” she captioned the video. “They just wanted to say hi!”
Burros are a smaller, wild version of a donkey, and can be found in Nevada on a territory tens of thousands of acres wide, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. They are believed to have entered the United States in the 1500s, where, over centuries, domestic stock eventually became wild due to escape and abandonment.
A reply to a comment from Lin under a subsequent video confirms she was driving in Nevada when she encountered the scene.
TikTok users were fascinated by the video, which has more than 5.2 million likes and a whopping 20 million views.
“I love donkeys so much man,” one happy commenter wrote, as another described them as “nosey” and one declared: “They’re so CUTE.”
“I was expecting a buffalo or something, but the donkeys were an interesting surprise,” another laughed, while one joked about the alert at the start of the video: “I love how the screen makes it look like an active attack.”
And as another admitted: “Why did I think there were zombies attacking the car?”
The alert on Lin’s car. The alert on Lin’s car. TikTok @infinitebbt
The Bureau of Land Management of Nevada advises never to approach or feed wild burros or wild horses. Feeding them is illegal, and can also cause the animals to become habituated, expecting humans to have food for them, which is a risk for both the animals and humans.
In a comment on her video, Lin said she wondered whether the burros approached the car in search of snacks, “but we knew not to feed them.”
Newsweek has contacted @infinitebbt via TikTok for comment on this story.
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A Democratic candidate for governor of California will be giving TikTok a go, but with a caveat: He’ll only post videos in Spanish.At least for now.Former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra is embracing the popular short-video app to target Spanish-language users. His campaign and surveys note that Hispanic adults use TikTok in much higher numbers than Black and white adults.Congress last year passed a ban on TikTok, calling it a potential national security threat, but President Joe Biden, who signed the bill into law and was Becerra’s boss at the time, announced before leaving office that he wouldn’t enforce it. After the Supreme Court ruled the ban constitutional, President Donald Trump suspended it on his first day in office to give the China-based company ByteDance, which opposed the ban, time to find a new buyer.Trump, a Republican, had tried to ban dealings with ByteDance during his first term, but he joined the TikTok platform last year and has millions of followers. He has repeatedly extended the deadline for ByteDance to find a buyer and has hinted occasionally, as recently as Monday, that there was a deal over the future of the social media app, but without offering details. The White House started its own TikTok account last month.Becerra’s new approach is part of an effort by Democrats to counter the rightward swing that was seen last year both in red states such as Texas and Florida and blue states such as California, New Jersey and New York, where Trump improved his numbers among Latinos.The idea is to lock in a key user base by pushing out content early on a platform politicians are still largely experimenting with. The effort comes when the Trump administration is phasing out multilingual services as part of the president’s push to make English the official language of the United States.Candidates running in the 2025 elections in New Jersey and Virginia are already adapting their campaigns to appeal to Hispanics, who may have stayed away from the polls or voted for Trump based on his economic promises. But strategists say that it’s still very much up for debate whether the trend will hold.”It’s critical to communicate in the language and on the platforms where voters spend their time and get their information,” Becerra said in a statement.A 2024 Pew Research Center survey concluded that while TikTok has seen significant user growth in a short time, the demographics were different depending on race and ethnicity. Nearly half of Hispanic adults reported using it compared with 39% of Black adults and 28% of white adults.Becerra’s campaign says it will push out a mix of videos with him speaking directly to the camera, policy explainers and behind-the-scenes clips from the campaign trail. It also plans to collaborate with influencers and publish videos created by supporters. All in Spanish.”The working-class Latinos Democrats need to win back aren’t necessarily going to a Spanish-language website, but they are scrolling and watching vertical video in their free time,” said José Muñoz, a Democratic strategist advising the campaign and a former press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.In the New Jersey governor’s race this year, both Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill and Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli are participating in Spanish-language town halls on Univision, where Hispanic voters will ask the candidates questions. In Virginia, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger speaks Spanish in a radio ad about being a mother of three girls who attended public school.”I know how difficult things are for families these days,” she says in Spanish.One of Becerra’s challengers in the 2026 California governor’s race, Katie Porter, has quickly established herself as a leading contender in the Democratic primary and has already built a sizable following on TikTok, with more than half a million followers, compared with about 200,000 followers on Instagram and 164,000 on Facebook.In his introduction video, Becerra says his priority is to make housing more affordable and reduce health care costs.”I am the only candidate in this race who will speak to you in Spanish on this platform,” he said. “But I want this to be a two-way conversation. I want to learn what worries you the most and what you want from the next California governor.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A Democratic candidate for governor of California will be giving TikTok a go, but with a caveat: He’ll only post videos in Spanish.
At least for now.
Former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra is embracing the popular short-video app to target Spanish-language users. His campaign and surveys note that Hispanic adults use TikTok in much higher numbers than Black and white adults.
Congress last year passed a ban on TikTok, calling it a potential national security threat, but President Joe Biden, who signed the bill into law and was Becerra’s boss at the time, announced before leaving office that he wouldn’t enforce it. After the Supreme Court ruled the ban constitutional, President Donald Trump suspended it on his first day in office to give the China-based company ByteDance, which opposed the ban, time to find a new buyer.
Trump, a Republican, had tried to ban dealings with ByteDance during his first term, but he joined the TikTok platform last year and has millions of followers. He has repeatedly extended the deadline for ByteDance to find a buyer and has hinted occasionally, as recently as Monday, that there was a deal over the future of the social media app, but without offering details. The White House started its own TikTok account last month.
Becerra’s new approach is part of an effort by Democrats to counter the rightward swing that was seen last year both in red states such as Texas and Florida and blue states such as California, New Jersey and New York, where Trump improved his numbers among Latinos.
The idea is to lock in a key user base by pushing out content early on a platform politicians are still largely experimenting with. The effort comes when the Trump administration is phasing out multilingual services as part of the president’s push to make English the official language of the United States.
Candidates running in the 2025 elections in New Jersey and Virginia are already adapting their campaigns to appeal to Hispanics, who may have stayed away from the polls or voted for Trump based on his economic promises. But strategists say that it’s still very much up for debate whether the trend will hold.
“It’s critical to communicate in the language and on the platforms where voters spend their time and get their information,” Becerra said in a statement.
A 2024 Pew Research Center survey concluded that while TikTok has seen significant user growth in a short time, the demographics were different depending on race and ethnicity. Nearly half of Hispanic adults reported using it compared with 39% of Black adults and 28% of white adults.
Becerra’s campaign says it will push out a mix of videos with him speaking directly to the camera, policy explainers and behind-the-scenes clips from the campaign trail. It also plans to collaborate with influencers and publish videos created by supporters. All in Spanish.
“The working-class Latinos Democrats need to win back aren’t necessarily going to a Spanish-language website, but they are scrolling and watching vertical video in their free time,” said José Muñoz, a Democratic strategist advising the campaign and a former press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
In the New Jersey governor’s race this year, both Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill and Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli are participating in Spanish-language town halls on Univision, where Hispanic voters will ask the candidates questions. In Virginia, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger speaks Spanish in a radio ad about being a mother of three girls who attended public school.
“I know how difficult things are for families these days,” she says in Spanish.
One of Becerra’s challengers in the 2026 California governor’s race, Katie Porter, has quickly established herself as a leading contender in the Democratic primary and has already built a sizable following on TikTok, with more than half a million followers, compared with about 200,000 followers on Instagram and 164,000 on Facebook.
In his introduction video, Becerra says his priority is to make housing more affordable and reduce health care costs.
“I am the only candidate in this race who will speak to you in Spanish on this platform,” he said. “But I want this to be a two-way conversation. I want to learn what worries you the most and what you want from the next California governor.”
A heartwarming TikTok video has captured the gentle first steps of friendship between a St. Louis family’s cane corso and their newborn baby—long before the pair even met in person.
The clip, posted by Brittany Hogan (@brittanyandjax), has racked up more than 3.3 million views and shows her husband carefully preparing their 145-pound, 5-year-old dog Jax to welcome their new daughter.
While recovering in the hospital after giving birth, Hogan watched via video call as her husband introduced Jax to the baby in a thoughtful, scent-based ritual. The text over the video recorded last year explains the family’s initial concern: “He didn’t like kids at the time, we had no idea how he’d react.”
The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that this breed isn’t the type to befriend every person or canine they encounter. They typically remain aloof toward outsiders, but show unwavering loyalty and a strong protective instinct toward their family.
Two screenshots from the viral video showing Jax sniffing the newborn’s blanket in his owner’s hand and in the bassinet. Two screenshots from the viral video showing Jax sniffing the newborn’s blanket in his owner’s hand and in the bassinet. TikTok/@brittanyandjax
During the clip, the husband begins by holding out the newborn’s blanket for Jax to sniff. The dog’s nose twitches as he takes in the unfamiliar scent, clearly aware that something significant has changed. The man then places the blanket in the baby’s bassinet and leaves another one on Jax’s bed, even letting the animal sniff Hogan’s labor gown.
For the next four days—while Hogan and the newborn remained in the hospital—Jax repeatedly returned to the bassinet to inhale the baby’s scent, lingering quietly as if standing guard for the infant’s homecoming.
The video’s heartfelt caption reads: “I remember being so worried about how he would react. He is the most perfect boy. It’s incredible how they just KNOW.”
Viewers around the world have been touched by the cane corso’s instinctive devotion, with many sharing their own experiences of introducing pets to newborns.
In the comments, Hogan reassured a concerned user: “Jax doesn’t like people, dogs or other kids. It will be okay.”
One popular reply with over 60,000 likes captured the sentiment perfectly: “Girl he just don’t like other ppl [people] kids, that’s his kid.”
Another viewer added: “Corso’s are natural guardians and will guard their pack. They are great with children. I have no children and my Corso loves all kids and is so gentle with them.”
How To Introduce Your Dog to Your New Baby
These AKC-recommended tips can make your baby’s first meeting with your beloved pet a calm, positive experience.
Stay calm and balanced: Dogs sense your body language and pheromones, so avoid projecting anxiety about their reaction to the baby.
Practice relaxed breathing: Work on breathing normally and not holding your breath when canine and child are together.
Plan interactions: Map out each dog/child encounter, starting simple and aiming for small, positive successes.
Support your dog’s emotional health: Speak with your vet about strategies to ease canine anxiety.
Maintain a safe space: Ensure the crate remains a private sanctuary for your dog, off-limits to children.
Newsweek is waiting for @brittanyandjax to provide a comment.
A woman on TikTok has a message for any keen Marshalls shoppers: “Watch out for scammers.” In a TikTok that’s garnered over 124,000 views, Ani (@Ani.wolde) warned that scammers are still running amok, even in retail stores.
In the video’s description, Ani wrote, “It’s hard times out here and it’s a shame people are trying to be deceitful. And there will be some people out here that will fall for it unfortunately. Literally only gave this woman the time of day to hear her out at first but then wasted her time since she wants to go around trying to waste other people’s time.”
The encounter in the Marshalls hair section
Ani said she was “minding [her] business in the hair section” when a woman asked if she had a moment. The woman then explained that she was a travel nurse.
Things immediately went south when the woman explained her daughter was turning 13. She said her boss had dropped her off at the store and left her without help.
The gratuitous details piled up, creating a situation that Ani described as oddly specific. She asked what the woman needed help with specifically. The woman said she “didn’t need a ride” but did need to borrow money.
The woman said she needed the money to call a cab company to get back to where she was staying. She promised it would be “paid back double.”
Questioning the story
Ani said she “entertained” the Marshalls scammer, telling her to call the cab company. The woman dialed a phone number and appeared to talk with someone in front of her.
Ani asked three separate times what the cab company was called. She wanted to see if anything credible existed. “Nothing was popping up on my Google,” she said.
Ani said the woman had a “fake conversation” on the phone. She asked to speak with the company herself. That’s when the woman started to act passive-aggressively, telling Ani that she was “[looking] down on her situation.”
Ani pointed out that the details didn’t add up. The woman said her boss had dropped her off. Later, she said her boss was in Dubai.
How to recognize scammers
Commenters noted several red flags. Overly long and oddly detailed stories stood out to many.
“Yeah when it’s an overly complex story (travel nurse, boss is away, daughters birthday), it’s automatically a scam to me,” one person said. “I’m kinda like you [though], I just listen for the plot.”
Some said scammers target women who are by themselves.
“I had a lady come up to me asking about [joining] her church and was trying to hand me a card with a QR code for her [church’s] website,” one commenter wrote. “I said no thank you and ignored her. They target women by themselves!”
@ani.wolde Its hard times out here and it’s a shame people are trying to be deceitful and scam people. And there will be some people out here that will fall for it unfortunately. Literally only gave this woman the time of day to hear her out at first but then waste her time since she wants to go around trying to waste other people’s time. #storytime#scamalert#marshallsrun#icantmakethisup#staysafe♬ original sound – Ani | DR Living??
The Mary Sue has reached out to Marshalls‘ press team via email and Ani via TikTok direct comment.
President Donald Trump‘s administration is expected to extend the September 17 deadline for China’s ByteDance to divest TikTok‘s U.S. assets or shut down the popular short-video app, according to a Reuters report citing a source familiar with the matter.
This would mark the fourth extension granted by Trump since retaking office in January, following previous delays that moved the original congressional deadline to April, then May, June, and now potentially beyond September.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
The president’s stance on TikTok has evolved. During his first term, he signed executive orders to ban the app, which were later blocked by courts. His change in position followed meetings with American investors and public acknowledgment of TikTok’s role in his political outreach to young voters during last year’s election.
Despite congressional mandates requiring ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban, the continued delays signal the Trump administration’s reluctance to shut down an app used by approximately 170 million Americans.
The administration’s August launch of an official White House TikTok account further underscores the platform’s strategic importance for political communication.
What To Know
TikTok’s uncertain status stems from longstanding concerns about Beijing’s potential ability to use the platform for surveillance, blackmail, or censorship of Americans. The app faces a federal sell-or-ban law enacted by Congress that originally required ByteDance to divest U.S. operations by January 2025.
Any potential sale faces significant technical and political hurdles, particularly regarding TikTok’s proprietary algorithm, which would require Beijing’s approval to share with U.S. buyers.
A previous deal framework would have created a new U.S.-based company majority-owned by American investors, but progress stalled after China indicated it would not approve the arrangement following Trump’s tariff announcements.
The expected extension comes as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer engage in trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Spain where TikTok has been included as an official agenda item for the first time in bilateral negotiations, Reuters reported. The meeting in Spain follows previous rounds in Geneva, London, and Stockholm where the app was not discussed.
This development provides the Trump administration with political cover for another extension, sources told Reuters.
The TikTok app logo is shown on an iPhone on January 17 in Houston. The TikTok app logo is shown on an iPhone on January 17 in Houston. AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote in June on Truth Social: “I’ve just signed the executive order extending the deadline for the TikTok closing by 90 days (September 17, 2025). Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an August statement: “The Trump administration is committed to communicating the historic successes President Trump has delivered to the American people with as many audiences and platforms as possible.”
Trump’s then-national security adviser Mike Waltzsaid in January: “…President Trump has been very clear: Number one, TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use and has been great for his campaign and getting his message out. But number two, he’s going to protect their data.”
What Happens Next?
The administration faces mounting pressure to either finalize a divestment arrangement or provide a clear justification for indefinite delays.
A woman brings two trick-or-treating buckets to 7-Eleven, thinking the convenience chain participates in “bring your own cup day.” But the workers tell her she’s mistaken when she takes out her $4 at the checkout.
In a video with over 6.6 million views, TikTok Aiyanna (@aiyannace) yells, “Hello, everyone! Happy holiday!” as she enters the convenience store.
First, she places one Jack-o’-Lantern bucket underneath the piña colada slushie flavor. She fills it up until the machine is nearly empty. Then, she places the second bucket underneath the blue raspberry flavor and fills it to the brim.
However, she asks the cashier why he looks “confused” as she places the buckets on the register.
Was 7-Eleven participating in ‘bring your own cup’ day?
In a Sept. 4 press release, 7-Eleven announces that its next bring your own cup day is Sept. 13. Customers can bring any container of any size and fill it up with a Slurpee for $1.99. The convenience chain gives “fishbowls, flower vases, pitchers, and popcorn buckets” as examples of acceptable containers.
However, Aiyanna may have mixed up her dates, arriving at the store with her buckets on Sept. 11. The workers shake their heads as they tell Aiyanna that the promotion isn’t valid.
“You gonna make me put my slushie back?” she asks, handing the cashier $4 for the two mega slushies.
One worker insists that bring your own cup day has “never been done.” Some franchises may not participate in the promotion.
The clip cuts, and she shows herself giving the giant slushies to two men outside of 7-Eleven. She reenters the store to buy the other people slushies—albeit normal-sized ones—too.
She asks the worker, “Does this qualify for your program?” as she hands him the Big Gulp-sized slushies.
How did viewers react to her viral mistake?
In the comments, viewers joke about Aiyanna’s go-with-the-flow attitude despite mixing up the dates of the bring your own cup promotion.
“My girl aint let her vibe get killed. she say ‘you get a slushy! YOU get a slushy! EVERYBODY gets a slushy,”” a commenter writes.
“I actually never laughed so hard in my entire life,” another says.
“Everytime I see your videos it’s just a perfect representation of exercising free will and I respect that,” a third adds.
Others point out that the 7-Eleven workers watched her fill the buckets with slushie and didn’t say anything before she reached checkout.
“It’s the fact they gonna tell you it’s not ‘bring your own cup day’ but not act like they did watch you fil up two buckets the whole time,” one says.
“The employees watching you fill up a Halloween bucket with slushie,” another writes.
“I mean they literally could’ve stopped you at ANY point prior to checkout,” a third remarks.
An Airbnb guest in Kelowna, British Columbia, says she and her friends were left horrified after making an unexpected discovery at the home they were staying in.
When Jade, who did not share her surname, and her friends pulled back the drapes, they discovered something unusual—strands of hair pinned to the walls.
“We noticed the hair as soon as we arrived, which was 11 p.m. on a Thursday evening,” Jade told Newsweek. “It was scary because we were five women alone. At first we were really scared but didn’t really feel we had options to leave since it was so late.”
According to Jade, the host explained that the hair display had been left behind as part of a prank when the owner’s daughter once lived in the home with friends. “If you zoom in you can see they look like faces. It’s a ‘core memory,’ so they didn’t want to take it down,” she said.
Pictures from the viral video where the women shared the unusual Airbnb detail. Pictures from the viral video where the women shared the unusual Airbnb detail. @jadenicole10/TikTok
An Airbnb spokesperson told Newsweek: “Airbnb requires hosts to meet our ground rules on accuracy and cleanliness, and guests can contact us 24/7 in the rare event they encounter an issue. We are in contact with the guest to continue supporting them, and we are taking action to address this with the host.”
Instead of removing the strands, Jade said the hosts offered paper and tape for the group to cover it up themselves. “They offered to give us paper and tape to cover it up but not take it down. I shared the TikTok so I could validate that it was super insane because the host clearly didn’t think so,” she said.
She shared the moment on TikTok where it gained more than 2.3 million views, and people shared their reactions in the comments.
One commenter quipped: “I’d add a lock of my own hair. Confuse whatever serial killer is keeping trophies.”
Another wrote: “Um, Ma’am, is that a trophy wall? I’ve watched too much true crime for this.”
Some users thought the strands resembled small faces with mustaches, pointing to shiny pink dots visible above the hair. Others joked that perhaps past guests had carried on the tradition without the owners realizing.
This isn’t the first time an Airbnb has included something unusual. Earlier this week, a couple shared how they discovered a “hidden” door and “secret” third floor space in their vacation rental.
While in 2024, a viral post shared the chilling note left in an Airbnb in the Appalachian mountains that prompted the poster to say they were “so scared right now.”
An Austin, Texas woman says a walk on the Lady Bird Lake Trail turned frightening after she and a friend were followed for miles by a man.
In a TikTok video with more than 254,000 views, Michaela Diehl (@michdiehll) described how what was meant to be a 10-mile walk quickly became dangerous.
Diehl said she and her friend paused near Noble Joe Coffee about two miles in to decide which path to take when a man appeared behind them and began giving directions. Though unsettled by his sudden presence, they told him they planned to complete the full loop, a detail Diehl later called a mistake.
The man then walked ahead but continued trailing them. For at least three miles, Diehl said, he mirrored their pace: stopping when they stopped, speeding up when they did, and at times getting so close that they had to move away or try to escape him.
The women tried running briefly to create distance, but he reappeared. Then they tried to run to create distance again. He appeared. Diehl said they avoided confronting him out of fear that the situation could escalate. However, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t de-escalate the situation. A majority of the walk, then, was in “silence” out of fear.
The Austin women try to escape the man
When they reached the trailhead, the man lingered nearby, attempting to do pullups with some equipment as he watched them to the side. Diehl said she mentioned meeting her father for lunch in an effort to deter him, and the women were eventually able to return to their car safely.
“You cannot trust anybody’s intentions,” Diehl said in the video. “Just be safe and be aware of the trails. Do not tell anyone anything.”
Earlier, Diehl posted a separate clip taken during the walk that shows the man visible in several frames. Though she joked that Austin City Limits had trained them to endure the chase, she emphasized that the experience felt incredibly dangerous.
People were outraged on her behalf
Social media users were in an uproar after seeing Diehl’s post, with many commenting about their own experiences on the Lady Bird Lake Trail. Others offered her advice on how she should have handled the situation.
“Be vocal,” one person wrote. “Say, ‘Why are you following us? You are making us uncomfortable. Please get away from us.’ I am from Austin and have been here for 18 years. You have to be loud and obnoxious so people can hear you. Do not let those men scare you like that. Scare them.”
Another commenter suggested self-defense. “A visible pocketknife or something even heavier and deadlier is an exceptional deterrent. Plenty of bodies have been found in Lady Bird Lake, and Texas allows you to carry things that would deter and protect you,” the person wrote.
Others simply empathized with Diehl, emphasizing the fear of the situation.
“‘Why didn’t you just…’ bro, [are] you all serious? This is such a scary situation to be in. If you have advice to give, there is a right and wrong way to give it. Stop trying to put the blame on victims, my gosh,” one person said.
If you’re sick and can’t make it into work, what are you supposed to do?
That’s a question many Americans wrestle with every day. While many offices suggest that one doesn’t come into work if they’re sick in order to prevent others from getting ill, they also frequently require a doctor’s note, which costs money.
As much of American sick leave is unpaid, this leaves Americans deciding between going to the doctor and losing money or going to work and risking getting others sick. Understandably, many choose the latter; one survey found that 90 percent of American employees worked while sick.
There can be other consequences for taking the day off as well, as TikTok user Gabe (@gabethegerman2) recently learned in a video with over 547,000 views.
Why Did This Chick-fil-A Worker Get Fired?
In his video, Gabe (@gabethegerman2) details what he says is the reason he was let go from Chick-fil-A. According to him, it was because he was spotted outside the house after taking the day off for illness.
Saying he “can’t make this [expletive] up,” Gabe says his termination came after someone from work spotted him getting food, even though he had taken the day off owing to illness.
“Apparently, if you call out because you’re sick, and then someone sees you outside getting food, you’re fired,” he shares. “So, keep that in mind next time, bro.”
In the caption, he declares, “Fired for getting food when I was sick.”
Can You Be Fired for Being Spotted Outside of Work After Taking a Sick Day?
In short, the answer is “yes.”
Almost every state has “at will” employment. This means that employers can fire workers at any time for almost any reason.
While there are some exceptions to this rule—for example, an employer cannot fire a worker for their race or disability—they can fire them for almost any other reason they feel is pertinent to their work.
Regarding Chick-fil-A specifically, it doesn’t appear that they have a specific policy in their handbook about this issue. That said, these handbooks can vary from state to state and location to location, so it’s possible that Gabe’s location utilized a different handbook with varying rules.
Still, this location is likely protected in their decision to fire Gabe for going outside while sick, even if he feels the decision is unjust.
That said, in the comments, he admits that this might not be the only issue that impacted his termination.
“I didn’t take the job as serious as most ppl,” he explained.
A Los Angeles woman ended up in a fraught situation after she ran into a man from her DMs in public. She explains why the interaction led to her having to do a “Hey Girly” text in real life.
Cat (@bigkittyenergy) is a model with about 150k followers on TikTok. She recently posted a video about how a random direct message turned into a full-on episode of Jerry Springer.
A woman shopping at Walmart was flabbergasted when she the rhinestones she was getting had a 154% price increase. This was without the company updating the price tags.
In a video with over 279,000 views, @taylorpwnz discussed a recent trip to Walmart. It ended with her spending much more than she thought she would.
“I just went to Walmart to get rhinestones,” she said. “This tiny [container] of rhinestones was [supposed to be] $2.98. I get to the cash register and it rings up as $7.50. So I swiftly left and went back to the crafting aisle. I took a picture of the price, and I brought it back up front.”
When she showed an employee her findings, she was shocked by his response. The Walmart employee said they would “honor” the pricing, but that it would be changing to $7.50 in the future. She asked the employee what he meant. He mentioned the fact that Walmart was introducing digital price tags to their store, a plan which is coming to 2,300 stores in 2026. The employee explained that the “price can change at any time.
“We’re not gonna be able to price match any pictures you provide us,” he purportedly told her.
“Robbery, straight robbery,” @taylorpwnz added. “I’m not paying $7 for cheap [expletive] rhinestones.”
A Walmart boycott
Walmart used to be known as an affordable grocery store for everyday consumers. However, more people have felt deterred by the company’s recent policy changes.
Digital price tags—which make it significantly easier to adjust prices at a moment’s notice— pose a potential risk to consumers who want a consistent shopping experience. Despite their functionality, there’s reasonable worry. A digital pricing system could make it easier to hike up prices on any given day. This is instead of having to deliberately change prices. Fluctuating food costs could change at a moment’s notice with the new system, which is currently being tested at a Walmart in Texas.
Many customers have noticed ‘shrinkflation‘ from the company or general high prices. Others are worried that simple products like laundry detergent will get locked in anti-theft cases in stores across the country. Employees at certain locations have already started locking basic goods like baby formula.
All of these things have started to irk some customers. Many want to “cancel Walmart,” as one TikTok commenter put it.
Another added, “Dynamic pricing will be the death of stores. No one wants to shop [go up] to the register [and then have their items double in price]. We are done with these games and [Walmart] blaming [their] greed on everything else.”
No. They say with great power comes great responsibility, at least that’s what this Greenville Guardian says. If you’ve been downtown over the last few months, or online. Everything’s looking good. No fires. You’ve probably seen this web slinging wonder. Greenville Spider-Man on patrol. Since obviously I can’t swing around the buildings being small and I don’t have *** car. So why is an 18 year old dressing like *** superhero and wandering downtown? Is he *** Spider-Man or *** spider menace? Well, after we spoke with Greenville police, he is just your friendly neighborhood spider. Just recently, he rescued two people in the falls at the Reedy River. So I saw one of them slip. Fall and I was like this is, this is time to go and I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there and thankfully there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up and then they grabbed my wrist and I pulled them up. When the spectacular spider isn’t making rescues, picking up litter, meeting fans, or just hanging out. So I turn on my EMS scanner and I listen for anything going on and I have notes of which street. I should be on the look for. The CPR certified social media star listens for people having breathing problems running to help until EMS arrives. My intention is to help the people of Greenville and protect and honestly spread kindness along the way. The social media sensation set to protect the city he loves, or at least make friends along the way. You know, it usually is friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, I guess this would count as more like *** friendly downtown Spider-Man. Now I know what you’re thinking, and we have the answer. That costume is dry clean only. In Greenville, I’m Peyton Frita, WYFF News 4.
South Carolina teen dressed as Spider-Man saves 2 people stuck on waterfall
Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community. Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue. “I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner. “I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives. “My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown. He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.
Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community.
Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.
Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue.
“I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.
When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner.
“I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.
Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives.
“My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.
The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown.
He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.
No. They say with great power comes great responsibility, at least that’s what this Greenville Guardian says. If you’ve been downtown over the last few months, or online. Everything’s looking good. No fires. You’ve probably seen this web slinging wonder. Greenville Spider-Man on patrol. Since obviously I can’t swing around the buildings being small and I don’t have *** car. So why is an 18 year old dressing like *** superhero and wandering downtown? Is he *** Spider-Man or *** spider menace? Well, after we spoke with Greenville police, he is just your friendly neighborhood spider. Just recently, he rescued two people in the falls at the Reedy River. So I saw one of them slip. Fall and I was like this is, this is time to go and I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there and thankfully there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up and then they grabbed my wrist and I pulled them up. When the spectacular spider isn’t making rescues, picking up litter, meeting fans, or just hanging out. So I turn on my EMS scanner and I listen for anything going on and I have notes of which street. I should be on the look for. The CPR certified social media star listens for people having breathing problems running to help until EMS arrives. My intention is to help the people of Greenville and protect and honestly spread kindness along the way. The social media sensation set to protect the city he loves, or at least make friends along the way. You know, it usually is friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, I guess this would count as more like *** friendly downtown Spider-Man. Now I know what you’re thinking, and we have the answer. That costume is dry clean only. In Greenville, I’m Peyton Frita, WYFF News 4.
South Carolina teen dressed as Spider-Man saves 2 people stuck on waterfall
Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community. Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue. “I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner. “I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives. “My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown. He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.
Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community.
Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.
Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue.
“I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.
When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner.
“I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.
Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives.
“My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.
The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown.
He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.
When it comes to dating, we often talk about what we consider to be “red flags” and “green flags” of potential partners.
A red flag might be a partner who dodges questions or keeps secrets. A green flag might be someone who is good at communication or plans meaningful trips.
But as one TikToker found out, the internet, and the public at large, doesn’t always agree on which is which.
Woman’s ‘green flag’ about her husband gets twisted
TikTok creator Reema Patel (@reemapatel00) posted a lighthearted clip about her husband that has since sparked some heated debate.
Her video, which has been viewed more than 680,300 times, was supposed to be a sweet anecdote. Instead, it turned into a debate about the promiscuity of Iceland.
“I knew I was marrying a green flag when he picked Iceland as his bachelor party destination,” Patel said. “Like, OK, go off, king, go watch the Northern Lights with your BFFs.”
Viewers weren’t convinced
The reaction in the comments, though, was far from what she expected. For many viewers, Iceland wasn’t the wholesome, romantic destination Patel imagined. It was quite the opposite.
“Icelandic women are almost literally the most beautiful women in the world,” one person wrote.
Another shared, “Omg my husband cheated on me in Iceland.”
Others piled on with jokes like “perfect post for ‘who’s gonna tell her’” and “she must not know about Iceland lmaooo.”
But not everyone agreed that Iceland spelled trouble.
“Y’all need to realize that if they’re gonna cheat—they’re gonna cheat. Location doesn’t change a thing,” one user argued.
“Don’t listen to the comments. Iceland is gorgeous—I’ve been 3 times,” shared another. “Tell him to get up early one day and drive the whole south coast. It’s stunning. They’ll have the best time.”
Why Iceland might’ve sparked this reaction
Part of it might come down to Iceland’s cultural reputation. Compared to many countries, Iceland has a more open and casual attitude toward sex and nudity, as reported by the Rooster.
One Icelandic blogger also explained that talking about sex is so common there, it hardly raises eyebrows.
“I do talk about my sex life (or lack of!) and my friends’ sex life on an almost daily basis,” she wrote, recalling how even pointing out a past hookup while hanging out with someone you don’t know well wasn’t seen as unusual.
Women buying drinks for men, openly flirting, or being straightforward about sex is also completely normal.
That cultural openness has fueled stereotypes. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Icelandair ran provocative campaigns with slogans like “Fancy a dirty Weekend in Iceland?” and “One Night Stand in Reykjavík.”
These ads, paired with media portrayals—including a pickup artist’s guidebook titled Bang Iceland—cemented the idea that Iceland is a hookup hotspot.
But Icelanders themselves push back on these portrayals. While casual sex isn’t stigmatized, locals point out that doesn’t mean people will sleep with just anyone.
As the Icelandic blogger noted, “Just because I (and other Icelandic girls) can talk freely about sex does NOT mean that I (or they) will sleep with anyone or everyone.”
Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.
A woman has gone viral after sharing her dating predicament. In her video, which has amassed 251,000 views, Charlotte Hancey (@charlotte.shares) shares her biggest dating ick: being broke.
She began by explaining that she and this man had been on two dates, and had a third date planned. However, a few days before their third date, he contacted her asking if she was free. Hancey was then unimpressed when he asked her to plan it. When she suggested dinner, the man said he was broke from “incurring costs,” and asked if they could go cheap or 50/50.
Dating woes
“Excuse me, it’s our third date,” she said. “You’re bringing up financial troubles, and you’re complaining about having to take me to dinner, like you can’t spend $20 on a new girl that you’re trying to pursue? No, absolutely not.”
They end up hanging out at her apartment as she cooks food for him, but the next day, Hancey ultimately broke things off with him (pun intended).
“I am not broke, so I don’t want to date someone who is having money issues and complaining about having to take me on a date, because I want someone who can match my lifestyle and wants to take me to fun dates and concerts and dinners and all of that kind of stuff, and eventually travel with,” she concluded. “So, we’re not a match. Bye boy! And with that guy, my roster is officially at zero, and I’m so happy about it. I’m so sick of dating.”
For the most part, commenters could see Hancey’s point of view. “Girl, same,” one wrote. “If you don’t have your finances figured out, we can’t do this life together.”
“It’s not even the fact that he was supposedly broke that irritated me,” a second shared. “It was how slick he was trying to be. You ask me on a date, but say you can’t afford it. Then you, in a roundabout way, ask to come over, and you couldn’t even provide the wine. Broke but still trying to get “lucky.” Eww.”
While a third added: “No woman wants to be with a broken man. If you’re broken, you’re a failure, and nobody wants failure. My career’s solid, my finances are on point. If yours aren’t, stay home, binge Netflix, and cry about it. At the end of the day, women want winners, not excuses.”
According to psychologist Dr. Sarah Hill, women’s desire not to date broke men is inherent. She claims that it comes from our distant ancestors, where women had to rely on men to hunt and get resources while they stayed at home with the children.
“So women, historically have been very dependent on men for resources, and we’ve inherited that that brain, because over the course of evolutionary history, women who would have placed an emphasis on, you know, choosing partners who have these kinds of qualities, they would have been more likely to have surviving offspring who then passed that tendency or that preference onto their offspring, could pass that preference on to their offspring,” she said.
The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via email and TikTok comment.
Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.
Earlier this summer, a woman went to Taco Bell for a sweet treat. There are few better ways to cool the mouth and tingle the taste buds than an ice-cold, fruity drink on a hot summer day, after all.
She decided to order one of Taco Bell’s newer line of drinks called Agua Refrescas. They come in three different flavors—strawberry passionfruit, dragonfruit strawberry, and mango peach—and Evelyn Raines (@evrain23) wasn’t sure which she wanted. So she asked the Taco Bell worker taking her order which was his favorite.
Raines couldn’t believe his response.
“He goes, ‘Oh well, they make us pay for it, so I haven’t tried it yet,”” she recalls in a TikTok. “I said, ‘What?’”
She went with the strawberry passionfruit Agua Refresca. The worker apologized again when she picked it up at the window. Raines says she replied, “That’s whack, I wouldn’t buy it either.”
Do restaurant employees have to pay for food?
Many people just assume that working in a restaurant means you get to chow down for free. That often isn’t true, however.
There are some restaurants that provide a meal, sometimes called family meal. But no matter what watching The Bear may make you think, that’s the exception, not the rule.
Most restaurants do give an employee discount. Often you can only use it to purchase a limited amount of food, such as one meal per shift. The discount varies, but 50% off is rather common in the industry.
These policies vary from restaurant to restaurant. It can also vary between franchises like Taco Bell.
As multiple commenters confirmed in the Taco Bell subreddit a few years ago, workers at one Taco Bell may get a complimentary meal while those at another don’t, even in the same city. It depends on the location and the owner.
One person commented on Raines’ TikTok, writing, “I work at Taco Bell and it’s true they make us pay for it. And they don’t even allow us to get it on our $10 employee meal.”
That said, even if it isn’t restaurant policy to feed you, there often are ways to get a free meal or sample something without resorting to theft. Orders get messed up all the time. Being friendly with the kitchen staff in these situations can be a literal meal ticket.
You can also ask a manager if you can try something. It’ll depend on the manager and the item, of course. You’re not likely to get to try the wagyu ribeye, for example, but you might just get a taste of Taco Bell’s new Agua Refresca.
Is the Agua Refresca worth the price?
As she shares her disbelief that the Taco Bell she went to doesn’t give employees free food and drinks, Raines takes a sip of her strawberry passionfruit Agua Refresca. At $4.30, she and several commenters think it’s a bit pricey.
As one wrote, “For a little over $4 it was giving Minute Maid for me! Not worth it.”
The sheer quantity of sugar, which Raines says is 41 grams, had her planning to water it down over the course of multiple drinks. That may sound like a lot, but it’s roughly the equivalent of a 12 ounce Coca Cola.
Sugar and price aside, Raines was overall pleased with Taco Bell’s strawberry passionfruit Agua Refresca.
“It’s good. It tastes like a really sugary Gatorade,” she says.
She didn’t respond to a direct message sent via TikTok.
Claire Goforth is a contributing writer to The Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, Al Jazeera America, the Miami New Times, Folio Weekly, the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, the Florida Times-Union, the Daily Dot, and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. Find her online at bsky.app/profile/clairegoforth.bsky.social and x.com/claire_goforth.
