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Alright, let's get one thing straight: 2025 is shaping up to be the year the world decided to collectively lose its marbles.
Media Meltdown: MS(NBC) -> MS NOW
First, we have MSNBC, a cable news dinosaur, deciding to rebrand itself as "MS NOW." I mean, seriously? "My Source for News, Opinion, and the World?" Give me a break. That sounds like something a marketing intern vomited up after a week-long caffeine binge.
They're trying to spin this as some kind of patriotic rebirth, airing ads with Rachel Maddow reading the Constitution while waving the flag. But let's be real, it's just a desperate attempt to stay relevant as viewers continue to flee cable for streaming.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler says she felt "very strongly" about keeping the "MS" because of the brand's history. Right, because clinging to a defunct partnership with Microsoft from the '90s is totally the key to reaching the TikTok generation.
And don't even get me started on the move from 30 Rock to Times Square. Talk about trading prestige for… well, slightly cheaper rent, probably.
One of their former stars, Joy Reid, isn't buying it either. She says name changes are usually a bad idea. I'm with her. It's like when your favorite band tries to reinvent itself with a new sound – it's almost always a disaster.
But hey, at least Jacob Soboroff is happy. He says he can be the "most authentic version" of himself at MS NOW. Which, I guess, is great for him. But what does that even mean? Are we supposed to believe he was holding back some deep, hidden truth while reporting for NBC News? What’s in a name? MS NOW – formerly MSNBC – will soon find out
SNAP Crackle Pop...Goes the Safety Net
And then there's the SNAP funding fiasco. The government shuts down, and suddenly 42 million Americans are wondering where their next meal is coming from.
Trump, of course, couldn't resist taking a swipe at "Democrat programs" on Truth Social. As if people needing food assistance is some kind of political game.
The USDA actually blamed Democrats for the suspension of payments. Seriously? That's like blaming the fire department for a house fire.
Jacqueline Giammona, a single mom in California, had her pantry and freezer near empty. She calls the whole thing an "abuse of power." And honestly, can you blame her?
Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center, felt "shock, outrage, disbelief." My sentiments exactly.
The deal Congress cut funds SNAP through September 2026, but FitzSimons is worried it could be used as a negotiation tactic again. "Once you break a taboo," she says, "it's that much easier to break a taboo." Ain't that the truth.
And Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, worries the disruption will dissuade people from even applying for help in the future. Which is exactly what the people who want to gut these programs want, offcourse.
Brittany Jansen, a bartender in Phoenix, had to explain to her own mother why she needed SNAP benefits. "Well, you both have jobs!" her mother said. Which just goes to show how little some people understand about the reality of working-class life. SNAP funding pause to soon end, but anxiety and anger may linger
But hey, at least some people are realizing SNAP is an important program. Small victories, I guess.