April 20: A fresh personal essay dropped in The Cut, consuming the girls and the gays (and their group chats) for yet another evening. This one is by, and about, a woman who breaks up with a friend over her use of the weight loss drug, Wegovy. Based on her portfolio, this author writes a lot of click bait articles — a skill The Cut will gladly leverage for numbers. As is often the case with the magazine’s signature personal essays, the writer’s core premise could have been interesting: How is the proliferation of weight loss drugs affecting those in eating disorder recovery? But per their house style, the piece was executed in the most insane possible way. Regardless, I think we need to leave the GLP-1 essays alone for a while — North America doesn’t have the literacy rates to have a nuanced conversation about them. I just scrapped a pitch on the subject for that very reason.

April 20: Goop Kitchen has officially landed in NYC. On Monday, the brand sent an email with the subject line, “we’re in the 212.” It was a highly-anticipated arrival — according to Hell Gate, if you didn’t pre-order your meal, you were waiting two hours for a salad.

April 21: At an ASME event held at the Vox offices in FiDi, I learned that a freelancer’s best chance of getting hired full time at NYMag is by… threatening to quit. Vulture EIC Neil Janowitz, executive editor Genevieve Smith, features writer Brock Colyar, and news writer Rebecca Alter, participated in a panel discussion moderated by ASME’s Erica Sloan (who was at Self before it folded). All were lovely — I can’t speak highly enough of how generous each staffer was with their responses. But I had to laugh when Smith was asked about how one might get hired from a freelance position to a staff writer: “Do you want the most cynical answer? Threaten to quit.” According to her, when the thought of not having you to call on is bad enough to really put an editor in a bind, they might finally try to hire you.

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April 22: Jia Tolentino and Hasan Piker went on the The Opinions Podcast to discuss class rebellions big and small. The basis of the interview was questioning Piker and Tolentino about “micro-looting,” a term coined by the podcast host, Nadja Spiegelman, to describe the small, largely inconsequential thefts people are engaging in and justifying because of the current political climate. Think: sneaking an extra bag of bagels at the self-checkout. It’s become a bit of a trend on TikTok. I’m not sure why these two particular guests were chosen as representatives of the working class, but regardless, it wasn’t a particularly good episode. (Yes, I said the same thing about a similar episode in my last letter.) Off the bat, neither interviewee — both of whom I follow relatively closely — appeared at ease. And the questions seemed engineered for click bait. I guess it worked. Snippets of the episode went viral on X, with moderates appalled at what they decided was a rejection of “the social contract” on the part of Tolentino and Piker, both already well-acquainted with controversy. It got so contentious The Daily Mail showed up at Tolentino’s house, all because she admitted to once taking a few extra lemons from Whole Foods.

April 22: Speaking of The New York Times, there’s a new newsletter in town: The Fashions by Jacob Gallagher: “A guide to fashion wherever it may appear, from the red carpet to the corner store, and all points in between.” Okay.

April 23: Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed by an Israeli airstrike. Khalil was sheltering in a house in the Southern village of al-Tiri. Lebanese officials and foreign journalists describe an apparent targeted strike, per the Associated Press. “Killing of journalists is a crime and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law,” said Paul Morcos, Lebanon’s Information Minister. Khalil is the ninth journalist killed in Lebanon in 2026. More than 250 journalists have been killed since October 7, 2023.

April 23: Lena Dunham’s memoir, Famesick, topped the New York Times, Sunday Times, USA TODAY, and Indie Bookseller best seller lists. The public tide is turning back in her favor, at last. Notably, Terrence O’Connor (who was behind Lorde and Haim’s latest album rollouts) was involved in the very smart marketing of Famesick.

April 24: Reviews of Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic, are out. Namely, they’re pointing out the glaring omission of Jackson’s molestation allegations against his former proteges, depicted in the 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland. (The film detailed Wade Robson and James Safechuck's allegations of sexual molestation, which they stated happened on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.) Paris Jackson, Jackson’s daughter, who is in an ongoing legal battle with her father’s estate executors, has called out the film for being “filled with inaccuracies.”

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April 24: Bari Weiss is likely to carry out another round of layoffs at CBS News. As reported by Dylan Byers, “Bari, [CBS News President] Tom [Cibrowski], and 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon will announce layoffs at the program immediately after the current season ends on May 17.”

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

March 17: Bustle has started publishing “AI-assisted” stories. I knew the day of AI bylines was coming, but I honestly didn’t expect to have such a strong reaction. When a colleague sent this link to me last week I felt a new kind of disgust — one that shockingly had nothing to do with fears of losing my job as a writer. Moreso, I was angry as a reader, and for readers, that we’re entering an era when machine-created information is presented as something worth our engagement.

April 6: If you read one investigative report this month, let it be this one, written by Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz, which dives into Sam Altman’s rise as the CEO of OpenAI. The most interesting figure in the entire drama is Ilya Sutskever, a University of Toronto-educated doctor of computer science who has been calling attention to Altman’s bad ethics for years. It won’t make you feel better about the state of AI, but it is informative.

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April 7: Anna Wintour joined Meryl Streep for Vogue’s May 2026 cover. As I’ve already said, I find this to be recession CORE. Right now, Vogue is hiring for prominent editorial roles that pay $80K, but we’re still letting this industry cosplay as glamorous… I’m reaching a breaking point with the cognitive dissonance. This feels like a desperate plea to siphon some of the prestige still associated with Hollywood for the culturally diminished magazine industry. It’s not working for me.

April 9: The New York Times did a story on Athena Calderone’s housewarming party in her new TriBeCa apartment. If the name Athena Calderone doesn’t ring a bell, surely her last home — a Brooklyn townhouse that became Instagram and Pinterest famous — will. Recently, she was featured in Architectural Digest for her newly finished apartment, which she’d been quietly working on over the past couple of years. I’m having a lot of fun making a mountain out of a molehill with it — the new place is so objectively ostentatious. The thing that made her Brooklyn townhouse so famous was its approachability — still elevated and tasteful but with elements that your average AD follower could recreate in their own home (navy cabinets, for one). This new place tells me that, culturally, we’re in a moment where “eat the rich” is taking a back seat, if not already dead. This display of wealth seems, once again, permissible in a way that I don’t think we’ve seen since at least 2020.

April 8: Caleb Hearon, who has become my personal salve for the world we’re living in, made his Las Culturistas debut. A reason for living, you could say! Every opinion shared about The Chicks and walkie-talkies was correct.

April 8: Brock Colyar and Aminatou Sow, two writers I like, went on The New York Times’ Opinions podcast to discuss the potential end of “wokeness.” It was a fascinating listen — I was especially eager to hear what Coyler had to say about reporting on young Trump voters. What I can’t get behind is the suggestion (on part of the interviewer) that “wokeism” — whatever it has come to mean — drove us to fascism. Anyone suggesting that sounds crazy to me! Language policing and pronouns could never be enough to tip culture to where it is now (fascism) if we weren’t already well on our way.

April 11: Lena Dunham did The Interview. David Marchese’s focus on how hated she was in the 2010s, for the majority of the interview, felt excessive and, frankly, sexist. Yet, each response she provided was generous and profound. A voice of a generation!

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April 11: Bieberchella!!! We can all take a sigh of relief that this worked out; I’ve been listening to his setlist all day. What a brilliant move on part of him and his team to lean into nostalgia and Bieber’s humanity in the way that they did. I like Harmony Holiday’s take on the minimalist production, too: “I think it’s a perfectly subtle rebellion and love to see a child star still standing to rebel.”

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

March 23: Jia Tolentino profiled Robyn. A HUGE day for the ECU (Erica Cinematic Universe). I love how Robyn discussed her parents’ attachment to living an artistic life (they apparently staged an intervention when her brother announced he was leaving contemporary dance to pursue a 9-5), as well as the way she has maintained her grip on her autonomy throughout her career: “Robyn said, she became ‘quite obsessed with MTV, seeing all these artists that I’d been in the same world as making it, and it was torture knowing that I could have done that—but also that I couldn’t have done that.’ Thirty years after she and [Britney] Spears first crossed paths, it’s clear that Spears had little real power in the system she seemed to dominate.” And of course, the profile is brilliantly written.

[Robyn] has always made music for people who are chasing experience as an end in itself. Love, for her, is not the pathway to a tidy adulthood; heartbreak is not the dark before the dawn; the club is not a place to meet someone… She then sang “Show Me Love” live for the first time in thirteen years, stripping it down to a simple ballad, and it was clear that this song she wrote as a child presaged the dominant theme of her career: love is the only devastation we choose freely, and she is greedy for it, because that’s what it means to be alive.

March 23: The Center on Conscience and War has received a massive increase in inquiries from soldiers seeking to submit conscientious objector applications. According to Executive Director Mike Prysner, this comes as a response to thousands more U.S. Marines being sent to the Middle East, per Democracy Now.

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March 23: Feminist writer and podcast host Liz Plank wrote about the Taylor Frankie Paul saga. Her Substack is unpolished, but I always appreciate her cleareyed, consistent perspective:

A society that normalizes violence against women should not be surprised when that violence is reproduced in the ways people survive it. What we are witnessing in these moments is not an aberration, but a reflection of deeply embedded structures that normalize domination while demanding composure from those subjected to it. The question is not why one woman threw a chair. Honestly, I’m more perplexed that the rest of us don’t. Given what kind of violence women are subjected to on a daily basis, without consequence for anyone but us, our restraint is what should be making headlines.

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank

Momfluencer Faces More Consequences than All Men In Epstein Files Combined

Writing like this has a cost. Naming powerful people, following the money, and saying the uncomfortable truths out loud without a legal team or a corporate shield behind you is genuinely risky. If you think it’s worth the risk, subscribe…

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a month ago · 737 likes · 14 comments · Liz Plank

March 24: In a conversation with Forbes, Usher was asked about his relationship with Diddy — apparently, he doesn’t “have anything bad to say about Sean Combs.” Usher crushing stops now.

March 25: In a landmark case, Meta and YouTube were found negligent after a 20-year-old woman accused the two companies of “creating products as addictive as cigarettes or digital casinos.” Meta has to pay $4.2 million, and YouTube has to pay $1.8 million. The Verge’s Lauren Feiner is following the upcoming cases that will be decided based on this result. Hell yeah.

March 25: NYU has officially stopped live student graduation speeches. “The ruling class knows that if you give the smartest person in the room a microphone they’re probably going to say ‘Free Palestine,’” wrote Steven W. Thrasher.

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March 27: Love Story is finally over — and Emma Specter recorded her 54 thoughts on the finale for Vogue. Noteworthy that she’s talking Emmys. Hunter Harris has been, too! I guess Sarah, Grace, and Constance are good — it’s the material that isn’t. I also thought showing us inside the plane was pretty egregious.

March 27: GQ editor Savannah Sobrevilla wrote a piece on “toxic confidence” for The New York Times. She provides a lot of examples of what she’s trying to get at: “wellness” influencers with no medical training, politicians with thin resumes in high-ranking positions, or even the “leader of a broadcasting corporation with no broadcasting experience” (a polite, if not opaque, reference to Bari Weiss). But even more benign (or fictional) examples also get a shout out. Think: YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg or Marty Mauser of Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme — both known for their swagger. Sobrevilla even finds a way to mention this… fascinating Lisa Taddeo caption from just last week:

March 27: The Business of Fashion interviewed leather expert, Volkan Yilmaz, also known as Tanner Leatherstein, about whether or not luxury handbags are really worth it. According to him, anything over $500 is about status, not quality. God bless.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

March 17: John Galliano is entering a creative partnership with Zara. Fascinating. This news broke one day after The New Yorker made an incredibly late-to-the-game declaration in a profile of Zac Posen — that we’re in a “Gapaissance.” (Posen was named Executive Vice President and Creative Director of Gap Inc. in February 2024 and is widely credited with reviving the brand.) Major designers are having a fling with fast fashion as of late. Creative Director Colin King just did a collaboration with Zara (it includes a $2,200 egg lamp). Surely, this indicates that the money in luxury is drying up. The boys are going mass! But we’ll see how they continue trying to sell these career moves. Posen told The New Yorker, “I don’t like the word ‘mass’... I think of animals, of livestock.” Somehow, he prefers the term “fashiontainment.” The industry is always finding ways to dress up its fast fashion habit.

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March 17: Miyako Bellizzi told The Cut that she’s inspired by Midtown. Brave! She also called Lower Manhattan a “fake world,” and I’m mostly with her, even though we both live in the East Village.

March 18: After a years-long investigation, The New York Times published an exposé on the United Farm Workers (UFW) activist Cesar Chavez, who allegedly sexually abused multiple women and girls, including his longtime ally, Dolores Huerta. I urge you to read the investigation in full. “The findings are based on interviews with more than 60 people,” it states. Huerta made a public statement, explaining that she never came forward because she didn’t want to hurt the farmworker movement, which she and many others worked so hard to build. Already, public statues and other memorabilia commemorating Chavez are being removed nationwide and California’s Cesar Chavez Day has been renamed Farmworkers Day. I’m glad to see these moves happening so rapidly (lets keep the same energy for every remaining confederate statue). I hope many take this as a reminder that misogyny has no class or political affiliation. As Kate Manne wrote, “Chavez is not the first, nor will he be the last, much-admired left-wing man who nevertheless felt entitled to groom, abuse, and rape girls and women in ways that leave them shattered.”

March 19: Old news to some, but I just learned Thursday that Outdoor Voices has partnered with… Sam’s Club? The first collection from the partnership, Spring 2026, dropped this month with the ambition of making OV more accessible, per The Street. What does that look like? OV leggings — which typically run from $78-$118 — for under $17. And an XS-XXXL size range, rather than the brand’s standard XS-XL. Noted. This begs the question: Why doesn’t the brand expand its size range across the board?

March 19: TMZ published footage of would-be Bachelorette, Taylor Frankie Paul, hurling metal stools at her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, leading ABC to pull the show which was set to premiere tonight. Following the 2023 incident, Paul was arrested for alleged domestic violence. According to NBC News, the 2023 indictment against Paul notes “that in the video, Paul’s daughter is struck in the head while she was lying on the couch.” Given that these allegations have been public all this time, many are asking: “What was ABC thinking?” It’s the inquiry bouncing around the internet like the old DVD symbol on a middle school classroom TV. This is low hanging fruit. We know what they were thinking: this crazy girl will get ratings. Ruthless. I’d like to see an investigation into Mortensen’s behavior, stat.

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March 19: WNBA minimum salaries have been raised from $66,000 to $300,000, per a verbal agreement. At fucking last.

March 20: The New Yorker listed a job that’s almost certainly filled. The job? Associate Newsletter Editor. I know from personal and friend experience that Condé tends to leave job listings up for months, never to be filled. (We have a working theory that many of them are fake openings.) But this is new: buried in the fourth paragraph of the LinkedIn listing, conveniently just below the button you have to click to read “more,” you’ll find the words: “A internal preferred candidate has been identified for this role.” The job was listed on Friday. 61 people clicked apply.

March 20: Outdoor dining returns to NYC on April 1 — but only 411 restaurants across the city have approval to operate.

March 20: Hanya Yanagihara, editor of the New York Times’s T Magazine (and, yes, writer of A Little Life), is set to step down from her editorial post. Per The Daily Front Row, she’s leaving “to pursue opportunities in theater.”

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

March 10: The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Harvey Weinstein at Rikers. A lot of people were horrified that THR “gave him the platform,” but I don’t mind. For those interested in masculinity, it’s fascinating to get insight into his complete lack of contrition.

March 11: Quince, the e-retailer that sells everything from The Row dupes to grass-fed colostrum and Royal Osetra caviar, received a $10B valuation. The whole enterprise is quite eerie.

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March 12: Emily Sundberg interviewed David Protein founder, Peter Rahal, after the brand received class action lawsuits alleging that the calories and fat content in David bars are far higher than the label claims. Rahal denies this. He also defends Peter Attia — a founding investor in the brand and, until February, its Chief Science Officer — who appears in the Epstein files 1700+ times. Responding to “How will you regain the confidence of consumers after this?” one of Rahal’s answers was “good use of AI.” Another paragon of modern masculinity!

Feed Me

The founder of the David Protein has answers.

Good afternoon everyone. Bear with me over the next few days if send times get inconsistent. I’m traveling to Austin and Los Angeles for work, and then I’ll be in California for the next week…

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2 months ago · 147 likes · 84 comments · Emily Sundberg

March 12: Following the Times’ story on René Redzepi, which I covered last week, the acclaimed chef and founder of Noma has officially stepped down. In a video statement delivered on Instagram, Redzepi explained, “I’m sorry everyone is in this situation — I really, really am,” and added that he’s not “running away from any responsibility” but trying “to protect everyone here.” I assume the video statement was designed to elicit empathy. I can’t quite make up my mind on whether or not that worked, but I think I’m unconvinced.

March 12: More food news, this time for the East Side froyo hoes: Culture is opening a location in Gramercy.

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March 13: The Harry Styles album is bad, and the Jack Harlow album is… good. I expected the former, not the latter. On Monica, Harlow’s Kentucky drawl appeals to me in a way it hasn’t before. It’s melodic and warm, leaving the album with a sense of devotion that’s new for Harlow, without forgoing his known affinity for flirting. (I don’t think for a second that his Monica is any one girl!) In an era where so much popular art has an air of desperation — be it for awards or TikTok virality — Harlow’s ease, real or performed, is welcome. On release day, he appeared on Popcast and the conversation is generating some capital D discourse! Rightfully so, and I’m enjoying the comments section. Still, I recommend the episode in full.

March 13: A new little magazine, Now Voyager, launched with a party at Shrine in Harlem. Editors of other small magazines like The Drift were there, as written up in the Times. Unlike most of The Drift parties I’ve attended, which also get written up in the Times and NYMag, this one was attended by at least one Pulitzer winning international correspondent. According to Times Style section reporter, Alex Vadukul, the first issue of Now Voyager costs $29 and “resembles an art object version of Foreign Affairs.”

March 14: As a primer for tonight’s Oscars ceremony, Wesley Morris weighed in on my favorite conversation surrounding Michael B. Jordan: that he’s an excellent movie star, but an okay actor. “He’s won my heart yet not my figurative best actor ballot,” writes Morris, who’s gunning for The Secret Agent’s Wagner Moura. I’ve long felt the same. But on Morris’ fourth watch of Sinners, Jordan finally clicked for him — particularly in Smoke’s romantic scenes with Annie (Wunmi Mosaku). He also doesn’t let us forget that Jordan is playing two characters: “That old Negro saw about Black people needing to be twice as good as everybody else is a joke you could make about Jordan having to play twins to beat four white men at the SAGs.” Ultimately, though, Morris lands on a feeling I keep coming back to: “It’s not his acting that we keep showing up to see... It’s not his chops. It's what we need to feel everywhere, all the time, especially now. It’s heart.”

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

March 3: James Talarico, the 36-year-old Texas legislator, won the democratic senate primary in Texas, beating out Jasmine Crockett.

March 4: After The Row’s Paris Fashion Week show, guests got a post-show snack: small boxes of individually wrapped blackberries and cherries. “Every cherry this succulent and sweet should be boxed like a fine ruby,” said Chloe Malle. “There were also chocolates from the pioneering Parisian bean-to-bar chocolaterie PLAQ, fresh orange juice, and sparkling water,” per Vogue.

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March 4: Brian McGinnis, an anti-war ex-marine running for senate in North Carolina, was forcibly removed from congress for speaking out against the war with Iran. His arm was caught behind a door and injured as Capitol police and Republican senator from Montana, Tim Sheehy, attempted to force him out of the chamber.

March 4: Jonathan Anderson showed his Fall 2026 collection for Dior. Finally something good to look at!!! Loved Michael Rider’s Celine, too.

March 5: Sara Yasin, former managing editor of the LA Times, spoke about leaving the publication, following — but not wholly because of — October 7 and the ensuing genocide in Gaza. I highly recommend reading the entire piece in full. As a young journalist, it has me thinking about where, and how, we go from here.

I think there were two things that made me feel the media was toothless. One, there was the [in]ability to name things what they are. Naming things what they are has an impact—it matters. And the other thing was the silence over Israel targeting journalists in Gaza. The inability to be clear and brave in those moments felt like such a destruction of credibility.

March 5: Amy Griffin’s The Tell saga continues with accusations that she stole her former classmate’s story for the book. Every new thing I hear about this story is worse than the last. I wrote about the first investigative report regarding Ms. Griffin’s memoir when it came out in September 2025. For the uninitiated, The Tell is Griffin’s first-hand account of having undergone MDMA-assisted therapy, leading her to retrieve repressed memories of rape by a teacher when she was in middle school. Based on revelations in this new report, it seems the “recovered memories” may not be Griffin’s at all, as a Jane Doe has come forward to say those experiences were actually hers. Read the article for more detail. If this is true — and frankly, I’m inclined to believe it is — I agree with New York Magazine’s former categorization: Highbrow Despicable.

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March 5: Trump fired Kristi Noem as United States Secretary of Homeland Security. Good riddance!

March 7: Timothée Chalamet is getting dragged for offhandedly saying “no one cares” about ballet and Opera in conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety. I’m not mad about the backlash, but once I got around to watching more of the interview and could put his comments in context, I realized they weren’t as bad as the condensed clip makes them seem. I think what he meant was that he doesn’t want to be begging for support for a dying art — he admitted to having been the guy groveling to get people to the cinemas before, and he’s sick of it: “I admire people — and I’ve done it myself — who go on a talk show and go ‘Hey, we gotta keep movie theatres alive”… And another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, they’re gonna go see it.” But he knew he threw unnecessary shade, implying opera and ballet are atrophying artforms. And he was right to regret it, mostly since Misty Copeland was part of his “Dream Big” campaign for Marty Supreme.

March 8: René Redzepi, chef behind the famous Copenhagen restaurant, Noma, is facing abuse allegations, per The New York Times. For context on Redzepi’s reputation, Anthony Bourdain once called him “without a doubt, the most influential, provocative, and important chef in the world,” as the Times story recalls. While Redzepi has owned up to being a punishing boss in the past, these accusations — of which there are dozens — are particularly disturbing.

Mr. Redzepi escalated the attack, punching his employee in the ribs and screaming that no one would go back inside until the chef said, loud enough for all to hear, that he liked giving D.J.s oral sex. His co-workers stood in silence until he breathlessly complied. Then they filed back into the kitchen and returned to work.

Since the story broke, Redzepi has apologized. According to the LA Times, a former employee is organizing a protest of his $1,500-per-ticket pop-up which is opening in Silver Lake this week.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

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February 17: After Governor Hochul announced on Sunday that she’d be sending $1.5 billion of New York state’s budget to New York City, Mamdani responded with an attempt at hardball: either Albany agrees to raise income taxes on the rich or NYC homeowners and landlords will get a 9.5% increase in property taxes.

February 19: Vanity Fair dropped a spread dubbing a group of YouTubers, podcasters, and TikTok stars as “The New Late Night.” Think: Amelia Dimoldenberg (Chicken Shop Date), (Subway Takes), Jake Shane (Therapuss), (Ziwe), and more. This was the first genuinely modern take I’ve seen from a non-GQ Condé publication in a while. It got the comments going too, with people noting the differences between these press junkets and late night — some changes for the worse, others for the better. Loved!

February 19: In a 1.2 B deal, eBay has acquired Depop, formerly owned by Etsy. “Around 90% of Depop users are under the age of 34, which will be a valuable addition to eBay’s marketplace as they seek to appeal to a younger consumer,” per Complex. Etsy shares have since surged.

February 19: According to The Cut, women are loving Wegovy in its new pill form. I’m stressed.

February 20: The Intelligencer gave us a window into how The Washington Post reached its dismembered state under Will Lewis, who resigned as CEO on Feb. 7 after a round of 300 editorial layoffs. One diabolical nugget: In June 2024 Lewis “suddenly flipped a switch,” snapping at a group of journalists: “People are not reading your stuff.”

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February 19: Eric Dane, most famous for his role as Mark Sloan, or McSteamy, died due to A.L.S. Surely, you’ve already heard this news, but I want to recommend his Famous Last Words interview, which dropped the following day. Hosted by Brad Falchuk (writer, producer, and director behind shows including Glee and Pose; hot husband of Gwyneth Paltrow), the show is based on a Danish series of the same name and premise. Each episode (there have only been two so far) drops the day after a famous person passes and everything said in the interview is kept completely secret until the episode is released. I know people have mixed feelings about the show (fair!), but I found the entire episode incredibly moving. And as a journalist, I was so inspired by the generosity Falchuk provides in his listening and lines of questioning.

February 21: Following the popularity of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, this weekend, the West Village was overrun with women in C.B.K. cosplay. Yesterday, I went for a long walk on the West Side and noticed young women dressed in Carolyn looks left and right — at Leset, especially. How do I know they were emulating Carolyn, not just wearing ‘90s denim? The sheer multitude of “barely there” makeup, combined with long black leather gloves, black boots, black bags, black coats, and medium wash blue jeans. And more specifically, the classic cuts of each. (Plus, I overheard girls outside a dressing room talking about how handsome Paul Anthony Kelly is.) Apparently, C.O. Bigelow — the pharmacy where Carolyn is rumored to have acquired her signature headbands — has been especially flooded in the past couple weeks. Of course, once I got back to the Lower East Side, sweeping wide-leg denim, sneakers, and puffers were back. The show itself is growing on me.

February 22: Canada lost to Team USA in the men’s Olympic gold medal hockey game today. Womp womp.

February 22: BAFTAS! Best dressed: Stormzy, Emma Stone, Renate Reinsve, Wunmi Mosaku, and Tilda Swinton.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

February 9: The Cut published a really great story on how Mormons have taken over pop culture. I had no idea that Mormon influencer, Rachel Parcel, was one of the first influencers to make big money using LTK.

February 10: Chloe Malle’s first issue as Head of Editorial Content at American Vogue is here. With it came her first Editor’s Letter. Both are fine, but not the watershed moment one would hope for from a newcomer, particularly as Anna Wintour’s successor. The letter almost feels clinical and, to me, only proves the grip of the conservative turn in this country. She also launched a newsletter, Malle Wear (not on Substack, as Ms. Sundberg was quick to point out). As Will Welch did with the September 2025 issue release of GQ, Malle hit the interview circuit to promote the issue. She spoke with Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY, as well as Jessica Testa at The New York Times. She did the Times interview alongside Wintour and, for Wintour’s part, it was a tough watch. (Amy Odell has since posted an explainer of sorts.) When Wintour says Vogue still has healthy budgets? Incredibly frustrating, as anyone in the industry knows she’s lying, delusional, or both. I also find it staggering that the communications strategy for Malle’s editorship seems to be leaning into the idea that she’s “not fashion obsessed.” I, for one, actually do want the editor of the world’s biggest fashion magazine to be obsessed with clothes.

February 10: Madewell hosted a panel event featuring Substack writers at Flynn McGarry’s Gem. The panel included Viv Chen of The Molehill and Erika Veurink of Long Live. I was excited to see Substackers getting recognition in this way.

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February 11: Glossier laid off about a third of its corporate employees. The layoffs come after the entrance of the brand’s new CEO, Colin Walsh (formerly Procter & Gamble and Ouai), in October 2025. As reported in Puck, he’s put a halt on the release of new products, which to me, feels necessary. From a brand perspective, Glossier was once the coolest new name in beauty but has gone severely downhill over the past few years. When they launched three new perfumes in a matter of months, the company may have increased revenue, but it also cemented the loss of its cool girl appeal. I hope they turn things around.

February 12: Ryan Murphy’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette dropped. As one of many women with an entire private Pinterest board dedicated to Bessette’s style, I’m pretty horrified by the hair in the first two episodes. It’s far too yellow a blonde and looks stringy and tangled, as if she tried and failed to use a new curling wand for the first time. (I feel confident in saying that CBK would never touch a curling wand.) Doreen St. Felix isn’t a fan, Hunter Harris said “engrave the emmy now,” in response to Sarah Pidgeon’s performance. I still have six episodes to go.

February 13: After months of hype, “Wuthering Heights” is officially out. (I may be the only English Lit major who’s never read it, though I know I should.) Was it a great movie? No. But for the first half, they had me. I love beautiful things! I love “Chains of Love!” As is true for almost any movie I see these days, it was way too long — they started losing me once in the back half, and really lost me at the… dog thing. But ultimately, seeing a melodramatic romance on Valentine’s Day Eve? Fun.

February 13: It was NWFW again last week. I’m hitting an oversaturation point with fashion lately — too much of everything. But there were a couple highlights: Kallmeyer and Emily Dawn Long. The latter showed a suede coat, not yet released, that I can’t stop thinking about. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed by Rachel Scott’s Proenza debut.

February 14: NBC News reported a story on injuries suffered by DHS protestors, caused by Federal Immigration Officers. The photos are harrowing.

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February 16: Gisèle Pelicot did The Interview podcast at The New York Times. She was also on the cover of British Vogue, as her book A Hymn to Life, comes out tomorrow. It’s astonishing to hear of her experience of abuse in her own words. Courageous beyond compare.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

LOOSEY

Are Influencers Ready For The Warfare Economy?

How should a person be in 2026? My social media feed is telling me that I should be prepared. Between the onslaught of fancams featuring Hudson and Connor of the rapidly developing Heated Rivalry fame, I am being served something different amoung my usual cocktail of TikTok Shop pull-up bars and ring lights: warfa…

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3 months ago · 194 likes · 7 comments · Brendon Holder

January 22: I also cannot believe I forgot to discuss Oscar nominations last week. I still haven’t seen everything, so saving predictions for closer to the time (remember, we still have over a month to go — at some point we should talk about how long awards season has gotten). But after Timmy’s Golden Globes speech, in which he declared gratitude rather than just having it… I would like to see Leo win! I love seeing Michael B. Jordan nominated, even though I always say he’s a better movie star than he is an actor. Kind of wild that Jesse Plemons wasn’t nominated at all. Jessie Buckley seems like the front runner for Best Actress, and Teyana is almost certainly taking Supporting, though I haven’t seen Sentimental Value yet. I’m ecstatic for Miyako Bellizzi, who earned her first costume design nom.

January 26: Greta Lee showed up to Jonathan Anderson’s debut Christian Dior couture show in Fall 2026 Dior Men. Outfit of the month! And yes, his Spring 2026 Couture was excellent.

January 27: Speaking of Dior, Lauren Sanchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos were there. The internet was immediately up in arms about Law Roach styling Lauren Sanchez, but I actually really appreciated Recho Omondi’s counterpoint, which was basically, Who do you all think fashion is for, anyway? It’s been for the rich, it’s still for the rich. And as she said, there is no one on Law’s level and surely, Lauren wanted the best. Omondi also noted that most people (particularly white women) wouldn’t come down so hard on, say, Kate Young, had she taken the job. I’m not condoning working with the King and Queen of Capitalism, per say, but Lauren and Jeff are literally sponsoring The Met — someone’s gotta pay for it and someone’s gotta dress them. It’s gross, of course. But if we’re really interested in social justice, might I suggest we just let this whole industry burn?

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January 27: Matthieu Blazy showed his first Chanel couture show. I don’t know if I’ve said this here before, but I’m really not a Chanel girl. (I think Chanel bags are tacky!!! I don’t care if you come for me!!!) But I’ve been locked in on Blazy because he’s so good, regardless of where he’s at. I loved the set design and the lightness of the fabrics. Unfortunately, while I know that a skirt cut just beneath the knee is a house code, that length is flattering on so few people that I’m left frustrated.

January 27: I attended the New York Review of Architecture’s 49th issue launch party on Monday. It was held at T.J. Byrnes downtown and was so packed, we couldn’t stay long. The crowd was predominantly young, clad in khakis, vintage denim, and brown or navy knitwear — a very collegiate look apt for post-snowstorm. (Yes, I fear I was wearing the same.) I guess I’m on a wave of enjoying readings because these were very good. Funny even!

Jan 29: Axios reported that Public Opinion, the New York-based media startup that runs the popular music show, Track Star, has received investment from Rolling Stone CEO, Gus Wenner. The three guys behind Public Opinion were the first people I ever interviewed, back when I was new to New York and interning at V Magazine. They were chill and nice, and I’ve admired how thoughtful they’ve been in growing their company in this dire time for media businesses. Happy for them!

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Jan 30: After covering an ICE protest at a Minnesota church, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested and accused of violating federal civil rights law, along with three others. He’s since been released without bond.

January 30: In case you haven’t heard, Gourmet Magazine is back. The food magazine, which was published by Condé Nast for 26 years, shut down in 2009. Per Hell Gate, a fellow worker-owned publication, “somehow [the company] let the publication’s trademark lapse. So, the worker-owners behind the new Gourmet claimed it and voila, an old magazine was born anew.” Delicious to me! Subscriptions to their bi-weekly newsletter are $7 a month.

Feb 1: Grammys are tonight! I’m hosting my now annual watch party. I’m scared Kendrick will win Album of the Year for GNX when it should be Bad Bunny for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. I’m also scared for Justin Bieber’s performance, but I’m trying to have faith. While some are saying Addison Rae should win Best New Artist, Olivia Dean will win, almost certainly.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

January 19: Clare Malone profiled Bari Weiss for The New Yorker. It’s an excellent piece, taking a close look at how Weiss, founder of vile news outlet The Free Press, has continually maneuvered herself to align more and more with power. Among the many incredible quotes from sources near the new media mogul, this one stood out: “I don’t think if you sat her down and said, ‘Can you explain the difference between a news story, an investigative story, and an enterprise story?,’ [Weiss] could tell you what it means—and she wasn’t going to let that slow her down.”

January 19: Following months of speculation that Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of the British clan, had fallen out with his famous family, the amateur photographer took to Instagram to air out his grievances. Of course, this immediately went viral. I have no loyalty to any Beckham, so I don’t want to bow to pressure to give my “take,” but I do think it’s worth noting that most people wouldn’t abandon their family — and, in this case, generational wealth — over nothing. I’m left wondering what Brooklyn didn’t say! Surely he could have included more.

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January 20: Texts exchanged between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively were made public through unsealed legal filings. Unfortunately, they’re pretty boring.

January 20: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered an impassioned speech at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, garnering a standing ovation. He spoke about how middle powers, like Canada, the UK, and other European nations, have the most to lose “from a world of fortresses” and “the most to gain from genuine cooperation.”

January 21: Puck reported that Pat McGrath Labs, the beauty line by famous makeup artist, Dame Pat McGrath, will be sold off next week. The brand once had a $1B valuation, but according to Puck and WWD, sales have dropped significantly in the last two years. I’m not surprised — the brand never became a fixture of Gen Z beauty routines the way other new brands have.

“Pat is disconnected from how the consumer wears makeup today,” is how one beauty veteran bluntly put it. “In 2016, her brand dominated because you had a 12-step eyeshadow routine and blush under frosty highlighter, and so on. The bitchy MAC counter queen vibe is no longer relevant, and that’s what her brand is giving, unfortunately.”

One would assume that a company with a competent social media strategy would be somehow able to take advantage of the 2016 trend still plaguing my feed right now.

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January 22: Also at Davos, Jared Kushner revealed his real estate plans for Gaza. Disgusting.

January 22: A deal between the U.S. and China has been finalized to keep TikTok operating in America. As reported in Semafor, “The new structure leaves [China-owned] ByteDance with just under 20% of the US business, with 15% stakes going to Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, a state-owned investment firm in the UAE focused on AI.” Yes, Trump ally Larry Ellison is Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle.

January 23: Jacquemus announced his first, very unexpected brand ambassador: his grandmother. Earlier this week when he teased the news, I immediately thought of Dua Lipa (a friend of Jacquemus founder and creative director, Simon) but wondered if that was too obvious. Turns out it was — and this is considerably cooler.

January 23: In preparation for today’s storm, Mamdani made his way through the Big Snow media circuit. While he was at it, he reminded everyone that the NYPL has temporarily made Heated Rivalry, and the entire Game Changers series, available with no wait times through February 14. Happy early V Day, yearners!

January 24: Anti-ICE protests are continuing in Minneapolis, MN. Among other continued horrors, ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed by ICE officials, marking the second murder of a Minneapolis resident by federal officers since the start of the year. Following their son’s execution, Pretti’s parents released a statement:

January 25: The New York Times profiled Morris Katz, one of the young political strategists behind the Mamdani campaign. If you can believe it, he’s just 26. (And if you missed it, Mamdani’s senior advisor Zara Rahim was profiled in Passerby last month, as I’d been hoping for.)

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

January 12: David Protein sent PR mailers packed with a single protein bar, a vibrator, and the slogan, “Finish twice.” When a woman-owned brand does something like this, it’s chic. When a male-owned brand does it, it feels like assault. It doesn’t help my clinical-grade ick that the bars taste disgusting.

January 11: NYC nurses are on strike. Friday, The New York Times reported: “The New York State Nurses Association, which represents the striking nurses, said that ‘very little’ progress was made during Thursday’s meeting with management.” Mayor Mamdani, the Upper East Side’s newest resident, visited the picket line Monday morning.

January 13: Corepower Yoga teachers are (maybe?) going on strike. While the popular fitness chain doesn't yet have a union, a group of current and former instructors are considering unionizing in New York, as well as Washington, D.C. Workers cite “an expanding scope of labor without adequate pay, staffing, or protection,” per The Cut.

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January 14: For reasons unbeknownst to me, 2016 is trending. The chokers I am seeing… It’s dark, if I may. As Hunter Harris put it, “You cannot convince me that 2016, the year of ‘Pokémon Go to the Polls,’ is worth revisiting.”

January 15: With Pre-Fall 2026, our first look at Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga hath arrived! Much of the collection is very athleisure coded — or “tech-wear,” as Piccioli calls it. The pleated jorts, paired with a cape, leather gloves, and heeled sandals are taking it for me.

January 15: Harry Styles announced his upcoming fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Rumors are swirling that he’s locked down another MSG residency, too.

January 16: Traci Thomas’ Unstacked newsletter (a Substack spinoff from her popular literary podcast, The Stacks) released “The Stackies,” its own annual book prize. Thomas — whose podcast I recently discovered and have been devouring — sold me on reading Dominion, her community’s top fiction pick of the year. The Stackies also named Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s Abundance the year’s “Most Hated” book, as God intended.

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January 16: On Puck’s Fashion People podcast, host Lauren Sherman and guests Michael Grynbaum and Jessica Testa debate who might be up for Will Welch’s role at GQ. They end with an even more pressing question: Will Zohran and Rama attend The Met Gala?

Jan 18: Prada’s Fall 2026 Menswear collection just dropped! The cuffs and cufflinks — I’m SCREAMING. Extremely good.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

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January 1: Ashley Tisdale took to The Cut to write about leaving a “toxic mom group” she had (sort of) been a part of. This magazine is addicted to publishing personal essays that get the group chat going, but usually they’re entertaining. Tisdale’s created an online stir (Hillary Duff and Mandy Moore were allegedly part of the group) but ultimately it was… not good. There was one delightfully petty line though: “To be clear, I have never considered the moms to be bad people. (Maybe one.)” After the story dropped, Duff’s husband posted this on Instagram:

January 6: Will Welch is leaving his post as GQ’s Global Editorial Director for a new role with Pharell, based in Paris. RIP to the last excellent Condé EIC. I’m feeling somber! I don’t see anyone covering masculinity in the mainstream like Welch did. Long live his last September issue! I hope someone equally impressive picks up the torch (but I hate to say it — I’m not optimistic).

January 7: R.F.K. Jr. and the Department of Agriculture dropped a new food pyramid. It’s very ??? Just reference Canada’s Food Guide instead, I’m begging.

January 7: A U.S. ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, MN. As Natasha Lennard pointed out in The Intercept, “This is not the first ICE shooting, and it is not the first time a civilian has been killed during a vile anti-immigrant operation.”

January 7: In his late night debut, Hudson Williams went on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. And baby, that’s a STAR. I expected it to go well, what I didn’t expect is how aggressively he was swarmed at Studio 6B. My cubicle at TODAY is right beside the men’s bathroom at Fallon (extremely lucky, I know), so I… kept an eye out. I didn’t see him, but I did chat with a Fallon crew member who told me they haven’t seen this degree of commotion in a long time. “Crazy! But so exciting,” he told me, chuckling. I’m a little concerned for the safety of these angelic-looking boys, but they seem self-aware. And these days, anyone who pays attention knows the cost of fame. PS. Show director Jacob Tierney said it’s “it’s not even gonna be 18 months” until Heated Rivalry is back. Praise be.

January 8: Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul propose “2-Care,” a universal child care program for two-year-olds in New York City. The first programs are set to launch in the fall with 2,000 slots, initially costing $75 million, per The Gothamist.

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January 8: While historically a hater of live readings, I attended ‘Angelica’s Amazing Night’ at Cassette in Ridgewood and was obsessed. This was the fourth volume in what’s become a series, hosted by writer Angelica Pasquini. It was mostly comedy, though Evan Lazarus, co-host of the Girls Rewatch podcast, “went earnest with it.” Young writers: I recommend checking out her next one. Each reading was hilarious and genuinely unique — a room was filled with artists who would never be given the chance to share at parties hosted by [REDACTED INDIE LIT MAGS].

January 8: Traitors is back — and with a chaotic cast. I’m not much of a reality TV girl, but I think it’s time to lock in.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

October 18: The Academy Museum Gala took place in Los Angeles. The evening raises money for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, to support its exhibitions and public programming, among other things. We’ll get into my best dressed in the monthly recap.

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October 20: I am receiving reports that the Toronto Blue Jays have made it to the World Series. As a Canadian, I’m obliged to say: good for them.

October 21: Speaking of Hermès, Grace Wales Bonner was named the French fashion house’s new creative director of men’s wear. I feel as Rachel Seville Tashjian does:

October 21: The Dancing With The Stars resurgence has been perplexing me, so I watched this week. I think I get it. The stars are new — from Mormon MomTokers and Alix Earle to the crowd-pleasing Robert Irwin — yet the formula is so established and suited to cable. It’s comforting.

October 21: I spoke with journalist Rainesford Stauffer for her latest piece in The Washington Post. Stauffer writes about Gen Z’s shared antipathy to the workplace “emergency.” I’m a Zillennial, but my point stands.

October 22: The final NYC mayoral debate has come and gone. If you missed it, peruse Twitter for the content. And if you’re an American NYC resident, vote!!!!

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October 22: The Row sample sale ran from the 22nd to the 26th. Scroll TikTok and you’ll know the truth within minutes: Sure, the pieces are great, but the length of the line to get in is tacky and the spot-saving is getting out of control.

@serenakerriganpls me what to do about the black dress!! #therow #samplesale #haul #therowsamplesale #luxuryhaul

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October 24: Lily Allen dropped her first album in seven years. Album of the YEAR.

October 25: NPR reported on how folks in the rural South, particularly Louisiana, are bracing for medicaid cuts. “Researchers from Princeton University estimate that 317,000 low-income Louisianans could lose health coverage because of the new law. More than 30,000 Mississippians too; that state has refused to expand Medicaid.”

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

Oct 14: Robby Hoffman (aka Gabby Windey’s wife) is getting a Netflix special. Per LateNighter, it’ll be directed by John Mulaney.

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Oct 15: NBC News laid off 7% of its staff. Just last week, People Inc. laid off 6%. I wish I knew what to say.

Oct 15: Still firmly in their comeback arc, the Victoria’s Secret Show returned for another year. The older I get, the tackier and, frankly, garish it all feels. A net negative, or as Amy Odell called it, ”Mar-a-lago coded.”

Back Row

Victoria's Secret Goes Back to 2005

Due to a technical glitch on my end this week, Back Row’s Monday and Tuesday stories may not have reached the full list, so I’m resurfacing them here…

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6 months ago · 46 likes · 19 comments · Amy Odell

Oct 16: The first mayoral debate of the NYC general election aired on NBC. In the late afternoon, I could hear Curtis Sliwa supporters chanting “U! S! A!” outside our office windows. Per usual, it was all a bit of a mess (though fun for those of us who like to indulge in a little political theater). Zohran came out just fine; a new poll from Fox News has him winning 52% of likely voters in a threeway race.

Oct 16: Alison Roman just announced her first CPG product: A Very Good Tomato Sauce. It’s set to retail online, at her upstate corner store, First Bloom, and at my favorite downtown wine bar, Casetta. News I will most certainly use!

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Oct 16: Fishwife is hosting a Pintxos Bar pop-up at Wildair on the Lower East Side this weekend, and they threw a cocktail hour for media Thursday night. The little bites being passed around were delicious (a real rarity in the world of industry parties). I cannot stop raving about the donut holes, which were topped with a potato chip and Fishwife caviar. I had two.

Oct 16: Rolling Stone launched “Musicians on Musicians.” I was wondering if Variety could sue these copiers, but then I realized both magazines are owned by the same media company. Anyway… Jack Antonoff with a grey buzz cut? His best look yet.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

October 6: Matthieu Blazy finally made his eagerly awaited debut at Chanel. We all knew his first show would be one to watch, but I don’t know that anyone could have anticipated just how worth seeing it would be. The drop waists! The reinterpreted house codes (tweed suiting, cap toe shoes)! Models looking relaxed! I can’t wait for more of it. And better yet, Ayo Edebiri was just named house ambassador. Is good taste making a comeback?

October 7: Marty Supreme premiered at NYFF. It will be officially released on December 25, a date that Kris Kringle has been forced to share with Timothée Chalamet for three years running. I’m hearing Oscar buzz for both Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow and you know how that thrills me.

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October 8: American Ballet Theatre announced that Misty Copeland’s final performance will be streamed live on Wednesday, October 22. The simulcast, streaming from Alice Tully Hall, will be free to view at 6:15p.m. For those who want to try to see the show live, hundreds of complimentary tickets will be distributed on the 22nd, beginning at 4:00p.m., at the Alice Tully Hall Box Office (a limit of two per person). It’s hard to overstate how brilliant and important Copeland’s work has been. It’s the end of an era.

October 9: Drake’s lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has been officially dismissed. Well, yes!

October 10: A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning. While Israeli troops still occupy half of the strip, they’ve pulled back to an agreed position within the territory, per BBC. Next phases of retreat remain up in the air.

October 10: Year-round outdoor dining might be coming back to NYC. As ever, thank you Hell Gate for doing the lord’s work!

October 10: New York City Ballet Dancers boycotted the company’s famous fall fashion gala. Well, they performed, but they skipped the red carpet (which Sarah Jessica Parker has long been a fixture of) as well as the dinner. Company members affiliated with the American Guild of Musical Artists have been fighting for wage increases since May, according to a letter to City Ballet management that has been made public. The letter explicitly cites the rising cost of living in New York City and was signed by company members of all stripes, including principal dancers Megan Fairchild, Miriam Miller, Unity Phelan, and Tiler Peck, among others.

October 9: A federal grand jury in Virginia (with a prosecutor personally selected by the President) indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James. They got James — who had previously sued Trump in a civil case that led to him and his company being held liable for business fraud — on charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution, regarding a rental property James purchased in 2020. After the news broke, The New York Times editorial board wrote, “A federal prosecutor decided recently that there was not enough evidence to bring charges against Ms. James. In a normal administration, that would have been the end of the case.”

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October 10: The New York Times reviewed the latest Brandon Taylor novel, Minor Black Figures, and it’s pretty glowing. I’m trying to read more fiction this fall and throughout 2026, so I can’t wait to get my hands on this.

Thanks for reading Close Friends! If you like what you’re getting, please feel free to show it by clicking the like and/or share button — it makes a huge difference when it comes to reaching new readers.

For more, you can follow me on Instagram. And to submit tips, ask questions, or send assignments my way (calling all editors!), you can always reach me at ericamarrison10@gmail.com.

September 24: The New York Times published an investigative report on Amy Griffin’s March 2025 memoir, The Tell. In the book, Griffin describes going through MDMA-assisted therapy, which lead her to retrieve repressed memories of rape by a teacher when she was in middle school. I read The Tell as soon as it was released because it was truly omnipresent: Griffin’s book was endorsed by the likes of Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jenna Bush Hager, Reese Witherspoon… I had to know what all the buzz was about. Though she’s not a writer, and it shows, the subject matter was gripping. But this new investigation calls into question whether or not any of it’s true. The book was not fact-checked by its publisher, The Dial Press, as is the case with most commercial non-fiction. And maybe worse, the psychedelic Griffin used is “backed by a company that she and her husband have invested in,” per the Times.

September 24: Ghia dropped a new flavor, Blood Orange. I have an affinity for little beverages so, yes, this is important news. I also recommend checking out the Paris apartment of Ghia’s founder, Melanie Masarin, which was just shot for Architectual Digest. A woman with taste!

September 26: NYFF 2025 kicked off. Like everyone else, I’m excited for After The Hunt. I’m eager to see Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley in Blue Moon, too.

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Sept 28: Ezra Klein has been on something of a clean-up tour after writing an especially bad take for the Times’ opinion section in early September. In what read like a pseudo olive branch, Klein brought Ta-Nehisi Coates onto his podcast, after Coates wrote a response to Klein in Vanity Fair. Then, Klein joined David Remnick at The New Yorker to talk it through, again. In fact, Klein can’t seem to stop talking about it. I liked this Substack piece in response to it all.

September 30: Zohran Mamdani is Vanity Fair’s latest cover guy. The profile, written by James Pogue, is well worth reading.

October 1: Hayley Williams called out Morgan Wallen for his racism on Popcast.

October 1: An “AI actress” (not a real thing) named Tilly Norwood is heightening fears around threats of AI taking jobs from Hollywood workers. Arriana DeBose is one of few famous actors to directly address the issue: “The artistry and dedication and real lived human experiences of SAG-AFTRA performers is what has fueled the motion picture industry for more than a century… Synthetic performers, on the other hand, are created using technology that is only as effective as the content it is trained on. This technology will never create anything original and it’s technology that mines from the work of human creatives without consent or pay.”

October 3: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, founders and long time designers of Proenza Schouler, made their debut at Loewe. It wasn’t my favorite show they’ve ever done, but I thought the campaign was great.

October 3: Bari Weiss has been named Editor-in-Chief of CBS News.“The newly formed media giant Paramount Skydance will acquire the Free Press… and install its iconoclastic founder, Bari Weiss, as editor in chief of CBS News,” reports The Washington Post. Dark.

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October 3: The Life of a Showgirl is here. Let’s start with the best stuff: the four track run of “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Opalite,” and “Father Figure.” It’s going platinum in this apartment! Where I get tripped up is at “Actually Romantic.” If we’re to trust in public opinion, it’s about Charli XCX and is a response to Charli’s “Sympathy is a knife,” which is thought to direcrly reference Taylor. But thinking of “Sympathy” as a diss track is pretty ungenerous. At this point, the feuding from Taylor — the world’s biggest pop star, a billionaire, and one of the most powerful people in music — is tired. And maybe worse, as far as the music is concerned, it’s uninteresting. Her vengeful tendencies are put to better use on a track like “Father Figure,” the album’s best, which articulates the power imbalance of working under the thumb of Scott Borchetta who famously did her dirty. (The song could also be about Scooter Braun, or Olivia Rodrigo, or all of the above.) Of course, drama does numbers and few know that better than Swift. I recommend Amanda Petrusich’s review. Anyway, I’ll always love her and I’ll always stream.

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September 13: The Yale Review published an interview with Audrey Wollen. If you’re a writer, editor, or scholar, I think you should read it.

September 14: Goop’s G. Label clothing line has officially been rebranded and will operate under the label GWYN. For design direction, Gwyneth tapped Sofía Menassé, formerly at Maison Margiela and The Row. Unfortunately, it looks just like G. Label.

September 14: A24 threw a block party to celebrate the re-opening of the Cherry Lane Theatre. The independent film studio purchased the 100-year-old West Village theatre in 2023. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the company has renovated the venue and partnered with the team behind Frenchette to open a restaurant and bar inside.

September 16: Rachel Scott’s Diotima was so good. It expanded on the crochet dresses she’s quickly become known for and even ventured into shoes, which are exquisite and set to drop in the spring. As reported by Vogue Runway, Scott’s derived inspiration from “carnival in the Caribbean and the diaspora as this moment of resistance against repressive forces.” She added, “It’s a moment of resistance that’s rooted in exuberance, joy, and sensuality, and is against any form of domination.”

September 16: The president is suing The New York Times for $15B. A Times representative has responded: “This lawsuit has no merit. It lacks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.”

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September 17: Zane Li’s namesake label, Lii, showed. Very good!!! Simple, sporty, sexy… Put a crisp white tee, short hemlines, and exposed drawstrings on the runway and I’m sold.

September 17: Emily Sundberg’s Feed Me is launching its first podcast, Expense Account. It’s set to cover food.

September 17: The Summer I Turned Pretty ended perfectly and yet, we remain unfree.

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August 26: Elizabeth Gilbert, famous writer of Eat Pray Love (and the lesser known book, Big Magic, which — corny as it may be — I’ll forever credit as a catalyst in me literally changing my life), is releasing another memoir. An excerpt of it was published in The Cut this week. To put it plainly is to call it wild, but somehow that is still underselling it. Read it for yourself. Jia Tolentino reviewed the book for the latest The New Yorker, which I also highly recommend reading. Per usual, Tolentino is honest and funny without ever being disparaging.

August 26: I don’t need to tell you, but Taylor and Travis are engaged. I’m thrilled for her! For them! My office went crazy and within mere minutes the team had a list of more than 10 spin-off story pitches ready to go.

August 27: I liked this piece by writer Casey Michael Henry on the resurgence of the himbo. I am fully on this train, as are many of my friends. (After enough dates with spindly “artistic” types who end up being just as misogynistic as the rest of them, who among us is immune to the himbo’s warm appeal?) The essay is imperfect, but Henry hooked me with the lede, regarding Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum’s trip to the Criterion Closet:

Comments piled in lauding the couple’s cuteness and envying their dynamic: the it-girl actress and her hulking, placid partner, who talks without a whiff of self-consciousness about standing in the Kurosawa section of a video store and telling an employee, “I don’t know who that is.”

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August 27: This New York Times story made me aware that there’s a new three-part docuseries on hurricane Katrina, Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, out on Netflix, with the third episode directed by Spike Lee. Writer Clint Smith, who was personally affected by the disaster, recently wrote on Katrina’s 20th anniversary, too.

August 27: The fourth-from-final The Summer I Turned Pretty episode aired. Are you guys watching this??? My friends and I have been getting together on Wednesdays to watch. It’s insane??? Personal hero of the internet, bald ann dowd, has been on the case each week.

August 28: For those who can’t swing US Open tickets but can make their way to Balthazar, you can now get the Open’s official Honey Deuce cocktail there through September 7. If you go for one, tell them Close Friends sent you.

August 27: The 82nd annual Venice Film Festival has officially kicked off.

August 28: SSENSE, the Montreal-based e-commerce platform, is filing for bankruptcy protection. The filing follows “an attempt by lenders to force a sale of the company,” Business of Fashion reports.

Aug 28: Recho Omondi addressed what she has now dubbed “$55K gate.” TL;DR: Omondi, founder and host of The Cutting Room Floor, recently posted that the company was hiring an office coordinator. The job posting on LinkedIn was long, the role appeared to be very extensive, and the salary was just $55K, without benefits. The internet took this and ran. I won’t get into all of the details here, you can find it all on TikTok, but Omondi has responded on Patreon and TCRF has halted hiring. “The last thing we want is to bring anyone into the operation who feels negatively about it, who feels like they had to take it because they’re down so bad,” she said. In the meantime, the team is seeking HR support. I thought her response was spot on and full of humility.

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Aug 18: MSNBC is officially rebranding to MS NOW, an abbreviation of My Source News, Opinion, World. The rebrand — which has a sporty, somewhat red-blooded feel — comes as MSNBC is moving to a new media company, Versant. A break away from NBCUniversal and NBC News, the company also owns CNBC, Golf Channel, GolfNow, and SportsEngine. “This gives us the freedom to chart our own path forward, and we’re excited about where it’s headed,” wrote MSNBC in a letter to their “community.”

Aug 20: I can’t quite express how deeply over trends I am, but for your reading pleasure: Pinterest’s fall 2025 trend report. Preppy remains dominant, and “babydoll” is creeping up.

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Aug 20: On Labubumatchadubaichocolate, Kyle Chayka writes in The New Yorker, “The ugliness is a feature, not a bug.” He also quotes Dean Kissick, who recently wrote, “Bad taste is a way of standing out when there are too many images,” in relation to our image-saturated, algorithmic world.

Aug 21: A campaign volunteer for Mayor Eric Adams has been suspended after handing CITY journalist, Katie Honan, cash in a potato chip bag. That’s one way to get paid as a writer!

Aug 20: More on chips: The Row sells them.

Aug 21: Kicking off the US Open, Racquet Magazine collaborated with Mejuri on a zine called “Play.” This tells me tennis-core is far from over. (Still waiting on PDP from Juliana Salazar.)

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Aug 21: GLP-1s have found yet another celebrity endorser in Serena Williams.

Aug 22: Dan Rosen Grub Street Diet! Now I really need to eat at Le Veau d’Or.

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August 12: New Taylor! And it’s upbeat pop, praise be. Thank god she hired Mert and Marcus for the cover art this time.

August 13: Sue Chan, founder of Care of Chan, went on The Cutting Room Floor. It was a truly incredible interview. Chan is so knowledgeable about the food world and convincingly argues that American restaurant culture has emerged as a status marker among a generation for whom traditional markers of status, such as home ownership, are out of reach.

August 12: The Cut followed six female artists preparing to make thier solo debuts this fall. If you want to check out Adebunmi Gbadebo’s show at Nicola Vassell with me, hmu!

August 15: The New York Times profiled Melinda Farina, a.k.a. The Beauty Broker. If you’re not familiar with Farina, she consults with prospective plastic surgery patients and connects them with medical providers and services she deems might be the best fit. She’s fascinating and increasingly filler-averse.

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August 15: According to Hell Gate, “Illegally Parked Cop Cars Are Why We Can't Have Nice Trees.” An investigation reveals that the Parks Department has canceled tree plantings near NYPD precincts where cops park on the sidewalk.

August 15: California lawmakers are fighting back against Texas Republicans’ gerrymandering with their own gerrymandering.

August 16: Vivian Gornick wrote on insecurity in The New Yorker. Anything by Gornick should be flagged for your reading pleasure.

BONUS: I forgot to include it last week, but this Ethel Cain cover story is so worth reading. She recently appeared on Popcast, too.

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