The Zeitgeist: July 18, 2025

Today's Edition: Von Dutch, The Gen Z Stare and Back To School

July 18, 2025

Good morning. This week, ChatGPT got a promotion - from chatbot to personal assistant. OpenAI announced yesterday it’s testing “agents” that can book flights, fill out forms and handle your online busywork like a digital intern who never sleeps. It’s early days, but the move signals a future where AI handles real-world tasks, not just chats. The announcement nearly got overshadowed by the drama now known as ColdplayGate.

In other OpenAI news, ChatGPT might soon double as your cashier. The company’s testing a new checkout feature that lets you buy stuff without ever leaving the chat. Merchants will fork over a cut of each sale, giving OpenAI a fresh revenue stream.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Nathan’s Famous found a hot dog hidden in NYC’s redesigned subway map

The hot dog brand highlights the N, F and Q lines converging in Coney Island in a campaign launched ahead of National Hot Dog Day.

By Tim Nudd | Ad Age

Beyond Food: GLP-1 Drugs Disrupt Everything From Casino Apps, to Retail, and Airlines

According to futurist Doug Stephens, GLP-1’s ripple effects are heading for almost every category.

By Robert Klara | Adweek

Also, Sweetgreen x Pierce Abernathy’s summer menu promotion tactic, Chipotle x Wonderskin’s “Lipolte” lip stain, Mattel’s Uno Social Club and Pure Leaf Tea’s “Tea Break” vending machine.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Espresso lemonade is summer’s most unexpected refresher

A surprising combination that tastes delicious and can be customized in many ways, this drink is beginning become more mainstream.

By Olga Massov | The Washington Post

Why Did the Indie Film Studio A24 Buy an Off Broadway Theater?

A24 upgraded the Cherry Lane Theater for theater, comedy, music and film. Coming this fall: films selected by Sofia Coppola, food from Frenchette and more.

By Michael Paulson | The New York Times

The new Gen Z travel trend? Holidaying with an influencer

Creators now lead group trips that blend content creation with shared experiences.

By Anya Ryan | The Times

The Wellness Recession Is Coming: Why Community, Not Consumerism Will Save Us

As money gets tighter and wellness costs rise, people are shifting from pricey self-care routines to more affordable, community-based approaches.

By Yasmine Jameelah | PS

Corporate

From Boston to Biloxi - Who’s Getting Ready for AI

Most metros across the country are lacking in location-specific plans about how to prepare for and harness AI, new analysis finds.

By Elyse Ashburn | Work Shift

The ‘Gen Z stare’ is more than a TikTok trend - it’s a real problem in the workplace and the job market

A vacant, unresponsive gaze, often replacing traditional greetings or small talk, is being perceived as a symptom of larger communication challenges and a lack of soft skills.

By Nick Lichtenberg | Fortune

Kraft Heinz Is Planning a Breakup

It’s giving priority to hot sauces, dressings and condiments, which are more in line with consumer preferences than processed lunch meats and cheeses.

By Lauren Thomas, Jesse Newman | The Wall Street Journal

The D.E.I. Industry, Scorned by the White House, Turns to ‘Safer’ Topics

14 DEI professionals spoke about how their companies are looking for fewer trainings on race, gender and sexuality and more on neurodivergence, mental health and generational differences.

By Niko Gallogly | The New York Times

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Tariffs push families to shop early for school supplies

New tariffs on backpacks and shoes are changing how parents prepare for the upcoming school year.

By Kelly Tyko | Axios

How Walmart is looking to redefine itself to high-income e-commerce shoppers

This year, Walmart has been on a marketing blitz to change what people think of its brand, both in subtle and more obvious ways.

By Mitchell Parton | Modern Retail

Early childhood brand Lovevery launches online resale marketplace

A direct-to-consumer provider of educational playthings is providing a new option for families whose children outgrow their products.

By Dan Berthiaume | Chain Store Age

Von Dutch Expands Reach With New Lifestyle Venture

Just two months after launching Von Dutch Loves, the Y2K brand is now tapping into the food, beverage and hospitality business.

By Andre Claudio | Women’s Wear Daily

Connections

Feed intelligence

Substack is media’s cool kid

Last month, Substack.com saw more traffic than The Wall Street Journal and CBS News, the first time it outpaced both legacy outlets in the same month.

By Sam Klebanov I Morning Brew

How the Washington Post is reshaping tech and biz coverage

A memo about Futures, its new newsroom department, which is seeking reporters to fill new roles as they structure the department.

By Chris Roush | Talking Biz News

Gaming in their golden years: why millions of seniors are playing video games

28% of US gamers are now 50+, and older gamers like TacticalGramma and GrndpaGaming are gaining large followings on Twitch and YouTube.

By Adrienne Matei | The Guardian

Media Moves:

  • Jeffrey Cane, formerly finance editor at Business Insider impacted by the layoffs, is now deputy managing editor, business at Axios.

  • Dennis Green, formerly senior business editor at Business Insider, is now news editor at CNBC. He is part of the hot seat team, which oversees CNBC.com and helps determine news priorities during the day.

  • Robbie Whelan, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, is shifting to a new beat covering AI, chips and machine learning. He previously covered Walt Disney Co. and other Hollywood studios.

  • Rich Bellis, formerly senior business and economy editor at NBC News, is leaving to attend grad school.

  • Francisco Velasquez, formerly staff writer at Quartz, is now reporter at Yahoo Finance.

  • Andrew Mendez, formerly bilingual digital editor at NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48, is now breaking news editor at Bloomberg News in its San Francisco bureau.

  • Tiffany Ap, formerly freelance, is now senior writer at Bloomberg for the Weekend Edition, where she will write essays, book reviews and long-form narrative features at the intersection of business and culture.

  • Amanda Arnold, formerly senior home and kitchen editor at Forbes, is now supervising kitchen editor at Wirecutter.

  • Rachel Hosie, formerly health correspondent at Business Insider, is leaving the news organization to pursue freelance opportunities.

  • Alexa Erickson, formerly freelance, is now assignment editor, shopping team at BuzzFeed, while also continuing to pursue freelance opportunities.

  • Lily Wohlner, formerly associate e-commerce editor at Women’s Health, is now commerce writer at Allure.

Also... watch the trailer for and consider renting Slice of Life, a documentary about former Pizza Huts that now operate as other businesses or organizations.

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