The Zeitgeist: September 5, 2025

Today's Edition: Job Hugging, Oasis and Junk Journaling

September 05, 2025

Good morning. The US Open dominated headlines this week, stretching from DIY Honey Deuce recipes to the hat snatch that broke the internet to Naomi Osaka’s bedazzled Labubu. For brands, the takeaway is clear: the Open is less a tennis tournament than a cultural billboard where lifestyle, luxury and internet culture collide.

And since all eyes are already on New York, Erewhon picked the perfect week to announce its East Coast debut. The cult LA grocer is opening within Kith Ivy, a private padel club. But the silver lining is that nonmembers can still get their $20 smoothie fix via Postmates and Uber Eats - if you happen to live within delivery range.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Nike Has a New Slogan for the Anxious Generation: Why Do It?

Amid the brand’s turnaround, Nike wants to invite young athletes to write the next chapter of its legacy.

By Brittaney Kiefer | Adweek

Inside Peach & Lily’s unconventional influencer marketing strategy

In a story-first, name-last approach, the brand sent unbranded product to creators for feedback before revealing the brand.

By Jessica Hammers | Marketing Dive

Also, Garnier’s Water Works campaign, Subway’s original restaurant art giveaway, Fruity Pebbles’ Pay Tour at Walmart stores and King’s Hawaiian x Eli Manning’s Football Season-ing.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Inside the Messy World of Junk Journaling

In a screen-saturated world, junk journaling encourages people to still their tapping fingers and embrace the quiet of snipping, gluing and collaging.

By Julia Carpenter | The New York Times

Supersonic Still: Why Gen Z Loves Oasis

Their embrace of Oasis shows the Britpop icons’ reunion is less nostalgia than cultural reset.

By Conçetta Ciarlo | VOGUE

How Libraries Are Creating Community Through Food

Libraries nationwide are using culinary programs to reinvent themselves as modern community hubs.

By Liz Susman Karp | Civil Eats

Is Partying Dead, or Are You Just Old?

Gen Z is more intentional about the way they go out, and while they may not be drinking, they are still clubbing.

By Savannah Sobrevilla | The New York Times

Corporate

From kiss cams to hat snatching, CEOs keep going viral for the wrong reasons

Recent moments underline how swiftly CEOs’ private missteps become public spectacle.

By Melia Russell | Business Insider

A new trend emerges in the economy. What is ‘job hugging?’

Workers are clinging to their jobs amid layoff fears and waning confidence in finding new ones.

By Matt Egan | CNN Video

Coming price cuts at McDonald’s may signal a broader fast food price war

Its combo meal price drop may induce its rivals, who have run into some of the same pricing issues, to follow.

By Dee-Ann Durbin | The Associated Press

The Menopause Law That Could Change Your Workplace Forever

Rhode Island’s new law could reshape workplaces by making menopausal care a standard employee benefit.

By Janice Gassam Asare | Forbes

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Online Shopping May Never Be the Same

Ending the de minimis exemption makes cheap global online goods pricier, slower and harder to get.

By Ian Bogost | The Atlantic

Lousy web design may play a huge role in whether a customer shops with a brand: survey

According to a new study, 52% of consumers actually leave a website if it takes more than 10 seconds to load.

By Jeena Sharma | Retail Brew

Costco’s Early Shopping Restrictions Are Causing a Stir: ‘It’s Demeaning’

Customers are divided over a new store policy that offers extended shopping hours to only some of its members.

By Chrissy Callahan | TODAY.com

Holiday shoppers plan first spending pullback since 2020, report says

The squeeze is hitting gift budgets hardest, shifting dollars toward food and essentials.

By Kelly Tyko | Axios

Connections

Feed intelligence

The Podcast Gold Rush: Media Companies Race to License Star Creators

Legacy media companies are cutting major deals with podcasters to reach younger audiences and showcase authentic voices.

By Isabella Simonetti | The Wall Street Journal

The ‘New York Times’ is so, so stupid for killing its kids section

Wilson says cutting a rare analog outlet, just as parents want more unplugged options for kids, is short-sighted.

By Mark Wilson | Fast Company

Instagram is coming to iPad, 15 years later

It’ll be slightly different than the mobile app users are accustomed to: the first thing you’ll see is a Reel video.

By Mia Sato | The Verge

Media Moves:

  • Maggie Eastland, formerly news rotator at Bloomberg News, is now tech reporter at the same outlet, focused on industrial policy from DC, with a focus on semiconductors, AI and robotics.

  • Miquéla V. Thornton, formerly intern at Bloomberg News covering equality, is now reporter at the same outlet, rotating around the newsroom on different teams. She starts in October.

  • Melos Ambaye, formerly intern at Bloomberg News covering space and aviation, is now reporter at the same outlet.

  • Kaya Yurieff, formerly team leader, creator economy at The Information, is leaving the outlet and has yet to announce her new role.

  • Aisha Counts, formerly creator economy reporter at Bloomberg, is leaving the outlet and has yet to announce her new role.

  • Elena Cavender, formerly influencer marketing reporter at Adweek, is no longer at the outlet and has yet to announce her new role.

  • Jason Notte, formerly sports marketing reporter at Adweek, is no longer at the outlet and has yet to announce his new role.

  • Summer Cartwright, formerly senior wellness editor at InStyle, is now health and fitness editor at CNN Underscored.

  • The Street is launching a print magazine. The first issue hits stands in October.

Also... check out this Anxiety Toolkit, with free exercises including breathing techniques, grounding and muscle relaxation.

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