Siblings, am I right?

Size doesn't matter, it's more about volume.

2026 is coming in like the younger sibling it is - clamoring for attention and trying to steal the spotlight. Not easy when your older sibling pushed the drama and the horror up to eleven.

But as a youngest child myself I know that a combination of outrage and charm is the key to keeping the adults' focus. Which explains why my Instagram feed is pretty well balanced between ICE atrocities and the Heated Rivalry joyfest.

I'm a cheerful participant in the rabid fandom surrounding that fever dream of a show. And I’m guessing the furor isn't going to die down while the stars are engaging in the kind of boy behavior we've been thirsting for.

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are the Gen Z version of Pedro Pascal and Oscar Issac; and I for one would like to see my tax dollars going towards getting these four men to teach masterclasses in masculinity to stadium-sized crowds.

It's maybe too much to hope that this is the new standard; men who wrap their arms around each other and call one another "baby". Men who scoff at the notion that their platonic love shouldn't come with a side of nuzzling. But I'm hopeful nonetheless.

I read a hilarious take on Heated Rivalry by a right-wing sports columnist. He’s convinced that the viewership is actually tiny, the big numbers merely a conspiracy by the left-leaning media to… make it look like people enjoy good tv? His argument breaks down pretty quickly.

Maybe the saddest thing about the neocons is that they’ve traded joy for righteousness. We’ve got inflatable frogs, hot AF hockey players, and a hilariously subversive photographer. They have doomsday propaganda, masked marauders, and a wildly unappealing plastic surgery template.

Their angsty bullshit may make life more challenging, but our love and our joy will prevail.

I’m guessing we can expect as wild a ride this year as last; the bleary-eyed carnies are snorting NoDoz and will keep the gates open and the lights flashing. Here’s what I’m hoping for this year:

👉 A velvet revolution in America. The powers that (currently) be get tired of having to make all the decisions and depart Washington en masse for a long nap followed by apple juice and cookies. Younger adults repopulate the seats of power and we all rejoice. No Boomers or older - time for Gens X, Millennial and Z to take the reins.

👉 The planet fights back. She ingests oil rigs and server farms, and spits plastic back out of the ocean onto beaches that sit in front of expensive resorts. Island volcanos spew just enough ash to ground air travel for months.

👉 Internet trolls all contract wretched dermatitis that affects mainly their hands, making typing impossible.

👉 The mean-spirited among us (and I mean the REALLY nasty folks, those who are making life worse on the daily) are Raptured away.

👉 Art and music thrive, and only newcomers win major awards.

Likely? Perhaps not, but hope with all its feathers seems worth pursuing, because honestly, what’s the alternative?

Ok, love you, bye!

Julia

Recommendation(s)!

Well, Heated Rivalry, obviously. I mean, for real, if you haven't watched it yet do yourself a favor. Hockey, Russian accents, steamy shower scenes, blah blah blah. The subject matter is really beside the point - this is some serious feel-good stuff and if you don't shed a happy tear by the end you're probably not fully human but a pod left over from the Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

An image from the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's a close-up of Donald Sutherland pointing and screaming. — It's all over for Matthew.

And when you've finished the show get on your fave social media platform and search for HR content. This love fest won't last forever and you do not want to miss out on the joy. I think we're going to need a solid cache of the stuff to get us through the next year.

Also? Carhartt.

All of their stuff, really, but I particularly love these pants. They fit better than any jeans I own, they come in a variety of lengths and colors, and they will likely last me the rest of my life.

The best feature? They have these deep pockets on the thigh that are perfect for carrying your phone - no dropping it out of a back pocket when you sit down.

As for the company, they do not donate to political causes or candidates, and they’ve got a very brief but hopeful diversity statement on their website - all in all they’re probably not one of the greats but neither are they putrid collaborators.

Billie Eilish is thinking about the future, and so is this email. Forward it to someone who’s done looking back.