The News Diet

Heeeey Dieters! In this episode, we unpack the story of a woman who ended her relationship after seeing her partner's ChatGPT. Then, how a century of marketing turned body hair political. We also delve into the Trump shooting and all the misinformation that followed, before explaining what the new Renters' Rights Act means for you.Links:The Tangled History of Women and Body Hairhttps://www.thepersistent.com/tangled-history-women-body-hair-removal/I Stumbled Across My Boyfriend's ChatGPT and It Ended Our Relationshiphttps://lindseyhallwrites.substack.com/p/i-read-my-boyfriends-chatgpt-andInta: @thenewsdietpodTiktok: @thenewsdietpod

The news was popping off this week, so we definitely weren't short on stories. First up: are we actually seeing the beginning of the end for “strongman” politics? From leaders losing their grip to growing public frustration over economic stagnation and broken promises, we unpack why authoritarian-style figures might not be as untouchable as they once seemed. Then, we dive into the Alex Cooper drama that people are going mad for online. We break down what’s real, what’s noise, and why this conversation is bigger than just influencer gossip.In this episode, we also get into the Keir Starmer and the Mandelson drama and the growing fallout around security vetting. It’s messy, and it raises some big questions about trust at the top of UK politics. And finally, we discuss a story about how victims of sexual violence are treated in parliamentary settings. Where’s the line between “robust questioning” and real harm? And what needs to change to make these spaces safer for survivors to speak?

Safe to say we cover all bases with this one! If you're wondering why everyone's talking about Hungary's election, or the fact that Coachella won't get off our FYPs (or "magnifying glass", as Annabel calls it), then don't worry, we've got your back. We also get into a scandalous story from the world of journalism, as well as the recent wave of hate London has been getting on social media.Links:The fertility crisis is men’s fault now, by Annabel Preston for The New Statesman | https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/life/2026/04/the-fertility-crisis-is-mens-fault-nowLifestyle blogger said to have inspired Devil Wears Prada character uses unpaid student interns, by Helena Horton for The Guardian | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/apr/12/lifestyle-blogger-devil-wears-prada-anna-wintour-assistant-pay-internsSo You Want a Free Trip to Coachella? Get in Line, by Madison Malone Kircher | https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/style/coachella-influencers-brand-trips.html

In this episode, we break down the latest French municipal elections and what the results mean for France's future and Europe. We also explore the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, rising prices across the country, and what Brits are choosing as their essential items (hummus?!) Plus, we couldn't go a week without diving into the growing conversation around AI bias and the patriarchy - examining how gender inequality is shaping the technology we use every day.

Links:The Epstein Files and the architecture of elite protection: what media coverage reveals about power, by Ruhi Khan | https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2026/02/18/the-epstein-files-and-the-architecture-of-elite-protection-what-media-coverage-reveals-about-power/The TikTok girlies conquering Antarctica, by Arielle Domb for The Observer | https://observer.co.uk/style/features/article/the-tiktok-girlies-conquering-antarcticaInstagram and TikTok: @newsdietpod

In this week's episode we explore the biggest breakup of the year: Starmer and Trump...(since recording, a British base in Iraq was struck). Also on the menu is King's College London's report about Gen Z attitudes towards women and the mysterious blue vs red wars. Oh and not forgetting Timothée Chalamet calling opera and ballet not relevant (eek).Links:How the 'red v blue school wars' exposed the social media gap between children and parentshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4wgzdydkeoWhat do teenage boys see on TikTok?https://observer.co.uk/news/opinion-and-ideas/article/what-do-teenage-boys-see-on-tiktokTiktok: @newsdietpodInsta: @newsdietpod