The Week In Recommendations 7.24.24

The ascendence of Kamala Harris, the Love Island finale and a pasta dish fit for summer dinner parties!

This is the free edition of Rich Text, a newsletter about cultural obsessions from your Internet BFFs Emma and Claire. If you like what you see and hear, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Our latest podcast was about the third season of “The Bear”! An episode about Love Island USA is coming on Monday! Rich Text is a completely reader-supported project — no ads or sponsors!

*Claire is on a well-deserved vacation, so this week’s recommendations are just Emma’s!

Emma has been reading… 📖

Well, Joe Biden did it. He finally did the right thing for party and country, and bowed out as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president for 2024. This has left a question of who will become the nominee — and it seems increasingly certain that that nominee will be Vice President Kamala Harris. So of course I looked to the deep well of brilliant women writers to break down this historic potential candidacy and the misogynoir that has followed. I especially loved Tressie McMillan Cottom’s full-throated “Kamala or Bust” NYTimes column and Glynnis MacNicol’s Rolling Stone analysis of the far-too-predictable “Kamala doesn’t have biological children and therefore is unfit to lead” strain of GOP attacks. Also… Kamala IS brat. If you’re confused, read Steph McNeal’s explainer of the memeification of VP Harris.

kamalaharris

A post shared by @kamalaharris

For an escape from presidential electoral discourse, I was riveted by this Elle feature on Michelle Mack, the 53-year-old suburban California momfluencer who turned out to be the Big Boss of a shoplifting crime ring. Not only is it a cinematic story — I have to imagine that production companies are chomping at the bit to option it — but it brings up some issues of exploitation when you look at the dynamic between Queenpin Mack and the younger women she recruited to steal from big retailers for her financial benefit.

Emma has been watching… 📺

The finale of the show that has become my entire personality: “Love Island USA.” My transformation from “I refuse to engage with that show, there are too many episodes” to “GIVE ME MY NIGHTLY TREAT, FAAAAAWWWWKUH AARON” was rapid and startling and probably worth interrogating. Well done, editors, casting directors and Ariana Madix. You’ve got me.

I’ve also started the new season of “Too Hot To Handle,” a super cheeky Netflix show about hot people attempting celibacy and going to group therapy, hosted by a cone named Lana. And a show that I think is underrated. Heavy hitter Louis is back this season — and speaking of “Love Island USA,” apparently he is BFFs with Miguel???? — and this season also has given us the introduction of Lana’s alter ego Bad Lana. We love a reality show that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is willing to innovate. (At bare minimum, watching is a great way to get to know who the top contenders for the next season of “Perfect Match” are.)

Photo Credit: Peacock / @DCCCheerleaders Instagram

Finally, I’ve been watching the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders official Instagram account like a god damn hawk, waiting to see if ginger Charly and Weehawken Kelly made the squad this year — and they DID! I both wish them all the success in the world and an eventual break from the Kelli Finglass cult.

Emma has been listening to… 🎧

The latest episode of The Ezra Klein Show, focusing on the decision by Democrats to rally behind Kamala Harris ahead of the DNC. Klein has been, at least for me, a voice of reason amongst a sea of noise and chaos over the last few months, and this episode is no exception. It made me feel… dare I say it… a little bit… hopeful? I’m choosing to hold onto that shred of hope, because, oh man does it feel better than abject despair.

Emma has been buying… 🛍️

Just some refills on some makeup products that I’ve fully used up, like my Ilia True Skin Serum concealer, Valentino Twin Liner, and Makeup By Mario Brow Pencil. I’ve been trying to do my makeup using the literal nubs of products and scraping out the sides of my concealer tube, so I figured it was time to place a Sephora order.

I’m also in the very earliest stages of looking at wedding dresses — we still haven’t sorted out the details of whatever wedding-ish thing we’ll end up doing, but you know I love a good excuse to try on beautiful things. I went to the wonderful Love Couture bridal salon in Maryland with my mom when I was home a few days ago, and I fell in love with a few gowns that just aren’t going to be practical choices for the wedding we’re going to end up having. But they are some of the most devastatingly beautiful garments I’ve ever had the pleasure of putting on my body. (Also, if you’re a DC-area bride, go to Love Couture and ask for India. She was an absolutely DIVINE stylist.)

Emma has been making… 🧶

This One-Pan Caramelized Onion Pasta from PlantYou. A video of this recipe came up on my Instagram FYP, and it looked so easy and yummy that I ended up making it for a friend dinner party. My only notes are that next time I make it I will be super diligent about slicing my onions thinly, and will give them a bit more time to caramelize in the pan. I’ll also add a bit more salt. But it’s definitely a recipe I’ll come back to! And super easy to make for a big group!

---

If you liked reading this, click the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack!

Give us feedback or suggest a topic for the pod • Subscribe • Request a free subscription