Brad Berens

Keyword: Satisficing There’s a difference between making “good enough” decisions and always trying to make the best decision, which is exhausting. (Issue #184)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I continue my "Keywords" thread with "Satisficing." Plus little bits about TikTok, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Carol Burnett, and a bizarrely named establishment.
bradberens.substack.com/p/keyword-sa...

How TikTok keeps its users scrolling for hours a day Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.

Today’s TERRIFYING #DontMiss:

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...

Off the Grid: Is it Possible? Until recently, evading some forms of digital surveillance was as easy as leaving your phone at home. That’s no longer the case. (Issue #183)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, can we ever really be "off the grid" in today's technological society? Plus, my take on "Gen V," a delightful profile of Judd Apatow, how many Americans get news from TikTok (scary), and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/off-the-gr...

The Ride, a Microfiction Trix returns! When her CEO needs to chat with a privacy-protecting board member, Trix combines detective work with drones to find a way in. (Issue #182)

Trix returns! When her CEO needs to chat with a privacy-protecting board member, Trix combines detective work with drones to find a way in. Plus, more on Kimmelgate, a PowerPoint about Hamlet, and a blast from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer past. (Issue #182)
bradberens.substack.com/p/the-ride-a...

Lower Than Cowards The surrender of America’s elites

Today's #DontMiss by Adam Serwer in The Atlantic: "Lower Than Cowards
The surrender of America’s elites." My favorite sentence: "As it turns out, you can’t sell your soul to Trump and keep your spine; they’re a package deal."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

BREAKING: The Trump Administration is "Reviewing" Abortion Pills The FDA and HHS just announced their next move in the war against mifepristone

Today's #dontmiss jessica.substack.com/p/breaking-t...

My Quest to be Whelmed It's hard to watch the news and harder to talk about it with people who might disagree. I'm overwhelmed. Are you? Plus, links to stories about AI, comedy, new scams, Star Trek, & more! (Issue #181)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, my quest simply to be whelmed in this crazy time. Plus lots of other goodies, including a few that should make you giggle:
bradberens.substack.com/p/my-quest-t...

(2) this is entirely the result of Southwest’s recent decision to abandon its longtime “your bag flies free” policy. Corporate greed translates to a far less pleasant travel experience.

Southwest Air is annoying me as I sit here waiting to board a flight. The flight attendant keeps pleading for people to gate check their bags… and threatening that involuntary gate checking will be risky because they won’t be able to track the bags as well. I’m annoyed because (next)

Retro Futures and Who Counts as Human What lessons does a 1985 Isaac Asimov novel have to teach us about AI and algorithmic bias today? (Issue #180)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I dig into what a 1985 Isaac Asimov science fiction novel has to tell us about algorithmic bias today. Plus Star Trek, AI's impact on kids, and more.
bradberens.substack.com/p/retro-futu...

Experience Stacks, Romantasy, and Harry Potter Fanfic A terrific NYT article explored a new genre of big books emerging from online fan fiction and missed a few things along the way. (Issue #179)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I dig into a recent NYT article about "romantasy," Harry Potter fanfic emerging into the mainstream, and how that helps to make our different Experience Stacks clear. Plus a whole lot more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/experience...

The Paradox of No Choice An odd VENN diagram of tariffs and AI are narrowing our choices as customers. Will this change be permanent? What are the implications for products and retailers? (Issue #178)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I explore how a VENN diagram of tariff-driven narrowing of product choice coincides with a similar narrowing driven by AI. Plus, a 40-year-old Wendy's commercial, South Park, Bigfoot, when Oreos meet Reese's, and more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/the-parado...

Escape the Digital Cocoon The only way to reduce polarization is to talk with people in real life. Here's one way to do just that *and* find a seat at a coffee bar. Plus, ChatGPT 5, TikTok and the News, and more! (Issue #177)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, how to reduce polarizaiton *and* find a seat at a coffee bar. Plus, ChatGPT 5, Emily Steel's Uber coverage, TikTok and the News, "Wednesday" returning to Netflix, and more. (Issue #177)
bradberens.substack.com/p/escape-the...

The Distraction Button What Sydney Sweeney and Jeffrey Epstein have in common, plus why it's time to revive the word "Ridiculous." (Issue #176)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I dig into how both the Sydney Sweeney imbroglio and the Jeffrey Epstein files are distractions from things that really matter. Plus, three AI stories, Fantastic Four, Spinal Tap returns, and more.
bradberens.substack.com/p/the-distra...

The Dispatch is back after a week away! This time, I dig into what folks *aren't* saying about the hilarious season premiere of "South Park." Plus, Hulk Hogan dead at 71, "Ted Lasso" returns, Amazon's acquisition of a wearables company, and much more!
bradberens.substack.com/p/what-folks...

BREAKING: Texas Targets California Abortion Provider The wrongful death suit also asks the court to stop a woman from having another abortion

Today's #DontMiss jessica.substack.com/p/california...

AI Double Agents With all the talk about Agentic AI, there's an important question that people aren't asking: who are these agents working for? (Issue #174)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, I dig into a question not many folks are asking: who will AI Agents really work for? Plus, Superman, Murderbot, why David Brooks makes me grind my molars, and more.
bradberens.substack.com/p/ai-double-...

The Precipitous Decline of Brands ...and the rise of generics because of AI agents and other things. (Issue #173)

In this week's Dispatch, I dig into how AI Agents are going to be bad for national brands. Plus, snippets about Calvin and Hobbes, a witty Atlantic piece, medical AI, and more.
bradberens.substack.com/p/the-precip...

Grab Bag AI and Brand Safety, Shoppable Videos, Coffee Mugs on the Oregon Coast, and more! (Issue #172)

The new Dispatch is out! This time a grab bag: AI and Brand Safety, Shoppable Videos, Coffee Mugs on the Oregon Coast, and more! Please check it out and let me know what you think!
bradberens.substack.com/p/grab-bag

i am BEGGING you before you pop off about paywalls to go to your local library's website and scroll through their digital resources. mine gives me access to NYT, WSJ, WaPo and if its linked with PressReader or a similar app, all the news magazines, sports, fashion, hobby etc.

FOR FREE.

A Marketing Win Since so much of the news is dyspeptic and terrifying, here’s a story about how 1-800-FLOWERS creates happiness and profit at the same time. (Issue #171)

The new Dispatch is out! This time, "A Marketing Win" about how 1-800-FLOWERS.com creates happiness for its customers and profit for itself.
open.substack.com/pub/bradbere...

Never mind, I found it. Great thing to surface!

Would you please be so kind as to share the source of the quote in the beige image where the lead scientist laughs as the trap she set in the paper?

I said what I said.

Stuff?

I don’t hesitate to admit I’m wrong when I’m wrong. My point is that you asserting that I’m wrong is not the same as a reasoned explanation of why you disagree. If you’d like to chat directly, please LMK. Or send me a counterpoint, with reasons, and I’ll link to it in my next Dispatch.

… it’s hard to engage with your posts.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for reading. However, I don’t think that you read very closely, since I certainly do not advocate for arresting protesters. In face, I said precisely the opposite. You are entirely entitled to say that you think that I’m wrong, but without reasons for *why* you think I’m wrong…

A Scary Time Four shorter pieces this time: the so-called L.A. riots, the middle east, more on AI, and what would we call a third party? Plus, a handful of other goodies. (Issue #170)

The new Dispatch is out... a couple days later than planned. This time, I dig into four shorter piece: the so-called L.A. riots, the middle east, more on AI, and what would we call a third party? Plus, a handful of other goodies.
bradberens.substack.com/p/a-scary-time

News Sites Are Getting Crushed by Google’s New AI Tools Chatbots are replacing Google’s traditional search, devastating traffic for some publishers.

Today's #dontmiss www.wsj.com/tech/ai/goog...