Good morning. This is Shades of the Day, bringing you different shades of perspective in news and culture so that you can see the big picture quickly.

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It’s Tuesday, April 30 — here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter:

• The occupation of Hamilton Hall by Columbia protestors

• Google’s decline among Gen Z

• 4 quick hits of news from the last 24 hours

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

🏛️ Hamilton Hall, occupied

🏛️ The Guardian: Pro-Palestinian protesters have occupied Hamilton Hall at Columbia University — defying an ultimatum to leave or face suspension.

🏛️ Fox News called the occupation an “insurrection”: The protestors held a worker hostage.

🏛️ This Redditor on r/Destiny thinks the occupation is wrongheaded: “I hope the police don't do anything. Nothing is damaging their cause more than just leaving them alone”.

🏛️ But @Democracynow on X paints a different picture: Faculty support student protestors — they say the media's unfairly portraying the protests as antisemitic.

🏛️ An NYT Op's take: It's complicated! The Columbia protest isn't clear-cut peaceful activism. But their cause is still important.

🔍 RIP Google Search?

🔍 Axios says Google Search's grip is slipping: Gen Z is searching TikTok and YouTube. The shift highlights a generational divide in information-seeking habits.

🔍 Business Insider blames Google's decline on something else: Google Search has a spam problem.

🔍 So, if the Google Search is on its deathbed, what will take its place? Fast Company thinks it could be Reddit.

🔍 The NYT says it'll be an AI-powered platform, though: Perplexity has big potential as an online search game-changer.

🔍 Search Engine Land: Or Google's own AI will save the day? In their 2024 Q1 call, Google's CEO said the company's AI is boosting its search usage.

🔍 Maybe the answer is TikTok? @anastazia on TikTok says she doesn't Google anymore — she just searches TikTok videos.

🔍 In any event, Google seems OK for the time being. TechRadar points out that Google is still leaving competitors in its dust.

4️⃣ Quick hits

📉 US consumer confidence slumps to its lowest point since July 2022, indicating growing economic worries.

🇮🇱 Netanyahu asserts Israel will enter Rafah with or without a Gaza hostage deal, amidst ongoing cease-fire discussions.

🎭 “Hell's Kitchen” and “Stereophonic” top the Tony Award nominations, highlighting a historic year for female directors.

⚖️ In Trump's hush money trial, banker testifies on closing Cohen's accounts post Stormy Daniels news.