🛋️ Is IKEA a date-night spot?

Happy Tuesday! It’s September 26 — people are talking about media coverage of the border crisis, whether IKEA is a date-night spot, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly.

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📰 In the news: Elon & border coverage

Elon Musk said that the mainstream media doesn't cover the Mexican border situation “because they've been instructed” not to. Is he right?

📰 Hot Air says Elon has a point: The mainstream media is largely silent on the border crisis. It's because it makes the Biden administration look incompetent.

📰 @forbat_gary disagrees: Mainstream media networks like CNN cover the border situation — they just “don't harp on it continually” like Fox News.

📰 Fox News thinks the media is “waking up” to the issue. More reporters are challenging the White House on its handling of the border crisis.

📰 Either way, Americans seem to care about the issue. A June 2023 Gallup poll found that around 39% of Americans think the border situation is a “crisis”.

🛋️ Cultural trend: Is IKEA a date-night spot?

Should you take your significant other on a trip to browse furniture aisles? Some say it makes for an ideal date, while others say it depends on the relationship.

🛋️Stylist understands the appeal! People on dating apps have begun suggesting IKEA dates — it's a fun way to imagine living together, and is full of conversation starters.

🛋️ This TikToker tried out an IKEA date with his girlfriend. He recommended it: it was romantic, and a good place for wallet-friendly bites.

🛋️ But a Reddit thread on r/Bumble thinks IKEA dates should be reserved for serious relationships — don’t plan to live with someone you're not committed to.

🛋️ And HuffPo wrote that an IKEA trip could send some relationships to the grave! The act of picking furniture, and assembling it, can lead to arguments.

🛋️ If you plan to explore the IKEA aisles with your special someone, Narcity shared some tips for an ideal IKEA date.

Quick hits

⚔️ Ukraine said it killed the chief of the Russian Black Sea fleet during a strike on Crimea. (NYT)

🤒 A survey by the National Center for Health Statistics found that 6.3% of adults and 1.3% of kids have dealt with long covid. (CNN)

⚫ Thousands of ethnic Armenians are fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan took control of the region. Many fear ethnic cleansing. (BBC)

🏛️ Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Monday to classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California. (KCRA)

That’s it for today. Reply at [email protected] to let me know what you think of our newsletter, or to suggest a topic for next time.

Here at Shades we’re trying something new – quick summaries from different points of view. We think it’s a better way to stay informed and see the big picture. Please reach out if you’re curious to learn more!

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)