It's Franklin the Turtle vs. Pete Hegseth in the dumbest battle of all time
Plus: What is the MM to WW meme?
Greetings!
Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
Kids Can Press, the publisher of Franklin the Turtle books, has condemned Pete Hegseth’s latest AI slop meme.
An appreciation for Michelle Yeoh’s excited explanation of the “MM to WW” meme.
Americans are pissed off about the TSA’s announcement that travelers will have to pay a fine at airports if traveling without a REAL ID.
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⚡️ Today in Internet Culture
“Stands for kindness”: Publisher condemns Pete Hegseth’s use of Franklin the Turtle in parody meme
The publishers behind Franklin the Turtle books have issued a response after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth co-opted the beloved kids’ character to push a violent MAGA agenda.
Over the weekend, Hegseth posted what appears to be an AI-generated book cover parody of Franklin the Turtle books, titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.” It featured the familiar turtle decked out in combat gear and firing upon three boats carrying armed men, meant to signify drug smugglers.
Michelle Yeoh repeatedly explaining “MM to WW” is the most pure meme to come out of “Wicked For Good”
Wicked: For Good is now playing in theatres, and the press tour has been just as delightful this time around. One of the latest popular trends is the “MM to WW” meme that takes Michelle Yeoh’s character initials, MM for Madame Morrible, and flips them around to make a WW for Wicked Witch. Yeoh has been seen explaining the idea in several interviews, and it’s incredibly charming.
“Just a money grab”: Americans blast TSA after learning flying without a Real ID will cost $45 starting February
Starting in February, U.S. travelers who show up to airport security without a Real ID, passport, or another “acceptable” form of identification will be hit with a new $45 fee.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the charge on Monday, framing it as funding for a modernized identity-verification system. The timing, coming off a tense Thanksgiving travel season, sparked immediate frustration online, where critics accused the current administration of turning basic air travel into a pay-to-play system.
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🕸️ Crawling the Web
🎤 Sabrina Carpenter calls Trump’s deportation video using her song “evil”—White House responds with mockery
👮 A TikToker is handing out alcohol and machetes to unhoused people. The cops have nothing to say
💄Cosmetic chemist debunks viral claim about a “blue pigment shortage” in beauty products
🛍️ Michaels shopper claims to find “Black Friday scam” on items she regularly purchases
🚕 Waymo robotaxi casually drives into active LAPD standoff in viral video
▶️ YouTube releases a new yearly recap, but some users can’t find it
🔥 Hot on the Dot
This was the most-read story on the Daily Dot yesterday:
➤ McDonald’s launches The Grinch Meal with Grinch-themed socks for the holidays