How fit do you really need to be? 🏋️‍♀️

Plus: The dream of a universal flu vaccine and more.

View this email in your browser    Each week, a different Vox editor curates their favorite work that Vox has published across text, audio, and video. This week's recommendations are brought to you by associate director for audience Gabby Fernandez. Each week, a different Vox editor curates their favorite work that Vox has published across text, audio, and video. This week's recommendations are brought to you by associate director for audience Gabby Fernandez.   Hi everyone,   As January flies by, I've been thinking a lot about balance — staying informed while still making room for the things that bring a little joy. It's been a tough start to the year in terms of the news, and I'm all in on taking breaks and carving out space for what makes me smile. Right now, that looks like two things.   The first is reminiscing through so many people's throwback posts to 2016. At the time, I was a sophomore in college, blasting the Chainsmokers and getting excited about weekends spent in skinny jeans and criss-cross tops. What a time to be alive!   The second is Valentine's Day. I know it might seem strange to look forward to such a sappy holiday, but it's my favorite to decorate for. My favorite colors are red and pink, and filling my home with cherries and hearts feels especially satisfying.   My recs below are a snapshot of what I've been reading lately, a mix of substance while leaving room for a little levity.   —Gabby Fernandez, associate director, audience TOP PICKS THIS WEEK How right-wing influencers are bending reality in Minneapolis   This piece really grabbed my attention, especially after an onslaught of videos flooded social media after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.    Politics correspondent Christian Paz explains how right-wing content creators have been so effective at shaping the public discourse, and why the left is at such a disadvantage when it comes to this type of social media presence. He points out that these influencers often show up where the action is, film provocative footage, and experience support and amplification from powerful allies in the Trump administration. And there are additional motivations at play, too.   As Christian writes: "Beyond this, there's also a bigger, financial and network asymmetry at work here: Funding for this kind of coverage and reach on social media and independent outlets isn't comparable on the left to what exists on the right."    It's a key reminder that media literacy really matters. Staying vigilant about who is telling the story, what incentives they might have, and whether what we're consuming actually reflects reality feels more important than ever.   A world without the flu is possible   'Tis the season for sniffles and congestion. It feels like everyone around me is coming down with something or has been sick in the last month, myself included. While the flu is more than just an annoying seasonal inconvenience, there's real reason for optimism. This piece by Bryan Walsh explores some exciting developments on the scientific frontier and what a future without the flu could actually look like. After all, we've already managed to all but eliminate former heavy hitters like smallpox, measles, and mumps. With that track record, it's not so far-fetched to imagine the flu being next. For more stories about the remarkable things happening all around us right now, sign up for Bryan's newsletter Good News.   How fit do we really need to be?   I love all things fitness, especially workout classes. From hot yoga and kickboxing to cycling, Barry's Boot Camp, and just about everything in between, I've probably tried it. But in a moment when it feels like everyone is training for a marathon or tackling intense challenges like 75 Hard, it does make you stop and wonder how fit we actually need to be to be healthy. I appreciated this piece by Hannah Seo, which digs into what fitness really means, whether there's a point of diminishing returns, and if pushing ourselves to the extreme is always worth it.   Are movie theaters cool again?   For me personally, they've never not been cool. Still, it's hard to ignore how much moviegoing has changed over the past decade. Ticket sales have been sliding, the pandemic didn't help, and streaming has made it a little too easy to just stay home and half watch a movie on Netflix while scrolling through TikTok on your phone. So it would be reasonable to assume that the theater is slowly becoming a relic, but this story digs into why that might not be true, especially for younger audiences. Gen Z — and even Gen Alpha — are showing up, and in growing numbers.   As Kyndall Cunningham writes, "In our social media-dominated, AI-addled times, theaters don't just offer a refreshing dose of reality and connection but a way of combatting digital brain rot."  Become a member to support fearless, independent journalism. BECOME A MEMBER This email was sent to aymentanaze.news@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. 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