Newsletter: Trump’s penguin tariffs spark memes

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Hello fellow web crawlers! Andrew here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr. 

Here’s the latest trending internet culture stories today: How even penguins have been ensnared by Trump’s tariffs—and the many memes associated with that, a Delta passenger testing the “airport theory” and TSA getting in the ay, why Trump’s FTC firings put a crucial data-sharing agreement in peril, and a Chipotle customer seeing a limit on how much she could tip her driver. 

After that, we’ve got another edition of “Meme History” for you. 

Also: Did you take our weekly news quiz yesterday? If not, you still can! Just open yesterday’s newsletter to answer the question. If you guess correctly, you might win a “Cache Me Outside” shirt just in time for spring. 

See you next week! 

— A.W. 

Today in Internet Culture

VIRAL POLITICS
‘No one is safe’: Trump’s tariffs accidentally ensnare penguin colony

It’s a safe bet to say that the U.S. won’t be receiving any tariff revenue from the islands anytime soon. But the image of penguins paying tariffs has quickly become fodder for anti-tariff memes on social media.

➤READ MORE

WHOOPS
‘My anxiety would never let me’: Delta passenger tests ‘airport theory’ at Atlanta airport. Then TSA gets in her way

A doctor shared her inadvertent test of “airport theory” in a viral video. Here’s what that is and why commenters along with experts warn against it.

➤READ MORE

TECH
Trump’s FTC firings put bedrock US-EU data-sharing agreement in peril

President Donald Trump’s firing of the FTC’s two Democratic commissioners last month may put the future of internet commerce and social media interactions between the U.S. and Europe at risk, internet policy experts say. 

➤READ MORE

WAIT WHAT?
‘Why are you limiting how much?‘: Chipotle customer tries to tip delivery driver bring burrito bowl. Then she gets a warning

A Chipotle customer recently called out the company’s delivery app for putting a limit on how much she could tip her driver.

➤READ MORE

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By Kyle Calise
Video Director

Meme History: Ted Cruz Zodiac Killer memes

Meme History is a weekly column that dives deep into internet lore to uncover the history of famous memes. It runs on Saturdays in the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. If you want to get this column a day before we publish it, subscribe to web_crawlr, where you’ll get the daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.

Crawling the Web

Here is what else is happening across the ‘net.

Odds are, you or someone you know has picked up esports betting or small investments in cryptocurrency in the last few years.

This Walmart shopper said something really creepy about a baby, and it just goes to show how deeply misogyny is ingrained.

A woman’s story about an awkward moment between her and the birthday girl’s mother at a Build-A-Bear party she attended with her niece is once again going viral online.

Nothing is more frustrating than getting food delivered only to discover that part of your order is missing from the bag. However, one customer says a new DoorDash policy at restaurant chain Chili’s could help avoid missing items.

One Aldi shopper filmed her shock after noticing just how expensive Kraft Singles are—especially when compared to its off-brand counterpart.

From the Daily Dot archive: Long before #instagays, YouTube’s gay celebs blazed the trail for a generation of LGBTQ youth.

Meanwhile on YouTube…

If you missed our explainer of “Frying Me” in Scrolling In The Deep, you can watch it on YouTube! (Just click on the image below to watch it)