Vox Sentences - Rugby, but make it 1,000x more intense

I’ve been going to a lot of weddings lately, so I feel like I should start this newsletter by saying, “For those who don’t know me …” I’m Gabby, and I’m the associate director, audience, here at Vox. I’m typically behind the scenes, coordinating with editors across text, video, and audio in order to bring this newsletter to your inbox. I’m delighted to reverse roles for the day!

Working on the audience team means I get to wear many hats. Some of my favorite responsibilities are helping launch new newsletters, promoting our exciting initiatives (like the ability to comment on our daily crossword puzzles), and managing what’s on our homepage. The latter is like a nerdier version of Tetris. Monitoring the homepage ensures I’m up to date on what’s available across our newsroom, and wow, we published so much journalism this week that makes the most complicated topics digestible. Here’s what really caught my eye.

—Gabby Fernandez, associate director, audience

Organize your kitchen like a chef, not an influencer

I’m a sucker for aesthetically pleasing organization hack TikToks, so naturally my algorithm has been serving me a lot of “fridgescaping” content. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s when the inside of a refrigerator is gorgeously decorated. Items like milk and juice are transferred from their original packaging into glass pitchers, fruits and veggies are displayed elegantly, and even fairy lights and candles line the space. It’s quite the opposite from my fridge, which is full of Celsius energy drinks and protein shakes, plus a laughable quantity of condiments, takeout containers, and beer. I appreciate Caitlin PenzeyMoog’s take on the trend, especially with her and her family’s extensive background in the culinary world. She speaks to her dad and brother-in-law, both chefs, for advice on how to organize your kitchen and make produce last longer. One tip was to take note of how grocery stores display their produce. For example, if a market stores a particular vegetable in water, you can replicate that at home! Mind. Blown. 🤯

🎧 Equal-opportunity murderball

How could this podcast episode title not immediately draw you in? For the first time ever, there’s a woman competing on the US wheelchair rugby team at the Paralympics. Audrey Nelson, a freelance journalist, and former member of the Vox Media Writers Workshop program, is a huge fan of the sport. She explains “murderball” while diving into gender parity and coed sports.

The hidden cause behind your miserable flight delays

This piece really opened my eyes to flight attendants’ working conditions. I never knew that they weren’t paid until the plane they’re on is actually pulling out of the gate. That means they don’t get paid for the boarding process or when there are delays that make EVERYONE cranky. With delays, flight attendants can struggle to find accommodations and they might end up sleeping on planes, floors, and in airline lounges. This piece is a reminder to be kind and patient — these workers are only human. 

How a disease the world (mostly) vanquished reared its head in Gaza

Abdallah Fayyad explains how polio made a comeback in Gaza. The disease hadn’t been seen in the area for over two decades, but Israel’s attacks on Gaza created conditions for polio to spread. A vaccination campaign is currently underway and going well so far, but Fayyad goes in depth about the obstacles ahead.

iPad kids speak up

I was once considered a younger person in the newsroom, explaining to my colleagues what “yeet” meant, and then suddenly I was Googling, “What does fanum tax mean?” Life comes at you fast! I loved this story by Anna North, which dives into what “brainrot slang” really means and how Gen Alpha views themselves and their relationship with technology. The story was featured in the Kids Today newsletter, where Anna gets perspectives from kids who are often reported on but rarely heard from.

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