What’s trending on the week of October 26th
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — From worries about losing SNAP benefits to celebrating a major win for the Lobos, New Mexicans have a lot to talk about. So what’s trending?
Government Shutdown & Loss of SNAP Benefits
We’re quickly approaching one month of our federal government being shutdown. While that means federal workers aren’t getting paid, it’ll now impact even more people.
In a memo posted Sunday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it won’t issue SNAP benefits November first saying the “well has run dry.” They also blamed democrats for the shutdown.
For New Mexicans, that’s more than 1 in every 5 people. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham says her administration is evaluating “every legal and administrative option” to help families.
They’ve expedited 8 million dollars for food banks, but the governor says that will only cover a fraction of the 80 to 90 million in SNAP benefits New Mexicans rely on.
AI Baristas?
Your next cup of joe could come with a helping of artificial intelligence. Starbucks’ CEO teased an “AI barista” at a recent conference.
According to Today, the company has been using AI behind the scenes for months. CEO Brian Niccol said the technology is for “maklign their jobs easier ratrher than replacing them.”
But Starbucks’ union, Starbucks Workers United, criticized the move saying the company should focus on staffing instead.
Are you in group 7?
If you have no idea what that is, you’re not alone. The viral trend has taken TikTok by storm. So, what is it?
Turns out, it doesn’t really mean anything. It all started as a social experiment from musician Sophia James.
She was testing out which video would do better on the platform’s algorithm by posting 7 videos. Starting in the fourth, she began to label each one.
For example, in the fourth video she said “if you’re seeing this, you are in group 4.” The seventh video took off and currently has more than 74 million views.
Now it’s an “exclusive group” and people will leave comments saying they’re in group 7 on completely unrelated videos.
Everyone’s a Lobo
Perhaps the biggest thing anyone is talking about right now in New Mexico, is the University of New Mexico Lobos. The football team had a 19-point victory over former Lobo head coach Bronco Mendenhall Saturday night when they played against Utah State.
But it’s not just the sweet taste of revenge—for the first time since 1962 the UNM football team is 4-0 at home. They also only need one more win to be bowl eligible.
