Newsletter: Internet thinks JD Vance killed the Pope

Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

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

Here’s the latest trending internet culture stories today: How the internet reacted with dark memes following the Pope’s death after Vice President JD Vance met with him, a bonkers story of a woman finding out she was given the wrong baby at a hospital, an explainer of the “I was born in the right generation” meme, and a Crumbl Cookies customer finding something unexpected in their order. 

After that, our Associate Managing Editor Eilish has a “Cooked” column about a viral food that has got attention for all the wrong reasons. (Don’t worry, she cooked it the right way). 

See you tomorrow! 

— A.W. 

Today in Internet Culture

VIRAL POLITICS
Pope Francis dying hours after meeting JD Vance sparked a truly dark meme

Pope Francis passed away hours after he met with Vice President JD Vance, sparking a flurry of dark memes and jokes online.

➤ READ MORE

WTF
‘This is devastating’: Woman gives birth. Then she finds out she was given the wrong baby

This mom’s baby was allegedly switched shortly after she gave birth. Now the hospital refuses to compensate the family in any way.

➤ READ MORE

TRENDS
The ‘I was born in the right generation’ meme celebrates your impeccable and cursed taste—15 of the best

The I was born in the right generation meme features a photo of actor Ryan Gosling below an overlaid catchphrase reading, “I was born in the right generation I love Twitter and ___. The second part of the text references fan-favorite TV shows.

➤ READ MORE

YIKES
‘ABSOLUTELY NOT’: Crumbl customer orders Fruity Pebbles, Andes cookie box. Then she spots something unusual in the Wildberry Sugar one

A Crumbl Cookies customer discovered a gross and unexpected topping inside one of her cookies, sparking discussion about food safety practices at the baked goods chain.

➤ READ MORE

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

By Eilish O’Sullivan
Associate Managing Editor

I tried the viral $8 H-E-B Strawberry Sando. Then I made it ‘right way’ at home

Cooked is a bi-weekly column that tries out viral recipes so you don’t have to. If you want to read columns like this (and much more!), 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.

One man warned that using your debit card every time you fill up at the gas pump could compromise your bank account information.

A woman’s awkward first date experience left viewers calling out all the red flags that showed up after she got back to the man’s apartment.

French fries are a go-to fast food—crispy, salty, and the perfect side to just about anything. But one nutrition aficionado says they could be even more harmful than we already believe they are. 

A carnivore connoisseur who goes by the moniker Meatdad (@meatdad) on TikTok is often posting steak-buying advice. Recently, the meat enthusiast expressed his love for two specific cuts he says are a great alternative to ribeyes.

From the Daily Dot archive: QAnon is now too big to fail.

Question of the Day

Everyone’s got opinions, and we want to know yours. Just click a button below to answer the question, and tomorrow we will let you know how fellow web crawlers like you answered. 

WOULD YOU TRY A H-E-B STRAWBERRY SANDO?

To answer questions like this in the future, sign up for web_crawlr here.

Hot on the Dot

This was the most read story on the Daily Dot yesterday: 

➤ ‘We should have done our research’: Texas homeowner says mortgage went from $3,832 to $7,200

Now Playing: “CUDN’T BE ME” by Jessie Reyez