This $20 Thanksgiving Broke TikTok

Spotlight on Journalism & Media Credibility + Declining Trust

News: Here’s the latest plot twist in American media: trust in national news outlets is dropping again, according to new Pew Research data. Only 56% of adults say they trust national news organizations even “somewhat,” and yes, that’s as bad as it sounds. Local news is doing slightly better, but still losing loyalty.

The political climate feels like an ongoing group chat argument. Social media is basically a megaphone for everyone’s opinions — fact-checked or not. And the news cycle itself is… exhausting. Like, “can I unsubscribe from reality?” exhausting.

For millennial women juggling careers, relationships, rent increases, wellness goals, and the occasional existential crisis, the constant flood of intense, contradictory headline energy isn’t helping.

But here’s the good part. We’re smarter, more skeptical, and more discerning than ever. We crave clarity. We want sources. We want to know why something matters. And honestly… in a world of half-truths, hot takes, and political plot twists, taking 5 minutes to understand what’s actually happening might be the most grounding self-care ritual of the week.

GOP Tensions + Epstein File Transparency

Politics: If you’ve felt like political news lately reads like the world’s messiest group project, you’re not wrong. This week, internal tensions inside the Republican Party hit a new level, all centered around calls to release government files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Here’s the quick, digestible version:

• A bipartisan coalition (yes, Democrats + Republicans agreeing on something — shocking!) wants transparency on Epstein’s records.

• Some GOP members are publicly breaking with Trump over the issue.

• Others are accusing colleagues of power grabs, betrayal, or endangering them politically.

The real theme? This is about trust, accountability, and who holds the power inside the party. Basically, whatever happens inside the GOP right now will shape what happens nationally in the next few months. So yes, the drama is messy — but the impact is real.

Thanksgiving for $20

Recipe: This Thanksgiving dish broke TikTok — and you can totally make it Preview text: Spoiler: it involves mac & cheese croquettes. Yes, really.

Here’s the story: a creator on TikTok named Rebecca Chobat (her account is “Dollar Tree Dinners”) put together a full Thanksgiving meal for $20 using only Dollar Tree ingredients. The post went viral.

The menu? Mac & cheese croquettes as the appetizer, a “Best of Thanksgiving” casserole for the main, and caramel apple cookie bars for dessert. Each ingredient came in at roughly $1.25.

Money smart: one simple move to consider this month

Finance: Here’s the current landscape: As of October 2025, the S&P 500 gained about 2.3% for the month and is up ~17.5% year-to-date. Growth stocks are outperforming value stocks. Argent Financial Group, Inc +1 Mean

while, the Federal Reserve recently cut rates, but officials say a December cut isn’t guaranteed, they’re “driving in fog” thanks to mixed data.

Inflation pressures remain, and business cost-expectations are elevated. Finance tip: Given the current environment — markets are up, growth stocks are doing heavy lifting, and policy is uncertain — this is a time to check your allocation, lock in what you can, and keep your long game in mind.

If you’ve gains in growth-heavy funds, consider whether you’re comfortable with the risk (returns may not stay this smooth). Make sure you have an emergency fund (remember: consumers & corporate balance sheets are strong but unexpected events = still very possible).