Summary of the Internet — May 12 2025

🔥 Top 3 Must‑Post Trends

1. US–China Hit the Pause Button on Tariffs

What Happened (long‑form):
After a marathon weekend in Geneva, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice‑Premier He Lifeng unveiled a 90‑day “cool‑down” accord that slashes most newly‑imposed import duties. The headline detail: both sides will roll back punitive rates to a flat 10 % while negotiators hash out a wider framework on tech‑transfer rules and soybean/rare‑earth quotas. The deal isn’t permanent—either party can re‑activate tariffs on 72 hours’ notice—but the immediate effect was visceral: Dow futures popped 3 %, the Shanghai Composite finished +2.7 %, and freight‑rate trackers showed a next‑day booking surge on Asia‑to‑US lanes. Analysts frame it as the biggest de‑escalation since the Phase‑One pact of 2020, driven by a mix of post‑pandemic demand weakness and election‑year inflation pressure in Washington. Reuters

Why It’s Hot: touches every consumer product category; creates a near‑term buying window before old duties can snap back; signals possible thaw ahead of this summer’s G‑20.

Easy Angles:

• Tech creators → cheaper graphics cards;

• Fashion → cotton basics could drop 8‑10 %;

• Finfluencers → map how chip stocks reacted pre‑market.

Swipe‑Ready Ideas:

CTA: “What’s the first thing you’ll snag if prices dip? Comment your shopping hit‑list.”

2. Virat Kohli Says Goodbye to Test Cricket

Core Story (long‑form):
In a heartfelt Mumbai presser, Virat Kohli—India’s talismanic run‑machine—confirmed his retirement from the five‑day format. The 36‑year‑old departs with 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, 30 hundreds, and a record 40 wins in 68 matches as captain. His announcement landed just three days after skipper Rohit Sharma stepped aside, amplifying chatter that the BCCI is grooming a younger core ahead of a packed limited‑overs cycle. Timing is everything: with the IPL resuming 15 May under a fresh India‑Pakistan cease‑fire, some pundits see the move as both strategic rest and a political olive branch, freeing him to headline T20s while minimizing travel to conflict‑sensitive venues. Social media lit up—#ViratKohli𓃵 crossed 2.3 M tweets in four hours, and Google searches for “Kohli Test stats” spiked 1,100 %. Reuters

Why It’s Hot: a global fan‑base in mourning/celebration; field‑level geopolitics; nostalgia factor.

Easy Angles & Post Prompts:

• Top‑5 innings montage (TikTok/Reels)

• Carousel of record‑breaking numbers

• X thread: “How Kohli changed India’s fitness culture”

CTA: “Drop your favorite Kohli moment and why it still gives you goosebumps.”

3. Pacers Obliterate Cavs—Historic 41‑Point Halftime Lead

Deep Context:
The Indiana Pacers didn’t just beat Cleveland; they rewrote playoff history. An 80‑39 halftime bulge tied the all‑time postseason record for largest mid‑game lead (matching the ’85 Lakers). Key stat cluster: 25 first‑half assists (an NBA playoff high in the play‑by‑play era) and a 58‑32 paint advantage. Pascal Siakam (21 pts) spearheaded a three‑headed attack with Myles Turner & Obi Toppin (20 each). Cleveland’s nightmare deepened as Donovan Mitchell exited with an ankle tweak; Game 5 tips Tuesday in Ohio with Indy up 3‑1. Betting lines swung from Cavs –4.5 pre‑series to Pacers –6.5 for clinch night. Reuters

Engagement Hooks: underdog narrative; record‑watch; Mitchell injury drama.

Post Ideas:

• Reels breakdown: “How Indy’s ball‑movement broke the Cavs’ trap (3 clips)”

• Stats card carousel comparing Game 3 vs Game 4 efficiencies

• X poll: “Can Cleveland bounce back or is it curtains?”

CTA: “Predict the Game 5 margin—closest guess gets bragging rights.”

^{CLICK HERE TO LOG INTO THE APP FOR FULL REPORT, PLATFORM SPECIFIC TRENDS, AND CONTENT SUGGESTIONS}

Opinion | Tariff Whiplash: Who’s Really at the Wheel?

Tariffs are toggling faster than a broken light switch—145 % last week, 10 % today, and a 72‑hour snap‑back clause always lurking. Inside the West Wing, trade policy resembles a crowded cockpit: Treasury’s Scott Bessent begs for market stability, USTR Jamieson Greer pitches America‑First blitzes, Commerce’s Howard Lutnick boasts that “foreign suppliers eat the cost,” and NEC’s Kevin Hassett waves rosy spreadsheets. Each adviser pulls policy in a different direction, leaving importers scrambling and shoppers dizzy. Until the president lets one navigator chart a consistent route, businesses will keep over‑ordering “just in case,” prices will whiplash, and voters will wonder why their toaster’s price flips with every tweet. Trade by stunt may grab headlines, but for the real economy it’s becoming a demolition derby.

📈 Main Trends (Extra‑Context Edition)

4. HBO’s The Last of Us S2 Hits Mid‑Season Fever Pitch

Season 2 (7 episodes, Sun‑night drops) adapts the first act of Part II—time‑jumping five years and unpacking Joel/Ellie guilt. Average viewership is +11 % vs S1, and critics praise its Wyoming frontier set‑build while nit‑picking pace. Episode 5’s cliff‑hanger (#TheLastOfUs trended at 1.4 M posts) teases Abby’s looming arc. Gaming channels note fidelity to the 2020 source code, boosting PS5 remaster sales 28 % week‑on‑week. Deadline

Post angle: compare moral-choice themes across game & show; cosplay look‑books are also popping.

5. “That Was Rude” Takes Over TikTok

The audio: a sharp exhale + sarcastic “That was rude!” Creators overlay text recounting micro‑aggressions—everything from body‑shaming to subtle racism. Over 920 K derivative videos now live; average completion rate tops 73 % (TikTok analytics). Brand marketers tap in by spoofing bad customer‑service lines. Ramd.ai

6. Google Searches for “Travel Vaccine” Spike 650 %

With Europe loosening entry rules yet still requiring proof of some jabs, U.S.‑based queries exploded this morning—the highest May volume since 2019. Top breakout destinations: Thailand, Brazil, and Tanzania. Travel‑clinic bookings (per Zocdoc) are up 42 % week‑over‑week. Health experts flag hepatitis A and yellow‑fever as the most overlooked shots. Google Trends

7. Dogecoin Rockets on Reserve‑Fund News

The memecoin rallied 18 % in three days after the Dogecoin Foundation announced a 10 M DOGE strategic reserve aimed at payment‑network liquidity. On‑chain data show a supply gap above $0.20, feeding FOMO chatter that “0.31 next” is realistic. Social volume across X & Reddit eclipsed Shiba Inu for the first time this quarter. Cointelegraph

8. Medicaid in the Headlines After New Access Rules

KFF’s policy brief (May 9) details how the Biden administration’s freshly‑finalized access regulations could add $65 B in federal spending over 10 years—and opponents in Congress are floating claw‑back amendments. The bureaucratic tug‑of‑war sent “Medicaid eligibility 2025” searches soaring to their highest YTD point. Expect state‑by‑state enrollment deadline explainers to trend next. KFF

9. Baker Mayfield Contract Speculation Returns

Though locked into a 3‑year Bucs deal inked in ’24, cap‑watchers noted Tampa Bay’s restructuring window opens June 1—and insider pods report “not close on an extension” chatter, spiking Google interest +480 %. Fantasy GMs wonder if a cash‑upfront restructure signals roster spend elsewhere. Yahoo Sports

10. Prospect Jordan Lawlar Back on Call‑Up Watch

Arizona’s No. 1 prospect scorched Triple‑A (.362/.438/.603) and landed two MiLB “Play of the Week” clips last week. Beat writers hint the D‑backs may promote him by Memorial Day after a minor oblique scare subsided. Fantasy subreddits pushed his name into Google Top‑20, despite debuting back in ’23. MLB.com

🏷️ Trending Hashtags (Today)

(Tweet‑volume snapshots available on Trends24; #NBAPlayoffs sat ~15 K tweets/hour at noon ET.)

⚡ Engagement Booster Tip

Run a three‑post arc around the tariff pause:

1. Hook Reel: “Price‑drop alert ⚠️ — tariffs just got nuked.”

2. Explainer Carousel: winners & losers, plus a 90‑day countdown sticker.

3. Action Reel (day 89): “Last‑chance buys: here’s what we’re stocking before prices bounce.”

Storytelling + deadline pressure = higher follow‑through and saves.

🔮 Looking Ahead

^{OTHER COOL THINGS BY SUPREME ROBOT}