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A new trend that’s been circulating on social media has grown men reaching out to their buddies to say “good night,” and sometimes even “sweet dreams.” The trend has taken off on TikTok and Instagram in recent weeks, in part because the reactions from the men receiving the calls has often been humorous. In one video, a man calls his friend, tells him good night, and immediately gets a shocked response: “What?” The caller replies, “I’m just calling to tell you good night. Sweet dreams.” But that’s not quite enough clarity for the man on the other end. “Good night? A grown man telling another grown man good night?” he presses, while the caller muffles a laugh. The TikTok prank operates on exactly that premisethat grown men calling each other to say good night is funny because it’s so utterly unexpected. Because truthfully, most grown men are not calling each other to check in before bed. Some men receiving the calls commented that nobody has called them to say good night in many years. That’s as nightly check-insperhaps check-ins of any kindcan feel contrary to ingrained masculinity norms. But that’s problematic. Male loneliness has been viewed as a growing issue, and has even been called an epidemic by some experts in recent years. One 2024 review of masculinity norms and how they impact male loneliness highlighted an “urgent need” for a shift in order to “support men’s social connectedness.” Not only do men feel less connected, but they also are less likely to seek mental health care than women. According to some research, only an estimated one in 10 men suffering with depression or anxiety disorders receive treatment. A “foreign” feeling Experts say that men don’t always feel able to reach out, and when they don’t, it can lead to isolation. Dr. Rachel Austin, a Maryland-based clinical psychologist, tells Fast Company she saw the trend circulating and was struckbut not surprisedby how foreign it feels to so many men to do something thats more connected to emotion than they may be used to. According to Austin, it can be especially hard for men to learn how to facilitate connection when they fear doing so may be perceived as weak or not masculine, and especially when doing so hasnt been modeled for them. That can make even recognizing the feeling a challenge. Many male patients that are lonely arent articulating (even to their partners) what they need, says Austin. Judging by the videos, while confused at first, the men actually appreciated the seemingly bizarre phone calls. Many ended up feeling touched, or said things like, “I miss you,” or even, “love you,” in response. Some of the men even began reminiscing about their younger days, perhaps back in high school or college, when touching base to check in and say good night was not a weird occurrence, but part of their routine. In one video posted on Instagram, which has over 757,000 likes at present, a dad calls his longtime buddy to say good night. The friend on the other end of the line instantly bursts out laughing, and brings up their high school days when nightly calls were expected from those in their friend group. “I can’t believe you remembered that,” the friend says. “That was like a staple.” While the trend is wholesome, and certainly worth clicking through a few videos for a chuckle, the responses seem to reveal a deeper issuethat men reaching out to each other is sorely needed. It may even spark some sorely needed discussion about why exactly this feels so unexpected.
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While consumer tools like ChatGPT dominate headlines, IT leaders face an even tougher challenge: keeping pace with an explosion of data demands while making the right infrastructure bets to support enterprisescale AI. Strategy is key; and theres no better way to implement the right AI strategy than hearing directly from the pros who have successfully made artificial intelligence work for them and their teams, and ultimately their clients. In this virtual discussion, Hari Gopalkrishnan, head of consumer, business, and wealth management technology, Bank of America, shares how to incorporate security, compliance, and resilience into your corporations AI infrastructure.
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More than $14 billion in clean energy investments in the U.S. have been canceled or delayed this year, according to an analysis released Thursday, as President Donald Trump’s pending megabill has raised fears over the future of domestic battery, electric vehicle and solar and wind energy development. Many companies are concerned that investments will be in jeopardy amid House Republicans’ passage of a tax bill that would gut clean energy credits, nonpartisan group E2 said in its analysis of projects that it and consultancy Atlas Public Policy tracked. The groups estimate the losses since January have also cost 10,000 new clean energy jobs. The tax credits, bolstered in the landmark climate bill passed under former President Joe Biden in 2022, are crucial for boosting renewable technologies key to the clean energy transition. E2 estimates that $132 billion in plans have been announced since the so-called Inflation Reduction Act passed, not counting the cancellations. Last week’s House bill effectively renders moot many of the laws incentives. Advocacy groups decried the potential impact that could have on the industry after the multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package passed. The Houses plan coupled with the administrations focus on stomping out clean energy and returning us to a country powered by coal and gas guzzlers is causing businesses to cancel plans, delay their plans and take their money and jobs to other countries instead, E2 executive director Bob Keefe said. The Senate is now reviewing the bill with an informal July 4 deadline to get it to the president’s desk. What has been canceled Some of the most recent cancellations include the Kore Power battery factory in Arizona and BorgWarners closure of two EV manufacturing sites in Michigan. Bosch suspended a $200 million investment in a hydrogen fuel cell factory in South Carolina, citing changes within the market over the past year in a statement to The Associated Press. Tariffs, inflationary pressures, nascent company struggles and low adoption rates for some technologies may also have been reasons for these companies plans changing. For instance, the battery storage and electric vehicle sectors have seen the most impact in 2025, with the latter especially having had had a difficult past few years. Several projects spurred by the IRA were also canceled prior to 2025. Of the projects canceled this year, most more than $12 billion worth came in Republican-led states and congressional districts, the analysis said. Red districts have benefited more than blue ones from an influx of clean energy development and jobs, experts say. Georgia and Tennessee are particularly at risk because they are highly invested in EV and battery production, said Marilyn Brown, an energy policy professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who was not involved in the analysis. If all of a sudden these tax credits are removed, Im not sure how these ongoing projects are going to continue, said Fengqi You, an engineering professor at Cornell University who also was not involved. A handful of Republican lawmakers have urged the continuation of energy tax credits, with some saying in an April letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. that a repeal could disrupt the American people and weaken the county’s position as a global energy leader. The US and the global stage The Trump administration has sought to dismantle much of Biden’s environmental and climate-related policy what he calls the Democrats green new scam withdrawing again from the Paris climate agreement, rolling back countless landmark pollution regulations and environmental initiatives, reconsidering scientific findings supporting climate action, blocking renewable energy sources and more in an effort to bolster a fossil fuel-led American energy dominance agenda. Meanwhile other countries are proceeding with green investments. The European Parliament is committing to the European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a policy meant to prevent carbon leakage, or companies moving production to countries where climate policies are less strict. And the International Maritime Organization is moving toward a global carbon tax on shipping. In a sign that not all hope is lost for the future of renewables in the U.S., April alone saw nearly $500 million in new development, with Japanese manufacturing company Hitachi’s energy arm building out transmission and electrification operations in Virginia and materials and technology company Corning investing in solar manufacturing in Michigan. Still, $4.5 billion in development was canceled or delayed last month, according to E2’s tally. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Alexa St. John and Isabella O’Malley, Associated Press Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
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