Bad Bunny, Quad God & the AI Apocalypse

From Jamie’s Desk:

Raise your hand if you knew that Bad Bunny had all the answers. 

I’m not going to lie, I was late to the party here. I am not sure if I really knew any of Benito’s songs before I watched him on SNL talking about “Jon Jamon”. But once I saw that, I was immediately hooked and started listening to his music regularly. So when it was announced that he would be doing the Super Bowl halftime show, I couldn’t have been more excited. 

It was upsetting to me that not everybody felt that way. The backlash he received simply for being announced as the performer was absolutely maddening. You had people offended that he doesn’t sing in English, and you just had people outraged for the sake of being outraged. 

This brilliant artist, who has worked tirelessly to become a global icon, couldn't experience the joy of all of those before him in the lead up to the show. Instead, he became the target of racist attacks that tried to undermine his talent, determination, and showmanship. After taking home Album of the Year at the Grammys, the pressure was even higher for his Super Bowl performance. And boy, did he deliver. 

Aside from the music itself being so good, Bad Bunny knows how to put on an incredible show. He created a once in a lifetime performance that shared a message about the soul of America. Shoutout to director Hamish Hamilton, EP Jesse Collins, and the creative team including Harriet Cuddeford and Julio Himede. The blocking and camera work, coupled with extraordinary casting, powerful imagery, and cohesive choreography–it was beyond anything I could’ve imagined (shoutout to Jamie’s List member Jessica Alba for her cameo). Plus, the Villa’s Tacos stand was a huge hit amongst the LA foodie audience.

Benito said more in a 13-minute show than most of our leaders have said in years. But if you’ve been following his rising star, that doesn’t surprise you. I encourage everyone to do a deep-dive into his music. You’ll see that he uses Reggaeton to share messages about mental health, self-worth, gender equality, safety, joy, and love. These are all things that transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. 

Given all of that, I was (perhaps naively) hoping that Donald Trump and those who were against his performance would see the undeniable benefit of his show, and how much it could do to bring this country together. Instead, he shared this message of division. 

"The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn't represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World."

The response is disappointing but not surprising. Over 60 million people in America speak Spanish, and Puerto Rico is an American territory. Would it have been so hard to just say “I wasn't a fan before, but I am now?” Or, what my 91 year old father said, which is “I didn’t understand a word but I loved it”. Despite the President’s response and the MAGA backlash, this was the most-watched halftime show ever, with 135.4 million people tuning in to watch. It was a celebration of the diversity in our country, and a reminder of the power of love, ambition, and joy.

The message was clear: Together We are America.

Discussed in this issue: Gelato in Milan, Ceviche in LA, and the future of AI with The Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

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In some very exciting news, I will be heading to Milan for the Winter Olympics. If you are like me, you have been watching around the clock. From the Quad God to the Two Cory's and Breezy Johnson, I have been loving every minute and can't wait to get over there. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to see the US Women’s Hockey team bring home the gold, as well as some speed skating, figure skating and men’s hockey. Obviously, there will also be some eating. Thankfully Martha Patricof’s cousin, Elizabeth Jones, not only lives in Milan but is also a professional foodie. She’s kindly planned out my eating schedule, and has written up some notes for everyone else who will be over there.

Milan Guide by Elizabeth Jones

Elizabeth writes for The Infatuation, covering Milan and Italy with a deeply local, food-first lens. She is also a fixer, connecting media and brands across Italy, and a culinary concierge who designs highly personalized food experiences, from last-minute reservations to multi-day itineraries. Bottom line, if you’re heading to Milan—reach out to Elizabeth at http://www.risottoandsteel.com or http://www.fazooltours.com.

Milan is a city you have to get to know to really understand its dining scene. Many of the best places aren’t in the historic center at all (like Trippa!)—and that matters, especially now, as the area around the Duomo is particularly packed with the Olympics about to kick off. Planning a trip to watch The Games and get a feel for the city’s food and drink culture is not straightforward. Italians eat at very specific times and the stadiums sit just outside the city center.

With that in mind, here’s a list of reliable spots around the city where you can walk in, eat well, and not feel like you’ve missed the window.

South Milan, if you are looking for fortification pre-hockey at the Santa Giulia Arena:

Bar Quadronno — Pressed panini with lots of variety, a retro feel, and that Milanese-on-the-go energy—little tables, a bit of bar space if there’s no line. The go-to when you want to eat outside the Italian lunch and dinner hours. Open all day until 1am.

Giannasi — Iconic rotisserie chicken, golden potatoes, and arancini balls, all served with a no-frills old-Milan feel. Built for takeaway or a quick stand-up bite, it’s a classic near Porta Romana when you want something comforting and savory outside regular meal hours. Open until 8:30pm.

Macelleria Popolare — All about meat: a legendary chef-butcher working magic behind the counter in a very unassuming market. Natural wine by the glass, very little seating, with a few picnic tables outside on the canal—but it’s really about standing, watching and chatting. Locals go for the burgers; we go for the tongue with salsa verde, meatballs, and giardiniera.

Bar Luce — The bar just outside Fondazione Prada, worth stopping into whether or not you have time to visit. Ham-and-cheese toasts, inventive panini, gelato, and very Prada-coded cakes in a nostalgic, Wes Anderson–designed space. It can get crowded at lunch—best during off hours.

Eating Quickly Around Duomo

For those who don’t have time for a sit down meal between events, here are the best spots for grab-and-go bites.

Ciacco for gelato
There’s always a line, and it’s always worth it. Unique flavors, some of the best gelato in Milan.

La Rinascente for coffee or aperitivo
Head to the top floor of this shopping institution for coffee or an aperitivo with one of the best views in the city. You are eye-level with the Duomo spires.

Luini for mozzarella and tomato panzerotti
A true local institution with a constant crowd spilling into lines that move quickly. 

Peck for eating with your eyes + cheese, porcini & gelato
A Milanese temple to luxury food, whether you’re browsing or just passing through. Don’t skip the gelato—it’s an excellent final stop.

Zia Esterina Sorbillo for fried pizza
Made-to-order fried pizza that’s hot and gooey. Order the one with escarole and olives if you love bitter greens. It’s the closest thing to Naples you’ll find in Milan and easily the best fried pizza outside Campania.

And for those of you staying in LA, here are two spots recommended by the crew and I. 

Nicholas Thompson ran to our drinks meeting in New York City last fall. Not figuratively, but literally–and it’s a practice of his that’s central to his being. 

I’m not much of a runner (yet?), so I knew when I had him as a guest on the podcast we had to talk about his love for the sport. We spoke about the book he wrote, THE RUNNING GROUND that went into his complicated-but-loving relationship with his father, his battle with thyroid cancer, and his professional journey. Now, Nick is CEO of The Atlantic, a longstanding institution founded in 1857 on the brink of the Civil War by writers and thought leaders like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Today, they’re continuing to share truth and ideas—with writers like Anne Applebaum and David Brooks helping us navigate the changing world.

Of course, we had to talk about AI and technology. For those of you who don’t follow Nick on Tik Tok or LinkedIn, he has a series called THE MOST INTERESTING THING IN TECH. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but has focused on a lot of AI. I asked his opinion on the implementation of AI in healthcare, schools, and media. Member Mark Feuerstein asked a question many parents of teenagers have been wondering about: which career paths are safe from being replaced by AI? Nick’s answer might surprise you. 

This was an insightful conversation that touched on media, business, tech, and a bit of politics (and of course, I asked about Signalgate). Nicholas has long been a member of the Jamie’s List community, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to have a proper conversation with him. 

You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

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