I’m gonna admit something a little embarrassing. I have used safety pins forever — to hold together a busted zipper, to keep a hem from falling, even as emergency jewelry (don’t ask). But you know that tiny hole at the end? The one right at the coil? Yeah, I didn’t think twice about it. Like, ever. I thought it was just part of the design. For, you know, aesthetics or something. It turns out, it serves a purpose. Like, a real one, an intentional one, a kinda genius one. And if you’re like me (read: most of the population), you probably never knew that.
So let’s dig into it. Because this little hole in a safety pin? It’s lowkey genius — and once you know why it’s there, you’ll never not see it.
Before plunging straight into Bafflement Hole, let’s do a rapid-fire rundown of how a safety pin operates, because that gives our world context. At first glance, it looks like a really simple tool — basically a bent piece of wire with a clasp. But it’s so cleverly engineered. This end is sharp (obviously), and the other has this little loop, or a coil, that is where that hole lives.
The coil creates tension. It’s this tension that keeps the pin shut when you close it, so it doesn’t spontaneously pop open and stab you in the thigh during a meeting. The clasp part? That’s all safety stuff — hence the name — so the very sharp end is neatly tucked out of the way. But back to that coil. The shape of it, see, is not because everything inside needs to be kept springy.
So What Is That Tiny Hole Actually For?
Here’s the secret: the hole in a safety pin is part of a spring mechanism. That coil with the hole in it? It’s where the pin’s wire was fastened during the creation process. Consider it the “starting point,” like the wire to be twisted into a tight coil. But there’s more to it than a production leftover — it actually helps keep the spring tension maintained.
Essentially, the hole permits the pin to retain its flexibility with time. It assists in regulating the tension of the coiled cable and helps assure that the pin jumps back into place each time you open and shut it like an expert. The whole structure would be a bit less stable without the hole. Maybe even a little wobbly. And the last thing we need in our life is some shady safety pins, am I right?
A Rock for Precision Manufacturing
So let’s get a little nerdy for a second (don’t worry, I won’t get too deep). Making a safety pin involves machines shaping the metal wire into that exact shape. During this phase, the hole serves as an anchor point. Without it, it would have been difficult to consistently form that coil. Imagine it as a guiding pinhole. It keeps the wire steady as it’s twisted into that distinctive taut coil that provides the safety pin its snap and strength.
Many spring-based mechanisms use an equivalent feature during assembly to maintain tension and torque across each spring. So as small a detail as it may seem, that little hole is doing a lot of heavy lifting behind the scenes.
Thought It Was Only For Decoration
If you thought the hole was simply… there, you’re not alone. It doesn’t look functional. It’s little, discreet, and if you’re not a mechanical engineer or inclined to question everything, you probably never did. The design is minimalist to the point that it’s easy to not realize how much thought went into it.
Plus, it’s not as if the packaging has a tag saying, “Hey! This is for tension control!” The way most of us do is rip open a pack of safety pins and go to pinning.
Can You Use the Hole for Something Else?
Actually, yes. Though it was not intended for this purpose, some enterprising people use the hole to attach safety pins to other objects — by putting a ribbon through it or weaving a thin piece of wire around it and tacking the pin into something to prevent it from slipping. It’s not its intended use, but hey, it’s a little bonus feature if you’re feeling resourceful.
It is also useful for exact placement in sewing or embroidery. (For stitching projects, some people loop thread through the hole to help anchor the pin better.) Not the original plan, but we love a good multitasker.
Fun Fact: The Safety Pin Was a Happy Accident (Sort Of)
The safety pin as an object dates back to 1849; it was invented in 1849 by Walter Hunt. He literally made it in three hours to pay off a $15 debt. Yes, really. He even patented it — but then sold the patent rights for $400. Safe to say he may have second-guessed that one once the thing blew up.
What’s wild is that Hunt didn’t even think that this little hole in the coil would become a curious phenomenon more than 150 years later. But here we are.
The Best Kind of Everyday Engineering
Makes you think about how many more common tools have hidden features we never knew about, right? Like the hole in the pot handle (yup, that’s for your spoon), or that little groove you see at the bottom of plastic bottles (pressure control!). Engineering is truly lowkey amazing.
The Hole’s There for a Reason
If you’ve read this far, congrats; you’re now one of the 2% of humans who know what the hole in a safety pin is for. To recap:
It’s a crucial section of the spring mechanism.
It allows for tension and snap-back.
It is a touchstone during the manufacturing process.
It may even have some useful DIY applications if you’re crafty.
So next time you employ a safety pin — whether you’re mending a wardrobe malfunction or fastening it onto your punk jacket — thank that humble hole. It’s doing more than you knew it could.
And who knows, you might just gamify your chance of winning a random trivia game or impressing someone with your freakishly specific knowledge. Either way, you’re in the know, officially.
As Election Eve descends, the political landscape is erupting with late-stage controversies, dramatic campaign moments, and stark revelations about political funding. From California Governor Gavin Newsom’s perceived presidential aspirations and policy maneuvers to the surprising financial backing of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the final hours before voters head to the polls are marked by an atmosphere of intense political warfare and allegations of hypocrisy and foreign influence.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, widely speculated to be a contender for the 2028 presidential race, faced intense scrutiny over his recent public behavior, characterized by critics as “TDS” (Trump Derangement Syndrome).
Newsom was called out on NBC by Kristen Welker for imitating President Donald Trump’s online tactics, including the use of “all cap posts” and “similar memes” (1:11–1:15). Newsom vehemently denied that this was normalizing the behavior, arguing instead that he was trying to put a “mirror up to that madness” because the “normalization of deviancy” was already occurring (1:22–1:47).
Critics, however, dismissed this as a desperate move by an ambitious politician. Commentators argued that Newsom simply became the “meme” he sought to fight, suggesting he was attempting to “become them” (Trump) due to his inability to defeat him ideologically (1:56–2:08). The contrast between his national ambition and California’s reported $68 billion deficit was highlighted as a major vulnerability (2:10–2:13).
The most damning criticism against Newsom was his blatant flip-flop on his interest in the presidency. Just one week prior, Newsom stated he would be “lying otherwise” if he said he wasn’t considering a run after the 2026 midterms (3:27–3:32). Days later, however, he flatly denied any presidential ambition: “I don’t. I’m not suggesting I am” (3:44–3:46).
This dramatic reversal was labeled a “pathological lying” habit and a “national security risk” by critics like Charlie Kirk (5:36–6:12), who also described the Governor as the “fakest person I think I’ve ever met in my entire life” (5:37–5:38).
Further fueling accusations of hypocrisy was Newsom’s involvement in a political maneuver critics dubbed a “nuclear gerrymander” (2:49). When discussing the changes in modern politics, Newsom said, “The rules of the game have changed. Now, we have to rewrite the new rules” (2:34–2:39).
This phrase was immediately tied to Prop 50, a proposed measure that would allow a Democrat-controlled commission to redraw districts in an already heavily Democratic state, aiming to “lock in supermajorities and bury Trump’s 2026 map” (2:54–2:59). Critics saw this as Newsom “going full banana Republic” by changing rules only when they suit his party’s advantage (3:01–3:13).
In New York City, mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s moonshot campaign hit unexpected turbulence as an Islamist activist revealed the surprising financial engine behind his success.
Activist Linda Sarsour was captured on video openly admitting the primary financial source for Mamdani’s campaign: “It is our Muslim American communities… it’s Muslim money” (12:19–12:24).
Sarsour detailed that the PACs supporting Mamdani are comprised of “probably over 80% of Muslim American donors in this country,” including high-net donors and grassroots contributors (12:28–12:35). The largest institutional donor was identified as the Unity and Justice Fund PAC, which is the Super PAC associated with CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) (12:38–12:47).
Critics immediately framed this as “foreign influence money” shaping local politics and exploited by “left-wing radicals” (12:57–13:03). This revelation intensified concerns that Mamdani, who has vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and pedals rent freezes and free services (14:20–14:24), represents an anti-American, socialist agenda bankrolled by specific religious and political organizations.
Mamdani’s rise coincides with a reported surge in support for socialism among Democratic voters. A Gallup poll showed that 66% of Democrats now have a positive view of the ideology (10:40–10:49), contrasting sharply with Republicans, where 74% view capitalism positively (10:54–10:58). Critics lamented that Democrats were continuing to shift “farther and farther to the left” instead of seeking the middle ground (11:06–11:18).
As Election Day approached, several other races were highlighted, alongside instances of alleged election irregularities.
The New Jersey gubernatorial race between Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli and Mikey Sherrill (D) was neck-and-neck, with Sherrill holding a slight edge (14:41–14:45). The state, which hasn’t seen three consecutive Democratic administrations in over a century, is a critical test. Ciattarelli was featured in a heartwarming, emotional campaign moment where his father, who serves in the military, returned overnight to vote for him (15:15–15:30).
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was fighting to hold a 10-point lead against Republican Winsome Earl Sears (15:58–16:03). Both candidates were pushing hard in the final hours, with the entire GOP ticket rallying behind Sears (16:17–16:26).
The report raised concerns over election integrity, citing two specific examples:
California:
Katie Porter
“handing out free stuff to young voters”
New York:
“illegally campaigning”
The segment also featured a satirical clip about a voter claiming to “illegally vote for Zohran Mamdani six times” (7:31–7:41) to underscore the need for voter ID and election monitoring, which critics claim Democrats oppose (7:44–7:48).
The overall message remains a stark choice for voters: between what critics call the “chaos” and “fantasy” of the progressive left and the perceived “sanity” and defense of American principles offered by conservatives (16:36–16:42).
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