— Padma Lakshmi, eyeing a career in comedy. She’s hungry for more.
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Bills, bills, bills
The Story
The Senate gave its stamp of approval to a package of bills last night.
Catch me up.
Days after the House’s passage, the upper chamber greenlit the $95 billion foreign aid package and potential ban on TikTok. The bills now go to President Biden, who plans to sign them into law today. Here’s what you need to know about…
Foreign aid…After months of delay, Congress fulfilled the Biden administration’s request to pass funding to help US allies. The measure includes tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. More than $9 billion will go toward humanitarian aid in Gaza and other war-torn areas — a provision Democrats pushed for. Congress’s approval of the package came despite opposition from Republicans over Ukraine aid and amid Democrats’ concerns over the worsening crisis in Gaza.
TikTok…Lawmakers have set the stage for a potential ban. If signed into law, the measure will give China-based ByteDance up to a year to sell the app or face a ban in the US. Intelligence officials have warned the app, which is used by more than 170 million Americans, puts users’ data at risk of surveillance. TikTok is expected to sue, setting up a battle in the courts over free speech rights.
theSkimm
Following months of political infighting, Congress has passed long-awaited foreign aid by tying a top social media platform as a concession. But the fight over TikTok is far from over.
Tennessee. Yesterday, state House Republicans passed a bill that would allow some teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns in schools. Those who want to carry a gun would need to pass a background check, complete handgun training, and get a gun permit. Under the measure, parents wouldn’t be allowed to know whether their child’s teacher is armed. The bill, which already passed the state Senate, now heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature or veto. If signed into law, it’ll be the state’s most expansive gun rights measure since the deadly Nashville school shooting last year.
What might make it easier to leave your job…
A ban on noncompete clauses. Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banned companies from creating new noncompetes and threw out existing agreements for anyone other than senior executives. Industries, from fast food restaurants to Wall Street, use the clauses to keep employees from working for a competitor or starting their own business once they’ve left. The FTC estimates noncompetes affect about one in five American workers. The ban is set to go into effect this summer, but faces a looming legal battle. Businesses say that noncompetes are vital for keeping their trade secrets under wraps.
What officials are keeping an eye on…
Milk. Yesterday, the FDA said it detected traces of the bird flu virus in samples of pasteurized milk in the US. Before you start dumping your milk, officials said the findings don’t pose a risk and that the commercial milk supply is safe to drink. The FDA’s announcement comes less than a month since bird flu has been detected in dairy herds across eight states. At least one person has been infected with the virus.
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Skimm Picks
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
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Crossword
Looking for a crossword that’s not impossible to solve? You’re in luck. This one even offers hints when you get stuck. The faster you finish, the better your score — and the more impressed the group chat will be. Go on.
We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.
Giving it a read…Caro W (CA). For the past six years, she’s been tutoring kids in underprivileged areas of Los Angeles and helping them improve their reading levels.
(Some) Birthdays…Skimm Brother Peter Zakin (CA), Adam Gross (NY), Angela Morgan (OH), Lauren Belkin (NY), Kayla Parshall (MI), Laura Arasmith Wilson (TX), Macall Virnig (WA), Alizah Kramer (NY), Jordyn Brewton (TX), Melanie Brook (NY), Amy Allison (TX), Kayla Parshall (MI), Gabbi Bowyer WV), Linda Armstrong (CA), Kate Stephens (MN)
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Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Anacaona Rodriguez Martinez, Chantal Vaca, and Maria del Carmen Corpus
Photos by Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, Brand Partners
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