“Wherever they go, panic spreads” - An Indian scientist. The country’s monkey population is out of control, and officials are considering birth control. It’s bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

HE SAID, HE SAID

THE STORY

Yesterday, President Trump took the mic to explain why he fired FBI Director James Comey. The guy who took over at the FBI also had a few things to say.

10 SECONDS. REMIND ME.

Earlier this week, Trump fired Comey. BFD. At first, he said he did this at the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the deputy attorney general. They all agreed that Comey had lost trust within the FBI over how he handled the Hillary Clinton email investigation.

AND...?

When Comey was fired, he was also in the middle of an investigation into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to tip the US election in his favor. 

WHAT’S TRUMP SAYING NOW?

That he’d already decided to fire Comey before hearing from the AG and deputy AG. This contradicts the White House’s original version of events. Trump also said that he was thinking of “this Russia thing with Trump” when he made the call, deciding that it was “a made up story.”

WHAT’S THE FBI SAYING?

Yesterday, Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified in front of the Senate committee investigating the Russia drama. He also contradicted the White House’s original story, saying that actually Comey had “broad support within the FBI” when he was fired. He also said the Russia investigation is “highly significant” and will continue.

theSKIMM

It’s unclear exactly why Comey was fired. What is clear is that Trump would very much like to be excluded from this Russia narrative. Instead, he’s put it at the top of national headlines every day.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING...

Chechnya. Yesterday, police detained five activists in Moscow. The activists were trying to deliver a petition calling on prosecutors to officially look into the Chechen government’s alleged torture and killing of gay men. Chechnya used to be a part of the Soviet Union. Now, it’s a semi-autonomous region of Russia. It’s also a very conservative mostly-Muslim population that’s not down with the LGBT community. Last month, it came out that the Chechen gov was rounding up gay men. Some of the ones who’ve since been released say they were tortured. At least three men were killed. Authorities in Chechnya say all of this is not true because gay men don’t exist in Chechnya. Riiiiight. Meanwhile, Moscow has said they’ll look into it. Apparently that means arresting protesters who’ve been calling for more action.

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO HAS LOTS OF BADGES...

Heard about this? Yesterday, the Mormon church said it’s cutting ties with certain Boy Scouts programs. For over a century, the Mormon church has been BFFs with the Boy Scouts. As in it’s the group’s largest sponsor. And hundreds of thousands of Mormon boys participate in the program. But in recent years, the two groups haven’t been so simpatico. In 2015, the Boy Scouts said it would allow gay men to become troop leaders. Back then, the Mormon Church said it was “deeply troubled” by this and threatened to consciously uncouple. Then earlier this year, the Scouts opened up membership to transgender boys. And now the Mormons are saying teenage members of the church will no longer participate because they aren’t being “served well” by the programs. The church also promises the change totally isn’t because of these new policies. Leaving with a badge.

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR CO-WORKER WHO HAS A ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ SIGN ON HER DESK…

Team player right here. Yesterday, it came out that Apple may be teaming up with Amazon. They’re reportedly expected to bring the Prime video app onto Apple TV. ICYMI Apple and Amazon are not the two best friends that anybody could have. For years, they’ve been competing for the same cord cutting customers. In 2011, Amazon came out with its Prime video app. It let’s you watch their own shows like “The Man in the High Castle” and also have access to channels like HBO. Aka a competitor to Apple TV. Then in 2015, Amazon stopped selling Apple TV devices. Now, the two companies seem to be calling a truce. Apple will allegedly roll out the welcome mat for the Amazon video app later this year. Amazon will start selling Apple TV devices in return. And “Silicon Valley” is editing its opening credits.

iPHONE HOME

TGIF. And TG our app now has a bunch of special calendars for you based on your interests. Entertainment, politics, sports, business, and tech. Now you have more control over staying in the know about the things that matter to you.

If you’re into entertainment, “Master of None” is coming back tonight. If you’re into business and tech, heads up that the Google I/O Conference starts next week. And if you don’t care about either of those, our “Best of the Big Stuff” calendar would have alerted you about Mother’s Day and the fact that you need to buy a present.

Your interests. Your move. Start your free one-month trial now.

SKIMM READS

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

Meet your weekend read. About two people who meet in college on 9/11 and cross paths over the years. He goes to war zones as a photographer, while she starts a career in NYC. This read is One Day meets Me Before You meets your weekender bag. Get it here.

PS: This is an affiliate partner, which means if you purchase, theSkimm may get some cash money. Thanks.

SKIMM LIFE

Break out your light jacket. Miss USA is on Sunday night. And you’re getting involved. Miss USA wants Skimm’rs to source the final round of questions for the Q&A part of the competition. They want your real questions on real issues. Submit here. And watch Sunday, May 14 @8/7c on FOX.

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