“Sometimes, it’s ok to throw rocks at girls” - One North Carolina jewelry store’s way of trying to get people to buy diamonds. This idea sounded better in the pitch meeting.

THINGS FEELING THE HEAT

THE STORY

Today, President Trump’s expected to take a red pen to former President Obama’s climate change policies. 

WHAT’S HE GOING TO DO?

Trump plans to sign an executive order telling the EPA to either scrap or rework policies aimed at cutting back on how gassy the US can be. This includes rules that force power plants to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions, and a temporary ban on building new coal mines on federal lands. Trump promised to do this on the campaign trail, arguing policies like these hurt American workers - especially in the coal industry.

theSKIMM

There’s this thing called the Paris climate deal. In late 2015, almost 200 countries including the US agreed to curb the effects of global warming. Trump’s executive order doesn’t pull the US out of that deal - but it makes it a lot harder to meet the country’s goals.

THE STORY

The head of the House Intelligence Committee made a trip to the White House that’s raising a few Qs.

WAIT…BACK UP.

This month, President Trump accused former President Obama of wiretapping his phones at Trump Tower ahead of last year’s election. The FBI and pretty much everyone else said ‘nope not true.’ Then last week, House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-CA) - who is leading the investigation into Team Trump’s potential ties to Russia - said a source told him that members of Trump’s team were caught up in “incidental” legal surveillance. This is normal when the US is snooping on foreigners who speak to US citizens. Nunes then went to the White House to brief Trump, who said he felt “somewhat” vindicated in his wiretapping claims. 

SO WHAT’S THE LATEST?

Yesterday, Nunes said he met with his source on White House grounds. His office says this was because that was the only safe place to view the docs. Critics say it looks like Nunes coordinated with the White House to give Trump cover for his wiretap claims. And that he needs to remove himself from the Russia investigation.

theSKIMM

There is already incredible pressure on the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating the circumstances surrounding how the current US president was elected. Now, there are questions about whether the man running that investigation is compromised.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU CAN’T REMEMBER THE PASSWORD TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT...

Can’t you just give it to me? That’s what British gov officials are asking. This week, they’re meeting with US tech companies to ask for access to encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp. This comes after last week’s terror attack in London. The attacker reportedly used WhatsApp - which is owned by Facebook - just minutes before the incident. WhatsApp encrypts all messages, which is a way of coding data so only the sender and receiver can see it. For years, tech companies have been under pressure to share this kind of info with authorities. After the 2015 San Bernardino attack, the FBI asked Apple to help unlock the iPhone of one of the attackers. Apple said ‘nope’ because doing that could potentially make all of its iPhones less secure. Now, British officials are just the latest to say tech companies have to hand over the keys to encrypted data. TBD on whether some real life face time will help.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU BUY A LARGE COFFEE BUT YOUR CUP’S ONLY HALF FULL...

Pretty sure I should be getting more than this. Yesterday, USA Hockey voted on whether to cut a new deal with the women’s national team. USA Hockey: the group that oversees all things ice hockey in the US, including training Olympic players. Team USA’s female hockey team has been winning medals at the Olympics and other competitions for years. Great for ‘Murica. Turns out, not as great for the players’ wallets. Right now, USA Hockey only pays players during Olympic years, when the women get about $6,000 each. USA Hockey says it’s just an organizing group that doesn’t employ players. But the women say the men’s team get added benefits like marketing, meals, and travel. They’re demanding better pay and benefits. And are boycotting this year’s World Championship unless their demands are met. PS: the World Championship is this week. Yesterday, the board got together to vote on whether to give the women what they want. So far, they’re keeping their skates close to the vest.

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN SHE’S OVULATING…

Thoughts? Yesterday, a new study came out showing that breastfeeding may not actually have many long-term benefits. For decades, to breastfeed or not to breastfeed has been the question for new parents. Some say it helps babies grow better, faster, smarter. But this new study says ‘not so sure about the smarter part.’ Researchers that observed thousands of kids found pretty much no difference between the ones who breastfed and the ones that didn’t when it came to things like vocabulary and problem solving. The researchers say other factors like education and a family’s economic situation may have a bigger impact on smarts than momma’s own. Pump, pump, pass.

THING TO KNOW

Millennial Pink: You know it. It’s the sort of salmon, sort of pastel color that’s on every other ad campaign and new product packaging right now. See: those sneakers, that blush, the hotel in “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

SKIMM LIFE

Your gym routine is a once-a-month kind of thing. This app lets you sweat it out at home by following along with classes on your phone. Sans smelly locker room. And we just got you a free trial to kick spring off with a squat.

PS: Want more where this came from? Click here for discounts on everything you need to spring clean your life.

PPS: This is an affiliate partner, which means if you buy it, theSkimm may get some cash money. Thanks.

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