Skimm'd over one too many cold brews

"I still got Pandora with commercials" - LeBron James, who's a multi-millionaire, still hears 'hey Pandora listeners' every four songs.

BITTER PILL

The Story

President Trump says he's taking another look at the guy he's nominated to handle the opioid crisis.

Remind me about the opioid crisis.

Millions of Americans are addicted to opioids (think: prescriptions like OxyContin). Hundreds of thousands have died in recent decades, and the death rate is going up every year. Every state has been affected by the crisis. Rural, lower-income communities in places like Ohio and West Virginia have been hit the hardest.

Tell me about this nominee.

Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) is being considered to lead the US response to the opioid crisis. He also sponsored a bill that passed last year making it harder for the DEA to stop drug companies from doling out pain killers. A new report details how Marino and other members of Congress were lobbied hard by the drug industry to pass this law. Now, many are questioning whether he's the right guy for the job.

What's the latest?

Trump says he'll look into swapping out Marino if need be. He also says he will soon declare the opioid crisis a national emergency. This would free up federal funding. Meanwhile, Dems announced a bill to undo the law Marino helped pass. It's unclear whether it will get enough support.

theSkimm

Last year, more people were killed by drug overdoses than guns or car accidents. And it looks like Congress isn't helping address the issue.

PS: We have a new audio product called Skimm Notes in theSkimm App. This week, four of them are available to listen to for free. One of them is about the opioid crisis. Listen here. We'll have more Skimm Notes in the app every week.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when your friend spells dessert wrong...

Bowe Bergdahl knows the difference. Yesterday, the Army sergeant pleaded guilty to charges of deserting the Army and putting other troops in danger. Back in 2009, Bergdahl went MIA from his post in Afghanistan. He later explained that he was going to an Army base to report concerns about the leadership in his unit. Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban shortly after. He spent five years in captivity, where he was tortured. In 2014, the Obama administration negotiated his release in exchange for five Taliban prisoners. Depending on who you ask, Bergdahl is either a traitor or an honorable service member who deserved to be rescued. Now, he faces life in prison. He'll be sentenced next week by an Army judge.

Who people are talking about...

Daphne Caruana Galizia. She's one of the investigative journalists who had been reporting on the Panama Papers in Malta. Yesterday, she was killed in a car bomb explosion there. Last year, millions of leaked documents were made public. They exposed the offshore accounts and secret shell companies that politicians, public officials, and celebrities used to hide their wealth. As a result, more than a few powerful people got in trouble. Galizia was leading the reporting on how officials on the island were tied up in all of this. And has been called a "one-woman Wikileaks." In recent days, she had been getting death threats. It's unclear who's responsible for this attack.

What to say when you see someone shoplifting...

Gotcha. Yesterday, Philippines forces killed two ISIS-linked militant leaders. Earlier this year, militants took over the southern city of Marawi. Philippines forces have been trying to take back the city ever since. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting, hundreds of thousands of locals have been forced to flee home, and Philippine President Duterte declared martial law in the area. Now, Philippine officials say these two leaders - including one who was on the FBI's most-wanted list - are dead. And they expect to have the city back under their control in the next few days.

What to say when "Interstellar" is on...

Here's a real-life plot line. Yesterday, the astronomy community said that it recently witnessed an out-of-this-world event. For the first time ever, scientists were able to watch two neutron stars collide. This is called a kilonova, and the collision created gravitational waves and gave off light. Researchers say these kinds of collisions are where gold and platinum come from. Meaning your gold necklace was created by stars crashing into each other. This collision happened more than 100 million light years away. Paging Matthew McConaughey.

theSkimm App has a brand new feature. We're pretty excited about it. Meet Skimm Notes - an audio product that goes deeper on topics that matter...in 10 minutes or less. It's waiting for you when you start your commute. All you have to do is listen.

Plus, when you finish we've anticipated your rabbit hole. We'll follow up with a recap of what you learned, and a curated list of listens and reads for more.

We've made a few Skimm Notes available to listen for free. They hit on relevant topics that you're hearing about right now. That means ISIS, artificial intelligence...and the opioid crisis. Here are your Skimm Notes on fentanyl - the drug at the center of today's opioid epidemic. Just one small envelope filled with it can get 50,000 people high. Listen here.

There's a new Skimm Note every week for app subscribers. So if you like what you hear, now's the time to get theSkimm App.

SKIMM LIFE

For when you need a really good, really strong cup of coffee...

Three words: Brooklyn Roasting Company. Skimm HQ has one downstairs, and the coffee keeps us going all. week. long. This is the blend we like best.*

For when you're tired of Top Chef reruns...

One Skimm HQer just discovered "The Great British Baking Show" and is never looking back.

For when your SO has a big interview...

Check this out. Skimm HQ put together some tips to seal the deal. Get it.

*P.S. This is an affiliate partner, which means if you purchase or sign up, theSkimm may get something in return.

SKIMM SHARE

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HALP

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