| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| QUOTE OF THE DAY | | "Marie Curie, looking very festive" â Someone got a cake with Marie Curie's face on it instead of Mariah Carey's. Just call her name and she'll be there...in the shape of a two-time Nobel Prize winner. | | |
|
| |
| |
| |
The Story The Supreme Court is airing more opinions than your great aunt at a family wedding. That time of year, huh. It is. The last day of SCOTUS's term is next week. But before the Supremes can swap robes for bathing suits, they have to weigh in on a few items. Yesterday, they crossed some off the list â including a case on double jeopardy. What is...two Alex Trebeks for the price of one? We wish. Double jeopardy: a clause of the Constitution that says people can't be prosecuted twice for the same crime...in most cases. Yesterday, the Supremes ruled 7-2, upholding that a person can be prosecuted twice for the same crime as long as one comes from a state court, the other from a federal court. That's because SCOTUS says the two count as separate sovereigns. *Nods along, pretends to have a law degree* In other words: it's bad news for the guy convicted of being a felon in possession of a handgun whose federal and state convictions were just upheld. But it also has implications for President Trump. I don't get the connection. He's hinted he might pardon former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who's serving time on a variety of financial crimes on the federal level. But the state of New York said 'go ahead...we can charge him again anyways.' This latest SCOTUS ruling makes it clear that a Trump pardon can't help Manafort at the state level. But that's not the only case SCOTUS ruled on yesterday. The. Suspense. Is. Killing. Me. It's a gerrymandering case (think: drawing up district maps to benefit a certain political party or suppress the voting power of racial minorities). In this case, the Supremes decided 5-4 to dismiss a push by Republican lawmakers from Virginia. The lawmakers wanted to throw out maps that had been drawn to avoid racial gerrymandering. The Supremes said 'no.' Now the maps â expected to help Dems â will stay in place before elections this fall. theSkimm The Supremes have around 20 cases to weigh in on before they put up their OOOs next week. That includes more gerrymandering cases (this time, partisan gerrymandering cases), a separation of church and state case, and the highly-anticipated census case â which could have implications for everything from how many House seats each state gets to how federal funding is distributed across states. Stay tuned.
Skimm More: Catch up on the debate around the 2020 census before the court issues a ruling. | | |
|
| |
| |
Who's saying 'enough is enough'⦠The Trump admin. Yesterday, the Pentagon announced that the US is sending another 1,000 troops to the Middle East. If you're thinking 'this definitely has to do with Iran,' you would be correct. Tensions between the US and Iran have gone way up in recent months. Several tankers have been attacked in the region â with some (including the US) pointing the finger at Iran. The US even deployed an aircraft carrier and bombers to the region because of alleged threats made by Iran against US troops. Now, the US is sending backup in response to what it says is "hostile behavior by Iranian forces" that threaten the US and friends. Today, Iran's president spoke up to say that the country is not trying to go to war against anyone. Running out the clock: Yesterday, Iran announced it's days away from violating a key element of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal â intended to curb its ability to develop a nuclear weapon. By days we mean by June 27. What would change its mind: European countries agreeing to protect Iran's oil and banking sectors from US economic sanctions. Nothing says 'teamwork makes the dream work' like a tight deadline. Skimm This: Our daily podcast goes deep on what it means for Iran to be enriching uranium. | | |
|
| | Who's making people say 'what happened?'⦠Mohammed Morsi. Yesterday, the former Egyptian president collapsed and died in a courtroom while on trial. In 2012, after the Arab Spring, Morsi â a controversial, senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood â won Egypt's first democratic presidential election. But the next year, he was overthrown and jailed in a coup led by Egypt's current president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. He's been in prison for the last six years and was on trial on espionage charges. Yesterday, Egyptian sources say he fainted and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 67. But...what happened?: There is no official cause of death, though Egyptian media say he died of a possible heart attack. But some are raising questions about poor prison conditions, saying Morsi was denied medicine for a variety of things including diabetes and liver problems. His death is another reminder of the failure of Egypt's democratic transition. | | |
|
| | What's back in the spotlight⦠Myanmar. Yesterday, the UN released a report about its own conduct there. And it's not good. This has to do with the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in the mostly-Buddhist country that's been discriminated against for decades. In 2017, Rohingya insurgents attacked Myanmar security forces. Myanmar's military responded by systematically burning villages, and killing and raping thousands of people. The UN has described the violence as ethnic cleansing and possible genocide. But the org was accused of ignoring warning signs about the escalating violence. Now, this report says that "even at the highest level of the organization there was no common strategy." And concluded that there was a "systemic failure" with the UN's response. | | |
|
| | What's giving Mother Earth some love⦠Ireland. Yesterday, it reportedly unveiled a plan to tackle climate change by moving away from fossil fuels. It has more than 180 steps to get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. That includes: carbon taxes, making buildings more energy-efficient, and more electric cars.
...Oh and more than 600 divers in Florida set a world record for largest underwater cleanup. | | |
|
| | | Skimm This. Our daily podcast remembers the life of Gloria Vanderbilt, who died yesterday at 95. She built her own fashion empire (think: designer denim) and grew her company to a $100-million-a-year business. She was also an artist, author, and mother to CNN's Anderson Cooper. | | |
|
| | What to say when you hear Katniss is getting a prequel... I volunteer as tribute...to read it. | | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| For when your sandals are falling apart⦠Step into these shoes instead. This brand makes comfy sneakers in ethical factories using fair trade cotton. And they go with every kind of summer outfit. Skimm'rs get something off the price tag. Take a look.*
For when you need some extra support⦠This bra company can help. They're donating 50% of proceeds from their new limited edition bra to an organization that helps women find safe reproductive care. Skimm'rs get 15% off. Check it out.*
For when you've come a long way from lemonade stands⦠Sweeten your branding. This online print and design company makes business cards, notebooks, and more to help get your idea off the ground. PS: Skimm'rs get 20% off. Go for it.*
For when you need to get away⦠Say pasta la vista. These companies want to take you and a friend on a trip to Southern Italy. Think: Puglia and the Amalfi Coast. Round-trip airfare included. Margherita pizza sold separately. Learn more here.* | | *PS This is an affiliate post, which means if you purchase or sign up, theSkimm may get something in return. Thanks. |
|
|
| |
| |
| Skimm'r of the Weekâ¦Becky Santoro (NC). She's the co-founder in North Carolina of Foster Village, an organization that supports foster parents in the Charlotte area. She and her husband have been foster parents and realized there is a huge need for people like them to be more supported. The org helps to quickly bring supplies needed (think: beds, cribs, diapers, clothes) when kids are dropped off and more. Learn more here.
(Some) Birthdaysâ¦theSkimm's Kateri Jochum (NY), Casey Troccoli (IL), Kimberly Klaer (GA), Tammy Malvin (FL), Byanka Cruz-Navarro (CA), James Cole (PA), Kristen Smith (MN), Lara Rear (OR), Marley Cummings (TX), Rebecca Salley (SC)
*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured. |
|
| |
| |
| Skimm HQ is investing in new umbrellas. Share theSkimm with your friend who refuses to check the weather. | | | | | | Or use this referral link theskimm.com/?r=98d063bf |
|
| |
