— Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow, on what inspired his viral new haircut. OK, Slim Shady.
What's Happening
Politics
Biden Addresses the Nation for the First Time Since Ending His Reelection Bid
What's going on: Speaking from the Oval Office last night, President Biden said he dropped out of the 2024 election “in defense of democracy” and “to pass the torch to a new generation.” In his 11-minute speech, Biden — who is still recovering from Covid — spoke of the country’s need for fresh and “yes, younger voices.” He touched on his administration’s accomplishments, from appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court to signing the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years. The president also outlined plans for his remaining time in office, including ending the Israel-Hamas war, calling for reforms to the Supreme Court, and supporting cancer research. Biden also urged Americans to “preserve our democracy" and reminded voters “kings and dictators do not rule — the people do.”
What it means: President Biden is the first commander in chief in more than 50 years to not seek a second term. His speech marked the beginning of the end of his White House tenure, as he enters a lame-duck presidency. Yet, his farewell-style address did little to directly answer what finally led him to end his campaign with less than four months until Election Day. Meanwhile, it’s not clear how much more Biden will be able to accomplish during the remainder of his term — especially as Republicans control the House. While his political career has spanned more than 50 years, Biden’s legacy may come down to whether or not Vice President Kamala Harris, whom the president described last night as “experienced” and “tough,” can beat former President Trump in November.
Racist, Sexist Hate Speech Spikes Days Into Kamala Harris’ Campaign
What's going on: Vice President Kamala Harris stands to be the first Black and South Asian female presidential candidate — a point of attack among conservatives. Right-wing politicians and media personalities have called Harris a “DEI candidate,” attributing her political career to her skin color. Harris has also been accused of sleeping her way to the top and is the target of unvalidated “birther” conspiracies due to her immigrant heritage. Meanwhile, her husband, Doug Emhoff, is on the receiving end of antisemitic attacks. Recent analysis from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) found that hateful and violent speech toward Harris rose 33% on Truth Social and 50% on Telegram from July 19 to July 21.
What it means: Harris isn’t the first candidate to face these kinds of attacks. Former President Obama and Hillary Clinton got their fair share of it. However, Harris could be getting the worst of it. Even during the 2020 Democratic primaries, the Wilson Center found that Harris faced more gendered abuse and targeted disinformation than other female candidates. Now, some congressional Republican leaders are warning their members from using that playbook against Harris, urging them to focus on her political career and policies under the Biden administration. That’s because racist or misogynistic attacks against Harris could alienate swing voters like suburban women or voters of color.
Fatal Police Shooting of Sonya Massey Sparks Nationwide Outrage
What's going on: The killing of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman and mother, by a white sheriff’s deputy in Illinois earlier this month is drawing national attention. Police body camera footage — released earlier this week — shows Sean Grayson, a 30-year-old sheriff’s deputy, shooting an unarmed Massey in the head in her kitchen after she called 911 to report a possible intruder in her home. Grayson has worked at six law enforcement agencies in four years, according to records from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. A grand jury indicted him last week on several charges, including three counts of first-degree murder. The Department of Justice said it is “assessing the circumstances” and will follow the case.
What it means: Massey’s killing is a stark reminder of how quickly police encounters can turn violent for Black people, even when they call for help. Black Americans make up about 14% of the US population but are killed at more than twice the rate of white Americans, according to The Washington Post’s database on police shootings. Massey is one of several Black women killed by police in their homes in recent years, like Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jefferson. Her death has renewed calls for police reforms, which have taken a back seat in the years following George Floyd’s murder.
🎤 Timothée Chalamet finally showed off his Bob Dylan vocals. Lil' Timmy Tim has come a long way.
Election 2024
“This next election is going to have profound consequences for all of us, but especially for younger voters, especially for those of us who thought some of these rights [were] enshrined in law [but] are now very much at risk.”
theSkimm’s co-founders and co-CEOs, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, spoke with Michigan Governor and Kamala Harris' campaign co-chair Gretchen Whitmer about the Democratic ticket Veepstakes, how the party should appeal to conservative and independent women, her new book, and more. Listen to the conversation here.
Skimm Picks
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
Here are the books our Skimm Reads editors can't stop talking about, including a juicy memoir by a former hedge fund employee and a Toni Morrison novella that should be required reading.
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Extra Credit
Watch
If you’re a fan of Love Island, there’s a good chance you’ll also be into The Decameron, a new Netflix series about a group of medieval nobles — stay with us — who try to avoid the bubonic plague by escaping to a villa outside Florence with some servants. The result? A dark comedy featuring plenty of romance, drama, and shenanigans. Loosely inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century story collection of the same name, the eight episodes — described as a “wine-soaked sex romp in the Italian countryside” — star Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, and Tanya Reynolds. Funny, weird, and filled with “edge-of-your-seat plot twists,” The Decameron might just give your favorite reality dating show a run for its money.
For more recs...
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Settle This
Prince William’s annual salary was revealed in a new royal report. Can you guess how much he made?
Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.
Honestly, same — but there’s something else that can help: the Skimm Well newsletter. When you sign up, you’ll get expert-backed advice and info in your inbox every week, so you can take control of your mental and physical health.
