Skimm This

First up: We’ve got the latest on voting rights legislation in the Senate, 5G versus airlines, the Texas synagogue standoff, and how to get free COVID-19 tests and N95 masks.Next: We called up White House press secretary Jen Psaki to talk about President Biden’s priorities for his second year in office. ICYMI: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in hot water for breaking lockdown rules in 2020. Rules his administration made. We’ll spill the tea in 60 seconds.Then: After months and months of postponed RTO plans, some companies are now scrapping plans to head back to the office altogether. We’ll ask one reporter if we’re past the point of no return when it comes to going back IRL.Plus: It’s review season — which means it’s your chance to ask your boss for that raise or promotion you’ve been after. We talked to one expert about how to make the ask. Finally: Sundance Film Festival starts this week — and this year, you don’t have to go in person to watch some of indie cinema’s hottest new offerings. We’ll ask the festival’s director why making Sundance accessible is so important to the world of movie-making.P.S. Here’s where to order your free COVID-19 tests, and here’s what’s playing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Jen Psaki, White House press secretary  Rachel Feintzeig, work and life columnist, Wall Street Journal Amanda Augustine, career coach, TopResume Tabitha Jackson, director, Sundance Film Festival  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Ciara Long. Additional help from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got the latest on how hospitals are coping with Omicron cases amid a staffing shortage, rising inflation (again), the latest scandal to hit top US universities, and Prince Andrew getting thrown some royal shade. Then: The US and Russia are squaring off again – and these talks are giving people some major Cold War vibes. We’ll ask one expert why things are so tense right now, and why Putin’s got Team Biden running in circles. ICYMI: Djokovic might be warming up for the Australian open, but immigration officials still haven’t decided if he should even be in the country. We’ll bring you up to date on the twists and turns of Djokovic’s Australian visa drama.Next: The debate over the filibuster is back and if you forgot exactly what the filibuster even is…you’re not alone. We’ll run through a quick definition, and break down both sides of the spicy debate over changing it. Finally: At theSkimm, we do New Year’s resolutions a little differently. Today, we’ll fill you in on one of the ways we’re getting smarter this year: making sure our paycheck deductions are going to the best health insurance and retirement options.P.S. Here’s what all those acronyms for different kinds of retirement plans actually mean.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program, Center for a New American Security Marsha Barnes, personal finance expert and founder, The Finance Bar  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Ciara Long. Additional help from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got the latest on school closures across the country, COVID-19 boosters for teenagers, the jury’s verdict in the Elizabeth Holmes trial, and Apple hitting $3 trillion dollars. Next: Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout is threatening to ground planes in major cities all over the US. We’ll break down why — and how the airlines and mobile networks plan to fix it. Then: One year ago today, rioters stormed the Capitol building in DC. We’ll ask two experts: what’s happened since then? And what’s being done to make sure nothing like this ever happens again?Plus: Biden’s got beef with the meat industry. We’ll explain why a few major meatpackers have got the President’s attention. Finally: It’s been 20 years since the first Harry Potter movie hit theaters. We’ll talk to one journalist about the legacy of those movies - and what the HBO anniversary special left on the cutting room floor.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Molly Reynolds, senior fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institute Seamus Hughes, deputy director, George Washington University Project on Extremism Karla Rodriguez, pop culture reporter, Complex Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Ciara Long. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got the latest on the end of the Kellogg’s workers’ strike, the government hitting pause on student loan repayments again and emergency FDA authorization for Pfizer’s at-home COVID-19 pill. Then: If you’ve been wondering why we’re all still scrambling for rapid tests two years into the pandemic… you’re not alone. We Skimm’d Biden’s announcement this week on the plan for tackling Omicron - which includes revamping testing.Next: Season Three of COVID-19 just dropped, and a lot of people are getting positive tests for the first time. We’ll ask two doctors what we should do if we test positive.Plus: If you’re planning some serious sofa time over the holidays — whether you’re isolating at home, or just relaxing — we’ve got you covered. We’re sharing some of theSkimm staff’s top TV, film, book, and podcast recs from 2021.Finally: We’re really done with being in a f****** pandemic. And apparently it’s showing up in all our language, because we’re all cursing a lot more. We’ll break down why, and what you can do if you wanna clean things up. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Amber D’Souza, infectious disease epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins University Dr. Lipi Roy, medical director, Housing Works Dr. Kavita Patel, primary care physician and fellow, Brookings Institution  Skimm HQ’rs Alaisha, Andrew, Anthony, Ciara, Clem, Erika, Graelyn, Niven, and Sarah  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Ciara Long. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got the latest on the tornado damage in Kentucky, Congress raising the debt ceiling, and the big USA Gymnastics settlement. Then: This week, Congress passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act, funding the military for the next year. But this year’s bill was different. We’ll break down a major change that’s meant to curb sexual assault in the armed services. ICYMI: The Golden Globes nominations dropped this week… and basically no one cared. We’ll get into how the award ceremony’s scandal-tainted history is affecting its cultural relevance.Next: Experts say Omicron is about to surge here in the US. We called up Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to answer our questions about staying safe over the holidays. Plus: It seems like no-one can stop talking about inflation. Including the Federal Reserve, who met this week to try to lower prices. But while we wait for new policies to kick in, we’ve got some expert advice on how to rework your budget in the meantime. Finally: Peloton got some bad press after the first episode of the ‘Sex And The City’ reboot aired… and the workout-from-home company fired back with its own ad. We’ll ask a marketing expert: how much trouble did this actually cause for Peloton?P.S. Here’s what you can do to help victims of the recent tornadoes in the Midwest and the South.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Kelly Kennedy, managing editor, The War Horse Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  Marguerita Cheng, Certified Financial Planner Whitney Headen, CEO, 19th and Park creative agency Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Ciara Long. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today: we're sharing the latest episode of another Skimm podcast, Pop Cultured with theSkimm. Skimm This will be back in your feed with the week's news on Thursday.The Bachelorette’s Michelle Young is making Bachelor nation history. For the first time since the franchise premiered in 2002, the man who'll soon be handed that final rose is guaranteed to be a man of color. It may seem like reality dating shows are making some slow progress on diversity. But why aren’t they keeping up with our IRL views on love and relationships? You’ll hear from:Bethonie Butler, TV and pop culture reporter for the Washington Post.Joanna Weiss, Editor-in-Chief of Experience magazine and contributing editor to POLITICO MagazineWant more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: President Biden and Vladimir Putin had an awkward Zoom this week to discuss the growing tension at the border of Ukraine. But just like any convo you’ve had with a friend slash enemy, this one… didn’t solve much. Next: Speaking of US frenemies, this week Biden bucked the social norms by RSVPing ‘no’ to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics… as did Canada, the UK and Australia.ICYMI: We’ve got the latest on the Department of Justice suing Texas over its redistricting maps, new data about teens’ mental health, and Angela Merkel’s auf wiedersehen after 16 years as German Chancellor.Then: It’s looking more likely that SCOTUS might overturn Roe v. Wade next year. We’ll talk to two experts about how access to abortion affects our finances, our health and our mental wellbeing.Finally: Art Basel just wrapped in Miami, with a new addition this year: NFTs. We’ll ask one art reporter what this new convergence of art and tech means for the future of the art market.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Marta Perez, assistant professor of obstetrics & gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine Caitlin Myers, economics professor, Middlebury College Anna Brady, art markets editor, the Art Newspaper Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long. Additional help from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: The word of the week is definitely “Omicron.” We called up a doctor friend to break down what we do and don’t know about the new COVID-19 variant.Next: We’ll get into this week’s other big headlines, from a school shooting in Michigan to a controversial new Twitter policy, and the start of Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial.Then: The Supreme Court heard a major abortion case this week about Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks. We listened in on the hearing and asked an expert about how the Supremes might rule.ICYMI: Barbados kicked out Queen Elizabeth II as head of state this week and honored … Rihanna that same evening? We’ll break down what happened in 60 seconds.Finally: The Royal Family viewed through a horror lens. Thick Italian accents and fur coats. And two tennis stars’ intense training regimen. We’ll check in with Thrillist film critic Esther Zuckerman to hear about the three films we need to watch now.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Namandje N. Bumpus, director, department of pharmacology and molecular sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine Tatum Hunter, personal technology reporter, The Washington Post Seema Mohapatra, visiting professor of law, Southern Methodist University School of Law Esther Zuckerman, senior entertainment writer, Thrillist  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long. Engineered by Peter Bonaventure. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got a breakdown of the week’s biggest stories – including anti-lockdown protests in Europe, what President Biden is doing to lower gas prices, and why more Americans are saying they don’t want to have children.  Next: We’ll break down the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and speaking to an expert about the bigger implications of this trial for gun rights in the United States.  Then: We’ve got updates on the status of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, and we’ll follow up on those labor strikes from October.  Plus: If your family keeps complaining about the cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, we’ve got some tips on how to limit the impact rising inflation will have on your wallet. Finally: If your dinner table debates get a little too spicy this year, it might be time to call in the oracle of Delphi – or at least her AI replacement. Here’s where you can find her. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Cheryl Bader, clinical associate professor of law, Fordham  Liwei Jiang, PhD candidate, University of Washington Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down the headlines, including what got settled at a meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and China, why the sports world is on edge after the disappearance of a Chinese tennis star, new consumer spending data, and why the House voted to censure Republican Paul Gosar.Next: Vladimir Putin is causing headaches for world leaders again. We’ll ask one expert: why is Russia stirring up trouble with Poland and Ukraine, and firing missiles into space? Then: We’ve got an exclusive chat with Mayor Pete — or rather, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg — on what the newly-passed infrastructure bill will mean for your town or city.ICYMI: Elon Musk has been all over the news lately: selling Tesla stocks, insulting politicians, and telling the U.N. he’d help solve world hunger if they showed him a plan. We’ll save you a scroll down his Twitter feed with a breakdown of what he’s been up to … in 60 seconds.Plus: November is Native American Heritage Month. We’ll speak to one expert about the dark history of American assimilation policies, and what new research is uncovering.Finally: Ahead of Thanksgiving, we called up a few of our doctor friends to ask what they’re doing to celebrate the holiday safely this year.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  John E. Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Dr. Susana Grajales Geliga, co-director, Genoa Indian School Reconciliation Project Dr. Celine Gounder, clinical assistant professor of medicine and infectious diseases, New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine Dr. Amber D’Souza, infectious disease epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins University Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long. Additional support from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices