Skimm This

First up: Biden and Putin had their first face-to-face meeting. We’ll tell you what was on the agenda (hint: nuclear weapons and cyberattacks) and whether this meeting was more than just a photo op.  Next: We’ve got the context on recent reports about the Trump-era Department of Justice obtaining the info of journalists and politicians, and what’s going on with the latest heat wave out West.  Then: The Supremes are about to take their summer vacay, but before they go, they tend to drop some bombshells. And two major decisions broke today. We’ll explain the cases we have our eye on.  Finally: Saturday is Juneteenth. We’re taking a look at how companies have been thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion differently over the last year.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Torrey Taussig, research director for the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at the Harvard Kennedy School Caroline Polisi, legal analyst and adjunct lecturer at Columbia Law School Evelyn Carter, Managing Partner, Paradigm  Janelle Jones, Chief Economist, Department of Labor 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 Bridget Armstrong and Alex Carr. 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 Biden’s first overseas trip as president, how the U.S. hopes to stay the world’s top tech country, why its RIP for Keystone XL and what leaked docs show the ultra-wealthy really pay in taxes.Next: This week, the F.D.A. approved a new Alzheimer’s drug — but not everyone’s thrilled. We’ll get into why experts aren’t so sure about aducanumab.Then: Dozens of bills restricting voters’ rights have passed in states all over the U.S. this year. We’ll dive into some of the most common restrictions being passed, and the impact they’re likely to have. You can find theSkimm’s breakdown of voting rights bills by state here. ICYMI: A 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court and aging liberal judges has some calling for Justice Breyer to step down. We’ll break down why a guy with a lifetime gig might choose to throw in the towel early.Plus: What’s in a name? A lot, if you ask the W.H.O — which is asking news outlets to call COVID-19 variants by Greek letter nicknames.Finally: Hear ye, hear ye. There’s a new royal baby in town. So we’re talking royal baby names with an expert… and breaking down why Meghan and Harry’s choice of Lilibet Diana might be a diplomatic masterstroke.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Eliza Sweren-Becker, counsel, Brennan Center for Justice Omid Scobie, royals correspondent, Harper's Bazaar, author, “Finding Freedom” P.S. If your appetite for learning about the royals knows no bounds, check out our list of 9 essential royal reads.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 Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down Israel’s (likely) government shakeup, Biden’s latest moves on the southern border, and new data about female CEOs.Next: We’ll look at why tennis star Naomi Osaka’s decision to take a break from competition is about so much more than sports.Then: While the U.S. deals with vaccine hesitancy, a lot of countries have no shots, period. We’ll talk to a health reporter about how the U.S. can (and should) turn the global vaccine shortage around.ICYMI: This week was the 100 year anniversary of the race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We asked two experts why schools don’t teach students about that and the dozens of similar events that happened in what’s known as the “Red Summer.”Finally: We’ll get the lowdown from a book critic about why adding a kinda dark-sounding work of foreign fiction to our summer reading list is worth it.P.S. You can get your copy of this year’s International Booker Prize winner here.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Natasha Loder, health policy editor, The Economist, host, “The Jab” podcast Dr. Shanedra Nowell, associate professor of social studies education, Oklahoma State University Heather Goodenough, social studies teacher, Oklahoma Lily Meyer, writer, translator and book critic 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 Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: Let’s break down some headlines, from America’s top diplomat visiting Israel to Belarus faking an airline bomb threat.Next: President Biden wants U.S. intelligence to figure out the origins of COVID-19. That’s reviving an old theory that the pandemic could have come from a laboratory.Plus: It’s been a year since George Floyd was murdered. We’ll break down what progress has been made — and where activists say there’s more to do.ICYMI: In a bid to get past the partisan standoff in Congress, politicians are reconnecting with some old friends: earmarks. We break down how the controversial practice could help — or hurt — in Washington D.C. Finally: If you can’t stop sneezing … we know why. We’ll chat with a pollen expert about tips to cope and why pollen forecasting could offer some sweet relief.Interested in joining our team? Check out our audio producer job opening here.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director, The Advancement Project Fiona Lo, pollen scientist, 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 and Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear.Correction: A previous version of our story on earmarks featured an archival news audio clip claiming that $500,000 had been earmarked for studying "shrimp on a treadmill." That news clip failed to mention that funding was spent on a variety of scientific projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got the context you need on the Mississippi abortion law heading to the Supreme Court, the new hate crimes bill that just passed Congress and President Biden showing off an electric pickup. Next: Nearly two weeks of Israeli-Palestinian fighting has caused fighting… among US lawmakers. We’ll break down what’s going on with America’s diplomatic relationship with Israel, and what some politicians are hoping to change.  Plus: U.S. military intelligence says reports of UFOs are legit. But do we know anything about them?Then: If you’re thinking about planning a vacation this summer, you might want to act fast. We’ll tell you why everything from flights to rental cars is in extra high demand right now. ICYMI: You may have heard the word “inflation” come up recently. If you need a quick refresher, we’ve got you. We’ll explain how inflation works, why people are talking about it right now, and ask an expert if it’s worth getting worried.Finally: On our other podcast, Skimm’d from the Couch, we sat down with Stacey Abrams this week to talk career goals. You can catch our full interview here.Interested in joining our team? Check out our audio producer job opening here.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Anna Palmer, founder and CEO, Punchbowl News Darlene Brown, Texas AirBNB operator, owner, Bonhost Dr. Kristen Broady, fellow, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and former Georgia House representative 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 Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: Renewed Israeli-Palestinian conflict is threatening to spiral into all-out war. We’ll break down what you need to know. Then: We’re giving you the context on two more events that have been making headlines this week: Liz Cheney’s demotion, and a Pfizer vaccine for teens.  Next: A major pipeline in the US got hacked over the weekend. We’ll tell you WTF a ransomware attack is, why they’re so common, and why the US is typically a major target. ICYMI: We’re speaking with one of the cofounders of the nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate to talk about the hate crimes that Asian Americans have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.Finally: We’ve been feeling kind of embarrassed about our screen time over the past year… but should we be? We investigated whether this pesky new habit is really so bad. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Lily Hay Newman, senior writer, WIRED Manjusha P. Kulkarni, co-founder, Stop AAPI Hate Wendy Zukerman, host, “Science Vs,” a podcast from Gimlet, A Spotify Studio 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 Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ve got the context on this week’s biggest headlines, from Trump’s Facebook ban to what’s going on with federal eviction protections and protests in Colombia. Plus: This week, the White House said it supports waiving patent protections for COVID vaccines. Well break down whether that will help boost the global vaccine supply and why drug companies are annoyed.  Next: Can employers or colleges make people get vaccinated? We’ll take a look at the arguments on both sides.Then: Whether it’s burnout or boredom, low wages or Zoom fatigue, millennials are making some big professional and financial changes. The logic? YOLO.ICYMI: Who else knows you only live once? The billionaires competing in the 21st century’s new space race. We’re diving into what the battle between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos means for the future of space travel.Finally: It’s been a mother of a year. We’re passing the mic to five moms to hear how its been and what this Sunday means to them. P.S. You can find theSkimm’s guide to Mother’s Day — from our survey results to gift guides and how to outsource your household work — here.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Lavanya Vasudevan, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University’s Global Health Institute Kevin Roose, technology and business columnist, The New York Times Marina Koren, staff writer, The Atlantic Jessica, Samii, Rochelle and Stephanie, Skimm’r moms  Stacy Rapacon, theSkimm’s finance editor 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 Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: President Biden’s been in office for 100 days. And while he's giving himself an A for effort, we’ll break down his real report card with what he has – and hasn’t – accomplished so far.  ICYMI: We’ve got the latest on the 2020 Census data, the arrival of some pesky friends, and the drama between Facebook and Apple (pssst: you may have a front row seat).  Next: India is facing a COVID-19 crisis. We’ll explain what’s going on, and what the rest of the world is doing to help.  Later: The U.S. still hasn’t reached herd immunity. One reason? Vaccine hesitancy. We spoke to an expert to ask: how bad is this problem and how are public health agencies trying to change minds? Finally: Do the words “bedtime procrastination” resonate with you? We’ll break down the concept, and hopefully, help you catch some zzz’s.  PS: Those links we told you about in our sleep segment?  Check out Dr. Sirois’s research here Here’s the OG “revenge bedtime procrastination” article  And here’s our guide to help you sleep smarter On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Lavanya Vasudevan, assistant professor of family Medicine and community health, Duke University Global Health Institute Dr. Fuschia Sirois, researcher on health and human psychology, University of Sheffield Carly M., theSkimm’s health writer  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 Luke Vargas. With additional support from Ciara Long and Peter Bonaventure. theSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special episode of Skimm This, we wanted to take a break from the news for some comic relief, and get a chance to hear some of your voices. A few weeks ago, we asked you to fill out a survey about how the past year has been. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And we started getting a lot of must-read responses to one question in particular: what was your best or worst pandemic purchase?  First up: A wannabe survivalist builds out his basement to store lots and lots of powdered milk. We decided to check in with him...and his wife. Then: We heard about some toys for kids that didn’t exactly come as advertised.  Next: Millennials are becoming farmers, with new chicken coops and garden boxes sparking joy.  Later: Some purchases ended up being some serious silver linings. Looking at you, new mattress and blow-up swimming pool. And other pandemic buys became new hobbies that are hopefully sticking with us post-COVID.    Finally: We’ll break down the trends from the year’s purchases...and give you some tips on what makes a good one (and how to avoid the bad).  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Luke Vargas, senior audio producer, theSkimm Skimm’rs Dominique, Lisa, Heather, Mia, Julia, Shelby, Sara, Anissa, Jessica and Kelly  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Check out Skimm Your Life, a newsletter giving your product recommendations and life hacks  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, Ciara Long and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: A jury this week found Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd. We’ll talk to the creator of Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability  about how this historic trial could impact law enforcement trials in the future.  ICYMI: We’ve got the latest news about fake vaccines, global travel warnings and a sleep study you may have texted to your parents in a panic. Next: The U.S. just set some big climate goals. We’ll break down what those promises actually mean. (Here’s the Daily Skimm’s big Earth Day newsletter) Later: So much for dolphins in the Venice canals. A year into the pandemic, global emissions are rising again. But there are some silver linings. We’ll talk to a climate reporter about the growing environmental justice movement and how we can make a difference.  Finally: We’ve got a viewer’s guide on Sunday’s Academy Awards and what to binge at the last minute. (P.S. Our team's favorite films last year were Promising Young Woman, First Cow, Bacurau, Greyhound and Emma) On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Sharon Fairley, professor, University of Chicago Law School, and creator of Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability Helen Mountford, vice president for climate and economics, World Resources Institute  Kendra Pierre-Louis, senior reporter and producer, “How to Save a Planet” Nicole Sperling, media and entertainment reporter, The New York Times 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 Luke Vargas. With additional support from Ciara Long and Peter Bonaventure. Our head of audio is Graelyn Brashear.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices