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The saga over TikTok is back in the headlines this week. The Chinese-owned social platform is desperately looking for a match before Sunday - the deadline President Trump gave the company to find a buyer before it gets banned from the U-S. We’ll break down the drama over which company is getting TikTok’s final rose. And: the fires on the West coast have created some of the most unhealthy air quality… in the world. We’ll talk to experts about what can be done to stop each fire season from being worse than the one before. And explain the health risks of breathing in all this smoke. And for info on how to prepare your home for a wildfire, you can learn more here.Also: live sports are back. But while COVID-19 infections aren’t slowing down the rush to get back on the field, what kind of message does that send?Finally: come on board… a flight to nowhere. We’ll explain why some airlines are hoping you miss everything about travel, including just being on a plane. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Kate Andrews, Portland, OR resident Lori Daniels, fire ecologist, University of British Columbia Haverty Brown, Portland, OR resident Dr. John Balmes, Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco Adamma Izuegbunam, volunteer with MasksOakland Nicole Fisher, public health consultant, HHR Strategies Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump is in the hot seat this week regarding COVID-19. A new book - and some audio recordings - reveal him acknowledging the consequences of the virus behind the scenes while downplaying it to the American public. We’ll explain why this is making headlines eight weeks before the election. And: the West Coast continues to battle severe fires. This year’s fire season is already almost 20 times more advanced than it was this time last year. We’ll break down why scientists say there’s a link between climate change and the drier conditions that help fires spread. Also: back to school looks really different this fall. Think: less stress picking out your first day outfit. And more masks, confusion, and exhausted parents. Finally: if 2020 has you asking, what season is it anyway? You’re not alone. We’ll tell you why travel agents and beach towns are hoping this will be the year of the “endless summer.” On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Chandar Lewis, assistant professor in the College of Education at Jackson State University Skimm’r Stephanie  Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, and Luke Vargas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All eyes were on President Trump this week as he visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake was shot last month. The shooting prompted protests and reignited calls for police reform and racial justice. But the President’s mind was on something else: “domestic terror.” We’ll break down why criminal justice experts say that definition for protests in Kenosha and around the country doesn’t quite fit. Also: new CDC guidance is causing some people to question the COVID-19 death rate. Now, epidemiologists are trying to separate fact from fiction so that misinformation doesn’t cloud this public health crisis. And our big story of the week: a tale of two housing markets. On the one hand, mortgage rates are low and big cities are losing residents to the suburbs. But on the other: inventory is down, causing home prices to skyrocket. We’ll explain why this matters, whether or not you’re in the market for a new place. And finally, we’ve got the latest on summer blockbuster season. Grab your popcorn.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Laura Dugan, professor of criminology, University of Maryland Mahlissa Martin, first-time homebuyer Diana C. Minshall, Sotheby's International Realty agent Michael Neal, senior research associate, Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute Jonita Davis, film critic, TheBlackCape.com Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Ellen Burke, Alex Carr, Marion Lozano, and Luke Vargas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cellphone video of the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin police has reignited Black Lives Matter protests around the country. And everyone – from the NBA to the Wisconsin legislature – is considering how to take action. Also: severe weather is impacting the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, with COVID-19 changing virtually all aspects of emergency response. In California, thousands are being evacuated as wildfires blaze. And in Louisiana and Texas, COVID-19 testing has been suspended as concerns mount that an already-deadly hurricane could become a “super-spreader” event, too. And our big story of the week: What do you get when you combine COVID-19, social media influencers and girl power? In the Eastern European nation of Belarus, the answer is revolution. We’ll break down what’s driving hundreds of thousands of protesters to call for the removal of “Europe’s Last Dictator.”We’ve also got some news from the RNC and the latest on a surprise NASA says could come just in time for election day. To read up on President Trump’s second term agenda, you can check it out here. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Walter Katz, Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures Hanna Baraban, freelance journalist and international relations and security analyst Dr. Alla Leukavets, independent political analyst Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, and Luke Vargas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s fastest developing story… is all about snail mail. That’s right. Some controversial new changes at the US Postal Service are causing mail delays and making some people worried about voting by mail this November. But now, the Postmaster General is hitting pause on those new changes until after the election. We’ll explain what happened and why some lawmakers are still concerned. And our big story of the week: it’s the 100 year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. And we spoke to a few grandmas about their first time exercising that right. But the fight for suffrage… didn’t end with that amendment. That’s because the 19th Amendment didn’t give all women the right to vote. We’ll break down how the suffrage movement from the 1900s still lives on today. Also: we’ll tell you about something you may have missed from this week’s Democratic National Convention that has climate activists speaking out. Hint: it’s a good lesson in always hitting “track changes.”If you want to read more on the Democratic Party Platform, you can check it out here.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Ida Jones, university archivist at Morgan State University Skimm’r Grandmothers: Florence Blatt, Arlene Krouner, and Ann German Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, Julia Nutter, and Luke Vargas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where were you when heard the country was in a national emergency because of COVID-19? If you can remember where you were, down to what Netflix you were binging, there’s a name for that. In today’s Skimm Special, brought to you in partnership with Shutterfly, we’ll speak with an expert who’ll explain why that memory is crystal clear. Then we’ll hear from Skimm’rs all over the U.S. who celebrated big milestones in quarantine, and made great memories regardless. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Linda Levine, Professor of Psychology and Social Behavior at UC-Irvine Olivia Hall, recently married emergency medicine doctor in San Francisco Maryan Adan, New Mission High School’s valedictorian ‘20 and incoming Harvard University freshman Cydney Mitchell, recently pregnant Atlanta-based interior designer Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Olivia Reingold, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, and Julia Nutter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic and Republican national conventions typically represent a major moment in the lead up to an election. But this year - you guessed it - they’re going to look different. And some attendees might be joining from their couch. In this episode, we’ll break down why conventions matter. And talk to Democratic and Republican party officials about what the challenges are this year.Also: this week was one for the history books. Because presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced his running mate: Kamala Harris. She’s the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent ever on a major party’s presidential ticket. We’ll tell you what to keep an eye on for the rest of the campaign. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Xochitl Hinojosa, senior advisor and communications director for the Democratic National Committee Cassie Smedile, deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee  Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. This podcast was Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Marion Lozano, Julia Nutter, and hosted by Justine Davie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s August. Which usually means college students are heading back for the fall semester. But this year, back-to-school tailgates and freshman orientation look a little different. Think: hand sanitizer relay races. We’ll break down how some of the biggest campuses in the country are planning to open safely. And what the concerns are from some faculty, parents, and students. Also: we’re talking about TikTok. The app millions have become addicted to during the pandemic is back in the headlines this week, after President Trump threatened to ban it and US companies try to buy it. So: should you delete it? We’ll explain the privacy concerns surrounding the app. (For more on the executive orders President Trump signed overnight about TikTok, check out this morning’s Daily Skimm.)On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Art Markman, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and the Chair of the Academic Working Group for Fall Planning Caroline Garrison, a sophomore journalism major at the University of Missouri Audrey O’Shaughnessy, a sophomore American Studies major at Notre Dame Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, and Julia Nutter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of July, in an effort to protect federal monuments and buildings, President Trump started deploying federal agents to cities across the country. But in Portland, Oregon, that effort backfired. In a city where protests had started to calm down, thousands of people started turning out against what they saw as a federal occupation. We’ll break down what’s been happening in Portland, how things came to a boiling point this past week, and why the Trump admin is sending agents to more cities.Also this week: the race for a COVID-19 vaccine reached a new milestone. Biotech company Moderna started its phase three trial in the US. We’ll tell you what this means for the vaccine timeline.And finally: a record number of Black women are running for Congress this year. We talk to Kimberly Walker, who’s in the race for Florida’s 12th Congressional District, about why she decided to run.On this episode you’ll hear from: Esther Krofah, Executive Director of FasterCures at the Milken Institute Kimberly Walker, candidate for Florida’s 12th Congressional District Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It has everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. This podcast was Skimm’d by Alex Carr, Hadley Malcom, Julia Nutter, Marion Lozano and hosted by Justine Davie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is back in session. And the major topic up for discussion: another economic stimulus package. Some big deadlines are coming up (think: the $600/week federal unemployment benefit is about to expire). And as new COVID-19 cases continue to spike, states, small businesses, and families are looking for another economic boost. We’ll break down what economists say needs to be included in the next legislation - and why public health and economic health are one in the same right now. Also: the late congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis fought for voting rights for decades. We’ll explain why lawmakers say passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act could restore protections for millions of voters – and honor Lewis’s legacy.   And finally: we’ll introduce you to the Radical Monarchs - the subject of a new film on PBS. It’s like the Girl Scouts, but with a twist of social justice. Members earn badges for learning about climate change, and allyship, and other issues that impact their communities. We spoke to the group’s co-founders about why having these conversations with young women is crucial. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Kathryn Edwards, associate economist at the RAND Corporation Dr. Damon Jones, economist and associate professor at the University of Chicago Anayvette Martinez, co-founder of the Radical Monarchs Marilyn Hollinquest, co-founder of the Radical Monarchs  Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It has everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices