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...

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 restrict...

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...

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 —...

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 som...

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’r...

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...

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 c...

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?  Fir...

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...

First up: To help understand all of this week’s COVID headlines – including big news about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – we phoned up a doctor to ask: “Hey did you read that thing?” Then: We’ve got the latest on the most recent incident of police violence in Minnesota, why Iran is increasing its uranium enrichment, and the latest beef between the U.S. and Russia. After that: If President Biden h...

First up: We’ve got this week’s biggest headlines, from progress towards a new Iran nuclear deal to border clashes in Northern Ireland and Biden’s latest moves on gun control. (0:46) Then: This week, Arkansas’ Governor vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for minors – only for lawmakers to overturn the veto. We’ll break down a rollercoaster week in the state. (5:22) Next: President Bi...

First up: Derek Chauvin’s trial began this week. He’s the former police officer accused of killing George Floyd. We’re taking a look at what we can expect in the courtroom in the weeks ahead. And we’ll break down why America doesn’t have a strong track record when it comes to convicting police officers.   Then: It’s time for headlines. We’re bringing you news from the WHO, Pfizer, Georgia, and New...

First up: Less than a week after a mass shooting in Atlanta, there was another massacre – this time in Colorado. We’re diving in to look at what’s changed – and what hasn’t – about gun violence in the US.  Then: From Israel’s elections and a ship stuck in the Suez Canal to Equal Pay Day and Virginia abolishing the death penalty, we’ve got the context on this week’s biggest headlines. Next: As spri...

First up: We’ve got the context on this week’s deadly shootings around Atlanta, where a lone gunman murdered 8 people — 6 of them of Asian descent — in a time when attacks against Asian Americans are rising.  Then: Last weekend, police in London shut down a vigil for Sarah Everard, who was abducted and murdered while walking home from a friend’s house. We break down why Everard’s death matters — n...

First up: Today, President Biden signed a long-awaited stimulus bill. We’ll break down three of the biggest wishes he granted and look at who’s gonna be affected. (Here’s the rest of theSkimm on the stimulus bill) Then: We’ll explain the CDC’s new guidelines about what we can do once we’ve been vaccinated. Plus: We’ll follow one Skimm HQ’er as she gets her first shot. Remember Me? TheSkimm sat dow...

First up: We had some questions for the new CDC director, like: if it’s my turn, how do I sign up to get vaccinated? Then: We’ve got the context on some of this week’s big headlines, including the latest on NY Governor Cuomo, why the Capitol is on high alert, and what’s up with Dr. Seuss. Next: We’ll explain the fate of the $15 minimum wage … in 60 seconds.  ICYMI: A new report found that politica...

First up: A few places, including the U.K. and Israel, have successfully rolled out COVID-19 vaccinations. We want to know: how did they do it? And can we copy what they got right? Then: We’ll fill you in on what you need to know about Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, which should get FDA approval this week. Next: We’ve got the context on two of the week’s headlines, involving former Presiden...

On this bonus episode of Skimm This, we're following up our interview with Vice President Kamala Harris by diving into a topic that's been on our minds for a while now: the “she-cession,” a.k.a. how women have been impacted by the economic recession caused by the pandemic.  First up: We’ll hear how about the difficulties two Skimm’rs are facing juggling parenting and work.  Then: Our expert guests...

First up: We’ll break down how one of America’s largest states was brought to its knees by a freak winter storm, and why most of the rest of the country has been so cold. Then: We’re bringing you the latest on stories from Australia, Tokyo...and at Walmart...and giving you the context on why they matter. Next: We saw a lot of COVID-related headlines this week. To clear the noise on what’s going on...

First up: Women are being pushed out of the workforce at an alarming rate. We interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris to learn how the next COVID relief bill could provide women with some relief. Then: We’re bringing you three headlines – Trump’s Impeachment trial, the rise in hate acts against Asian Americans, and a microchip shortage – and breaking down the context on why they matter.  Next: Mo...

ICYMI, the last year has been stressful. But we can’t just unplug, wait a few seconds, and hope that everything returns to "normal" again. No matter how much we might want to. That's why today, we're gonna dig into something that’s been generating a lot of buzz over the last few months: mindfulness. First: We’ll hear from a Skimm’r who has used mindfulness to get through some tough moments – at ho...

First up: We’ll ask an expert about whether we should be picky about which COVID vaccine we get, and break down why the COVID vaccines haven’t been distributed equitably so far.  Then: While the NFL is hoping for a safe Super Bowl on the field, doctors are more worried about the fans at home, and are hoping Sunday’s watch parties doesn’t turn into a public health nightmare. Next: We’re bringing yo...

First up: By now you’ve probably heard about some new strains of COVID-19… that kinda sound like spy names. Meet B117, B1351, and P-1. And some bad news: they’re potentially more harmful. We’ll break down what we know so far about how to protect yourself, and whether the vaccines will still be effective against them. (0:58) Then: This week, all eyes were on...GameStop. And no, that isn’t a typo. W...

First up: Before handing over the keys to the White House, President Trump made some final moves in office that could have a lasting impact. We’ll Skimm his final acts, from presidential pardons to foreign policy pivots.  Then: President Biden jumped right into the Oval on Wednesday to start rolling out his agenda. We’ll break down what he’s already done in office and what you can keep an eye out...