Podcasts by Skimm This

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At What Cost: Taliban Talks, China Tariffs, and a Very Long Cruise from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

US and Taliban negotiators are reportedly closing in on a deal that lead to a drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan. The deal could be a way to help the US end the longest war in its history, but so...

Out of Office: AI and Jobs, Hong Kong Arrests, and Pigs on the Run from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Automation and artificial intelligence are supposed to make jobs easier, but sometimes they can take away jobs altogether. This Labor Day weekend, we’re taking a look at the current and future impa...

Lift Off: US Space Command, Vaping, ‘Planet’ Pluto from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today President Trump announced the lift-off of a new part of the military: the United States Space Command. We’ll explain what it might look like, and what its role could be. Then: this summer, 22...

Incoming: UK Parliament Suspension, Hurricane Dorian, Greta Thunberg from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Queen to suspend parliament, and she said she would. We’ll explain why this is a controversial move, and what this has to do with Brexit. Then: Hurri...

Reckoning: Opioid Rulings, Epstein, and Rescuing Rhinos from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Johnson & Johnson was hit with a $572 million penalty for its role in fueling the opioid crisis in Oklahoma. The drug company says it will appeal. We’ll discuss how the judgment was reached, and ho...

Tiebreak: G7 Conclusion, GOP Challengers, and Althea Gibson from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

G7 leaders are heading home after their latest summit in France. We’ll take a look at three of the big issues they tried to tackle, and what to expect next. Then: former US Rep. Joe Walsh is challe...

Cruel Summer: The Amazon, Beach-side Summits, and Taylor Swift from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As fires continue to burn across the Amazon, Brazilan President Jair Bolsonaro has blamed NGOs for starting the fires and is picking fights with other countries for telling him how to do his job. W...

Unraveling: Intel Sharing, Title X Funding, and Amazon Fires from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, South Korea said it will stop sharing military intelligence with Japan. We’ll look at the reasons why, and examine the possible fallout for the U.S. Then: Planned Parenthood pulled out of th...

Indefinitely, Maybe: Brexit, Migrant Detention, and Robots from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The UK’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew to Berlin this afternoon for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In a quick press conference, they listed a bunch of topics they wanted to cov...

Let’s Get Digital: Taxes, Texas, and College Football Rankings from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

France wants big tech firms to pay a 3 percent tax on profits they make in the country. We’ll explain why the companies are siding with President Trump to push back. Then: authorities in Texas repo...

Pride and Prejudice: Portland Protests, Open Arms, Humanitarian Day from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Dueling protests by right-wing and anti-fascist groups in Portland, Oregon over the weekend are raising questions about the definition of domestic terrorism. We’ll break down what happened, and whe...

Done Talking: North Korea, Greenland, and Superdeep Diamonds from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today North Korea called off peace talks with South Korea and launched its sixth missile test in a month. We’ll examine when and why diplomatic talks turned sour. Then: President Trump has reported...

Keeping Track: Lead in the Water, Israel Visit Ban, and Greta Thunberg from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thousands of residents in Newark, NJ are grappling with a growing crisis over lead in drinking water. Officials are handing out bottled water instead - and trying to figure out how to fix the pipes...

Huddled Masses: Green Cards, Abuse Victims, and Berlin Bees from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump administration is changing immigration rules to make it more difficult for welfare recipients to obtain green cards. We’ll break down the new rules and the arguments being used to defend ...

Grounded: Hong Kong Protests, Cracker Plants, and Chlamydia Vaccine from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Protesters and riot police clashed at Hong Kong’s International Airport today in ongoing demonstrations against the government. We’ll examine the background of the protests, and how the world is re...

Burning Questions: Jeffrey Epstein, Russian Missiles, Endangered Species from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide has left his accusers and the public demanding answers about why he was removed from suicide watch. We’ll explain why the federal facility that held him – and the...

SPECIAL EPISODE: A Deep Dive Into Deepfakes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Imagine a computer downloading footage or photos of you from the internet and using them to create a video of you saying something you’ve never said. Sounds more than a little sinister, right? It m...

Lay Of The Land: Climate Report, Immigration Raids, Iowa State Fair from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The UN’s latest climate change report says the way we are using land is seriously damaging the planet. We dive into the main findings, what problems we are causing, and what we really need to chang...

Pressure Points: Venezuela Sanctions, Gun Laws, and "Impeachment" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump admin still has issues with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro -- and it’s using new sanctions to try to squeeze him out of office. Venezuela calls it “economic terrorism.” We’ll look a...

Language Matters: Mass Shootings, China Currency, and Toni Morrison from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We’re still learning more about the two mass shootings that took place in Texas and Ohio over the weekend. Lawmakers are placing blame for these acts of violence on a bunch of things: from violent ...

No More Words: Mass Shootings in US, Tensions in Kashmir, and Hong Kong Protests from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This weekend in the US, there were two deadly mass shootings: one in Texas, and one in Ohio. They were less than 13 hours apart, and at least 31 people were killed. From increasing background check...

Dark and Stormy: Nuclear Treaty, Trade, and Happy Hour from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US officially pulled out of a historic Cold War arms control deal today. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty helped the US and Soviet Union reduce their nuclear stockpiles. But these d...

Burden of Proof: Criminal Justice Reform, A$AP Rocky, and Robocalls from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Onstage at last night’s democratic debate, candidates went after each other on their criminal justice records. Things got heated -- and personal. We’ll explain the history here. Meanwhile, rapper A...

Making The Most Of It: Medicare For All, Interest Rates, and Grasshoppers from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Medicare for All was all the rage at last night’s democratic debate. And not necessarily in a good way. We’ll tell you why Dems are divided over it, and what to expect for the second part of the de...

Keeping Watch: Dems Debate, Capital One Data Breach, and Robot Contacts from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Live from Detroit, it’s round two of the 2020 democratic primary debates. You know the drill: ten candidates tonight, and ten more tomorrow. But the dynamics have shifted since round one. We’ll tel...

Next Level: Trump vs. Cities, John Ratcliffe and Greta Thunberg from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This weekend President Trump unleashed a Twitter tirade against the city of Baltimore and Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings. Trump said Charm City is “infested with rodents,” and “dangerous,” re...

Tour de Force: Russia, OITNB and Cycling from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

 Russia targeted U.S voting systems. Right, we’ve heard that before. From Robert Mueller, for example. He really wanted to talk about Russian interference during his testimony on Capitol Hill this ...

Not Messing Around: North Korea, The Death Penalty, Heatwave from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

North Korea is playing with fire – literally. Just a couple weeks after President Trump visited Kim Jong Un in North Korea and agreed to resume denuclearization talks, North Korea tested two missil...

Digging deeper: Mueller Testifies, Facebook Settlement, and Self-Care Day from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, Democrats and Republicans told former special counsel Robert Mueller: ‘have a seat - actually, have two.’ Mueller said he was done talking about his report -- but lawmakers have more questio...

Changes: UK Prime Minister, SNAP Benefits, and Wrestling from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The UK has a new prime minister. Between dealing with Brexit and tensions with Iran, Boris Johnson has a long ‘to do’ list to tackle. And he doesn’t even have a full cabinet yet. We’ll explain what...

On The Rise: Tensions with Iran, Puerto Rico Protests and India's Moon Mission from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, Iranian officials announced that they’ve broken up a CIA spy ring and that they’ve arrested 17 suspected spies. Iran’s claimed this kind of thing before -- and President Trump says reports o...

SPECIAL EPISODE: To The Moon And Back from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the “giant leap for mankind.” You may have heard of it. On today’s episode, we break down the Apollo 11 mission: what it took to prepare for the mission, and wha...

Alienated: US and Turkey, FaceApp, and Area 51 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Turkey just ordered a new missile defense system from Russia. And now the US is telling Turkey: no F-35 fighter jets for you. Basically, the US is worried selling Turkey the F-35s means giving Russ...

On the Outs: Libra in Congress, Planned Parenthood, and Netflix from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, the head of Facebook’s global cryptocurrency project got a bipartisan grilling from the House Financial Services Committee. Lawmakers have been raising concerns about the crypto, called ‘Lib...

Transfer of Power: Asylum Rule, Ursula von der Leyen and Emmy Nominees from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump administration has issued a new rule that’ll mean most migrants heading to the US-Mexico border likely won’t be eligible for asylum. The admin says asylum seekers will have to ask other c...

Doubling Down: Trump Tweets, Puerto Rico, and Prime Day Protests from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Over the past few days, President Trump’s sent out a series of tweets about a group of “‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen.” He suggested they should “go back” to the countries they came from. To...

Incoming: Citizenship Data, ICE raids, and Tropical Storm Barry from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Donald Trump has dropped the idea of adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. But he says he has a back-up plan to get the data anyway. Which could affect elections across the co...

Don’t @ Me: Social Media Summit, Student Loans, and World Population from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, the White House hosted a social media summit. None of the big players (think: Facebook, Twitter) were reportedly on the guest list. President Donald Trump and his guests have claimed those c...

Free Falling: Interest Rates, UK Ambassador’s Resignation, and Ticker Tape from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, the Federal Reserve’s top guy Jerome Powell spoke. He doesn’t do that much. But when he does - it’s important. Especially when it comes to interest rates. We’ll tell you what you – and your ...

Picture This: ID Photos, Drug Prices, and Emojis from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In a new study, researchers at Georgetown University say FBI and ICE agents are giving millions of people ID checks. Their focus: your photo. Congress never gave the OK on this. And now lawmakers f...

The Big One: Jeffrey Epstein, The Census, and the World Cup from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire money manager, was in a New York federal court today to face sex trafficking charges. The indictment comes a decade after he served a light sentence in a Florida...

Upping the Ante: Campaign Fundraising, Immigration, and Hot Dogs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

‘Tis the season where all the 2020 candidates are letting us know what their campaign bank accounts look like. Some have a lot to brag about. But it isn’t all about the amount of cash – it’s also a...

Calls For Action: Border Facilities, Hong Kong, and Women’s World Cup from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

About a dozen lawmakers took a field trip to Texas yesterday. To visit two border facilities where migrants are being held. And some lawmakers did not like what they saw. Now there are protests bei...

Visiting Hours: Trump in North Korea, OPEC, and Cori Gauff at Wimbledon from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This weekend, President Trump became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea. This was Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s first meeting since February, when a summit abou...

The Heat Is On: Biden and Harris, G20, and the World Cup in Europe from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Senator Kamala Harris is getting a lot of attention today after last night’s democratic primary debate. She called out former VP Joe Biden over his record on race. And: busing. There’s a lot of his...

Take Two: SCOTUS, Dems Debate 2.0, and Rapping G20 Grannies from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, the Supremes dropped the mic on two big issues: partisan gerrymandering and a citizenship question on the census. These rulings really came down to the wire. But they weren’t a simple “yea” ...

Center Stage: 2020 Debates, Mueller’s Return, and Moon Rocks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The first 2020 Democratic primary debate begins tonight in Miami. But don’t forget: this is a two-night event. Featuring a total of 20 candidates. Some you may have already heard of. Others could b...

It’s Personal: Sanctions, E. Jean Carroll, and Climate Change from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump administration is sanctioning top Iranian officials, including Iran’s Supreme Leader. The US has been sanctioning Iran for a while already, to get them to change course on nukes – but do ...

New Year, New You, New Impeachment from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

First up: President Trump is now the first president to be impeached twice. We’ll tell you what happened this week and what to expect from a Senate trial. (:54) Then: It’s been more than a week si...

No Quick Fix: Immigration, Middle East Peace, and Women’s Soccer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Immigration and Customs Enforcement was scheduled to target 2,000 families in raids across the country this weekend. But with hours to spare before the raids: President Trump called them off. For n...

How It Ended: Chaos in Congress from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Welcome to Skimm This. Here’s what we’re covering this week:  First up: In D.C., as Congress gathered to certify President-elect Joe Biden's presidential win, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the...

Take It Back: US and Iran, Police on Social Media, and Harry Potter from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump says he approved military strikes on Iran planned for last night – but that he called them off with ten minutes to spare. This is the latest move in the rocky relationship between t...

2020's Big Breakthroughs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We all know 2020 has been a year. And while we may remember it as the year we started matching our facemasks to our sweatpants… it turns out 2020 can be remembered for a lot more than that. This we...

Meet Me In The Middle: China and NK, UK Prime Minister, and Phone Bone from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, China’s President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un kicked off a two-day summit with the red-carpet treatment. This is the first time in almost 15 years that a Chinese leader h...

You Asked, We Skimm’d: Russian Hacking, the New COVID Strain...and Aliens from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week, we’re answering your questions about what’s going on in the news right now. Here’s what you wanted to know:  First up: What’s the deal with this new strain of COVID that’s been found in...

Owning Up: Reparations, Jamal Khashoggi, and Joy Harjo from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Hundreds of people showed up to a House subcommittee hearing today on Capitol Hill. The topic? A bill that would create a commission to study slavery and whether reparations for African Americans a...

Your COVID Vaccine Q’s, Skimm’d from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Welcome to Skimm This. Here’s what we’re covering this week:  First up: The first Americans have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine. Now that it’s here, we know you’ve got questions. So we called in an e...

Ready to Launch: Libra, Trump’s 2020 Campaign, and Boaty McBoatface from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s only June, but Facebook’s ready for Libra season. The social media giant is about to roll out a new global cryptocurrency called Libra. We’ll explain why Facebook thinks you should turn your $...

Polar Express: From Pfizer’s Labs to You from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Welcome to Skimm This. Here’s what we’re covering this week:  First up: The Electoral College is meeting Monday to finally put this whole election to bed. We’ll tell you what’s expected to go dow...

Decisions, Decisions: Iran Nuclear Deal, SCOTUS, and Gloria Vanderbilt from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Iran Nuclear Deal is on the rocks. This is the deal Iran, the US and a bunch of major EU and other powers signed back in 2015 to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon. Now, Iran’s says it’s...

New Admin, Who 'Dis?: Cabinet Picks and Challenges from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We’re all pretty excited for a fresh start in 2021. Before we get there, we’ve got some vaccine news for you and a look at who might get a dose before the end of the year. Then, there’s one perso...

History Rhymes: the US and Iran, Flint, and Father’s Day from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There were explosions on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman this week. The US is pointing the finger at Iran, who’s saying ‘not us.’ These two countries have been going at it for a while – but the...

Kind of a Big Deal: Black Friday 2020 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Once the Thanksgiving table is cleared, it’s shopping season. Black Friday may look a bit different this year, but it still kicks off a crucial period for online and real-world retailers as they tr...

Fake It Till You Make It: Russia Probe Inquiry, ‘Deepfakes’, and Dads from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Special Counsel Robert Mueller dropped the mic a couple weeks ago, but Washington still has some unfinished business with the Russia investigation. The Attorney General has launched an investigatio...

You Can’t Sit With Us: COVID and Thanksgiving from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A dangerous collision between a pandemic and America’s biggest family gettogether is just around the corner. Before we get to the main course, we’ve got an update on the presidential transition be...

Waving Flags: Hong Kong Protests, Executive Privilege, and Pulse from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There were massive protests in Hong Kong today over a bill that would allow fugitives to be extradited to mainland China. Hong Kong is technically a semi-autonomous part of China. And protesters sa...

WFH: Is This Going To Be Forever? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In case you missed it last week, the U.S. just left the Paris Agreement on climate change. We’ve got the details on what could happen next. After that, we’ll explain the status of President Trump’s...

Game Time: ‘Safe Third Country’, Iowa, and Kickoff from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US and Mexico struck a deal on immigration before President Trump could impose tariffs on all Mexican imports. But now, Trump is saying ‘more to come.’ That could have to do with Mexico being n...

Deep Breath: Making Sense of a Crazy Week from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s been a long week, but it’s not over yet. We’ve got the latest on the Trump campaign’s legal strategy as it tries to stop the vote counts in some states and control which ballots are counted in...

Everything's Goin' My Way: Mueller Report, Health Care, and Ali Stroker from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week, lawmakers in Congress are nose-deep in a page-turner: the Mueller Report. Mueller’s not talking … but Dems are hearing from some old school political junkies - like President Nixon’s for...

Skimm This: Election Update from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Skimm This, breaking down what we know – and don’t know – about the election results so far.  First, the race for the White House. Spoiler: we still don’t hav...

Flip it and Reverse it: Emissions Rules, Robocallers, and the Women’s World Cup from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Major automakers wrote a letter to two of their pen pals: President Trump and CA Gov. Gavin Newsom. They’re asking them to, pretty please, compromise on emissions standards. Before it’s too late. W...

Last Call: Election Day Expectations from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Up first, we’ve got the latest on three developing stories from this week. Including: Amy Coney Barrett officially joining the Supreme Court, a new study on COVID-19 antibodies, and why tech CEOs f...

Not Forgotten: D-Day and Today, Hyde Amendment, and Long Weekend Forever from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

World leaders gathered today to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and remember those who fought and those who lost their lives. But the alliances in place since D-Day between the US and Europe ar...

theSkimm’s Interview with Sen. Kamala Harris from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week, theSkimm sat down with Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, to talk about everything that’s on her mind in the week leading up to Tuesday’s election.  From h...

Work, Work, Work: Arms Sales, Mexican Tariffs, and a Mass Wedding from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump administration wants to sell $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia and some other Middle East countries. But many US lawmakers are saying: ‘bad idea.’ We’ll explain why they don’t w...

Awareness, Meet Action: Battling Breast Cancer During COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week, we’ve got updates on three developing stories you’ve probably been hearing about. We’ll break down Pope Francis’s recent comments on same-sex civil unions. We’ve got the latest on new CO...

Old Wounds: Tiananmen Square, Cuba, and High Heels from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s been 30 years since Beijing's Tiananmen Square massacre, in which the Chinese government turned the military on its own people. China doesn’t want to talk about it – but some survivors do. And...

Are We There Yet? When to Expect a COVID Vaccine from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Research teams from around the world have been hard at work on a COVID-19 vaccine for more than six months. But the big question still remains: When are we going to actually have a vaccine? This we...

Breakin’ Up is Hard to Do: Big Tech, Trump’s UK Visit, and T-Swift from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Two major government agencies reportedly have their eyes on Google and Amazon. Because they’ve got antitrust issues. We’ll explain why. Meanwhile, President Trump and the First Lady are across the ...

Skimm Special, Part 3: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms. On today’s Skimm Special, brought to you in partnership with Nor...

Pressure’s On: Mexico Tariffs, Hollywood Boycotts, and Drake from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump is threatening Mexico with tariffs. Because of immigration. While the US, Mexico and Canada are trying to seal the deal on a new trade agreement. We’ll explain what it all means. Me...

Whoa, We’re Halfway … Where? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s been a week since President Trump announced he’d tested positive for COVID-19. We’ll give you an update on his condition and how this health scare has increased interest in the role of Vice Pr...

Now You See Me: Israel’s Parliament, Women Suing the FBI, and Spelling from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Israel’s parliament has dissolved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu couldn’t get enough support to form a government, and now the country has to vote all over again.This has never happened before ...

Skimm Special, Part 2: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms. On today’s Skimm Special, brought to you in partnership with Nor...

Is This Thing On?: Mueller Speaks, Abortion in Missouri, and Graduation Trees from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Special Counsel Robert Mueller turned off his “do not disturb” mode today to give a brief statement. The message: his Russia investigation is officially over and he’s clocking out. He said some wor...

Special Update: President Trump Tests Positive for COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Donald Trump announced Friday morning that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. The news has already sent shockwaves around the world. We’ll break down what we kn...

Extreme Measures: Opioid Crisis, Mount Everest, and Burnout from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Oklahoma is taking the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson to court today. This is the first state trial connected to the opioid crisis ... which has been determined a public health emergency....

Tug of War: The Future of the Supreme Court from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The President and First Lady have tested positive for COVID-19. We've got the latest on that developing story in this morning's Daily Skimm. President Trump’s tax returns are also in the news afte...

Do It Yourself: Theresa May, Julian Assange, and $20 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

British Prime Minister Theresa May is saying “I’m out.” She is only the second woman to hold the position and is leaving after three years – one of the shortest terms for a prime minister in modern...

Skimm Special, Part 1: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms. Unemployment has skyrocketed, school closures have forced many m...

Taking Action: McDonald’s Strikes, HUD and Transgender Rights, and Office Sweaters from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some McDonald’s workers were on strike today … while the company held its annual shareholder meeting. Employees are asking for better pay, more say, union rights - oh and the higher ups addressing ...

...Ready For It?: Voting Season is Here from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the nation mourns the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her death leaves a vacancy on the Supreme Court that Republicans are eager to fill ASAP. We’ll break down where the effort to nominate her repl...

Testing Democracy: EU Parliamentary Elections, DC Drama, and Mars 2020 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Europeans head to the polls starting tomorrow for the European Parliamentary elections. This is the second-biggest election in the world, and has been a bit of a snoozer in the past. But this year ...

Clearing the Air: Making Sense of the West Coast Wildfires from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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...

On The Books: Trump’s Finances, CBD, and 'Milkshaking' from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Three House committees want to dive into President Trump’s business financials. Specifically, they want the deets from his accounting firm, Capital One, and Deutsche Bank. Trump and his three oldes...

Back to School: C for Confusion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 ...

Battle Lines: Foreign Fighters, Google, and ‘Game of Thrones’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

John Walker Lindh, a US citizen convicted of helping the Taliban, will be released from federal prison this week. And some lawmakers in Congress says they’re worried Lindh could return to his extre...

A Tale of Two Housing Markets from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 j...

Numbers Game: Immigration Issues, Indian Elections, and Time Off For Loan Debt from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Yesterday, President Trump announced a new proposal to overhaul the US immigration system - specifically shifting the priorities in the green card system and the asylum program, and strengthening b...

Movements Bigger than Fear: Kenosha and Belarus from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 – ...

The Fine Print: Abortion Laws and Personhood, SAT Adversity Score, Pricey Coffee from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Missouri’s the latest in a line of states taking on a hot-button issue: abortion. State lawmakers across the country are passing bills restricting it -- and hoping the Supreme Court will give the O...

March, March: How The Fight For Suffrage Still Lives On from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 vot...

Looking For Fixes: Falling Birth Rates, FAA and Boeing, Office Distractions from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There’s a baby bust in the US: A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that last year’s birth rate was down 2 percent from 2017 - and was the lowest in 32 years. We’l...

Skimm Special: Quarantine Memories Worth Keeping from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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...

I Spy: Facial Recognition, Russia Investigation, WhatsApp from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Facial recognition technology is creeping into all aspects of life, and San Francisco could be the first city in the US to block it. Other cities are thinking of following suit -- we’ll explain why...

Breaking With Convention: Why This Year’s Democratic And Republican Conventions Are Making History from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 atten...

Que Sera, Sera: US and Iran, Julian Assange, Doris Day from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo crashed a meeting of EU foreign ministers today ... and he had Iran on the brain. Tensions between the US and Iran have been heating up for weeks, and now Pompeo i...

Gym, Class...COVID test?: How Colleges Are Getting Students Back To Class from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 sanit...

Going the Distance: US-China Trade Talks, Space Race 2.0, Mother’s Day from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, trade talks between the US and China left with them saying ‘no deal.’ Right after the US raised tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods from 10 to 25 percent. These two powers have spent mo...

Escalation Nation: Federal Troops in Portland Have Other Cities on Edge from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 ba...

Tariffs and Tithing: Uber’s IPO, Catholic Church, Trade Talks with China from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Uber’s heading to Wall Street tomorrow to make its debut on the stock exchange. But the ride-sharing company has seen a lot of backlash lately. Meanwhile, Pope Francis issued a new law that require...

Against The Clock: What A New Stimulus Package Could Mean For You from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

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 t...

Preventative Measures: Maternal Health, Executive Privilege, Bowerbird Project from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There’s a mom crisis in the US. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 700 women die every year in the US during pregnancy or after childbirth. Those numb...

Varsity Blues: Why Everyone’s Talking About 'Back to School' from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Even though it's the middle of summer, all eyes are on the fall. Specifically, how schools are supposed to reopen in the middle of a global pandemic. And as COVID-19 cases rise in a number of state...

Tensions Rising: Iran, Contempt of Congress, Magic Mushrooms from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump admin has announced they’re sending a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf - saying Iran has threatened US troops in the Middle East. It’s been nearly a year s...

“In The Bubble”: How COVID-19 is Changing Sports from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Now that you’ve made it through your Netflix queue, you might be wondering when sports are coming back. After sports leagues postponed their seasons back in March, some - like the National Women’s ...

One In A Million: Biodiversity In Danger, Chinese Tariffs, and the Royal Baby from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A UN report is warning that one species - us - is threatening a million other species with extinction. Today, we’ll explain why biodiversity matters for humanity and how we can mitigate the damage....

Voting From Home: How COVID-19 is Changing The Vote from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In some states, primary voting during COVID-19 has been off to a rocky start. Long lines and crowds at the polls aren’t great for social distancing. And as cases continue to spike across the US, so...

Reining It In: Sanctuary Cities, Spread of HIV, Kentucky Derby Horses from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Florida’s governor is set to sign a bill telling counties and towns they can’t offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. We’ll explain ‘sanctuary cities’ -- and how Florida’s soon-to-be law lines...

“Mask Girl Summer” from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the number of new COVID-19 cases rises in some states, the debate continues about what role the government should play in helping people protect each other. And specifically: whether masks need ...

Putting Up A Fight: Venezuela, Assange Extradition, and Holocaust Remembrance Day from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

 Venezuela still doesn’t know who’s in charge. We’ll talk about why the US was predicting a peaceful transition of power - and why now they’re keeping all the cards on the table. Then: the US wants...

Monumental Change: The Fight To Take Down Confederate Symbols In the US from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In recent weeks, there’s been a renewed push to remove symbols of the Confederacy: including flags, statues and the names of some military bases. Some protestors have been tearing statues down. And...

Star Players: AG Bill Barr, Caster Semenya, and Lucy Liu from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Democrats on Capitol Hill had a lot of questions about the attorney general’s pen pal - Robert Mueller. South African elite runner Caster Semenya has been fighting against allegations that she has ...

“Different Things To Different People”: How Calls to ‘Defund the Police’ Could Play Out from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As protests continue in the US, some demonstrators are now calling to ‘defund the police.’ And those calls are already having an impact. Cities like Minneapolis, New York, and Los Angeles are consi...

Update Available: Infrastructure, Venezuelan Protests, and Burkinis from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Infrastructure across the US needs a reboot. President Trump met with top Democrats to try to figure out how to make – and pay for – the fixes. In Venezuela, two people are still calling themselves...

“A Stopgap for a Much Larger Problem”: What Police Reform Could Look Like from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People across the US have flooded into the streets to protest police violence against black Americans. We’ll break down some of the concerns protests are highlighting, including disparities in how ...

Paying For It?: US Ransom Policies, Boeing, and Fake Meat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The White House confirmed that North Korea sent them a bill for American prisoner Otto Warmbier – to the tune of $2 million. But the White House says: they didn't actually pay it. Why hostage ranso...

‘Female-Led Recession’: How Economists Think Unemployment Will Impact Women and Minorities from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As of this week, one in four US workers has filed for unemployment benefits. But economists say the historic numbers don’t tell the whole story. And they’re warning that women, and in particular wo...

Trade Ya: China’s Belt And Road Initiative, Gun Laws, Seaweed Bottles from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Top officials from around the world met in China today to hear more about their Belt and Road Initiative — a reboot of the Silk Road to improve global trade routes. Here in the US: President Trump ...

More To Come: What Experts Say Congress Should Focus On from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Back in March, Congress passed a historic $2 trillion stimulus bill that reached millions of Americans. You may have received a check in the mail or a boost in unemployment insurance. But researche...

I’m Heeeere: Joe Biden, Kim Jong-un, The Kids from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Former VP Joe Biden is (finally) in. He announced today he’s running for president in 2020 - as the 20th candidate to join the race. So who – and what – is he up against? In Russia, NK leader Kim J...

Not So Fast: Creating A COVID-19 Vaccine Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is underway. But don’t hold your breath. This race could take years. We’ll tell you why, and what’s being done to try to speed up the process. Also: you may have see...

Accounting, Please: Boy Scouts, Big Pharma, Avengers from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thousands of Boy Scouts leaders and volunteers have been accused of sexually abusing children - in cases that go back decades. Lawyers are now just scrambling to rep survivors in lawsuits. What’s c...

The Bigger Picture: Beyond The Record Unemployment Rate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The CDC has been working on new guidelines for how states should start to reopen. But the White House is putting them on ice and telling the agency to make some changes. Meanwhile: the unemployment...

Will They or Won’t They: Impeachment and Citizenship on the Census from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Democrats and progressives have been talking about whether to impeach President Trump since he was elected. And even though the Mueller Report didn’t say his admin colluded with Russia, that debate...

Putting on the Pressure: Ahmaud Arbery’s Death Sparks Public Outcry from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The latest unemployment numbers are in, and no surprise: they’re not very good. We’ll explain why -- despite all the bad economic news -- the stock market is doing relatively okay. Meanwhile: some ...

Shut It Down: Social Media in Sri Lanka, Border Vigilantes, Plastic Straws from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After massive terror attacks in Sri Lanka killed nearly 300 people on Sunday, the gov there has blocked Facebook and other social media sites. Their goal: to prevent more sectarian violence. But do...

A First For Everything: The Supreme Court Literally Phones It In from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The White House coronavirus task force is getting a makeover. Sort of. We’ll explain what today’s change-up is all about and how it impacts you. Meanwhile: major grocery and fast food chains are sh...

Talking About Troubles: Violence in Northern Ireland, 4/20, and Dancing Bans from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A young journalist was killed last night during a riot in Northern Ireland. Her death is highlighting tensions along the Irish border. And it comes on the anniversary of a decades-old agreement tha...

Skimm Special: COVID-19 and Climate Change (Rebroadcast) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This is a rebroadcast of our Skimm Special that originally aired on April 18th. We’ll be back tomorrow with new episodes. Across the world, economies have essentially been on pause due to COVID-19....

Reports and Rapport: Mueller, US & NK, Facebook from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Mueller report is here. It’s long. It’s complicated. And some of it’s still secret. We’ve Skimm’d what we know so far, and we’ll tell you what to expect next. Meanwhile, North Korea is getting ...

At the Stroke of Midnight: What Happens When Federal Stay-at-Home Guidelines End? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Federal stay-at-home guidelines are officially expiring tonight. But since it’s states that call the shots on reopening, not much is going to change when the clock strikes midnight. Meanwhile: ther...

Alarm Bells: Asylum Seekers, Red Flag Laws, TSA Hair Pat-Downs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Justice Department is changing policies for asylum seekers waiting for immigration hearings. We’ll explain why fleeing persecution in one country...could mean being detained in another. In Colo...

Turn Down For...Months: Falling US GDP Expected to Keep Dropping from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We knew the economy wasn’t doing well. But a new report out today shows us just how bad it really is. We’ll dive into what ‘gross domestic product’ is all about and why it matters that it’s down. M...

Outbreaks and Breakouts: Measles, GOP Contenders, Climate Change Arrests from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The measles virus is still spreading, and tight-knit communities are more vulnerable than others. We’ll explain why -- and tell you what’s being done to help. Also: Trump’s not the only GOP candida...

Fasten Your...Masks?: First US Airline to Require Face Coverings from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The White House released new guidelines for how states should ramp-up their testing programs. We’ll explain how this could impact your state. Meanwhile: the Federal Reserve is coming to the rescue ...

Notre Dame Fire, Campaign Cash, and FUCT from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris went up in flames today -- we’ll tell you what we know so far. In the US: 2020 presidential candidates are showing us their donation receipts. We’ll explain why th...

All The Rage: Antibody Tests Are ‘In’ But Do They Work? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We’re starting to learn more about COVID-19 antibody testing. But these tests might not be ready for primetime yet. We’ll explain what they are and why researchers are telling us to slow our roll. ...

Levelling the Playing Field: Reparations, 5G, Game of Thrones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Georgetown students want to help make amends for history. They voted to add a little extra to their tuition to pay reparations to the descendants of Georgetown’s former slaves. President Trump is a...

Million Dollar Question: How Many of us Have Had COVID-19? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump signed the bill to re-up the Paycheck Protection Program.  But: there might be another snag. We’ll dive into why it still may not get small businesses the help they need. Meanwhile:...

"So Long, Farewell: Julian Assange, Sudan’s President, and Nipsey Hussle" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There were a couple of big arrests today in London and Sudan. And both men could be leaving on a jet plane to face charges. The U.S. wants Wikileaks founder Julian Assange stateside to face a consp...

Business, Unusual: Decoding Wall Street’s Unemployment Warnings from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The House of Representatives is expected to pass another major stimulus bill to get more money into the hands of small businesses. We’ll dive into why convincing small businesses to put their names...

In the Pipeline: Oil, Gas, and Taxes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump flew to Texas today to visit the heart of the oil and gas industry, and he signed two controversial executive orders while he was there. They’re meant to make it easier to build oil...

Only as Good as the Data: Newly Discovered Death Complicates COVID-19 Timeline from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Officials say the first known death from COVID-19 in the US happened weeks earlier than they realized. We’ll tell you what that might mean for the projection models everyone has been relying on. Me...

The Middle Men: Drug Prices and the (No Spoilers) Mueller Report from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Crazy high drug prices have gotten bipartisan attention lately. Back in February, drug companies pointed fingers at Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Today, five PBM execs were on Capitol Hill and pointed...

Time for a Refresh: Small Business Relief Bill To Get a Vote from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Last night, President Trump announced he’ll sign an executive order to suspend immigration into the US. But the administration has already made a number of changes to immigration procedures since t...

In or Out: The Israeli Elections and the West Bank, Cabinet Shakeups and the Border and NCAA Finals from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Israel is getting ready to head to the polls, and Prime Minister Netanyahu is giving voters one more thing to think about: the West Bank. The region at the center of the Israeli/Palestinian conflic...

Low Lows: Oil Prices Go Negative For First Time from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Most public health experts agree: we need more testing to start lifting stay-at-home orders. But in the US, officials disagree on how to get more tests. We’ll explain how this impacts you. Meanwhil...

It’s Complicated: Saudis and the US, Ecuador and Julian Assange, Cats from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US are heating up. Congress voted to end US military support for the kingdom’s proxy war in Yemen after the Saudi-American journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assas...

Skimm Special: COVID-19 and Climate Change from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Across the world, economies have essentially been on pause due to COVID-19. The unintended consequence? A significant decrease in air pollution and carbon emissions. We talked to climate experts ab...

Why Dems Are So Obsessed with President Trump’s Tax Returns from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump has gotten a lot of heat for keeping his tax returns under lock and key. Now, Dems are cutting out the middle man and asking the IRS to show them the receipts. But why are the presi...

That’s (Not) an Order: States Have Final Say About New White House Guidelines from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The White House has new advice for states that might want to lift their stay-at-home orders. We’ll tell you what these new guidelines actually mean for you. Meanwhile: you might be hearing a lot ab...

Sharia Law in Brunei and NATO’s 70th from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Human rights groups all over the world are calling out Brunei for harsh new laws. People caught participating in gay sex could now be stoned to death. So we’re breaking down Sharia law and how it’s...

A Trend Everyone Hates: Unemployment Rises by the Millions (Again) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

For the fourth week in a row, US unemployment claims have risen by the millions. We’ll explain what Congress is doing to try to curb that trend. Meanwhile, there’s a new test that some say could he...

Facebook vs. Fake News from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

 India is headed to the polls soon. Social media there has turned into a mess of fake news. Sounds familiar. Facebook is trying to avoid a repeat of the 2016 U.S. elections. But that’s harder than ...

Your Shopping Cart Misses You: Retail Has One of its Worst Months Ever from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A new report from the US Commerce Department says shopping carts across America are way emptier than usual. We’ll tell you what a drop in retail sales means for the rest of the economy. Meanwhile: ...

Cutting Aid and Clearing Officials from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump Administration is thinking about cutting aid to a few Central American countries. It’s pointing to the border crisis. But how are the two related, again? In other DC news, today we found ...

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work?: States Unite to Coordinate COVID-19 Response from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

States are teaming up to figure out how and when to lift their stay-at-home orders. We’ll explain why that’s causing tension with the White House. Meanwhile: over 80 million people are supposed to ...

No Deal Brexit. But We Have Lyft-off. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Third time’s the charm. Except when it comes to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan to get a Brexit deal approved. Bollocks. Parliament voted down her plan for the third time today. Making a ...

The List Goes On and On: Can “Contact Tracing” Help Get us Back to Normal Life? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There’s been a lot of talk lately about when it’s OK to ‘reopen the economy.’ Public health experts say one thing that could get us to that point is contact tracing. We’ll explain why. Meanwhile: m...

Hustling for Healthcare and Decoding 5G: Medicaid Work Requirements and Huawei from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A DC judge struck down laws in Arkansas and Kentucky that would require Medicaid recipients to work in exchange for getting free or low-cost government healthcare coverage. Opening up the floor for...

Jump in Line: As Unemployment Grows, States Struggle to Keep Up from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week’s new unemployment numbers are in, and things still aren’t good. We’ll look at what states are doing to keep up with the worsening jobs crisis. Meanwhile: as unemployment skyrockets, the ...

The Border Wall Budget and Theresa May’s (Br)exit Strategy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Pentagon is checking its account - and making bank transfers - to figure out how it’s going to pay for President Trump’s border wall. Not everyone is happy with their fix. Meanwhile, British Pr...

Numbers Talk: How the Pandemic is Affecting African Americans from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We’re seeing clearer trends that black Americans may be at disproportionately higher risk of falling ill and dying from COVID-19. We’ll break down why public health experts say this is happening. M...

Nevermind: Trump Admin to the ACA, Chicago Prosecutors to Jussie Smollett, NASA to its All-Female Spacewalk from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump Administration wants to take down the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare. Spoiler: this won’t be the last time you’ll hear about healthcare. Because 2020. Changes to the law could affect y...

Odd One Out: Wisconsin Votes IRL During Pandemic from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Voters are heading to the polls to cast their ballots in the Wisconsin primary despite orders from the governor to stay home. We’ll dive into the drama and look at what voting during a pandemic cou...

Robert Mueller’s Day Off (And What it Means for Everyone Else) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Mueller…? Mueller…? After two years, Special Counsel Robert Mueller finally turned in his report to the DOJ. And probably had a great weekend … while Attorney General William Barr got down to speed...

Rough Road Ahead: Are Hospitals Ready for This Week? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Health officials are warning that this will be an especially tough week. Are hospitals ready? A new federal report gives us an indication. Meanwhile: the United Nations says that reported incidents...

Disputed Territories: The Golan Heights and Abortion Rights from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump tweeted earlier this week that the US should recognize that Israel’s the boss of a disputed area called the Golan Heights. Making the US the first country to do so. Spoiler: the int...

Time for a Check-Up: Should Everyone Wear A Mask? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When news broke that COVID-19 had hit the US, many of us were told not to wear masks unless we were sick. Now the US government is reportedly reconsidering that guidance. We’ll tell you why. Meanwh...

Free Speech on College Campuses, NZ Gun Reform, and Balls from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump just signed an executive order requiring colleges to support free speech. Which has a lot to do with conservative groups on campus. We’ll tell you what you need to know. Across the ...

The Wrong Kind of Stunning: 6.6M Americans File for Unemployment from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We woke up this morning to some record-breaking unemployment numbers — as huge as they are, they may not even be showing the full picture. We’ll explain why. Meanwhile: the US’s secret stockpile of...

Anti-Trusting Tech from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The European Union wants big tech companies to play nice with the competition. They don’t think Google’s doing that. So the EU hit Google with a 1.5 billion-euro fine. And that’s not the only antit...

A Few Very Bad Weeks: Forecasting COVID-19 in the US from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US intelligence community is reportedly warning that China hid key info about the severity of its COVID-19 outbreak. We’ll walk you through what that could mean for other countries that relied ...

Friends in Brazil and Floods in the Midwest from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and US President Trump caught up in the Oval Office today. They’re big fans. Of each other. Which is kind of a big deal, because the US and Brazil haven’t exactly...

COVID-180°: Convention Centers and Parks Become Hospitals from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A US Navy Captain is pleading for help containing a COVID-19 outbreak onboard an American aircraft carrier in Guam. We’ll explain why the Navy is facing similar problems as cruise ships, and why ha...

Why Voting Districts Look Like Abstract Art, French Yellow Vests and Ballsy Women from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Gerrymandering: drawing district lines so that some people have more power at the polls. And a big talker ahead of the 2020 election. Today, the Supremes are hearing a Virginia case. And they’ll be...

Strike Now, Shop Later: Delivery Workers Want More Pay for More Risk from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Grocery delivery workers went on strike today. We’ll explain how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the delivery industry and how consumers can respond. Meanwhile: the White House extends social di...

White Nationalism and the Internet from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand are forcing a conversation about the spread of white nationalism … and the internet. Meanwhile, students took action to protest government inaction on c...

Skimm Special: Equal Pay from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s 2020 and women’s median earnings are about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. Cool cool. That’s known as the gender pay gap. Ahead of Equal Pay Day on March 31st, we wanted to find out why...

‘20 Questions: Citizenship and Beto O’Rourke from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There are big questions coming up in 2020. Politicians are trying to get ahead of them. Today, Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross took the mic on Capitol Hill. The issue on the table: the 2020 census, and w...

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The COVID-19 Stimulus Package from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump just signed the most expensive relief bill in US history, but it wasn’t exactly a cakewalk. We explain the drama that had lawmakers scrambling to fly back to the Capitol. Meanwhile,...

Behind Bars: The CA Death Sentence and Paul Manafort from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

California Governor Gavin Newsom hit ‘pause’ on capital punishment in his state. Opening up the floor for a national debate on the death penalty. In other criminal justice news, a judge tacked on m...

3.3 Million Americans File for Unemployment: Is Help on the Way? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The latest US unemployment numbers are in. They’re historic, and not in a good way. We’ll break down the data and look at how Congress is trying to patch up the unemployment insurance system in the...

How Rude: Brexit’s Backstop and How “Aunt Becky” Got Her Kid Into College from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

British parliament rejected PM Theresa May’s latest Brexit plan today. ICYMI, the EU and the UK are getting a divorce. But three years in, they still can’t agree on the terms. The biggest sticking ...

A Really Big Deal: Inside Congress’ COVID-19 Relief Bill from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Senate leaders say they’ve reached a historic deal to help Americans and American businesses deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19. The $2 trillion relief package will also steer billions of d...

Just Won’t Budget from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

 President Trump just released his financial wishlist. On it: $718 billion for the Pentagon, way more than the spending cap. But he might get lucky with the money because of something called the Ov...

Not Playing Games: 2020 Summer Olympics Postponed from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The 2020 Summer Olympics won’t be happening in summer 2020 anymore. We’ll explain how the decision to postpone the Olympics could impact more than your TV habits. Then: officials around the US are ...

Do Not Pass Go: How Judges Hand Down Prison Sentences from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Paul Manafort got muuuch less prison time than prosecutors recommended on Thursday. Which got everyone talking. So today we’re breaking down sentencing laws... and how judges decide who gets to pas...

Two Strikes: The Senate’s Economic Stimulus Bill from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Senate is divided over a bill that’s supposed to help Americans deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19. We’ll tell you the latest. Meanwhile, President Trump appears anxious to send America...

Introducing: Skimm This from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A daily news podcast from theSkimm that’s breaking down the most complex stories of the day and connecting the dots on why it's important. The news is constantly changing. And in today's world, con...

Don’t Panic! At the Supermarket: Understanding the Supply Chain from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US is sealing itself off from its neighbors, with big restrictions on the Mexico and Canada borders. We’ll explain why, and take a look at the other big COVID-19 news of the day. Meanwhile, if ...

How the Military Handles Sexual Assault from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) has everyone talking about how to fix the military’s process for handling allegations of sexual assault. We’re breaking down what you need to know. Meanwhile, former T...

Mission Zero: China’s Big COVID-19 Milestone from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

China just reported no new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases for the first time since the outbreak began. We’ll explain why that’s great news, but why China isn’t quite out of the woods just yet. ...

The Border Crisis: A Family Matter from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The federal government is arguing about whether families migrating across the US-Mexico border are a national emergency. We’ll break down what’s going on. In other news from the feds, the FDA just ...

Not All Heroes Wear Capes: Health Workers Brace for COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll dive into the risks they’re facing as they work around the clock to save lives. Meanwhile, the US government is coming up wi...

Measles and Mardis Gras from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You’ve been hearing a lot about the anti-vaccination movement. We’ll give you the context behind the headlines. In other health news, doctors in London say they’ve helped a second HIV patient beat ...

This is New: Voting During a Pandemic from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The COVID-19 caseload in the US topped 5,000 today, but Florida, Illinois and Arizona kept calm and carried on with primary voting. Meanwhile: are we on the cusp of a lockdown? We’ll explain how fe...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

Taking Shape: The Fed’s Plan to Stabilize the Economy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Federal Reserve dusted off its Great Recession playbook on Sunday to find ways to boost the US economy. It cut interest rates to close to zero percent and will buy up $700 billion in financial ...

Results Pending: The Plan to Increase COVID-19 Testing from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump declared a national emergency today over the COVID-19 outbreak, and said more Americans should be able to get tested soon. We’ll explain why the US has been facing a testing shortag...

Hold The Plane: The US Preps for COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Last night President Trump addressed the nation to explain how the US is responding to COVID-19. He talked up the importance of keeping the disease out of the country. But remember: it’s already he...

Let’s Touch Base: Why Working From Home Doesn’t Work For All from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

COVID-19 is now officially a pandemic. But as more and more companies are telling their employees to work from home, many people don’t have that luxury. We’ll explain why the lack of unemployment i...

Going the Distance: Italy on Lockdown Mode Over COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Italians woke up this morning under a nationwide quarantine as the country attempts to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy is the latest country to follow China’s ...

Pump the Brakes: The Stock Market and COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The markets took a nosedive today. And in response, Wall Street found the brakes and stepped on them. We’ll explain what happened and what it means moving forward. Meanwhile, the beginning of the w...

When Your Side Hustle is Free: Female Unpaid Labor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Supreme Court heard its first major case on abortion access with a strong new conservative majority on the bench. We’ll dive into what the outcome of this case could mean for the future of abor...

Warren Has a Plan… To Find The Nearest Exit from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Her next big plan is TBD. Meanwhile, countries around the world are planning stimulus packages to help peop...

And Then There Were Two-ish: Democratic Field Narrows from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With Super Tuesday behind us and nearly all the results in, the 2020 Democratic presidential field is narrowing even more. We’ll explain who won and lost big last night, and what happens next. Mean...

Super-Sized: Primary Day, COVID-19’s Olympics Impact from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s Super Tuesday. The biggest primary day so far where voters in 14 states plus American Samoa cast their ballots to pick their preferred nominee. This time around, California has a starring role...

Not a Test: Why COVID-19 Cases Could Spike from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

At least six people in the state of Washington have died from COVID-19. As the US government ramps up testing efforts, experts warn to expect a big jump in confirmed cases as results start coming i...

In the Red: The COVID-19 Market Downturn from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week, the stock market has been feeling the pain of COVID-19. We’ll look at what the current economic impact is and what a ‘market correction’ has to do with it. Meanwhile, the US and the Tali...

Scotland’s Quest to End ‘Period Poverty’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Scotland is about to make your ‘time of the month’ a lot easier on your wallet. It will soon become the first country to make tampons and pads free and available for everyone. We’ll explain how tha...

COVID-19: Coming to a Community Near You? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning Americans to prepare for COVID-19 to spread within the US. (That’s the new disease caused by coronavirus.) When the CDC says ‘this could be...

Out Front: Bernie Sanders Leads the Pack from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Must feel good to be first. Bernie Sanders has achieved front-runner status in the 2020 Democratic primary. How is that possible after just three states have voted? We’ll explain the money (and del...

Verdict Reached: The Harvey Weinstein Trial from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A jury in New York has found Harvey Weinstein guilty of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual assault. He could face more than two decades in prison. We’ll dive into what today’s verdi...

Easy as A, B, Cease: A US-Taliban Truce? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US and the Taliban have agreed to a reduction of violence for the next seven days. It’s kinda like a test run to see if they can put down their weapons for good, and possibly end America’s long...

Not a Quiet Place: Nondisclosure Agreements in the #MeToo Era from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Nondisclosure agreements were a big talker at last night’s democratic presidential debate. We’ll dive into what former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg had to say, and talk to former Fox News anc...

Place Your Bets: Nevada’s Culinary Union and Medicare for All from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Medicare for All is likely to come up in tonight’s big Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas. But Nevada’s powerful Culinary Union fought hard for its members to enjoy a top-notch private health c...

Scout’s Honor: Why the Boy Scouts of America Filed for Bankruptcy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Boy Scouts of America has officially filed for bankruptcy as it deals with an onslaught of sexual abuse lawsuits. We’ll dive into what this move means for the future of the organization and for...

I’m Not Gonna Write You A Love Song: The US and Iran...and Switzerland? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the coronavirus continues to spread, one of the affected groups has been healthcare workers on the frontlines in China. We’ll dive into how a vaccine could be on the horizon, but still has a lon...

Party in the USA: Attorney General Bill Barr RSVP’s Yes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Attorney General William Barr has RSVP’d to a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee. And Dems have a lot of things they want to ask him about. Think: Roger Stone, Jessie Liu, and Rudy Giuliani...

Juan Guaidó: Started From the Bottom, Now We’re Here from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is back home after a whirlwind trip throughout Europe and the US to drum up support for his cause. It’s been over a year since he defied current president N...

Merger Story: The New T-Mobile from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, after years of lawsuits and red tape, a federal judge approved the merger of wireless network giants T-Mobile and Sprint. We dive into why states are making calls to stop this from happening...

Sticking Points: Budget Plans, Cruise Ship Quarantine, CROWN Act from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today, the Trump administration unveiled its budget proposal for 2021. But since Congress holds the purse strings and Democrats have the majority in the House, it’s likely that this plan might not ...

In the Spotlight: Dem Debate Preview, Weinstein Trial, Oscars from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s Friday night, and some 2020 democratic candidates will be spending theirs in...New Hampshire for the eighth democratic debate. We’ll tell you why some of the candidates are hoping to put this ...

Not a Joke: More Investigations, Mask Shortages, Traffic as Art from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is over, but that’s not the end of political investigations in 2020. We’ll explain what info Democrats and Republicans in Congress want to track down now....

Now What?: Impeachment’s Final Act, ERA, ‘Cheer’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial has come to an end. So, what happens now? Meanwhile, if you spotted members of Congress last night wearing pins with the letters E-R-A and asked W-H-Y, th...

Head-Scratching: Caucus Confusion, Censure, Lonesome George from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A day after the Iowa Democratic Caucus, we’re told results are still just around the corner. But the damage from a historic vote-counting fail is already being felt, and Iowa could be the biggest l...

Huddle Up: Iowa Caucuses, Impeachment Check-in, Shakira Memes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The 2020 primary season kicks off tonight with the Iowa caucuses. But how does a caucus actually work – and why does Iowa get so much clout? Meanwhile, the Senate impeachment trial continues but th...

It’s Been a Long Road: Brexit Day, Impeachment Trial, Super Bowl Firsts from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After more than three years, Brexit is actually happening. We’ll break down what’s next for the UK. Spoiler: there’s still a long road ahead. Meanwhile, the debate over witnesses in the Senate impe...

This Is a Lot: Coronavirus Updates, Quid Pro Quo, and Locust Invaders from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The World Health Organization says that the coronavirus outbreak is a global public health emergency. We’ll break down what this means as countries respond and how the economic impact of this disea...

Back to School: Senate Questions, Tobacco Report Card, Negotiations from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Now that opening arguments have wrapped up in the Senate impeachment trial, it’s time for lawmakers to ask the questions. We’ll break down how this process works and what to expect next. Meanwhile,...

Make-or-Break Moment: Trump Defense, ‘Deal of the Century,’ Iowa Voting from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump’s defense lawyers have wrapped up opening arguments. We’ll break down the case they made, and what’s next for the Senate impeachment trial. Meanwhile, the White House has finally un...

Where It Happened: Bolton Leak, Rival Meetings, Quarantine Update from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump’s defense team is launching into day two of their opening arguments at the Senate impeachment trial. But leaked excerpts from former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s upcoming...

Great Lengths: Democrats on the Mic, March for Life, Grammys Drama from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

House Democrats are wrapping up three days of opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. Before Trump’s defense lawyers take the mic on Saturday, we’ll take a look at how...

Noble Intentions: Quarantines, Genocide Prevention, Profit-Sharing from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

China is turning to massive quarantines to stop the spread of coronavirus. Now, millions are impacted as transportation comes to a halt ahead of the Lunar New Year. We’ll explain why some experts s...

Check Up: Coronavirus, Impeachment Managers, Negotiating from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Hundreds of people have been infected by a virus that originated in China. Now, a case has been diagnosed in the US, too. We’ll explain what the coronavirus is and how officials are handling it. Me...

All Talk: Davos, Impeachment Trial Rules, Big Endorsement from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The world’s biggest movers and shakers are packing up their skis and heading to a place called Davos in the Swiss Alps. That’s right: it’s time for the annual World Economic Forum. We’ll explain wh...

Warning Signs: Media Access, Privacy Please, China’s Birth Rate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

All eyes are on the Senate in the run up to next week’s impeachment trial. But new rules could make it difficult, or even impossible, to keep up with what’s going on. We’ll tell you why. Then, we’l...

Take An Oath: Impeachment Trial, New Russian PM, Prohibition from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Something new started today: the impeachment trial of the President of the United States. We’ll explain how a one-man media circus gave the start of the trial a run for its money. Meanwhile, Russia...

Back in Business: Impeachment, US-China Trade, Electable Ladies from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The “i” word is back in the headlines after the House of Representatives sent articles of impeachment to the Senate today. Did Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to hit ‘pause’ on impeachment for almo...

Showdown: DOJ vs Apple, Democratic Debate, Longest Rap from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

One month after a deadly shooting in Florida, the Justice Department is still trying to figure out what happened. But there’s one thing standing in the way of investigators: Apple. We’ll explain wh...

Damage Control: Protests in Iran, Aussie Bushfires, Royal Shake-Ups from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Iran is suddenly on the defensive, facing critics inside and outside the country after it admitted to shooting down a passenger plane last week. We’ll explain how Iran is dealing with widespread pr...

What Now?: Plane Crash Investigation, Puerto Rico, Space Explorers from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Days after a deadly plane crash in Iran, questions remain over what exactly happened. We’ll explain why major media outlets and western leaders are pointing to Iran. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is still...

Skimm Special: Harry and Meghan from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

First there was Brexit, now there’s Megxit. If you checked Instagram (or just the internet) this week, you probably saw the news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping back from their rol...

Let’s Negotiate: War Powers, Impact Reports, Pay Raises from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Members of Congress had a heated debate today over limiting President Trump’s ability to start a war with Iran. We’ll explain who holds the war-fighting cards in Washington and why Congress rarely ...

Where To?: Iran-US Tensions, Great Escapes, ‘Megxit’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

At times this week, it looked like the US and Iran were heading toward an all-out war. And those concerns only intensified last night after Iran attacked a pair of Iraqi military bases where US tro...

Another Look: The US in Iraq, Deepfakes, Christmas Trees from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The latest drama between the US and Iran is catching Iraq in the crossfire. After a deadly US drone strike in Iraq, Iraq’s parliament wants US troops out of the country. We’ll explain how America’s...

Heating Up: Iran Fallout, Weinstein Trial, Australia Fires from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The year is off to a rocky start for the US and Iran. Last week, the US killed a top Iranian general linked to attacks on hundreds of Americans. Now, Iran is threatening to retaliate. We’ll dive in...

Sea Changes: Impeachment, Climate Crisis, Anti-Austerity Protests from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Last year brought with it some big stories about change - stories that we’ll probably see more of in 2020. So before we ring in the new year, here are some of the major ‘sea change’ stories that we...

Power Players: The People Who Shaped 2019 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When the history books are written, we think a few names from 2019 will stand out. Greta Thunberg helped make climate change protests mainstream. Boris Johnson won a big election and pushed Brexit ...

Money Moves: Trade War, Interest Rates, Unemployment Rate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With New Year's resolutions right around the corner, we want to talk about money. If you’re looking to make a fresh start, knowledge is power. New year, new you, right? And what better place to sta...

And the most complicated story of 2019 was... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We asked our listeners which 2019 story you still want explained. At the top of the list: Brexit. Totally fair. British voters chose to leave the European Union in 2016, but here we are three years...

Making the Cut: Voter Purges, Impeachment Trial, Brexit from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some election officials are making a list, checking it twice – and cutting hundreds of thousands of people from their voter registration rolls. We’ll explain why those moves are making people nervo...

Taxation and Representation: Obamacare in Limbo, Debate Diversity, and Wakanda from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The future of Obamacare is limbo again, after a federal court struck down the individual mandate as unconstitutional. We’ll explain how this decision could impact you, and the future of health insu...

The Rest is History: Impeachment Vote, Teen Vaping, Missy Robbins from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today the House of Representatives prepared to impeach a President of the United States for the third time in US history. The Constitution doesn’t exactly provide a ‘how-to’ guide for what happens ...

Big Deals: Budget Breakthroughs, Boeing, Happy Birthday Simpsons from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The House just passed a budget bill to fund the federal government through next September. The budget was only possible after lots of behind-the-scenes dealmakings, and the finished product include...

Keep On Keepin’ On: Trade Deals, Protests in India, Climate Talks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump administration reached two blockbuster trade deals last week – or so we thought. Turns out there are still some big question marks surrounding the future of the US-China trade war and the...

Two Roads Diverge: Late-Night Impeachment Quarrels, Brexit’s Open Road from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today the House Judiciary Committee gave the go-ahead for a full House vote on impeachment, but the process was anything but tidy. Committee members were at each other's throats last night, and thi...

Now Boarding: Trade Courts, Parental Leave, Ugly Sweaters from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The World Trade Organization’s top court stopped functioning this week after the US blocked the appointment of new judges. That means major trade disputes may go unresolved. We’ll explain how that ...

Upgrades: New NAFTA, Executive Order, Campaign Transparency from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People on both sides of the aisle in DC might finally be on the same page about something: a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada. We’ll explain what you need to know. Meanwhile, President Trump a...

High Crimes: Hearings at the Hague, Articles in the House, and Shifty DNA from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The government of Myanmar is in court this week over allegations of genocide, and the actions of the country’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader is raising some eyebrows. We’ll explain why this case...

One More Time: Another Russia Report, Olympic Bans, Hong Kong Protests from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you thought you were done hearing about Russian interference in the 2016 election – think again. The Justice Department Inspector General dropped a 476-page report today on the origin story of t...

Going Viral: Measles in Samoa, Uber Safety Data, Yuletide Insults from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Health officials in the island nation of Samoa are fighting a deadly measles outbreak. We’ll explain why anti-vaxxers in Samoa and in the US could be complicating their efforts. Meanwhile, Uber jus...

Look Back in Anger: Abuse Claims, Pension Strikes, Talkative Robots from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A handful of states are passing laws to help victims of child sexual abuse seek justice. We’ll explain why one new law in New Jersey could end up helping victims across the country. Meanwhile, Fren...

I Fought the Law: Impeachment, Hospital Bills, Salon Chemicals from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The impeachment inquiry into President Trump jumped to a new House committee today, and it’s starting to feel a bit like law school. We’ll explain where the impeachment process stands and what’s st...

You Get What You Give: Champagne Tariffs, Giving Tuesday, Rapinoe from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump is handing out tariffs left and right, and countries aren’t psyched about it. The latest target? French champagne, among other things. We’ll explain why tariffs have become the Pres...

Feuding: NATO Summit, Gun Rights, Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The UK is hosting a big NATO summit this week to celebrate the alliance’s 70th birthday. But budget fights and membership debates could kill the festive atmosphere. We’ll break down what to expect ...

What’s Going On: Mass Imprisonment in China, Impeachment Drama, ‘Dear Santa’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Newly-leaked government documents are pulling back the curtain on China’s mass detention of ethnic minorities. We’ll get into how the docs provide important details about China’s crackdown on Uighu...

Following: Navy Secretary Out, Michael Bloomberg, Wild Turkey from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Secretary of the Navy is out. We’ll connect the dots between President Trump’s controversial pardons of service members and what they have to do with the Navy Secretary’s sudden departure. Mean...

Can’t Let It Go: Israeli Political Drama, Debating Pot, ‘Let It Go’ 2.0 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It was a busy week in Israeli politics, between a US announcement on West Bank settlements and talk of new elections next year. Then: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on multiple corr...

Bring Da Ruckus: Impeachment Hearings, Paid Family Leave, Throwback Theme Park from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today was the last day of scheduled impeachment hearings, and we heard from two officials who had front row seats to events at the center of the inquiry. We’ll explain what their testimonies mean f...

We Hear You: Impeachment, Iran Protests, Grammy Noms from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US ambassador to the European Union walked into the impeachment inquiry hearing this morning, and threw just about everybody under the bus. We’ll explain how Gordon Sondland brought President T...

Neverending Story: Impeachment Hearings, Savvy Scammers, OK Boomer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Lawmakers sat for a LONG time today during marathon impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill. Today we finally heard from officials who listened in on President Trump’s now-infamous phone call with the...

Pardon Me?: War Crimes, Hong Kong Schools, Bye Bye Bei Bei from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Trump pardoned Army officers accused of war crimes, and the decision has sparked a heated debate over whether this is a good idea for the military justice system. We’ll explain the reason...

Escalating: Impeachment Drama, Bill Blockers, People-Movers from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified in the ongoing impeachment hearings today. She described how her anti-corruption efforts earned her powerful enemies in Ukraine, and led ...

Float On: US-Ukraine Relations, Google Cache, Swimming Cows from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thanks to the ongoing impeachment inquiry, we’re hearing about Ukraine a lot lately. Turns out: the US and Ukraine have a history. We’ll explain why the diplomats you’re hearing from during public ...

Brace Yourself: Impeachment Hearings, Greta at Sea, Really Old Booze from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The impeachment inquiry hearings into President Trump finally went public today. There was the usual partisan drama, but also some important new developments. We’ll break down the case Democrats ho...

Out in the Cold: DACA, Bolivia’s President, Arctic Air from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Supreme Court heard one of the biggest cases of the term: whether the Trump admin can end DACA. That’s the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program started by  President Obama in 2012. We...

Dark and Stormy: Hong Kong Protests, Concussion Research, Impeachment Smells from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong took a dark turn this week, amid the death of a young student and two violent attacks on politicians. After five months of demonstrations, protesters and the...

Hold Up: The US v. Gilead, ‘Recanvassing,’ Buying a House from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US government is suing a major pharmaceutical company over its HIV prevention drugs. We’ll tell you why, and explain how it’s spotlighting a larger movement to make life-saving drugs easier to ...

Brave New Worlds: Shadow Diplomacy, Cartel Violence, Voting Methods from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The outlines of a power struggle between US diplomats and President Trump’s personal attorney are emerging out of transcripts from the House impeachment investigation. We’ll connect the dots on why...

One Day You're In: Paris Agreement, Election Day, Being 'Single' from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump administration formally told the United Nations that it’s pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, making the US the only country in the world to bow out of the landmark deal on climat...

Smoldering: PG&E’s Future, Iraq Protests, Party Houses from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Firefighters are gradually putting out California’s wildfires, but the state’s big power company is just starting to feel the heat as lawmakers call for a government takeover. We’ll explore the cha...

Getting Started: 5G in China, Cystic Fibrosis Drug, NaNoWriMo from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Earlier today, China turned on the fifth generation of super-fast Internet, AKA 5G. We’ll connect the dots between what the tech can do – for better and worse – and why there’s been a race to see w...

Spooktacular: Impeachment Rules, Twitter Ads, Dressed-Up Pets from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The House of Representatives set the ground rules for its impeachment investigation into President Trump today. The next phase of the process – televised impeachment hearings – could start in less ...

New Heights: Middle East Protests, Sea Levels, Phone Bills from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Anti-government protests have erupted in Lebanon and Iraq. Young people are leading the charge, and are calling for major economic reforms. We’ll explain what protesters want, and how a key player ...

For the Record: The Armenian Genocide, Impeachment, Palladium from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US House of Representatives is taking a historic vote today to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915. We’ll break down why mass atrocities dating back more than a century remain a hot-button ...

Say Goodbye?: ISIS Leader, Missouri Abortion Clinic, Phishing from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The leader of ISIS died during a US military raid in Syria over the weekend. We’ll explain who Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was, and what his death means for ISIS – and for the world. Meanwhile, there’s on...

More Than Meets The Eye: Impeachment Inquiry, Chile Protests, TikTok from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s been a busy week for the impeachment investigation into President Trump. Some key witnesses testified about the US-Ukraine relationship and Republicans staged a controversial walk-in of a secu...

Cancel It?: Student Loans, Revenge Porn, Trading Fees from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A top Education Department official is calling it quits, and on his way out the door he’s urging the federal government to cancel most of the country’s student loan debt. We’ll explain why that’s b...

Turn Around: Facebook Updates, Teachers Strike, Bird Alerts from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s October 23rd. Today, we Skimm’d This:  Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has been in the news a lot recently, and today he was in the hot seat on Capitol Hill. He faced tough questions about...

Questionable: Ceasefire, Drone Deliveries, the ‘World’ Series from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After five days, the ceasefire between Turkey and Kurdish fighters in Syria has come to an end. As the clock ran down, the Kurds said they had moved away from the border as promised, while Turkey’s...

Making Changes: Canadian Elections, Opioid Settlement, and Floppy Disks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s Election Day in Canada, and polls are showing a virtual tie between the two biggest parties. We’ll connect the dots between the issues party leaders want to talk about, and the scandals that h...

New Vocab: Impeachment Latin, El Chapito, All-Female Spacewalks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The impeachment inquiry is forcing us to dust off our Latin dictionaries and look up “quid pro quo” and “emolumentum.” These words are coming up as we learn more about President Trump’s dealings wi...

Let's Make a Deal: Brexit, Syria Ceasefire, Auto Worker Strike from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With just days to go before a Brexit deadline, UK and EU leaders shook hands on a new withdrawal agreement today. But that hardly means a Halloween Brexit is guaranteed. We’ll explain what could ha...

Getting Involved: Russia in Turkey, Hong Kong Solidarity, and Good Samaritans from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Russian and Syrian troops swooped into parts of northern Syria this week, just days after US troops pulled out. Given the history between Russia and Syria this isn’t much of a surprise, but it coul...

Drawing Lines: DC Depositions, Racism in Sports, Amazing Authors from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Three senior US officials have answered questions from House lawmakers in recent days, even as the White House has pushed to limit or block officials from complying with an ongoing impeachment prob...

The Law of the Land: Previewing the Supreme Court’s Big Year Ahead from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Supreme Court got back to work this week for a potentially historic term. The court’s reinforced conservative majority is expected to dish out big rulings on cases concerning abortion, immigrat...

Not Done Yet: Turkey’s Syria Invasion, Climate Activism, Long Commutes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Turkey launched an attack on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria this week, bringing violence to a region where thousands of ISIS fighters are held in makeshift prisons. We’ll explain how the intern...

Power Struggles: Trump vs. Congress, Fighting Fires, Lithium Batteries from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The White House’s refusal to cooperate with an impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives is setting the stage for a constitutional crisis. We’ll look at what a constitutional crisis actua...

On Watch: Chinese Surveillance Companies, Discrimination, The Cosmos from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The US government is taking names. The Commerce Department says its adding 28 Chinese companies to a trade blacklist. We’ll connect the dots on what this has to do with reported human rights violat...

Ready for Battle: Turkey in Syria, Trump's Taxes, Red Blood Cells from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Democrats and Republicans are speaking out against the surprising pullback of US troops from northern Syria, saying the Kurdish forces that helped defeat the Islamic State could be at risk. We’ll e...

Unmasked: Ukraine Texts, Hong Kong Protesters, and Dino Bones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The former US special envoy to Ukraine has handed over some of his texts as evidence in the House’s impeachment inquiry into President Trump. And now Trump is pulling China into the action, too. Me...

Remedies: Injection Sites, Wine and Cheese Tariffs, and IPO Woes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A federal judge just gave a boost to supervised injection sites, saying a clinic in Philadelphia doesn’t violate drug laws. Activists say the ruling could mark a turning point in the fight to reduc...

Gettin' Fresh: Impeachment Inquiry, Boeing Whistleblower, Algae from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

House Democrats are ratcheting up the impeachment inquiry. And now, all eyes are on the State Department, which is trying very hard not to get involved in the Democrats’ investigation. Meanwhile, B...

Super-Massive: China's 70th, Global Banking, and Galactic Mysteries from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today marked 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the country threw a huge birthday party for itself. China’s economic and military rise is impressive, but there are s...

Competing Interests: Refugee Crisis, Campaign Finances, Mortgage Rates from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Four years after the European migrant crisis reached its peak, European leaders are being called on to once again to address a situation that’s never fully been fixed. Meanwhile, Montana Governor a...

Time After Time: Egypt Protests, US Refugee Program, Landmines from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Protesters tried to mobilize across Egypt today for a second week of anti-government demonstrations. But security forces were out in force after days of making arrests. We’ll explain why President ...

Power Moves: Whistleblower Complaint, Israeli Politics, and ‘Gini Index’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The mysterious whistleblower complaint everyone’s talking about...is finally public. So: we got lots of new details. And lawmakers in Congress had lots of questions – especially about why it took s...

Call Me Maybe: Trump and Ukraine, Juul CEO, and 'Apply Thru' from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s the phone call heard ‘round the world: the White House released what it says is a rough transcript of President Trump’s controversial chat with the president of Ukraine. But not everyone is sa...

What Lies Beneath: UN Speeches, Brexit Ruling, Lost Continent from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The UN General Assembly kicked into high gear today and President Trump urged world leaders to take a page out of his ‘America First’ playbook. UN chief Antonio Guterres had a slightly different id...

Words vs. Action: Trump and Ukraine, UN Climate Summit, and Retirement from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s only Monday, but President Trump probably can’t wait for the weekend. A mysterious whistleblower complaint is still dominating the headlines, reportedly for a phone call he had with the Presid...

Balancing Act: Climate Strikes, Pacific Islands, and Japanese Whisky from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The world was gripped by massive student-led climate strikes today. Some say the demonstrations were the largest climate protest in history. We’ll let you know what strikers want and what they’ll b...

Step Up: Whistleblowers, Russian Protests, and the Washington Monument from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A whistleblower is sending Washington into a tizzy today. The House Intelligence Committee is demanding information about a complaint that reportedly has to do with President Trump. Meanwhile: an a...

New Normals: Tent Courts, Interest Rates, and ‘They’ from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump Administration is unveiling new immigration courts that look a little different than what you might expect. They’re actually tents and shipping containers built right near the US-Mexico b...

Making Waves: Auto Strikes, Impeachment Hearings, and Channel Swimming from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Autoworkers across the country are joining the picket line in a strike against General Motors. They say the company needs to give them better wages and benefits. Meanwhile, President Trump’s former...

Awaiting Results: Israeli Elections, Saudi Oil, and Science Prizes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Israelis might be feeling a little déjà vu: they’re heading back to the polls tomorrow to vote for parliament for the second time this year. Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put a lot ...

Now What: Gun Control, The Bahamas, and #MeToo from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The top ten Democrats in the presidential primary faced off last night for their third debate, and three big ideas emerged from their conversation on gun control. We’ll break them down for you. Mea...

Legal Speak: Terms of Impeachment, Opioid Settlement, and the Dem Debate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The House Judiciary Committee formalized its process for potentially impeaching President Trump. Everyone on Capitol Hill has something to say about it. We’ll tell you what’s new here. Meanwhile, t...

Making the Case: Gig Economy Reform and Canadian Elections from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

California lawmakers are making moves to reform how businesses treat their gig economy workers. Election season is underway, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing a tough reelection campaign....

On the Market: John Bolton, NC Special Election, and New iPhones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

White House National Security Advisor John Bolton is turning on his ‘out of office’ – for good. President Trump tweeted that he fired Bolton, while Bolton says that he quit. We’ll break down the fo...

Back to Work: Gun Control Bills, Big Tech Investigations, and Volfefe from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Congress is back to work after summer vacation. One big issue lawmakers could tackle? Gun control. It’s been a couple of decades since the last meaningful gun reform was passed, but some lawmakers ...

Spin-Off: Mortgage Giants, Hurricane Dorian, GOP Primaries from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trump Administration wants to spin off Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as private companies. We’ve got the A to Z on Fannie and Freddie and what these proposed changes could mean for you, especially...

Deadlines: Iran Deal, Climate Crisis, NFL Kickoff from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s almost the end of the week, and deadlines are looming – in Iran. They’re giving major players in Europe until tomorrow to help them out financially before they stop complying with more parts o...

Game-Changing: Brexit Lingo, Hong Kong Bill, and Cherokee Nation Delegate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

‘Blimey’ isn’t the only British phrase being thrown around in the UK today. All kinds of parliamentary phrases have been flying as the debate over how-to-Brexit heats up. Today, members of Parliame...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...

A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis from 2019-03-04T21:55

Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other fights over presidential power, US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is ...