Skimm This

First up: We’ve got the latest on Afghanistan, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation and the CDC’s new guidelines on getting vaxxed while pregnant.Next: Kids are heading back to school IRL. We’ll dive into why keeping kids safe is more complicated than it sounds, and is causing some political throwdowns.Also: Fire up your phones. Vaccine passport apps are coming. We’ll skimm the process of signing up for them, to see if it’s as easy as advertised. (Here’s a link to some apps that are started to get used in a lot of places.)Plus: Apple recently it’s gonna work with the U.S. government to stop child abuse. We’ll get into why the move is raising the eyebrows of some privacy advocates.Finally: Lakes, reservoirs, and rivers across the Western U.S. are drying up. We called up two experts to figure out why, and to learn about what the future could hold.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Laura Meckler, national education reporter, The Washington Post Sharon B. Megdal, director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona Becky Bolinger, assistant state climatologist, Colorado Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long, with support from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down this week’s big stories, from the results of a sexual harassment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to a new federal eviction moratorium, and what selling COVID vaccines means for pharma company profits.Next: We’ve got an exclusive interview with President Biden’s top doc, a.k.a. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.Also: We’ve been hearing a lot about COVID-19 vaccine mandates lately, from employers to universities. We’ll talk with a legal expert about who can actually issue mandates, and how.Plus: Have you heard politicians and athletes invoking “HIPAA” to dodge questions on their vaccine status. We’ll bring you up to speed on what really HIPAA means … in 60 seconds.Finally: Happy birthday, MTV. 40 years after its founding, we’ll look back at the history of a channel that revolutionized the music industry and reality TV.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Vivek Murthy, United States Surgeon General Diane Hoffmann, director, Law and Health Care Program, University of Maryland Carey Law School Amanda Ann Klein, author, "Millennials Killed the Video Star: MTV's Transition to Reality Programming" Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Bridget Armstrong, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long, with support from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We keep hearing about people getting COVID … who already got the vaccine. We’ll tell you what you need to know about these breakthrough infections, and why health rules around the country are changing fast.Next: We’ll break down this week’s big stories, from the first hearing on the January 6th Capitol riot to the possible end of a key pandemic economic lifeline.Also: U.S. troops are leaving Iraq before the end of the year... kinda. We’ve got the context on what’s changing and not changing.Then: Last week, drug distributors and the pharma giant Johnson & Johnson reached a $26 billion dollar settlement related to the opioid epidemic. Is it enough?Plus: There were a ton of new scams during the pandemic. We’ve got the lowdown on the most common consumer complaints of 2020, and how to avoid them.Finally: We’ll chat with a sports reporter about the biggest headline from the first week of a very busy Olympics, on and off the field of competition. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Valerie Bauman, senior investigative reporter, Bloomberg Law Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy, Consumer Federation of America Lindsay Czarniak, host, On Her Turf Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long, with support from Sagine Corrielus. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down this week’s big stories, from COVID cases at the Olympics to chip shortages and Jeff Bezos’ big adventure.Next: COVID cases are soaring again in the U.S. – that is, among the unvaccinated. We’ll talk to a researcher about the factors that have (and haven’t) made hesitant Americans change their minds about the vaccine in recent months. If you want to check out the full study, you can find it here. Also: What does “back to normal” even look like? We’ll ask one journalist who’s been tracking how far away 50 countries are from pre-pandemic life.Plus: Trying to fit two years worth of weddings into a single Wedding Season is crushing our meticulous budgeting skills. We’ll talk to an expert on how we can stay on track with all the wedding gifts we have to buy.Finally: We’re not seeing ghosts, but we’re hearing them. A new doc featured some deep-faked voice AI to mimic late chef Anthony Bourdain’s voice. Can that ever be ethical?On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Ashley Kirzinger, associate director for public opinion and survey research, Kaiser Family Foundation James Fransham, data journalist, The Economist Bola Sokunbi, founder, Clever Girl Finance Karen Hao, senior AI editor, MIT Technology Review Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down this week’s big stories, from anti-government protests in Cuba to Texas Dems literally fleeing the state.Next: Between booster shots and new side effect warnings, we’ll break down this week’s COVID vaccine news … in 60 seconds.Then: More than 35 million tax returns are MIA. We’ll explain the delays at the IRS, plus what’s going on with Biden’s new Child Tax Credit program. (P.S. If you’re wondering where your tax refund is, this IRS tool might come in handy)ICYMI: Finding an affordable house right now feels impossible. We’ll speak to some experts about why the housing market is so bananas, and how long it’s gonna stay like this.Plus: 100 American cities just got their fitness report cards. We asked an expert to break down what makes a city healthy and how each of us can take control of our health regardless of where we live.Finally: We’ll catch up with a reporter at the Cannes Film Festival about the glitz, glamour and some upcoming releases.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  NiCole Keith, Ph.D., member of the American Fitness Index Advisory Board, American College of Sports Medicine Daryl Fairweather, chief economist, Redfin Tricia Lee, real estate broker (@SoldByTriciaLee) Anicee Gohar, film correspondent Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Luke Vargas, and Ciara Long. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: Haiti’s president was assassinated in his home this week. We’ll get into what just happened and what this could mean for the country. Next: Gas prices are way up. We’ll break down why that is, and how long the new prices might last.Then: We’re checking in on three stories from recent episodes to see what’s changed -- about the Delta variant, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the job market.ICYMI: The Tokyo Olympics were already a hot mess. Now, simply qualifying for the games is causing drama. We’ll break down three controversies and look at the athletes whose performances could still save the day.Finally: It’s been 25 years since the Spice Girls spiced up our lives. We’ll ask a music writer about their legacy and why there aren’t more girl bands around today.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Alyssa Goldstein Sepinwall, history professor, California State University San Marcos Kavitha Davidson, sports culture writer, The Athletic Brittany Spanos, staff writer, Rolling Stone Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: Bill Cosby was released from prison yesterday. We’ll explain the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s shocking decision to release him early.  Next: We’ll break down this week’s other big stories, from the Supreme Court’s voting rights decision to why it’s been so hot on the West Coast.Then: It’s been a week since a condo building in Surfside, Florida collapsed. We’ll recap what went wrong, and also ask a housing expert: who’s supposed to make sure these things don’t happen in the first place? ICYMI: We’re talking all things Delta variant. Like: do I need to mask up, even if I’m vaccinated? And does my vaccine protect against it? Finally: We’re seeing “Help Wanted” signs everywhere — at restaurants, grocery stores, retailers, and more. We’ll get into why millions of Americans aren’t rushing back to work, and what companies and state governments are doing to change that.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO, National Women’s Law Center Kate Walz, senior staff attorney, National Housing Law Project Vanessa Kerry, CEO, Seed Global Health Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long and Peter Bonaventure. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down what Britney Spears told a court about her conservatorship this week, plus two more big SCOTUS decisions on college athletes and Snapchat free speech.Next: No matter where you live, you’ve probably heard about an increase in “violent crime” lately. We’ll ask an expert why we’re seeing these trends and if President Biden’s new plan to combat crime could help.Then: Big Tech rules the world. But Congress is trying to change that. A bipartisan group of legislators introduced five antitrust bills this month to make Big Tech … a lot less big. We’ll break down both sides of the debate about whether to rein them in. Plus: Earlier this year, President Biden promised to prioritize LGBTQ+ rights in America’s dealings abroad, via diplomacy, trade and immigration policy. We’ll investigate how well the U.S. is living up to that promise.ICYMI: A few days ago, the Goldman Prize gave us this year’s real-life superheroes — six people whose environmental work is saving the planet. We’ll speak to one winner about how she got the plastic industry to back down in her home country.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Louisa Aviles, director, Group Violence Intervention, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO, GLAAD Jessica Stern, executive director, OutRight Action International Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, winner, Goldman Environmental Prize Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: Biden and Putin had their first face-to-face meeting. We’ll tell you what was on the agenda (hint: nuclear weapons and cyberattacks) and whether this meeting was more than just a photo op.  Next: We’ve got the context on recent reports about the Trump-era Department of Justice obtaining the info of journalists and politicians, and what’s going on with the latest heat wave out West.  Then: The Supremes are about to take their summer vacay, but before they go, they tend to drop some bombshells. And two major decisions broke today. We’ll explain the cases we have our eye on.  Finally: Saturday is Juneteenth. We’re taking a look at how companies have been thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion differently over the last year.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Torrey Taussig, research director for the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at the Harvard Kennedy School Caroline Polisi, legal analyst and adjunct lecturer at Columbia Law School Evelyn Carter, Managing Partner, Paradigm  Janelle Jones, Chief Economist, Department of Labor Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Bridget Armstrong and Alex Carr. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: We’ll break down Biden’s first overseas trip as president, how the U.S. hopes to stay the world’s top tech country, why its RIP for Keystone XL and what leaked docs show the ultra-wealthy really pay in taxes.Next: This week, the F.D.A. approved a new Alzheimer’s drug — but not everyone’s thrilled. We’ll get into why experts aren’t so sure about aducanumab.Then: Dozens of bills restricting voters’ rights have passed in states all over the U.S. this year. We’ll dive into some of the most common restrictions being passed, and the impact they’re likely to have. You can find theSkimm’s breakdown of voting rights bills by state here. ICYMI: A 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court and aging liberal judges has some calling for Justice Breyer to step down. We’ll break down why a guy with a lifetime gig might choose to throw in the towel early.Plus: What’s in a name? A lot, if you ask the W.H.O — which is asking news outlets to call COVID-19 variants by Greek letter nicknames.Finally: Hear ye, hear ye. There’s a new royal baby in town. So we’re talking royal baby names with an expert… and breaking down why Meghan and Harry’s choice of Lilibet Diana might be a diplomatic masterstroke.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Eliza Sweren-Becker, counsel, Brennan Center for Justice Omid Scobie, royals correspondent, Harper's Bazaar, author, “Finding Freedom” P.S. If your appetite for learning about the royals knows no bounds, check out our list of 9 essential royal reads.Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Luke Vargas. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. With additional support from Ciara Long. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices