Skimm This

First up: We’ll ask an expert about whether we should be picky about which COVID vaccine we get, and break down why the COVID vaccines haven’t been distributed equitably so far.  Then: While the NFL is hoping for a safe Super Bowl on the field, doctors are more worried about the fans at home, and are hoping Sunday’s watch parties doesn’t turn into a public health nightmare. Next: We’re bringing you three headlines – from the US-Mexico border, Canada, and India – and breaking down the context on why they matter.  ICYMI: Some big changes went down this week in Myanmar. We’ll tell you what happened and what’s next...in 60 seconds.  Later: Did the Gamestop madness from last week make you feel like you missed out? We’ll explain the differences between trading and investing. And why you don’t need to make a Reddit account to make money.  Finally: Do you miss airplane wine? We’ve got the thing for you!  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Rhiannon Walker, NFL reporter, The Athletic Stacy R., finance editor for Skimm Money  Sabrina A. Assoumou, attending physician, Boston Medical Center Chasity Cooper, communication strategist and wine journalist (Insta) 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: By now you’ve probably heard about some new strains of COVID-19… that kinda sound like spy names. Meet B117, B1351, and P-1. And some bad news: they’re potentially more harmful. We’ll break down what we know so far about how to protect yourself, and whether the vaccines will still be effective against them. (0:58) Then: This week, all eyes were on...GameStop. And no, that isn’t a typo. We’ll tell you why a lot of people on Reddit have made waves in the stock market. (8:58) ICYMI: Former President Trump’s second impeachment trial kicks off soon. We’ll tell you what to expect. (11:43) Next: President Biden repealed former President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military. While that’s happening at the federal level, we’ll tell you why you need to keep your eye on legislation on the local level. (14:07) Later: Protests have broken out all over Russia. We’ll tell you why one man’s return has caused thousands to hit the streets. (18:33) Finally: We’re helping you Skimm your schedule. Because there are a ton of meetings that could have been emails, right? (23:59) On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Amber D’Souza, professor of epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice, the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project Anna Borshchevskaya, senior fellow for Russia, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Dr. Kristen Shockley, associate professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia. 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up: Before handing over the keys to the White House, President Trump made some final moves in office that could have a lasting impact. We’ll Skimm his final acts, from presidential pardons to foreign policy pivots.  Then: President Biden jumped right into the Oval on Wednesday to start rolling out his agenda. We’ll break down what he’s already done in office and what you can keep an eye out for next.  ICYMI: If you watched Wednesday's inauguration, you probably noticed thousands of National Guard troops stationed all over DC. We spoke to an expert about whether added security is here to stay and how Biden could take on the domestic terror threat.  Finally: We’re helping you Skimm your passwords. Seriously.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Brian J. Gerber, director of the emergency management and homeland security program, Arizona State University Steffanie A.K. Schilling, cybersecurity education and awareness expert 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 since the attack on the U.S. Capitol, but the ripple effects are still being felt. We’ll break down last week’s security failure and look at what’s being done to stop something like this from happening again. (4:26) Quickly: The federal government has announced some big changes to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout policy. We’ll skimm what’s new … in 60 seconds. (11:42) ICYMI: 140,000 jobs were lost in the last month, and they were all held by women. We’ll explain how the fallout from this past recession disproportionately affects women. (14:01) Later: Let’s skimm your resume! We spoke to a career expert to break down how to put your best professional self forward on paper. (19:23) Finally: We’ve got a recap of the hottest (and strangest) tech coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show. Any takers for a $1,000 machine that makes margaritas and ice cream?! (29:20) PS: Want to tune up your own resume? Join TopResume's career expert, Amanda Augustine, for a free webinar and Q&A next week to learn the New Resume Rules for the New Year.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Jvette Klausen, professor of politics, Brandeis University  Brette Steele, director of prevention and national security, McCain Institute Kathryn Edwards, economist, RAND Corporation Yeerang Jang, Skimm’r Carolyn Nieberding, Skimm’r Amanda Augustine, career expert, TopResume Heather Kelly, technology reporter, The Washington Post 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 U.S. Capitol. We’ll break down what happened on Wednesday. Then: All eyes were on Georgia this week. We’ll tell you what Democrats winning both Senate seats there means for the Biden administration.  ICYMI: The COVID-19 vaccine rollout hasn’t been going according to plan. We’ll explain the holdup in getting vaccines into people’s arms.  Later: Iran made a major announcement this week: they’re enriching their uranium to 20% purity. We won’t give you a chemistry lesson, but we will tell you why this matters and what this means for U.S. diplomacy moving forward. Finally: Is your fridge a hot mess after the holidays? We’ll speak to an expert to help you Skimm your fridge…so you can finally find your ketchup again.  Fun fact: "Betriebsblindheit" is German for "business blindness." Basically, something you do over and over without questioning. Click here to fill out our podcast survey. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Josh Michaud, associate director for global health policy, Kaiser Family Foundation Leah Askarinam, editor-in-chief, National Journal’s The Hotline Holly Dagres, non-resident fellow, the Atlantic Council Rachel Gurjar, chef, recipe developer, and food writer (IG) 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 week we’re looking back at the major developments that happened this year in medicine, foreign policy, and entertainment.  First up: It turns out COVID vaccines are not just a turning point for ending the pandemic, but also for fighting things like cancer and heart disease. We’ll break down this year’s medical breakthroughs.  Then: 2020 has been the year of global protests. Specifically, female-led global protests. We’ll explain the positive changes happening in Belarus, Sudan, and Poland, and why they could be a good sign for the future.   Finally: Anyone else miss going to the movies? We sure do. And so does the entertainment industry. We’ll tell you how they’ve pivoted because of the pandemic. And why videogames are making a major comeback.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News chief medical correspondent, author, "The New Normal" Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, author, “The Education of an Idealist” Giovanni Colantonio, video game reporter  Rebecca Rubin, film and media reporter, “Variety”  Skimm HQ’ers Hadley, Sam N., Maria M., Lindsay, and co-founder Carly Zakin 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the UK?  Then: Why did Russia hack the United States again? And what information did they get?  Next: What’s in the new stimulus package?  And: What’s happening to our alcohol consumption during COVID? And how do we know if it’s a problem?  Also: Why am I seeing headlines about a “galactic federation”?  Finally: Are robots really coming for our jobs? PS: You can find the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Website, Rethinking Drinking, here. And here is the NIAAA’s Treatment Navigator. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Amber D’Souza, infectious disease epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins University Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Garrett Kenyon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Yijing Watkins, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 expert to Skimm the answers. Then: Your holiday package forecast? Expect some delays. We’ll tell you what you need to know if you’re planning to do some last minute shopping.  Quickly: This season’s hottest gift? Dry ice. We’ll tell you why…in 60 seconds.  HELP US, HELP YOU! Fill our our 2020 year-end podcast survey here. ICYMI: Congress is working on another COVID-19 stimulus bill. But longer-term solutions are required to solve some of the most pressing issues in America: hunger and public transportation.  Finally: What better way to kick off the week of Christmas than with...a Christmas star. We’ll explain the once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event that you might spot on the horizon starting December 21st. P.S., Those resources we told you about in the show? Click here if you or someone you know needs help seeking information on how to obtain food.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Julie Fischer, associate research professor, Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security Ramona Hood, president and CEO, FedEx Custom Critical Stacey Nicholas, director of community outreach, Douglass Community Services Joel Berg, CEO, Hunger Free America Sarah Kaufman, associate director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 down.  Then: Congress is, once again, deadlocked over whether to pass another Coronavirus relief bill. We’ll explain the holdup. Quickly: Some major companies (think: Airbnb and Doordash) are going public. If that has you wondering WTF is an IPO… we’ll break it down in 60 seconds.  ICYMI: It’s been a historic week in the fight against COVID-19. But approving a vaccine and successfully “rolling one out” aren’t the same thing. We’ll tell you what challenges lie ahead.  Finally: We’ve got some advice on how to limit your COVID-19 exposure risk if you’re getting into an Uber or Lyft. Pro tip: roll down multiple windows.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in governance studies, Brookings Institution Wendy Zukerman, host, “Science Vs.” (a podcast from Gimlet, a Spotify Studio) Kenny Breuer, professor of engineering, Brown University 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, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 person who’s already making his intentions clear for 2021: President-Elect Joe Biden. We’ve got the who’s who on his cabinet picks and how he’s already making some contrasts between his team and President Trump’s.Plus, we’re playing catch-up on two crises in Ethiopia and Iran that could cause headaches for Biden’s incoming team. Finally, there’s a Christmas tree shortage this year, and it’s not the Grinch’s fault. We’ll tell you how to take care of your tree this year - if you can get your hands on one.On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Michèle Flournoy, former US undersecretary of defense, co-founder, WestExec Advisors Bronwyn Bruton, director of programs and studies, The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center Ariane Tabatabai, Middle East fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices