First up: A few places, including the U.K. and Israel, have successfully rolled out COVID-19 vaccinations. We want to know: how did they do it? And can we copy what they got right? Then: We’ll fill you in on what you need to know about Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, which should get FDA approval this week. Next: We’ve got the context on two of the week’s headlines, involving former President Trump’s taxes and Illinois eliminating cash bail. ICYMI: The racial wealth gap is still a huge...
Feb 25, 2021•32 min
On this bonus episode of Skimm This, we're following up our interview with Vice President Kamala Harris by diving into a topic that's been on our minds for a while now: the “she-cession,” a.k.a. how women have been impacted by the economic recession caused by the pandemic. First up: We’ll hear how about the difficulties two Skimm’rs are facing juggling parenting and work. Then: Our expert guests put those stories in context and share some of the other experiences they’re hearing about around the...
Feb 23, 2021•28 min
First up: We’ll break down how one of America’s largest states was brought to its knees by a freak winter storm, and why most of the rest of the country has been so cold. Then: We’re bringing you the latest on stories from Australia, Tokyo...and at Walmart...and giving you the context on why they matter. Next: We saw a lot of COVID-related headlines this week. To clear the noise on what’s going on with the pandemic, we phoned a friend. A doctor friend. ICYMI: “Vaccine passports” might be coming ...
Feb 18, 2021•32 min
First up: Women are being pushed out of the workforce at an alarming rate. We interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris to learn how the next COVID relief bill could provide women with some relief. Then: We’re bringing you three headlines – Trump’s Impeachment trial, the rise in hate acts against Asian Americans, and a microchip shortage – and breaking down the context on why they matter. Next: More than a year into the pandemic, COVID long-haulers (aka people who’ve shown symptoms for weeks or m...
Feb 11, 2021•42 min
ICYMI, the last year has been stressful. But we can’t just unplug, wait a few seconds, and hope that everything returns to "normal" again. No matter how much we might want to. That's why today, we're gonna dig into something that’s been generating a lot of buzz over the last few months: mindfulness. First: We’ll hear from a Skimm’r who has used mindfulness to get through some tough moments – at home and in the classroom. Then: It’s time to dig into the science. As in: What even is mindfulness? W...
Feb 08, 2021•21 min
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 w...
Feb 04, 2021•28 min
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: Forme...
Jan 28, 2021•31 min
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 ...
Jan 21, 2021•30 min
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 rol...
Jan 14, 2021•35 min
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 gett...
Jan 07, 2021•32 min
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 me...
Dec 30, 2020•36 min
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”? Fina...
Dec 23, 2020•24 min
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 podca...
Dec 17, 2020•31 min
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 ...
Dec 10, 2020•30 min
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 B...
Dec 03, 2020•33 min
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 try to end 2020 on a high note. This week we’re stepping back from the news and looking at what makes the holiday shopping season so important in 2020 in particular, how marketers are making their sales pitch and why so much is on the line for small businesses. On this episode, you’ll hear from: Anne Rog...
Nov 27, 2020•21 min
A dangerous collision between a pandemic and America’s biggest family get-together is just around the corner. Before we get to the main course, we’ve got an update on the presidential transition between President Trump and President-Elect Joe Biden (1:08). Quick Skimm: nothing’s really happened so far. We’ll also tell you about Amazon’s big move this week into the world of prescription drugs (7:50). Then, we’re coming up on the last exit before Thanksgiving . It’s our final chance to rethink our...
Nov 20, 2020•27 min
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 election lawsuits and what to make of Pfizer’s flashy new COVID-19 vaccine. Then, as some major U.S. companies indefinitely delay the return to the office, it might be time to consider WFH our new reality. We’ll ask an expert for advice on how to make remote work productive and sustainable over the lo...
Nov 13, 2020•29 min
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 others. Then, we’ll explain why one state’s 2020 election is likely to spill over into January 2021. Sorry, Georgia! Need a break from staring at the electoral map? We’ll tell you about some of the other history being made this year, because there really is a first for everything. And finally: we’ve g...
Nov 06, 2020•25 min
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 have a winner, but we’ll explain which states hold the keys for an electoral college victory and where the vote-count stands right now. Then, we’ll bring you the latest on who’s likely to have majority control in the Senate and the House. And finally, we’ll spotlight some key state laws that voters changed ...
Nov 04, 2020•11 min
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 faced a grilling on Capitol Hill. And for our main story, you’ve probably seen headlines that, by the end of election night, we might not know who won the presidential race. To prepare you for the different possible election and post-election scenarios, we created a roadmap of different options. Named a...
Oct 30, 2020•33 min
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 how she and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden would tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, to the impact the Supreme Court’s new lineup might have on women, and her message to millennial women to get them out to the polls. On this episode, you’ll hear from: Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), Democratic vice pre...
Oct 28, 2020•15 min
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 COVID-19 lockdowns happening around the world. And then, what’s going on with foreign interference in the home stretch of the election. Then, we’ve got an important message from breast cancer doctors and breast cancer survivors about why COVID cannot be a reason to avoid staying on top of your breast hea...
Oct 23, 2020•34 min
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 week, we spoke to the head of the National Institutes of Health and a leading researcher on the global hunt for a cure about what you need to know about where the search for a vaccine stands. One thing we should note: while the race for a vaccine is happening at a historic pace, having a “normal” holiday...
Oct 16, 2020•27 min
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 Northwestern Mutual, we’ll hear from a Skimm’r contending with a drop in self-employment income after her counseling job went remote and her office sat empty. Managing new childcare expenses while making a career pivot hasn’t been easy, but she’s not afraid to think outside the box when it comes to making...
Oct 12, 2020•12 min
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 President, including at Wednesday’s VP debate. And speaking of the election, over four million Americans have already cast their ballots. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. We’ll break down the challenges some voters are encountering and walk you through how to make sure your ballot gets counted. The...
Oct 09, 2020•31 min
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 Northwestern Mutual, we’ll hear from a Skimm’r whose job disappeared as the US economy slid into a recession earlier this year … just weeks after she signed an expensive new lease. Making ends meet hasn’t been easy, but she’s still optimistic and hopes more education or even entrepreneurship could be on t...
Oct 05, 2020•13 min
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 know right now, and what we could expect in the days and weeks to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 02, 2020•6 min
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 after a big report by The New York Times. We’ll break down the report's key findings, and hear what Trump and his Democratic opponent Joe Biden had to say about the US tax system at this week’s presidential debate. And speaking of that debate… if you found it hard to follow, you’re not alone. So now, the Co...
Oct 02, 2020•28 min
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 moms to step back from work, and working from home has shut many women off from informal networking and mentorship opportunities that are key to career growth. On today’s Skimm Special, brought to you in partnership with Northwestern Mutual, we’ll hear from a financial advisor about how the pandemic is ...
Sep 28, 2020•13 min
