First up: We’ve got an exclusive interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci, where we got the chance to ask about everything from vaccine mandates on airplanes and in schools to his biggest pandemic mistakes. Next: We’ll get into the latest headlines, from explosive revelations about the final days of the Trump administration, to the results of California’s recall election, and why college students are swapping wine for weed. Then: The federal government is trying to stop Texas’s restrictive new abortion ...
Sep 16, 2021•38 min
First up: We’ve got the latest on the week’s biggest headlines, from El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin to the removal of Virginia’s most prominent Confederate statue, the newest COVID-19 variant, and Britney’s conservatorship. Next: It’s back to school time… but there’s no vaccine for kids under 12. So, we called up an expert to find out everything we need to know about schools, kids and COVID-19. Then: It’s the 20 year anniversary of 9/11, and even if we were too young to remember all of it, th...
Sep 09, 2021•34 min
First up: We’ve got the details on Texas’ new abortion law, and what experts say it could mean for abortion rights across the U.S. Next: We’ll take stock of the damage after Hurricane Ida caused damage from the Gulf Coast all the way to the Northeast. Then: The U.S. has officially left Afghanistan. But what happens to the Afghans who were left behind and are hoping to leave? We get the latest details from PBS NewsHour’s Jane Ferguson. ICYMI: Forget cable news-style business updates. We’re bringi...
Sep 02, 2021•38 min
First up: We’ve got the latest on evacuations from Afghanistan, and the deteriorating security situation around Kabul airport. Next: We’ll break down this week’s biggest headlines, from a report on COVID-19’s origins to school closures — plus a big decision by streaming platform OnlyFans. ICYMI: The F.D.A. and Pfizer made it official this week, in the form of full approval for the pharma company’s COVID-19 vaccine. We’ll break down why that’s different to emergency authorization, and what it cou...
Aug 26, 2021•34 min
First up: The week’s biggest story is Afghanistan. We’ll break down how the Taliban took over so quickly, whether more people can get out safely, and what’s next for the country. Next: We’ll bring you the latest on the major earthquake in Haiti and the latest data breach affecting over 40 million people. Hint: if you’re a T-Mobile user, tune in. And click here for tips on how to keep your information safe . Also: Remember hot girl summer? Enter: shot girl fall, because boosters are coming soon t...
Aug 19, 2021•33 min
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 s...
Aug 12, 2021•38 min
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 a...
Aug 05, 2021•36 min
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 ch...
Jul 29, 2021•33 min
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 journali...
Jul 22, 2021•32 min
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: F...
Jul 15, 2021•31 min
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 i...
Jul 08, 2021•26 min
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?...
Jul 01, 2021•31 min
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 introd...
Jun 24, 2021•34 min
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 bombsh...
Jun 17, 2021•33 min
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 mo...
Jun 10, 2021•30 min
First up: We’ll break down Israel’s (likely) government shakeup, Biden’s latest moves on the southern border, and new data about female CEOs. Next: We’ll look at why tennis star Naomi Osaka’s decision to take a break from competition is about so much more than sports. Then: While the U.S. deals with vaccine hesitancy, a lot of countries have no shots, period. We’ll talk to a health reporter about how the U.S. can (and should) turn the global vaccine shortage around. ICYMI: This week was the 100 ...
Jun 03, 2021•31 min
First up: Let’s break down some headlines, from America’s top diplomat visiting Israel to Belarus faking an airline bomb threat. Next: President Biden wants U.S. intelligence to figure out the origins of COVID-19. That’s reviving an old theory that the pandemic could have come from a laboratory. Plus: It’s been a year since George Floyd was murdered. We’ll break down what progress has been made — and where activists say there’s more to do. ICYMI: In a bid to get past the partisan standoff in Con...
May 27, 2021•26 min
First up: We’ve got the context you need on the Mississippi abortion law heading to the Supreme Court, the new hate crimes bill that just passed Congress and President Biden showing off an electric pickup. Next: Nearly two weeks of Israeli-Palestinian fighting has caused fighting… among US lawmakers. We’ll break down what’s going on with America’s diplomatic relationship with Israel, and what some politicians are hoping to change. Plus: U.S. military intelligence says reports of UFOs are legit. ...
May 20, 2021•33 min
First up: Renewed Israeli-Palestinian conflict is threatening to spiral into all-out war. We’ll break down what you need to know. Then: We’re giving you the context on two more events that have been making headlines this week: Liz Cheney’s demotion, and a Pfizer vaccine for teens. Next: A major pipeline in the US got hacked over the weekend. We’ll tell you WTF a ransomware attack is, why they’re so common, and why the US is typically a major target. ICYMI: We’re speaking with one of the cofounde...
May 13, 2021•30 min
First up: We’ve got the context on this week’s biggest headlines, from Trump’s Facebook ban to what’s going on with federal eviction protections and protests in Colombia. Plus: This week, the White House said it supports waiving patent protections for COVID vaccines. Well break down whether that will help boost the global vaccine supply and why drug companies are annoyed. Next: Can employers or colleges make people get vaccinated? We’ll take a look at the arguments on both sides. Then: Whether i...
May 06, 2021•32 min
First up: President Biden’s been in office for 100 days. And while he's giving himself an A for effort, we’ll break down his real report card with what he has – and hasn’t – accomplished so far. ICYMI: We’ve got the latest on the 2020 Census data, the arrival of some pesky friends, and the drama between Facebook and Apple (pssst: you may have a front row seat). Next: India is facing a COVID-19 crisis. We’ll explain what’s going on, and what the rest of the world is doing to help. Later: The U.S....
Apr 29, 2021•31 min
On this special episode of Skimm This, we wanted to take a break from the news for some comic relief, and get a chance to hear some of your voices. A few weeks ago, we asked you to fill out a survey about how the past year has been. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And we started getting a lot of must-read responses to one question in particular: what was your best or worst pandemic purchase? First up: A wannabe survivalist builds out his basement to store lots and lots of powdered milk. We deci...
Apr 27, 2021•19 min
First up: A jury this week found Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd. We’ll talk to the creator of Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability about how this historic trial could impact law enforcement trials in the future. ICYMI: We’ve got the latest news about fake vaccines, global travel warnings and a sleep study you may have texted to your parents in a panic. Next: The U.S. just set some big climate goals. We’ll break down what those promises actually mean. ( Here’s th...
Apr 22, 2021•33 min
First up: To help understand all of this week’s COVID headlines – including big news about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – we phoned up a doctor to ask: “Hey did you read that thing?” Then: We’ve got the latest on the most recent incident of police violence in Minnesota, why Iran is increasing its uranium enrichment, and the latest beef between the U.S. and Russia. After that: If President Biden has his way, U.S. troops will leave Afghanistan by September 11th, 2021. We’ll break down why end...
Apr 15, 2021•34 min
First up: We’ve got this week’s biggest headlines, from progress towards a new Iran nuclear deal to border clashes in Northern Ireland and Biden’s latest moves on gun control. (0:46) Then: This week, Arkansas’ Governor vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming healthcare for minors – only for lawmakers to overturn the veto. We’ll break down a rollercoaster week in the state. (5:22) Next: President Biden has some big infrastructure plans, but wants to raise corporate taxes to foot the bill. We’ll di...
Apr 08, 2021•30 min
First up: Derek Chauvin’s trial began this week. He’s the former police officer accused of killing George Floyd. We’re taking a look at what we can expect in the courtroom in the weeks ahead. And we’ll break down why America doesn’t have a strong track record when it comes to convicting police officers. Then: It’s time for headlines. We’re bringing you news from the WHO, Pfizer, Georgia, and New York… and giving you the context on why it all matters. Next: There’s a tiny but historic election go...
Apr 01, 2021•33 min
First up: Less than a week after a mass shooting in Atlanta, there was another massacre – this time in Colorado. We’re diving in to look at what’s changed – and what hasn’t – about gun violence in the US. Then: From Israel’s elections and a ship stuck in the Suez Canal to Equal Pay Day and Virginia abolishing the death penalty, we’ve got the context on this week’s biggest headlines. Next: As spring breakers crowd the streets in Miami, we ask an epidemiologist: are we gonna see another surge in C...
Mar 25, 2021•32 min
First up: We’ve got the context on this week’s deadly shootings around Atlanta, where a lone gunman murdered 8 people — 6 of them of Asian descent — in a time when attacks against Asian Americans are rising. Then: Last weekend, police in London shut down a vigil for Sarah Everard, who was abducted and murdered while walking home from a friend’s house. We break down why Everard’s death matters — not just in the U.K., but everywhere. Next: We’ve got the context on some of this week’s other big hea...
Mar 18, 2021•31 min
First up: Today, President Biden signed a long-awaited stimulus bill. We’ll break down three of the biggest wishes he granted and look at who’s gonna be affected. ( Here’s the rest of theSkimm on the stimulus bill ) Then: We’ll explain the CDC’s new guidelines about what we can do once we’ve been vaccinated. Plus: We’ll follow one Skimm HQ’er as she gets her first shot. Remember Me? TheSkimm sat down with former President Obama this week and asked him what it will take for Americans to truly get...
Mar 11, 2021•38 min
First up: We had some questions for the new CDC director, like: if it’s my turn, how do I sign up to get vaccinated? Then: We’ve got the context on some of this week’s big headlines, including the latest on NY Governor Cuomo, why the Capitol is on high alert, and what’s up with Dr. Seuss. Next: We’ll explain the fate of the $15 minimum wage … in 60 seconds. ICYMI: A new report found that political and economic freedoms are declining all around the world, including in the U.S. We’ll tell you why ...
Mar 04, 2021•30 min
