News: Daily Skimm: Come get your dose of the sweetest pie

Friday, August 12, 2022

Daily Skimm: Come get your dose of the sweetest pie

"Copi"

— The invasive fish formerly known as carp. Illinois is rebranding it in hopes of making it sound more appetizing. Let's reel it in.

Searching For Answers

The Story

Attorney General Merrick Garland has spoken out about the search at Mar-a-Lago.

Tell me.

He said the Justice Department filed a motion to unseal the search warrant so that it's accessible to the public. It's something former President Trump is now calling for. Reminder: This was the warrant that allowed the FBI to raid Trump's Palm Beach home earlier this week. It's still unclear why the FBI executed the search warrant. But a new report alleges they were looking for classified documents relating to nuclear weapons.

What else did Garland say?

That he "personally approved" the FBI's request for a search warrant. And that although he can't speak on ongoing investigations, he wanted to unseal the warrant because of "substantial public interest" in this case. (Read: virtually the entire Republican Party speaking out against it.) Garland also condemned those who have criticized the "professionalism" of the FBI and DOJ, and he said he would not tolerate attacks on the FBI as an institution. The announcement comes amid physical threats against the FBI, too.

What do you mean?

Yesterday, an armed suspect tried to breach the FBI field office in Cincinnati, OH. The suspect was killed during a standoff with police. But was armed carrying a nail gun and AR-15.

theSkimm

Never before in US history has the FBI raided the residence of a former president. Now, Americans are once again divided when it comes to President Trump. And many are ready to get to the bottom of the DOJ's investigation.

And Also...This

What knows how to brand itself...

The Inflation Reduction Act. Today, the House is set to vote on a $700 billion package that promises to do everything from lowering energy bills and prescription drug costs to fighting climate change. It also aims to lower the deficit by...drum roll, please...raising taxes on large corporations making over $1 billion. Despite having "Inflation" in its name, the bill will not lower food or gas prices, at a time when grocery bills are at the highest in decades. Some are skeptical that the legislation will lower inflation at all. Tt was one of the reasons why every single Senate Republican voted against it last weekend. And why most Republicans don't plan to support it today. But it's still expected to pass the House and then head to President Biden's desk.

PS: We spoke with PBS News correspondent Lisa Desjardins about how the act will impact everyday Americans. Tune in.

Who maybe should have gotten a talking to in HR...

Meta's chatbot. Last week, Facebook's parent company released BlenderBot 3, an AI chatbot. By being fed a massive data set of...well, the internet...Facebook's chatbot can respond somewhat clearly to questions people pose. Turns out, that includes spitting out answers like Facebook "exploits people" and that it "has a lot of fake news." The chatbot has also reportedly spewed anti-Semitic messages. Oh and Facebook itself says whether it's safe "remains an open problem." But Facebook hasn't shut it down yet, saying it's keeping the AI publicly available for research purposes. Ok then.

What's making people sweat…

The Arctic. Yesterday, a study found that it's warming four times faster than the rest of the planet — twice as fast as previous estimates. Problem, because the Arctic temps cause sea levels to rise and can also influence weather in the US. The news comes as the US and Europe have been experiencing record heat waves. And as the US gov is set to pass the Inflation Reduction Act to tackle climate change. But that effort may be too little too late: Recent estimates suggest that the bill could lower US greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by the end of 2030. Meanwhile, the UN says emissions need to be reduced by 45% in that time range to avoid "the worst impacts" of climate change.

What's social distancing itself from (some) COVID precautions...

The CDC.

Who dropped a new album…

The OG Hot Girl.

While some are striking out on dating apps…

These women are making "A League of Their Own."

Jobs With Benefits

Together with

The pandemic made many of us rethink our relationship with work. And what we expect from our employers. So we teamed up with Google to Skimm best-in-class benefits you miiight wanna ask about.

First up: student loan reimbursement. Collectively, Americans owe nearly $1.75 trillion in student loans. Some companies — yes, including Google — are willing to help their employees pay it back. Either through direct payments or 401(k) matches. Sound like something you'd be into? Bring it up with your boss or HR team, and keep it in mind for your next job search. Psst…you can learn about other impressive benefits at the big G straight from real employees riiiight here.

New Boss, Who Dis?

The recent drama with the Warner Bros. Discovery merger (see: scrapping "Batgirl" and CNN+ all within a matter of months) has people eyeing the new boss making the calls. We Skimm'd what's going on over there and how this new (rocky) marriage may affect your streaming options. Listen here.

Skimm Picks

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. A healthy meal plan for your pup. It's officially back-to-school season. And this fresh, human-grade dog food's already getting straight As. Unlike kibble, it's packed with real meats and veggies you can see. And it ships right to ya. Here's 50% off your first box.*

2. Silky sleek pants that won't make you regret wearing pants. Even on the hottest of days. These work-friendly Athleta pants are lightweight, breathable, and wrinkle-resistant. Oh, and they dry quickly when you do break a sweat. Phew.*

3. The best sales to shop this week. Like a warehouse sale at Ban.do and tons of savings at The Container Store for back-to-school essentials. Browse these discounts and snag a few things while you can.

4. Accessories that'll hold your hair back and keep you cool. From clips that only look expensive to sturdy headbands. Time to get your strands off your face and feel the breeze.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimm'rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Scrub a dub dub…Andrea C (VA). She wrote a children's book for her niece to help her learn how to properly wash her hands. Talk about some good, clean fun.

(Some) Birthdays…Emily Sheahan (NY), Lindsay Blake (CT), Kyle Kuhlmann (CA), Katy Strong (NC), Aidan Weinberg (IL), Leah Friedland (OH), Shirley Jackey (CO), Elizabeth Trombley (MI), Meredith Guarino (TX), Elaine Jahnsen (FL), Tessa Hughes (AL), Allie Sutter (CA), Jeri Pliner (CA)

PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Skimm More

Social media and authenticity aren't often used together. But that might change with a new platform, BeReal. This week on "Skimm This," we're exploring the app, which encourages snapping life's real moments — sans filter. But first, let us take a selfie.

theSkimm Loyalty Program

50 bonus points on us? You know it. More earnings. More quickly. Hello, more rewards. Log in or join theSkimm Loyalty Program to get in on it today.

Skimm'd by Macy Alcido, Rashaan Ayesh, Rasheeda Campbell, Kate Gilhool, Julie Shain, and Mariza Smajlaj