News: Daily Skimm: We’re on our way to El Dorado

Friday, February 24, 2023

Daily Skimm: We’re on our way to El Dorado

"Hobbit-like structure"

— What Aaron Rodgers apparently emerged from after his offseason darkness retreat. Talk about kicking back.

Top Story

One Year

The Story

It's been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine.

How'd we get here?

On Feb 24 last year, after months of growing tensions, Russia sent tens of thousands of troops across the border to Ukraine — and shocked the world. As atrocities mounted, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of genocide. The Kremlin, for its part, said its goal was to "demilitarize" Ukraine. Much of the world wasn't convinced, with President Biden saying Russia's goal was to "reestablish the former Soviet Union." Now, there's still no end in sight to the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II. Here's the latest…

Ukraine…about 100,000 troops have been killed or injured in combat. An estimated 30,000 civilians have died. More than 13 million Ukrainians — about a third of the country's population — have sought refuge out of the country or been displaced within Ukraine. The war's caused widespread damage to countless communities. On top of that, Russia has raised safety concerns at nuclear power plants in Ukraine, which prompted some fears of a Chernobyl-like disaster.

Russia…An estimated 200,000 troops have been killed or wounded. Reports show that at least 500,000 people have fled Russia. Some fled to neighboring countries following Russian President Vladimir Putin's draft-like order. Others left as sanctions shut out Russia from things like banking and access to foreign assets.

The rest of the world…NATO members have maintained military and financial support for Ukraine amid pleas from Zelenskyy — but they didn't let Ukraine join NATO, due to fears of Russia escalating 'into World War III.' The US has contributed nearly $80 billion in humanitarian, financial, and weapons aid. However, Russia isn't entirely alone. China's trade with the Kremlin has hit record levels, helping Putin bankroll military expenses — though it's now calling for a ceasefire. Then, there's Belarus, which has served as a staging ground for Russian troops.

What's next in the war?

In recent days, Ukrainian officials sounded the alarm Russia would launch a major new offensive around the invasion anniversary — though some experts were skeptical the tides could turn in Russia's favor. Meanwhile, there's still concern Putin could consider the use of nuclear weapons. Especially after he suspended a major nuclear arms deal. All the while, President Biden has vowed to defend Ukraine "as long as it takes" and was in Europe earlier this week reaffirming that stance. But some House Republicans are demanding greater oversight of US spending in the war. It comes as one poll found declining American support for some of the US's efforts in Ukraine.

theSkimm

Ukraine has defied the odds against Russia. That's in large part due to support from the international community. Now, it remains to be seen whether solidarity remains strong as the war stretches into a second year.

Related Stories:

And Also...This

What we're learning more about…

The Ohio train derailment. Yesterday, the National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on what most likely caused the accident involving Norfolk Southern. It pointed to a wheel bearing severely overheating ahead of the derailment. The wheel bearing was found to be 253 degrees hotter than the air's temperature. Anything above 170 degrees would require the engineer to stop and inspect the train. The report said that the train sensors that are supposed to alert the crew didn't detect the temperature until it was too late. An engineer hit the brakes but was unable to stop, leading the 23rd car and others behind it to derail and spill toxic chemicals. The NTSB said that the accident was "100% preventable," that the train crew doesn't appear to have done anything wrong, and that the board will continue to investigate — a final report is expected next year. Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern said it'll now check all of its heat detectors "out of an abundance of caution."

Who's got people talking…

Harvey Weinstein. Yesterday, the convicted rapist was sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison for rape and sexual assault charges in a Los Angeles case. In 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker first reported allegations of sexual misconduct against the disgraced Hollywood producer. More than 80 women came forward with similar stories — helping to spark the #MeToo movement. The 70-year-old is already serving a 23-year sentence for a separate conviction in New York. Weinstein maintains his innocence and says the LA case was a "setup." The survivor in the case said the assault changed her and that there's "no prison sentence long enough to undo the damage."

…Oh and R Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex abuse convictions. It only adds one extra year to his current prison time from a New York conviction. Kelly will now spend a combined 31 years behind bars.

While We're on the Subject...

Curious about today's subject line? (We're on our way to El Dorado.) We saved you a Google. It's a…

A: Lyric from Karol G's newest album, "Mañana Será Bonito"

B: Scene from the new season of "Outer Banks"

C: Scene from the movie "Cocaine Bear"

Scroll for answer. Click here to submit a subject line.

Skimm Life

Wardrobe refreshes can be oh-so satisfying, but upgrading your shoe selection can be too. Match a new pair with fun socks and you're out the door. Check out:

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

1. Bite-size lessons to future-proof your skill set. And learn the concepts behind AI, chatbots, and more. This brand's hands-on lessons make it easy (and fun) to build data and computer science skills fast. Oh, and Skimm'rs get 20% off a subscription. Try it free.*

2. New buzzy books that are worth the hype. We rounded up some of the latest and greatest reads — from coming-of-age novels and juicy thrillers to historical fiction and memoirs.

3. The best sales to shop this week. Like discounts at Coach and a sale on jeans at American Eagle. Hide your wallet.

Psst...looking for more discounts on brands Skimm'rs love? Check out all of our exclusive promo codes here.

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.

Key to our hearts…Sam G (NY). He released a piano single to help people go through the grieving process, inspired by his own life experiences.

(Some) Birthdays…Sarah Greig (NY), Chelsea Handler (CA), Bill Mack (NY), Sara Blakely (GA), theSkimm's Elizabeth Smith (NY), theSkimm's Mike Roeslein (NY), Alejandra Navas (FL), Courtney Moser (DE), Dana Pehrson (CA), Darcey Still (VA), Jessica King (MA), Jinal R. Patel (IL), Kelly O'Connor (MI), Lauren Cardinet (CA), Lindsay Walton (AR), Margaret Wade Sayre (MN), Roger Ward (FL)

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

Answer: B. Today's subject line (We're on our way to El Dorado) is from none other than "Outer Banks." Calling all Pogues and Kooks — the third season is out now. It's not a scene from the movie "Cocaine Bear," which is based on a true story and is in theaters today. But if you're really looking to bring out your inner She Wolf, Karol G just released her fourth studio album, "Mañana Será Bonito," featuring Shakira, Shakira.