News: A lucky, lucky girl

Thursday, June 1, 2023

A lucky, lucky girl

"Bart Simpson"

— The character balloon mistaken for a UFO. D'oh.

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Pride

The Story

This Pride Month, many are raising alarms about LGBTQIA+ rights in the US.

Catch me up.

For years, June's celebrated Pride Month with parades and festivals all around the country, including in NYC and San Francisco. However, there's a growing shadow over the celebrations this year.

What's the latest?

The ACLU reported it's tracking 491 bills restricting LGBTQIA+ rights. The measures range from banning gender-affirming care and drag shows to restricting bathroom access and who can play on sports teams. Republican state leaders say the restrictions protect children. LGBTQIA+ advocates and families say the laws are detrimental to kids' physical and mental health. Meanwhile, anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment has also fueled backlash against Bud Light and Target. It's all got LGBTQIA+ activists calling for more inclusivity protections.

Any good news?

There's still a reason to celebrate. Just last month, the FDA updated its rules to allow more gay and bisexual men to donate blood. Illinois apparently passed a trio of bills that push the state towards gender inclusivity. Latvia is celebrating its first ever openly-gay president. While some canceled their Pride Month plans, millions more in metropolitan areas across the US are moving forward with their parades — like they have for decades.

theSkimm

The LGBTQIA+ community has been fighting for equality and access for years. Now, this Pride Month, many are reflecting on how that progress may be in jeopardy as states issue bans and restrictions.

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Eyes On: The Debt Ceiling

Last night, the Republican-led House overwhelmingly passed the debt ceiling bill with a 314-117 vote. Here's how things went:

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and President Biden's deal got the approval of 165 Democrats and 149 Republicans. McCarthy faced an uphill battle ahead of the vote amid opposition from far-right GOP lawmakers, who wanted more spending cuts. (Here's a reminder of what's in the bill.) However, Democrats stepped in to help carry the bill over the lower chamber's finish line days ahead of the June 5 deadline.

Now, the legislation heads to the Democratic-led Senate, which is expected to get started on the voting process as soon as today.

And Also...This

Where there are updates on abortion…

Oklahoma. Yesterday, the state's Supreme Court struck down two anti-abortion laws that would've required a "medical emergency" before a doctor could perform the procedure. The court also said it was unconstitutional to encourage private citizens to sue others who performed or helped someone get an abortion. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) said the court has "more over-involved itself in the state's democratic process." Doctors applauded the decision. Despite the ruling, the state's near-total abortion ban remains in effect.

Out West: Earlier this week, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed legislation that protects the abortion rights of out-of-state patients and in-state providers. He is reportedly the first Republican governor to do so.

What couldn't "ding dong ditch" itself out of this one…

Ring. Yesterday, its parent company, Amazon, reached a $5.8 million settlement with the FTC. It comes after the agency alleged that Amazon committed privacy violations when it gave Ring employees access to customer videos. As part of a separate settlement, Amazon will also have to delete inactive child accounts and some voice recordings from Alexa devices. The online retailer denied the FTC's claims but said "these settlements put these matters behind us."

Who was found guilty…

Danny Masterson. Yesterday, a Los Angeles jury found the "That '70s Show" actor guilty of two out of three counts of rape. The retrial case involved three women who accused the actor of drugging their drinks and raping them at his home between 2001 and 2003. The women — who along with Masterson were all part of the Church of Scientology — said the church's teachings discouraged them from coming forward earlier. Now, Masterson faces up to 30 years to life in prison.

Q: I saw the House passed a bill to block President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. Based on the current repayment options, which one is best?

Alyssa Schaefer: There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Federal student loan borrowers could explore Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans. If they work for the gov or a qualifying non-profit, they could be eligible for the 10-year Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Plus, with federal student loans, you can adjust your repayment approach at any time if your financial or employment situation changes. Private student loan borrowers, meanwhile, can explore refinancing to get a lower rate. Pro tip: A GradFin student loan specialist can analyze your situation for free and create a plan just for you.

Alyssa Schaefer

General Manager and Chief Experience Officer at digital banking platform Laurel Road. Her answer has been edited for length and clarity.

What If We Talked Openly About Child Care?

We all know child care in the US is broken. It's unaffordable, hard to access, and women pay the price – $295,000 in lifetime lost earning and retirement savings, on average. Yet federal lawmakers have regularly refused to improve it.

Why? In part because caregiving often goes unseen, a struggle individual families and women deal with on their own. Case in point: Even women at the highest career levels, who can afford paid child care, often don't talk about it.

So no one sees how much help it takes for a mother to succeed professionally, and women at all levels blame themselves when they can't make it work.

It's time we talk openly about our private struggles. Whatever your child care looks like, we want to hear from you. What would happen if women spoke out about what caring for our families costs each of us — financially, professionally, emotionally? What if we demanded that policy makers change that? Take this survey to show us your child care, and let's find out.

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

1. Nicole Kidman-approved serum that's practically magic.

This anti-aging formula starts working as soon as it's applied, getting deep beneath the skin to reduce wrinkles instantly. Leaving you with smooth, lifted skin. Talk about a game-changer. Psst…Skimm'rs get 25% off.*

See for yourself

2. A must-watch video about self-love, building healthy habits, and rainbow poke bowls.

In honor of WeightWatchers' 60th birthday, we tapped a dynamic mother-daughter duo to serve up life advice, self-care practices, and one of their favorite lunch recipes.*

Watch now

3. What we think after wearing shoes from Rothy's.

Skimm Tested is back. We walked around in Rothy's shoes (loafers, flats, and sneakers) for six weeks and we have some thoughts.

Find out

4. Our favorite books coming out this summer.

Prepare your TBR pile for a serious boost, and get reading.

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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.

Putting in the work…Wanda D (NY). She's raising awareness on doable.work. An anti-racist platform that helps educate others with programs and resources.

(Some) Birthdays…Shauna Nagpal (NY), Sandy FitzGerald (MA), Nicole Dalakas (CA), Alexandra Stewart (FL), Jacquelyn Behan (NY), Sharon Fenicle (PA), Katie McKenna (NJ), Abby Miller (IL), Alexandrea Bailey (AL), Marilyn Sullivan (TX), Annie Dang (NY), Rachael Pendleton (CA), Virginia Williams (NY)

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