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Sunday, June 4, 2023
Weekend: Gardenias floating through daydreams
Skimm'd with summer knitwear — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today
— A man, on his mustache. We'll shave our thoughts on that.
Eyes On
SCOTUS
The Story
The countdown is on for SCOTUS's annual summer vacay.
Go on.
The highest court in the land traditionally wraps its term in the last week of June. In the weeks leading up to that, justices reportedly "scramble" to resolve outstanding cases and issue decisions — usually saving some of the biggest for the end (see: last year's abortion ruling). This year appears to be no different. In fact, they apparently have more than ever still on their to-do list. That includes rulings on contentious issues like…
Affirmative action: For decades, SCOTUS has repeatedly upheld using race as a factor in college admissions to ensure equality in higher education. But now, they could be poised to rule against the practice, after weighing two cases that allege the admissions processes at Harvard and the University of North Carolina end up discriminating against white and Asian American students. While schools argued that minority admissions would drop if affirmative action ended, the court's 6-3 conservative majority called racial classifications "dangerous" and seemed skeptical of "educational benefits." It comes as a majority of Americans favor affirmative action, according to a new poll.
Student loan forgiveness: Reminder, last year, President Biden unveiled a plan to eliminate up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million people — a move the admin says it put in place to ease the "financial" harms caused by the COVID pandemic. But not everyone seems to agree that the admin has the authority to unilaterally do so, including some conservative justices who expressed skepticism during oral arguments. Meanwhile, Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberals in questioning whether the plaintiffs had the legal standing to sue in the first place.
Election laws: In North Carolina, GOP lawmakers have said the formerly Democratic-held North Carolina Supreme Court overstepped its authority when it struck down Republican-drawn congressional districts. Because, according to the lawmakers, the Constitution gives state legislatures the power to determine how federal elections are run, without any oversight from state courts (aka, the "independent state legislature theory"). If accepted, that could lead to major changes in how federal elections are conducted. Most justices seemed skeptical, but in the end that might not matter. Since oral arguments, North Carolina's highest court overturned its earlier decision, so it's unclear if the justices will rule at all.
Native American adoptions: In 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act was enacted, requiring that Native American children in foster care or up for adoption be placed with extended family, their Native tribe, or in other Native homes before families with no tribal connections. That was intended to ensure a child's ties to their cultural heritage and community. But several people trying to adopt Native kids and three states have asked the high court to strike the law, arguing that it's racially discriminatory and that Congress exceeded its authority by enacting the law in the first place. During oral arguments, the Supremes seemed divided on how to handle the case, with Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the liberal justices, who appeared to support upholding it.
LGBTQIA+ rights and free speech: In 2016, website designer Lorie Smith sued Colorado over a state law that requires businesses to offer the same services to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, which Smith says violates her right to free speech. During oral arguments, the conservative-leaning court — which has recently ruled in favor of religious plaintiffs — appeared sympathetic to Smith.
theSkimm
Over the next few weeks, the Supremes will issue a series of decisions that could reshape millions of lives. For now, Americans just have to sit and wait.
The US labor market continues to defy expectations — with employers adding 339,000 jobs in May. But it comes as the unemployment rate ticked up. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 Amazon workers worldwide reportedly walked off the job last week. And, this week, hundreds of journalists at Gannett plan to do the same. Speaking of news, a California bill that would require tech companies to pay news outlets for their content is headed to the State Senate. That's despite Meta's threats to block news on its platforms in California if the law goes into effect. Oh and if you store money in apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, a financial watchdog is saying 'yeah, don't.'
New research that suggests the shape of your brain may play a big role in how you think and behave is making (brain) waves. As is this new data that found that women are more likely than men to skip or ditch their meds because of high costs. Perhaps that helps explain why cash grants given to middle- and low-income families apparently led to fewer deaths among women. Meanwhile, Sweden is now in reach of becoming Europe's first "smoke-free" country. That's as Canada will become the first country to require warning labels on individual cigarettes — in an effort to make smoking even more of a drag.
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Sunday Scaries, Who?
Here's one tip for a better start to your week.
National Gardening Week is officially in full bloom — so get ready to get down and dirty. In addition to nurturing a bounty of plants and flowers, you may also cultivate a better mood and lower levels of stress and anxiety. Even better? You don't need an expert green thumb to reap the benefits. Here's how to get growing, in whatever space you've got.
A yard, roof, or fire escape. A little green space — whether that's via the ground or containers and raised beds — can go a long way. All you need is a sunny spot, a shovel, some seeds, and (maybe) some fresh soil. Before picking your plants, get familiar with your hardiness zone, which will help you figure out what will thrive in your garden. And pay attention to a flower or plant's estimated size to avoid overcrowding. For a homegrown farm-to-table experience, right now is the perfect time for planting cucumbers, beans, scallions, and basil. Or, if you fancy flowers, consider sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and dahlias.
A window sill. If a full grown, (err, blown) garden sounds intimidating, start small. Some low-maintenance options include aloe vera, ZZ plants, and snake plants. Or, for a pop of color, check out African violets or Christmas cactuses. Once you've weeded out your favorite(s), check for any signs of distress. That includes droopy or discolored foliage, as well as residue or white or brown specks on the undersides of the leaves. Before you leave the store, make sure to pick up a potting soil specifically designed for your plant, as well as the right pot. That means one with a drainage hole and typically, something two inches larger than the plastic pot it comes in.
A neighborhood. Short on green space? Don't want to go it alone? Community gardens are a great option. Because getting your hands dirty is more fun with others. Plus, it can be even more rewarding to grow something everyone can enjoy. To find one in your area, check out the American Community Gardening Association's directory.
Save the Date
Like ours, your work and personal calendars are probably hectic. So here are some events you should know about...
PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here.
News Quiz
Stumped by our news quiz yesterday? Here's the answer.
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