News: Your 5-min read: She’s living in her house of cards

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Your 5-min read: She’s living in her house of cards

Daily Skimm

"$9,000"

— What some fans might pay to see Lionel Messi at an Inter Miami CF game this fall. Swifties can relate.

Eyes On

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf

The Story

Last week, two prominent golf orgs announced they are teeing up to bury the hatchet with a potential partnership — because you only LIV once.

Tell me more.

The PGA Tour (a non-profit organization) and LIV Golf (a league created in 2021 and funded by the Saudi Arabian gov) are playing into the 'enemies-to-lovers' trope. The two had been embedded in back-and-forth lawsuits for nearly a year. Now, they've decided to kiss and make up and combine their assets to create a new entity that would "unify the game of golf." It's not a hole-in-one deal yet. But it's got some golfers and fans raising red flags. Here's why:

"Sportswashing": Critics of LIV Golf have accused its financial backers (Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund — controlled by the Crown Prince) of pouring money into worldwide sports events and orgs as a way to distract from the kingdom's history of human rights violations. (Sound familiar? Cough, Qatar World Cup, cough.)
Not a fan: Many Americans have been protesting LIV since its inception. (Reminder: The majority of hijackers of 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia.) Now, critics are calling out the PGA for its involvement with LIV.
Shady moves: From promises of making big bucks to guaranteed payouts, LIV was able to tempt many PGA Tour players to cross over to their side. Now, with the partnership, many who defected from the PGA may be able to return (with deeper pockets). And possibly reap the same benefits as the ones who decided to stay loyal.

theSkimm

As the criticism around the PGA-LIV bromance keeps mounting, golfers are getting ready for the US Open this week. Only time will tell if the partnership is likely to change the world of golf as we know it.

What's Happening

📰 In news…

After a plane crash more than a month ago, Colombian soldiers found four Indigenous children alive in the Amazon jungle. Meanwhile, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is saying 'bye, bye, bye' to Parliament. Back in the states, the DOJ said 'the rumors are true' and confirmed former President Trump's indictment on 37 counts in the classified docs case. His arraignment is set for Tuesday at a federal court in Miami.

📱 In tech...

News publishers may finally report a much-needed revenue boost, thanks to the long-awaited Google News Showcase. Meanwhile, a recent court ruling is turning down the volume on "explicit" music at the office. But at least work isn't monitoring your brain…yet. Although, if you really want to get inside someone's head, try peeking at their Notes.

🩺 In health…

The Canadian wildfires left a lot of people dusting off their air purifiers and brushing up on the AQI — and sent baseball players back to their home bases. Meanwhile, researchers found that taurine (a common energy drink supplement) may help animals and humans live longer. But no, that doesn't mean you should stock up on Red Bull.

Bookmark'd

Here's a look at the reads we've saved, texted, and emailed to our friends…

Welcome to CringeTok, Where Being Insufferable Can Be Lucrative…the trend you wish you'd never found, but can't stop watching.

Knowing Your Partner's 'Argument Style' Can Be a Relationship Game-Changer…because sometimes, love languages and enneagrams aren't enough.

Shopping for What It Means To Be an American Girl…how clothes helped one woman feel comfortable in her own genes.

Skimm Picks

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

1. The cord-free, 15-piece vacuum everyone's adding to their cart.

The Dyson V15 uses tech and an angled light to find dust particles and adapt to different floor types. Plus it's $100 off right now. And Skimm'rs get $20 off their first $40 purchase with QVCNEW20.*

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2. The best sales to shop this week.

When you're about to save some precious dollars on a product you've been eyeing for a while? The best.

Dive in

3. 40% off select bestsellers from an adorable kitchen brand.

For 24 hours only, shop Amazon's deal of the day. Snag cute gadgets that'll only make your space brighter.

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

Sunday Scaries, Who?

Here's one tip for a better start to your week.

Who says life can't be fun and games? Whether you're stuck in the smog, feeling the heat, or just wanting some downtime — fight the Sunday scaries with a game night. And remember: you don't need a big group to get in on the fun. Here's your starter pack…

A deck of cards. Solitaire is a classic for solo players. But to spice it up, add in a second deck. For two or more players, Blackjack, Crazy Eights, and Egyptian Rat Screw are simple and fun. But if you want to up the ante, try your hand at Rummy, Spades, or Texas Hold 'Em.
Household items. If you don't have board games or cards on deck, opt for paper and a bowl instead. For big groups, give Fishbowl a go (think: Taboo meets Password meets Charades). Or, for a smaller group, bring back Pictionary or 20 Questions.
The internet. Want the board game feel, but don't have the equipment? Take it online. Many classic board games have virtual versions — including checkers, chess, and Scrabble — that can pair you with other players. Want to play against your friends? Bring the competition to Zoom with Cards Against Humanity, Scattergories, and more.

Save the Date

Like ours, your work and personal calendars are probably hectic. So here are some events you should know about...

Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud are serving up a tough match at the 2023 French Open Men's Singles Final…right now.

The 76th Tony Awards. The best in Broadway take the stage at 8 pm ET.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals. With a 3-1 lead over the Miami Heat, the Denver Nuggets are shooting their shot at an NBA title. Tune in at 8:30 pm ET.

US Open Golf begins. Time to par-tee. Don't miss Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler in action.

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.