Skimm This

Price Tag: Congressional Trading, College Rankings, the Art of Mediocrity

Listen Later
  • First: We’ve got the top headlines of the week: a national abortion ban on the table just weeks before the midterms, August inflation numbers (sigh), Ukraine’s recent string of W’s, and the DL on the new updates for iMessage. 
  • Then: After a scandal at Columbia University, the college went from #2 to #18 on the US News College Ranking List. But after learning just how the list comes up with its rankings, many are questioning how legit that list even is. We break down what caused Columbia’s fall from grace and the shady side of college-ranking culture…in 60 seconds.  
  • Next: An investigation by The New York Times found that nearly one-fifth of Congress – or their family members – were trading stock in a way that could be considered a conflict, renewing convos around Congressional stock trading and whether it should be allowed. To hear both sides of the spicy debate, we talk to one of the reporters. PS: check out the Times investigation here. 
  • Finally: Being mediocre at your hobbies is in. Chasing perfectionism is out. We talk to a WSJ columnist who investigated the art of being bad at something and how it actually makes your mental health and your life better. Huzzah for participation trophies. 


    • On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

    • Kate Kelly, domestic correspondent, The New York Times
    • Rachel Feintzeig, columnist, The Wall Street Journal


      PS: Calling all Skimm This listeners. Have questions about the news, work, or life? Call and leave us a voicemail at (929) 266-4381. We can’t wait to hear from you.


      Want more Skimm? 

      • Sign up for our free daily newsletter
      • Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now 
      • Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts


        • Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Will Livingston, and Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Skimm ThisBy theSkimm
        • 4.5
        • 4.5
        • 4.5
        • 4.5
        • 4.5

        4.5

        3,616 ratings

        More shows like Skimm This

        View all
        NPR News Now by NPR

        NPR News Now

        14,201 Listeners

        Fresh Air by NPR

        Fresh Air

        38,018 Listeners

        HerMoney with Jean Chatzky by Jean Chatzky Her Money

        HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

        1,458 Listeners

        The Daily by The New York Times

        The Daily

        111,159 Listeners

        Up First from NPR by NPR

        Up First from NPR

        55,995 Listeners

        The NewsWorthy by Erica Mandy

        The NewsWorthy

        1,362 Listeners

        9 to 5ish with theSkimm by theSkimm

        9 to 5ish with theSkimm

        1,875 Listeners

        Inside Trader Joe's by Trader Joe's

        Inside Trader Joe's

        4,283 Listeners

        Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

        Fiction - Comedy Fiction

        6,443 Listeners

        Consider This from NPR by NPR

        Consider This from NPR

        5,988 Listeners

        Financial Feminist by Her First $100K | YAP Media

        Financial Feminist

        6,327 Listeners

        Well Played by theSkimm

        Well Played

        178 Listeners

        ParentData with Emily Oster by ParentData

        ParentData with Emily Oster

        276 Listeners

        Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

        Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

        10,523 Listeners

        The Headlines by The New York Times

        The Headlines

        523 Listeners

        The Wirecutter Show by The New York Times

        The Wirecutter Show

        1,106 Listeners