It’s August. Which usually means college students are heading back for the fall semester. But this year, back-to-school tailgates and freshman orientation look a little different. Think: hand sanitizer relay races. We’ll break down how some of the biggest campuses in the country are planning to open safely. And what the concerns are from some faculty, parents, and students. 

Also: we’re talking about TikTok. The app millions have become addicted to during the pandemic is back in the headlines this week, after President Trump threatened to ban it and US companies try to buy it. So: should you delete it? We’ll explain the privacy concerns surrounding the app. 

(For more on the executive orders President Trump signed overnight about TikTok, check out this morning’s Daily Skimm.)

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, Marion Lozano, and Julia Nutter.

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At the start of July, in an effort to protect federal monuments and buildings, President Trump started deploying federal agents to cities across the country. But in Portland, Oregon, that effort backfired. In a city where protests had started to calm down, thousands of people started turning out against what they saw as a federal occupation. We’ll break down what’s been happening in Portland, how things came to a boiling point this past week, and why the Trump admin is sending agents to more cities.

Also this week: the race for a COVID-19 vaccine reached a new milestone. Biotech company Moderna started its phase three trial in the US. We’ll tell you what this means for the vaccine timeline.

And finally: a record number of Black women are running for Congress this year. We talk to Kimberly Walker, who’s in the race for Florida’s 12th Congressional District, about why she decided to run.

On this episode you’ll hear from:

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It has everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

This podcast was Skimm’d by Alex Carr, Hadley Malcom, Julia Nutter, Marion Lozano and hosted by Justine Davie.

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Congress is back in session. And the major topic up for discussion: another economic stimulus package. Some big deadlines are coming up (think: the $600/week federal unemployment benefit is about to expire). And as new COVID-19 cases continue to spike, states, small businesses, and families are looking for another economic boost. We’ll break down what economists say needs to be included in the next legislation - and why public health and economic health are one in the same right now. 

Also: the late congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis fought for voting rights for decades. We’ll explain why lawmakers say passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act could restore protections for millions of voters – and honor Lewis’s legacy.   

And finally: we’ll introduce you to the Radical Monarchs - the subject of a new film on PBS. It’s like the Girl Scouts, but with a twist of social justice. Members earn badges for learning about climate change, and allyship, and other issues that impact their communities. We spoke to the group’s co-founders about why having these conversations with young women is crucial. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It has everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

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Even though it's the middle of summer, all eyes are on the fall. Specifically, how schools are supposed to reopen in the middle of a global pandemic. And as COVID-19 cases rise in a number of states, parents, teachers, and officials are at odds over how to do it. We’ll break down the debate over getting kids back to class, and what the challenges are to reopen. 

Also: one of the biggest sports franchises in the United States announced: it's getting a name change. The Washington NFL team said it will retire its name, the Redskins, as well as its logo. We’ll explain why this name change is a long time coming for activists, and what to look for next in the fight to get rid of racist imagery and logos. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

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Now that you’ve made it through your Netflix queue, you might be wondering when sports are coming back. After sports leagues postponed their seasons back in March, some - like the National Women’s Soccer League - are stepping back onto the field for the first time. We’ll break down the efforts and challenges in keeping players safe. And talk to one league that’s knocking it out of the park: the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (aka: roller derby.)

Also, in case you missed it: the Chinese government has taken its boldest step yet in eliminating freedoms of Hong Kong residents. We’ll tell you how this latest move by China has a global impact. 

And finally, we’re talking about getting into 'good trouble.' As in the new documentary "John Lewis: Good Trouble." The film’s producer Erika Alexander shared how lessons from Lewis’s life fighting for social justice starting in the 1960s are just as relevant to social movements today. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox.

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In some states, primary voting during COVID-19 has been off to a rocky start. Long lines and crowds at the polls aren’t great for social distancing. And as cases continue to spike across the US, some states are looking to expand their ‘vote by mail’ options ahead of November. We’ll break down what voting for president could look like in a global pandemic and what experts say election officials and lawmakers should start doing now to prepare us. 

Also: ahead of the fourth of July, some lawmakers are pushing to add a 51st state to the union. We’ll explain the (long) history of Washington DC’s quest for statehood and why it’s coming up again. 

And finally, the new documentary “(In)Visible Portraits” has been described as “a love letter to Black women, from Black women.” We sat down with the filmmaker to discuss how she’s looking to reveal history you may not have learned about in school. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox.

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As the number of new COVID-19 cases rises in some states, the debate continues about what role the government should play in helping people protect each other. And specifically: whether masks need to be required. We’ll explain why there’s been confusion over masks, what scientists and the CDC are saying now, and why local and state officials are at odds. 

Also: a recent Supreme Court ruling has given the LGBTQ+ community something to celebrate during Pride Month. We’ll break down the SCOTUS decision about protecting LGBTQ+ Americans at work. And why activists and politicians are saying: there’s more to be done. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

• Dr. Jade Pagkas-Bather, infectious diseases attending physician, clinical epidemiologist and Instructor of Medicine at the University of Chicago Department of Medicine

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

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In recent weeks, there’s been a renewed push to remove symbols of the Confederacy: including flags, statues and the names of some military bases. Some protestors have been tearing statues down. And local officials are also making moves to remove them. We’ll break down why the debate around getting rid of these statues is really a debate about how we understand history- and the legacy of slavery in the US.  

Also: all 50 states have started reopening. But health experts are warning: COVID-19 is still here. And as cases spike, state and local governments are at odds. 

And finally, we ‘press pause’ with some sea turtle news. Here are some soothing sea turtles videos to kick off your weekend. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

- LeAndrea Mack, Miss Juneteenth 2019 in Kansas City

- Dr. Jalane Schmidt, associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia, co-founder of the Charlottesville, VA chapter of Black Lives Matter

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

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As protests continue in the US, some demonstrators are now calling to ‘defund the police.’ And those calls are already having an impact. Cities like Minneapolis, New York, and Los Angeles are considering some major changes to their police departments. We’ll break down what it actually means to defund the police, and why some protestors say that doesn’t go far enough. 

Also: we’re still in a global pandemic. But many public health experts don’t think protests should stop. We’ll explain why medical professionals say it’s important that demonstrators are still able to protest against racism and police brutality.

And finally, you may have seen that viral video from former NFL athlete Emmanuel Acho, host of the new online series, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” We spoke to Acho about why these conversations are necessary, and how he plans to grow the series. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

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People across the US have flooded into the streets to protest police violence against black Americans. We’ll break down some of the concerns protests are highlighting, including disparities in how law enforcement treats black Americans, as well as police militarization. We’ll also talk to an expert about some potential solutions.

Also: if you’re seeing calls to donate to a bail fund and wondering how those work, we’ll explain. 

And finally, we’re ‘pressing pause’ to highlight the creative ways people are documenting their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On this episode, you’ll hear from: 

Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at [email protected] or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show. 

If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox. 

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