Daily Skimm

Good morning.

Nancy Grace Roman always seemed to be on a quest to uncover the secrets of the universe. As NASA’s first-ever Chief of Astronomy (the first woman to hold an executive role at the agency, BTW), she championed the launch of the Hubble telescope. So it’s only fitting that the latest launch out of the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday was a telescope named after her. If you missed it, here’s the moment of liftoff. Over the next five years, the $4.3 billion Nancy Grace Roman telescope will explore dark matter and dark energy, which make up about 95% of the universe. Scientists also expect to discover more than 100,000 exoplanets with Roman’s help. Will we finally get closer to answering: Is there life beyond Earth? And to think the Trump administration almost shut this mission down — it must’ve made the president’s congratulatory phone call yesterday extra awkward for NASA… Roman’s first images could come as early as next year, and anyone can access the raw data. But before you get ready to dive into the mysteries of the universe, here are today’s top headlines…

— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen at sunset.

Reproductive Rights

Rising Costs, Declining Access, and Delayed Care

What’s going on: Abortion patients are increasingly getting caught in a perfect storm, and abortion providers are seeing the effects. Diane Horvath, cofounder of Partners in Abortion Care in Maryland, told The Guardian that people are coming in “later and sicker” in their pregnancies. Today, increasing healthcare premiums, decreasing Medicaid coverage, and growing abortion restrictions and bans have put abortion care further out of reach for many patients. “They’re just not going in. There’s no place to go,” Horvath added. And delays can compound the problem: As pregnancy progresses, abortion costs and health risks can also climb. Meanwhile, the number of providers available decreases: Only four states and Washington, DC, have clinics offering all-trimester care. One 2024 study found that, including out-of-state travel costs, the median cost of an abortion at 33 weeks was $17,250.

Out of the spotlight: After the Dobbs decision revoked the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, abortion funds around the country saw an increase in donations. But the “rage giving” soon declined. By early 2024, the National Network of Abortion Funds reported a “staggering drop off” in donations despite the need. “Public attention has shifted elsewhere,” one Richmond, Virginia-based provider told RVA Magazine. Many Democrats are no longer making reproductive rights a focal point of their campaigns. There are other factors, too: Inflation and rising cost of living have led many Americans to reduce their charitable giving out of concern for their own finances. It’s forced some abortion funds to make tough decisions. Earlier this year, Poonam Dreyfus-Pai, interim executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds, told Stateline that about one-third of abortion funds had to pause hotlines in 2025, and 2026 “is even harder.”

The News in 5

🗞️ Officials said one person is dead and at least 15 people are unaccounted for after flash floods hit areas of Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday.

🗞️ Despite the Trump administration’s promise to target “the worst of the worst,” new data shows that more than half of the almost 50K people arrested by ICE in July had no criminal record.

🗞️ Google Maps now shows Lake America instead of Lake Ontario, just like the Gulf of America.

🗞️ New research finds that statins, which help fight cholesterol, can reduce dementia risk by 15% — and the earlier you start taking them, the better.

🗞️ The Tinder Swindler may have some competition after a fake San Francisco 49ers player allegedly conned 26 women out of $1.3 million. Hey Netflix, you up?

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In Our Rotation

Today’s budgeting hack? This impressive credit card offer. It includes a long no-interest period on purchases and balance transfers, 5% cash-back rewards, no annual fee, and a $200 bonus.*

Our favorite baby-care brand just launched a product line for big(ger) kids. Check it out here.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Shelf Awareness

Clean Up on Aisle Avocado Oil

What's going on: Avocado oil is in its scandal era. A UC Davis study tested 54 chips, mayos, and dressings labeled as containing avocado oil, but a whopping 89% showed signs of being adulterated with cheaper oils, like seed or soybean. One seemed to have virtually no avocado in it at all. If this sounds sketchy to you, researchers have to agree, especially since avocado oils are often much pricier than their counterparts. And they’re not the only wellness-coded products we’d like to see receipts for: Poppi and David Protein Bars have faced lawsuits challenging claims about what is — or isn’t — inside. But most label games happen in the legal-but-squinty zone. “Natural” sounds official, but has no formal FDA definition. And some labels are all talk: “Cholesterol-free” can appear on plant-based foods that… never contained cholesterol to begin with.

Good fats, bad facts: A “health halo” happens when one wholesome-sounding ingredient or claim makes the entire product seem better for you than it necessarily is. Take date syrup, the sweetener darling of the moment. A recent review found that its fructose content and metabolic effects aren’t meaningfully different from table sugar. Nothing wrong with that in moderation, but one is much more expensive, and we bet you can figure out which. Packaging helps sell the story: One review found that package color alone can change how good-for-you a food seems. A healthy-looking label isn’t necessarily false. It’s just rarely the whole story. An easy reality check: A Cleveland Clinic dietitian recommends comparing similar products and checking the serving size, added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat based on what matters to you. Don’t let one buzzy ingredient (or a soothing sage-green box) make the decision.

Related: Seven Food Label Buzzwords That Don’t Mean What You Think (HuffPost)

PS: You shouldn't need a nutrition degree to buy cereal. That's the whole point of Skimm Well + Good: we break down the wellness world (labels included) so it actually makes sense. Subscribe here.

Lilith Ever After

A Fundraising Femininomenon

What’s going on: Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival was truly for the girls — to the tune of $20 million. The festival, a spiritual successor to Lilith Fair, brought an all-female lineup of top artists to California and raised a cool $10 million for 10 nonprofits focused on issues from reproductive rights to domestic violence. Then Melinda French Gates took the stage and matched it with another $10 million. (Molly Wells would approve.) But the feel-good vibes of women supporting women went beyond the stage. Women entrepreneurs supplied the food, beverage, and even art for the festival. At the “Philanthropy Village,” fans could connect with groups like Planned Parenthood and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Rodrigo described her vision as “flower child meets riot grrrl” and even called Lilith Fair creator Sarah McLachlan early in the planning process.

Then the girls’ group chat delivered: Chappell Roan brought the heat with a svelte new bob, smoke, sparklers, and literal flames in 90-degree weather. Doechii went head-to-toe hot pink (yes, body paint included) and paid homage to Beyoncé. Then Rodrigo turned her headlining set into one long passing of the torch. She brought out Sarah McLachlan for “Building a Mystery” and they dedicated “Angel” to Dolly Parton. Alanis Morissette made a surprise appearance and sang “Ironic." Rodrigo then walked out arm-in-arm with Stevie Nicks for “Landslide” under a nearly full moon (nice touch, Mother Nature). Nicks later called herself “awestruck” by what Rodrigo had pulled off. And this may only be the beginning: Rodrigo says the daisy chain doesn’t stop here.

Quick Hits

👋 On her IMO podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama confessed that while Barack cried when their daughters went to college, she had a very different (and funny) response.

🛏️ Making your bed in the morning might be the root of a clean and tidy home. We don’t make the rules.

📲 Put down your phone: Analog hobbies are on the rise, like pressing flowers and making your own homemade coffee syrup. Resist the urge to document the process.

💎 There's a right and wrong way to wear your jewelry. And yes, your watch belongs on a certain hand.

💅 There’s more you can do to combat US Open FOMO than crafting a Honey Deuce at home. Meet: the tennis nail.

😴 Forget run clubs: Gen Z is joining “rest clubs.” We ride at naptime (pending millennial eligibility).

🐶 A woman was reunited with her beloved dog that went missing 12 years ago. And we thought Homeward Bound was dramatic.

On Our Calendar

Monday, August 31

😋 National Trail Mix Day

Here’s a simple one to make, using five Trader Joe’s staples.

☀️ Eat Outside Day

A day dedicated to one of our favorite activities? Yes, please — especially since it comes with some added health benefits.

Psst…this is just the preview: Subscribe to theSkimm app and never miss a moment.

In Case You Missed It

Ali, Senior Commerce Director, here. The month of August has been deceptively busy, to the point that I’ve tabbed countless articles to read and products to buy. If you’re in that same boat, with the sense that you’ve forgotten a few things you swore you wouldn’t, here’s what I’m returning to that’s worth it:

Salt & Stone’s delicious new scent and deodorant
The Labor Day sale I’m jumping on for my nephew
One of the few ways I can book a vacation with points
A final chance to save 40% on vitamins (so act fast)
The app with in-network dietitians that’s helping me restructure my eating habits
A reorder of the fertility supplement I’ve been using during my egg freezing journey

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In Our Rotation

And now, a shoe for you: these Mary Jane flats have padded insoles, so they can stand up to commutes or long errand days.

This striped chambray bedding feels fresh for fall. It's made of 100% cotton, so it'll only get softer with every wash.

Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).

Avoca-dos and avoca-don’ts