Daily Skimm

Quote of the Day

"The fact that a couple in their mid-30s is considered youth is kinda cool af"

— One commenter on the first cover stars for the new W Youth magazine. Technically, Hailey is 29 and Justin is 32, but who’s counting?

Mom doing laundry with two young children

Politics of Parenting

Get By With a Little Help From… the White House?

What’s going on: Childcare is so expensive that many parents are asking if working is worth it when their entire paycheck is eaten up by daycare. The Trump administration is proposing a solution… but only married couples need apply. Per The New York Times, four-time dad Vice President JD Vance is pushing a federal subsidy for families with one stay-at-home parent that would likely amount to $9,000 annually per child. According to The NYT, the money will be reallocated from a fund that mainly helps single working parents (disproportionately mothers) afford childcare. The proposed rule, which needs to go through a public comment period, could go into effect by next year if finalized.

What it means: Every parent could use a little childcare help, but the administration’s approach of moving money that’s earmarked for struggling working parents is raising red flags. As one conservative think tank fellow told The NYT, the proposal means “more parents competing for the same dollars, and leaving more parents — particularly single working parents — worse off.” Others say this is all part of the Trump administration’s efforts to “push women into motherhood” by rewarding families with married mothers who stay home and have as many children as possible. Women are already being pushed out of the workforce thanks to the childcare crisis. This proposal won’t help.

Related: Can New Mexico Deliver on Universal Childcare? (The Washington Post gift link)

The News in 5

🗞️ An Amazon cargo plane killed five people and injured five others after it overshot a runway in Miami on Sunday. Federal officials are investigating.

🗞️ For the first time since the Nazi era, a far-right party won a state election in Germany.

🗞️ After a judge declared a mistrial in Lindsay Clancy’s case on Friday, here’s what could happen next.

🗞️ King Charles issued an official update on Prince Harry and Meghan’s royal status amid their return to the UK. Somehow, we're left with more questions.

🗞️ President Donald Trump promised to cut prices across the board... but five of the eight big cost of living categories have actually gone up. Can you guess which ones?

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In Our Rotation

Want fuller, longer-looking lashes by October? It’s possible, thanks to this clinically proven lash serum. Save 30% off with code THESKIMM30.*

For workouts, travel days, or just existing: these zero-sugar electrolyte mixes help you hydrate smarter, not harder. Bonus: Skimm’rs get a free sample pack with purchase.*

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Smokey the Bear Needs Help

A Climate Feedback Loop

What's going on: If you had to break out an N95 mask this summer just to walk to the corner store, you won’t be surprised to hear this. A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency, found that we’re in a “powerful climate feedback loop.” Essentially, a hotter climate means more wildfires and heatwaves, and air pollution from those wildfires and heatwaves leads to an increasingly hotter climate. We’re literally sweating. The report calls wildfires “a growing public health threat” because of their link to outcomes like increased asthma attacks and hospitalizations for heart disease. Regions that successfully reduced air pollution from cars and industrial sites in recent decades, including Europe and North America, are now facing new threats thanks to wildfire smoke.

Can we do anything about it?: Yes, but the larger question might be will we do anything about it? The report’s main takeaway is that climate and air quality must be tackled together. And it outlines 25 solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas and fossil fuel emissions, including transitioning to renewable energy and tightening vehicle emissions standards. (A big ask, especially in the US.) If enacted, these changes would also benefit the global economy and prevent an estimated 144 million air pollution-related deaths by 2050. With Earth about to exceed the safe temperature threshold set by the 2015 Paris climate accord, we don’t have a great track record here. But as one climate scientist told PBS, "every tenth of a degree we avoid still means less damage."

Related: The Post-9/11 Air Quality Was Worse Than New Yorkers Knew (The New York Times gift link)

Thirst Trap

Do You Need That XL Water Bottle?

What’s going on: The emotional support water bottle has become more than a crutch — it’s an essential. The reusable bottle market is now worth nearly $11 billion, and Owala just dethroned Stanley as the "it" hydration accessory. But according to The New York Times, most people obsessing over ounces get plenty of water without re-hydrating on their stroll to the mailbox.

It's OK to stop tracking your gulps: For many, thirst is a good enough guide. (The 8x8 rule was never scientifically proven, anyway.) But “just drink when you're thirsty” assumes something that nearly 60 million Americans don't believe they have: tap water they trust. And often, that hunch is correct –– especially for non-white populations, which a 2025 study found are far more likely to be exposed to polluted drinking water. Dehydration climbs during heat waves and other extreme weather, so your Owala is legitimately useful… but only if you have safe water to fill it with. Not sure how your water stacks up? The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonpartisan public health advocacy group, has a tool where you can plug in your zip code to assess water safety.

Related: Four Hydration Options for People Who Are Over Water (Vogue)

PS: Wellness is more complicated than willpower. Every Wednesday, the Skimm Well + Good newsletter helps you figure out how to protect your health in the world we're actually living in. Subscribe here.

Just the Fun Stuff

Skimm Shopping team here, asking you to start whimsy-maxxing. We’re sharing a few extremely cute things we’ve come across that we need you to know about. Some are functional, some are purely for fun, all of them will bring you joy:

Snack knives for your charcuterie board.
Flower-shaped silk scrunchies.
A layered necklace set with fairy princess energy.
Lip balm that changes colors according to your skin's pH.
A trinket dish shaped like a comfy armchair.
A cult-favorite vibrator dubbed “The Firefighter.” Do with that what you will.

Quick Hits

👙 Adults ages 66 and up are apparently getting more cosmetic plastic surgery than ever before. Kris Jenner, the woman that you are.

🎥 Nathan Fielder’s latest project? A documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Even he doesn’t know what to make of it, and that’s saying something.

🤠 Taylor Swift had her first number one hit on the US country radio chart in 13 years, thanks to a yodeling cowgirl.

🍓 This might be the tastiest way to fibermaxx we’ve heard of yet.

🐣 Congrats to Ciara, who is pregnant with her fifth child. It won’t be long before the baby takes their first 1, 2 steps.

💦 Those of us who “run hot” have a new captain and her name is Phoebe Bridgers.

Skimm This

How Would You Skimm This Photo?

Give us your best skimm — in 20 words or fewer. We'll choose our top three. You vote for your favorite on Thursday. Winner gets a shoutout in Friday's Daily Skimm and a hat tip from the edit team. Brag accordingly.

This week: Anna Wintour and Martha Stewart at the US Open. What could Anna be thinking?

Submit Your Skimm

On Our Calendar

Tuesday, September 8

🗳️ New Hampshire primaries

Next up in the primary lineup: New Hampshire. Watch this race, featuring a newly open House seat, more than 10 candidates, and no clear front-runner.

🍎 The Real Housewives of New York season 16 premieres

Get ready for more chaotic dinner parties and iconic one-liners. Plus the (surprising) return of one former castmate.

🎾 US Open Singles Quarterfinals start

Tennis superstars, including Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton, and Jessica Pegula, are headed to the next round. With only 14 matches left, use this bracket to track each one.

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

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In Our Rotation

This new prenatal gummy takes the guesswork out of your supplement routine. It comes in Orange Pineapple Passionfruit and Strawberry Banana flavors, so you'll actually enjoy taking it.

Labor Day may be over, but the sales are still live. Until tomorrow, you can still get 25% off sitewide and up to 50% off select bundles at Brooklinen.

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

KNOW IT ALL

What was the most-streamed song of the summer on Spotify?

Woman moving her curly hair listening to headphones.

A. Ariana Grande’s “hate that i made you love me”

B. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas”

C. Shakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai”

Ease into your day with Typeshift, the word-building game. Start playing.

TOGETHER WITH

Quote of the Day

"The fact that a couple in their mid-30s is considered youth is kinda cool af"

Politics of Parenting

Get By With a Little Help From… the White House?

The News in 5

✴︎

In Our Rotation

Smokey the Bear Needs Help

A Climate Feedback Loop

Thirst Trap

Do You Need That XL Water Bottle?

Just the Fun Stuff

Quick Hits

Skimm This

How Would You Skimm This Photo?

On Our Calendar

Tuesday, September 8

🗳️ New Hampshire primaries

🍎 The Real Housewives of New York season 16 premieres

🎾 US Open Singles Quarterfinals start

✴︎

In Our Rotation

KNOW IT ALL

What was the most-streamed song of the summer on Spotify?

Before you buy another water bottle…