Daily Skimm

Quote of the Day

"The mecca of all sports venues"

— The year’s most famous groom finally spoke about his wedding to Taylor Swift. Don't worry, he also said it was the best night of his life and called her his "wife" for the first time. Pics or it didn’t happen.

The Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

Capital Punishment

Three Executions, One Random Thursday

What's going on: Three different people are set to be executed in the US today, all by lethal injection: Anthony Darrell Hines, 66, in Tennessee; Jeremy Williams, 41, in Alabama; and Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 71, in Oklahoma. If the plans go through, it will be the first time the US has executed three people in a single day since 2010. According to officials, this is simply a scheduling coincidence, but it follows another rare event last month, when Florida executed two people in one day. Executions in the US are rising, driven by a small number of states in the South and Southwest, while others are moving to limit capital punishment. Eleven states executed 47 people in 2025 — the highest since 2009. So far, 19 people have been executed in 2026. By the end of today, that number is expected to be 22.

Divided opinions: The death penalty is currently legal at the federal level and in 27 states, although four of those have placed a moratorium on executions. President Donald Trump’s administration has made expanding it a focus, from having the Justice Department prioritize capital punishment for certain crimes to adopting firing squads. This is in sharp contrast to former President Joe Biden, who put a moratorium on federal capital punishment and commuted 37 death row sentences to life in prison. Death penalty critics argue it meets the definition of cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment, point out that Black and Hispanic defendants are disproportionately sentenced to death, and say that the risk of executing an innocent person is too great. However, a recent Pew Research survey shows that public support for the death penalty has increased in recent years: 66% are now in favor of it for those convicted of murder, up from 60% in 2021.

Related: More States Are Bringing Back Firing Squads (The Guardian)

The News in 6

🗞️ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is resigning at the end of the month, after returning from maternity leave in July.

🗞️ A new video shows an ICE agent pointing a gun at a Virginia woman who yelled at agents from her car. The ICE agents claim she tried to run them over, which she denies.

🗞️ Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. told reporters he can’t vote in any state’s midterms because he’s legally homeless.

🗞️ The US military is dealing with two new scandals: Some enlistees’ family members were detained by ICE, despite longstanding norms. And sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln are going through a mental health crisis after 250 days at sea amid the war with Iran.

🗞️ Unemployment fell in July…because more people are giving up on the labor market and no longer count as “unemployed.”

🗞️ Josh Kushner’s bid to buy a piece of the World Cup didn’t pan out. Now he and Bob Iger are buying the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, per ESPN. Retail therapy looks different for some people.

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In Our Rotation

Scientists have cracked the gut-GLP-1 connection — and turned it into the probiotic Halle Berry swears by. Did we mention it’s 48% off, plus HSA/FSA eligible?*

New season, new system. Snag these soda can organizers and collapsible storage bins to optimize your fridge and your closet. Now up to 20% off.*

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Sticker Shock

School Supplies’ Failing Grade

What’s going on: If having your kids home with you all summer cost you your sanity, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, sending them back to school is also going to cost you. The latest CPI (Consumer Price Index) numbers say inflation is up 3.4% compared to 2.7% this time last year. And back-to-school supplies and groceries for school lunches are seeing an 11% hike, according to progressive think tanks Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation. Items like lunchboxes, notebooks, scissors, and glue sticks are all seeing the biggest price hikes, likely due to the trifecta of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, energy, and gas prices. Even everyone’s favorite subject — lunch — is taking a hit, with rising costs for blueberries and sandwich bread (might be time to reengage my sourdough starter).

Look for the helpers: Never underestimate a parent looking to provide for their kids. Sixty-two percent of families start shopping for back-to-school in July so they can spread out the expenses over time. In Chicago, some have taken to dumpster-diving in an area school where brand new supplies were thrown away. Politicians have also tried to find ways to help, with Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) recently introducing legislation that would exempt school supplies from Trump’s tariffs. Organizations like Get Your Teach On and DonorsChoose help teachers fulfill their classroom wishlists. And several states offer sales tax holidays to give anyone headed back to class relief on back-to-school items.

SCOTUS

Conflict Irresolution

What’s going on: It’s a conflict of interest for a Supreme Court judge to rule on an industry that they profit from…right? That’s the question the court is currently facing after a new report on Justice Samuel Alito’s finances. The findings show that Alito gained somewhere between $400,000 and $2.9 million from fossil fuel investments between 2005 and 2024. That could be a problem on October 5, when SCOTUS is expected to hear a case on whether subnational governments (in this case, the city of Boulder, CO) can sue oil and gas companies (in this case, Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil) for contributing to climate change.

Order in the court: Watchdog groups want Alito to recuse himself from the case and are calling for a Senate investigation. But he argues that he shouldn’t have to sit this one out, and the court’s backing him. According to current ethics rules, SCOTUS judges only have to recuse themselves from cases involving companies they’ve specifically invested in, a situation Alito has navigated before (weird flex, but OK). This case could affect the entire industry and its shareholders, including…Alito. Calls for court reform have grown louder in recent years, though they may be falling on deaf ears in Congress since lawmakers also make millions trading on the companies they regulate (looking at you, Nancy Pelosi).

Related: SCOTUS Will Hear a Case Challenging LGBTQIA+ Protections (The Hill)

TOGETHER WITH ADOBE EXPRESS

Creative Confidence Crisis

63%

That’s the percentage of small business owners who second-guess their own creative choices and worry their content will flop.^†

But new research from the “Adobe Express AI Snapshot for Small Business” finds that a clear point of view is exactly what separates the brands people follow from the ones they scroll past — 79% of small biz owners say so. And they know the risk of blending in: nearly half say content in their industry already looks and sounds the same. The fix isn’t ditching AI (in fact, 66% of small business owners are already using it for marketing). It’s using tools like Adobe Express to build distinctive brands, move fast, and market your business so it’s unmistakably yours.

Make It Yours

^†Survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Adobe Express among 850 small business owners.

Quick Hits

👑 Ex-Prince Andrew was stripped of his title, but according to The Daily Mail, he’ll still get a royal funeral. He’s not dead…they’re just planning ahead.

⭐ Astronomers have discovered a new phenomenon called a "black hole star." We didn’t expect it to look so much like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.

🎥 The trailer for the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s Verity — starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson — has arrived. We can’t get it out of our heads.

🐶 America’s most popular dog name is (drumroll, please) Bella. Every Jessica knows the feeling.

🌹 If you need a reason to get another tattoo, they can help protect you from AI deepfake videos. Getting new ink is just being cautious.

🏈 Nightmare fuel: A high school football player put on his helmet and there was a viper inside. Nope, nope, nope.

🐣 Rihanna shared a rare photo of all three of her kids as they visited her childhood home. We would also like to live on Rihanna Drive.

On Our Calendar

Thursday, August 13

🎤 New episode of Well Played out

Cohosts Blake and Caroline talk Hilary Duff, Tom Brady, and the 97-year-old who just broke her own Guinness World Record. Applause all around. Catch it on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

⚾ MLB Field of Dreams game

The Phillies and Twins are taking the field in Dyersville, Iowa — yep, that Field of Dreams. Watch live on Netflix at 7:30 pm ET, with throwback uniforms to match.

🥂 National Prosecco Day

Raise a glass with this sommelier-recommended Costco find.

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

Back by popular demand

Investing Essentials

You asked, we brought it back: investing advice. And this time, it’s on your schedule. Personal finance expert and So Money podcast host Farnoosh Torabi breaks down investing in 10 short audio lessons, meant to be tackled a few minutes at a time.

In this Skimm Course, use interactive calculators and quizzes to help you work through investing decisions — from balancing your investments to knowing what to do when you switch jobs.

Get instant access for $24.99. No subscription required.

See what’s inside

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In Our Rotation

Who doesn't love free skincare?

If you loathe applying moisturizer, this spray-on option will become your new post-shower go-to.

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

Skimm This

On Tuesday, we asked you to skimm this photo of Mariska Hargitay — and hundreds of you came through. We narrowed it down to three. Now it's your turn: Which skimm gets your vote?

“Me looking for the person who said, ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be fun.’” — Marissa H., Roanoke, VA

“When your friend is on a first date and you promised not to snoop.” — Corry L., Atlanta, GA

“Me evaluating everyone's life choices from 60 feet up.” — Alyssa M., Pittsburgh, PA

Turn a word search into your favorite strategy game with Spelltower. Clear the board.

Together with

Quote of the Day

"The mecca of all sports venues"

Capital Punishment

Three Executions, One Random Thursday

The News in 6

✴︎

In Our Rotation

Sticker Shock

School Supplies’ Failing Grade

SCOTUS

Conflict Irresolution

TOGETHER WITH ADOBE EXPRESS

Creative Confidence Crisis

63%

Quick Hits

On Our Calendar

Thursday, August 13

🎤 New episode of Well Played out

⚾ MLB Field of Dreams game

🥂 National Prosecco Day

Back by popular demand

Investing Essentials

✴︎

In Our Rotation

Skimm This

On Tuesday, we asked you to skimm this photo of Mariska Hargitay — and hundreds of you came through. We narrowed it down to three. Now it's your turn: Which skimm gets your vote?

Break out that calculator