Daily Skimm

Quote of the Day

“I switched to dummy wings”

— Anne Hathaway on her Hot Ones experience after her doctor warned the real ones could send her into early labor. She's not winging it.

Protect College Sports Act press conference

Timeout

Go, Fight, Rein in College Sports

What’s going on: Congress might not agree on much, except, it seems, that college sports have gotten out of hand. The Senate voted 77-22 Monday to advance the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act. The bill aims to set national standards for how college players can profit from their name, image, and likeness. It would allow the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to cap athlete pay and would limit transfer rules, allowing players to switch schools only once without penalty. Eligibility would be capped at five years (sorry, that means no subs from the NFL, Lane Kiffin). President Donald Trump expressed his approval of yesterday’s vote in a Truth Social post: “It will not only save college sports, it will save the colleges themselves.” The bill now moves to the House, which is currently in recess until after the midterms, and it’s unclear if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will call the chamber back to vote.

Rah, rah, sis, boom, bah: A series of lawsuits over the last decade have turned the college sports arena into the “Wild West," according to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who cosponsored the bill with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Cruz, who made a controversial appearance on ESPN earlier this month to push for the bill, called yesterday’s vote a “monumental day” for college sports and student-athletes. Even if it makes it to a vote in the House, the measure’s future is uncertain, as it faces opposition from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the NAACP. An estimated 16% of NCAA athletes are Black. In June, the CBC urged the Senate to reconsider the Protect College Sports Act until “institutions that profit from Black talent” speak out against “Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional maps to weaken Black voting power across the South.”

Related: Is This Teenager the New Face of US Soccer? (CNN)

The News in 6

🗞️ Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, defending his criminal investigation of President Donald Trump and fighting accusations that he went to an Atlanta Hawks game. Anyway, go Hawkeyes.

🗞️ Tennessee is set to put Christa Pike to death today, the first time the state will have executed a woman in over 200 years. Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) and the Supreme Court declined to intervene in her case.

🗞️ Claude, Grok, Muse — meet America.gov. President Trump launched a government site that uses AI ahead of a lunch meeting in which, according to Trump, tech leaders signed a new “constitution” to police themselves.

🗞️ The Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can temporarily continue to deport immigrants to third countries rather than their country of origin. SCOTUS will hear arguments on the case in December.

🗞️ After Spain broke out in countrywide protests following her eviction from her Madrid apartment, 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal will be allowed to return home.

🗞️ A feud between pilots forced a passenger plane bound for Israel from Dubai to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

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In Our Rotation

Turns out, “take care of everyone else first” is an unwritten rule you never actually agreed to. Permission to break it, right here.*

This kids' shampoo is gentle, effective, and derm-approved. Plus, the pump-top bottle makes it easy for them to use by themselves.

Keep scrolling... more recs below

Time to Pretend

The Workplace Simulation Has Started

What’s going on: They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert. But what happens when a bot does all your reps? That’s the extremely 2026 dilemma that many companies face, thanks to corporate restructurings and AI. According to The Wall Street Journal, many tasks that used to be delegated to entry-level workers are now assigned to AI, creating an “experience starvation” among early-career professionals. Apparently, they yearn to enter data into spreadsheets. Instead of a new hire training on actual entry-level work, some corporations now assign them “pretend work.” This could include simulations asking imaginary clients for information, lessons on navigating conflict with a fake coworker, and role-playing exercises. “It’s important to learn from patterns and learn from repetition,” one human resources executive told The WSJ.

So it's busy work?: Not necessarily. There has to be some way to learn on the job. Unemployment among recent college graduates is close to a five-year high, and those who do get an offer often find themselves wobbling precariously in the middle of the corporate ladder instead of stepping firmly onto the first rung. A survey published earlier this month found that 77% of recent grads say businesses want too much experience for entry-level jobs, and 75% think there are too few truly entry-level opportunities. “It’s hard when they want all this experience, but no job is willing to give you that first experience to have on your resume,” one 22-year-old told CNBC. For many job seekers, finding a company that’s willing to train you — even if it’s via simulator — can feel like a win in this economy.

Related: More People Are Getting Stuck in Mid-Level Work (Harvard Business Review)

Old School

Phone-Free, Not Phoebe-Free

What’s going on: We can't come to the phone right now because we're at a Phoebe Bridgers concert (or at least we wish we were). Please leave your message at the beep. Bridgers’s 45-date Lost Tour is "phone-free" to encourage concertgoers to experience mandatory “live in the moment” time both for the crowd and the artist. While some fans complained it’s “not very rock’n’roll” to tell people what to do, others seemed to appreciate the distraction-free concert experience: no checking emails, scrolling social media, or posting TikToks. After all, it’s only three hours of your evening, and venue staff allow concertgoers access to their phones in case of a personal emergency.

What else can we do without our phones?: Bridgers isn’t the first or last artist to ban phones (hi Alicia Keys and Jack White). And in an age of social media addiction, online influencers, and smart glasses, being device-free means you can avoid those unintended, unflattering cameos in the background of someone else’s photo. This might be why so many other places have adopted phone-free zones, like screen-free retreats, phone-free bars, and even unplugged weddings. Screen-free incentives have even popped up at major chain restaurants. Select Chick-fil-A locations offered ice cream to families who keep their phones away at the table. It might be time to finally update that old saying to “no pics, and it did happen.”

Related: Wimbledon Banned Influencers After Phone Complaints at the US Open (Sports Illustrated)

Extra Credit

Reset

Quick question: What are you actually trying to do with your money? Fall is a good time to ask, before the most expensive stretch of the year decides for you. A Northwestern Mutual financial advisor can help you get back to your “why,” then build the “how” with a custom plan featuring solutions to grow and protect your money. The result? Less chaos, more control before year-end.*

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Quick Hits

🤸 What's next for Simone Biles? The GOAT told us she doesn't have a decision yet on LA 2028. Right now, she’s working on advocacy for foster children and survivors, and learning how to master the grill.

☕ You can now pour yourself some of Dolly Parton's "Cup of Ambition" coffee. Proceeds support the late star's Imagination Library.

✈️ Bon voyage just got a little bit better. American Airlines rolled out a new feature to help customers fly in their “perfect seat.” No more sharing both armrests, please.

📺 Dennis Haskins, the Saved by the Bell actor who coined the phrase "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?" has died at age 75.

📚 Highlights Magazine just turned 80, and yes, the publication still responds to every single letter it receives. Time to resubscribe.

🔵 Is cobalt blue the new cerulean? Someone check with Miranda Priestly.

❤️‍🔥 BookTok and MovieTok rejoice: The Love Hypothesis is getting a book sequel. 2027 can’t come soon enough.

🥗 We’re finally not scared of our salad (goodbye cyclospora), but Hidden Valley Ranch just released a spooky, all-black, limited edition ranch with a glow-in-the-dark bottle. Nothin’ like dressing up for Halloween.

Core Memory

On Our Calendar

Wednesday, September 30

🎤 International Podcast Day

What we don’t need: more men with mics. What we do: two smart, funny women talking about sports like the reality TV it is. Watch this Well Played clip to see what we mean.

💪 National Women’s Health and Fitness Day

One routine to steal: Mariska Hargitay’s self-care practice.

Psst... See what else is happening this week so you never miss a moment.

Editor Obsessions

Ali, Senior Commerce Director, here. As a member of your trusted Skimm Shopping team, it’s my job to uncover, test, and recommend products that are truly worth it. Here are my latest picks:

A vanilla bourbon perfume…trust me
The way I track my sleep without a wearable
The crossbody I relied on daily during my Paris vacation
And the ballet flats I wore around the city that never gave me blisters

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In Our Rotation

These loafers are comfortable enough to commute in and stylish enough to wear to the office.

Your fall wardrobe isn't complete without a rugby sweater.

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

Dr Pepper plans to release a new flavor next year that fans seem eager to try; one enthusiast proclaimed, “This will slap.” What is it?

A. Ice Cream Float

B. Banana Pudding

C. Toffee Swirl

Finally, a solvable crossword. Finish this puzzle quickly for bragging rights.

Put this in our trick-or-treat basket