Daily Skimm

Quote of the Day

"What have you done?"

— Will Ferrell had serious doubts while filming this now-classic comedy. Looking at one specific part of the costume, we get it.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett speaks at a Congressional hearing.

SCOTUS

Order in the Court

What’s going on: While the executive and legislative branches often cross paths on Capitol Hill, the judicial branch tends to make itself scarce. So when Supreme Court justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified before lawmakers yesterday, it was a big deal. The reason for their visit? Money. SCOTUS is asking for a $20 million budget boost, with the majority going toward beefing up security. Barrett and Kagan argue the added protection is badly needed after a series of disturbing close calls, suspicious packages, and swatting hoaxes against members on the bench. Their testimonies underline a dangerous trend: Political violence is on the rise, threatening all kinds of public figures and their families. And, evidence shows when lawmakers are targeted by violence, it can influence how they vote.

A dangerous precedent: Despite the Court’s immense power, the American public has long viewed it as a trusted, impartial institution. In recent years, and especially since the 2022 Dobbs decision, public opinion has remained low, and threats to the Court have spiked dramatically. So have calls to impose term limits and expand the court. That may be because Americans feel more polarized and threatened, and divisive SCOTUS rulings emphasize the court’s power. The bottom line? High-profile government figures should be able to safely conduct their work –– which is what many Americans want, too. But as with virtually every other political issue, we can’t seem to agree on a solution.

Related: The Unflattering Review That Could Complicate Todd Blanche's AG Gig (The New York Times Gift Link)

The News in 5

🗞️ ICE is pausing most traffic stops after agents killed two people in one week while approaching their vehicles.

🗞️ This fast food favorite has entered the conversation as a possible link to the severe stomach bug. So much for our late-night cravings.

🗞️ After three years and multiple appeals, President Donald Trump has finally paid E. Jean Carroll the $5.6 million he owes her from her sexual abuse and defamation civil trial.

🗞️ Anonymous activists left a 10-foot piece of protest art on the National Mall. Participation trophies aren’t just for millennials.

🗞️ No more middle seats? This airline announced an interesting new seating option, but it comes with a price tag.

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In Our Rotation

Fewer jitters, more get-it-done energy. This electrolyte + tea combo delivers a smoother boost with a bright, citrusy sip — sans spiral. Nab a free sample pack with any purchase.*

For your hair consideration: a heat protectant, styling cream, and sun protectant all in one. We use it to perfect our slick-backs.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Power Struggle

New York Has BDE (Big Data-Center-Averse Energy)

What's going on: New York’s already had the summer of its life (go, Knicks), and continues to be unstoppable with this new power play. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) signed an executive order that puts a one-year pause on construction permits for new hyperscale data centers. Not today, Satanbot. The order — the first statewide one in the US — blocks approval of facilities that operate at 50 megawatts or more. New York hopes this will give the state time to create rules to protect the fragile energy grid and the environment, Erin Brockovich-style. Conservationists and progressive Democrats praised the move, while one labor group called it “shortsighted.”

When the robots take over, will they come for NYC first?: Maybe, but as we’ve learned from every apocalypse movie ever, it was already an easy target. This order puts New York at the center of a major debate over AI, energy costs, infrastructure, and water use (the centers use millions of gallons of water to cool their systems, enough to fill several Olympic swimming pools daily). Although a recent Gallup poll showed plenty of Republicans and Democrats oppose the centers (especially when they’re in their backyards — the new NIMBYism), the White House and industry experts say not building them in the US could cede AI leadership to other countries. This comes as the centers — and the way they often drive up energy costs for everyone — are expected to be heated topics in the midterms.

Related: Data Centers Made These Americans Multimillionaires (The Wall Street Journal Gift Link)

Cough, Cough

(Please) Don’t Call It a Comeback

What's going on?: You aren't imagining it: Cigarettes are so back. At least according to some celebrities and Hollywood filmmakers. Just like landlines and vinyl records, cigarettes call back to simpler times, right? Except… those other cultural relics aren’t the leading preventable causes of disease, death, and disability in the US. That would be cigarettes. While adult cigarette smoking has hit another all-time low, progress has started to slow. In April 2025, the Trump administration gutted the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Office of Smoking and Health, which helped promote state tobacco-control programs. And, in April of this year, just one week after Big Tobacco made a major donation to a Trump-aligned super PAC, the FDA issued a new, pro-industry policy on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. And some MAHA influencers have claimed (without scientific evidence) that nicotine is actually good for you. Strange times indeed.

What a drag… : It seems like fewer people are seeing the terrifying ads that scared millennials away from cigarettes in our youth. (Voicebox Debi still haunts our nightmares.) But the evidence hasn’t changed: Smoking raises the chances of heart disease, lung cancer, COPD, and stroke, and it contributes to more than 480,000 deaths each year, according to the CDC. The appeal might not just be the cigarette itself. It’s the smoke break with friends or colleagues (looking at you, Rachel Green), the excuse to step outside, the chance to unplug, or a moment that feels less rushed. Those things can absolutely be good for us. The cigarette never was.

Related: New Study Shows This Drink May Actually Be Good for Liver Health (Prevention)

Quick Hits

⏰ If you start your day with this 20-minute ritual, you could have more energy in the morning. Even better: You can multitask while you’re still sleeping.

🎤 Ariana Grande changed a lyric in “Thank U, Next,” and fans think she’s hinting at getting back together with this ex.

🙏 Doctors weighed in on the viral theory that people-pleasing raises your risk for autoimmune disease — and if it’ll make them happy, we’ll try to stop.

🪽 On The Odyssey red carpet, Zendaya took method dressing to a new level — even for her — with literal wings. The gods would be jealous.

☀️ As summer heats up, designers say you should take these seven things out of your bedroom. Save them for winter.

🏋️ This ’90s rock star works out in... leather pants? Hey, it's clearly going well for him, but we'll stick with leggings.

We Needed This

On Our Calendar

Wednesday, July 15

💪 ESPY Awards

SNL's Marcello Hernandez hosts, Shohei Ohtani leads the nominations, and names like A'ja Wilson, Jalen Brunson, and Alysa Liu are all up for awards. Game on.

🍿 Lucky drops on Apple TV

Con artists. Crime bosses. One woman in the middle of it all. Anya Taylor-Joy and Annette Bening lead this twisty thriller about a woman on the run.

👭 Ride or Die out on Prime Video

Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham are the crime duo we didn’t know we needed. Waddingham’s an undercover assassin. Spencer's the surprised BFF, who gets caught in the drama.

🌭 National Hot Dog Day

Before you fire up the grill, find out which hot dog brand topped this taste test.

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

Tiny Upgrades: Summer Edition

You might recall our Tiny Upgrades Week back in February, where we introduced you to hundreds of low-effort products that make your life easier. Today, we’re back with a few recent favorites that’ll make the rest of your summer run a little more smoothly.

A lightweight body serum that soothes post-sun skin
A nightlight that’ll help your overstimulated kid get to sleep on time
This comfy foldable chair for camping and beach trips
A beauty subscription box that takes the guesswork out of your makeup routine
A vibrator in a surprisingly cute shape, just because

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In Our Rotation

Who says your swimsuit can't be a whole outfit?

Soothe underground pimples with these deep blemish pimple patches. They're made with microdarts to (painlessly) penetrate the skin.

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

Cue the Jaws theme song: Which state is expected to see “one of its sharkiest summers in a decade”?

Great white shark swims off the coast of Monterey Bay, California.

A. Florida

B. New York

C. California

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

Stick to fridge cigs