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Quote of the Day

"LOOK WHO WANTS TO ELONGATE THEIR LEGS"

— One person’s reaction to Gen Z aging and discovering this beloved millennial staple. We knew they'd come around.

The Trump brothers staring off into the distance

Lining Pockets

All the President’s Nepo Babies

What’s going on: Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump may have been born with silver spoons in their mouths, but now they can buy entire sterling flatware sets for everyone they know. President Donald Trump's sons have been investing in companies receiving major government dollars. A recent CNN analysis found that 10 defense, space, and software companies that Don Jr.'s firm has invested in have received $1.6 billion in federal contracts, and The Washington Post put the total at about $3.2 billion for both Don Jr. and Eric’s investments. Meanwhile, the brothers are also making it big in betting, crypto, and mining markets, thanks to their father's policies. Late last year, Trump himself brokered a mining deal with Kazakhstan, and then urged its president to award the lucrative contract to a company backed by his sons.

What does it mean for you?: Mainly, it’s your tax dollars at work. The pipeline goes like this: You pay the IRS. The Pentagon uses a slice to pay companies it contracts with, including those backed by the Trump sons’ firms. Those federal contracts can make the companies — and the brothers’ stakes in them — more valuable. It’s trickle-down economics, if the trickle led directly toward the president’s family. The White House has denied wrongdoing, while the Pentagon said no company gets preferential treatment. Don Jr. told The New York Times he has no inside information, but that it doesn’t take “a genius” to figure out a smart investment strategy. Meanwhile, legal experts say there are few rules for the president's family, though in the past, they did their best to avoid the appearance of a conflict so as not to erode public trust. The law may allow it, but taxpayers are still allowed to ask questions.

Related: There’s Also the Jared Kushner of It All (The New York Times gift link)

The News in 6

🗞️ President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on more than 80 countries, claiming they violated the US ban on goods made using forced labor... hours before his original tariffs were set to expire.

🗞️ An FDA panel voted to approve the use of several peptides, amid conflict of interest concerns involving panelists that sell peptides.

🗞️ Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers joined protestors calling for police accountability after a Madison officer fatally shot a man accused of injuring the officer with a knife.

🗞️ As if one wasn’t enough, the Trump administration has announced a second cyclospora outbreak. Someday our salads will return…

🗞️ There’s a new type of skin cancer that Vermont catfish are “catching” from one another, renewing concerns about contagious cancers.

🗞️ Republicans said the Smithsonian Museum is too woke, and grilled its director on bondage and Mickey Mouse in hearings this week. So, they won't be visiting?

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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?*

This summer, we’re canceling underwire. This smoothing, wire-free bra flexes to fit you and stays invisible under everything. Plus, it’s over 20% off.*

Keep scrolling...more recs below

Shiv Roy Situations

Always a Princess, Never an Emperor?

What's going on: Cue the Succession theme: Japan’s imperial family is almost out of men. An 1889 law allows only men to inherit the throne, even though there's no shortage of women in the imperial family. That leaves just two heirs younger than 66-year-old Emperor Naruhito: his 60-year-old brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, and Fumihito’s 19-year-old son, Prince Hisahito, the first male royal to reach adulthood in more than 40 years. (His biggest concern right now? Dragonflies. The college student is an avid bug researcher.) If Hisahito doesn’t have a son, that could be the end of the 1,500-year monarchy. The emperor holds almost no political power, instead serving as a symbolic figure representing Japan’s unity. What a gig.

No girls allowed?: Despite the drama, Japan’s monarchy remains broadly popular. Polls show most citizens would be happy for a woman to take the throne, and conveniently, the Emperor’s daughter, Princess Aiko, is just 24 and incredibly well-liked. (She works for the Japanese Red Cross Society — we love a humanitarian.) But the Japanese government and the country’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi aren’t on board with adding women to the line of succession. Instead, officials have suggested grafting some old branches of the family tree back on to add more men. (Talk about exhausting every other option.) One expert told CNN it should “be understood plainly as misogyny.” The eight female emperors who ruled before the 19th century would like a word.

Related: Support for the British Monarchy Is the Lowest on Record (The Telegraph)

Prove You’re Human

It’s Getting Bot in Here

What’s going on: Soon, we may reminisce about the time we spent squinting at stop signs and squiggly letters to “prove, prove, prove” we’re human. Researchers have found AI can now solve 100% of Google’s reCAPTCHA tests, forcing companies to make them harder. Think: Dragging objects around with a cursor, or choosing foods that count as a “main course” (which confounds many actual humans). Google even wants you to wave at the camera — creepy, but a bot could never. This slows our browsing, but these bot tests are the dam holding back a much more annoying flood. Alright, Okta, you win.

Bot and bothered: For the first time ever, AI and bots are responsible for more online activity than humans. What does that look like? Competing e-commerce websites use bots to scrape pricing data –– while people use them to score in-demand items like PS5s and Eras Tour tickets, or direct AI agents to book reservations. That kind of activity overwhelms servers, forcing websites offline. According to some experts, AI may soon get sophisticated enough to overpower any kind of CAPTCHA. And if that happens, we could be floating around in a “dead internet” where only bots interact. (Otherwise known as X.com.) Or, hear us out, we could finally make companies that use bots pay... so that we can enjoy the internet ad-free. A human can dream.

Related: That CAPTCHA May Be a Scam (NBC Philadelphia)

Quick Hits

🛍️ First Trader Joe’s, now this store’s tote bags are selling out as soon as they’re released. The perfect size for a hoagie.

🔥 Tom Holland has the unfortunate designation of being the first star to do this on the record. He is English, remember.

🍬 A very detailed Halloween candy report explains what we crave in our favorite sweets. Or sours.

🐣 Behold, Vogue’s list of the most unusual celebrity baby names, from Apple to Zuma Nesta Rock.

👉 This is why the WNBA won’t sell merch featuring Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s iconic finger-pointing meme. You’ll just have to copy her pose.

🎶 We might be getting some new music from this beloved Y2K band. I don’t think we can handle this.

Skimm This

And the winning skimm is…

"When the fruit pouches hit a little too hard."

Lamine Yamal's younger brother, Keyne, post-match at Sunday's World Cup final

On Tuesday, we asked you to skimm this shot of Spain superstar Lamine Yamal’s little brother, Keyne, post-World Cup win. From hundreds of submissions, we narrowed the list down to our top three. It was a close race.

Coming in with 35% of the vote, congratulations to Karen B., from Minneapolis, MN — you’re this week’s winner. Let’s all celebrate by lying down.

Your next Skimm This drops in four days. Stay tuned.

On Our Calendar

Friday, July 24

🍿 72 Hours out on Netflix

Meet Joe, a millennial exec who crashes a Gen Z bachelor party in this Hangover-style comedy starring Kevin Hart and Marcello Hernández. There’s no tiger, but there is an unfortunate jellyfish incident.

🎾 The Dink drops on Apple TV

Nick Miller — er, Jake Johnson — plays an injured former tennis prodigy whose doctor sends him to the pickleball court. There’s a crew of hilarious seniors and plenty of superstar support. (Hey, Ben Stiller.)

Saturday, July 25

🏀 WNBA All-Star Game

We came for the Orange Carpet outfits. We’re staying for the epic showdown between basketball’s best, which tips off at 8:30 pm ET on ABC.

🏊 World Drowning Prevention Day

Brush up on your water safety, including the swimsuit colors experts say to avoid.

Sunday, July 26

🦈 Shark Week starts

Move over, Sharknado. Kicking it off: K-Pop Shark Heroes, a deep dive into shark life off the Korean peninsula, with comedian Ken Jeong and singer Rei Ami (Zoe from K-Pop Demon Hunters). Yes, there will be singing.

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

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In Our Rotation

This slim, lightweight bangle looks elegant on its own, or stack it for a cool-girl twist.

We've been using this drugstore body wash since high school, and it's still better than luxury options we've tried.

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

US Customs and Border Protection uncovered counterfeit World Cup items during the tournament, which cost the industry about $32 million, The New York Times reports. Which soccer superstar’s jersey was the most commonly seized?

A. Lionel Messi

B. Cristiano Ronaldo

C. Kylian Mbappé

Love solitaire? Then you'll be obsessed with Pile-Up Poker. Climb the leaderboard.

Spotlight on

🥳 Some Birthdays

theSkimm's Jess Nunyala (NC), Fez Armendaris (Ecuador), Ashton Roberts (AK), Carlee Bunkers (MT), Lisa Schumacher (ND), Maia Crandall (ME), Mohammed Hassan (MN), Rubina Roy (PA), Chanelle Namou (MI), Claire Horn (Vietnam), Doride Uvaldo (UT), Drew Elizabeth Unseth (AL), Ebenezer Gavieres (NJ), Arianna Rodriguez (CA), and Celine Salim (Canada)

These baby names aren’t on keychains