Skimm This

 Russia targeted U.S voting systems. Right, we’ve heard that before. From Robert Mueller, for example. He really wanted to talk about Russian interference during his testimony on Capitol Hill this week. But yesterday a new report dropped details about just how extensive it was. Spoiler: it was in all 50 states. That was 2016 - but they’re still at it - and other countries are getting in on the game. We’ll explain. Meanwhile: Up to 150 migrants trying to get to Europe died in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. Both the EU and Libya are being criticised by human rights organizations to change their controversial treatment of migrants. Also on today’s episode: The real world legacy of the final season of “Orange is the New Black” and fun facts about the hardcore cyclists of the Tour de France. Bon week-end.

North Korea is playing with fire – literally. Just a couple weeks after President Trump visited Kim Jong Un in North Korea and agreed to resume denuclearization talks, North Korea tested two missiles this morning. Back in the US, Attorney General Bill Barr is resuming the death penalty, but he’s making some changes to how it’s implemented. Also on today’s show: Europeans and A/V guys everywhere are sweating it out. 

Today, Democrats and Republicans told former special counsel Robert Mueller: ‘have a seat - actually, have two.’ Mueller said he was done talking about his report -- but lawmakers have more questions. We’ll tell you why, and what happened during today’s hearings. Meanwhile, Facebook has to pay $5 billion and change up its privacy rules after an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. We’ll explain. Also on today’s episode: how self-care is about more than just relaxing, and a very expensive stroll. 

The UK has a new prime minister. Between dealing with Brexit and tensions with Iran, Boris Johnson has a long ‘to do’ list to tackle. And he doesn’t even have a full cabinet yet. We’ll explain what lies ahead for Johnson and the UK. Meanwhile, a proposed Trump admin rule could cut millions of people off from food stamp benefits. We’ll break down why the admin wants this rule, and who it affects. Also on today’s episode: more women are being nominated to attend US military academies, and a star who wrestled her way to the top.

Today, Iranian officials announced that they’ve broken up a CIA spy ring and that they’ve arrested 17 suspected spies. Iran’s claimed this kind of thing before -- and President Trump says reports of arrests aren’t true. But there’s a history here that’ll help you decode today’s headlines. Meanwhile, anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Puerto Rico today, calling for Puerto Rico’s governor to resign. He says he’s staying put. But lawmakers are already talking impeachment. We’ll explain. Also on today’s episode: India makes its way to the south side of the moon, and there’s one less place to document on your Instagram.

Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the “giant leap for mankind.” You may have heard of it. On today’s episode, we break down the Apollo 11 mission: what it took to prepare for the mission, and what actually happened over the course of the eight-day-long journey to the moon and back. There was a lot that could have gone wrong. But it was a complete success. And NASA kept returning to the moon. Astronauts not only brought in a new phase of the space race - they brought back some souvenirs. Some of which are just being studied for the first time. Listen in.

Turkey just ordered a new missile defense system from Russia. And now the US is telling Turkey: no F-35 fighter jets for you. Basically, the US is worried selling Turkey the F-35s means giving Russia access to top secret tech. We’ll tell you why that’s a concern for the US, and how it affects the relationship with Turkey, a key NATO ally. Meanwhile, another Russian invention is causing people’s hair to go gray: it’s called FaceApp. Some US lawmakers are warning that your uploaded selfies may end up in the Russian government’s inbox. We’ll explain why. Also on today’s episode: tragedy strikes a famous animation studio in Japan, and why the US government is going there...out there.

Today, the head of Facebook’s global cryptocurrency project got a bipartisan grilling from the House Financial Services Committee. Lawmakers have been raising concerns about the crypto, called ‘Libra’: over who will regulate it, how Facebook will handle people’s private financial data, and whether their approach could break antitrust laws. We’ll break it down. Meanwhile, the president of Planned Parenthood has been ousted from the job after eight months. The organization reportedly wants make fighting for abortion rights a priority. We’ll explain. Also on today’s episode: why Netflix has gone back and edited an old scene from the show ‘13 Reasons Why,” and how Apple is giving us more ways to express ourselves.  PS - If you or someone you know needs it, here’s the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.

The Trump administration has issued a new rule that’ll mean most migrants heading to the US-Mexico border likely won’t be eligible for asylum. The admin says asylum seekers will have to ask other countries first. And those other countries are saying: who, us? Legal experts say this new rule could violate domestic and international law. We’ll explain why. Meanwhile, soon-to-be former German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen has been elected the new president of the European Commission. She’s making history as the first woman to hold the job - and she’s got a surprising to-do list. Also on today's episode: just how many Emmy awards ‘Game of Thrones’ is nominated for, and a really big lift(-off.)

Over the past few days, President Trump’s sent out a series of tweets about a group of “‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen.” He suggested they should “go back” to the countries they came from. Today, he doubled down. We’ll tell you who President Trump’s talking about and why -- and how people are reacting. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is having a bad case of the Mondays. Hundreds of pages of chats between Governor Ricardo Rosselló and others have leaked. And they’re filled with sexist and derogatory comments. All while Puerto Rico is trying to figure out how to pay off billions of dollars in debt. We’ll explain. Also on today’s episode: why some Amazon workers are boycotting Prime Day, and a new name to know on the nightly news circuit.

President Donald Trump has dropped the idea of adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. But he says he has a back-up plan to get the data anyway. Which could affect elections across the country. We’ll explain. Meanwhile, Republicans and Dems in Congress are visiting detention camps along the Mexican border - but are coming back with different stories. Today’s hearing comes right before planned ICE raids begin on Sunday. We break it down. Also on today’s episode: a tropical storm makes its way to Louisiana, and a great match at Wimbledon.

Today, the White House hosted a social media summit. None of the big players (think: Facebook, Twitter) were reportedly on the guest list. President Donald Trump and his guests have claimed those companies have an anti-conservative bias. We’ll explain what this summit is all about, and why this is a love/hate relationship for the President. Meanwhile, one of the country’s biggest teachers unions is suing the Department of Education. It all comes back to something called the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Plaintiffs say the program is actually violating the Constitution. We’ll give you the details. Also on today’s episode: a candidate for state senate in Delaware is writing history, and we talk about all of humanity.

Today, the Federal Reserve’s top guy Jerome Powell spoke. He doesn’t do that much. But when he does - it’s important. Especially when it comes to interest rates. We’ll tell you what you – and your wallet – need to know. Meanwhile, there is drama going down across the pond. (Again.) Some comments the UK ambassador to the US made about President Trump leaked. Now, the ambassador is saying ‘cheerio’ to his post. We’ll explain. Also on today’s episode: why ticker tape parades are a thing, and the unexpected impacts of tariffs.

In a new study, researchers at Georgetown University say FBI and ICE agents are giving millions of people ID checks. Their focus: your photo. Congress never gave the OK on this. And now lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are saying ‘cut it out.’ We’ll explain why. Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced a new rule that would make drug companies advertise their prices in TV ads. This rule was supposed to shame drug companies into lowering those prices. But yesterday, a federal judge said ‘you can’t do that.’ We’ll tell you more. Also on today’s episode: the life of the late Ross Perot, and emojis in court.

Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire money manager, was in a New York federal court today to face sex trafficking charges. The indictment comes a decade after he served a light sentence in a Florida plea deal related to similar charges. Meanwhile down in DC, a court battle over the 2020 Census rages on. The Trump administration still wants to add a question about citizenship to the questionnaire, and is trying to make it happen after a confusing back and forth. Also on today’s episode: California’s waiting for the “Big One,” and what it really means to take home the World Cup.