Skimm This

First up: We’ll break down how one of America’s largest states was brought to its knees by a freak winter storm, and why most of the rest of the country has been so cold. Then: We’re bringing you the latest on stories from Australia, Tokyo...and at Walmart...and giving you the context on why they matter. Next: We saw a lot of COVID-related headlines this week. To clear the noise on what’s going on with the pandemic, we phoned a friend. A doctor friend.  ICYMI: “Vaccine passports” might be coming to a country near you. We’ll tell you the arguments for and against so you can decide for yourself.  Later: We’ll break down WTF Clubhouse is... in 60 seconds.  Finally: We’re taking a breaking from these earthly matters to tell you why everyone’s paying attention to Mars.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Stef Cantu, Texas resident Tayhlor Coleman, Texas resident Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, assistant professor of medicine, Medical University of South Carolina Mallory Brooke, owner and chief meteorologist, Nor’easter Weather Consulting  Chloe Sackier, EDL systems engineer, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

First up: Women are being pushed out of the workforce at an alarming rate. We interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris to learn how the next COVID relief bill could provide women with some relief. Then: We’re bringing you three headlines – Trump’s Impeachment trial, the rise in hate acts against Asian Americans, and a microchip shortage – and breaking down the context on why they matter.  Next: More than a year into the pandemic, COVID long-haulers (aka people who’ve shown symptoms for weeks or months after having COVID) are still struggling to receive adequate medical care. We’ll talk to two long-haulers and a doctor about why this group of patients is having a hard time getting the attention they need.  ICYMI: We’ll tell you why a cryptocurrency that started as a joke may have the last laugh...in 60 seconds. Thanks, Elon Musk.  Later: Get ready to mark your calendars, because tax season is here. In all seriousness, you’ve gotta do your taxes at some point. Don’t worry, we’ll break down what you need to know??? Finally: We’ll fact-check some pretty uncool statements from the guy running the Tokyo Olympics. If you’ve been impacted by the “she-cession” we talked about on today’s show, we want to hear your story. Click here to share. Or call and leave us a voicemail at (646) 461-6470.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Vice President Kamala Harris  Chelsea Alionar, COVID long-hauler Asia Durr, WNBA athlete and COVID long-hauler Dr. Monica L. Lypson, professor, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences Kesha JonTae, The Millennial Tax Expert Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

ICYMI, the last year has been stressful. But we can’t just unplug, wait a few seconds, and hope that everything returns to "normal" again. No matter how much we might want to. That's why today, we're gonna dig into something that’s been generating a lot of buzz over the last few months: mindfulness. First: We’ll hear from a Skimm’r who has used mindfulness to get through some tough moments – at home and in the classroom. Then: It’s time to dig into the science. As in: What even is mindfulness? Why is everyone telling me how great it is? And, is there any actual evidence that it works?  Later: We’ll explore how mindfulness can help us stay engaged with the world around us.  Finally: What better way to wrap things up than by talking tips, techniques, and ways to apply mindfulness to improve our day-to-day? On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Jennifer Hutchins, middle school English teacher and mindfulness practitioner Dr. Tara Brach, clinical psychologist, author, “Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of R.A.I.N.” Bea Arthur, psychotherapist and CEO, The Difference Jaclyn London, MS, RD, Head of Nutrition & Wellness, WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined) Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Skimm'd by Justine Davie, Ciara Long, Elizabeth Smith, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure. 

First up: We’ll ask an expert about whether we should be picky about which COVID vaccine we get, and break down why the COVID vaccines haven’t been distributed equitably so far.  Then: While the NFL is hoping for a safe Super Bowl on the field, doctors are more worried about the fans at home, and are hoping Sunday’s watch parties doesn’t turn into a public health nightmare. Next: We’re bringing you three headlines – from the US-Mexico border, Canada, and India – and breaking down the context on why they matter.  ICYMI: Some big changes went down this week in Myanmar. We’ll tell you what happened and what’s next...in 60 seconds.  Later: Did the Gamestop madness from last week make you feel like you missed out? We’ll explain the differences between trading and investing. And why you don’t need to make a Reddit account to make money.  Finally: Do you miss airplane wine? We’ve got the thing for you!  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Rhiannon Walker, NFL reporter, The Athletic Stacy R., finance editor for Skimm Money  Sabrina A. Assoumou, attending physician, Boston Medical Center Chasity Cooper, communication strategist and wine journalist (Insta) Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

First up: By now you’ve probably heard about some new strains of COVID-19… that kinda sound like spy names. Meet B117, B1351, and P-1. And some bad news: they’re potentially more harmful. We’ll break down what we know so far about how to protect yourself, and whether the vaccines will still be effective against them. (0:58) Then: This week, all eyes were on...GameStop. And no, that isn’t a typo. We’ll tell you why a lot of people on Reddit have made waves in the stock market. (8:58) ICYMI: Former President Trump’s second impeachment trial kicks off soon. We’ll tell you what to expect. (11:43) Next: President Biden repealed former President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military. While that’s happening at the federal level, we’ll tell you why you need to keep your eye on legislation on the local level. (14:07) Later: Protests have broken out all over Russia. We’ll tell you why one man’s return has caused thousands to hit the streets. (18:33) Finally: We’re helping you Skimm your schedule. Because there are a ton of meetings that could have been emails, right? (23:59) On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Amber D’Souza, professor of epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice, the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project Anna Borshchevskaya, senior fellow for Russia, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Dr. Kristen Shockley, associate professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia. Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.

First up: Before handing over the keys to the White House, President Trump made some final moves in office that could have a lasting impact. We’ll Skimm his final acts, from presidential pardons to foreign policy pivots.  Then: President Biden jumped right into the Oval on Wednesday to start rolling out his agenda. We’ll break down what he’s already done in office and what you can keep an eye out for next.  ICYMI: If you watched Wednesday's inauguration, you probably noticed thousands of National Guard troops stationed all over DC. We spoke to an expert about whether added security is here to stay and how Biden could take on the domestic terror threat.  Finally: We’re helping you Skimm your passwords. Seriously.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Brian J. Gerber, director of the emergency management and homeland security program, Arizona State University Steffanie A.K. Schilling, cybersecurity education and awareness expert Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.

First up: President Trump is now the first president to be impeached twice. We’ll tell you what happened this week and what to expect from a Senate trial. (:54) Then: It’s been more than a week since the attack on the U.S. Capitol, but the ripple effects are still being felt. We’ll break down last week’s security failure and look at what’s being done to stop something like this from happening again. (4:26) Quickly: The federal government has announced some big changes to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout policy. We’ll skimm what’s new … in 60 seconds. (11:42) ICYMI: 140,000 jobs were lost in the last month, and they were all held by women. We’ll explain how the fallout from this past recession disproportionately affects women. (14:01) Later: Let’s skimm your resume! We spoke to a career expert to break down how to put your best professional self forward on paper. (19:23) Finally: We’ve got a recap of the hottest (and strangest) tech coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show. Any takers for a $1,000 machine that makes margaritas and ice cream?! (29:20) PS: Want to tune up your own resume? Join TopResume's career expert, Amanda Augustine, for a free webinar and Q&A next week to learn the New Resume Rules for the New Year. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Jvette Klausen, professor of politics, Brandeis University  Brette Steele, director of prevention and national security, McCain Institute Kathryn Edwards, economist, RAND Corporation Yeerang Jang, Skimm’r Carolyn Nieberding, Skimm’r Amanda Augustine, career expert, TopResume Heather Kelly, technology reporter, The Washington Post Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

Welcome to Skimm This. Here’s what we’re covering this week:  First up: In D.C., as Congress gathered to certify President-elect Joe Biden's presidential win, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. We’ll break down what happened on Wednesday. Then: All eyes were on Georgia this week. We’ll tell you what Democrats winning both Senate seats there means for the Biden administration.  ICYMI: The COVID-19 vaccine rollout hasn’t been going according to plan. We’ll explain the holdup in getting vaccines into people’s arms.  Later: Iran made a major announcement this week: they’re enriching their uranium to 20% purity. We won’t give you a chemistry lesson, but we will tell you why this matters and what this means for U.S. diplomacy moving forward. Finally: Is your fridge a hot mess after the holidays? We’ll speak to an expert to help you Skimm your fridge…so you can finally find your ketchup again.  Fun fact: "Betriebsblindheit" is German for "business blindness." Basically, something you do over and over without questioning. Click here to fill out our podcast survey.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Josh Michaud, associate director for global health policy, Kaiser Family Foundation Leah Askarinam, editor-in-chief, National Journal’s The Hotline Holly Dagres, non-resident fellow, the Atlantic Council Rachel Gurjar, chef, recipe developer, and food writer (IG) Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

We all know 2020 has been a year. And while we may remember it as the year we started matching our facemasks to our sweatpants… it turns out 2020 can be remembered for a lot more than that. This week we’re looking back at the major developments that happened this year in medicine, foreign policy, and entertainment.  First up: It turns out COVID vaccines are not just a turning point for ending the pandemic, but also for fighting things like cancer and heart disease. We’ll break down this year’s medical breakthroughs.  Then: 2020 has been the year of global protests. Specifically, female-led global protests. We’ll explain the positive changes happening in Belarus, Sudan, and Poland, and why they could be a good sign for the future.   Finally: Anyone else miss going to the movies? We sure do. And so does the entertainment industry. We’ll tell you how they’ve pivoted because of the pandemic. And why videogames are making a major comeback.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News chief medical correspondent, author, "The New Normal" Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, author, “The Education of an Idealist” Giovanni Colantonio, video game reporter  Rebecca Rubin, film and media reporter, “Variety”  Skimm HQ’ers Hadley, Sam N., Maria M., Lindsay, and co-founder Carly Zakin Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

This week, we’re answering your questions about what’s going on in the news right now. Here’s what you wanted to know:  First up: What’s the deal with this new strain of COVID that’s been found in the UK?  Then: Why did Russia hack the United States again? And what information did they get?  Next: What’s in the new stimulus package?  And: What’s happening to our alcohol consumption during COVID? And how do we know if it’s a problem?  Also: Why am I seeing headlines about a “galactic federation”?  Finally: Are robots really coming for our jobs? PS: You can find the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Website, Rethinking Drinking, here. And here is the NIAAA’s Treatment Navigator.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Dr. Amber D’Souza, infectious disease epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins University Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Garrett Kenyon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Yijing Watkins, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

Welcome to Skimm This. Here’s what we’re covering this week:  First up: The first Americans have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine. Now that it’s here, we know you’ve got questions. So we called in an expert to Skimm the answers. Then: Your holiday package forecast? Expect some delays. We’ll tell you what you need to know if you’re planning to do some last minute shopping.  Quickly: This season’s hottest gift? Dry ice. We’ll tell you why…in 60 seconds.  HELP US, HELP YOU! Fill our our 2020 year-end podcast survey here. ICYMI: Congress is working on another COVID-19 stimulus bill. But longer-term solutions are required to solve some of the most pressing issues in America: hunger and public transportation.  Finally: What better way to kick off the week of Christmas than with...a Christmas star. We’ll explain the once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event that you might spot on the horizon starting December 21st. P.S., Those resources we told you about in the show? Click here if you or someone you know needs help seeking information on how to obtain food. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Julie Fischer, associate research professor, Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security Ramona Hood, president and CEO, FedEx Custom Critical Stacey Nicholas, director of community outreach, Douglass Community Services Joel Berg, CEO, Hunger Free America Sarah Kaufman, associate director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

Welcome to Skimm This. Here’s what we’re covering this week:  First up: The Electoral College is meeting Monday to finally put this whole election to bed. We’ll tell you what’s expected to go down.  Then: Congress is, once again, deadlocked over whether to pass another Coronavirus relief bill. We’ll explain the holdup. Quickly: Some major companies (think: Airbnb and Doordash) are going public. If that has you wondering WTF is an IPO… we’ll break it down in 60 seconds.  ICYMI: It’s been a historic week in the fight against COVID-19. But approving a vaccine and successfully “rolling one out” aren’t the same thing. We’ll tell you what challenges lie ahead.  Finally: We’ve got some advice on how to limit your COVID-19 exposure risk if you’re getting into an Uber or Lyft. Pro tip: roll down multiple windows.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in governance studies, Brookings Institution Wendy Zukerman, host, “Science Vs.” (a podcast from Gimlet, a Spotify Studio) Kenny Breuer, professor of engineering, Brown University Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now  Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long. 

We’re all pretty excited for a fresh start in 2021. Before we get there, we’ve got some vaccine news for you and a look at who might get a dose before the end of the year. Then, there’s one person who’s already making his intentions clear for 2021: President-Elect Joe Biden. We’ve got the who’s who on his cabinet picks and how he’s already making some contrasts between his team and President Trump’s. Plus, we’re playing catch-up on two crises in Ethiopia and Iran that could cause headaches for Biden’s incoming team.  Finally, there’s a Christmas tree shortage this year, and it’s not the Grinch’s fault. We’ll tell you how to take care of your tree this year - if you can get your hands on one. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Michèle Flournoy, former US undersecretary of defense, co-founder, WestExec Advisors Bronwyn Bruton, director of programs and studies, The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center Ariane Tabatabai, Middle East fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show.  If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox.  Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.

Once the Thanksgiving table is cleared, it’s shopping season. Black Friday may look a bit different this year, but it still kicks off a crucial period for online and real-world retailers as they try to end 2020 on a high note. This week we’re stepping back from the news and looking at what makes the holiday shopping season so important in 2020 in particular, how marketers are making their sales pitch and why so much is on the line for small businesses. On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Anne Roggeveen, professor of retailing and marketing, Babson College Jordyn Holman, retail reporter, Bloomberg News Kalyn Chandler Johnson, owner, “Effie’s Paper, Stationery and Whatnot”  Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show.  If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox.  Skimm'd by Ciara Long, with additional support from Peter Bonaventure, Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. 

A dangerous collision between a pandemic and America’s biggest family get-together is just around the corner. Before we get to the main course, we’ve got an update on the presidential transition between President Trump and President-Elect Joe Biden (1:08). Quick Skimm: nothing’s really happened so far. We’ll also tell you about Amazon’s big move this week into the world of prescription drugs (7:50).  Then, we’re coming up on the last exit before Thanksgiving. It’s our final chance to rethink our plans as COVID cases in the U-S set new records every day. We’ll give you an update on where things stand and what’s contributing to this latest surge in cases (12:19).  Finally, if you find yourself having to be Top Chef at your holiday dinner this year, we’ve got you covered (22:06). Cue: a smaller feast… but the same well-deserved nap.  BTW: here’s a one-pan, one-pot Thanksgiving dinner that takes three hours or less to put together.  On this episode, you’ll hear from:  Kristine Simmons, VP of government affairs, Partnership for Public Service Dr. Fadia Shaya, director of the Center on Drugs and Public Policy, University of Maryland's School of Pharmacy Vanessa Kerry, CEO, Seed Global Health Zack Bruell, Cleveland-based chef and restaurateur  Let us know what questions you have about what’s going on in the news right now. Email us at audio@theskimm.com or call and leave us a voicemail at: 646-461-6370. You might hear your message on the show.  If you want to add theSkimm to your daily routine, sign-up for our free newsletter the Daily Skimm. It’s everything you need to know to start your day, right in your inbox.  Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Justine Davie, and Luke Vargas. With additional support from Peter Bonaventure and Ciara Long.