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 QUOTE OF THE DAY  |
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"Accidental sky penis" – US Air Force fighter jets accidentally left behind a phallic shape during combat training. You can't make this stuff up.
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The Story
Saying whether or not you're a US citizen could benefit a specific political party.
Wait, what?
This is about the 2020 census. The last time everyone had to answer a citizenship question in the census was in 1950. Since then, only a sample of people in the US have been asked. But the Trump admin wants to add it back for 2020. States, cities, and immigrant advocates have sued to stop that from happening, arguing that it could lead to an undercount in immigrant communities around the country. (The results of the census help determine how many House seats each state gets and how federal funding should be divided for public services like schools and roads.)
What's this about benefiting a political party?
According to new court documents filed yesterday, a 2015 study conducted by GOP redistricting strategist Thomas Hofeller (who died last year) found that adding a citizenship question would hurt Democrats and be "advantageous to Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites."
Interesting.
Hofeller allegedly went on to help write a draft DOJ letter that argued the question would help enforce the 1965 Voting Rights Act (which ensures that minorities' voting rights are protected). And the Trump admin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross have used that same argument. This study shows the admin may want to use the question to give Republicans an electoral advantage – since immigrant communities tend to vote Democratic. And lawyers argue that the goal isn't about protecting voting rights. Instead, they say it's about diluting the voting power of minorities.
Who gets to decide if the question goes on the census?
The Supreme Court. We could find out by the end of June. But based on arguments they heard last month, the court's conservative majority looks ready to side with the admin.
theSkimm
The census only happens every 10 years. And many worry that adding a citizenship question will scare off undocumented immigrants and citizens in immigrant communities from filling it out. An undercount in the census could leave millions of people in minority communities without proper representation or funding for at least a decade.
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What people are on edge about...
North Korea. A South Korean newspaper is reporting that North Korea executed top officials, including its special envoy to the US who's been credited for helping start nuclear talks with the US. The report also says they were charged with spying for the US and blamed for the failed US-NK summit that went down in Vietnam earlier this year. Which was cut short after both sides couldn't agree on denuclearization. No word from the US or North Korea on all this.
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Hold up, wait a minute: Talks between the two countries have pretty much been radio silent in the aftermath of the summit. If this report turns out to be true, don't expect talks to rev up again anytime soon.
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Who's not tired of saying the word 'tariffs'…
President Trump. Yesterday, he said the US is slapping a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports. The goal: pressure Mexico to crack down on migrants trying to cross the southern US border – something that Trump has blamed Mexico for. Under this new plan, the gov will increase the tariffs by 5% every month until Mexico takes action. But the limit would be 25%, which could happen as soon as October. The penalties are expected to go into effect in mid-June.
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No-FTA: The announcement comes as the admin is pushing Congress to approve NAFTA 2.0 (or more formally known as the USMCA) – the new trade deal between the US, Canada, and Mexico. Some are worried that this announcement could upend that deal.
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My wallet hurts: Tariffs are usually paid for by the companies that import products. And many of those companies push those costs onto customers. Meaning this will likely affect you.
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Who people are talking about again...
R Kelly. Yesterday, he was indicted on 11 charges of sexual assault and abuse. That's on top of the 10 other sexual abuse charges he faces from back in February – though he's been out on bail. These new ones are related to incidents with one victim that allegedly happened between 2009 and 2010. Some of the counts carry sentences of up to 30 years. He's expected to appear in court next week.
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Who's the lady boss you didn't know you needed in your life…
Brigitte Bierlein, aka Austria's first female chancellor. She's stepping in after a scandal that's being called "Ibizagate" took down the chancellor and vice chancellor. She's now in charge until new elections are held in September.
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Skimm This. Our daily podcast talks about the news coming out of Quantico. 16 women filed a lawsuit saying they faced discrimination at the FBI's training center. Listen in.
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When you hear jeado is a real word...
The dictionary loses.
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"The Honey Bus" by Meredith May
This memoir goes down like honey. Because it's about beekeeping. Stick with us. When a young girl escapes a troubled childhood and goes to live with her unconventional grandfather, she learns a lot about how to take care of herself...and how to take care of bees. Get it here.
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For when you like your applesauce organic...
Meet, Once Upon a Farm. It's the organic baby food company co-founded by Jennifer Garner. Yes, that Jennifer Garner. She talked with us about her goal of making it available to WIC families across the US – to make sure they have better quality (and tasting) food. Find out more about WIC and Garner's plan here.
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Chilling champagne for...Bruce F (CA). He's the arts and culture reporter at the newspaper The Desert Sun. He has covered every Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – all 20. He also followed the lives of Frank Sinatra, Sonny Bono, and more. Now he's retiring to enjoy the music and art he's covered for 40 years as a spectator.
Cheers to…Alissa P (WI). In the last week, she was offered a new job at her current company and was offered a scholarship to one of the top part-time MBA programs in the country.
(Some) Birthdays…Jodi Greebel (NY), Alex Willkie (NY), Emma Jackson (AL), Matthew Midgettep (CA),Tamara Kalugina (MO), Arlaina McDaniel (CO), Eden Schwartz (SC), Elora Sullivan (NY), Elsa Wyllie (BC), Eric Furnee (ESP), Harrison Lange (TN), Mae L'Heureux (ME), Megan Black (IL), Susan Wynne (GA)
*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
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theSkimm50 West 23rd Street, Suite 5B; New York, NY, 10010, United States Update Profile
