Clear Skies? Not for the Security Line

Good morning.

As one user put it, our “emotional support Olympics” are officially over. After watching 19 days of pure athleticism and 116 medal events, you might not know what to do with yourself. Until the Paralympics kick off, here’s what I’ll be doing: replaying some of the Winter Games’ biggest moments. That includes the latest from over the weekend, like Amber Glenn’s showstopping exhibition figure skating performance (and the song choice was just perfect). I can’t leave out the US men’s hockey team, whose gold-medal win is being called “magic” for a very good reason and gave us this emotional moment. Or Eileen Gu, who scored her sixth medal yesterday after giving a very subtle response to Vice President JD Vance. As for which country won the Milan Cortina Olympics? Well, the medal count points to a clear winner — but hey, if you made it to the Olympics, you’re a champ in my book. Now, let’s get to what else is making headlines…

— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI

US News

Clear Skies? Not for the Security Line

What’s going on: Whatever you do, don’t mess with Americans’ ability to avoid the minor inconvenience of standing in a long line. On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry — then reversed course a day later. The whiplash stemmed from lapsed funding tied to the US’s second government shutdown in four months, though this one only affects DHS. Officials said the about-face came after talks between Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the White House, and TSA officials. But the flip-flop likely had to do with the swift backlash to the decision. Still, there are caveats: TSA warned it will adjust its processes depending on “staffing constraints” at individual airports. Global Entry remains suspended and FEMA travel is limited. 

What it means: Don’t plane-clap yet, the 30 million travelers who use expedited screening programs aren’t out of the woods. Travel industry trade groups complained that even a brief pause on such short notice could be disruptive, leading to longer lines and a bigger burden on TSA. The agency is already rife with staffing shortages, and many work without pay (a good reminder to be kind no matter how long the line). Any potential relief rests with Congress, which is expected to resume negotiations on funding this week. In the meantime, check with your airline, follow your plane on FlightAware, or follow TSA on social (though officials warned updates may be limited due to said shutdown) to stay updated on travel delays. Long term? The final destination is a funding deal. 

Related: As a Blizzard Blitzes the Northeast, New York Declares State of Emergency (USA Today)

The News in 5

🗞️ The Secret Service shot and killed an armed man trying to enter the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, while President Donald Trump was at the White House.

🗞️ Wondering if you’re owed a refund after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs? Us too. The answer is complicated.

🗞️ US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said Israel has “God-given” rights to Middle East land. Some Arab nations would like a word.

🗞️ The Mexican military killed the country’s most powerful drug kingpin and yes, the US played a role. Americans are being told to shelter in place.

🗞️ Greenland's PM rejected the US’s plan to send a hospital ship with this brutally honest clapback. Talk about rocking the boat.

Health

Why He's Fine and You're Still Suffering

What’s going on: If an insufferable man or doctor has ever told you to “push through the pain,” there's a biological reason it wasn't that simple. A new study suggests men and women tend to experience pain differently, with women's suffering lasting longer and more likely to become chronic. The theory: Men’s immune systems are better supported with mechanisms that shut down pain, most likely because of higher testosterone levels. Specifically, the research found men had higher levels of interleukin-10, a molecule that turns off pain signals to the brain. Meanwhile, women got...menstrual cramps. Notably, immune cells — not the brain — drove this effect. The findings applied to pain that persisted after surgery or physical trauma, like from a car accident, but not other chronic pain conditions.  

What it means: For centuries, doctors have often framed women’s chronic pain as exaggerated or even hysterical. This research challenges that narrative. It’s not necessarily that women “complain more,” it’s just our immune systems keep the pain volume up longer. Sigh. Experts say the findings show how important it is for doctors to take women’s pain seriously. If you feel your doctor isn’t doing that, you’re not alone, especially if you’re a woman of color. Bias — including racism and ableism — still shapes who gets believed. Here’s how to advocate for yourself and spot signs of medical gaslighting. On a larger scale, this new research raises hope: It could lead to future treatments for chronic pain — giving women new ways to cope.

Related: Study Links Cannabis Use Among Teens to Increased Risk of These Mental Health Disorders (NPR)

Health

Your Brain Has Been Keeping Score

What’s going on: Your mother had a good reason to hide the TV remote. The books we read and the games we play as kids may shape our brain health decades later. A new study, published in Neurology, tracked nearly 2,000 adults with an average age of 80 and found that those who stimulated their brains the most throughout their life had a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer’s. Those with the highest lifetime cognitive engagement eventually developed the disease, on average, at age 94. Their least-engaged peers? Diagnosed six years earlier. The study shows a strong link, not proof that it prevents Alzheimer’s. Still, one professor called the findings “mind-blowing.”

What it means: If you’re concerned that scrolling on TikTok isn’t quality cognitive engagement, you’re probably right. But you don’t need a brain bootcamp to benefit. For children and teens, it can mean reading regularly or picking up a foreign language. In middle-age, reading, writing often, or playing music could help. Even later in life, things like crossword puzzles, chess, or checkers showed meaningful results. Your grandmother’s endless Words with Friends requests aren’t just because she misses you. She’s been training this whole time. Some activities require money, time, or access, but there are many low-cost habits you can add to daily life. The takeaway: Your brain responds when you challenge it — at any age.

Related: An Alzheimer’s Blood Test Might Be Able To “Clock” When Symptoms May Start (Scientific American)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ It’s time for the NFL Scouting Combine, one of the most important stops on the way to the NFL Draft. 

🗓️ The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a few billion-dollar cases, one involving oil company ExxonMobil and Cuba. 

🗓️ The Voice is back with a new format. We know which coach we want.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

According to ESPN, how many of Team USA medals at the Winter Olympics were thanks to women?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Stephanie Gallman, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Mallory Simon. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.