News

Distress Call

What's going on: The USS George Washington will soon replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, several news outlets reported Thursday. News of the switch comes with reports of rapidly deteriorating conditions aboard the Lincoln. The aircraft carrier was deployed last November and was redirected to the Strait of Hormuz after the US attacked Iran. Family members are raising alarms, saying that their loved ones are suffering from exhaustion and neglect. One military spouse told officials that she’d received a message from her husband saying, “he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow.” At least one sailor allegedly attempted to jump from the ship, and a US official has confirmed that another sailor was rescued after he went overboard.  

Tell me more: The Navy has denied an uptick in suicide attempts onboard the Lincoln and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed conditions have been “completely misrepresented.” But what’s not disputable: Lincoln sailors expected to come home in May. They have now been at sea for more than 250 days. This isn’t an isolated incident, either. The USS Gerald Ford recently returned home after about 330 days at sea after participating in operations in Venezuela and Iran. Despite President Donald Trump insisting that the US has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, mixed reports of missile shortages and fleet readiness are raising questions about how prepared the US military is for this conflict –– and the toll it is taking on service members in the field.

Related: In a (Simulated) War of Drones vs. the US Military, the Machines Win (The Wall Street Journal gift link)

Full-Court Mess 

Who’s Running Point Here?

What’s going on: The WNBA spent decades trying to get more people talking about women’s basketball. Mission accomplished — but lately, the game itself has taken a back seat. Amid unprecedented growth, online abuse, and player safety concerns, a fight over transgender athletes has repeatedly hijacked the conversation. The latest debate took off after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham told ESPN she opposes transgender girls and women in girls’ and women’s sports, prompting protests at Fever games. Two former NBA players later inserted themselves into the debate by claiming they identify as women and declaring themselves eligible for next year’s draft. On Wednesday, a league task force met to address the issue but stressed a key detail: This is all hypothetical. There is no such eligibility case before the WNBA. And no known transgender woman has ever gone pro.

Playing defense: The frustrating part? This should be the WNBA’s victory lap. The league is expanding, its stars have crossed into the mainstream, and a blockbuster media deal has put more money behind the game than ever. Yet it has exposed real gaps around player safety and leadership, with players demanding less talk and more action from the league when it comes to threats and harassment. That puts even more pressure on Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (already battling the strongest of currents) and the league to show they can lead through the growing pains, not just react to them. Debates over race, gender, sexuality, and politics have surrounded the WNBA throughout its 30-year history — but never with this big an audience or this much at stake.

Related: The WNBA Built One of Sports’ Most Inclusive Fan Bases. What Happens Now? (The 19th)

Thank You Very Munch 

We Came, We Saw, We Bought Snacks

What's going on: Onigiri in Tokyo. Pistachio ice cream in Barcelona. The trendiest local fare in top travel destinations all seems to come from the same place…the local supermarket. We’re not just popping into the mercado to refuel; we’re making it a destination in the age of “grocery store tourism.” A 2026 report from Hilton says 77% of travelers enjoy supermarketmaxxing, and back in January, Condé Nast Traveler predicted it would be one of the year’s biggest trends. These days, our feeds are filled with 7-Eleven hauls in Tokyo and Bangkok, while Americans brag about what they can find at Costcos abroad (which rival ancient Japanese temples, apparently). And it’s not just travelers leaning in: Finland’s K-Supermarket supposedly became the first major food-retail chain to officially list itself as a tourist attraction on Tripadvisor, with locations touting everything from fresh honey to craft beer. Your move, IKEA.

A one-stop shop: Why spend precious vacation time under fluorescent lights stocking up on cheap snacks? Because it’s what the locals do: And now more than ever, we want to see places through their eyes. Grocery stores are a low-key way to experience a culture without major language or cost barriers, and discovering globalized snacks (like matcha KitKats) makes the world feel a little smaller and more whimsical. Wandering the aisles is pretty straightforward, allowing us to appreciate the differences, like an entire aisle devoted to fish. And “tasting the sights” is a real thing: Our surroundings influence how we perceive flavor, so that $2 French wine becomes a memorable part of the journey. This may be more than a passing trend, especially since it caters to Gen Z tastes: It’s affordable, authentic, and very online. If you partake, just don’t make a scene — when in Rome, scan and go as the Romans do. 

Related: An American Expat Shares the Trader Joe’s Faves That Fill Her Suitcase (Allrecipes)

Quick Hits

💗 On her talk show, Drew Barrymore reunited with a flight attendant who was there for her during an especially tough moment in her sobriety journey.

❄️ You might be feeling the heat right now, but the Farmers’ Almanac predicts a stormier winter. You can send your thank-you note to El Niño.

🏈 Rob Gronkowski spent the wedding of the year doing what any good former teammate would: scouting the singles table for Julian Edelman. Patriotism. 

🎤 The must-collab artist for Gen Z singers is…Shania Twain? Mother is mothering.

🏋️ Apparently people are "dry scooping" protein powder in their mouth and chasing it with water before a workout. Another reason to avoid the gym. 

🎙️ Michelle Obama says Megan Thee Stallion's personality reminds her of daughter Sasha, which makes being around the rapper feel “like family.” Thee First Family just got bigger. 

Skimm'd by: Stephanie Gallman, Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Mallory Simon, Erika W. Smith, Samantha Darby, Kate Preziosi, Jessica Prois, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.