Hall of Contention

Good morning.

I love the start of a new month. Not just because I compete with my kids to see who remembers to say “rabbit rabbit” first, but because a fresh page on the calendar always fills me with a little extra optimism. June is one of my favorites: the home stretch of the school year, ball games, and Pride Month, which means celebrations across the country — including the 50th edition of this iconic festival. It’s also the season when I dust off the grill, though it sounds like rising prices are changing up a summer favorite. If that’s the case, I may branch out and throw some of these alternatives on the barbecue instead. (My Greek grandfather would have been intrigued by number two.) One person who might not share my enthusiasm for June? This guy. Now, let’s get to the news…

— Marina Carver / Senior Editor / Brooklyn, NY

Immigration 

Hall of Contention

What’s going on: The latest battleground for immigration reform isn’t near the northern or southern US borders — it’s in Newark, New Jersey. The city is home to Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention center that's become emblematic of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) severe immigration policy. Hundreds of detainees began a hunger strike in May objecting to poor conditions and inadequate medical care, according to reports. Tensions escalated this weekend when protesters clashed with police outside the facility. In response, New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill (D) enacted a protected protest zone near the center, while Newark mayor Ras Baraka (D) enforced a curfew. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has only been in the role for two months, but Delaney Hall is quickly becoming his first major test. (Hint: It’s not going well.)

How bad is it?: Depends on who you ask. Advocacy groups say nearly 300 detainees are involved in the strike, while DHS disputes that number and insists the facility provides three meals a day and comprehensive medical care. Mullin, meanwhile, is denying the hunger strike altogether. He claims a few people aren’t eating because they want their “ethnic right food,” telling them to “go back to their country” to eat “whatever food they want.” The two sides disagreed about whether claims were properly investigated: The governor says state health inspectors weren’t allowed full access to the facility to review the allegations, while Mullin says they were. The conflicting accounts have only fueled calls from Sherrill and other Democratic lawmakers to close the center, which already faced criticism for detainee deaths and escapes. 

Related: This Georgia Town Has a Clever Strategy To Fight ICE — and It Just Might Work (The Guardian)

The News in 5

🗞️ An experimental pill nearly doubled survival time for one of the deadliest types of cancer, showing potential for a “new standard of care.”

🗞️ The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is spreading quickly as the death toll climbs.

🗞️ Former Vice President Mike Pence went on Meet the Press, and he had a lot to say about President Donald Trump’s second term.

🗞️ Honda is recalling nearly 100,000 vehicles due to airbag deployment issues. See if your car was affected.

🗞️ The lineup for America’s 250th birthday party keeps shrinking. Trump fixed that by adding a new headliner.

GLP-1s

The Drug That Keeps Expanding Its Résumé

What’s going on: The long list of GLP-1 drugs’ supposed benefits reads like a wellness wish list, and the newest potential perk is a big one: slowing cancer. New Cleveland Clinic research tracked more than 12,000 patients with the same early-stage cancers and comorbidities (like obesity and smoking). It found that those on a GLP-1 (compared to other diabetes medications) were 38% to 50% less likely to progress to stage IV in four cancers: breast, colorectal, liver, and certain types of lung cancers. The research hints that GLP-1 receptor-related signaling may directly influence how some cancers grow and spread. It lands on top of prior studies that have linked the drugs to lower risk of addiction, and improvements with sleep apnea and kidney disease, on top of the FDA-approved uses for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss.

Sounds like a miracle drug: It does, but experts caution that there’s still a lot we don’t know, and say much more research needs to be done to confirm cancer-slowing benefits. These new findings are a genuinely exciting start — but the real-world, observational data hasn’t been peer-reviewed, and GLP-1s are not a current cancer treatment option. A randomized clinical trial still needs to confirm the link, and they’re no substitute for routine screenings like colonoscopies — as much as we wish we could save you from prep with that lemon-lime laxative monstrosity. So, if you’re among the one in eight adults on the meds or considering them, know that while the weight and blood-sugar benefits of GLP-1s are well established, the everything-else benefits are a science story still being written.

Related: Why “Ozempic Personality” Is Concerning Doctors (Today)

PS: Let your group chat know the real health story behind the headlines. Every Wednesday, we break down the stories and trends to give you the need-to-know in health, nutrition, and fitness in our weekly Well + Good newsletter. Sign up here.

Forever Chemicals

The Cookware Industry Has a PFAS Problem 

What’s going on: If you threw out all your black plastic spatulas in an attempt to avoid exposure to “forever chemicals,” do we have news for you. The latest battle in the war over per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) involves multiple cookware companies, a complicated legal saga, and a dramatic advertising campaign. Earlier this year, two billion-dollar cookware companies — Groupe SEB USA and Meyer Corporation — filed a lawsuit against a much smaller and newer cookware company, Caraway. They claim that Caraway’s marketing around forever-chemical-free products is not grounded in fact and “has caused immense and continuing harm” to both consumers and corporations. In response, Caraway launched a marketing campaign and a Change.org petition claiming, “Big Cookware wants to silence us.” In an interview with Fortune, its CEO called the lawsuit a “bullying attempt.”

So do we need a pan overhaul?: Not necessarily. This lawsuit is the latest attempt to push back against anti-PFAS advocacy. Some studies link the chemicals to higher risks of certain cancers, liver disease, and other health problems, while other experts argue that the risks are exaggerated and don’t apply to everyday home cooking. In 2024, Groupe SEB and Meyer formed the Cookware Sustainability Alliance to oppose PFAS bans. They’ve even rallied celebrity chefs — some of whom have their own lines with the companies — to their cause. If you are concerned about PFAS, you don’t have to shell out for expensive brands. Ceramic, cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, and glass are often PFAS-free options. If you prefer nonstick, look for products labeled as PFAS-free or fluorine-free. Just ignore the word “nontoxic” — that one is purely a marketing term.

Related: This Tree Can Remove Microplastics From Tap Water (CNN)

Quick Hits

🌱 This antioxidant-packed veggie is the top pick among cardiologists for boosting heart health. As if we needed any more reason to eat it.

🛏️ Bedroom decorating rules were made to be broken. Especially number three.

👶 This week's hottest baby name sounds like someone got creative with autocorrect. Squilliam would like a word. 

🎾 A French Open player was fined for some wild comments about his female umpire. Can we add an audacity tax on top?

🏛️ This Jersey Shore star isn’t ruling out a bid to become New Jersey’s next governor. Gym, tan, law-making? 

💗 Dua Lipa and Callum Turner got married in London over the weekend, and she made a bold fashion statement at the city hall ceremony. She must be levitating.

On Our Calendar

Monday, June 1

☀️ National Caribbean American Heritage Month

Celebrate the Caribbean-American community all month long. Kick things off with this summer reading list. 

🌀 Hurricane season starts in the Atlantic 

It officially lasts through November 30 — and here’s what experts say could happen.

😀 Say Something Nice Day 

Check out these 100 ideas...and then reach us here.

🍩 Free tote at Dunkin’

Buy this to score a Dunkin’-themed bag (but don’t dawdle; only 20 bags per participating location) — and make Ben Affleck proud in the process.

Psst…this is just the preview: Subscribe to the full Skimm+ calendar and never miss a moment.

Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Mallory Simon, Erika W. Smith, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.