Daily Skimm

Cell Yeah

Just Call Me Spudnik

What’s going on: Break out your goggles and beakers — we’re getting nerdy. A team of University of Minnesota biologists says they’ve created cells in a lab that can grow and reproduce on their own. This is kind of a big deal. “We’ve replicated in chemistry what only used to be possible in biology,” lead researcher, Kate Adamala, PhD, said in a statement. By combining dozens of proteins and molecules, scientists reverse-engineered a simple cell and named it SpudCell because, well, it looks like a potato. We’ve come a long way from the potato battery.

It’s alive! Or is it?: Don't call her Dr. Frankenstein just yet. Adamala is “hesitant to call this ‘alive,’” since “there’s no clear line” as to what defines life. But, alive or not, these synthetic cells may be able to do things organic ones can’t, like make new kinds of medicines or replace the high-energy production methods that pharma companies use to manufacture drugs. SpudCells might even be used for carbon capture — something that’s been considered pricey and somewhat impractical — the way scientists are studying bacteria’s potential to clean up oil spills and eat into plastics. Like we said… kind of a big deal. The scientists have formed a nonprofit to open-source the development of SpudCells, to hopefully keep this breakthrough from being used unethically on things like chemical weapons. Not the cell-splitting we had in mind. 

Related: Ocean Temps Just Hit a Record High, and the Consequences Could Be Major (NBC News)

The News in 5

🗞️ Team USA beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to advance to the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup, but not before this referee call briefly turned us all into outraged professional sports analysts.

🗞️ In the latest Nancy Guthrie kidnapping update, FBI Phoenix said some ransom notes were fake, but others are still under investigation. 

🗞️ A new autopsy of the one-year-old killed by police outside a Walmart in Mississippi is raising even more questions about the officer's decision to shoot.

🗞️ The race for control of the Senate is tight. A new poll shows a viable path for Democrats to flip it.

🗞️ California is replacing "sell by" labels with this. As long as we don't have to do a smell test.

Career

Educated and Unemployed

What's going on: We all know someone overqualified and underemployed right now, but this is especially true for a particular group: Black women. A new analysis from The Washington Post found the unemployment rate between Black and white Americans is widening at a “nearly unprecedented clip.” By the end of 2025, the unemployment rate for Black Americans had climbed to 7.2%, compared with 3.6% for white Americans. And college-educated Black women are the most affected. “Sometimes, I wonder, why is this happening to me?” Kia Mills, a Black woman with a master’s degree who has been unemployed for almost two years, told The Post. "Sometimes I think I’m being blackballed."

How’d we get here?: There has always been an employment gap between Black and white Americans. But after narrowing in the early 2020s, it’s widening again in President Donald Trump’s second term. Experts point to several factors, including DOGE, which slashed the federal workforce. The number of Black women in federal employment decreased by over 30% in 2025, compared to 11.6% for all women and 8.1% for men. Researchers also say the administration’s anti-DEI push, biased AI hiring tools, and longstanding discrimination are making it even harder for qualified Black women to get hired. When Black women are losing their jobs at more than twice the rate as white men, something is very clearly wrong.

Related: How Black Women Are Supporting Each Other Through Unemployment (The New York Times Gift Link)

Mo Money, Mo… Money

The Presidential Windfall 

What's going on: President Donald Trump is proving it pays to be president. Literally. A newly released financial disclosure revealed that during his latest first year in office, he raked in $2.2 billion (with a ‘b’). More than half — $1.4 billion — came from his family’s crypto business, which was partially sold last year to a United Arab Emirates investment firm. The amount also includes earnings from his real estate assets, businesses, and licensing agreements (Trump Bible, anyone?). Jimmy Carter and his peanut farm would like a word. Trump downplayed his financial windfalls Wednesday, saying third parties handle his money, and insisted he “made a lot of money before [he] became president.” True. But in 2024, the year before he took office, Trump earned just $622 million (it feels wrong saying “just” in front of that number).

It’s a notable contradiction: A businessman-turned-politician who promised to “drain the swamp” while famously refusing to release his tax returns. Another contradiction? Leading a pro-crypto administration while simultaneously becoming a major player in the industry. The dynamic has drawn scrutiny as lawmakers and regulators pursue a range of investigations and oversight efforts aimed at examining potential financial conflicts. One historian said Trump’s “flood the zone” approach could be deliberate: “If we do so much of it, people will not think anything about it is weird.”

Related: The Topic President Donald Trump Talks About More Than Anything Else (The Independent)

Quick Hits

🍗 It happened: Someone came for Costco’s rotisserie chicken crown and won. This rival definitely didn't bawk at the competition.

😴 Some people swear this weird wellness trend helps them sleep. Insomniacs are feeling salty.

☕ Dunkin’ may have outdone Starbucks with these cups. But is it this summer’s Stanley? 

🤢 Travel experts say even in the cleanest hotel rooms, it’s still probably best to avoid handling this item. Rest assured, you should trust us on this one.

🇺🇸 Still looking for recipe inspo for the holiday weekend? Number 12 could double as dessert and decor.

🎥 Michelle Obama just shared her favorite movie of all time, which “presses all the buttons.” We’ll be hitting rewind on this one.

✈️ The rewards fueling your next trip could disappear. Here’s what you can do about it.*

On Our Calendar

Thursday, July 2

🍿 Survival of the Thickest S3 premieres 

Michelle Buteau’s comedy is back for its third and final season, with Mavis starting fresh and Wanda Sykes, Ice-T, Jenna Lyons, and more stopping by.

🛸 World UFO Day 

Today marks the 1947 Roswell UFO sighting. Time to consider a road trip on the (very real) New Mexico Space Trail.  

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Summer Necessities

Summer is here and so is constantly sweating. To help you keep your cool, we rounded up our favorite breathable clothing, comfortable shoes, sunscreens, and more. Check out:

• Sunscreen that's safe for kids

• Stretchy tanks with moisture-wicking technology 

• Loose-fitting linen shorts that’ll become your go-to uniform

• Slip-on slides perfect for beach or pool days

Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Stephanie Gallman, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Jessica Prois, Kate Preziosi, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.