Men & Missiles 

Make Stockpiles Big Again

What's going on: Operation Epic Fury has turned into Operation Missile Critical. Several media outlets report that the US military’s critical defense missile stockpile has been severely depleted. That includes “virtually all” of the long-range missiles in fighting with Iran, and more than 80% of a specific defensive missile that shoots down incoming fire. US commanders are now conserving supplies. In addition to putting US troops at a disadvantage, experts say this kind of shortage could hamstring the military in future conflicts. If you’re wondering, “but what about the $1.15 trillion that Congress just approved for the military?,” part of it is earmarked for new missiles. But the Center for Strategic and International Studies says that effort takes time that the US doesn’t have.

It’s a war of words: And Trump and the media are on opposing sides (for a refreshing change of pace). In June, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military’s stockpiles are great and getting stronger. In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump wrote that the US has “massive amounts of munitions” and threatened to prosecute anyone who says otherwise. But The Washington Post reports that the president confronted Hegseth at Camp David last week, saying he thought the shortage issue “had been fixed.” Hegseth allegedly blamed his deputy. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied this exchange happened and separately said, “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs."

Related: President Trump Is Trying Another Workaround To Cut Off Birthright Citizenship (The Guardian)

Sidelined 

The Most Extreme Trans Athlete Ban Yet 

What’s going on: This November, Washington state voters will decide on a ballot initiative that would bar transgender athletes from girls' sports teams. It would require athletes from kindergarten through high school to prove their sex assigned at birth with an annual genetic screening, testosterone testing, or a genital exam. Experts call the ballot proposal the “most extreme” of its kind. Details on how the ban would be enforced are sparse, but parents are concerned that it could include internal pelvic exams — which is not part of a routine sports physical (despite the initiative’s wording). The ballot measure’s supporters say that a ban is necessary to ensure girls’ competition is “fair,” but some Washington teens interviewed by The Cut said they’d rather drop out of their sport. As one girl put it, she doesn’t want to feel “uncomfortable or violated” during her annual sports physical.

How do trans kids impact girls' sports?: Available data shows that only a tiny percentage of trans athletes play in American high schools — many of whom simply want a chance to compete and hang out with their friends. A recent study in The British Journal of Sports Medicine found that the physical performance of trans female athletes is usually on par with that of their cis counterparts. Meanwhile, states that are inclusive of trans kids tend to see more girls participate in sports overall, which brings all kinds of long-term health and mental health benefits. 

Related: The Women’s Tennis Association Will Now Require Genetic Sex Testing (The 19th)

Cheers 

The Booze Belt 

What’s going on: Over a hundred years after Prohibition, we’re turning down drinks — and this time, it’s by choice. Americans are shifting away from alcohol consumption, which has hit a nearly 90-year low among US adults. Young people are leading the charge, often citing their health: A recent study found that even low levels of drinking can raise cancer and heart disease risks. Less booze may be good for immunity, but it’s not always great for community — namely, the local economies that depend on alcohol sales. Take Kentucky, where Jim Beam and Jack Daniel's recently cut hundreds of in-person roles. Most US restaurants and bars that have always made their profits in alcohol sales aren't bringing in nearly as much from their zero-proof cocktails. Then there’s Napa Valley, where vineyard owners are literally letting grapes die on the vine rather than shoulder the costs of hanging onto bottles that don't sell. Even Las Vegas is down on its luck, thanks to declines in drinking and food purchases. 

A sobering glimpse: The alcohol industry is intertwined with communities in other ways, too. Brown-Forman (which owns Jack Daniel’s) is a major patron of arts and culture in Louisville. Last fiscal year, it gave away over $14 million as one of the region’s biggest philanthropic groups. That money could dry up in the future if sales are down. But there are plenty of other “third space” disruptors hoping to fill the boozy void by giving people a place to socialize and spend money. Sober bars are on the rise. Data shows that the mere opening of a Starbucks boosts economic activity. Maybe women's sports bars, which quadrupled in number last year, have it right: Come for the sports, stay for the vibes.

Related: Trump’s Canadian Tariffs Are Hurting Napa Valley, Too (The Guardian)

Quick Hits

🎵 A$AP Rocky gave fans an update about Rihanna, and we needed this like, FourFiveSeconds ago.

🍅 A food writer tested eight ways to keep tomatoes fresh, and the best method took us by complete surprise. Our summer BLTs thank you.

💨 Here is the airplane habit that travelers agree is the worst, and you might be part of the problem. Seatbelt fastened, please.

☀️ The world’s most powerful solar telescope just captured stunning new images of the sun’s surface, and you gotta see this glow up.

🫶 Kylie Kelce confirms this is the reason her husband, Jason, cried at Travis and Taylor’s wedding. Just girl dad things.   

🌈 Lisa Frank is still marketing to us ‘90s kids with a grown-up brand collab. Color us pleased.

Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Stephanie Gallman, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Samantha Darby, Kate Preziosi, Jessica Prois, and Kylie McConville. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.