“Skimm This” is a weekly news program that breaks down important stories from the past week and adds context and clarity to answer the questions on your mind. Every Thursday evening.
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Cancel It?: Student Loans, Revenge Porn, Trading Fees
A top Education Department official is calling it quits, and on his way out the door he’s urging the federal government to cancel most of the country’s student loan debt. We’ll explain why that’s become a popular rallying cry, and what plans are being put forward. Meanwhile, a freshman congresswoman is under a House ethics investigation. We’ll connect the dots on the allegations against her, and why supporters claim she’s a victim of revenge porn. Also on today’s show: how commission-free investing can affect your wallet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Turn Around: Facebook Updates, Teachers Strike, Bird Alerts
It’s October 23rd. Today, we Skimm’d This: Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has been in the news a lot recently, and today he was in the hot seat on Capitol Hill. He faced tough questions about political accounts, political ads and the company’s jump into finance. We’ll break down how Zuckerberg and Facebook are trying to stay on the right side of lawmakers and US officials. Meanwhile, Chicago’s teachers are on strike for the fifth-consecutive school day. We’ll explain what’s behind their fight for better pay, more support staff, and smaller classes. Also on today’s show: rethinking Brexit’s scary-soon deadline, and how one bird is flying high again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Questionable: Ceasefire, Drone Deliveries, the ‘World’ Series
After five days, the ceasefire between Turkey and Kurdish fighters in Syria has come to an end. As the clock ran down, the Kurds said they had moved away from the border as promised, while Turkey’s president flew to Russia to strike a new deal. We’ll explain how the power dynamics in the region are starting to shift. Meanwhile, CVS and UPS are the latest companies to get into the drone delivery game. The future could be landing on your front porch soon. Also on today’s show: the origins of the World Series, and one emperor’s new groove. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Making Changes: Canadian Elections, Opioid Settlement, and Floppy Disks
It’s Election Day in Canada, and polls are showing a virtual tie between the two biggest parties. We’ll connect the dots between the issues party leaders want to talk about, and the scandals that have dominated the campaign cycle. Meanwhile, the first federal trial in the opioid epidemic was supposed to start today. We’ll explain why a new settlement put that court date on hold. Also on today’s show: one unexpected place is legalizing abortion and same-sex marriage, and another is finally getting rid of floppy disks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
New Vocab: Impeachment Latin, El Chapito, All-Female Spacewalks
The impeachment inquiry is forcing us to dust off our Latin dictionaries and look up “quid pro quo” and “emolumentum.” These words are coming up as we learn more about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, and his decision to host the G7 summit at one of his Florida resorts. Meanwhile, infamous drug lord El Chapo may be behind bars in the US, but his Sinaloa Cartel is back in the news after battling with Mexican security forces yesterday. Also on today’s show: a message for anyone undergoing cancer treatments, and one giant leap for womankind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Let's Make a Deal: Brexit, Syria Ceasefire, Auto Worker Strike
With just days to go before a Brexit deadline, UK and EU leaders shook hands on a new withdrawal agreement today. But that hardly means a Halloween Brexit is guaranteed. We’ll explain what could happen when British lawmakers vote on the deal on Saturday. Meanwhile, US pressure on Turkey to halt fighting in Syria appeared to pay off today, as Turkey agreed to a ceasefire to spare US-allied Kurdish fighters. Also on today’s show: how a picket line update could affect you, and something that happened in Vegas that maybe shouldn’t stay there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Getting Involved: Russia in Turkey, Hong Kong Solidarity, and Good Samaritans
Russian and Syrian troops swooped into parts of northern Syria this week, just days after US troops pulled out. Given the history between Russia and Syria this isn’t much of a surprise, but it could still have a big impact on the future of the ongoing Syrian civil war. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s leader tried to deliver her ‘state of the union’ speech today, only to have opposition lawmakers shout her off the stage. Now, she’s facing fresh pushback from across the Pacific – in the US Congress. Also on today’s show: Ronan Farrow opens up on the process of reporting the Harvey Weinstein story, and one good Samaritan's clever move to help return a wallet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Drawing Lines: DC Depositions, Racism in Sports, Amazing Authors
Three senior US officials have answered questions from House lawmakers in recent days, even as the White House has pushed to limit or block officials from complying with an ongoing impeachment probe. We’ll explain how Marie Yovanovitch, Fiona Hall, and George Kent fit into the investigation of President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. Meanwhile, the sports world is up in arms after players on England’s men’s national soccer team were targeted with racial slurs at a match in Bulgaria. We’ll look at the ways sports officials are trying to rid hate from the game. Also on today’s show: good news for sleepy California teens, and the Booker Prize makes a big exception for two exceptional women. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Law of the Land: Previewing the Supreme Court’s Big Year Ahead
The Supreme Court got back to work this week for a potentially historic term. The court’s reinforced conservative majority is expected to dish out big rulings on cases concerning abortion, immigration policy and maybe even Obamacare. We’ll break down how the court’s changed in recent years, the cases it’s planning to take on and how Chief Justice John Roberts could get roped into DC’s other big political drama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Not Done Yet: Turkey’s Syria Invasion, Climate Activism, Long Commutes
Turkey launched an attack on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria this week, bringing violence to a region where thousands of ISIS fighters are held in makeshift prisons. We’ll explain how the international community is reacting to the risk that those terrorists could escape. Meanwhile, climate activists are embracing new and diverse tactics to make their voices heard. We’ll look at the Extinction Rebellion’s disruptive tactics and a new climate lawsuit in Alaska. Also on today’s show: Americans’ average commute time is longer than ever, and Sesame Street teaches an important lesson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Power Struggles: Trump vs. Congress, Fighting Fires, Lithium Batteries
The White House’s refusal to cooperate with an impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives is setting the stage for a constitutional crisis. We’ll look at what a constitutional crisis actually means, and how Congress could respond here. Meanwhile, protests are going down in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. We’ll take you on a whirlwind tour of the latest demonstrations. Also on today’s show: hundreds of thousands of Californians are finding themselves in the dark, and the inventors of the lithium battery get their 15 minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On Watch: Chinese Surveillance Companies, Discrimination, The Cosmos
The US government is taking names. The Commerce Department says its adding 28 Chinese companies to a trade blacklist. We’ll connect the dots on what this has to do with reported human rights violations in China, and what it could mean for the ongoing US-China trade war. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is back on the bench. The Supremes heard two big cases today that could affect millions of LGBTQ-plus workers across the country. Also on today’s show: millennials want to talk about mental health at work, and the latest Nobel Prize award is out of this world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ready for Battle: Turkey in Syria, Trump's Taxes, Red Blood Cells
Democrats and Republicans are speaking out against the surprising pullback of US troops from northern Syria, saying the Kurdish forces that helped defeat the Islamic State could be at risk. We’ll explain the pushback Trump’s big move is facing on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile: efforts to keep President Trump’s tax returns a secret hit a legal snag on Monday. We’ll survey the pressure he’s under to make the documents public. Also on today’s show: Millennial investment habits and how the secret life of red blood cells could offer clues about treating cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Unmasked: Ukraine Texts, Hong Kong Protesters, and Dino Bones
The former US special envoy to Ukraine has handed over some of his texts as evidence in the House’s impeachment inquiry into President Trump. And now Trump is pulling China into the action, too. Meanwhile, protests in Hong Kong got kicked up a notch. The region’s leader invoked an old law to ban people from wearing masks while protesting. Turns out: there’s history here. Also on today’s show: Haiti’s president is facing some heat, and a dinosaur makes a surprise appearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Remedies: Injection Sites, Wine and Cheese Tariffs, and IPO Woes
A federal judge just gave a boost to supervised injection sites, saying a clinic in Philadelphia doesn’t violate drug laws. Activists say the ruling could mark a turning point in the fight to reduce drug overdoses. Meanwhile, Swiss cheese and French wine just got dragged into a US-EU trade spat that’s actually about … airplanes. We’ll connect the dots. Also on today’s show: we’ll break down the rough year for IPOs, and how one adventurous eagle is documenting glacial melt in the Alps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices