Latest Episodes
Are We There Yet? When to Expect a COVID Vaccine
October 16, 2020
- 26:15
Research teams from around the world have been hard at work on a COVID-19 vaccine for more than six months. But the big question still...
Skimm Special, Part 3: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets
October 12, 2020
- 12:09
Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms. On...
Whoa, We’re Halfway … Where?
October 9, 2020
- 29:54
It’s been a week since President Trump announced he’d tested positive for COVID-19. We’ll give you an update on his condition and how...
About The Show
“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 Friday morning.
More Episodes
Are We There Yet? When to Expect a COVID Vaccine
October 16, 2020
- 26:15
Research teams from around the world have been hard at work on a COVID-19 vaccine for more than six months. But the big question still...
Skimm Special, Part 3: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets
October 12, 2020
- 12:09
Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms. On...
Whoa, We’re Halfway … Where?
October 9, 2020
- 29:54
It’s been a week since President Trump announced he’d tested positive for COVID-19. We’ll give you an update on his condition and how...
Skimm Special, Part 2: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets
October 5, 2020
- 12:36
Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms. On...
Special Update: President Trump Tests Positive for COVID-19
October 2, 2020
- 05:57
President Donald Trump announced Friday morning that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. The news has already...
Tug of War: The Future of the Supreme Court
October 2, 2020
- 27:08
The President and First Lady have tested positive for COVID-19. We've got the latest on that developing story in this morning's Daily...
Skimm Special, Part 1: COVID, Women, and Their Wallets
September 28, 2020
- 13:05
Over the last few months, most of us have faced some sort of COVID-related lifestyle changes that have disrupted our everyday norms....
...Ready For It?: Voting Season is Here
September 25, 2020
- 30:17
As the nation mourns the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her death leaves a vacancy on the Supreme Court that Republicans are eager to fill...
Clearing the Air: Making Sense of the West Coast Wildfires
September 18, 2020
- 30:01
The saga over TikTok is back in the headlines this week. The Chinese-owned social platform is desperately looking for a match before...
Back to School: C for Confusion
September 11, 2020
- 17:02
President Trump is in the hot seat this week regarding COVID-19. A new book - and some audio recordings - reveal him acknowledging the...
A Tale of Two Housing Markets
September 4, 2020
- 26:35
All eyes were on President Trump this week as he visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake was shot last month. The shooting...
Movements Bigger than Fear: Kenosha and Belarus
August 28, 2020
- 24:41
Cellphone video of the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin police has reignited Black Lives Matter protests around the...
March, March: How The Fight For Suffrage Still Lives On
August 21, 2020
- 22:44
This week’s fastest developing story… is all about snail mail. That’s right. Some controversial new changes at the US Postal Service are...
Skimm Special: Quarantine Memories Worth Keeping
August 16, 2020
- 10:21
Where were you when heard the country was in a national emergency because of COVID-19? If you can remember where you were, down to what...
Breaking With Convention: Why This Year’s Democratic And Republican Conventions Are Making History
August 14, 2020
- 24:08
The Democratic and Republican national conventions typically represent a major moment in the lead up to an election. But this year - you...
Gym, Class...COVID test?: How Colleges Are Getting Students Back To Class
August 7, 2020
- 17:43
It’s August. Which usually means college students are heading back for the fall semester. But this year, back-to-school tailgates and...
Escalation Nation: Federal Troops in Portland Have Other Cities on Edge
July 31, 2020
- 20:31
At the start of July, in an effort to protect federal monuments and buildings, President Trump started deploying federal agents to...
Against The Clock: What A New Stimulus Package Could Mean For You
July 24, 2020
- 17:02
Congress is back in session. And the major topic up for discussion: another economic stimulus package. Some big deadlines are coming up...
Varsity Blues: Why Everyone’s Talking About 'Back to School'
July 17, 2020
- 18:35
Even though it's the middle of summer, all eyes are on the fall. Specifically, how schools are supposed to reopen in the middle of a...
“In The Bubble”: How COVID-19 is Changing Sports
July 10, 2020
- 29:56
Now that you’ve made it through your Netflix queue, you might be wondering when sports are coming back. After sports leagues postponed...
Voting From Home: How COVID-19 is Changing The Vote
July 3, 2020
- 21:59
In some states, primary voting during COVID-19 has been off to a rocky start. Long lines and crowds at the polls aren’t great for social...
“Mask Girl Summer”
June 26, 2020
- 17:46
As the number of new COVID-19 cases rises in some states, the debate continues about what role the government should play in helping...
Monumental Change: The Fight To Take Down Confederate Symbols In the US
June 19, 2020
- 17:55
In recent weeks, there’s been a renewed push to remove symbols of the Confederacy: including flags, statues and the names of some...
“Different Things To Different People”: How Calls to ‘Defund the Police’ Could Play Out
June 12, 2020
- 21:36
As protests continue in the US, some demonstrators are now calling to ‘defund the police.’ And those calls are already having an impact....
“A Stopgap for a Much Larger Problem”: What Police Reform Could Look Like
June 5, 2020
- 27:56
People across the US have flooded into the streets to protest police violence against black Americans. We’ll break down some of the...
‘Female-Led Recession’: How Economists Think Unemployment Will Impact Women and Minorities
May 29, 2020
- 26:53
As of this week, one in four US workers has filed for unemployment benefits. But economists say the historic numbers don’t tell the...
More To Come: What Experts Say Congress Should Focus On
May 22, 2020
- 24:60
Back in March, Congress passed a historic $2 trillion stimulus bill that reached millions of Americans. You may have received a check in...
Not So Fast: Creating A COVID-19 Vaccine Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint
May 15, 2020
- 25:09
The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is underway. But don’t hold your breath. This race could take years. We’ll tell you why, and what’s...
The Bigger Picture: Beyond The Record Unemployment Rate
May 8, 2020
- 12:14
The CDC has been working on new guidelines for how states should start to reopen. But the White House is putting them on ice and telling...
Putting on the Pressure: Ahmaud Arbery’s Death Sparks Public Outcry
May 7, 2020
- 10:02
The latest unemployment numbers are in, and no surprise: they’re not very good. We’ll explain why -- despite all the bad economic news...
A First For Everything: The Supreme Court Literally Phones It In
May 6, 2020
- 09:57
The White House coronavirus task force is getting a makeover. Sort of. We’ll explain what today’s change-up is all about and how it...
Skimm Special: COVID-19 and Climate Change (Rebroadcast)
May 5, 2020
- 18:38
This is a rebroadcast of our Skimm Special that originally aired on April 18th. We’ll be back tomorrow with new episodes.Across the...
At the Stroke of Midnight: What Happens When Federal Stay-at-Home Guidelines End?
April 30, 2020
- 10:28
Federal stay-at-home guidelines are officially expiring tonight. But since it’s states that call the shots on reopening, not much is...
Turn Down For...Months: Falling US GDP Expected to Keep Dropping
April 29, 2020
- 09:22
We knew the economy wasn’t doing well. But a new report out today shows us just how bad it really is. We’ll dive into what ‘gross...
Fasten Your...Masks?: First US Airline to Require Face Coverings
April 28, 2020
- 10:30
The White House released new guidelines for how states should ramp-up their testing programs. We’ll explain how this could impact your...
All The Rage: Antibody Tests Are ‘In’ But Do They Work?
April 27, 2020
- 10:16
We’re starting to learn more about COVID-19 antibody testing. But these tests might not be ready for primetime yet. We’ll explain what...
Million Dollar Question: How Many of us Have Had COVID-19?
April 24, 2020
- 10:46
President Trump signed the bill to re-up the Paycheck Protection Program. But: there might be another snag. We’ll dive into why it still...
Business, Unusual: Decoding Wall Street’s Unemployment Warnings
April 23, 2020
- 09:18
The House of Representatives is expected to pass another major stimulus bill to get more money into the hands of small businesses. We’ll...
Only as Good as the Data: Newly Discovered Death Complicates COVID-19 Timeline
April 22, 2020
- 10:38
Officials say the first known death from COVID-19 in the US happened weeks earlier than they realized. We’ll tell you what that might...
Time for a Refresh: Small Business Relief Bill To Get a Vote
April 21, 2020
- 10:00
Last night, President Trump announced he’ll sign an executive order to suspend immigration into the US. But the administration has...
Low Lows: Oil Prices Go Negative For First Time
April 20, 2020
- 10:31
Most public health experts agree: we need more testing to start lifting stay-at-home orders. But in the US, officials disagree on how to...
Skimm Special: COVID-19 and Climate Change
April 18, 2020
- 18:38
Across the world, economies have essentially been on pause due to COVID-19. The unintended consequence? A significant decrease in air...
That’s (Not) an Order: States Have Final Say About New White House Guidelines
April 17, 2020
- 09:07
The White House has new advice for states that might want to lift their stay-at-home orders. We’ll tell you what these new guidelines...
A Trend Everyone Hates: Unemployment Rises by the Millions (Again)
April 16, 2020
- 11:21
For the fourth week in a row, US unemployment claims have risen by the millions. We’ll explain what Congress is doing to try to curb...
Your Shopping Cart Misses You: Retail Has One of its Worst Months Ever
April 15, 2020
- 09:58
A new report from the US Commerce Department says shopping carts across America are way emptier than usual. We’ll tell you what a drop...
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work?: States Unite to Coordinate COVID-19 Response
April 14, 2020
- 09:54
States are teaming up to figure out how and when to lift their stay-at-home orders. We’ll explain why that’s causing tension with the...
The List Goes On and On: Can “Contact Tracing” Help Get us Back to Normal Life?
April 13, 2020
- 12:02
There’s been a lot of talk lately about when it’s OK to ‘reopen the economy.’ Public health experts say one thing that could get us to...
Jump in Line: As Unemployment Grows, States Struggle to Keep Up
April 9, 2020
- 11:51
This week’s new unemployment numbers are in, and things still aren’t good. We’ll look at what states are doing to keep up with the...
Numbers Talk: How the Pandemic is Affecting African Americans
April 8, 2020
- 12:26
We’re seeing clearer trends that black Americans may be at disproportionately higher risk of falling ill and dying from COVID-19. We’ll...
Odd One Out: Wisconsin Votes IRL During Pandemic
April 7, 2020
- 12:48
Voters are heading to the polls to cast their ballots in the Wisconsin primary despite orders from the governor to stay home. We’ll dive...
Rough Road Ahead: Are Hospitals Ready for This Week?
April 6, 2020
- 14:42
Health officials are warning that this will be an especially tough week. Are hospitals ready? A new federal report gives us an...
Time for a Check-Up: Should Everyone Wear A Mask?
April 3, 2020
- 14:11
When news broke that COVID-19 had hit the US, many of us were told not to wear masks unless we were sick. Now the US government is...
The Wrong Kind of Stunning: 6.6M Americans File for Unemployment
April 2, 2020
- 15:39
We woke up this morning to some record-breaking unemployment numbers — as huge as they are, they may not even be showing the full...
A Few Very Bad Weeks: Forecasting COVID-19 in the US
April 1, 2020
- 11:47
The US intelligence community is reportedly warning that China hid key info about the severity of its COVID-19 outbreak. We’ll walk you...
COVID-180°: Convention Centers and Parks Become Hospitals
March 31, 2020
- 13:15
A US Navy Captain is pleading for help containing a COVID-19 outbreak onboard an American aircraft carrier in Guam. We’ll explain why...
Strike Now, Shop Later: Delivery Workers Want More Pay for More Risk
March 30, 2020
- 14:14
Grocery delivery workers went on strike today. We’ll explain how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the delivery industry and how...
Skimm Special: Equal Pay
March 28, 2020
- 22:32
It’s 2020 and women’s median earnings are about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. Cool cool. That’s known as the gender pay gap....
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The COVID-19 Stimulus Package
March 27, 2020
- 10:22
President Trump just signed the most expensive relief bill in US history, but it wasn’t exactly a cakewalk. We explain the drama that...
3.3 Million Americans File for Unemployment: Is Help on the Way?
March 26, 2020
- 15:50
The latest US unemployment numbers are in. They’re historic, and not in a good way. We’ll break down the data and look at how Congress...
A Really Big Deal: Inside Congress’ COVID-19 Relief Bill
March 25, 2020
- 14:16
Senate leaders say they’ve reached a historic deal to help Americans and American businesses deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19....
Not Playing Games: 2020 Summer Olympics Postponed
March 24, 2020
- 13:50
The 2020 Summer Olympics won’t be happening in summer 2020 anymore. We’ll explain how the decision to postpone the Olympics could impact...
Two Strikes: The Senate’s Economic Stimulus Bill
March 23, 2020
- 11:34
The Senate is divided over a bill that’s supposed to help Americans deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19. We’ll tell you the...
Don’t Panic! At the Supermarket: Understanding the Supply Chain
March 20, 2020
- 15:33
The US is sealing itself off from its neighbors, with big restrictions on the Mexico and Canada borders. We’ll explain why, and take a...
Mission Zero: China’s Big COVID-19 Milestone
March 19, 2020
- 10:19
China just reported no new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases for the first time since the outbreak began. We’ll explain why that’s...
Not All Heroes Wear Capes: Health Workers Brace for COVID-19
March 18, 2020
- 13:31
Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll dive into the risks they’re facing as they work around the...
This is New: Voting During a Pandemic
March 17, 2020
- 11:54
The COVID-19 caseload in the US topped 5,000 today, but Florida, Illinois and Arizona kept calm and carried on with primary voting....
Taking Shape: The Fed’s Plan to Stabilize the Economy
March 16, 2020
- 13:14
The Federal Reserve dusted off its Great Recession playbook on Sunday to find ways to boost the US economy. It cut interest rates to...
Results Pending: The Plan to Increase COVID-19 Testing
March 13, 2020
- 14:14
President Trump declared a national emergency today over the COVID-19 outbreak, and said more Americans should be able to get tested...
Hold The Plane: The US Preps for COVID-19
March 12, 2020
- 13:50
Last night President Trump addressed the nation to explain how the US is responding to COVID-19. He talked up the importance of keeping...
Let’s Touch Base: Why Working From Home Doesn’t Work For All
March 11, 2020
- 12:30
COVID-19 is now officially a pandemic. But as more and more companies are telling their employees to work from home, many people don’t...
Going the Distance: Italy on Lockdown Mode Over COVID-19
March 10, 2020
- 12:51
Italians woke up this morning under a nationwide quarantine as the country attempts to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused...
Pump the Brakes: The Stock Market and COVID-19
March 9, 2020
- 14:01
The markets took a nosedive today. And in response, Wall Street found the brakes and stepped on them. We’ll explain what happened and...
When Your Side Hustle is Free: Female Unpaid Labor
March 6, 2020
- 14:48
The Supreme Court heard its first major case on abortion access with a strong new conservative majority on the bench. We’ll dive into...
Warren Has a Plan… To Find The Nearest Exit
March 5, 2020
- 14:24
Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Her next big plan is TBD. Meanwhile, countries...
And Then There Were Two-ish: Democratic Field Narrows
March 4, 2020
- 13:23
With Super Tuesday behind us and nearly all the results in, the 2020 Democratic presidential field is narrowing even more. We’ll explain...
Super-Sized: Primary Day, COVID-19’s Olympics Impact
March 3, 2020
- 13:33
It’s Super Tuesday. The biggest primary day so far where voters in 14 states plus American Samoa cast their ballots to pick their...
Not a Test: Why COVID-19 Cases Could Spike
March 2, 2020
- 11:59
At least six people in the state of Washington have died from COVID-19. As the US government ramps up testing efforts, experts warn to...
In the Red: The COVID-19 Market Downturn
February 28, 2020
- 12:43
This week, the stock market has been feeling the pain of COVID-19. We’ll look at what the current economic impact is and what a ‘market...
Scotland’s Quest to End ‘Period Poverty’
February 27, 2020
- 12:53
Scotland is about to make your ‘time of the month’ a lot easier on your wallet. It will soon become the first country to make tampons...
COVID-19: Coming to a Community Near You?
February 26, 2020
- 12:40
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning Americans to prepare for COVID-19 to spread within the US. (That’s the new...
Out Front: Bernie Sanders Leads the Pack
February 25, 2020
- 11:50
Must feel good to be first. Bernie Sanders has achieved front-runner status in the 2020 Democratic primary. How is that possible after...
Verdict Reached: The Harvey Weinstein Trial
February 24, 2020
- 13:39
A jury in New York has found Harvey Weinstein guilty of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual assault. He could face more...
Easy as A, B, Cease: A US-Taliban Truce?
February 21, 2020
- 12:33
The US and the Taliban have agreed to a reduction of violence for the next seven days. It’s kinda like a test run to see if they can put...
Not a Quiet Place: Nondisclosure Agreements in the #MeToo Era
February 20, 2020
- 13:13
Nondisclosure agreements were a big talker at last night’s democratic presidential debate. We’ll dive into what former New York City...
Place Your Bets: Nevada’s Culinary Union and Medicare for All
February 19, 2020
- 11:36
Medicare for All is likely to come up in tonight’s big Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas. But Nevada’s powerful Culinary Union...
Scout’s Honor: Why the Boy Scouts of America Filed for Bankruptcy
February 18, 2020
- 11:24
The Boy Scouts of America has officially filed for bankruptcy as it deals with an onslaught of sexual abuse lawsuits. We’ll dive into...
I’m Not Gonna Write You A Love Song: The US and Iran...and Switzerland?
February 14, 2020
- 10:19
As the coronavirus continues to spread, one of the affected groups has been healthcare workers on the frontlines in China. We’ll dive...
Party in the USA: Attorney General Bill Barr RSVP’s Yes
February 13, 2020
- 13:22
Attorney General William Barr has RSVP’d to a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee. And Dems have a lot of things they want to ask...
Juan Guaidó: Started From the Bottom, Now We’re Here
February 12, 2020
- 10:02
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is back home after a whirlwind trip throughout Europe and the US to drum up support for his...
Merger Story: The New T-Mobile
February 11, 2020
- 12:01
Today, after years of lawsuits and red tape, a federal judge approved the merger of wireless network giants T-Mobile and Sprint. We dive...
Sticking Points: Budget Plans, Cruise Ship Quarantine, CROWN Act
February 10, 2020
- 12:58
Today, the Trump administration unveiled its budget proposal for 2021. But since Congress holds the purse strings and Democrats have the...
In the Spotlight: Dem Debate Preview, Weinstein Trial, Oscars
February 7, 2020
- 13:11
It’s Friday night, and some 2020 democratic candidates will be spending theirs in...New Hampshire for the eighth democratic debate....
Not a Joke: More Investigations, Mask Shortages, Traffic as Art
February 6, 2020
- 11:18
President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is over, but that’s not the end of political investigations in 2020. We’ll explain what info...
Now What?: Impeachment’s Final Act, ERA, ‘Cheer’
February 5, 2020
- 13:10
President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial has come to an end. So, what happens now? Meanwhile, if you spotted members of Congress last...
Head-Scratching: Caucus Confusion, Censure, Lonesome George
February 4, 2020
- 13:29
A day after the Iowa Democratic Caucus, we’re told results are still just around the corner. But the damage from a historic...
Huddle Up: Iowa Caucuses, Impeachment Check-in, Shakira Memes
February 3, 2020
- 12:16
The 2020 primary season kicks off tonight with the Iowa caucuses. But how does a caucus actually work – and why does Iowa get so much...
It’s Been a Long Road: Brexit Day, Impeachment Trial, Super Bowl Firsts
January 31, 2020
- 10:26
After more than three years, Brexit is actually happening. We’ll break down what’s next for the UK. Spoiler: there’s still a long road...
This Is a Lot: Coronavirus Updates, Quid Pro Quo, and Locust Invaders
January 30, 2020
- 12:53
The World Health Organization says that the coronavirus outbreak is a global public health emergency. We’ll break down what this means...
Back to School: Senate Questions, Tobacco Report Card, Negotiations
January 29, 2020
- 11:53
Now that opening arguments have wrapped up in the Senate impeachment trial, it’s time for lawmakers to ask the questions. We’ll break...
Make-or-Break Moment: Trump Defense, ‘Deal of the Century,’ Iowa Voting
January 28, 2020
- 13:21
President Trump’s defense lawyers have wrapped up opening arguments. We’ll break down the case they made, and what’s next for the Senate...
Where It Happened: Bolton Leak, Rival Meetings, Quarantine Update
January 27, 2020
- 12:06
President Trump’s defense team is launching into day two of their opening arguments at the Senate impeachment trial. But leaked excerpts...
Great Lengths: Democrats on the Mic, March for Life, Grammys Drama
January 24, 2020
- 13:06
House Democrats are wrapping up three days of opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. Before Trump’s...
Noble Intentions: Quarantines, Genocide Prevention, Profit-Sharing
January 23, 2020
- 10:33
China is turning to massive quarantines to stop the spread of coronavirus. Now, millions are impacted as transportation comes to a halt...
Check Up: Coronavirus, Impeachment Managers, Negotiating
January 22, 2020
- 12:36
Hundreds of people have been infected by a virus that originated in China. Now, a case has been diagnosed in the US, too. We’ll explain...
All Talk: Davos, Impeachment Trial Rules, Big Endorsement
January 21, 2020
- 13:19
The world’s biggest movers and shakers are packing up their skis and heading to a place called Davos in the Swiss Alps. That’s right:...
Warning Signs: Media Access, Privacy Please, China’s Birth Rate
January 17, 2020
- 10:56
All eyes are on the Senate in the run up to next week’s impeachment trial. But new rules could make it difficult, or even impossible, to...
Take An Oath: Impeachment Trial, New Russian PM, Prohibition
January 16, 2020
- 13:11
Something new started today: the impeachment trial of the President of the United States. We’ll explain how a one-man media circus gave...
Back in Business: Impeachment, US-China Trade, Electable Ladies
January 15, 2020
- 12:25
The “i” word is back in the headlines after the House of Representatives sent articles of impeachment to the Senate today. Did Speaker...
Showdown: DOJ vs Apple, Democratic Debate, Longest Rap
January 14, 2020
- 12:15
One month after a deadly shooting in Florida, the Justice Department is still trying to figure out what happened. But there’s one thing...
Damage Control: Protests in Iran, Aussie Bushfires, Royal Shake-Ups
January 13, 2020
- 13:44
Iran is suddenly on the defensive, facing critics inside and outside the country after it admitted to shooting down a passenger plane...
What Now?: Plane Crash Investigation, Puerto Rico, Space Explorers
January 10, 2020
- 12:25
Days after a deadly plane crash in Iran, questions remain over what exactly happened. We’ll explain why major media outlets and western...
Skimm Special: Harry and Meghan
January 10, 2020
- 10:14
First there was Brexit, now there’s Megxit. If you checked Instagram (or just the internet) this week, you probably saw the news that...
Let’s Negotiate: War Powers, Impact Reports, Pay Raises
January 9, 2020
- 13:11
Members of Congress had a heated debate today over limiting President Trump’s ability to start a war with Iran. We’ll explain who holds...
Where To?: Iran-US Tensions, Great Escapes, ‘Megxit’
January 8, 2020
- 13:49
At times this week, it looked like the US and Iran were heading toward an all-out war. And those concerns only intensified last night...
Another Look: The US in Iraq, Deepfakes, Christmas Trees
January 7, 2020
- 11:52
The latest drama between the US and Iran is catching Iraq in the crossfire. After a deadly US drone strike in Iraq, Iraq’s parliament...
Heating Up: Iran Fallout, Weinstein Trial, Australia Fires
January 6, 2020
- 12:51
The year is off to a rocky start for the US and Iran. Last week, the US killed a top Iranian general linked to attacks on hundreds of...
Sea Changes: Impeachment, Climate Crisis, Anti-Austerity Protests
January 3, 2020
- 11:36
Last year brought with it some big stories about change - stories that we’ll probably see more of in 2020. So before we ring in the new...
Power Players: The People Who Shaped 2019
December 30, 2019
- 13:17
When the history books are written, we think a few names from 2019 will stand out. Greta Thunberg helped make climate change protests...
Money Moves: Trade War, Interest Rates, Unemployment Rate
December 27, 2019
- 10:58
With New Year's resolutions right around the corner, we want to talk about money. If you’re looking to make a fresh start, knowledge is...
And the most complicated story of 2019 was...
December 23, 2019
- 12:06
We asked our listeners which 2019 story you still want explained. At the top of the list: Brexit. Totally fair. British voters chose to...
Making the Cut: Voter Purges, Impeachment Trial, Brexit
December 20, 2019
- 12:12
Some election officials are making a list, checking it twice – and cutting hundreds of thousands of people from their voter registration...
Taxation and Representation: Obamacare in Limbo, Debate Diversity, and Wakanda
December 19, 2019
- 12:39
The future of Obamacare is limbo again, after a federal court struck down the individual mandate as unconstitutional. We’ll explain how...
The Rest is History: Impeachment Vote, Teen Vaping, Missy Robbins
December 18, 2019
- 12:32
Today the House of Representatives prepared to impeach a President of the United States for the third time in US history. The...
Big Deals: Budget Breakthroughs, Boeing, Happy Birthday Simpsons
December 17, 2019
- 11:55
The House just passed a budget bill to fund the federal government through next September. The budget was only possible after lots of...
Keep On Keepin’ On: Trade Deals, Protests in India, Climate Talks
December 16, 2019
- 12:27
The Trump administration reached two blockbuster trade deals last week – or so we thought. Turns out there are still some big question...
Two Roads Diverge: Late-Night Impeachment Quarrels, Brexit’s Open Road
December 13, 2019
- 14:51
Today the House Judiciary Committee gave the go-ahead for a full House vote on impeachment, but the process was anything but tidy....
Now Boarding: Trade Courts, Parental Leave, Ugly Sweaters
December 12, 2019
- 13:42
The World Trade Organization’s top court stopped functioning this week after the US blocked the appointment of new judges. That means...
Upgrades: New NAFTA, Executive Order, Campaign Transparency
December 11, 2019
- 14:04
People on both sides of the aisle in DC might finally be on the same page about something: a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada....
High Crimes: Hearings at the Hague, Articles in the House, and Shifty DNA
December 10, 2019
- 13:39
The government of Myanmar is in court this week over allegations of genocide, and the actions of the country’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning...
One More Time: Another Russia Report, Olympic Bans, Hong Kong Protests
December 9, 2019
- 14:08
If you thought you were done hearing about Russian interference in the 2016 election – think again. The Justice Department Inspector...
Going Viral: Measles in Samoa, Uber Safety Data, Yuletide Insults
December 6, 2019
- 13:27
Health officials in the island nation of Samoa are fighting a deadly measles outbreak. We’ll explain why anti-vaxxers in Samoa and in...
Look Back in Anger: Abuse Claims, Pension Strikes, Talkative Robots
December 5, 2019
- 13:03
A handful of states are passing laws to help victims of child sexual abuse seek justice. We’ll explain why one new law in New Jersey...
I Fought the Law: Impeachment, Hospital Bills, Salon Chemicals
December 4, 2019
- 13:39
The impeachment inquiry into President Trump jumped to a new House committee today, and it’s starting to feel a bit like law school....
You Get What You Give: Champagne Tariffs, Giving Tuesday, Rapinoe
December 3, 2019
- 13:03
President Trump is handing out tariffs left and right, and countries aren’t psyched about it. The latest target? French champagne, among...
Feuding: NATO Summit, Gun Rights, Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday
December 2, 2019
- 12:49
The UK is hosting a big NATO summit this week to celebrate the alliance’s 70th birthday. But budget fights and membership debates could...
What’s Going On: Mass Imprisonment in China, Impeachment Drama, ‘Dear Santa’
November 26, 2019
- 13:42
Newly-leaked government documents are pulling back the curtain on China’s mass detention of ethnic minorities. We’ll get into how the...
Following: Navy Secretary Out, Michael Bloomberg, Wild Turkey
November 25, 2019
- 12:26
The Secretary of the Navy is out. We’ll connect the dots between President Trump’s controversial pardons of service members and what...
Can’t Let It Go: Israeli Political Drama, Debating Pot, ‘Let It Go’ 2.0
November 22, 2019
- 13:10
It was a busy week in Israeli politics, between a US announcement on West Bank settlements and talk of new elections next year. Then:...
Bring Da Ruckus: Impeachment Hearings, Paid Family Leave, Throwback Theme Park
November 21, 2019
- 14:30
Today was the last day of scheduled impeachment hearings, and we heard from two officials who had front row seats to events at the...
We Hear You: Impeachment, Iran Protests, Grammy Noms
November 20, 2019
- 13:52
The US ambassador to the European Union walked into the impeachment inquiry hearing this morning, and threw just about everybody under...
Neverending Story: Impeachment Hearings, Savvy Scammers, OK Boomer
November 19, 2019
- 11:52
Lawmakers sat for a LONG time today during marathon impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill. Today we finally heard from officials who...
Pardon Me?: War Crimes, Hong Kong Schools, Bye Bye Bei Bei
November 18, 2019
- 13:31
President Trump pardoned Army officers accused of war crimes, and the decision has sparked a heated debate over whether this is a good...
Escalating: Impeachment Drama, Bill Blockers, People-Movers
November 15, 2019
- 12:35
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified in the ongoing impeachment hearings today. She described how her...
Float On: US-Ukraine Relations, Google Cache, Swimming Cows
November 14, 2019
- 12:22
Thanks to the ongoing impeachment inquiry, we’re hearing about Ukraine a lot lately. Turns out: the US and Ukraine have a history. We’ll...
Brace Yourself: Impeachment Hearings, Greta at Sea, Really Old Booze
November 13, 2019
- 13:46
The impeachment inquiry hearings into President Trump finally went public today. There was the usual partisan drama, but also some...
Out in the Cold: DACA, Bolivia’s President, Arctic Air
November 12, 2019
- 12:31
The Supreme Court heard one of the biggest cases of the term: whether the Trump admin can end DACA. That’s the Deferred Action for...
Dark and Stormy: Hong Kong Protests, Concussion Research, Impeachment Smells
November 8, 2019
- 12:16
The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong took a dark turn this week, amid the death of a young student and two violent attacks on...
Hold Up: The US v. Gilead, ‘Recanvassing,’ Buying a House
November 7, 2019
- 12:18
The US government is suing a major pharmaceutical company over its HIV prevention drugs. We’ll tell you why, and explain how it’s...
Brave New Worlds: Shadow Diplomacy, Cartel Violence, Voting Methods
November 6, 2019
- 11:48
The outlines of a power struggle between US diplomats and President Trump’s personal attorney are emerging out of transcripts from the...
One Day You're In: Paris Agreement, Election Day, Being 'Single'
November 5, 2019
- 12:28
The Trump administration formally told the United Nations that it’s pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, making the US the only...
Smoldering: PG&E’s Future, Iraq Protests, Party Houses
November 4, 2019
- 13:14
Firefighters are gradually putting out California’s wildfires, but the state’s big power company is just starting to feel the heat as...
Getting Started: 5G in China, Cystic Fibrosis Drug, NaNoWriMo
November 1, 2019
- 13:18
Earlier today, China turned on the fifth generation of super-fast Internet, AKA 5G. We’ll connect the dots between what the tech can do...
Spooktacular: Impeachment Rules, Twitter Ads, Dressed-Up Pets
October 31, 2019
- 11:32
The House of Representatives set the ground rules for its impeachment investigation into President Trump today. The next phase of the...
New Heights: Middle East Protests, Sea Levels, Phone Bills
October 30, 2019
- 12:18
Anti-government protests have erupted in Lebanon and Iraq. Young people are leading the charge, and are calling for major economic...
For the Record: The Armenian Genocide, Impeachment, Palladium
October 29, 2019
- 12:33
The US House of Representatives is taking a historic vote today to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915. We’ll break down why mass...
Say Goodbye?: ISIS Leader, Missouri Abortion Clinic, Phishing
October 28, 2019
- 13:57
The leader of ISIS died during a US military raid in Syria over the weekend. We’ll explain who Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was, and what his...
More Than Meets The Eye: Impeachment Inquiry, Chile Protests, TikTok
October 25, 2019
- 11:07
It’s been a busy week for the impeachment investigation into President Trump. Some key witnesses testified about the US-Ukraine...
Cancel It?: Student Loans, Revenge Porn, Trading Fees
October 24, 2019
- 12:29
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...
Turn Around: Facebook Updates, Teachers Strike, Bird Alerts
October 23, 2019
- 12:27
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...
Questionable: Ceasefire, Drone Deliveries, the ‘World’ Series
October 22, 2019
- 12:02
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...
Making Changes: Canadian Elections, Opioid Settlement, and Floppy Disks
October 21, 2019
- 13:28
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...
New Vocab: Impeachment Latin, El Chapito, All-Female Spacewalks
October 18, 2019
- 11:15
The impeachment inquiry is forcing us to dust off our Latin dictionaries and look up “quid pro quo” and “emolumentum.” These words are...
Let's Make a Deal: Brexit, Syria Ceasefire, Auto Worker Strike
October 17, 2019
- 11:31
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...
Getting Involved: Russia in Turkey, Hong Kong Solidarity, and Good Samaritans
October 16, 2019
- 12:10
Russian and Syrian troops swooped into parts of northern Syria this week, just days after US troops pulled out. Given the history...
Drawing Lines: DC Depositions, Racism in Sports, Amazing Authors
October 15, 2019
- 12:18
Three senior US officials have answered questions from House lawmakers in recent days, even as the White House has pushed to limit or...
The Law of the Land: Previewing the Supreme Court’s Big Year Ahead
October 11, 2019
- 12:46
The Supreme Court got back to work this week for a potentially historic term. The court’s reinforced conservative majority is expected...
Not Done Yet: Turkey’s Syria Invasion, Climate Activism, Long Commutes
October 10, 2019
- 12:42
Turkey launched an attack on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria this week, bringing violence to a region where thousands of ISIS...
Power Struggles: Trump vs. Congress, Fighting Fires, Lithium Batteries
October 9, 2019
- 13:25
The White House’s refusal to cooperate with an impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives is setting the stage for a...
On Watch: Chinese Surveillance Companies, Discrimination, The Cosmos
October 8, 2019
- 12:41
The US government is taking names. The Commerce Department says its adding 28 Chinese companies to a trade blacklist. We’ll connect the...
Ready for Battle: Turkey in Syria, Trump's Taxes, Red Blood Cells
October 7, 2019
- 12:12
Democrats and Republicans are speaking out against the surprising pullback of US troops from northern Syria, saying the Kurdish forces...
Unmasked: Ukraine Texts, Hong Kong Protesters, and Dino Bones
October 4, 2019
- 12:15
The former US special envoy to Ukraine has handed over some of his texts as evidence in the House’s impeachment inquiry into President...
Remedies: Injection Sites, Wine and Cheese Tariffs, and IPO Woes
October 3, 2019
- 12:42
A federal judge just gave a boost to supervised injection sites, saying a clinic in Philadelphia doesn’t violate drug laws. Activists...
Gettin' Fresh: Impeachment Inquiry, Boeing Whistleblower, Algae
October 2, 2019
- 11:31
House Democrats are ratcheting up the impeachment inquiry. And now, all eyes are on the State Department, which is trying very hard not...
Super-Massive: China's 70th, Global Banking, and Galactic Mysteries
October 1, 2019
- 13:03
Today marked 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the country threw a huge birthday party for itself....
Competing Interests: Refugee Crisis, Campaign Finances, Mortgage Rates
September 30, 2019
- 12:17
Four years after the European migrant crisis reached its peak, European leaders are being called on to once again to address a situation...
Time After Time: Egypt Protests, US Refugee Program, Landmines
September 27, 2019
- 13:25
Protesters tried to mobilize across Egypt today for a second week of anti-government demonstrations. But security forces were out in...
Power Moves: Whistleblower Complaint, Israeli Politics, and ‘Gini Index’
September 26, 2019
- 12:18
The mysterious whistleblower complaint everyone’s talking about...is finally public. So: we got lots of new details. And lawmakers in...
Call Me Maybe: Trump and Ukraine, Juul CEO, and 'Apply Thru'
September 25, 2019
- 13:35
It’s the phone call heard ‘round the world: the White House released what it says is a rough transcript of President Trump’s...
What Lies Beneath: UN Speeches, Brexit Ruling, Lost Continent
September 24, 2019
- 11:51
The UN General Assembly kicked into high gear today and President Trump urged world leaders to take a page out of his ‘America First’...
Words vs. Action: Trump and Ukraine, UN Climate Summit, and Retirement
September 23, 2019
- 13:45
It’s only Monday, but President Trump probably can’t wait for the weekend. A mysterious whistleblower complaint is still dominating the...
Balancing Act: Climate Strikes, Pacific Islands, and Japanese Whisky
September 20, 2019
- 13:20
The world was gripped by massive student-led climate strikes today. Some say the demonstrations were the largest climate protest in...
Step Up: Whistleblowers, Russian Protests, and the Washington Monument
September 19, 2019
- 13:24
A whistleblower is sending Washington into a tizzy today. The House Intelligence Committee is demanding information about a complaint...
New Normals: Tent Courts, Interest Rates, and ‘They’
September 18, 2019
- 13:24
The Trump Administration is unveiling new immigration courts that look a little different than what you might expect. They’re actually...
Making Waves: Auto Strikes, Impeachment Hearings, and Channel Swimming
September 17, 2019
- 13:16
Autoworkers across the country are joining the picket line in a strike against General Motors. They say the company needs to give them...
Awaiting Results: Israeli Elections, Saudi Oil, and Science Prizes
September 16, 2019
- 13:59
Israelis might be feeling a little déjà vu: they’re heading back to the polls tomorrow to vote for parliament for the second time this...
Now What: Gun Control, The Bahamas, and #MeToo
September 13, 2019
- 12:28
The top ten Democrats in the presidential primary faced off last night for their third debate, and three big ideas emerged from their...
Legal Speak: Terms of Impeachment, Opioid Settlement, and the Dem Debate
September 12, 2019
- 12:21
The House Judiciary Committee formalized its process for potentially impeaching President Trump. Everyone on Capitol Hill has something...
Making the Case: Gig Economy Reform and Canadian Elections
September 11, 2019
- 12:54
California lawmakers are making moves to reform how businesses treat their gig economy workers. Election season is underway, and Prime...
On the Market: John Bolton, NC Special Election, and New iPhones
September 10, 2019
- 12:44
White House National Security Advisor John Bolton is turning on his ‘out of office’ – for good. President Trump tweeted that he fired...
Back to Work: Gun Control Bills, Big Tech Investigations, and Volfefe
September 9, 2019
- 13:42
Congress is back to work after summer vacation. One big issue lawmakers could tackle? Gun control. It’s been a couple of decades since...
Spin-Off: Mortgage Giants, Hurricane Dorian, GOP Primaries
September 6, 2019
- 11:48
The Trump Administration wants to spin off Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as private companies. We’ve got the A to Z on Fannie and Freddie...
Deadlines: Iran Deal, Climate Crisis, NFL Kickoff
September 5, 2019
- 13:17
It’s almost the end of the week, and deadlines are looming – in Iran. They’re giving major players in Europe until tomorrow to help them...
Game-Changing: Brexit Lingo, Hong Kong Bill, and Cherokee Nation Delegate
September 4, 2019
- 12:32
‘Blimey’ isn’t the only British phrase being thrown around in the UK today. All kinds of parliamentary phrases have been flying as the...
At What Cost: Taliban Talks, China Tariffs, and a Very Long Cruise
September 3, 2019
- 12:54
US and Taliban negotiators are reportedly closing in on a deal that lead to a drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan. The deal could be a...
Out of Office: AI and Jobs, Hong Kong Arrests, and Pigs on the Run
August 30, 2019
- 12:57
Automation and artificial intelligence are supposed to make jobs easier, but sometimes they can take away jobs altogether. This Labor...
Lift Off: US Space Command, Vaping, ‘Planet’ Pluto
August 29, 2019
- 12:50
Today President Trump announced the lift-off of a new part of the military: the United States Space Command. We’ll explain what it might...
Incoming: UK Parliament Suspension, Hurricane Dorian, Greta Thunberg
August 28, 2019
- 12:24
Today UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked the Queen to suspend parliament, and she said she would. We’ll explain why this is a...
Reckoning: Opioid Rulings, Epstein, and Rescuing Rhinos
August 27, 2019
- 13:08
Johnson & Johnson was hit with a $572 million penalty for its role in fueling the opioid crisis in Oklahoma. The drug company says it...
Tiebreak: G7 Conclusion, GOP Challengers, and Althea Gibson
August 26, 2019
- 12:30
G7 leaders are heading home after their latest summit in France. We’ll take a look at three of the big issues they tried to tackle, and...
Cruel Summer: The Amazon, Beach-side Summits, and Taylor Swift
August 23, 2019
- 11:15
As fires continue to burn across the Amazon, Brazilan President Jair Bolsonaro has blamed NGOs for starting the fires and is picking...
Unraveling: Intel Sharing, Title X Funding, and Amazon Fires
August 22, 2019
- 11:42
Today, South Korea said it will stop sharing military intelligence with Japan. We’ll look at the reasons why, and examine the possible...
Indefinitely, Maybe: Brexit, Migrant Detention, and Robots
August 21, 2019
- 13:21
The UK’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew to Berlin this afternoon for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In a quick press...
Let’s Get Digital: Taxes, Texas, and College Football Rankings
August 20, 2019
- 12:36
France wants big tech firms to pay a 3 percent tax on profits they make in the country. We’ll explain why the companies are siding with...
Pride and Prejudice: Portland Protests, Open Arms, Humanitarian Day
August 19, 2019
- 12:18
Dueling protests by right-wing and anti-fascist groups in Portland, Oregon over the weekend are raising questions about the definition...
Done Talking: North Korea, Greenland, and Superdeep Diamonds
August 16, 2019
- 11:03
Today North Korea called off peace talks with South Korea and launched its sixth missile test in a month. We’ll examine when and why...
Keeping Track: Lead in the Water, Israel Visit Ban, and Greta Thunberg
August 15, 2019
- 13:01
Thousands of residents in Newark, NJ are grappling with a growing crisis over lead in drinking water. Officials are handing out bottled...
Huddled Masses: Green Cards, Abuse Victims, and Berlin Bees
August 14, 2019
- 14:30
The Trump administration is changing immigration rules to make it more difficult for welfare recipients to obtain green cards. We’ll...
Grounded: Hong Kong Protests, Cracker Plants, and Chlamydia Vaccine
August 13, 2019
- 12:47
Protesters and riot police clashed at Hong Kong’s International Airport today in ongoing demonstrations against the government. We’ll...
Burning Questions: Jeffrey Epstein, Russian Missiles, Endangered Species
August 12, 2019
- 12:29
Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide has left his accusers and the public demanding answers about why he was removed from suicide watch....
SPECIAL EPISODE: A Deep Dive Into Deepfakes
August 9, 2019
- 12:46
Imagine a computer downloading footage or photos of you from the internet and using them to create a video of you saying something...
Lay Of The Land: Climate Report, Immigration Raids, Iowa State Fair
August 8, 2019
- 11:29
The UN’s latest climate change report says the way we are using land is seriously damaging the planet. We dive into the main findings,...
Pressure Points: Venezuela Sanctions, Gun Laws, and "Impeachment"
August 7, 2019
- 12:34
The Trump admin still has issues with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro -- and it’s using new sanctions to try to squeeze him out of...
Language Matters: Mass Shootings, China Currency, and Toni Morrison
August 6, 2019
- 11:42
We’re still learning more about the two mass shootings that took place in Texas and Ohio over the weekend. Lawmakers are placing blame...
No More Words: Mass Shootings in US, Tensions in Kashmir, and Hong Kong Protests
August 5, 2019
- 12:18
This weekend in the US, there were two deadly mass shootings: one in Texas, and one in Ohio. They were less than 13 hours apart, and at...
Dark and Stormy: Nuclear Treaty, Trade, and Happy Hour
August 2, 2019
- 12:09
The US officially pulled out of a historic Cold War arms control deal today. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty helped the US...
Burden of Proof: Criminal Justice Reform, A$AP Rocky, and Robocalls
August 1, 2019
- 11:54
Onstage at last night’s democratic debate, candidates went after each other on their criminal justice records. Things got heated -- and...
Making The Most Of It: Medicare For All, Interest Rates, and Grasshoppers
July 31, 2019
- 12:34
Medicare for All was all the rage at last night’s democratic debate. And not necessarily in a good way. We’ll tell you why Dems are...
Keeping Watch: Dems Debate, Capital One Data Breach, and Robot Contacts
July 30, 2019
- 11:24
Live from Detroit, it’s round two of the 2020 democratic primary debates. You know the drill: ten candidates tonight, and ten more...
Next Level: Trump vs. Cities, John Ratcliffe and Greta Thunberg
July 29, 2019
- 11:15
This weekend President Trump unleashed a Twitter tirade against the city of Baltimore and Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings. Trump...
Tour de Force: Russia, OITNB and Cycling
July 26, 2019
- 11:33
Russia targeted U.S voting systems. Right, we’ve heard that before. From Robert Mueller, for example. He really wanted to talk about...
Not Messing Around: North Korea, The Death Penalty, Heatwave
July 25, 2019
- 11:45
North Korea is playing with fire – literally. Just a couple weeks after President Trump visited Kim Jong Un in North Korea and agreed to...
Digging deeper: Mueller Testifies, Facebook Settlement, and Self-Care Day
July 24, 2019
- 12:33
Today, Democrats and Republicans told former special counsel Robert Mueller: ‘have a seat - actually, have two.’ Mueller said he was...
Changes: UK Prime Minister, SNAP Benefits, and Wrestling
July 23, 2019
- 12:22
The UK has a new prime minister. Between dealing with Brexit and tensions with Iran, Boris Johnson has a long ‘to do’ list to tackle....
On The Rise: Tensions with Iran, Puerto Rico Protests and India's Moon Mission
July 22, 2019
- 10:40
Today, Iranian officials announced that they’ve broken up a CIA spy ring and that they’ve arrested 17 suspected spies. Iran’s claimed...
SPECIAL EPISODE: To The Moon And Back
July 19, 2019
- 13:27
Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the “giant leap for mankind.” You may have heard of it. On today’s episode, we break down the Apollo...
Alienated: US and Turkey, FaceApp, and Area 51
July 18, 2019
- 13:01
Turkey just ordered a new missile defense system from Russia. And now the US is telling Turkey: no F-35 fighter jets for you. Basically,...
On the Outs: Libra in Congress, Planned Parenthood, and Netflix
July 17, 2019
- 13:29
Today, the head of Facebook’s global cryptocurrency project got a bipartisan grilling from the House Financial Services Committee....
Transfer of Power: Asylum Rule, Ursula von der Leyen and Emmy Nominees
July 16, 2019
- 13:18
The Trump administration has issued a new rule that’ll mean most migrants heading to the US-Mexico border likely won’t be eligible for...
Doubling Down: Trump Tweets, Puerto Rico, and Prime Day Protests
July 15, 2019
- 13:00
Over the past few days, President Trump’s sent out a series of tweets about a group of “‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen.” He...
Incoming: Citizenship Data, ICE raids, and Tropical Storm Barry
July 12, 2019
- 11:59
President Donald Trump has dropped the idea of adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. But he says he has a back-up plan to...
Don’t @ Me: Social Media Summit, Student Loans, and World Population
July 11, 2019
- 13:28
Today, the White House hosted a social media summit. None of the big players (think: Facebook, Twitter) were reportedly on the guest...
Free Falling: Interest Rates, UK Ambassador’s Resignation, and Ticker Tape
July 10, 2019
- 11:45
Today, the Federal Reserve’s top guy Jerome Powell spoke. He doesn’t do that much. But when he does - it’s important. Especially when it...
Picture This: ID Photos, Drug Prices, and Emojis
July 9, 2019
- 12:53
In a new study, researchers at Georgetown University say FBI and ICE agents are giving millions of people ID checks. Their focus: your...
The Big One: Jeffrey Epstein, The Census, and the World Cup
July 8, 2019
- 13:21
Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire money manager, was in a New York federal court today to face sex trafficking charges. The indictment...
Upping the Ante: Campaign Fundraising, Immigration, and Hot Dogs
July 3, 2019
- 12:25
‘Tis the season where all the 2020 candidates are letting us know what their campaign bank accounts look like. Some have a lot to brag...
Calls For Action: Border Facilities, Hong Kong, and Women’s World Cup
July 2, 2019
- 12:11
About a dozen lawmakers took a field trip to Texas yesterday. To visit two border facilities where migrants are being held. And some...
Visiting Hours: Trump in North Korea, OPEC, and Cori Gauff at Wimbledon
July 1, 2019
- 12:16
This weekend, President Trump became the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea. This was Trump and North Korean leader...
The Heat Is On: Biden and Harris, G20, and the World Cup in Europe
June 28, 2019
- 11:49
Senator Kamala Harris is getting a lot of attention today after last night’s democratic primary debate. She called out former VP Joe...
Take Two: SCOTUS, Dems Debate 2.0, and Rapping G20 Grannies
June 27, 2019
- 12:25
Today, the Supremes dropped the mic on two big issues: partisan gerrymandering and a citizenship question on the census. These rulings...
Center Stage: 2020 Debates, Mueller’s Return, and Moon Rocks
June 26, 2019
- 13:20
The first 2020 Democratic primary debate begins tonight in Miami. But don’t forget: this is a two-night event. Featuring a total of 20...
It’s Personal: Sanctions, E. Jean Carroll, and Climate Change
June 25, 2019
- 12:17
The Trump administration is sanctioning top Iranian officials, including Iran’s Supreme Leader. The US has been sanctioning Iran for a...
No Quick Fix: Immigration, Middle East Peace, and Women’s Soccer
June 24, 2019
- 11:39
Immigration and Customs Enforcement was scheduled to target 2,000 families in raids across the country this weekend. But with hours to...
Take It Back: US and Iran, Police on Social Media, and Harry Potter
June 21, 2019
- 12:15
President Trump says he approved military strikes on Iran planned for last night – but that he called them off with ten minutes to...
Meet Me In The Middle: China and NK, UK Prime Minister, and Phone Bone
June 20, 2019
- 12:18
Today, China’s President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un kicked off a two-day summit with the red-carpet treatment. This...
Owning Up: Reparations, Jamal Khashoggi, and Joy Harjo
June 19, 2019
- 12:24
Hundreds of people showed up to a House subcommittee hearing today on Capitol Hill. The topic? A bill that would create a commission to...
Ready to Launch: Libra, Trump’s 2020 Campaign, and Boaty McBoatface
June 18, 2019
- 13:02
It’s only June, but Facebook’s ready for Libra season. The social media giant is about to roll out a new global cryptocurrency called...
Decisions, Decisions: Iran Nuclear Deal, SCOTUS, and Gloria Vanderbilt
June 17, 2019
- 12:02
The Iran Nuclear Deal is on the rocks. This is the deal Iran, the US and a bunch of major EU and other powers signed back in 2015 to...
History Rhymes: the US and Iran, Flint, and Father’s Day
June 14, 2019
- 12:11
There were explosions on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman this week. The US is pointing the finger at Iran, who’s saying ‘not us.’...
Fake It Till You Make It: Russia Probe Inquiry, ‘Deepfakes’, and Dads
June 13, 2019
- 12:36
Special Counsel Robert Mueller dropped the mic a couple weeks ago, but Washington still has some unfinished business with the Russia...
Waving Flags: Hong Kong Protests, Executive Privilege, and Pulse
June 12, 2019
- 12:46
There were massive protests in Hong Kong today over a bill that would allow fugitives to be extradited to mainland China. Hong Kong is...
Game Time: ‘Safe Third Country’, Iowa, and Kickoff
June 11, 2019
- 12:49
The US and Mexico struck a deal on immigration before President Trump could impose tariffs on all Mexican imports. But now, Trump is...
Everything's Goin' My Way: Mueller Report, Health Care, and Ali Stroker
June 10, 2019
- 12:23
This week, lawmakers in Congress are nose-deep in a page-turner: the Mueller Report. Mueller’s not talking … but Dems are hearing from...
Flip it and Reverse it: Emissions Rules, Robocallers, and the Women’s World Cup
June 7, 2019
- 11:44
Major automakers wrote a letter to two of their pen pals: President Trump and CA Gov. Gavin Newsom. They’re asking them to, pretty...
Not Forgotten: D-Day and Today, Hyde Amendment, and Long Weekend Forever
June 6, 2019
- 12:52
World leaders gathered today to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and remember those who fought and those who lost their lives. But...
Work, Work, Work: Arms Sales, Mexican Tariffs, and a Mass Wedding
June 5, 2019
- 12:00
The Trump administration wants to sell $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia and some other Middle East countries. But many US...
Old Wounds: Tiananmen Square, Cuba, and High Heels
June 4, 2019
- 12:25
It’s been 30 years since Beijing's Tiananmen Square massacre, in which the Chinese government turned the military on its own people....
Breakin’ Up is Hard to Do: Big Tech, Trump’s UK Visit, and T-Swift
June 3, 2019
- 11:35
Two major government agencies reportedly have their eyes on Google and Amazon. Because they’ve got antitrust issues. We’ll explain why....
Pressure’s On: Mexico Tariffs, Hollywood Boycotts, and Drake
May 31, 2019
- 12:43
President Trump is threatening Mexico with tariffs. Because of immigration. While the US, Mexico and Canada are trying to seal the deal...
Now You See Me: Israel’s Parliament, Women Suing the FBI, and Spelling
May 30, 2019
- 12:41
Israel’s parliament has dissolved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu couldn’t get enough support to form a government, and now the...
Is This Thing On?: Mueller Speaks, Abortion in Missouri, and Graduation Trees
May 29, 2019
- 12:25
Special Counsel Robert Mueller turned off his “do not disturb” mode today to give a brief statement. The message: his Russia...
Extreme Measures: Opioid Crisis, Mount Everest, and Burnout
May 28, 2019
- 12:14
Oklahoma is taking the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson to court today. This is the first state trial connected to the opioid...
Do It Yourself: Theresa May, Julian Assange, and $20
May 24, 2019
- 13:24
British Prime Minister Theresa May is saying “I’m out.” She is only the second woman to hold the position and is leaving after three...
Taking Action: McDonald’s Strikes, HUD and Transgender Rights, and Office Sweaters
May 23, 2019
- 11:59
Some McDonald’s workers were on strike today … while the company held its annual shareholder meeting. Employees are asking for better...
Testing Democracy: EU Parliamentary Elections, DC Drama, and Mars 2020
May 22, 2019
- 12:47
Europeans head to the polls starting tomorrow for the European Parliamentary elections. This is the second-biggest election in the...
On The Books: Trump’s Finances, CBD, and 'Milkshaking'
May 21, 2019
- 12:20
Three House committees want to dive into President Trump’s business financials. Specifically, they want the deets from his accounting...
Battle Lines: Foreign Fighters, Google, and ‘Game of Thrones’
May 20, 2019
- 11:46
John Walker Lindh, a US citizen convicted of helping the Taliban, will be released from federal prison this week. And some lawmakers in...
Numbers Game: Immigration Issues, Indian Elections, and Time Off For Loan Debt
May 17, 2019
- 13:08
Yesterday, President Trump announced a new proposal to overhaul the US immigration system - specifically shifting the priorities in the...
The Fine Print: Abortion Laws and Personhood, SAT Adversity Score, Pricey Coffee
May 16, 2019
- 12:21
Missouri’s the latest in a line of states taking on a hot-button issue: abortion. State lawmakers across the country are passing bills...
Looking For Fixes: Falling Birth Rates, FAA and Boeing, Office Distractions
May 15, 2019
- 13:02
There’s a baby bust in the US: A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that last year’s birth rate was...
I Spy: Facial Recognition, Russia Investigation, WhatsApp
May 14, 2019
- 12:56
Facial recognition technology is creeping into all aspects of life, and San Francisco could be the first city in the US to block it....
Que Sera, Sera: US and Iran, Julian Assange, Doris Day
May 13, 2019
- 12:50
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo crashed a meeting of EU foreign ministers today ... and he had Iran on the brain. Tensions between the...
Going the Distance: US-China Trade Talks, Space Race 2.0, Mother’s Day
May 10, 2019
- 13:11
Today, trade talks between the US and China left with them saying ‘no deal.’ Right after the US raised tariffs on $200 billion of...
Tariffs and Tithing: Uber’s IPO, Catholic Church, Trade Talks with China
May 9, 2019
- 12:56
Uber’s heading to Wall Street tomorrow to make its debut on the stock exchange. But the ride-sharing company has seen a lot of backlash...
Preventative Measures: Maternal Health, Executive Privilege, Bowerbird Project
May 8, 2019
- 13:02
There’s a mom crisis in the US. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that about 700 women die every...
Tensions Rising: Iran, Contempt of Congress, Magic Mushrooms
May 7, 2019
- 12:57
The Trump admin has announced they’re sending a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf - saying Iran has...
One In A Million: Biodiversity In Danger, Chinese Tariffs, and the Royal Baby
May 6, 2019
- 12:59
A UN report is warning that one species - us - is threatening a million other species with extinction. Today, we’ll explain why...
Reining It In: Sanctuary Cities, Spread of HIV, Kentucky Derby Horses
May 3, 2019
- 11:30
Florida’s governor is set to sign a bill telling counties and towns they can’t offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. We’ll explain...
Putting Up A Fight: Venezuela, Assange Extradition, and Holocaust Remembrance Day
May 2, 2019
- 12:59
Venezuela still doesn’t know who’s in charge. We’ll talk about why the US was predicting a peaceful transition of power - and why now...
Star Players: AG Bill Barr, Caster Semenya, and Lucy Liu
May 1, 2019
- 12:08
Democrats on Capitol Hill had a lot of questions about the attorney general’s pen pal - Robert Mueller. South African elite runner...
Update Available: Infrastructure, Venezuelan Protests, and Burkinis
April 30, 2019
- 12:11
Infrastructure across the US needs a reboot. President Trump met with top Democrats to try to figure out how to make – and pay for – the...
Paying For It?: US Ransom Policies, Boeing, and Fake Meat
April 29, 2019
- 11:12
The White House confirmed that North Korea sent them a bill for American prisoner Otto Warmbier – to the tune of $2 million. But the...
Trade Ya: China’s Belt And Road Initiative, Gun Laws, Seaweed Bottles
April 26, 2019
- 12:19
Top officials from around the world met in China today to hear more about their Belt and Road Initiative — a reboot of the Silk Road to...
I’m Heeeere: Joe Biden, Kim Jong-un, The Kids
April 25, 2019
- 13:17
Former VP Joe Biden is (finally) in. He announced today he’s running for president in 2020 - as the 20th candidate to join the race. So...
Accounting, Please: Boy Scouts, Big Pharma, Avengers
April 24, 2019
- 11:42
Thousands of Boy Scouts leaders and volunteers have been accused of sexually abusing children - in cases that go back decades. Lawyers...
Will They or Won’t They: Impeachment and Citizenship on the Census
April 23, 2019
- 11:42
Democrats and progressives have been talking about whether to impeach President Trump since he was elected. And even though the Mueller...
Shut It Down: Social Media in Sri Lanka, Border Vigilantes, Plastic Straws
April 22, 2019
- 11:28
After massive terror attacks in Sri Lanka killed nearly 300 people on Sunday, the gov there has blocked Facebook and other social media...
Talking About Troubles: Violence in Northern Ireland, 4/20, and Dancing Bans
April 19, 2019
- 11:40
A young journalist was killed last night during a riot in Northern Ireland. Her death is highlighting tensions along the Irish border....
Reports and Rapport: Mueller, US & NK, Facebook
April 18, 2019
- 12:08
The Mueller report is here. It’s long. It’s complicated. And some of it’s still secret. We’ve Skimm’d what we know so far, and we’ll...
Alarm Bells: Asylum Seekers, Red Flag Laws, TSA Hair Pat-Downs
April 17, 2019
- 11:11
The Justice Department is changing policies for asylum seekers waiting for immigration hearings. We’ll explain why fleeing persecution...
Outbreaks and Breakouts: Measles, GOP Contenders, Climate Change Arrests
April 16, 2019
- 12:44
The measles virus is still spreading, and tight-knit communities are more vulnerable than others. We’ll explain why -- and tell you...
Notre Dame Fire, Campaign Cash, and FUCT
April 15, 2019
- 12:51
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris went up in flames today -- we’ll tell you what we know so far. In the US: 2020 presidential candidates...
Levelling the Playing Field: Reparations, 5G, Game of Thrones
April 12, 2019
- 12:43
Georgetown students want to help make amends for history. They voted to add a little extra to their tuition to pay reparations to the...
"So Long, Farewell: Julian Assange, Sudan’s President, and Nipsey Hussle"
April 11, 2019
- 12:38
There were a couple of big arrests today in London and Sudan. And both men could be leaving on a jet plane to face charges. The U.S....
In the Pipeline: Oil, Gas, and Taxes
April 10, 2019
- 12:02
President Trump flew to Texas today to visit the heart of the oil and gas industry, and he signed two controversial executive orders...
The Middle Men: Drug Prices and the (No Spoilers) Mueller Report
April 9, 2019
- 12:52
Crazy high drug prices have gotten bipartisan attention lately. Back in February, drug companies pointed fingers at Pharmacy Benefit...
In or Out: The Israeli Elections and the West Bank, Cabinet Shakeups and the Border and NCAA Finals
April 8, 2019
- 13:10
Israel is getting ready to head to the polls, and Prime Minister Netanyahu is giving voters one more thing to think about: the West...
It’s Complicated: Saudis and the US, Ecuador and Julian Assange, Cats
April 5, 2019
- 13:01
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US are heating up. Congress voted to end US military support for the kingdom’s proxy war in Yemen...
Why Dems Are So Obsessed with President Trump’s Tax Returns
April 4, 2019
- 13:04
President Trump has gotten a lot of heat for keeping his tax returns under lock and key. Now, Dems are cutting out the middle man and...
Sharia Law in Brunei and NATO’s 70th
April 3, 2019
- 12:26
Human rights groups all over the world are calling out Brunei for harsh new laws. People caught participating in gay sex could now be...
Facebook vs. Fake News
April 2, 2019
- 12:58
India is headed to the polls soon. Social media there has turned into a mess of fake news. Sounds familiar. Facebook is trying to avoid...
Cutting Aid and Clearing Officials
April 1, 2019
- 13:14
The Trump Administration is thinking about cutting aid to a few Central American countries. It’s pointing to the border crisis. But how...
No Deal Brexit. But We Have Lyft-off.
March 29, 2019
- 12:23
Third time’s the charm. Except when it comes to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan to get a Brexit deal approved. Bollocks....
Hustling for Healthcare and Decoding 5G: Medicaid Work Requirements and Huawei
March 28, 2019
- 11:36
A DC judge struck down laws in Arkansas and Kentucky that would require Medicaid recipients to work in exchange for getting free or...
The Border Wall Budget and Theresa May’s (Br)exit Strategy
March 27, 2019
- 13:26
The Pentagon is checking its account - and making bank transfers - to figure out how it’s going to pay for President Trump’s border...
Nevermind: Trump Admin to the ACA, Chicago Prosecutors to Jussie Smollett, NASA to its All-Female Spacewalk
March 26, 2019
- 12:11
The Trump Administration wants to take down the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare. Spoiler: this won’t be the last time you’ll hear...
Robert Mueller’s Day Off (And What it Means for Everyone Else)
March 25, 2019
- 13:02
Mueller…? Mueller…? After two years, Special Counsel Robert Mueller finally turned in his report to the DOJ. And probably had a great...
Disputed Territories: The Golan Heights and Abortion Rights
March 22, 2019
- 13:10
President Trump tweeted earlier this week that the US should recognize that Israel’s the boss of a disputed area called the Golan...
Free Speech on College Campuses, NZ Gun Reform, and Balls
March 21, 2019
- 12:47
President Trump just signed an executive order requiring colleges to support free speech. Which has a lot to do with conservative groups...
Anti-Trusting Tech
March 20, 2019
- 13:41
The European Union wants big tech companies to play nice with the competition. They don’t think Google’s doing that. So the EU hit...
Friends in Brazil and Floods in the Midwest
March 19, 2019
- 12:15
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and US President Trump caught up in the Oval Office today. They’re big fans. Of each other. Which is...
Why Voting Districts Look Like Abstract Art, French Yellow Vests and Ballsy Women
March 18, 2019
- 13:25
Gerrymandering: drawing district lines so that some people have more power at the polls. And a big talker ahead of the 2020 election....
White Nationalism and the Internet
March 15, 2019
- 12:59
Mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand are forcing a conversation about the spread of white nationalism … and the internet....
‘20 Questions: Citizenship and Beto O’Rourke
March 14, 2019
- 12:06
There are big questions coming up in 2020. Politicians are trying to get ahead of them. Today, Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross took the mic on...
Behind Bars: The CA Death Sentence and Paul Manafort
March 13, 2019
- 13:10
California Governor Gavin Newsom hit ‘pause’ on capital punishment in his state. Opening up the floor for a national debate on the death...
How Rude: Brexit’s Backstop and How “Aunt Becky” Got Her Kid Into College
March 12, 2019
- 12:14
British parliament rejected PM Theresa May’s latest Brexit plan today. ICYMI, the EU and the UK are getting a divorce. But three years...
Just Won’t Budget
March 11, 2019
- 12:31
President Trump just released his financial wishlist. On it: $718 billion for the Pentagon, way more than the spending cap. But he might...
Do Not Pass Go: How Judges Hand Down Prison Sentences
March 8, 2019
- 11:00
Paul Manafort got muuuch less prison time than prosecutors recommended on Thursday. Which got everyone talking. So today we’re breaking...
Introducing: Skimm This
March 8, 2019
- 00:32
A daily news podcast from theSkimm that’s breaking down the most complex stories of the day and connecting the dots on why it's...
How the Military Handles Sexual Assault
March 7, 2019
- 12:06
Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) has everyone talking about how to fix the military’s process for handling allegations of sexual assault....
The Border Crisis: A Family Matter
March 6, 2019
- 11:03
The federal government is arguing about whether families migrating across the US-Mexico border are a national emergency. We’ll break...
Measles and Mardis Gras
March 5, 2019
- 11:14
You’ve been hearing a lot about the anti-vaccination movement. We’ll give you the context behind the headlines. In other health news,...
A Tale of Two Presidents: Venezuela’s Political Crisis
March 4, 2019
- 11:46
Two guys are fighting over Venezuela. One’s got the military behind him. The other has … pretty much everyone else on his side. In other...
