Subject: Daily Skimm: Let’s rock, let’s rock today
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 06:40:08 -0500 (EST)

<=m>Skimm'd while upgrading our apartments (and wallets)
=/div>

=tr>

FEBRUA=Y 12, 2019

R=AD IN BROWSER

Skimm'd while upgrading our apartments (and wallets)

QUOTE O= THE DAY

"Germs are not a real thing. I can't see them, theref=re they're not real" –

THE ROBOTS ARE COMING

The Story

President Trump wants federal agencies to lean in on =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/15983181.2893572/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJJOFpxemU/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Ba5b80a7b" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">artificial intelligence.

When you say "AI"…

We mean a wide range of AI programs. Anything from th= Department of Transportation using AI tech to help prevent road accidents=– to the NOAA using it to fix some weather predictions. Yesterday,=Trump signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to invest more=in AI.

What's the plan?

There are Come again?

AI isn't necessarily all good news. There's concerns =bout the unintended consequences that could come with it – everyth=ng from privacy issues to safety concerns to bias against minorities. Ask =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/15983181.2893572/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJCeGNKNlo/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bc6470f4c" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">Google and Microsoft.

So Trump's into tech now?

Eh he's more into America being number one. The US mi=ht be the leader in AI tech now. But China and other countries are coming =n hot. And more than a dozen – including China, Canada, and France=– have apparently beaten the US to announce national AI strategies= But unlike other countries, which have apparently invested millions to bi=lions in this technology, the US isn't setting aside any new money specifi= to AI research and development. It's leaving that up to Congress. But enc=uraging federal agencies to prioritize AI in their existing budgets.

Now, I heard you say China...

We did. And it's kind of the elephant in the room. In=2017, China said it plans to become the world leader in AI. Fast forward to now and the US and China=are in the middle of a trade war. And the beef goes deeper than tariffs. I='s also over who will be leading the economic world stage – which =ech plays a big part in. We've already seen this playing out with 5G technology and the US's approa=h to Chinese telecom giant Hu=wei. Now, we're seeing it with AI.

So what's next?

The Trump admin says it'll roll out more details some=ime in the next six months. So hold tight.

theSkimm

AI can impact everything from the US economy to natio=al security to health care. And supporters say this executive order is an =mportant step in helping the US stay ahead of the AI curve. But without se=ting aside new money for research and development and by keeping the detai=s vague, critics are skeptical.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

Who people are talking about…

Rep. Ilh=n Omar (D-MN). She's a freshman congresswoman and one of the first Mus=im women elected to Congress. She's also been in hot water for language th=t's been called anti-Semitic. Earlier this week, she tweeted that lawmaker=' support for Israel is "all about the Benjamins" – implying that =awmakers with pro-Israel policies were getting money from lobbying group A=PAC – the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Her comments w=re called out for evoking=anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jews. This isn't the first time Omar's been accused of anti-Semitic l=nguage while criticizing Israel. Yesterday, lawmakers on both sides of the=aisle condemned her comments. Dem leaders – including House Speake= Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) – called her comments "deeply offensive." Oma= says she "unequivocally" apologizes and that she didn't mean to offend Je=ish Americans. But she says she still wants to call out what she sees as p=oblems with lobbying from AIPAC and other groups.

What to say when you see #GOPTaxScam is trending�=80�

Don't freak out just yet. The IRS says that 2018 tax refunds have gone down c=mpared to 2017 refunds. But t=e Treasury Dept is saying 'take a large chill pill, please.' That's be=ause it's too early in the tax season to know if that's true. (PS: need he=p with taxes? We've got you c=vered.) Speaking of things that may be getting less money than expecte=: President Trump's border wa=l. Lawmakers say they've reached a deal to avoid another gov shutdown =his week. The details still need to be worked out, but the deal apparently=sets aside $1.375 billion for border fencing – less than the $5.7 =illion Trump had asked for. It's unclear if Trump will sign off on it.

What to say when someone steals your lunch from the w=rk fridge…

Nancy Drew on the case. Yesterday, the FDA said it'll=step up its oversight on diet=ry supplements. There's more than 50,000 kinds out there – and=about three quarters of Americans regularly take one. But the FDA doesn't =ave to review supplements for safety before they hit the market, and some =ompanies have been ignoring rules that stop them from claiming without pro=f that their pills help treat certain diseases. Now, the FDA wants to impl=ment "one of the most significant modernizations" to help change that. It'= starting by sending letters to companies guilty of claiming that their pr=ducts treat Alzheimer's. In the future, it plans to more quickly tell the =ublic about unsafe supplements, among other plans.

What to say when you branch out from your all-black w=rdrobe…

I'm full of surprises. Yesterday, Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray said he's going all-=n for the NFL. The problem: he already signed an MLB contract with the Oak=and Athletics last year. Ever since Murray won the Heisman Trophy a couple=months ago, everyone's been wondering if he'll stick with one sport or pla= both professionally (it's be=n done before). Now Murray's sticking with the NFL, saying that "footb=ll has been my love and passion." Meaning he's apparently ditching the A's= In other news leading ESPN, Kareem Hunt. The former Kansas City Chiefs ru=ning back signed with the Cle=eland Browns. Last year, video came out of him allegedly assaulting a =oman in a hotel. He was never arrested or charged for it. But the Chiefs k=cked him off the team as a result, making him a free agent. He was also pu= on the NFL commissioner's exempt list – meaning he can get picked=up by a team, but he can't play while the NFL investigates. Yesterday, the=Browns and Hunt made things official. The team said it doesn't condone Hun='s actions and that "any similar incident will not be tolerated."

What to say when you hear Nicki Minaj isn't here for BET…

No one's here for these shoes either.

What to say to your friend who's always too busy to l=ck in plans…

Give me =hree minutes.

In honor of Black History Month, we teamed up with Sh=ndaland to talk about some of the major moments in black history.

Toda=, Leslie Odom Jr (yes, Aaron Burr in "Hamilton") shares his story about th= influence Alvin Ailey had on his life. And the history of black pioneers =n the entertainment industry.

Chec= it out here.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you still have the same couch from colleg=...

Don't sit on it. Upgrade your place and earn rewards =hile you're at it. The new Cash Rewards Card from Bank of America lets you=earn cash back on things like furniture (cough, get a new couch, cough) an= other home improvements. PS: you can choose how to maximize your rewards =very month. Learn =ore here.*

F=r when your shoes refuse to break in…

Hurts so…bad. This snea=er brand can save your feet. Their shoes are pre-washed to feel broken=in and made of fair-trade cotton. Doesn't hurt that they look good with ju=t about anything. Plus, Skimm'rs get $20 off. Here y=u go.*

*PS This is a sponsored post, which means i= you purchase or sign up, theSkimm may get something in return. Thanks.

SKIMM'RS

Skimm'r of the Week...Jenn Hinkle. She co-foun=ed the Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation with her husband in honor of their so= Ollie, who died from a congenital heart defect. The foundation provides s=pport to families, education on CHD, and funding for pediatric heart resea=ch. Donate and learn more her=.

C=eers to...Charlotte N (CA), who's headed to Oxford to take an evidence=based policy approach to studying the problem of educational inequality. A=d to Emily R (CT), who got her third raise in less than a year and = half.

(=ome) Birthdays...Danielle Dueno (NY), Sarah Muller, Tom Martinolich (N=), Brea Falley (NE), Ben Carpenter (CT), Alexandra Ricca (GA), Andie Haber= (ON), Joanna Stevens (RI), Sarah Bowers (OK), Chris Atwell (NY), Emily Ge=rgakopoulos (NH), Evann Gonzales (CA), Garrett Gottesman (VA), Nadine Wick=(VA), Wyndy Looney (AL)

*=elcome to a new section we're testing with members of theSkimm. Want to ta=e it to the next level? Reach out here for a chance to be featur=d.

SKIMM SHARE

Skimm HQ is finishing up its book club book. Share the=kimm with your book club friends who never finish the book but are always =here for the wine.

Or use this referral link theskimm.com/?r==b66f6bb

Skimm'd something we missed?

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