Subject: Daily Skimm: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2019 06:36:24 -0500 (EST)

<=>Skimm'd after making sure Tax Day is on our calendar

=tr>

FEBRUA=Y 20, 2019

R=AD IN BROWSER

Skimm'd after making sure Tax Day is on our calendar

QUOTE O= THE DAY

"One: no feelings. As soon as I sense you're developi=g feelings, I'm going to cut it off" – Baseball pitcher Trevor Bauer's first rule of dating.=Don't hate the player, just avoid them because it's 2019 and who needs thi= drama.

=/a>

THINGS MAKING STATEMENTS<=p>

Justice Clarence Thomas

The Story

Yesterday, Justice Clarence Thomas said he wants the =upreme Court to reconsider a =andmark First Amendment case.

Sounds complicated, tell me more.

This is about a 1964 ruling that made it harder for p=blic figures to win libel suits. At the time, people were using libel laws=its as a way to prevent news outlets from covering the civil rights moveme=t. The ruling by the Supreme Court ended up changing libel cases to say th=t a public figure now has to prove the info shared about them was false, t=at whoever shared it did so with "actual malice," and that it harmed their=reputation. This all came up because yesterday, the court rejected an appe=l from an actress who sued Bill Cosby for libel – she accused him =f rape in the '70s and alleged his lawyers leaked a letter to attack her. =ower courts dismissed her case, saying 'that's the cost of being a public =igure.' And yesterday, the Supreme Court turned down her appeal. Thomas ch=med in to say that while we're on the subject, it's maybe time to drop the=1964 ruling – calling it flawed and "policy-driven."

theSkimm

Thomas isn't the first Supreme Court justice to call =ut the 1964 ruling. But the timing has many people asking questions. That'= because President Trump =as been calling for an update to libel laws so outlets like The New York T=mes and The Washington Post can be sued for what he calls "hit pieces." Leaving some to wonder if Tr=mp had any influence on Thomas speaking up. But until other justices chime=in, right now this is just a personal opinion.

The Trump administration

The Story

The Trump admin is reportedly launching a campaign to end the criminalization o= homosexuality around the world.

Sounds ambitious, tell me more.

More than 70 countries around the world have laws criminalizing homosexuality. =esterday, US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell – the highest-p=ofile openly gay appointee in Trump's admin – kicked off a campaig= to end that. The US can't change laws in other countries, but will likely=partner up with orgs like the UN and EU to give countries a not-so-gentle =udge to join the 21st century. However, the Trump admin isn't necessarily =ne to talk when it comes to LGBTQ rights (see: a policy denying visas to some same-sex couples, the =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16062338.2909222/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJ0dFZBWGU/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B33b4289b" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">transgender military ban).=/p>

theSkimm

The missing context here is...Iran. There was recently a reported hanging of a =ay man there. And ICYMI, Iran is really high up on the Trump admin's forei=n enemy list right now. Made quite evident by the US's support for Iran's =ival Saudi Arabia (see below) and by Trump pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. European countries =eren't too happy with the US for that move, and the admin hasn't been able=to get them on board. This might be its new tactic for rallying them back =n the US's side.

House Democrats

The Story

Yesterday, House Democrats dropped a report accusing the Trump admin of shady r=lations with Saudi Arabia.

Sounds dramatic, tell me more.

The report says that senior White House officials �=80� like former national security adviser Michael Flynn and more recentl= Energy Sec Rick Perry – have pushed a project to sell nuclear pow=r plants to Saudi Arabia. And continued to do so even though there were re= flags from senior officials on everything from this project potentially b=eaking ethics rules to threatening US national security. The committee beh=nd this report says this effort is apparently ongoing, and the committee i= now opening an official investigation.

theSkimm

There have been questions about the US-Saudi relation=hip for a while now (especially when the Trump admin didn't hold the count=y accountable for the Jamal K=ashoggi murder). But this report accuses the admin of potentially igno=ing advice from White House lawyers and even breaking the law to take the =elationship to the next level. The worry being that by giving Saudi Arabia=nuclear weapons technology, it adds to the potential for chaos in an alrea=y chaotic region.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when your friend signs up for a marathon=E2��

Move it like Bernie. Yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said he's running fo= president again. Because second time's the charm. This time, it's the Dem=side that's crowded – and Sanders isn't the only progressive in town. But don't count Sander= out: he apparently has more low-dollar donors than the other Dem candidat=s, combined. And he's a trend=etter: many Dem candidates have been following his cues on things like=Medicare for all and tuition-free college. President Trump's re-election c=mpaign is already in attack mode, calling out Sanders for identifying as a=socialist – a label the Trump campaign is latching onto and compar=ng to the recent crisis in =enezuela. And Trump says that he thinks Sanders might have "missed his=time." Speaking of things on Trump's mind, he announced yesterday that he =lans to nominate longtime deputy transportation secretary Jeffrey Rosen to replace Rod Rosenstein as=deputy attorney general.

What to say when you curl up in sweatpants…

Forgive me, Karl Lagerfeld. Yesterday, the prolific designer died at age 85. La=erfeld was born in Germany and took over as creative director of Fendi in =he '60s and Chanel in the '80s. He's credited with revamping the two brand= to keep them as iconic as they are today. He's also been credited with he=ping turn Paris into the fashion capital of the world. Non big deal. In th= early '00s, he was the first designer to do a collection with H&M, br=dging the gap between luxury and mass market. And he kept turning out coll=ctions at a pace no one could match. He had harsh words for sweatpants. And made controversial comments fat-shaming women, cri=iquing the #MeToo movement, and about migrants. It's unclear who gets custody of beloved cat Choupette – but she is re=ortedly "choosing to put her best paw forward."

What to say when this defamation lawsuit is making your head spin...

USA Gymnastics hopes it can flip things around. Meet =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16062338.2909222/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJUMWRGS1I/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B7bec2510" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">Li Li Leung, its next CEO =nd president. For years, USA Gymnastics leadership has been in freefall ev=r since the Larry Nassar sexu=l abuse scandal came out (think: three CEOs in two years). Last year, =t filed for bankruptcy to try to reach settlements in dozens of lawsuits. =ow, Leung – a former college gymnast who's served as a veep of the=NBA – is hoping to steer the org in a better direction (like avoid=getting decertified from the US Olympic Committee). Her start date is next=month. Speaking of people your athletic friends are talking about: Manny Machado. Yesterday it came =ut that the All-Star infielder landed a 10-year, $300 million deal with th= San Diego Padres – the second-largest deal in MLB history.

<=mg src="https://media-cdn.theskimm.com/dailyskimm/social-icons/Email_v2.=ng" width="35" height="35" style="margin-left:12px;" border="0">

What to say when you hear about how the FDA and other= mishandled opioids�=A6

In better health news, a four-day work week is apparently good for you. And doe=n't make you less productive. Yes, your manager probably needs to see this=

What to say when you hear it may really be over betwe=n Khloé and Tristan<=a>…

You and me could write a bad romance.

Tax season: very much not over yet. One of these days=(read: before April 15) you're going to need to get on that. We made a handy flowchart to help you d=cide whether to DIY or hire an expert to prep your tax return. Bookmark it= Read it. Be a good friend and send it to the group thread. Then decide wh=t to do.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you want to feel like a kid again�=A6

This time with less sugar. This flavored water is made without sugars=or sweeteners and comes in four flavors. Because 'juice' boxes aren't just=for kids. Skimm'rs get 20% off and free shipping. Here you go.*

F=r when the weather outside is frightful…

But the bed is so delightful. This company=makes essentials for a comfy af home. Think: super soft sheets, towels, ma=tresses and more. Plus, you get a 90-day trial to try out their bedding. <= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16062338.2909222/aHR0cDovL3JlZGly=WN0LnZpZ2xpbmsuY29tLz9rZXk9NWM1M2M0MjcxZmZhM2Q4OTFkNDYxMGZjMzEyODYyZjYmdT1=dHRwJTNBJTJGJTJGcGFyYWNodXRlaG9tZS5jb20mY3VpZD1ncm91cGM/5bae7b412ddf9c633b=801b8C4ff36ff9" target="_blank" style="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:n=ne;">Go for it.*

*PS This is an affiliate post, which means =f you purchase, theSkimm may get something in return. Thanks.

SKIMM'RS

Spotlight on... all the ladies who inspire us.=HBO is collecting real women's stories with help from theSkimm. These pers=nal and unedited stories from all over the US will be celebrated as part o= a project called The Inspiration Room.

Thin=: how it felt when you landed your dream job, felt the loss of a loved one= or how you decided on your maid of honor. These honest narratives will cu=minate into an inspiring exhibit spanning generations of women. Have a sto=y to share or want to know more? Check it out here.

SKIMM SHARE

Skimm HQ is still recovering from a red-eye. Share the=kimm with your co-worker who was too tired to function yesterday.

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

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