Subject: Daily Skimm: Penny Lane is in my ears
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2019 06:33:07 -0500 (EST)

<=>Skimm'd while submitting ou= stories to HBO's Inspiration Room…

=tr>

FEBRUA=Y 22, 2019

R=AD IN BROWSER

Skimm'd while submitting our stori=s to HBO's Inspiration Room…

QUOTE O= THE DAY

"6G" – Technology President Trump is excited and ready for. Too bad it'= not a thing.

BOILING POINT

The Story

Venezuela is bracing for a potential face-off this weekend.

If the Nicolas Cage movie taught me anything, a face-off=is never good.

This one isn't expected to be either. Here's a remind=r of what's going on there: In recent years, millions of people have fled the country as it deals wi=h hyperinflation and shor=ages of basics like food and medicine. Meanwhile, UNICEF has been warning =f a malnutrition crisis t=ere.

Whose fault is that?

A lot of people pin the blame on the administration of Nicolás Maduro, who=s been president since 2013. Last year, he was re-elected but many called =t a sham. Then last month, opposition leader and head of the country's par=iament Juan Guaidó i=voked the country's constitution and declared himself interim president until new elections happen.<=p>

How'd that go over?

More tha= 50 countries – including the US and most Latin American count=ies – have recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's leader. The Trump=admin has thrown its full weight behind him and isn't ruling out military =ntervention. And tens of thousands of Venezuelans have turned out across t=e country to protest Maduro – with at least 40 people being killed since last month.

So are there two presidents?

Kinda. And it's putting Venezuelans in the middle of =t. The US and other countries have sent tens of millions of dollars' worth=of humanitarian aid. But Maduro has been adamant that he won't let it in =E2�� calling it a cover for a US invasion. And says he won't let Venez=elans become "beggars." G=aidó says the aid is necessary and that one way or another, it's gett=ng in tomorrow.

How?

Thanks to Venezuela's neighbor, Colombia – wh=re some of the aid has been shipped to. Guaidó, lawmakers, and hundre=s of thousands of people are expected to arrive at the Venezuela-Colombia =order to help get it across. But Maduro said he's considering closing the Colombian border –=a move he pulled with Brazil<=a>. Colombian officials are reportedly ready to take down border fences to help Venezuelans get the =id across.

So this is the face-off.

Basically. And it has a lot of people – inclu=ing those within Venezuela<=a> – very, very nervous. Some see this event going one of two ways= maybe Maduro stands down and lets the aid pass through – a major =in for the opposition. Or there's a possibility of violent clashes. A majo= win for no one.

theSkimm

Venezuela was once known for its oil industry. Now, it's dealing with an econom=c, political, and humanitarian crisis. And world leaders are choosing sides. Russia and Cuba are sid=ng with Maduro. China is trying to be neutral. The US and many EU countries are siding with Guaid�=B3, in what seems to be a face-off over political ideals and...ties to oil= VP Mike Pence will be in=Colombia on Monday to try and seal the deal and get Maduro to step down.

=strong>Skimm More: We took it a step back to explain how Venezuel= got in this political crisis=/a>.

=/a>

REPEAT AFTER ME...

Who everyone is still talking about…

Jussie S=ollett. Yesterday, the "Empire" actor appeared in court for his bail h=aring. Smollett is facing a felony charge for allegedly filing a false pol=ce report. Last month, he claimed he was the victim of a hate crime, sayin= two people yelled racist, homophobic statements at him, beat him, and tie= a rope around his neck. But now police say he staged the attack –=paying two Nigerian brothers $3,500 to carry it out – because he w=s upset over his salary and wanted to promote his career. Now he's facing =p to three years in prison. He's currently out on a $100,000 bond. And was=ordered to surrender his passport. Smollett has made quite a few enemies d=ring this ordeal. Many people who initially supported the actor are now wo=ried this will potentially harm the credibility of hate crime victims in t=e future. Smollett still says he's innocent.

Who people are also still talking about...

Jeffrey =pstein. Yesterday, a federal judge said that prosecutors – inc=uding current US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta – broke the law when =andling Epstein's case. Epstein is a billionaire, accused by dozens of gir=s of sex trafficking and child molestation. Back in '08, he just pleaded g=ilty to prostitution. And got what many consider to be an especially light=plea deal – 13 months in a private part of jail with the ability t= leave custody six days a week. The person who negotiated that deal was Ac=sta, then the US attorney in Miami. Last year, The Miami Herald dropped a =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16085160.2940346/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJSbmpNb3c/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B8d82ac54" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">bombshell report on all th=s. Since then, the Justice Dept has opened up an investigation into how th= deal went down. Yesterday, a judge said that Acosta and other US prosecut=rs broke the law. They were supposed to let victims know about the plea de=l but instead let them think that the case was still ongoing. The judge's =ecision is considered a win for victims' rights. But it stops short of ove=turning the plea deal.

What to say when the vote for office snacks seems rig=ed…

I want a re-vote. Yesterday, North Carolina election officials said 'same.' Thi= is about North Carolina's 9th Congressional District. During last year's =idterms, it looked like Mark Harris (R) had won the race for House rep by =ust 905 votes. But officials weren't able to certify that the election was=legit. They began investigating allegations that Harris's campaign was col=ecting incomplete absentee ballots...and filling them out. This week, it c=me out that Harris had been warned in advance that his campaign's operatio=s could be illegal. Yesterday, election officials said 'this calls for a r=-vote' and tossed the results from last year's election. It's unclear when=the re-vote will be, so the district could be without a rep for months to =ome. Meanwhile, the case is focusing the country's attention on the issue =f election fraud. In other news happening on the state level, Oregon is on track to become the first=state to set mandatory rent controls. And Massachusetts is trying to encourage minorities to lead th= charge in the state's legal marijuana business as a way to address the "h=storic harm" the communities have faced due to the war on drugs.

What to say when your presentation didn't go as plann=d…

Just Blew It. Yesterday, Nike's stock dropped after Duke star basketball player=Zion Williamson's sneaker burst open during the big Duke-UNC game this wee=. (Seriously, watch the video=/a>.) Speaking of companies doing damage control, Tesla. Yesterday, its stock took a dive after Cons=mer Reports said it was no longer recommending the Model 3 because of conc=rns it wasn't reliable.

What to say when you're watching the Oscars this weekend...

The only thing we want to see is more of this.

SKIMM READS

To help celebrate Black History Month, February's =kimm Reads are from black American authors who made history.

<= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16085160.2940346/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpu=nRvLzJFa3FZaDI/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B0379e2fe" target="_blank" style=3D"color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">"March: Book Three" by John Lewis,=Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

Meet the graphic memoir trilogy you'll binge like you= favorite TV show. It chronicles the life of Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and th= civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s. In 2016, the third book of the series became the first gra=hic novel to win a National Book Award. NBD.

<=>PS: There are more reads to celebrate Black History Month =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16085160.2940346/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJSdUp3aFc/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B7560c1b0" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">over here.

In honor of Black History Month, we teamed up with Shondaland to share moment= in black history and culture.

Ahea= of Sunday's Oscars, Tika Sumpter highlights some of the black pioneers in=Hollywood...and the ongoing movement for diversity and inclusion in the en=ertainment industry.

Check it out.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you're daydreaming about starting a busin=ss...

Ready, set, do it. This free video workshop is for p=ople who want to start their own business. It's a 3-part training series t=at helps you launch and grow your own b. Go for it.*

For when you want to make a difference...

Inspirat=on can help. In honor of Black History Month, we put together a list o= people and organizations championing today's biggest issues and cementing=their legacies in history. Think: Colin Kaepernick, Letitia James, and #cu=50. Get into it.

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

SKIMM'RS

Shoutout to...Brianna P (CA). She's usi=g environmental science to prep the world (and the transportation sector) =or electric vehicles. And was listed as one of this year's Top Young Profe=sionals by the Engineering News Record.

Spotlight on…Arlan Hamilton (NY). She=went from being homeless to starting a venture capital fund dedicated to c=osing the funding gap for women, people of color, and LGBTQ entrepreneurs.=Today, the fund's invested in 100 startups. PS: NYC Skimm'rs, you can see =er live on Wednesday morning. RSVP here.

(=ome) Birthdays...Julia Englander (NY), Michelle Berman (NY), Greg Dani=ow (NY), Jess Levin (NY), Aidan Schimel (NY), Dare Schenck (IL), Dorie Smi=h (NY), Rena Martinolich (NY), Abby Dunkin (NC), Sheena Lakhani (IL), Tayl=r Rochwerg (QC), Ahmad Thabet (DC), Benedicte Bonnet (FRA), Britney Jarvis=(UT), LaDonna Petrettee (WA), Lauren Glen (ISR), Olga Peña (FL), Rose=Marie Batley (ON), Nasseem Begum (MAU), Sena Moron (CHL)

*=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 catching up on Zzzs. Share theSkimm with y=ur friend who sleeps through brunch.

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