Subject: Daily Skimm: Hold me closer tiny dancer
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2019 06:31:00 -0500 (EST)

<=>Skimm'd while saying 'cha-ching' to tax deductions

=tr>

FEBRUA=Y 27, 2019

R=AD IN BROWSER

Skimm'd while saying 'cha-ching' to tax deductions

QUOTE O= THE DAY

"A real blessing" – Bill Gates on how being a billionaire has made him = happier person. Well, that's rich.

WE MEET AGAIN

The Story

Today, President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jo=g Un are meeting in Vietnam for their second summit in less than a year.

How'd that first one go again?

Picture this: Singapore. Summer 2018. Trump and Kim meet for the first time aft=r months of exchanging threat= and making everyone worried WWIII could start at any minute. It was t=e first time that a sitting US president and a North Korean leader met in =erson. Sparks flew.

Sounds...intimate. But was anything actually accomplishe=?

Ehhh. They agreed to work toward "complete denucleari=ation of the Korean Peninsula" – and Trump said it would start hap=ening ASAP. But they left without any timeline, deadline, or steps to ensu=e that denuclearization actually happens. And more than six months later, =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16130842.2975298/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJCVzVuS2s/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bdc1c585a" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">US intelligence officials =aid the country is "unlikely to give up" all of its nuclear stockpiles.Ah the age old debate...can people really change?

Trump's an optimist and thinks he has what it takes to change Kim's ways. That =e gets him and that they "fel= in love." Critics say Trump's being delusional and that Kim is a powe=-hungry tyrant who won't actually commit to giving up his weapons.

So where does that leave us?

At a negotiating table in Hanoi, Vietnam where the tw= leaders are talking it out for two days. Here's where each side stands:

What the US wants...Complete denuclearization of North Korea. =eaning: dismantling all nuclear weapons and facilities. And the proof that=comes with it.

What it's willing to give...Easing up on sanctions on the Nort= Korean economy. So it can flourish like Vietnam.

What North Korea wants...All US troops out of South Korea. No =anctions on its economy. And for the US to remove its nuclear threat in th= region.

What it's willing to give up...Unclear. That's the problem.

What's expected to happen?

Expectat=ons are low. But the two could agree to set up diplomatic offices in t=e other's country. Or they could take steps towards declaring an end to th= Korean War – the=e hasn't been fighting since 1953, but a peace treaty was never signed (wh=ch is one reason why the US still has troops there).

Why is it so hard to get sh*t done with North Korea?Trying to figure out actions, definitions, and reward= that are acceptable and beneficial to both countries is easier said than =one. And even though Kim committed to denuclearization last summer, it's n=t the first time North Korea has made that commitment. The country is know= for dragging its feet. A=d going rogue.

theSkimm

North Korea has been building up its nuclear weapons =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/16130842.2975298/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJFZXk5WDM/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8B87b9ccf2" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">for years and is considere= one of the world's biggest security threats. Trump supporters consider hi= attempts to change the dynamic commendable. But critics remain skeptical =f North Korea's willingness to change. And for what it means globally: if =he US softens its demands, other countries may see it as a green light to =uild up their own nuclear weapons. Which could lead to the same problem, d=fferent country.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say while the House is getting ready for Michael Cohen's testimony�=80�

That's not the only thing keeping it busy. Yesterday,=it passed a bill to block=President Trump's national emergency declaration. Earlier this month, Trum= issued the declaration to get funding to build the US-Mexico border wall,=since Congress wasn't willing to show him the money. Lawmakers on both sid=s say he's overstepping his power, and that this could set a precedent for=future presidents to do the same. But some Republicans are backing up the =resident, saying there is actually an emergency at the border, and that he=has the authority to declare an emergency. Next step: the Senate has to br=ng it up to a vote within 18 days. Four Republicans would have to vote in =avor to block Trump for it to pass there. But either way, the president ha= already said he'll veto it. Other news out of DC: a House committee voted to subpoena the Trump ad=in over docs about family separation – the first subpoena since De=s took over the House. Adding to that, people want answers on the docs fro= the Department of Health and Human Services that show thousands of allega=ions of unaccompanied minors<=a> being sexually abused while in US custody between 2014 and 2018. A spok=sperson for the dept – which oversees unaccompanied minors �=93 says that their safety is "our top concern."

=/a>

What people are worried about…

Tensions between India and Pakistan. The nuclear-armed countries control parts =f a region called Kashmir, where their unofficial border sits. And they've=been fighting for full co=trol of it since the 1940s (including two wars). Earlier this month, a Pak=stan-based militant group carried out a suicide bombing in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir �=80� the deadliest attack there in decades. India's PM said it would reta=iate. Pakistan said it wasn't behind the attack, but would take action if =ndia did. Yesterday, India bombed the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir= India claims it targeted a terrorist training camp, but it's unclear if t=ere was any damage or casualties. It was the first time in decades that In=ian warplanes crossed into Pakistan. Today, Pakistan says it shot down two=Indian warplanes and captured a pilot. Flights throughout Pakistan and in =orthern India have been canceled – and people are very much on edg=.

What people are talking about…

The United Methodist Church. Yesterday, it voted to uphold its ban on gay marri=ge and LGBTQ clergy members. The church is the second-largest Protestant o=e in the US with about 7 million members. While the church bans gay marria=e, a number of clergy members have performed same-sex weddings before. And=liberal members have been pushing for a more progressive stance on this is=ue. Yesterday during a church conference, delegates voted to keep that ban=going. Now there are concerns that this will alienate a number of follower=, and lead to some defections.

What your teacher friends are texting about in the gr=up chat…

This report on racial funding gaps for schools. It says that white school distr=cts get $23 billion more than mostly non-white school districts…ev=n though they typically have the same number of students. Most of this has=to do with property taxes. And not enough funding from states.

What to say when you hear about the decision on the AT&T-Time Warner merger

Nevada regulators also have a big announcement. Yeste=day, they fined Wynn Resort= for ignoring sexual misconduct complaints. Last year, the former CEO =teve Wynn resigned after a rep=rt came out about multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him. =egulators in NV investigated how the company handled the accusations. Turn= out, the company knew about them but didn't investigate. Now, the company=s getting hit with a record $20 million fine – the largest one in =he state's history. Wynn Resorts called the review a step forward for the =ompany.

What to say when everyone and their mother is following Ariana Grande on Insta=E2��

They also can't stop listening to Kacey Musgrave's Selena cover.

To hire a pro, or not to hire a pro. That is the tax =eason question. If you've been dragging your feet, we feel you. This flowchart will help you decide =hether to go your own way or rely on the experts to help you file your tax=s. Bonus: it'll make you laugh. Not something you hear every day when it c=mes to taxes.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you're tempted to order takeout (again)..=

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F=r when you've got plans tonight…

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

SKIMM'RS

Raise a glass to…Jenna R (MI). Last ye=r, she was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer at age 27. After going th=ough 15 rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy, she's officially cancer-f=ee.

C=ngrats to…Emily A (TX). She just landed her dream job as an RN=at a hospital in Dallas. And to Bobbi M (MA), who just got into the=Peace Corps and will be placed in Fiji.

(=ome) Birthdays…Bill Mack (NY), Sara Blakely (GA), Hiba Hashim =NJ), Alex DiIorio (OH), Alisha Wieckmann (VA), Livi Farber (MD), Marissa I=nnacone (BC), Tricia Handza (PA), Zoë Eagan (AR), Carl Tinkham (PA), =ade Yaa Kankam-Nantwi (GHA), Carol Ann Bettini (NC)

*=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 looking for something new to binge (but we=kinda always are). Share theSkimm with your friend who's ready to binge "R=ssian Doll" on Netflix again.

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

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