Georgetown students want to help make amends for history. They voted to add a little extra to their tuition to pay reparations to the descendants of Georgetown’s former slaves. President Trump is also trying to help people who have been underserved. By the Internet. He announced initiatives to expand 5G and help people in rural America. Also on today’s episode: how millennials are saving houseplants and how Game of Thrones is going to save our Sunday. 

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. wants Wikileaks founder Julian Assange stateside to face a conspiracy charge. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has an open invite to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and genocide. Also on today’s episode: Nipsey Hussle’s funeral in Los Angeles and signs of voting in India. 

President Trump flew to Texas today to visit the heart of the oil and gas industry, and he signed two controversial executive orders while he was there. They’re meant to make it easier to build oil and gas pipelines - which some states have not been happy about. Another thing not getting easier: taxes. Congress just banned the IRS from ever offering a free tax filing service. Also on today’s episode: a legend in the NBA is retiring and we finally get a peek at a black hole. 

Crazy high drug prices have gotten bipartisan attention lately. Back in February, drug companies pointed fingers at Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Today, five PBM execs were on Capitol Hill and pointed the finger back. Attorney General William Barr was on the Hill, too, getting grilled about the Mueller Report. Also on today’s episode: a duchess’ tax dilemma and a marathon on ice.

Israel is getting ready to head to the polls, and Prime Minister Netanyahu is giving voters one more thing to think about: the West Bank. The region at the center of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. NBD. In the US, more shake-ups in the Trump Administration. DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and her Secret Service Director are out. There are a lot of questions about Nielsen’s replacement. Also on today’s episode: why more defense might make for a March Madness dud, and huge pythons in Florida caught by a honey pot.

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 after the Saudi-American journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated last year. Putting President Trump in an awkward spot. In other diplomatic tension, Julian Assange may have overstayed his welcome at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Packing his bags could land him in jail. And in the US. Also on today’s episode: a Final Four Cinderella story and rude cats. 

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 asking the IRS to show them the receipts. But why are the president’s tax returns such a big deal? In other money news, the Dept of Education has been cutting down on who’s eligible for a public student loan forgiveness program. Also on today’s episode: science wants you to take a walk and chill, and Airbnb’s inviting you to a sleepover at Mona Lisa’s house.

Human rights groups all over the world are calling out Brunei for harsh new laws. People caught participating in gay sex could now be stoned to death. So we’re breaking down Sharia law and how it’s interpreted across the Muslim world. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is visiting Capitol Hill. Just in time for NATO’s bday. But don’t expect a big party. Also on today’s episode: people are seeing red over taxes, and a spy in Mar-a-Lago’s saying ‘sorry about that, Chief.’ 

 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 a repeat of the 2016 U.S. elections. But that’s harder than it sounds. Meanwhile, the US Senate can’t agree on a budget for Puerto Rico relief funding. Also on today’s episode: it’s Equal Pay Day (but not for everyone), and Chicago gets ready to make history. 

The Trump Administration is thinking about cutting aid to a few Central American countries. It’s pointing to the border crisis. But how are the two related, again? In other DC news, today we found out that the White House gave security clearances to dozens of officials - even after their applications were denied. Also on today’s episode: Democrats are talking about the robot tax, and Japan says, ‘new era, new us.’  PS: Equal Pay Day is coming up. Leave us a voicemail at 646.461.6370 to tell us how you’ve fought for equal pay at the office. And you just might hear your two cents on the show next week.

Third time’s the charm. Except when it comes to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan to get a Brexit deal approved. Bollocks. Parliament voted down her plan for the third time today. Making a no-deal Brexit look like a definite possibility. We’ll tell you what that could look like. Also on today’s episode: Lyft requests a ride to Wall St, and Skimm’r Melissa tells us about her Woman of the Week.  PS: Equal Pay Day is coming up. Leave us a voicemail at 646.461.6370 to tell us how you’ve fought for equal pay at the office. And you just might hear your two cents on the show next week.

A DC judge struck down laws in Arkansas and Kentucky that would require Medicaid recipients to work in exchange for getting free or low-cost government healthcare coverage. Opening up the floor for debate. Meanwhile, the UK is the latest country to call out Chinese tech giant Huawei for being insecure. Also on today’s episode: Sarah Kate Ellis gets ready to present the Carters with some gold, and we get bad news from the produce aisle.    PS: Want to tell us about your Woman of the Week? Leave us a voicemail at 646.461.6370 and you might hear your voice on the show on Friday. 

The Pentagon is checking its account - and making bank transfers - to figure out how it’s going to pay for President Trump’s border wall. Not everyone is happy with their fix. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she’s got a brand new Brexit strategy: stepping down. Also on today’s episode: “Hidden Figures” are found on Capitol Hill, and the EU is putting on the brakes. In cars.  PS: Want to tell us about your Woman of the Week? Leave us a voicemail at 646-461-6370, and you might hear your voice on the show this Friday. 

The Trump Administration wants to take down the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare. Spoiler: this won’t be the last time you’ll hear about healthcare. Because 2020. Changes to the law could affect you. We’ll tell you about it. Meanwhile, in Chicago, it’s “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett’s lucky day. Prosecutors dropped all charges made against him for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself and cleared his record. Also on today’s episode: an all-female editorial staff at the Vatican says ‘we quit’, and NASA reminds everyone that size matters. When you’re suiting up for zero gravity.

Mueller…? Mueller…? After two years, Special Counsel Robert Mueller finally turned in his report to the DOJ. And probably had a great weekend … while Attorney General William Barr got down to speed-reading. Today, we’re breaking down the questions that are still swirling around about the report, including the big O(J). Obstruction of Justice. Also on today’s episode: we intro you to the unlikely Brexiter-in-chief, Theresa May, and a certain tech company has some (Apple) News. 

President Trump tweeted earlier this week that the US should recognize that Israel’s the boss of a disputed area called the Golan Heights. Making the US the first country to do so. Spoiler: the international community is annoyed. We’ll explain what’s going on. Back at home, Mississippi now officially has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country. Cue: legal pushback. Abortion activists are hoping they can take it to the big leagues: SCOTUS. Also on today’s episode: Skimm’rs Emma and Erica thank their mommas for what they gave ‘em. 

President Trump just signed an executive order requiring colleges to support free speech. Which has a lot to do with conservative groups on campus. We’ll tell you what you need to know. Across the world in New Zealand, the gov has made moves to ban the semiautomatic weapons involved in last week’s shootings. Less than a week after they happened. Also on today’s episode: we’re talking Lupita Nyong’o … and balls.  PS: Want to tell us about your Woman of the Week? Leave us a voicemail at 646-461-6370, and you might hear your voice on the show this Friday. 

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 Google with a 1.5 billion-euro fine. And that’s not the only antitrust story you’re hearing about today. Meanwhile, back in the US, the FDA just approved a breakthrough drug that could help more than a hundred thousand moms. Also on today’s episode: we spotlight New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, and it’s finally time to put your sweaters away.  PS: Want to tell us about your Woman of the Week? Leave us a voicemail at 646-461-6370, and you might hear your voice on the show this Friday.  PPS: GV (formerly Google Ventures) and 21 Century Fox are minority investors in theSkimm. 

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and US President Trump caught up in the Oval Office today. They’re big fans. Of each other. Which is kind of a big deal, because the US and Brazil haven’t exactly been BFFs in the past. We’ll break down what’s going on. Meanwhile, a lot of the Midwest is under water. We’ll tell you three big things to know about the situation. Also on today’s episode: there’s a new biography out about the first female Supreme, and Instagram wants you to open your wallet while you scroll.  PS: Want to support flood relief in the Midwest? Here’s how you can help.   

Gerrymandering: drawing district lines so that some people have more power at the polls. And a big talker ahead of the 2020 election. Today, the Supremes are hearing a Virginia case. And they’ll be hearing from a couple more states this year. So we’re breaking down what you need to know. Also on today’s episode: French yellow vest protesters are back at it, and the NCAA tournament is about to take over your water-cooler conversations. PS: We'd love to know what you think. Head on over to theskimm.com/feedback to share and be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card. 

Mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand are forcing a conversation about the spread of white nationalism … and the internet. Meanwhile, students took action to protest government inaction on climate change. Also on today’s episode: a Skimm’r shares her pick for Woman of the Week. 

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 Capitol Hill. The issue on the table: the 2020 census, and whether it should include a question about citizenship. But there’s another questionnaire coming up in 2020. Hint: it’s your ballot. Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke added his name to it today. Also on today’s episode: Christina Koch makes history, and we celebrate Pi Day.  PS: Want us to highlight a woman who’s been crushing the game? Leave us a voicemail at 646-461-6370 and tell us about her. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom hit ‘pause’ on capital punishment in his state. Opening up the floor for a national debate on the death penalty. In other criminal justice news, a judge tacked on more federal prison time for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Now, prosecutors in New York want in on the action. Also on today’s episode: the US jumps on the ‘ground the Boeing Max 8’ bandwagon, and Judge Judy gets a nod from the TV Academy. PS: Want to tell us about the Judge Judy in your life? Leave us a voicemail at 646-461-6370.

British parliament rejected PM Theresa May’s latest Brexit plan today. ICYMI, the EU and the UK are getting a divorce. But three years in, they still can’t agree on the terms. The biggest sticking point: the border with Ireland aka ‘the backstop.’ We’ll break it down, guvnah. In other news, the DOJ dropped the curtain on a huge college admissions scam this morning. And they implicate some familiar faces. (Whatever happened to predictability?) Also in today’s episode: millennials break a financial record, and the world wide web celebrates a big birthday. 

 President Trump just released his financial wishlist. On it: $718 billion for the Pentagon, way more than the spending cap. But he might get lucky with the money because of something called the Overseas Contingency Operations Fund, aka the Pentagon “slush fund”. Spoiler: it’s controversial. Meanwhile, Boeing is in crisis mode after another one of its planes crashed over the weekend. Also on today’s episode: Swiss moms speak up about maternity leave policies at UBS, and a man almost gets swallowed by a whale. 

Paul Manafort got muuuch less prison time than prosecutors recommended on Thursday. Which got everyone talking. So today we’re breaking down sentencing laws... and how judges decide who gets to pass Go. In other jailhouse news: former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning is back in prison. She RSVP’d ‘no’ to an invite to testify before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks, and a judge found her in contempt of court. Also on today’s episode: your pick for Woman of the Week.

Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) has everyone talking about how to fix the military’s process for handling allegations of sexual assault. We’re breaking down what you need to know. Meanwhile, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is headed to prison … unless the president decides to pardon him. TBD on that. Also on today’s episode: the history of International Women’s Day, and the new Queen of Instagram…  PS: This week, women have been crushing it in the news. Leave us a voicemail at 1.646.461.6370 and tell us which one has your vote for Woman of the Week. 

The federal government is arguing about whether families migrating across the US-Mexico border are a national emergency. We’ll break down what’s going on. In other news from the feds, the FDA just gave a new antidepressant the thumbs up. But it’s got some baggage. Also on today’s episode: Gayle King keeps her composure, and the International Space Station is getting ready to take one giant leap for womankind…