Daily Skimm: It's not turquoise

"Veltini"

— Velveeta's cheese-infused vodka cocktail. For when you want to feel hungover *while* drinking.

Melting

The Story

The climate crisis is heating up in the US and Europe.

We've...been outside.

So let's talk about it: More than 100 million Americans were under heat warnings yesterday — about one-third of the US population. Wildfires are raging from Texas to California to Alaska. But that's not all: France, Portugal, and Spain have also been trying to contain wildfires. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes. The UK this week experienced its hottest temp ever. And more than 1,100 Europeans have died from the heat. As Spain's PM put it, "climate change kills."

Speaking of which…

Yesterday, President Biden announced executive actions to fight the climate crisis. That includes plans to move more than $2 billion in funding to help communities gear up for extreme weather events — like heat waves, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. By providing funding, Biden also hopes to lower the cost of AC and create community cooling centers for low-income families. And by expanding offshore wind areas, he says the US will create more clean, affordable energy jobs.

theSkimm

Many Americans grew up hearing the words 'climate change' — and the UN's warnings can sometimes be hard to visualize. But people don't need to imagine it anymore — many are already experiencing its effects...and suffering.

PS: If you're dealing with a heat wave, check out our tips for staying safe.

And Also...This

What apparently needed to be spelled out...

The VP can't decide elections. Yesterday, a group of 16 senators unveiled what could be the first bipartisan legislation aimed at stopping a repeat of Jan 6, 2021. That includes a bill that would review an 1887 law and clarify that the vice president's job when certifying an election is "solely ministerial." And that they have no power to "adjudicate disputes over electors." The announcement comes in response to former President Trump pressuring then-VP Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election (see: this and this). And comes just in time for...

The final countdown: Today is the last scheduled Jan 6 hearing — and it's going prime time at 8 pm ET. It's expected to focus on what former President Trump was doing in the 187 minutes while rioters stormed the Capitol.

Where there are new political tributes…

The UK. Yesterday, the Conservative Party narrowed down the country's next prime minister to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Sunak — a former finance minister — resigned from PM Boris Johnson's government earlier this month saying their approaches are "fundamentally too different." He also doesn't support tax cuts until inflation's simmered down. Meanwhile, Truss — the current foreign secretary — is all for slashing taxes. Next week, the two will face off in a televised debate followed by hustings. That's where they'll debate policies and answer questions from the audience. The winner will be announced on September 5. Meanwhile, Johnson ended his final PM question session by saying "hasta la vista, baby." No, literally.

Sri Lanka. Yesterday, Parliament promoted former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to president. Wickremesinghe — who's already acting president — will replace the one who fled the country after months of protests. But Wickremesinghe's first day on the job included little office merch and plenty of protests. Now, he's tasked with getting a handle on the country's mounting debt and inflation, while trying to keep his new job.

...Oh and speaking of world leaders, Italian PM Mario Draghi offered his resignation (again) after his coalition gov failed. Meaning Italy could have elections sooner than expected.

Where there's pushback...

Argentina. Its capital, Buenos Aires, is reportedly one of the first cities to ban gender-inclusive language in schools. Last month, the city's govt banned teachers from using any gender-neutral words (like todxs and bienvenid@s) during class and when speaking to parents. Although Argentina has made efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community, the city's education minister says the gender-inclusive language goes against Spanish grammar — where the default gender is masculine — and can lead to poor reading skills. Activists and orgs are suing to overturn the ruling. The gender-inclusive language changes have faced an uphill battle in other parts of the world too like Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and France.

Who's playing Belle in ABC's "Beauty and the Beast"……

Ladies and gentlemen, H.E.R.

Why we're excited as Sh!t...

Issa Rae.

Skimm Well

Together with

Going with your gut isn't always easy. But research shows the brain-gut connection is real. Meaning you miiight wanna work more gut care (yes, gut care) into your self-care routine. If you need help getting started, try Ritual's Synbiotic+. An in-vitro clinical study shows that this 3-in-1 pre-, pro, and postbiotic reaches the colon — the place where probiotics can grow and thrive.† Plus it's vegan and gluten-free. Oh, and Skimm'rs get a pretty sweet discount. Go gut 'em.

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Skimm Life

Ever wonder what Skimm'rs can't resist adding to cart? Spoiler: Lots of nifty products that solve everyday inconveniences. Here's what our audience (hey, that's you) loves most from our Amazon storefront:

Skimm Picks

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. An alcohol-free bev that's totally di-wine. This brand's non-alcoholic wine is made from real California grapes. So it looks and feels like the boozy stuff. Without the next-day hangover. Aaand for the next 48 hours, Skimm'rs get 20% off. Grape stuff.*

2. How to win 'most stylish' at your next pool party. This swimwear collection. That's it. That's the answer. Whether you're into retro styles or neon colors, each piece combines the support of your fave bra with the comfort of your go-to sweats. Psst…here's 40% off.*

3. Makeup, skincare, and sun care all in one. This clean formula = hydration, natural coverage, collagen boost, SPF 25, and pollution protection. *Mind blown.* Aaand it's got hundreds of five-star reviews. Plus some celeb fans (nbd). PS: Skimm'rs get a free gift with code SKIMM.*

4. Things that'll protect your baby at the beach this summer. From swimwear that blocks harmful rays to tiny sunglasses, stock your bag with the cutest gear for your little one.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimm'rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Smaller footprints…Megan M (OR). She and her husband created a completely compostable baby shoe to prevent old shoes from ending up in landfills. Baby got b...iodgredable.

(Some) Birthdays…Brandon Tepper (NY), Olivia White (NJ), Claire Grummon (NY), Ashley Starks (IL), Liz Dawson (OK), Kelsey Vredeveld (MI), Ariel Zahler (NY), Shane Ryan (DC), Carlee Bunkers (MT), Stephanie Rozycki (NJ), Alyssa Lynn (PA), Lisa Hancock (FL), Lisa Schumacher (ND), Laura Vernaci (MO), Cathy Adams (TN)

PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

theSkimm Loyalty Program

10 Gifts to Celebrate 10 Years of Skimm'ng* continues. And while we'll keep getting loud about issues we care about most, we're gifting one Skimm'r a JBL speaker to get loud with your fave podcast ("Skimm This" anyone?). Log in and enter to win here. Psst…Not a member? Enroll in our Loyalty Program and we'll automatically add you to the giveaway*.

*Terms and Conditions apply for the 10 Gifts to Celebrate 10 Years of Skimm'ng Sweepstakes occurring between July 18, 2022 and July 29, 2022. By joining and/or entering, you affirm that you have read and agree to the T&Cs. Reach out to loyalty@theSkimm.com for questions.

Skimm'd by Rashaan Ayesh, Melanie De Lima, Kate Gilhool, Julie Shain, and Mariza Smajlaj