Weekend: Gardenias floating through daydreams

"It makes me feel more like a dad, but a fun dad"

— A man, on his mustache. We'll shave our thoughts on that.

Eyes On

SCOTUS

The Story

The countdown is on for SCOTUS's annual summer vacay.

Go on.

The highest court in the land traditionally wraps its term in the last week of June. In the weeks leading up to that, justices reportedly "scramble" to resolve outstanding cases and issue decisions — usually saving some of the biggest for the end (see: last year's abortion ruling). This year appears to be no different. In fact, they apparently have more than ever still on their to-do list. That includes rulings on contentious issues like…

Affirmative action: For decades, SCOTUS has repeatedly upheld using race as a factor in college admissions to ensure equality in higher education. But now, they could be poised to rule against the practice, after weighing two cases that allege the admissions processes at Harvard and the University of North Carolina end up discriminating against white and Asian American students. While schools argued that minority admissions would drop if affirmative action ended, the court's 6-3 conservative majority called racial classifications "dangerous" and seemed skeptical of "educational benefits." It comes as a majority of Americans favor affirmative action, according to a new poll.
Student loan forgiveness: Reminder, last year, President Biden unveiled a plan to eliminate up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million people — a move the admin says it put in place to ease the "financial" harms caused by the COVID pandemic. But not everyone seems to agree that the admin has the authority to unilaterally do so, including some conservative justices who expressed skepticism during oral arguments. Meanwhile, Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberals in questioning whether the plaintiffs had the legal standing to sue in the first place.
Election laws: In North Carolina, GOP lawmakers have said the formerly Democratic-held North Carolina Supreme Court overstepped its authority when it struck down Republican-drawn congressional districts. Because, according to the lawmakers, the Constitution gives state legislatures the power to determine how federal elections are run, without any oversight from state courts (aka, the "independent state legislature theory"). If accepted, that could lead to major changes in how federal elections are conducted. Most justices seemed skeptical, but in the end that might not matter. Since oral arguments, North Carolina's highest court overturned its earlier decision, so it's unclear if the justices will rule at all.
Native American adoptions: In 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act was enacted, requiring that Native American children in foster care or up for adoption be placed with extended family, their Native tribe, or in other Native homes before families with no tribal connections. That was intended to ensure a child's ties to their cultural heritage and community. But several people trying to adopt Native kids and three states have asked the high court to strike the law, arguing that it's racially discriminatory and that Congress exceeded its authority by enacting the law in the first place. During oral arguments, the Supremes seemed divided on how to handle the case, with Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the liberal justices, who appeared to support upholding it.
LGBTQIA+ rights and free speech: In 2016, website designer Lorie Smith sued Colorado over a state law that requires businesses to offer the same services to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, which Smith says violates her right to free speech. During oral arguments, the conservative-leaning court — which has recently ruled in favor of religious plaintiffs — appeared sympathetic to Smith.

theSkimm

Over the next few weeks, the Supremes will issue a series of decisions that could reshape millions of lives. For now, Americans just have to sit and wait.

What's Happening

📰 In news...

In India, at least 275 people have died and hundreds more are injured after one of the country's worst rail disasters in recent decades. Meanwhile, back at home, President Biden signed legislation that suspends the nation's debt ceiling until 2025 — averting an unprecedented default. In other presidential news, the GOP presidential primary field is likely to get even more crowded this week, with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and former VP Mike Pence all expected to officially say 'count me in.' Also, Atlantic hurricane season is here — and there's already one named storm (hi, Arlene). Expect 11 to 16 more, though a likely El Niño event could change that.

📈 In business...

The US labor market continues to defy expectations — with employers adding 339,000 jobs in May. But it comes as the unemployment rate ticked up. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 Amazon workers worldwide reportedly walked off the job last week. And, this week, hundreds of journalists at Gannett plan to do the same. Speaking of news, a California bill that would require tech companies to pay news outlets for their content is headed to the State Senate. That's despite Meta's threats to block news on its platforms in California if the law goes into effect. Oh and if you store money in apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, a financial watchdog is saying 'yeah, don't.'

🩺 In health...

New research that suggests the shape of your brain may play a big role in how you think and behave is making (brain) waves. As is this new data that found that women are more likely than men to skip or ditch their meds because of high costs. Perhaps that helps explain why cash grants given to middle- and low-income families apparently led to fewer deaths among women. Meanwhile, Sweden is now in reach of becoming Europe's first "smoke-free" country. That's as Canada will become the first country to require warning labels on individual cigarettes — in an effort to make smoking even more of a drag.

Bookmark'd

Here's a look at the reads we've saved, texted, and emailed to our friends…

Welcome to the Golden Age of Oversharing…these days, there seems to be no such thing as TMI.

How to Hire a Pop Star for Your Private Party…turns out, anyone (yes, including Beyoncé) is available, as long as the price is high, err, right.

The Strange Survival of Guinness World Records…a deep dive into the big business of breaking records.

On TikTok, There's Always a New 'Girl' Aesthetic…from "that girl" to "blueberry girls" there's so many girls you can possibly be.

Skimm Picks

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Sunday Scaries, Who?

Here's one tip for a better start to your week.

National Gardening Week is officially in full bloom — so get ready to get down and dirty. In addition to nurturing a bounty of plants and flowers, you may also cultivate a better mood and lower levels of stress and anxiety. Even better? You don't need an expert green thumb to reap the benefits. Here's how to get growing, in whatever space you've got.

A yard, roof, or fire escape. A little green space — whether that's via the ground or containers and raised beds — can go a long way. All you need is a sunny spot, a shovel, some seeds, and (maybe) some fresh soil. Before picking your plants, get familiar with your hardiness zone, which will help you figure out what will thrive in your garden. And pay attention to a flower or plant's estimated size to avoid overcrowding. For a homegrown farm-to-table experience, right now is the perfect time for planting cucumbers, beans, scallions, and basil. Or, if you fancy flowers, consider sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and dahlias.
A window sill. If a full grown, (err, blown) garden sounds intimidating, start small. Some low-maintenance options include aloe vera, ZZ plants, and snake plants. Or, for a pop of color, check out African violets or Christmas cactuses. Once you've weeded out your favorite(s), check for any signs of distress. That includes droopy or discolored foliage, as well as residue or white or brown specks on the undersides of the leaves. Before you leave the store, make sure to pick up a potting soil specifically designed for your plant, as well as the right pot. That means one with a drainage hole and typically, something two inches larger than the plastic pot it comes in.
A neighborhood. Short on green space? Don't want to go it alone? Community gardens are a great option. Because getting your hands dirty is more fun with others. Plus, it can be even more rewarding to grow something everyone can enjoy. To find one in your area, check out the American Community Gardening Association's directory.

Save the Date

Like ours, your work and personal calendars are probably hectic. So here are some events you should know about...

Lights, camera, action — the 2023 Tribeca Festival begins.

The 50th annual CMA Fest, featuring performances by Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Rita Wilson, and more. Yeehaw.

Find out what all the racket's about during the 2023 French Open Women's Final. Then watch the men take the court the following day.

The Belmont Stakes. Tune in around 6:50 pm ET for the mane event.

PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here.