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"The best is yet to come."

— A 21-year-old after beating Michael Phelps' record. Things went swimmingly.

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Israel

The Story

All eyes are on Israel ahead of its vote on judicial reform.

Catch me up.

Earlier this year, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government introduced a controversial judicial overhaul plan. It would allow Netanyahu and members of parliament to void any Supreme Court decision it deems "unreasonable" — drastically cutting the high court's power. The legislation would also give the coalition gov greater say over who's appointed as a judge. For nearly a year, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have protested the upcoming vote in Tel Aviv. This past weekend was no exception, with protesters forming a human chain in Jerusalem's Old City. Now, Israel's parliament — the Knesset — could ratify the legislation as soon as today.

Then what?

It's not clear when the bill would go into effect. About 10,000 military reservists have said they'd stop showing up for duty, if the judicial bill is passed. Some high ranking military officials have also voiced opposition — raising fears about the country's security. Critics have accused Netanyahu, who's on trial for corruption, and his allies of a power grab that threatens Israel's democracy. However, Netanyahu said he wants to bring the gov "back into a proper balance." His supporters say the bill will improve democracy in Israel by giving lawmakers more freedom to put policies into place.

theSkimm

If this bill passes, it would be one of the starkest changes to Israel's government since 1948. Now, as PM Netanyahu gets closer to judicial reform, the changes aren't sitting well with many — including 60% of Americans.

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And Also...This

What's getting checked…

AI. Over the weekend, the White House said seven leading AI companies voluntarily agreed to implement safeguards on the tech's development. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Meta agreed to test AI systems before their releases, alert users of content that's AI-generated, and research how the tech can contribute to bias and discrimination. The White House called the companies' pledges "real and concrete" commitments. However, critics said the safeguards don't go far enough to hold companies accountable for the fast-developing tech. It all comes as lawmakers work to get AI regulations in the books.

Where people are fleeing…

Greece. Over the weekend, wildfires forced officials to evacuate about 19,000 tourists and locals from the island of Rhodes. The vacation spot — located near southeastern Greece and off the coast of Turkey — brings in over a million tourists every year. Authorities said over 160 fires broke out on the island in 24 hours amid a record heatwave. Local officials say the evacuation effort in Rhodes could be the largest in Greece's history. No casualties or injuries have been reported.

Where there was no victory parade…

Spain. Yesterday, the country's national elections ended with no party winning a majority in parliament. Spain's conservative Popular Party earned the most votes, but failed to reach the 176 seats needed to govern. Now, the country faces weeks of political limbo as lawmakers bargain with each other on the next steps.

What's saying "Bye Bye Birdie"…

Twitter. Yesterday, Elon Musk announced that Twitter will no longer use the iconic blue bird logo and has "bid adieu" to the Twitter brand today with a new logo. The domain X.com reportedly redirects users to Twitter. Musk has previously said he wants to create a "super app" that would include instant messaging, social media, and payment methods — similar to China's popular app WeChat. Now, he could be trying to do just that.

Q: What factors increase someone's likelihood of becoming a scam or fraud victim?

Amanda Clayman: We might think of victims as naïve. But scammers know how to exploit us, especially when we're feeling rushed, anxious, or greedy — and there are several risks that could affect anyone, like:

Loneliness when lacking a trusted person to confide in.
Lowered defenses around friendly strangers.
Respect for authority, which can be manipulated by those who pose as government figures or financial institutions.

Stay safe by keeping your security settings updated and never sharing personal information online or over the phone.

Featured Expert

Amanda Clayman

Financial therapist and Zelle® brand ambassador. Her answer has been edited for length and clarity. Psst…need to send (and receive) money safely? Learn how to have a $mart Summer with Zelle® here.

Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

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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.

Moms welcome…Melissa L (GA). She's been a counselor for more than 10 years, and now she's opened up her own practice aimed at helping mothers during the perinatal period.

(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Brianne Morris (NJ), Louisa Fitzgerald (NJ), Megan Oliver (SC), Brittany Oldham (CA), Lora Peloquin (IL), Deb Pitstick (OH), Miranda Thurman (AK), Baylee Gearhart (OH), Lauren White (IL), Susan Schillig Bonkowski (CA), Taylor Burbank (WA), Leslie Stone (FL), Hailey Zehner (SC), Arianna Rodriguez (CA), Megan Oliver (SC)

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