Daily Skimm: Forgot I was afraid of ladders

A National Ban

The Story

There’s now a bill in Congress to ban abortion on the national level.

Tell me.

Yesterday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) intro’d legislation that would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. There would be exceptions in instances of rape, incest, and if the mother’s life is in danger. And states with stricter laws could keep their bans. But the proposed nationwide cutoff — which Graham pitched as a way to combat “late-term abortions” — comes before many fetal anomalies are discovered around the 20-week mark. Graham apparently said he didn’t know if his bill would allow for abortions in those cases.

How are people reacting?

Anti-abortion activists have been calling for a law like this. And some Republicans have supported an earlier version putting the cutoff at 20 weeks. But yesterday’s bill comes less than 60 days before midterms — and after Kansas voters rejected an anti-abortion measure. Now, some Republicans in the Senate are distancing themselves. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says this issue should be handled at the state level. And other key members in the GOP have outright rejected it. But the Hill isn’t the only place with an abortion update…

Tell me more.

Yesterday, West Virginia lawmakers passed one of the most strict abortion bans in the country. If signed, abortions will be banned except in cases of medical emergencies. There are also exceptions for rape and incest victims, who have until eight weeks of pregnancy…but only if they report the assault within 48 hours of getting an abortion. Now, the bill goes to Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) to sign it. One state Dem said the language of the law could lead to “maternity deserts” as doctors might worry they could be prosecuted.

Who people are remembering...

Ken Starr. Yesterday, the former independent counsel died of complications from surgery. He was 76. In the 1990s, Starr became a household name for leading the Whitewater investigation into former President Bill Clinton. The years-long investigation started with a focus on real estate transactions and ultimately led to the second-ever impeachment trial in American history. In 1998, his 445-page Starr Report crashed gov servers because of millions of downloads — and was known for detailed descriptions of sex acts between the president and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Starr was also part of former President Donald Trump's legal team during his 2020 impeachment trial and helped Jeffrey Epstein get a plea deal in 2008. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) remembered Starr as a "brilliant litigator." Lewinsky said his death brought up ”complicated feelings.”

Where tensions are high…

Armenia and Azerbaijan. Earlier this week, clashes erupted between the two former Soviet countries along the border — killing nearly 100 troops from both sides. It marked the worst bout of fighting between the two since 2020, over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia later brokered a cease-fire that put an end to the fighting and Azerbaijan occupied the region. Now, both sides are blaming each other for provoking the attacks and world leaders are worried that this conflict could further escalate. Turkey, Russia, and the US are all calling for an end to it. And Russia’s attempt to broker another cease-fire hasn’t gone anywhere.

Where there are concerns…

San Francisco. Earlier this week, a woman sued the city after her DNA from a rape kit was used to arrest her for an unrelated crime. In February, it came out that the police department hadn't just been saving DNA samples from the assailants…it was also storing the samples of victims. For years. And keeping those samples to test them against a database of other crimes. SF’s district attorney dropped the property crime charges against the woman whose DNA was collected from a 2016 rape kit…even though she was the victim, not the assailant. Now, she says she’s been ​​“re-victimized” by an “unconstitutional” practice used by the police department. The state is moving to ban using rape DNA for unrelated cases, and it awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) signature.

PS: If you need this, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline here or by calling 1-800-656-HOPE.

What’s not looking up…

The economy. Yesterday, the Labor Dept reported an 8.3% jump in the Consumer Price Index from last August. The CPI measures the average price of things like food, clothing, and housing. Despite gas prices slowly dropping, the CPI was higher than expected. It was bad news for the stock market, which then suffered its biggest drop since June 2020. The market shock came the same day that President Biden celebrated his Inflation Reduction Act — which, despite the name, isn't expected to bring down prices anytime soon. And has Republicans asking, 'what's there to celebrate?' Now, the Fed's expected to hike interest rates by 75 basis points when they meet next week. But economists worry that another interest rate increase could tip the country into a recession. 

Who’s trying to force a relationship…

Twitter. Yesterday, Twitter shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover deal. The message: cuffing season started early.

Who’s got people saying ‘retweet’…

Gisele Bündchen wanting her husband to be “more present.”

What’s stepping up its inclusivity…

The Boston Marathon. 

Expensive brunette. Curtain bangs. Scalp-care routines. So far, 2022 has been a biiiig year for hair trends. And hair care overall. Enter: Revela. With help from AI, they discovered a new ingredient called ProCelinyl that targets and supports follicle health directly. So your locks can be ready for the next #HairTrend that comes along. Some of our fave formulas include… 

• This hair revival starter pack ($168). Aka exactly what you need to prevent shedding sans side effects. 

• This nourishing spot treatment ($128). Stubborn follicles don’t stand a chance against this oil-based growth concentrate.  

• This restorative brow serum ($88). Which is perfect for any over-pluckers who are ready to change their ways.

Psst…Skimm’rs get 15% off with code SKIMM15.

We’re back with Relatable Fashion Week. The one where we’re helping you solve your wardrobe woes. Today’s topic? Shoes. Because having the right ones for the right occasions is hard. So we’ve rounded up recs for the best comfy shoes…

• For every office situation

• For dancing all night in

• For pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond

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

1. Detergent that takes the dirty out of cleaning. This eco-friendly detergent comes from the chemist behind clean beauty brand Tatcha. It’s got planet-friendly ingredients and a luxe, Vogue-approved scent. Plus it’s pet- and baby-safe. How’s that for a clean sweep? PS: Here’s $5 off.*

2. Must-have layers to help you fall into fall. This brand has allll the sustainable staples you need to make the transition to fall a cozy one. Think: blanket shirts, sweaters, and jackets to throw over every outfit. Psst…here’s 20% off.*

3. Three reasons to get life insurance now (even if you don’t have kids). Because there are other really important factors to think about when it comes to coverage. We partnered with Quility to break down the basics. Phew.*

4. A personalized program to get your workouts on track. And keep them there. This brand will give you a custom plan based on your goals. And unlimited one-on-one coaching (yes, really) to help you meet them. Plus, Skimm’rs get 50% off their first three months.*

5. A hot-girl-walk-friendly breakdown of this week’s biggest headlines. Our latest “Skimm This” ep, sponsored by Buick, runs through everything that’s been happening this week. And why it matters. Press play.*

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.

Making a run for it…Taylor H and Willy R (NY). They’re running the NYC Marathon this November to raise money for Success Academy. Wishing them success and then some.

Grabbing life by the balls…Lori and Scott L (NY). After Lori beat breast cancer, she and her husband committed to a clean lifestyle. Enter: Scott’s Protein Balls. Don’t be a square and check ‘em out. 

(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Madison Sutton (NY), Julie Warren (FL), Claire McCaskill (VA), Aarti Chokshi (PA), Gayle LePosa (MD), Denise Wiseman (MA), Victoria Baker (SC), Lauren Weber (OH), Ciara Wolfe (TX), Casey Nutter (TX), Ashley Nylin (GA), Megan Cuddy (NH), Andrea Korenek (FL), Shina Mizuno (TX), Sue McGinniss (WI), Rosemary Opalka (NC), Liza Dawley (MN)

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

The only thing worse than being in pain is…not getting adequate care. And doctor’s appointments don’t always go as planned (think: medical gaslighting). We spoke with a doctor about what to do before, during, and after an appointment to ensure your concerns are being heard and properly addressed.

Maybe you’re nostalgic for stationery shopping, or maybe you or your kiddo are heading back to class. Either way, we’ve pulled together some exclusive discounts of our fave back-to-school supplies that you’ll want even if you’re not going back to school. Not a member yet? Join now to get access.