Daily Skimm: Feelin' like a ten, the best I've ever been

Pieper Lewis

The Story

A teen who killed her alleged rapist now has to pay his family restitution. 

Back up.

In 2020, 15-year-old Pieper Lewis was sleeping in a hallway of an apartment building. She was fleeing an abusive home when a man took her in and trafficked her to others for sex. One of those men was 37-year-old Zachary Brooks. Lewis told the court he raped her many times for weeks. In June 2020, she fatally stabbed him more than 30 times. 

What happened next?

Last year, Lewis pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and willful injury. Prosecutors argued that since Brooks was sleeping at the time of the attack, he didn’t pose a danger to her. But Lewis said she felt unsafe “which resulted in the acts.” Earlier this week, an Iowa judge sentenced Lewis to five years of closely supervised probation — facing 20 years in prison if she violates it. And ordered her to pay $150,000 in restitution to Brooks’s family — something that's mandatory under Iowa law. But Lewis has supporters, who have already raised the money to pay it off.

What does US law say about all this?

Dozens of states have safe harbor laws that give trafficking victims at least some level of criminal immunity. Iowa is not one of them. A bill passed by the Iowa House of Representatives is stuck in the state Senate after law enforcement groups raised concerns. If this story sounds familiar, that’s because it’s raising parallels to the story of Cyntoia Brown.

What's back on track…

Labor talks. Today, the Biden admin said labor unions and railroad companies were able to reach a tentative agreement — averting a massive railroad strike. Unions are calling for better working conditions and wages, accusing railroad companies of punishing employees for taking time off for medical reasons. Nine unions had reportedly reached a tentative agreement earlier. But it was the last three holdout unions — which represent about 60,000 workers — that put people on the edges of their seats. It threatened food and fuel supplies across the country. The potential of a looming strike pushed Amtrak to cancel all of its trips outside the Northeast Corridor. Now, an agreement was reached after more than 20 consecutive hours of negotiating. President Biden says the agreement guarantees "peace of mind" for workers.

What has people talking…

Ohio. Yesterday, a judge temporarily blocked the state’s six-week abortion ban. The 2019 law — among the strictest in the country — comes before many women know they’re pregnant. And does not include exceptions for rape. It’s why a 10-year-old rape victim earlier this year traveled to neighboring Indiana to get an abortion. The ACLU has sued, arguing the law is vague and goes against state constitutional rights. Now, the judge has agreed — and paused the ban for two weeks before another hearing. In the meantime, abortion is now legal in Ohio through 20 weeks of pregnancy. It‘s a win for abortion rights activists, who’ve filed suits in dozens of states. Anti-abortion activists called the ruling a “political statement.”

Louisiana. Earlier this month, a Louisiana woman traveled to New York to get an abortion after being denied one in her home state. The woman says she was blocked from getting an abortion after her fetus was diagnosed with acrania — a rare congenital disorder in which its skull doesn't properly form. It often leads to a stillbirth or the baby dying within days of birth. But the woman says she was denied because a heartbeat could still be detected. The author of the law says the woman could’ve obtained an abortion in the state because there’s an exception for when fetuses can’t survive outside the womb. But acrania wasn’t explicitly on that list of exceptions and hospital officials reportedly feared penalties, jail time, and having their licenses revoked.

Who may be throwing a grand old (victory) party...

Former President Trump. This week marked the end of the primary season. And with it, came an answer to one of the season’s biggest questions: how much influence does the former president still have over Republican voters? Turns out, a lot: about 92% of the candidates Trump endorsed won their primaries. To be fair, nearly a quarter of those candidates were reportedly running unopposed. And a large majority (74%) were incumbents. But now, the question becomes 'how will those candidates do in the midterms?' Some candidates will be navigating tough swing states. And their wins come amid a large uptick in female voter registration following the reversal of Roe v. Wade — a trend that has put some Republicans on the defensive.

...Oh and speaking of midterms: they’re coming in quick. Mark your cals.

Who’s on track to spend more time in prison...

R. Kelly. He was found guilty yesterday of multiple child sex abuse charges. That’s in addition to the 30 years he’s already serving for sex trafficking and other charges.

Who’s taking a step back...

Demi Lovato.

Who could be getting a new trial...

Adnan Syed.

Who's calling Leslie to minimize the press...

Real-life Miranda Priestly. And Anne Hathaway of course.

Doing a kegel is harder than it sounds. A LOT of people struggle to get it right. But nailing these exercises can help you say ‘bye’ to bladder leaks and ‘hey what’s up hello’ to a better sex life. The key to proper form? Engaging the muscles at the base of your pelvis. And not your abs or glutes. 

Oh, and sticking with it. Because it can take months and months of kegels to get hard-earned results. That is, unless you’ve got INNOVO’s smart shorts. They’ll do 180 perfect kegels for you in 30 minutes. While you chill out. They’re the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive solution proven to strengthen the pelvic floor and eliminate bladder leaks in just 12 weeks. Plus, Skimm'rs get a special deal.

Adulting comes with lots of questions. Like, ‘what if the power goes out right before a dinner party?’ Hint: Leave the fridge door closed. It’ll keep the temp food-safe for about four hours and a full freezer cold for 48.

Psst…if insurance questions are on your what-ifs list, State Farm® is there. Even if you’re wondering, ‘what if the drive-through soft-serve machine breaks and covers your car in ice cream?’ (Not that we were wondering that.) They’ll make sure you get the answers to your Qs. You can call them 24/7, download the State Farm mobile app, or visit an agent IRL. And turn your what-ifs into got-its. Phew.

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

1. The only sneakers you’ll wanna sport this fall. This brand’s cult-fave sneakers (hiii, 15K five-star reviews) will take you from skate park to pumpkin patch in no time. They come in Earth-friendly canvas and suede materials (aaaaaand over a dozen IG-worthy shades). Run, don’t walk.*

2. Tech that’ll give you an extra set of eyes. ADT and Google products make safety smarter. Think: a doorbell that shows you who’s knocking. And security cameras that stream HD video you can check on your phone — from virtually anywhere. Phew.*

3. Delicious wine for your next happy hour. Made from 100% organic grapes, this wine (co-founded by Cameron Diaz, nbd) is transparently produced and free of unwanted additives. Think: no concentrates, colors, or added sugars. Oh, and Skimm’rs get 15% off. Sip, sip hooray.*

4. Something to help you make the most of your ‘honk shoo’ era. Get ready for the sweetest dreams with this brand’s cozier-than-cozy cotton silk collection. Think: ultra soft, breathable knits, sweats, and pullovers for the highest quality Zzz’s. Shop now.*

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.

Taking a punch…Liza P (VA). Over the summer, Liza started taking Muay Thai classes consistently. Eventually, she worked her way up to an ‘invite-only’ class where she practices her jabs. A lean mean fighting machine. 

(Some) birthdays…theSkimm's Alexis Aguayo Goldstein (NJ), theSkimm's Julie Alvin (MI), theSkimm's Alessandra Silva Kroeff (FL), Lisa Wahl (RI), Ann Rosen Spector (PA), Betsy Martinez (TX), Halle Beeler (TX), Maria Verardi (PA), Mel Phillips (NC), Kristin Loreaux (NJ), Jodi Grizzel (VA), Maricarmen Cubas (FL), Gloria Cherry Stickel Sherman (FL), Emily Kronyak (RI), Mayra Lemus Rangel (NY)

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

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.