theSkimm - Daily Skimm: Dollar dollar bill y'all

"See you in two hours" – Kate Hudson after learning sex counts as a workout. No need to clip on for this ride.

Better Have My Money

The Story

The US economy's dealing with some highs and lows.

Explain.

When the coronavirus first hit, the US shut down. Businesses closed their doors, restaurants cleared the tables, hospitals became overwhelmed, and we all slipped into something a little more comfortable. At one point, over 30 million Americans were unemployed. Many scrambled to pay their bills despite some government help. Now, more than a year later, there's some good and bad news...

Bad news first please.

The US is having a supply and demand problem. Think: there are more buyers than there are goods to buy. Multiple industries are facing shortages of things as important as microchips and as asinine as ketchup. Prices for flights, food, clothes, and gas are soaring. And hospitality workers are saying 'no thanks' to going back to underpaid jobs. We're seeing the highest annual inflation rate in nearly 13 years.

Tell me some good news.

After a year of lockdown, people are ready to get out of their houses. Packed bars, first dates, and wedding season – Americans are ready to live like in the Before Times. Well, at least the fully-vaccinated ones are. The Biden admin's letting them travel overseas to more than 120 countries. And unemployment claims dropped to the lowest rate since March 2020. On top of that, US household wealth reached a record $136.9 trillion.

Is this going to last?

Who knows. Some experts say this is a tell-tale sign of the US bouncing back after the pandemic. Others aren't sure if inflation is here to stay or if prices will stabilize. Now all eyes are on how the Biden admin will navigate it. While Democrats are hopeful prices will even out, Republicans aren't as optimistic. Meanwhile, the Fed – which sets interest rates – is expected to meet later this month to figure out a plan to address inflation.

theSkimm

After an abrupt shutdown, the US economy is on the mend. But it's unclear if this upward trend will last.

Psst...here's what to do with your money when inflation picks up.

And Also...This

What's still dealing with its past…

Germany. Earlier this week, officials announced they're disbanding an elite police commando unit. The reason: at least 18 of the officers – some of which were high-ranking – shared racist messages and Nazi symbols in a group chat. It's not the first time Germany's police force has gotten in trouble. In 2018, far-right threats against a German-Turkish lawyer were traced back to police computers. And last year, another police force was reportedly broken up for trying to cover up extremist activities by some members. Now, the officers have been suspended. And officials are apparently working to rebuild a new unit with emphasis on keeping leadership accountable.

• National concern: In recent years, Germany's seen a rise in far-right extremism, nationalism, and racism. Far-right crimes reportedly account for more than half of all "politically motivated" crimes.

What's got people itching for an update…

This mosquito update. Earlier this week, a medical journal said that modified mosquitoes have reduced the spread of the deadly dengue virus in an Indonesian city by 77%. Every year, dengue-carrying mosquitoes kill at least 22,000 people and infect as many as 400 million. Indonesia's reportedly one of the hardest-hit countries, with about 7 million annual dengue cases every year. Scientists use a 'miracle' bacteria (called Wolbachia) that blocks the dengue virus and infected mosquitoes with it. It's also transmitted to their offspring. (Sound familiar?) So for three years, they set up a trial to release these 'infected' mosquitoes in Yogyakarta city. And the project is not only soaring...it's working.

What's waiting for June Gloom…

The West. This year, there's been a record-breaking drought across the western US (read: Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah). And although droughts in the region are nothing new, experts say human-driven climate change is making the situation worse. Shocker. Droughts are becoming more intense and more frequent. And with hot summer months on the way, there's little relief in sight. Now, experts are turning to lawmakers and Americans to focus on change.

• Hot in here: Arizona is battling two wildfires – which are burning through more than 138,000 acres. Dry conditions aren't helping firefighters get the situation under control.

What we're learning more about...

The Southern Ocean. Earlier this week, the National Geographic Society officially recognized water near Antarctica as the world's fifth ocean. We sea you.

The northern lights. This week, scientists said they've figured out why the light show happens. Electromagnetic waves meet geomagnetic storms.

What'll give you sueños…

"In the Heights."

Dear Dad

Some dads are all about the bad jokes. Others are full of good advice. And some just wanna shower you with love, pride, and protection. No matter what you're thanking your pops for this year, Walmart can help. Trust. Some ideas:

For when he's working on his long game…a dozen Tiger-approved golf balls. They can go the distance.

For when his car is his life...a seven-piece car wash and shine kit that'll help him say 'bye' to dirt, grime, and scratches and 'hi' to that like-new look.

For when he has strong feelings about the thermostat…don't they all? Pitch in for this Energy Star-certified dehumidifier. It'll keep the house comfy without driving up energy bills.

Skimm Reads

"The Maidens" by Alex Michaelides

Shoutout to our friends at Book of the Month for this week's rec.

London-based therapist Mariana Andros is sure Cambridge University classics professor Edward Fosca is a murderer. And she's willing to risk everything – even her own life – to prove it. But as the body count grows, the truth only gets harder to pin down. Believe us when we say you will not see the end of this winding thriller coming.

Join Book of the Month now to get a hardcover copy for only $9.99. They curate five new releases every...you guessed it, month. And they'll ship your fave right to your door. Now that's priority mail.

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

1. Custom hair care for your hair type and goals. This brand's new starter set includes vegan, cruelty-free shampoo and conditioner made juuust for you. Based on your answers to their online quiz. Hair's 10% off. (Sorry.)*

2. The best last-minute Father's Day gifts. Procrastinators, assemble. We rounded up the gifts that'll ship fast and that the dads and father figures in your life will love.

3. Things to make your beach trip a bit easier. We've got a portable table, a blanket that won't trap sand, and a tool to help with bug bites. Shades on and relax.

4. Sex toys for every person and preference. So you can explore your body solo, explore your partner's body, and explore your body with your partner. Time to heat things up.

5. A veggie chopper that'll do all the hard work for you. If you've struggled to cut an onion, this one's for you. This chopper comes with 12 different blades and a basket to catch everything. Hello, easy meal prep.

PS: Like what you see here? Make sure you're signed up to get more picks like these in your inbox every Thursday. We've got exclusive shopping recs, streaming ideas, life hacks, and more.

Skimm’rs

This Pride Month, we're recognizing LGBTQ+ leaders, businesses, & orgs for doing great things in the world and in the community.

Sharing LGBTruth...Jordan R (CA). They founded VideoOut, a national LGBTQ+ advocacy org that focuses on education and storytelling as empathic tools for change. VideoOut has recorded hundreds of LGBTQ+ personal narratives across the US. And started developing educational materials for LGBTQ+ advocacy. Queue it up.

Sugar and spice...Shelly R and Chriss B (FL). They started The Empowered Kitchen as a way to address food deserts in their city. The nonprofit helps women reach independence by launching their own food businesses. Get a taste.

(Some) Birthdays...theSkimm's Laney Kay (NY), Darrell Ross (FL), Jim Robinson (NY), Leslye Kaskel (NY), Alex Tehranian (NY), Ethan Stern (NY), Sharon Prince (CT), Clark Sacktor (NY), Marilyn Taylor (KS), Sarah Hegemann (WI), Missy Walker (MS), Peyton DeLeon (TX), Ashley Mueller (CA), Jenna luck (CA), Tasha Orange (FL)

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Nominate yourself or someone you know here.

This week on "Skimm This": A look back at the subtle diplomacy of royal baby names throughout history. We spoke to Harper's Bazaar royal correspondent Omid Scobie about the many messages Harry and Meghan sent with the naming of their baby daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

And if you're looking for other smart ways to spend your time…

• Listen to our news podcast "Skimm This" for clarity on the biggest stories of the week.

• Tune in to our career podcast "Skimm'd from the Couch" for tips to build your resume.

• Subscribe to our "Skimm Money" newsletter to keep up to date with your wallet.

• Sign up for our "Skimm Your Life" newsletter for curated shopping, reads, and entertainment recs.

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• Download our app to get it all in one place.

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Skimm’d by Rashaan Ayesh, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain

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