Daily Skimm: With a dream and my cardigan

"I feel betrayed" – Tennessee Titans' Rashad Weaver, whose mom apparently said he has to pay for his own phone bill now that he's in the NFL. Time to tackle adulthood.

Happy Birthday, America

The Story

Independence Day is this weekend. You know what that means...

Time to bring out the grill?

Well, yes. But carefully. This weekend many will be out celebrating America's 245th birthday with family and friends, fireworks, and parades. But before you bust out your red, white, and blue fanny pack, there are some things you should be aware of…

Heat...The Pacific Northwest is still being hit with a heat wave – with temps rising to triple digits. Several cities have banned fireworks, worried about accidental fires or serious injuries. Here are some tips to safely own the night à la Katy Perry. Staying cool throughout the day (and night) is key. Drink lots of water, take cool showers, you know the drill. But also: be aware of the signs of heatstroke, including for your pets.

Long Lines...This weekend will be busy. No, really, it's expected to be the busiest travel period since the beginning of the pandemic – with more than 47 million Americans hitting the road or the TSA line. And high demand means high prices. Rental cars have apparently increased their prices 140% since 2019. And gas is also averaging out over $3 a gallon. Just about everything else is pricier too, because inflation. But people are still moving full throttle – especially since more than half of the country's adults are fully vaccinated...which reminds us.

COVID-19...Because yes, we're still in a pandemic. Coronavirus infections are up 10% since last week. And it's mostly because of the Delta variant – the strain that's 60% more contagious than Alpha, and carries double the risks of hospitalization. Delta already counts for a quarter of all new cases and has been detected in every single state. It could become the dominant strain in a matter of weeks. And the CDC's warning that the slowing vaccination rate could leave many vulnerable to the virus.

theSkimm

America seems to be ready for a national birthday party, but fires, record heat, and a rising variant have some officials asking people to pump the brakes.

And Also...This

Who's got something to say about voting…

The Supreme Court. Yesterday, it upheld Arizona voting restrictions in a 6-3 decision. It's one of the court's biggest voting rights rulings in years. The case looked at two state rules: one, allowing it to throw out ballots cast in the wrong precinct. And two, banning "ballot harvesting" – when someone other than a family member or caregiver collects and drops off your ballot. Democrats argued they disproportionately impact voters of color. A lower court agreed. But most of the Supremes said just because there's "some disparity" doesn't mean there's an unequal opportunity to vote. Republicans applauded the move, taking it as a hint SCOTUS could side with them on a number of voting restriction cases. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, accusing the court of rewriting the Voting Rights Act. President Biden said he's "deeply disappointed."

Who hit the pause button…

AG Merrick Garland. Yesterday, he announced a moratorium on federal executions. It's so the DOJ can continue its review of the death penalty. There hasn't been a scheduled federal execution since President Biden took office. But the former Trump admin carried out the first one in more than 17 years, and 12 more after that. Now, Garland says the death penalty could be disproportionately impacting people of color. There are currently 46 inmates on federal death row.

What people are monitoring…

Surfside, FL. Yesterday, search and rescue continued after an hours-long pause – brought on by fears that the remainder of the condo building could fall. Since the building's partial collapse last week, at least 18 people have been confirmed dead, including two children. 145 are still missing. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited the site and met with families of the victims, telling them to "never give up hope." And people are questioning the safety of other buildings. Yesterday, a report found that 72 condos outside Orlando are also unsafe...and at risk of collapsing.

Who's doing good...

Walmart. Earlier this week, the retailer shared it will be selling its own private brand of insulin. More than 34 million Americans have diabetes. Of them, nearly 30% rely on the lifesaving drug to control their blood sugar. But it's not cheap (think: thousands of dollars a year). And even higher for those without health insurance. In comes Wally World. Its private brand ReliOn will sell insulin vials for about $73 – saving people as much as $100 per vial.

What's giving some people more freedom to choose…

The State Dept. Earlier this week, it said Americans can immediately pick whether they identify as "M" or "F" for their passport – without a medical certificate. And that a plan to add a third option – for those that identify as "nonbinary, intersex, and gender nonconforming" – is in the works.

While Meghan McCain's trying out a different View…

"Hillbilly Elegy" author JD Vance could be eyeing a different role.

Skimm Reads

"Rock the Boat" by Beck Dorey-Stein

Gird your loins. The "From the Corner of the Oval" author is back, this time with a novel set in a small seaside town in New Jersey. In it, a stumbling 30-something whose love life recently imploded returns to her hometown for a summer. Cue a cast of quirky characters, a rapidly changing town, some rekindled friendships — and you'll get this frothy story about how the course of true adulthood never did run smooth.

PS: Need a beach read for the holiday weekend? We gotchu.

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

1. Up to 60% off home stuff. Wayfair's July 4th sale is here. Which means you can get outdoor furniture, grills, firepits, and kitchen essentials at a deep discount. Just in time for BBQ season. Yes, please.*

2. Summer outfits you won't need a bra for. Seriously. Buzzoms designs tops and dresses for women with fuller chests. Because they believe everyone should be able to go braless. Their pieces are breathable, supportive, and oh-so-comfy. And Skimm'rs get 20% off. Bust a move.*

3. 20 problem-solving things you'll wanna buy if you own a pet. Morning snuggles? Lots of fun. Messy eating, constant shedding, and dirty paws? Not so much. These products will make the everyday with your furry friends way easier.

4. Products for anyone who hates being hot. The sweat, the humidity, the frizz…tragic. We've got a neck fan, something to prevent thigh chafing, and cooling towels. Ah, sweet relief.

5. 16 things to spark creativity and increase your productivity. For when you want to get your creative juices flowing but your to-do list is never-ending. Add these to cart.

6. Yummy 4th of July sales to check out before the weekend. Getting ready for your holiday barbecue? Goldbelly's offering $15 off orders worth $50+ with code GETINMYBELLY. If you're cooking, turn to Misen. You can snag 20% off sitewide with code JULY21. Our stomachs are rumbling.

Programming Note

Skimm HQ will be enjoying some backyard BBQs this weekend. See you back in your inbox on Tuesday.

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.

The sex talk...Dolly F (FL). She recently launched S.H.A.R.E – a new sexual health and wellness center dedicated to providing inclusive and intersectional mental health services. The center also provides affirmative and accessible treatment to the LGBTQ+ community in her area. Learn more.

Lights, camera, action...LaRose W (IL). She is making a movie about how a young nerdy Black woman learns to love herself in spite of racial tensions at her predominantly white university. And she's working on raising funds to get her movie off the ground and hire a diverse cast and crew. Check it out.

(Some) Birthdays...Lisa Alba (IL), Kasey McBride (PA), Mike Breskin (NY), Spencer Shrage (NY), Kasey Riemer (PA), Carol Weiss (NY), Hilary Saltzman (NY), Brett Cummings (NY), Alana DiSabatino (MD), Elizabeth Bernstein (FL), Catherine Kelly (OR), Jeanine Imperatore (NY), Kayla Smith (NC), Michelle Fleming (CA), Rachel Bleefeld Bornstein (PA)

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

This week on "Skimm This": We're breaking down the latest on the labor market. As in, why are there so many job openings right now? Why aren't they being filled? And what's being done to get people back to work?

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

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Skimm’d by Rashaan Ayesh, Mariza Smajlaj, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain

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