Daily Skimm: Conversations with a stranger I barely know

"He has the habit of turning on the musical equipment with the paw" – Police in Spain after responding to a noise complaint...only to find a cat DJ'ing by itself. Please don't stop the meow-sic.

Sheroes Among Us

The Story

Simone Biles taught us all that it's ok to not be ok.

GOAT.

You know it. This week, the star athlete withdrew from two Olympic events to focus on her mental health. She said she was hit with the 'twisties' (a familiar feeling among gymnasts, as if they lost control of their body in the air) during the vault competition. And preferred to step away instead of pushing through and risking injury. In true leader fashion, she hung out on the sidelines, cheering her teammates on. Biles also admitted the pressure of the Olympics was affecting her, apparently leaving her shaking and unable to sleep. Celebrities, athletes, and sponsors stood by her. But many may not realize how much Biles was carrying on her shoulders.

Tell me more.

She is one of hundreds of gymnasts who are survivors of Larry Nassar's sexual abuse. And she's the only one competing in the Olympics this year. But she did so with a mission: to make sure her voice (and presence) spoke for the hundreds of others asking for accountability. She previously criticized USA Gymnastics for not doing enough to protect their athletes. Biles tweeted that the support she received made her realize that she's "more than [her] accomplishments and gymnastics," something she's "never truly believed before." Her move to withdraw also introduced viewers to another member of the team.

Introduce us, please.

We're talking about Suni Lee. The 18-year-old came in second to Biles during the Olympic trials. And entered the games thinking she was playing for silver. But after Biles withdrew, Lee rallied during the all-around individual competition and took home the gold. Talk about sticking the landing. She is the first Hmong American to earn a spot on the US Olympic team – representing an ethnic group that has long struggled to find a home and has a complicated history with the US after being abandoned following the Vietnam War. But her rise wasn't without overcoming difficulties of her own. In June 2020, Lee broke her foot. She also lost family members to COVID-19. And continued to train with her father's support – despite his paralyzing accident in 2019. One silver lining from this week? Lee got her chance to vault into the limelight.

What's next?

Today, medals are being handed out in the swimming and tennis competitions. And the US women's soccer team is expected to take on the Netherlands in the quarter finals. Meanwhile, we're also looking forward to next week's debut of two new sports: karate and sport climbing.

theSkimm

More and more athletes are speaking out about their mental health (like Biles and Naomi Osaka). They're teaching everyone that athletes are more than just performance machines. And inspiring women and people everywhere to learn the power of saying 'no.'

PS: Our app has you covered on what Olympic events are up next. On your mark, get set, download. Bonus: New users get the first week free.

And Also...This

What we're just now learning about…

This CDC report. Last night, the Washington Post and The New York Times leaked details about an internal CDC report on the delta variant. It's not good. We already knew delta – the COVID-19 variant first identified in India – is more contagious and can cause more severe illness than other known variants. But this internal report hits home just how grim the situation is. The report apparently urged the CDC to "acknowledge the war has changed." And played a key role in the CDC's decision to bring back mask guidelines earlier this week.

• The details: The report apparently says the variant can produce 10 times the amount of virus in people's airways as the one first ID'd in the UK. In other words: it's as contagious as chickenpox. And more contagious than the viruses behind MERS, SARS, Ebola, the 1918 flu, and smallpox.

• But wait, it gets worse: Vaccinated people who get breakthrough infections – an estimated tens of thousands of people in the US each week – may spread delta as easily as unvaccinated people. Keep in mind though: studies show they're less likely than the unvaccinated to get infections in the first place. Or to get severely ill or die.

• More to come: The CDC is expected to give more info on the delta variant later today.

Who's facing the justice system…

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Earlier this week, the 91-year-old was charged with sexually assaulting a minor in the 1970s during a wedding reception. McCarrick – a former Washington, DC archbishop – is one of hundreds of members of the Catholic clergy accused of sexually abusing children over decades. In 2019, Pope Francis defrocked (read: expelled from the priesthood) McCarrick after a trial found him guilty of abusing minors. Now, he's the highest-ranking US Catholic official to be criminally charged for sex abuse against a minor.

• Broken system: Last month, the Vatican updated its Code of Canon Law. And criminalized sexual abuse, grooming, covering up abuse, and possession of child pornography. The legal framework regulates the life of the 1.3 billion-member Catholic Church. It's the first major change since 1983.

Who should pump the brakes...

Americans. Yesterday, a new analysis found that the lifetime emissions of about three average Americans create enough carbon dioxide to kill one person. And a single US coal-fired power plant produces enough heat-trapping emissions to cause 900 deaths. But that's not all. The report could be sugarcoating things...since it only talks about heat-related deaths. And not fatalities from floods, wildfires, or famine. To conclude: we need to slash planet-heating emission rates ASAP if we want to save lives.

• It's starting now: This year, hundreds of deaths in Oregon, Washington, and Canada have been linked to historic heat waves. At least 400,000 people in Madagascar are at risk of starvation because of droughts. And dozens have died because of flooding in Germany, China, and Afghanistan.

Who's on Black Widow's hit list…

Walt Disney Co. Yesterday, Scarlett Johansson sued the entertainment giant, giving it a Disney minus for allegedly breaching her contract. Earlier this month, Disney debuted "Black Widow" in theaters and on Disney+ the same day. Because, COVID-19. But Johansson is saying 'hold up – we didn't agree to that.' The suit says the release was supposed to be exclusively in theaters. And that since a large chunk of her compensation was tied to how the movie performed at the box office, the 'watch from home' option cost her a reported $50 million. Disney says the lawsuit has "no merit" and that it played by the book.

• Coming to a couch near you: In 2019, movie tickets sales soared to $11.4 billion. But last year they dropped to about $2.3 billion – hitting the lowest box office tally in nearly 40 years.
• Where's the sequel?: The shakeup has some predicting that high box office numbers aren't coming back anytime soon...if at all. And that changes to movies' release strategies (like same-day streaming) aren't disappearing like some movie magic.

PS: The Walt Disney Company is a minority investor in theSkimm.

What's giving us closet envy…

Thing to Know

83%

That's the percentage of COVID-19 cases in the US attributed to the delta variant, according to a statement the CDC director gave last Tuesday. Not-so-fun fact: Delta's spreading more easily and quickly than any variant we've seen before.

And unvaccinated people are at a greater risk of catching – and dying from – it. Of all the Americans who died of COVID-19 last month, over 99% were not vaccinated. But you can protect yourself and others from COVID-19 and the delta variant by getting vaccinated ASAP. All three FDA-authorized vaccines are highly effective. And everyone 12 and older is eligible to get vaccinated for free. Head to vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you.

Skimm Reads

"False Witness" by Karin Slaughter

Annnnd she does it again. Slaughter's latest high-stakes thriller follows a defense attorney whose dark past is coming back to haunt her — all thanks to a new client she's called in to represent days before his trial. There's deception, sabotage, violence, family secrets…all the stuff you could want from a fictional page-turner, really.

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

1. A refreshing way to celebrate National Friendship Day. Which is today, btw. This female-founded brand's got six delicious, zero-sugar wines. Including two bubbly flavors (we see you, sparkling rosé). And they always cover shipping. Psst… Skimm'rs get 20% off their first order. Clink-clink.*

2. How to understand why you're feeling a little off. Hint: it might be your hormones. Base uses at-home lab testing and AI to develop a unique, science-backed improvement plan. With deets on what causes things like anxiety and digestion issues. PS: Skimm'rs get 20% off.*

3. A few of your absolute favorite things of 2021 (so far). We'd give these products the 'best all around' prize. Aka the stuff that you couldn't have made it through this year without.

4. Up to 50% off at Lelo's summer sale. Tomorrow is National Orgasm Day and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by buying a new toy. We rec this one for a reason (it works via sonic waves for mind-blowing pleasure). Hello, you-time.

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.

Building homes...Catherine M (DC). She led the opening of a new short-term family housing facility last March. And helped transition more than 50 families to long-term housing with humility and grace during a pandemic. Learn more.

Writer's flow...Risa S (NY).She published her first book "Sacred Summer: A Mom's Guide to Resilience, Discovery, and Family Fun." Her book focuses on how she built up her resilience after a challenging 2020 summer and different tools readers can use to do the same. Take a peek.

(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Rashaan Ayesh (VA), Elena Gallo (IL), Matt Stuczynski (OH), theSkimm's Michelle Simon (NY), theSkimm's Graelyn Brashear (DC), Maureen Cronin (NH), Rhea Allen (NJ), Eriel Cavanaugh (FL), Isabelle Friedman (DC), Kathryn Prieto (CA), Julie Ellis (VA), Sally Ostendorf (MA), Tabbi Kinion (CO), Kyra Moore (AR), Erin Dwyer (MI), Nicole Jackson (IL), Daisy Park (SC)

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

Do you dread getting your car fixed? Ever had your landlord rip you off? Did you buy something on Instagram...and it never showed up? This week on "Skimm This," we broke down the top 10 consumer complaints in the US and how to avoid them.

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

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

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