A Royal Reckoning

International

A Royal Reckoning

What's going on: The shocking arrest of a member of the British royal family continues to reverberate around the world — testing accountability and the monarchy itself. On the morning of his 66th birthday, British police arrested former Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office. His arrest appears to be tied to new claims that he shared confidential information with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as British trade envoy. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — who’s consistently denied wrongdoing — remains under investigation and has since been released from police custody, as seen in this startling photo after his arrest. The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual assault (they settled out of court), hailed the reports. “Our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” they wrote.

What it means: This is an unprecedented move by UK authorities — after all, the last time a British royal was arrested was 379 years ago (we did the math). King Charles III seems in favor of the investigation, issuing a rare statement and saying, “the law must take its course.” Prince William and Princess Kate also weighed in. The arrest has put a spotlight on how differently law enforcement has approached the Epstein case across the pond, as many question the lack of accountability in the US. So far, the House Oversight Committee has deposed Les Wexner, and Bill Gates backed out of a keynote address (and dismissed the rumors about his absence). Two dozen others have faced some kind of consequence, though police have yet to make a single new arrest.

Related: Trump Just Called Former Prince Andrew’s Arrest “A Shame” (CNBC)

The News in 5

🗞️ President Donald Trump warns that “bad things” could happen if Iran doesn’t come to a nuclear deal with the US.

🗞️ If you thought beef prices were high, well, the industry has a new message for you. 

🗞️ RFK Jr.’s latest ad for the Health and Human Services Department stars Kid Rock, a sauna, and, of course, workout jeans. 

🗞️ Trump pledged $10 billion from the US to help rebuild Gaza at yesterday’s first Board of Peace meeting. As for where exactly that money is coming from...

🗞️ Hollywood is remembering Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria star Eric Dane, who passed away nearly a year after announcing his ALS diagnosis. RIP McSteamy.

Care

More Moms Are Missing This Critical Window

What’s going on: “Early” prenatal care is becoming more of a misnomer. New CDC data shows that nearly a quarter of pregnant women didn’t receive care during their first trimester in 2024 — reversing years of national progress. The decline cut across nearly every racial and ethnic group, but hit Black mothers hardest, with a nearly 5% drop in first trimester visits. In 36 states and Washington, DC, more women delayed or skipped care entirely. In some states, like Texas and Florida, that was true for more than one in 10 pregnant women. And the number of women not seen until their third trimester — or not at all — ticked up from 6% to 7%, according to the CDC.

What it means: More than a third of US counties lack OB-GYN, midwife, or birthing centers. Doctors say that’s a result of various factors, including access gaps after Roe v. Wade, Medicaid delays, and growing distrust in the medical system. Without changes, the effects could be devastating. During these early weeks of pregnancy, a fetus develops major organs, including the brain and heart. It’s also when doctors can catch infections, stabilize blood sugar, and monitor blood pressure in pregnant women — all before those issues escalate. One OB-GYN says regular visits are the key to a healthy pregnancy. The earlier your doctor can see you, the earlier they can take preventative measures to keep you both safe.

Related: For Mothers With Preeclampsia, a New Drug Offers Hope (NPR)

Sports

The NFL's Report Cards Just Got Benched

What’s going on: It’s that time of year when everyone sits down with their boss and pretends the feedback goes both ways. But the NFL just made sure those conversations stay private. The NFL Players Association typically releases public report cards for the league around this time. Players grade their teams on everything from food and travel to family accommodations and training staff. This year, however, an arbitrator ruled new grades can no longer go public because they were “disparaging” clubs and individuals, violating the collective bargaining agreement. As we reported in our sports newsletter (sign up here), players gave the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars failing grades in previous years for how they’ve treated athletes’ families. Other examples: The Patriots failed on travel accommodations, and the Arizona Cardinals ranked dead last overall.

What it means: Unlike most corporate feedback sessions, these report cards have actually led to change. In past years, low grades pushed teams to upgrade training facilities, improve locker rooms, revisit travel setups, and rethink how they treated players’ families on game days. It also goes beyond football. As our Well Played podcast co-host Blake Morgan put it: When the NFL sets expectations around workplace standards, other leagues take notice. Some NFL players defended the cards, with one saying it’s the best tool players had. Though the NFLPA says it will still collect surveys — they can’t release them publicly. For accountability, that’s a kick in the teeth.

Related: Wait, Are the Chicago Bears Breaking Up With Illinois? (Sports Illustrated)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ Hilary Duff’s new album, Luck... or Something, is out now. Yes, this is what dreams are made of.

🗓️ Team USA takes on Slovakia in the Olympic men’s hockey semifinals at 3:10 pm ET. Let’s see if they can live up to the women’s team, after that comeback.

🗓️ The second season of The Last Thing He Told Me premieres on AppleTV+. Time for the mystery, time for the thrills.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

Cynthia Erivo stars in the one-woman show of Dracula. How many roles does she play?

Skimm'd by: Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Kylie McConville. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.