Bondi Gets the Boot

US News

Bondi Gets the Boot

What’s going on: Yesterday, President Donald Trump gave yet another woman in his administration a pink slip: Attorney General Pam Bondi. (Maybe Kristi Noem’s exit made him nostalgic for saying “you’re fired”?) Deputy Todd Blanche will step in as AG for now, while the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lee Zeldin has emerged as a possible permanent replacement. Critics say Bondi's dismissal was a long time coming. Her tenure was defined by how she handled the Epstein files (including her early “client list” misstep) and investigations into Trump’s political enemies, — as well as some very sycophantic defenses of her boss. Despite an early first-term firing spree, Donald Trump has removed only two Cabinet members so far this term — both women — though he's turned the other cheek for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel (remember Signalgate and that hockey video?). Hey, at least Trump let Bondi go while riding in style?

Why now?: Analysts say Bondi had plenty of moments of incompetence, but her ouster may have more to do with Trump than her. It’s possible Trump wasn’t going to be happy with anyone who handled the Epstein files — but analysts say the president and his allies grew frustrated by the lack of "wins" she delivered for Trump (even though she sure did try to please him). Bondi often capitulated to Trump's political demands. She urged the DOJ to pursue cases against the president's foes even when the evidence was thin — or nonexistent. Ultimately, it seems like Trump wanted more.

Related: Is National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard Next on Trump’s Chopping Block? (The Guardian)

The News in 5

🗞️ The CDC paused its lab testing for rabies, monkeypox, and a handful of other infectious diseases. Nobody seems to know why — or how long it'll last.

🗞️ Health officials warned of potential lead contamination in a these popular dino nuggets. There goes tonight's dinner plan.

🗞️ Google just gave everyone a chance to delete a part of their past. Looking at you, peacechick12. 

🗞️ House lawmakers failed to pass a DHS funding bill so the shutdown will likely be even longer. President Donald Trump said he’s ready to take matters into his own hands. 

🗞️ Hold onto your carts, Amazon plans to add a fuel surcharge, and guess who will end up paying for it? Not Jeff.

Sports

Girls' Sports Get More Intense

What’s going on: Men pummel each other constantly on TV to the point of concussion, but when women’s sports become physical or intense, people start to get weird (see: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and the Professional Women’s Hockey League). Spectators stress about players' safety — yet claim women's sports can be "boring." (Is any cliché less true?) But those tropes are be shattered by girls from the ice to the mats. New research found that physical contact sports are on the rise in girls' sports. More American teenage girls want to wrestle than sign up for gymnastics or dance. Talk about smashing the stereotypes with a swift half nelson.

Tell me more: Part of this shift comes down to access — and opportunity. It can be easier to make the team and see playing time for a sport like rugby than it is for more traditional sports like volleyball or basketball. They can be more affordable, too, which gives girls the chance to play (and reap the benefits of doing so). That's especially important at an age when girls drop out of sports almost twice as much as boys do. But of course, there’s a downside: Torn ACLs are more common in high school girls’ sports than boys’, so safety protocols like these are key. Still, girls are clearly showing they're physical — not fragile. It's time everyone else took note.

Related: When Women’s Safety Relies on Men’s Research (The Conversation)

World Cup

Ciao, Italia

What’s going on: Italians everywhere are in mourning, but not because they just watched an American order a cappuccino after breakfast. The devastation is all because their men’s national team failed to qualify for this year's FIFA World Cup... for the third straight time. After their loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, an Italian newspaper declared that the “World Cup curse” continues. A restaurant employee told The Guardian that the whole country is “a population of failures.” Ouch. Even the US men’s team isn’t down this bad.

The drama: If you don’t think this is a big deal, think again. Italy hasn’t played at the tournament since 2014, despite winning it all for the fourth time in 2006. This week’s loss escalated from fans yelling at their TVs into a full-on political headache. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni requested an official briefing in parliament to look at why the men’s national soccer team continues to fail to qualify. (In case you were wondering: The women’s team is doing just fine.) One lawmaker said the country must find out what “brought about the abyss in Italian football.” One fan said this simply comes down to a lack of investment in youth talent. After the loss, Italy's soccer federation president resigned. Clearly, everyone is frustrated. Nothing a little tiramisu can’t fix?

Related: All 48 Teams That Did Qualify for the World Cup (USA Today)

Quick Hits

🙂‍↕️ Could yelling this very millennial-coded name save parents in the middle of a toddler tantrum? Karens, mark yourself safe.

💍 While Taylor Swift is keeping her wedding plans under wraps, plans for her bachelorette parties (yes, plural) could be in the works.

🍺 Costco dropped a limited-edition bourbon inspired by a food court icon. That label is very meme-coded.

🧹 Hear us out: It might be easier to declutter by category and not by room. Anything to make this all go away.

👰 Get your fascinators ready, there's another royal wedding on the books. We wonder if certain royals will be on the guest list…

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ It’s Good Friday — a solemn day for many Christians, marked by fasting, church services, and skipping meat.

🗓️ The Women’s Final Four tips off, with a history-making rematch from last year.

🗓️ The Drama hits theaters. Zendaya, Robert Pattinson — and a twist you won't see coming.

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

Know It All

Easter is around the corner…but are egg prices higher or lower than last year?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, and Kylie McConville. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.