The IOC Just Dropped a Big Decision

Olympics

The IOC Just Dropped a Big Decision

What’s going on: The debate over transgender athletes competing in the Olympics comes up what feels like every four years. Yesterday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ended the back-and-forth and announced a ban on transgender athletes in women’s categories. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to hold the role and a former Olympian, said the policy is “based on science and has been led by medical experts,” but didn’t identify them. Not all experts agree: One human geneticist, who previously worked with the IOC, said questions about gender and sex eligibility are still “not settled at all.” The IOC expects athletes to appeal the decision. 

What it means: The new rules go into effect at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. They also apply to athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) like Olympian Caster Semenya. They might not have the typical XX chromosomes, which can lead to higher testosterone levels or greater muscle development. These athletes can only participate in mixed or men’s events, while transgender men can compete in women’s categories. The IOC will require all athletes in women's events to undergo a one-time genetic test (which already happens at some international track and field events). The policy could conflict with national laws, such as those in France, where privacy rules block genetic testing tied to gender. In those cases, the IOC said athletes could get tested in countries hosting competitions. 

Related: A Distance Runner Claims This Company Dropped Her After She Became Pregnant (The Athletic Gift Link)

The News in 5

🗞️The more the merrier? President Donald Trump says he's considering deploying an additional team to airports. He’s also trying to push through TSA pay.

🗞️ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked God for something very specific at the Pentagon’s Christian prayer service. Very Old Testament of him. 

🗞️ The CDC is in limbo and possibly pivoting away from the MAHA movement. 

🗞️ A major hair care brand just got a new European owner. Guten tag? 

🗞️ USPS is planning to raise its prices by this much. In this economy, no one is getting a birthday gift.

Iran War

The Meme War Has (Also) Gone Too Far

What’s going on: As Iran and the US seem to inch toward a ceasefire after a war that has killed thousands, damaged critical infrastructure, and triggered a global energy crisis, the stakes are high. Yet, amid all the chaos, the White House is falling back on a controversial communications strategy: Memes. Especially shocked by their use in this case are veterans and service members. They argue that SpongeBob SquarePants and Call of Duty memes trivialize the ultimate sacrifice. One retired US Army colonel told The Washington Post it was “obscene.” The Trump administration, however, argues the images inspire both military pride and patriotism (while officials have said in the past that public outrage tends to achieve another goal: views).

An old playbook: This isn’t the first time the administration has gotten flak for making light of serious issues. Remember the shocking AI video of “Trump Gaza”? Critics have also found the immigration and deportation memes incredibly insensitive (yes, including the “Christmas” versions). Experts say these latest memes are not only inhumane but a bad strategy, often creating analogies that undermine their efforts and deter even MAGA voters. The memes may be going from tone deaf to politically risky. 

Related: Trump Says the US Will Pause Targeting of Iranian Energy Sites (CNN)

Home

What Does Spring Cleaning Even Mean?

What’s going on: While the pollen has us questioning our will to live, it’s officially every type A eldest daughter’s favorite season: spring cleaning. It technically happens once a year (despite what our moms say), but it’s a centuries-old tradition. Historians say one of the earliest examples is tied to Passover, a weeklong Jewish holiday that happens in March or April. Good Friday and Nowruz, AKA Persian New Year, are also on people’s calendars this time of year. To get ready for these holidays, many families wiped down every inch of the house, place of worship, or anything they could get their rags on. Fast forward to today, and many Americans are still obsessed and use it to usher in a new chapter.  

Where should I start? Tackle it however you want. Just don’t try to deep-clean the whole house in one day. (Some of us still have baseboard dust duty seared into our brains.) Between work, kids, and life, time is tight. Start small, whether that’s one room or that junk drawer we all pretend doesn’t exist. And before you splurge on bins and baskets, sort through your stuff first. You might not need them or find something else that works. Be ruthless and ask yourself: Have I used this in the past year? Would it be hard or expensive to replace? (You don’t need eight half-empty travel shampoos.) You can also make it fun. Play some loud music or get a drink to sip on while you tackle that sock drawer. 

Related: The Six Ways Spring Cleaning Can Help Your Mood (Real Simple)

Quick Hits

🥔 Say bye, bye pesticides by making these veggie and fruit swaps.

🐟 Are you “puffer-fishing” when people get too close to you? There are some tells. 

❤️‍🩹 This one habit first thing in the morning may be worse for your heart than hitting snooze. It's easier said than done. 

🏠 We did not expect to be riveted by a toxic home feud involving Chelsea Handler, RFK Jr., and Cheryl Hines, but here we are.

 🎤 One college athlete used a post-game press conference to get her entire class out of their 8 AM lecture. This is a much better excuse than pretending our dog ate our homework.

💅 We’re definitely out of our club phase, but we may have to rethink it for Hailey Bieber’s easy-to-replicate going-out outfit formula.

✂️ The "granny bob" is spring's biggest hair trend. Your nan has had it since 1987.

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ On World Theater Day, a round of applause for all the celebrities (hey, Ayo) on Broadway this season.

🗓️ The NCAA Women’s Sweet 16 tips off. Will Virginia’s Cinderella story continue?

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

Know It All

What classic game show is getting a YouTube spinoff?

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