The President's Psychedelic Pitch

Good morning.

As I prepare for my life to change (yep, soon-to-be mom here), let’s just say my brain is buzzing with a never-ending to-do list. So I’m turning to the activities that help keep me grounded, like little walking trips — one of the six “movement snacks” you can easily add to your day. I’m also testing out my version of a “dopamine reset” to clear some of the mental clutter and extra noise (check out our third main story) — could this ‘90s-throwback house staple or “quirky art” trend do the trick? With “nesting” mode in full swing, I’m eyeing spring’s “it” color as a way to freshen up my home. After all, if it works in fashion, it should add the right splash of color to my living room, too. I also discovered some royal-inspired candles that are truly coming at the perfect time. You’ll just have to take our quiz at the end to see what I mean. Now, let’s get to the headlines…

— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI

Health

The President's Psychedelic Pitch

What’s going on: There’s an episode in season one of Nine Perfect Strangers, where the wellness guru played by Nicole Kidman claims psilocybin “has the capacity to change the world.” While the research is still ongoing, the White House is ready to take a trip to find out. On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to cut the red tape for certain controlled substances like psilocybin and ibogaine. The goal is to speed up federal reviews so the FDA can approve some psychedelics as expanded treatment options for depression, addiction, and suicide risk. The Trump administration wants the FDA to help prioritize “breakthrough therapies” and broaden access to experimental drug trials for the seriously ill. It’ll also allocate $50 million to match state research programs that study psychedelics for mental health. At the rollout, Trump joked, “Can I have some?” before adding that he doesn’t “have time to be depressed.”

So… why now?: This builds on growing research — and rising GOP support — for the use of psychedelics to treat PTSD and opioid addiction, especially among veterans who haven’t had luck with traditional medications. (The VA already has at least five trials underway.) This weekend’s push also skipped the usual policy playbook. After interviewing an ibogaine advocate on his podcast, Joe Rogan texted Trump about the drug’s potential. Trump, per Rogan, replied: “Sounds great. Let’s do it.” And just like that… the president took another step to tweak his health agenda and unite his party ahead of the midterms. But, some health officials — including NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya — urge caution, saying more research is needed on safety, especially outside clinical settings.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About the New CDC Director Nominee (PBS)

The News in 5

🗞️ Tehran vowed to respond after the US attacked an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz — just in time for another round of peace talks. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s approval rating just hit a new low.

🗞️ A Louisiana man killed eight children (seven of whom were his own) and two adults in a domestic violence dispute early Sunday, marking one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent years.

🗞️ You’re probably not going to love this: Here’s when the energy secretary predicts gas will drop below $3 a gallon. Hope he’s wrong…

🗞️ Even President Trump thought one of his own recent PR stunts was “tacky.” Somehow not related to the ballroom.

🗞️ Students at an Oklahoma high school found a sweet way to honor their principal, who was shot while disarming a school shooter.

Women’s Health

Pregnant Workers Have To Fight Just To Sit Down

What's going on: Having a chair to sit in — an actual chair, not milk crates or a bucket — at work when you’re several months pregnant should be the bare minimum. We’re not asking for thrones here. And yet women across the country are still being denied small requests like these — even with federal protections in place under the 2023 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which guarantees reasonable pregnancy accommodations. Recent legal challenges show how often companies refuse requests to sit or take breaks, sometimes causing preventable health complications or resulting in firings, especially in manufacturing and retail jobs. For example, an Amazon employee whose pregnancy exacerbated her asthma told The New York Times she wasn’t allowed to sit on the job and was eventually fired.

Why this matters: Amazon isn’t the only company accused of this behavior. One legal advocacy organization says it fielded 765 calls from pregnant employees whose requests got denied last year. This is likely just a fraction of the actual problem. Many pregnant people don’t know to report these denials (or that they even have recourse at all). This goes beyond job security. In some cases, accommodations affect whether a pregnancy stays safe, a problem that could worsen already too-high maternal mortality rates. If you’re pregnant and need support, guides like this can help with your ask, and you may be able to file a discrimination charge if your employer refuses. All this… for a chair.

Related: These Women Say Weed Helped When Their Doctors Wouldn’t (CNN)

Unexpected Brain-Rotting

Silence of the Jams

What's going on: As Simon & Garfunkel once articulated, there’s just something about the sound of silence. But many people aren’t letting it sink in. They’re filling every quiet moment with music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other incessant chatter. An Edison Research and Nielsen survey found that, on average, Americans listen to nearly four hours of podcasts and radio daily, not including TV, social media, or audiobooks. For many, the constant clamor has become a default setting: People tune in during commutes, chores, and complicated skincare routines (AKA “dead time”). Experts believe audio stimulation can function like screen time, triggering dopamine release, desensitizing listeners, and increasing content consumption. Hamster, meet wheel.

What it means: Being able to hear yourself think matters. When we embrace silence, the brain’s “default mode network” kicks in, helping us process our emotions and experiences. It’s when our minds can finally wander, daydream, and ideate — after a long day of thinking about work and, yes, how we’re somehow going to secure Olympics tickets. Without that mental downtime, stress can build. But pressing pause isn’t always easy. Relearning to brush your teeth without The Daily in the background might make you a bit cranky, anxious, or bored at first. Some experts suggest a three-day digital reset, in which you cut out audio and social media outside of work. Then, slowly add Call Her Daddy back in — but still leave yourself some “silent time.” You can also start smaller, like challenging yourself to wash the dishes without a soundtrack. Turns out, life doesn’t always need one.

Related: Just How Normal Is It To Talk to Yourself? (USA Today)

Quick Hits

🍌 For all of us who’ve had to throw out brown bananas, here’s the key to making them last.

☕ If Starbucks really thinks this is the answer to fixing its business, we’re going to need to espresso some concerns. 

🎨 The paint color you begged for in middle school is officially chic now. Tween us would be insufferable about this. 

🤨 This citrus-inspired baby name is… something. Whether that something belongs on a birth certificate is up for debate.

🏑 At BookCon, the Heated Rivalry showrunner teased a darker, messier season two — and a new character who could shake things up.

🎵 Justin Bieber brought Billie Eilish on stage at Coachella and sang this classic to her. Not the pair we expected, but birds of a feather indeed.

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ On your marks, get set…it’s the 130th Boston Marathon. While runners attempt PRs, we’re wondering: Will the signs top last year’s?

🗓️ Aubrey Plaza and Joe Wengert’s new animated Prime series, Kevin, drops — and follows the aftermath of a breakup… from the cat’s perspective.

🗓️ Welcome to Taurus season. It’s the perfect time to channel this sign’s strong-willed energy and love of little luxuries.

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

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.