US News

The Political Violence Gender Gap

What's going on: This weekend’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner put a spotlight back on the rise of political violence. Since 2024, President Donald Trump has survived three assassination attempts, Charlie Kirk was publicly killed, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D-PA) home was set on fire, and State Representative Melissa Hortman (D-MN) was assassinated. As if that's not scary enough, increasing evidence shows that women in office are disproportionately targeted. Recent examples: The Hortman incident, the kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), and pizza delivery threats against women judges. Two recent reports found that violence, harassment, and abuse are the top reasons why women and young lawmakers leave office.

The takeaway: America arguably needs more women and young people in office — not less. Only a quarter of US senators are women, and the average age in the chamber is almost 65. A February report found threats of violence were a “serious deterrent” for both recruiting and retaining politicians, especially those who are women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The government is already spending millions more than before to protect both candidates and elected officials. Speaker Mike Johnson said yesterday he’d like to see Secret Service security “tighten up,” but analysts say they’ve heard that before. Meanwhile, The 19th asked law enforcement what they’re actually doing to protect lawmakers in all 50 states. Some answers were better than others (yes, you can see how your state did). 

Related: The WHCD Suspect Was Charged With Trying To Assassinate the President (CNBC)

The News in 5

🗞️ First Lady Melania Trump had some harsh words for President Donald Trump’s favorite late-night TV host.

🗞️ The Department of Homeland Security says it will run out of money to pay airport security in a matter of weeks — just in time for summer travel. 

🗞️ Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has proposed a new Florida congressional map, and it’s perfectly on brand. Which state will be next? 

🗞️ Pope Leo wants to shift the Catholic Church’s priorities away from this hot-button issue.  

🗞️ Amid Turning Point USA’s success on campuses, liberals want to create their own version, and they’ve enlisted the help of a very famous leftie.

Tech

The “Tech Bros” Take It to Court

What’s going on: The trial of the twenty-first century is here: Musk v. Altman. Tech billionaire Elon Musk (yes, an OpenAI cofounder) has accused OpenAI’s Sam Altman and partner Greg Brockman of ditching their original goal to build AI for humanity — all to chase profits. Musk (who now runs rival Grok) alleges he was duped into backing the company in 2015 and is suing for a casual $150 billion. The Tesla boss also wants OpenAI to return to its nonprofit roots. It was an uphill battle to find nine impartial jurors, and the court did…sort of. Some of them were not shy about their feelings towards Musk. Might be time to count the Tesla bumper stickers in the parking lot. 

The stakes: It’s a battle royale between two AI titans — one that OpenAI thinks stems from jealousy (something it ironically posted about on X). Hater or not, if Musk wins, ChatGPT as we know it could take a hit, for better or worse. And if OpenAI loses, its IPO plans could stall, Altman might be ousted, and that Apple integration could quietly disappear. OpenAI’s read: Musk and xAI are sore losers — and the company definitely has its problems. At minimum, it’s prime meme material (and already is). At maximum, it’s a real-time stress test for the future of tech. Grab the popcorn because opening arguments start today.

Related: Is This the UNO Reverse of the TikTok Saga? (CNBC)

Work

“Doomjobbing” Is the New Doomscrolling

What's going on: You know that feeling of dread when you’ve spent hours scrolling LinkedIn, firing off your resume to anything with “Easy Apply”? There’s a word for that: Doomjobbing. The term appears to come from a Threads post by a recently laid-off product manager, and it’s catching on like “6-7” for the underemployed. Experts have compared doomjobbing to swiping on dating apps or endless TikTok scrolling. It’s demoralizing to put time and effort into cover letters only to get no offers or even interviews, all while watching your savings dwindle. But if you’ve ever found yourself on Indeed at 2 am when you can’t sleep, you already knew that.

What it means: Many job seekers are feeling hopeless. A new survey shows that Americans think they have a roughly 45% chance of landing a new position within three months — even worse than during the pandemic. In January, a Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report showed that unemployment appears to be decreasing. However, it also said that 2025’s job growth data was weaker than first published, so those 2026 stats might not tell the whole story either. If you’re on the hunt right now, highlight your transferable skills, reframe your career story, and be intentional about which roles you’re applying for. But it’s no different than doomscrolling, so do your best to take a break and go touch grass.

Related: Facing AI and a Tough Job Market, Gen Z Turns to an Unexpected Career Path (The Guardian)

Quick Hits

🏡 Here are the six Costco staples interior designers are using to decorate their homes. We’re gonna need a bigger cart. 

🤔 Grandma was right: This fruit really does help with constipation (and a lot of other things too). 

🧈 Four chefs named their all-time favorite butter to use, and it won’t break the bank.

👟 Michelle Obama just stepped out in these affordable sneakers, and just like that, we have a new “it” shoe for the summer.  

👖 A very not-skinny jean trend is taking over, and here’s how you can style it. JNCO jeans would send Gen Z into cardiac arrest.

🪞 Zoe Saldaña said this is the beauty rule she loathes more than any other. We concur.

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ The 13-day World Table Tennis Championships kick off. It’s back in London after 100 years.

🗓️ It’s Global Pay it Forward Day — and here are a few ideas to do just that.

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

Spring Shopping

If you’re fully leaning into the new season, you’ve come to the right place. We, too, have spring, sprang, sprung, so we’re focusing on making this change of weather a fresh start for our closet, our home, and our attitude. Here’s what you need:

• A sports bra to kick off your new workout plan

• Linen pants so good that you’ll be able to let go of an old pair of jeans

• A fresh set of the bedding that always stays crisp (it’s also 35% off)

Know It All

One hundred Italian chefs rolled up their sleeves and broke this world record over the weekend… 

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Molly Longman, Stephanie Gallman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.