Politics
Tick Tock for Graham Platner
Content warning: The following story mentions sexual assault and rape.
What's going on: A woman who dated Maine US Senate candidate Graham Platner came forward this week to say that he raped her in 2021, a claim that he denies. The details Jenny Racicot shared with Politico are harrowing — but they aren't out of the blue. Before Platner won Maine’s Democratic primary last month, The New York Times dropped a bombshell report in which multiple women accused him of misconduct. At the time, Platner apologized for past bad behavior, attributing much of it to “a pretty dark period” in his life, though he denied accusations of physical violence toward women. That wasn’t his only controversy. In 2021, he posted inflammatory comments on Reddit about rape (and later apologized). And he had a tattoo of a Nazi symbol — which he has since disavowed and covered up, saying that he didn’t know what it meant when he got it. Despite this compounding evidence of disturbing behavior, especially toward women, he won his primary handily.
How did Platner get this far?: It's a good question, especially after then-US representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — another former rising star in the party — resigned this spring after several women accused him of sexual assault. Platner was always an untested candidate in a race that is critical to Dems’ plan to flip the Senate in November. But… he was also “the politician you’d want to have a beer with,” who stepped into the spotlight as an option for a party desperate to win back working-class men. He bucked the establishment. He was “authentic.” Even Racicot acknowledged in a CNN video interview that her fellow Democrats may not care about her allegations, because they like his politics and want to win. But after she came forward, several high-profile Democrats did finally abandon Platner. While he reflects on the “best path forward," analysts expect him to drop out, and fast. Next week is Maine’s ballot deadline.
Related: Who Could Replace Platner If He Drops Out? (The Hill)
The News in 5
🗞️ The body of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old college student who disappeared during a July 4th boat trip with friends off the coast of Mississippi, has been found. His cause of death is under investigation.
🗞️ President Donald Trump cast doubt on the US-Iran ceasefire and its future after the countries traded overnight attacks.
🗞️ French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who was convicted of misusing EU funds, has been cleared to run for president next year. There’s just one catch.
🗞️ Kelsey Pfendler became the first American woman (plus the youngest and fastest) to row solo between these two far-flung US states. And you thought your flight was long.
🗞️ No, you’re not imagining it. Airfare has gotten more expensive, but one CEO says it’s not for the reason you think.
✴︎
In Our Rotation
Quince launched bridesmaid dresses, and we can't help but notice they're perfect wedding guest dresses, too. This one is especially chic.
Everything you need to zhuzh up your outdoor space is up to 70% off at Wayfair right now. We could sit in these Adirondack chairs all day.
AI
Great News, Humans: You’re Rehired
What’s going on: Remember last year, when all CEOs could talk about was replacing human employees with AI? Well, they’re circling back. More and more executives now admit that AI-driven layoffs were a mistake, and they’re rehiring — wait for it — people. There’s IBM, which replaced 200 HR employees before realizing the tech can’t actually handle ethical dilemmas. There's Ford, which added 350 “gray beard” engineers to retrain flawed AI systems. And finally, your "speak to a representative" prayers have been answered: At least one major bank and Klarna are rehiring human customer service reps that had been previously laid off in favor of AI systems. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of US nurses say the AI they use at work is so inaccurate, it requires human oversight. This is why we don’t Google our symptoms, folks.
Does this mean I have job security?: Sadly, no. Even though it seems like the C-suite has softened its position on using AI to wipe out the entire labor market, they’re still funneling the savings from layoffs back into... AI (ahem, Mark Zuckerberg). It has been most effective at replacing customer service and doing menial tasks, so entry-level workers are still vulnerable. But white-collar jobs — the kind that require years of experience — are safer than originally thought. That’s because “judgment, design, and accountability” are now treasured human qualities employers seek in the market. (How’s that for a résumé cheat code?). After AI’s initial craze, it seems we’re getting closer to an equilibrium — one where it’s seen as a job enhancement, not replacement. Let’s hope our bosses agree.
Related: One German Company Is Pro-AI but Anti-Layoff (The New York Times Gift Link)
Appointment TV
The End of Binge-Watching?
What's going on: The year was 2013, and Netflix had blown our minds by releasing an entire season of House of Cards… all at once. The novelty of mainlining a show through the night used to be thrilling, but now that it's an industry standard, the binge watch can feel like homework. And people don’t like homework. New Netflix data reported by Bloomberg shows that many of the streamer’s hit shows (like Beef and Avatar: The Last Airbender) see a steep drop-off in viewership between seasons. Platforms that release shows on a weekly schedule, like HBO, tend to have smaller drops.
Next episode?: Netflix isn't not the only streamer struggling. Free services like YouTube, Tubi, and the Roku Channel saw a 53% growth in viewership in recent years, far outpacing their paid counterparts, whose viewers struggle to keep up with the rising subscription costs. Our shortened attention spans might be another factor: Some microdrama apps (like ReelShort) are seeing triple-digit growth. Now, instead of setting the standard, Netflix is trying to keep up by testing new forms of content like podcasts and live sports. The company has even started to *gasp* release episodes of some shows one at a time. It makes sense: TechCrunch argues that in the age of TikTok, binge-watching “feels like a dated relic from another era.” In its defense, Netflix is Gen Z, so it may not know yet that time comes for us all.
Related: Watching Love Island Is Practically a Full-Time Job (NBC News)
Quick Hits
♥️ Cardio alone isn’t enough for optimal women’s heart health, a new study says. Here’s what to add to your workout routine.
📦 What’s your clutter personality type? It’s like a fun quiz, only you have to clean at the end.
🍪 These three Girl Scout cookies now come in a new, tasty dessert form, thanks to this collab. We’ll take one of each.
👰 Yes, we will get to see photos of Taylor Swift’s wedding look, and a rep for her dress designer just shared details about when and where. Any day now, Tay…
❌ Experts shared when it’s OK to cancel plans, while still keeping your friendship intact. Group chat drama averted.
📺 We were not expecting the latest celebrity feud to involve a beloved children’s cartoon character. It’s not her first roll in the mud, either.
We Needed This
On Our Calendar
Wednesday, July 8
🏆 Emmy nominations out
The announcement will come at 11:30 am ET — but we already know who’ll host. Hint: She solves crimes. Dun dun.
🍨 National Ice Cream Sundae Day
Celebrate with one of these surprising (and aesthetic) sundaes. Just look at number four.
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KNOW IT ALL
According to his late mother's royal biographer, King Charles has a very unique pet name for Queen Camilla:
Finally, a solvable crossword. Finish this puzzle quickly for bragging rights.
Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Kylie McConville, Kate Preziosi, and Jessica Prois. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.
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