Politics

Two Meetings & a Funeral

What's going on: It was a busy day in Washington. Politicians, presidents, and a prime minister gathered yesterday to remember the late US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). President Donald Trump praised Graham at the memorial, saying he “died doing the work he was born to do.” They’d developed a good relationship, even after once calling each other a "nut job" and a "kook,” respectively. Later, Fox News host Sean Hannity described the senator as “great for ratings” (that’s one way to be eulogized). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended. Graham was a critical voice in Trump’s ear lobbying on behalf of Israel, and for continued US support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. He died hours after returning from his 10th wartime visit to Ukraine.

But what about the meetings?: Before the ceremony, both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy made sure to get on Trump’s calendar. Netanyahu's relationship with Trump has been on ice since he played a key role in convincing the president to go to war with Iran. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has learned a lot since his ill-fated "have you said thank you once" meeting with Trump a year ago. The White House vaguely described the meetings as “positive and productive,” even the one with Netanyahu — despite the toll that prolonged fighting in Iran has taken on all countries involved (not to mention the global economy). This also comes as the two wars have become increasingly intertwined, with the Russia-Iran alliance growing stronger and fighting converging in the Caspian Sea. 

Related: Saudi Arabia Joined US Military Strikes on Iran Proxy Forces (The Washington Post gift link) 

Education

A New Weapon Against School Shootings

What's going on: Drones can be used for anything from light shows to food deliveries to warfare. Soon, they may be used to combat active shooters. At least nine schools across Georgia, Florida, and Colorado will introduce Campus Guardian Angel drones later this year. Designed by Mithril Defense, the non-lethal drones are meant to be activated by a teacher via an app or panic button. Then, an offsite Mithril pilot takes over to stop a suspected shooter via strobe lights, sirens, pepper gel, and ramming into them at 60 mph. (And yes, there is crash test dummy footage.) Mithril has big plans for the technology, which uses the same tool as the video game Fortnite for 3-D school mapping. A co-founder told The Wall Street Journal, “Our vision is ultimately to be in every school in the nation and to eradicate mass shootings.”

Sounds intense: It is. Mithril has cited the Uvalde school shooting as a major catalyst for the project, after 19 children and two teachers were killed while law enforcement waited over an hour to engage the shooter. It's also expensive. Florida has dedicated more than $1 million to deploying the project in about three schools so far. That deep existential sigh you hear is advocates saying we need gun control, not outsourcing the militarization of American schools to defense contractors. Others worry about the potential for false alarms, the added burden on teachers, or that the drones could injure bystanders. But with 68 incidents of gunfire on school grounds so far in 2026, some are willing to try just about anything to keep kids safe. 

Related: What Science Tells Us About Preventing School Shootings (The Hechinger Report) 

Driving us crazy

Stopping Waymo’s No No’s  

What's going on: Those Waymo cars on city streets seem like a great way to finally live out our Jetsons fantasies. But they’re not perfect. Just ask my friend Lisa, whose Waymo spent 30 minutes circling a DICK’s Sporting Goods in Arizona miles from her intended destination while she frantically reentered the same correct address multiple times. She was fine (gave up and called an Uber), but other incidents — from interfering with first responders and the July 4th gridlock that stranded passengers across San Francisco — have raised legitimate safety concerns. Now, Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA) wants the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish minimum safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators. His bill would also create a 24-hour hotline so city officials can reach AV companies during emergencies and allow leaders to put up a “geofence” that would restrict where the cars could go. Lisa would like to add the DICK’s Sporting Goods parking lot in Scottsdale to that list.

Slow your roll: Mullin’s proposed legislation has the support of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who came into office touting Waymo’s successes in the city. His public recognition of the company’s shortcomings feels like the call is coming from inside the typically tech-friendly house. If this California lawmaker’s push for AV regulation moves forward, it could slow down the expansion of AV companies altogether, which have been all gas, no brakes since inception. Waymo maintains riders are safer in one of its self-driving cars than driving themselves, but problems outside the car persist — like dozens of Waymos congregating in a residential Atlanta street, and racking up parking tickets in Austin. Maybe that Jetsons life can wait.

Related: SpaceX’s Plans for Data Centers Could Do What to the Environment? (NBC News)  

Quick Hits

🤔 One company is offering this hot new employee benefit, but does it come with more paid leave?

💋 We got the first look at Dakota Johnson's transformation into Marilyn Monroe, and the resemblance is uncanny. No business like show business. 

🏋️ Experts agree that these nine habits in midlife can boost longevity. Because picking the best not-too-ripe avocados is easier with friends.

💍 Seven years after they were last seen together publicly, Karlie Kloss attended Taylor Swift’s wedding. Yesterday, she said this about the event.  

📺 This fan favorite and often-memed 2010s TV show may be getting a reboot. Start your vocal warm-up now. 

🪩 Watch out, Max Martin. This Nordic musicologist — last name also Martin — has identified the defining melody of the next generation.

Summer Clothes That Don’t Show Sweat

In the dog days of summer, we’re mostly interested in wearing clothes that hide our sweat. Such as: these workout clothes that don’t necessarily look like workout clothes. Functional enough to wear to Pilates, cute enough to wear for errands, won’t make you sweat even more than you already are.  

• A chic little tennis dress (use code RALLY25 for 25% off)

• The leggings that made us capri believers

• A two-pack of simple, stretchy cotton tees (use code THESKIMM15 for 15% off)

• Track shorts that look cute with a graphic tee and flip-flops

• A running tank with criss-cross straps and a built-in bra

Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Stephanie Gallman, Samantha Darby, Kate Preziosi, Jessica Prois, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Barbara Kean.