Daily Skimm: Talk about a two-way twister

Skimm'd after binge-watching "Unsolved Mysteries" July 13, 2020 [Read in Browser]( [theSkimm]( [DailySkimm']( Skimm'd after binge-watching "Unsolved Mysteries" [Invite Friends]( --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Quote of the Day "'Zootie' calls" – [A podcast host]( describing the virtual dating scene. Use your imagination for what it means. mailto:?body=Dating%27s%20getting%20creative%20in%20quarantine%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-quote-of-the-day%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card --------------------------------------------------------------- The Story President Trump is letting Roger Stone [walk free](. Remind me who he is. A Republican strategist and longtime adviser to Trump. Last year, a federal jury [convicted]( Stone of seven felonies including lying to Congress, obstructing its investigation into election interference, and witness tampering. Jurors found that Stone lied about pursuing the release of damaging info on Hillary Clinton ([remember her emails](?) via WikiLeaks. And that he threatened a witness to cover up for him. Prosecutors said he did it because the truth would have "looked terrible" for Trump and his campaign. Stone was supposed to report to prison tomorrow for a 40-month sentence. But last week, Trump used his executive power to erase his friend's sentence. Why? For months, Trump has called Stone the victim of a "witch hunt" and has talked about [pardoning]( him. In a [statement](, the White House maintained that argument, saying the president erased Stone's sentence as a result of his "unfair prosecution, arrest, and trial." Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle condemned the move. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said it was "[unprecedented, historic corruption](." Former special counsel Robert Mueller – whose investigation led to the charges against Stone – made rare public comments in an [op-ed](, saying Stone "remains a convicted felon, and rightly so." But some Republican lawmakers supported Trump. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had said the decision would be "justified" because Stone was a "nonviolent, first-time" offender. So, can Trump do this? Technically, yes. Under the Constitution, presidents have the power to grant clemency (aka pardoning or commuting a person's sentence). FYI: Commutations can lift a felon's sentence but not their conviction. And pardons entirely forgive or excuse a federal crime. All petitions for Executive Clemency must be brought up to the admin's pardon office, which makes recommendations on the cases. Right now, the Justice Dept says about 13,500 people are waiting to hear if Trump will approve their requests for clemency. So far, he's granted it to 36 people. That's a lot less than some other [recent presidents](. And some people who did get clemency had [connections]( to Trump or people he knows. Which had [some critics calling the move]( an abuse of the rule of law. theSkimm President Trump has hailed himself as the president of "law and order." But this latest move has some scratching their heads, wondering if his friends are getting preferential treatment. mailto:?body=President%20Trump%27s%20saying%20%27you%27re%20a%20free%20man%2C%20Roger%27%20%23SkimmLife%0D%0A%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9922881%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare And Also...This --------------------------------------------------------------- What's still very much a problem... [COVID-19](. Yesterday, Florida reported more than 15,000 new cases of the coronavirus – the highest daily record of any state since the pandemic began. The surge comes as hospitalizations have skyrocketed and [dozens]( of hospitals have maxed out their ICU capacity. Despite all of this, Disney World in Orlando [reopened]( this past weekend. And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has refused to mandate masks across the state, saying it's up to localities to decide. Meanwhile, the US still has the most known coronavirus cases in the world – more than 3.3 million – and over 134,000 deaths. ...Oh and speaking of the virus, Surgeon General Jerome Adams has [changed course]( and is now urging people to wear masks. mailto:?body=Florida%20hit%20a%20new%20record%20for%20COVID-19%20cases%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9915969%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare Who checked some boxes… [Polish citizens](. Today, Poland's electoral commission said incumbent President Andrzej Duda won a second term against the centrist Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski in the country's runoff election. After nearly all the votes were counted, Duda won a little more than 51% of the votes amid record turnout. Last month, Poland was the first EU country to hold a presidential election since the pandemic began. But neither candidate – Duda nor Trzaskowski – reached a majority, sparking yesterday's election. Duda has run on a conservative platform and faced criticism for anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-Semitic remarks during the campaign. Trzaskowski is a centrist and is pushing for closer ties to the EU. The official announcement is expected later today. mailto:?body=Poland%27s%20electoral%20commission%20said%20President%20Duda%20has%20won%20a%20second%20term%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9922613%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare Who people are remembering… [Kelly Preston](. Yesterday, the actress passed away after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 57. Preston is best known for her roles in "Jerry Maguire," "Twins" and "Mischief." Her husband John Travolta confirmed her death in an Instagram post early this morning. The two had celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary last year and lost their oldest son, Jett, in 2009. Travolta said her "love and life will always be remembered" and thanked all the doctors and nurses for their care. RIP. mailto:?body=Kelly%20Preston%20has%20passed%20away%20after%20a%20two-year%20battle%20with%20breast%20cancer.%20RIP.%20%23Skimmlife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9922627%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare Who's causing an uproar… [Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan](. Last week, he ordered Hagia Sophia to be turned into a mosque minutes after a Turkish court revoked its status as a museum. The centuries-old structure was an Orthodox Christian cathedral and became a mosque under Ottoman rule. But in 1934 it was turned into a museum, becoming a symbol of secularism in Turkey where the Islamic and Christian faiths can coexist. Now some say Erdoğan's decision could destabilize religious peace within the country. Erdoğan says the move is part of Turkey's sovereign right, but that shouldn't stop people from visiting it. mailto:?body=Another%20historic%20change%20in%20the%20Hagia%20Sophia%20is%20causing%20tensions%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9922641%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare Who may need more candles on their birthday cake... [Your dog](. mailto:?body=Your%20dog%20might%20be%20older%20than%20you%20think%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9926637%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare Person to Know --------------------------------------------------------------- [Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle]( The US Naval Academy graduate is poised to become the first Black female tactical fighter pilot. Last week, a Navy official said she completed the tactical air training program. Swegle is currently assigned to an air station in Texas. And will receive her Wings of Gold later this month. Swegle's accomplishment comes nearly 50 years after the first woman in the Navy flew a tactical jet. mailto:?body=Lt.%20j.g.%20Madeline%20Swegle%20will%20soon%20become%20the%20first%20Black%20female%20fighter%20pilot%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-9915987%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare [PressPause] --------------------------------------------------------------- Summer is here. Check out our fave picks for the season… 1. The best movies of 2020 (so far). Perks of your at-home theater: you can pause for bathroom breaks, get unlimited refills, and you'll never get stuck behind a tall stranger. [Lights, camera, action](. 2. The 5 cleaning personalities. [This explainer]( helps you identify your type, and gives personalized tips to get it all done. Team "stress cleaners," assemble. 3. How to treat and prevent thigh chafing. [These secrets]( will help you say 'ta ta' to your mortal enemy. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya. PS: [Sign up]( to get more ideas for ways to spend your summer in your inbox every Monday. Like recipe ideas, movies and book recs, and more. [Skimm'Picks] --------------------------------------------------------------- For when reading is your cardio… Time for a workout with [Book of The Month](. It's a subscription service that lets you pick a book from five options every month. And then sends your pick right to your door. Psst...Skimm'rs get their first month for $9.99. [Start a new chapter](.* For when you're debating whether to refresh your makeup collection… The eyes have it. Give them a boost with [Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara]( from Thrive Causemetics. It makes your lashes look longer and more defined. And Skimm'rs get 15% off. [Take the plunge](.* For when the weekend was fun but exhausting… Time to reset. Enter: [this wellness company's]( metabolism super powder. It eliminates bloat, regulates blood sugar, and controls your cravings naturally. Oh, and Skimm'rs get 20% off sitewide. [Start fresh](.* *PS This is a sponsored post. Skimm’rs --------------------------------------------------------------- In times like these, community matters more than ever. Let us know how you (or someone you know) is making an impact by helping others. A team player...Vona S (IA). She's made and donated 600 scrub caps to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, mostly to pediatrics. And some workers use them to ease the pain caused by face shields while they work. On a mission...Abby L (MD). She's a recent high school grad who made over 30,000 period packs for young girls in public schools who can't afford menstrual products. With schools closed because of COVID-19, Abby made sure girls could still pick up their packs once a week. (Some) Birthdays...Peter Jankowski (NJ), Grace Lawton (NY), Sara Woznicki (VA), Greg Kiernan (NY), Alyssa Sullivan (NY), Christina Cipitelo (IL), Vasia Rigou (IL), Vicki Rhyne (TX), Selah Stivers (PA), Alena Bloom (NJ), Mary Elizabeth Wilkes (LA), Hila DeLong (VA), Kellie Skoner (MD), Aaron Dunser (CA), Ginger Dunn (CA) *Paging all members of theSkimm. [Reach out here]( for a chance to be featured. Skimm Share --------------------------------------------------------------- Some Skimm HQ'rs are figuring out their taxes last minute. Share theSkimm with your friend who submitted their tax return back in April. [Share]( Or use this referral link [theskimm.com/?r=8c6ba2b1]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Skimm'd something we missed? [skimmthis@theSkimm.com](mailto:skimmthis@theskimm.com) Issues? [help@theSkimm.com](mailto:help@theskimm.com) Copyright (c) 2020 theSkimm, All rights reserved. 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