Skimm'd while going green

"I made sure she has a jacket" – Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) – who is also a new mom – became the first senator ever to bring a baby to the Senate floor. The dress code still applied.

DROP IT

The Story

North Korea may be lowering its standards. In a good way.

Explain.

North and South Korea have technically been at war for more than half a century. Since then, the US has kept tens of thousands of troops in South Korea...just in case. And the North has been stockpiling nuclear weapons. But lately, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been trying to patch things up. He's said he'd reconsider ending his nuclear program, under some conditions. Like, pulling US troops out of South Korea. Now...maybe never mind. Kim is reportedly dropping his demand that US troops withdraw from South Korea as a precondition for ending his nuclear program.

Why's that?

Like most things with North Korea, it's pretty unclear.

What happens next?

Next week, North and South Korea's leaders will talk things out in a very rare sit down. TBD if they'll use their new hotline to prep. And in the next couple of months, President Trump and Lil' Kim will also meet – marking the first time a sitting US president and a North Korean leader have had a face-to-face.

theSkimm

If confirmed, this would be a huge breakthrough in a conflict that's had the whole world on pins and needles for decades.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when "Office Space" is on…

Did you get that memo? Yesterday, the Justice Department sent Congress copies of memos written by former FBI Director James Comey. And then the memos were made public. In case you somehow forgot, last year President Trump abruptly fired Comey, who was leading the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation at the time. It later came out that Comey wrote memos about his interactions with Trump leading up to when he was fired. Now, you can read all about it. Among other things, Comey writes that Trump said he had "serious reservations" about his then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. And that Flynn hadn't told him right away about a call from a foreign leader congratulating Trump on his election. Flynn was forced to step down weeks into the administration after lying about his interactions with the Russian ambassador. These memos are thought to be important evidence in Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation.

PS: theSkimm sat down with James Comey to talk about that time he got fired...and how exactly it all played out. Watch the interview here.

What to say when you hear from a job you applied to months ago…

Took their sweet time. Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) to be the next NASA administrator...after keeping him waiting for almost eight months. As you probably know, NASA is in charge of all things air and space. This includes research on the causes and effects of climate change. Last year, President Trump nominated Bridenstine to lead NASA. Dems pointed out that he has rejected climate change in the past...and has no scientific experience. The Senate finally got around to a vote on his nomination – and it looked like it would be a tie. But Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) switched to a 'yes.' Giving Bridenstine the job...by one vote. Flake was reportedly using his vote as leverage to get a sit down with sec of state nominee Mike Pompeo.

What to say to your friend celebrating 4/20…

Hear about this? Yesterday, an FDA advisory panel backed a cannabis-based drug as a treatment for kids with rare types of epilepsy. The drug is made from an oil called cannabidiol that doesn't get you high. Several parents testified to say that it helped cut down on their kids' seizures and improve their quality of life. The FDA will make the call later this year on whether to make it the first drug from a cannabis plant approved in the US.

What to say when you're ordering dinner…

Skipping the salad. Earlier this week, the CDC said an E. coli outbreak linked to chopped romaine lettuce has expanded to 16 states. E. coli: a bacteria that can cause food poisoning and sometimes lead to serious infection. Last week, the agency reported there were 35 people sick in 11 states. Now, at least 53 people have gotten sick around the country. Investigators think the contaminated lettuce is from Arizona. No common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been ID'd. So if you bought romaine at a store, toss it. Better safe than very, very sorry.

What to say when you hear PopSugar may have ripped off your fave Insta bloggers…

Should have made a deal. Like "The Sims Mobile" and ASOS.

SKIMM MORE

There's been a lot going on in James Comey's world over the past two years. See: above. Sometimes the timeline gets confusing. So we sat down with him to sip some red wine and break down all of the controversy that led to the day he got fired. Watch the interview here.

SKIMM PICKS

Earth Day's on Sunday. We're celebrating all weekend long at Skimm HQ. That's why today's Skimm Picks are taking a walk on the green side.

For when you can't pronounce the ingredients on the label…

'Natural' is easy to say. And easier on Captain Planet. We rounded up some of our fave eco-friendly products here.

For when you find a $20 in your pocket…

Skimm'r of the Week Matt Paneitz knows how you should spend it. He's the founder and executive director of Long Way Home, an organization that uses sustainable materials to build schools and create educational opportunities. Learn more and donate here.

For when you want to learn about the actual science behind global warming…

Watch this video. We talked to former VP Al Gore about all things climate change.

For when you need a refresher on how to be environmentally friendly...

We rounded up all of our top articles on the what, where, when, and why of climate change. From the scientific nuts and bolts to how to make your closet go green, read up here.

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm'bassador. Put the fun in funfetti.

Ellen Trief NY, Ali Goldberg PA, Debbie Turtletaub NJ, Paul Caine NY, *Maya Krysicki CT, *Allison Ryan SC, *Kelsy Young FL, *Kelsey Monkiewicz MI, *Traci Harris TN, *Hillary Manin NY, *Quinn Orcutt MA, *Grace Masching IL, *Leanne Baum NY, *Alexia Hipsher CA, *Mia Bergstrom WI, *Megan Jackson VA, *Alex Butts, *Noelle Lashley GA, *Erin Amato MA, *Ann-Marie Billig MA, *Jessica Fischberg NJ, *Colleen Gurtner NY, *Monique Statler CA, *Amber Reilly VA, *Piper Sheren NY, *Elizabeth Ludwig IL, *Christina Walters MD, *Brianna Meurer NC, *Jenna McDonald TN, *Esther Chen CA, *Danielle Cohen NY, *Jane Kennedy CA, *Maddie Leamon MI, *Stacy Hardaker OK, *Becca Piriano TX, *Erica Sweeney LA, *Megan Warshawsky MA, *Mary McConville MN, *Kristen Conaty CT, *Lauren Hasday NY, *Kate Harrison MO, *Tiffany Wilson GA, *Jessica Wilson TX, *Cindy Mergen CO, *Ande Remington VA, *Kayla Olszowy MO, *Aliya Manjee WI, *Irina Yoder MS, *Kelly Zimmerman WI, *Vinutha Lakshminarayanan IL, *Cherrie Haugh TX, *Laura Edge WI, *Rebecca Ernest DC, *Jenny Andrejack NC, *Maggie Thomas PA, *Olivia Miller OH, *Tracey Mulrooney NY, *Alison Hatfield MA, *Brianne Dimmitt GA, *Caitlin Clever PA, *Hailey Lapin MO, Louisa Simboli MA, Peggy Letter MD, Heather Cohen NY, Scott Mansfield NC, Jennifer Harris MA, Mary Hooper CA, Jenn Burris VA, Laura Olson OH, Anna Robinson FL, DeCarlis Wilson CA, Jennifer Burris VA, Clara Barnett CT, Jennifer Park Noone IL, Kendall Taylor TX, Emma Luparello VA, Annie Minns MI, Alexis Blais NY, Holly Ziegler OR, Monica Grover NJ, Angela Wolf IL, Erica Wolf IL, Kara Hilliard AR, Lauren Krystopowicz NJ, Kari Weaver MD, Rebecca Mark CT, Paige Lincenberg GA, Karen Hall NJ, Caitlin Maribona FL, Frank Castellucci NY, Drew Mitchell DC, Mary Elizebeth Sikora AL, Shawn Kelley MO, Stacy Simmonds GA, Franki Sibberson OH, Kylie Riemann WV, Dayris Martinez TX, Kim Schneller GA, Maeve Meier IL, Maddie Grant DC, Lynn Koves CO, Elizabeth Mikula MA, Ynes Trabelsi NY, Tori Young VA, Cameron Mitchell IL, Lianne McLaughlin NJ, Mary Clare Mooney IL, Sara Lerner MD, Dard Nelson MD, Linda Swimmer IL, Molly Ospina Wells TX, Stephanie Hofman IL, Grace Shoop TX, Elizabeth Russell IN, April Pfeifer MN, Erin Hecht IL, Allison Newland KY, Carlee Murray NY, Liz Pellegrini NY, Sara Hughes NE, Sarah Rose Mostafa NC, Patrick Eriksson MEX, Tara Maldonado NY, Layne Lertzman FL, Eliza Chapman CT, Eliza Campbell VA, Edith Isaacs MD, Mia Lee CA, Zack Dailey VA, Lisa Morris CA, Katherine Wright FR, Johnny Alexander MD, Andrea Hippeau Vogel NY, Claire Queally TX, Becky Molinoff CT, Lauren Addington TX, Anna Ruth Douglass AR, Madeline Orr TX, Julie Kane VA, Mallory Sawyer WI, Amy Brewer NY, Jordan Ellick NY, Caroline Christy IL, Kelly Fedynich NJ, Sara Perelman PA, Alyssa Shadinger NJ, Alexis Steiner NJ, Creston Mapes GA, Katherine Lawhon SC, Amy Clinton IL, Madison Huffman MI, Sally Wilfong GA, Julia Murphy NY, Ande Ehlen VA, Steph Meiklejohn, Julie Powell MA, Karen Eng IL, Grace Lee CA, Katie Paskar NE, Marion Schloemer NC, Niki Kazakos CA, Laura Sheinin AZ, Julia Thome CAN, Ann Schrupp MN, Karen White MD, Carrie Abes FL, Alexandra Buchan VT, Sarah Naughton CO, Jenni Balck CA, Brittany Carey DC, Nancy Woodruff GA, Heather Sorum WI, Selina Homily AZ, Marissa Harenberg IL, Krysta Lowry TX, Shannon Reilly DE