The Art of the Denial Just Met the Art of the Screenshot

What's Happening

Politics

The Art of the Denial Just Met the Art of the Screenshot

What's going on: President Donald Trump’s administration publicly dismissed the leaked Houthi attack chat as overblown. The Atlantic called their bluff — and dropped the chat receipts with screenshots and timestamps yesterday. One of them? “THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP.” That came straight from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who insists that the attack methods and strike times in the chat were just a “team update.” Hegseth, the White House, and allies on the Hill seem to be playing a game of semantic gymnastics, debating the definition of “war plans.” National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe repeatedly told Congress earlier this week that the chat did not contain classified information, with Gabbard dismissing the uproar as a “mistake.” But Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) said if the Houthis had intercepted the messages, they could have moved weapons or planned a counterstrike.

What it means: Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Reed, the ranking Democrat, have formally requested an inspector general investigation and a classified briefing from a senior Trump official — bipartisan scrutiny that signals real concern. Meanwhile, Trump said he doesn’t think the FBI even needs to investigate, per CNN. There’s also the larger security issue, journalist aside: Why did top officials discuss live military ops on Signal? (The Pentagon recently warned that Russian hackers were targeting the messaging app.) The chat is also fueling hypocrisy claims since the Trump admin previously threatened jail and conducted polygraph tests after details of immigration enforcement raids leaked. If the inspector general report finds classified information in the chat, this could turn into more than just a messaging problem. As the fallout unfolds, the memes are likely just getting warmed up.

Related: The National Security Adviser From the Group Chat Also Left His Venmo Public (Wired)

US News

SCOTUS Weighs In on DIY Guns

What's going on: Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld Biden-era regulations on so-called ghost guns. The self-assembled firearms can be purchased online as kits, put together in as little as 30 minutes, and are nearly impossible to trace. Authorities have increasingly linked them to crime scenes. To combat their use, the Biden administration passed rules requiring manufacturers of the DIY guns to include serial numbers on the weapons and carry out background checks on potential buyers. But gun rights groups challenged them, arguing that the gun kits did not constitute as firearms. In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court disagreed, with Justice Neil Gorsuch saying the kit’s intended function as an “instrument of combat is obvious.”

What it means: The ruling is a rare move for the high court’s conservative majority, which hasn’t been too keen on gun restrictions in the past. While this is a win for gun control advocates, it’s considered a narrow one, since the case wasn’t about the Second Amendment but rather the legal definition of a “firearm.” One law professor told The New York Times, “Although this is not a Second Amendment ruling, it shows that the justices are not uniformly hostile to gun regulation.” It’s unclear what the Trump administration will do next, but it could take steps to rescind the Biden-era rules.

Related: UnitedHealth Exec Shooting Renewed Questions About Ghost Guns (WSJ)

Money

Nobody's Credit Score Wants This

What's going on: The days of student loan payments not tanking credit scores are officially over. According to the New York Federal Reserve, more than 9 million borrowers could see a major dip in their credit scores now that delinquencies are back on the books. Brace yourself: It won’t be pretty. Borrowers with lower credit scores could lose an average of 87 points, while those with excellent credit might take an even bigger hit — up to 171 points on average. This was inevitable once the Biden administration’s temporary grace period ended last September, but the timing couldn’t be worse. As if student loans weren’t messy enough: Legal battles over repayment plans have borrowers stuck in forbearance, waiting for answers.

What it means: While student loan debt is just one piece of the economic puzzle, experts warn this could have ripple effects — especially with lingering recession fears. With inflation still high and consumer confidence now at a 12-year low, many borrowers are now struggling to juggle soaring monthly payments and everyday expenses. There’s also a potential domino effect: As credit scores tank, borrowers may start missing credit card or car payments, leading to weaker consumer spending overall. Financial experts say this isn’t just about a temporary hit to credit scores — it’s yet another sign that the student loan system is long overdue for real reform.

Related: Your State’s Middle Class Salary Might Surprise You (CNBC)

Together with Hulu

What to Watch

We all have drama, but nothing comes close to what the professional crime fighters, nurses, and doctors face on every episode of these Hulu procedurals. Ready, set, stream…

• Grey’s Anatomy: This month marks the 20th anniversary of the series premiere (huge deal), making it the perfect time to start re-watching every episode on Hulu. 

• Law & Order SVU: Before you ask, yes, we can recite the entire title sequence by heart. And yes, Skimm HQ’s meeting rooms are named after the OG characters. Dun-dun.

• NCIS: This show perfectly balances the action, drama, and humor of working on high-stress criminal investigations — and seasons one through 11 are streaming now on Hulu. 

Oh, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. Hulu also has The Rookie, Will Trent, High Potential, Doctor Odyssey, 9-1-1, House M.D., and so. much. more.

Settle This

Kelly Clarkson’s latest parenting gripe? Totally relatable — and aimed at her kids’ school. Can you guess what it was?

Extra Credit

Read

If you thought The Handmaid’s Tale was…thought-provoking, brace yourself for Laila Lalami’s The Dream Hotel. The riveting dystopian novel is set in a not-too-distant future, in which the Risk Assessment Administration (RAA) uses data — including one’s dreams — to determine if people are likely to commit a crime. That’s how museum archivist Sara Hussein ends up being detained by RAA agents, who conclude she’s in danger of harming her husband and must be observed at a “retention” center for 21 days. But as Sara and her fellow retainees quickly learn, every minor infraction extends their stay — and proving their innocence is virtually impossible in a system that raises big questions about surveillance, technology, and power.

Game Time

Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.