Biden's Debate Performance Is Everything the GOP Wanted

What's Happening

Politics

Biden's Debate Performance Is Everything the GOP Wanted

What's going on: Last night, a convicted felon and 81-year-old man took the stage in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. The key issues like abortion, immigration, and inflation didn’t take center stage. Even former President Trump’s 34 felony counts of falsifying business records appeared to be a footnote. Instead, it was President Biden’s performance, which seemed to all but confirm voters’ concerns about his age and ability to lead the country for another four years, that stole the show. From the moment he walked onto the stage, he stumbled over his words, lost his train of thought, and appeared frail. Meanwhile, Trump took advantage of Biden’s verbal gaffes and responded with repeated falsehoods. The debate left people questioning whether they should have finished binging “The Bear” instead. Many Democrats, on the other hand, are panicking about how to move forward at such a pivotal point in the election. 

What it means: Ahead of the debate, many political analysts had painted it as a historic showdown: Never before has a presidential debate pitted a sitting president against a former commander in chief. Now, about four months before Election Day, Biden has reignited the concerns voters and the Democratic Party have had since the beginning of his reelection campaign, asking: Is Biden too old to be president? For many voters, last night’s debate provided a clear answer and has some calling on the president to reconsider his candidacy. Meanwhile, Trump, who was impeached twice and had to remind people that he “didn’t have sex with a porn star,” has his campaign declaring debate victory. Biden and Trump will meet on stage one more time in September, after they both officially accept their party’s nomination.

Related: These Internet Memes Are the Real Winners of Debate Night (Teen Vogue)

US News

Supreme Court Rejects Multibillion-Dollar Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement

What's going on: Yesterday, the Supreme Court blocked Purdue Pharma’s controversial opioid settlement that would’ve provided billions of dollars to communities and victims, while also protecting the Sackler family from lawsuits related to the epidemic. Under the deal, the Sacklers, who have controlled Purdue Pharma since the 1950s, agreed to give up ownership of the company and pay $6 billion over 18 years to settle opioid-related claims as long as they could be protected from liability in future opioid lawsuits. In a 5-4 decision, the majority of the justices ruled bankruptcy courts do not have the authority to shield the Sacklers from legal claims made by opioid victims. In dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the “decision is wrong on the law and devastating for more than 100,000 opioid victims and their families.”

What it means: Communities and victims affected by the opioid crisis will have to wait even longer to see any kind of payout, and some are worried it could take years. The ruling means states and other entities that sued Purdue will likely restart negotiations. The settlement had divided those directly affected by opioid addiction. Some said the bankruptcy deal shielding the Sacklers was the only way to get the desperately needed funds, while others said it was allowing them to get off easy. The Sackler family expressed disappointment over the decision and said they remain hopeful about reaching a resolution. The ruling could impact other mass injury-related bankruptcy settlements, like the $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan for the Boy Scouts of America, and other cases that rely on the liability shield used in the Purdue Pharma settlement.

Related: SCOTUS Couldn’t Decide Whether To Allow Pollution To Drift Across State Lines (NPR)

Sports

A New Era for USA Gymnastics?

What's going on: The US Olympic trials for gymnastics kicked off last night and will continue through Sunday. Sixteen women will compete for five spots on the team — although one of those spots practically has Simone Biles’ name on it. Among the hopefuls are six-time Olympic champ Sunisa Lee and World medalist Shilese Jones, who is nursing a shoulder injury. A committee is in charge of deciding who gets to go to Paris, and they are looking for the best gymnasts to help maximize Team USA’s score. Here’s how to watch.

What it means: These Olympic trials come at a pivotal time for USA Gymnastics. The sport has faced one hurdle after another following the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. The organization filed for bankruptcy, restructured their leadership team, and faced a number of lawsuits. It has also been trying to rebuild the trust it once had with hundreds of young athletes and their families. Now, USA Gymnastics is likely looking to the Paris Olympics as the start of a new chapter.

Related: Thanks to Athletes Like Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas, More Young Black Girls Are Joining Gymnastics (AP)

Quick Hits

😱 This massive sinkhole caught on video is our new fear unlocked.

✈️ A woman decided to do something nice for herself and the internet is mad she didn’t take her husband.

🤨 Hold on, we’re trying to convince ourselves that we aren’t suffering from “eyebrow blindness.”

👀 Ariana Grande shared her dream dinner date. It didn’t go over well.

🧳 This is how early you actually need to get to the airport.

Let's Unpack This

Across the country, millions of Americans have dealt with high temperatures — some even in the triple digits. As summer gets underway, theSkimm spoke to Dr. Leslie Swanson, associate professor of psychiatry and a sleep researcher at the University of Michigan, to ask…

How can people sleep better in the heat?

“A falling body temperature is a signal that it’s time for sleep. Our body temperature gradually drops as our usual bedtime approaches,” Swanson said. “But, if our bedroom is too hot, it can take longer for our body temperature to drop to the point where sleep is facilitated. This can make it harder for us to fall asleep, more likely to wake up during the night, and lead to less restful sleep.” To get a good night’s rest, Swanson recommends these tips…

• Try to keep it cool: “The ideal temperature for sleeping is between 62-68 degrees Fahrenheit. For most people the sweet spot is around 65 degrees. If you don’t have air conditioning, use a fan. Ideally the fan would be placed in a window to draw in cooler night time air.”

• Touch up your sleep environment: “Consider darkening shades or blackout curtains to keep your bedroom as dark and cool as possible,” Swanson said. “Use light weight, breathable bedding and pajamas (think: cotton or linen).”

• Focus on sleep prep: “A cool, damp washcloth placed on the forehead just before turning the lights out can aid in cooling the body. Similarly, you can place your pillowcase in the freezer so it’s cold. If you can tolerate it, a warm (not cold) bath or shower one to two hours before your bedtime can help bring your core body temperature down.”

• Aim for consistency: “Try to keep the same bed and wake times seven days per week and avoid naps longer than 15-20 minutes. Be careful about alcohol use since it will add another layer of sleep disruption.”

How can a lack of sleep due to heat affect our body?

“It can influence our sleep stages, so we’re not getting as much deep sleep. This can leave us feeling [tired] the next day. It may be harder to concentrate,” Swanson told theSkimm. “We may also be more irritable or have to work more to regulate our emotions. But a few nights of bad sleep here and there during a heatwave are unlikely to have lasting consequences for our health … If you’re feeling too hot to sleep, don’t try to force it — get out of bed and go do a quiet, relaxing activity until you’re feeling sleepy.”

Featured Expert

Dr. Leslie Swanson

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Sleep Researcher, University of Michigan

Read more:

• Summer Heat Has Risen the Most in These US Cities (The Guardian)

• The Paris 2024 Olympic Village Wont Have AC. So, Athletes Came Up With a Game Plan. (CBS)

Read Now

Extra Credit

Listen

Allow Megan Thee Stallion to reintroduce herself. Simply titled “Megan,” the rapper’s new album — which she's declared a “rebirth” — and follow-up to 2022’s “Traumazine” is here, just in time for Hot Girl Summer. Like her snake-themed album cover artwork and songs (in addition to the viral diss track “Hiss,” there’s also “Boa” and “Cobra”), Meg is shedding her skin — and life’s toxicities — and instead, tapping into other emotions (she credits therapy playing an important role) and experimenting with new sounds, or, what she describes as the “music I would like if I wasn’t Megan Thee Stallion.” Of course, Hotties can still expect the same straight-shooting, witty-worded powerhouse from Houston — but this time, she's bringing a wiser, more self-aware energy with her.

Settle This

You can thank Charli XCX for the revival of lime green and a Brat Summer. Can you spot which of the following is not Brat Summer-approved?

Game Time

Unleash your competitive side with Pile-Up Poker, a brand-new game where poker meets solitaire. Create as many poker hands as possible to earn cash and claim victory. We’re all in.

Skimm Well

Burnt (out) to a crisp

Sound familiar? Women are more likely than men to label their job as stressful and overwhelming. If that stress becomes chronic, it can damage more than your productivity at work. Think high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and other conditions. 

Enter Skimm Well. Our weekly health newsletter offers expert-backed advice on topics like how to lessen your mental load and scripts on how to navigate difficult conversations like setting boundaries at work. Plus, every week you’ll get the most up-to-date health news and wellness trends to keep you in the know. Succeeding in your career shouldn’t cost you your health.