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The Story

Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the 116th US Supreme Court justice.

Walk me through it.

Yesterday, senators voted 53-47 to confirm Jackson to the bench. Jackson has clerked at all three levels of the federal Judiciary. She's set to become the first Supreme Court justice with experience as a federal public defender. And she’s been confirmed by the Senate for federal judgeship three times before. But this time was different.

I wonder how…

It was quite the confirmation process. Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Jackson for more than 20 hours on everything from race and baby books to her faith and more. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — who supported her most recent judicial nomination — has now dismissed her as an “activist judge.” He and 10 other Republican members on the panel voted no. But it still went on to the full Senate.

And how’d that go down?

VP Kamala Harris presided. President Biden and Jackson watched the vote unfold from the White House. Three GOP senators — Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins — crossed party lines to vote in Jackson’s favor. And when it was all over, almost all Republicans walked out while others applauded.

How does this stack up to past confirmations?

Depends on how far back we look. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmations were split down party lines. The last justices to be confirmed with near-unanimous support were Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the ’90s. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (the court’s first female justice) received a unanimous vote in 1981.

When does KBJ take the bench?

This summer, when Justice Stephen Breyer formally retires. But her confirmation doesn’t change the high court’s standing. It’ll still be a conservative majority of 6 to 3.

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In SCOTUS’s 233-year history, there have been 115 justices. Now, in an increasingly polarized political climate, Jackson is the first Black woman to join the bench. She has persevered.

What’s going through it right now…

Pakistan. Yesterday, the country’s Supreme Court blocked PM Imran Khan’s attempt to stay in power. Pakistan's government has been facing heat for rising inflation and defections from the PM's party. Last week, Khan lost his majority. So this week, Khan tried to dissolve Parliament and bring on early elections. The move sparked outrage, with many calling it a constitutional crisis. Now, the Supreme Court is saying 'agreed.' And that Khan was out of line by doing so. ​​Tomorrow, lawmakers are holding a no-confidence vote. Khan blames criticism against him on a "US conspiracy."

Who’s handing in their resignation letter…

Russia. Yesterday, the UN voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council. The update comes as images show bodies lying on the streets in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, after Russian forces left. It was only the second time in the UN's history that a country was kicked off from the council (see: Libya). But not the first time that sitting members of the council stood accused of human rights abuses. The Trump admin quit the council back in 2018, calling it a "mockery of human rights." Now, Moscow responded to being fired by reportedly saying 'you can't fire me, I quit.' Russian officials are calling it an “illegitimate and politically motivated step.”

On the ground: Today, a Russian rocket strike hit a train station in eastern Ukraine — killing more than 30 people and injuring over 100, according to Ukrainian officials. The station’s been used to evacuate citizens as more than 4.3 million people have fled the country.

Who’s saying football is a team sport…

These coaches. Yesterday, two Black coaches joined Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL. Earlier this year, Flores was fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He was one of only three Black head coaches in the league. Flores moved to sue three teams and the NFL for discrimination. Now, former Arizona Cardinals’ head coach Steve Wilks and assistant coach Ray Horton are teaming up with Flores. Wilks says he wasn’t given a chance to succeed as head coach. Horton claims he was given a sham interview for the Tennessee Titans head coach position. They are apparently calling for transparency in NFL hiring.

When you hear about the shortage of surrogates...

There's no shortage of fossil finds in North Dakota.

Once upon a time, dogs ate…well, whatever their owners didn’t want to. Aka cooking scraps and leftovers. That lasted until the 1860s, when James Spratt developed the first-ever commercial pet food. Thanks to some savvy marketing, he had a hit on his hands. Canned meat came next in the early twentieth century, followed by the explosion of kibble. Just like that, human food for dogs was a thing of the past.

But now, thanks to The Farmer’s Dog’s personalized, vet-developed plans, your furry friend can go back to eating fresh meat and veggies. They’ll even deliver it to your door in eco-friendly packaging. Plus, Skimm’rs get 50% off their first box. Much better.

When you eat something sugary, your sweet tooth is all [heart eyes emoji]. But if you wanna cut back on the sweet stuff, we (OK actually scientists) have good news: There’s an herb out there that can help you kick sugar cravings to the curb.

Meet Gymnenma Sylvestre. It’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and even dubbed “the sugar destroyer.” Research shows it binds to taste receptors on the tongue to make sweet foods taste less sweet. Interested? Try Sakara Life’s Metabolism Super Powder. It’s made with Gymnenma Sylvestre. Plus ingredients that help rev digestion and ease bloat. Oh, and Skimm’rs get 20% off. Now that’s sweet.

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. Bold looks that can help you find your sunshine. Lilly Pulitzer is on a mission to inspire confidence and optimism. Their new arrivals are perfect for warm weather festivities. Aaaand this weekend only, Skimm’rs get something special when they spend $250. (Spring)time to celebrate.*

2. The deets on a seriously inspiring sustainability program. Walmart is working to help protect, more sustainably manage, or restore at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean with the Walmart Foundation by 2030. We’re impressed, too. Learn more.*

3. Everything you need to get your bedroom in shape. If you're looking to turn your space into a true haven, check out these cooling comforters for hot sleepers, adorable decor upgrades, and handy closet organizers. Trust us — you'll never wanna get up in the morning.

4. No-fail gifts for all the women in your life. Because the best time to surprise your mom, sister, aunt, or BFF with something sweet is all the time. PS: Check out our Etsy storefront for even more gift ideas at every price point.

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Running water…Jasmine P (FL). She’s the VP of the Florida chapter of Engineers Without Borders. They just successfully completed the first step in getting clean water to two villages in Guatemala. Check out their progress here.

(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Alex Horowitz (NY), theSkimm's Courtney LaRoche (NY), theSkimm's Nyaknno Owodiong-Idemeko (PA), theSkimm's Michelle Stabinsky (NJ), theSkimm's Diana Desio (NY), theSkimm's Lindsay Schneider (NY), theSkimm's Sarah Rostant (NY), Julia Brody (NY), Aaron Rasmussen (FL), Olivia Grosvenor (NY), Kathy Brooks (NY), Abi Averill (CA), Chris Rochester (NY), Lloyd Heller (NY), David Rasmussen (FL)

PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Housing costs are reaching new heights. This week on “Skimm This,” we talk to two economists on whether a housing bubble is brewing, how the current situation compares to the 2006 crisis, and what advice potential homebuyers should consider. Extreme makeover: home (prices) edition.

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