Hush money and more.Michael Cohen told jurors he spent more than a decade working as Trump’s self-described fixerand said he would do“whatever” Trump wanted. During nearly six hours of testimony,Cohendetailed how Trump directed him to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 for her silence late in the 2016 campaign andsigned off on the plan to reimburse him. He added that Trump said the incident with Daniels “is going to be a disaster for the campaign.” The former president’s attorneys could get the chance to cross-examine Cohen today, and they're likely to paint him as a less-than-reliable witness.
What do you mean?
The defense is expected to hone in onCohen’scredibility and could touch on his criminal record for the jury, potentially swinging the outcome of the trial. Cohen’s a convicted liar, disbarred lawyer, and several witnesses in the trial have questioned whether he can be trusted. Daniels’ lawyer described him as a “pants-on-fire kind of guy” and a jerk in testimony.Meanwhile, the trial could be entering its final stretch, with prosecutors saying they could rest their case by the end of the week.
theSkimm
Prosecutors are relying on key witnesses, like Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, to paint the clearest picture that Trump is guilty. It’ll soon be in the jury’s hands to decide whether the former president is convicted of falsifying business records.
Louisiana. State lawmakers are on track to pass a measure next month that would classify mifepristone and misoprostol — the drugs used to end pregnancies — as controlled dangerous substances, similar to narcotics. If it passes, anyone caught with the drugs without a valid prescription or outside of a doctor’s office could face a fine of up to $5,000 or possible prison time. The measure is an amendment to a bill that would make it a crime to give a pregnant person abortion medication without her consent. Louisiana already bans abortions except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger or for “medically futile” pregnancies. More than 240 Louisiana doctors reportedly called out the amendment as “not scientifically based.”
What’s a little funny…
Meme stocks. GameStop shares surged more than 70% yesterday after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” posted on X for the first time in three years. Gill helped inspire the 2021 meme stock frenzy that saw shares from struggling businesses, like GameStop and AMC, reach highs. That saga cost hedge funds billions of dollars, triggered a congressional hearing on brokers’ practices, and inspired the movie “Dumb Money.” AMC and Reddit also saw their shares increase yesterday.
Who’s stepping down…
Melinda French Gates. Yesterday, she announced plans to leave the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation next month, saying it’s time for “the next chapter” of her philanthropic work. French Gates co-founded the charitable organization with her now ex-husband Bill Gates. As part of an agreement with the foundation, she’ll receive $12.5 billion. French Gates plans to use the money to help women and families.
OpenAI unveiled GPT-4o. The new AI model, which will be free to all users, can process at least 50 languages and is two times faster than GPT-4 Turbo. It can also perceive a user’s emotion and doesn’t mind if you interrupt it.
In the 1990s, Christy Turlington posed alongside icons like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista as one of the world’s first supermodels. She retired by 25 before going to college, earning her degree, and getting married. Then came her first baby – and a life-changing birthing experience that would inform her future work and advocacy.
Skimm Picks
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
The FDA-registered vibrator that’s reinventing pleasure.
Find new ways to amp up your sex life with this award-winning, bendable vibrator. It’s clinically proven (read that again) to improve arousal. Plus it stimulates multiple erogenous zones. The best part? Skimm’rs get 20% off.*
AAPI-founded brand Narra makes ready-to-drink lattes that make us feel energized, but not jittery. Choose from Toasted Oolong, Strawberry Matcha, and Black Tea flavors. PS: Find more of our favorite drinks and snacks here.
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
Typeshift
Start your Tuesday off right with Typeshift, a fun new game that challenges you to create words from a set number of letters. Warning: It’s very addicting. Start playing.
Nearly half of women skip getting preventative care — like their annual checkups. It’s no wonder since looking after everyone else takes so much energy. There’s none left for yourself.
We can help. Skimm Well gives you the info you need to keep your health top of mind with the latest news, expert-backed tips, and resources. Plus *gentle* reminders to schedule that OBGYN visit, too.
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.
(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Martha Upton (NY), theSkimm's Emily Patton (IL), Anne Sandell (WI), Sana Syed (WA), Pookie Halpin (IL), Ashley Lagzial (NY), Courtney Lauwereins (TN), Marilynette Cox (FL), Kirstie LeDoux (TX), Hannah Kimmel (RI), Cassidy Chiasson (DC), Katie Stamm (MD), Amy Dethloff (WI), Cindy Malin (IL), Katie Million (MN), Susan Smith (IL)
PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Anacaona Rodriguez Martinez, Chantal Vaca, Marina Carver, and Maria del Carmen Corpus
Photos by Spencer Platt via Getty Images, Brand Partners
