Daily Skimm: Can I get a pre-Friday?

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Skimm for July 23rd

Skimm’d over mint chocolate chip ice cream

QUOTE OF THE DAY “We’re excited to see him finally become a man” - Seth Rogen on the bar mitzvah he’s throwing for 37-year-old James Franco. L’chaim. Skimm This

THINGS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

SANDRA BLAND THE STORY Last week, Sandra Bland, a  28-year-old black woman, was found dead in her Texas jail cell. You’ve been hearing her name ever since. WHAT DO WE KNOW FOR SURE?  Earlier this month, Bland was pulled over by a state trooper for failing to signal a lane change. Dash cam footage shows that the trooper asked her to put out her cigarette. And when she refused, he asked her to get out of her car. And when she refused, he threatened her with a stun gun. After being forced out of her car, she was arrested. Some of the interaction happened outside of the view of the camera. WHAT DON’T WE KNOW FOR SURE?  What happened off-camera and how Bland died in her cell three days later. There have been questions over whether Texas authorities edited the video. Officials have said Bland’s death was a suicide. And yesterday, the town sheriff said Bland admitted to attempting suicide once before. But her family and friends have called BS, saying she wouldn’t have taken her life. The DA says the case is being treated as thoroughly as a murder investigation. theSKIMM  Last week was the one year anniversary of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of police. And next month is the one year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death at the hands of police. For many, the questions surrounding Bland’s case are striking a nerve that’s become too familiar.

CHARLESTON THE STORY  The suspect in the Charleston massacre now faces federal hate crime charges.  REMIND ME... Last month, nine black church members were shot and killed at a historic black church in Charleston, SC. Then, a racist manifesto surfaced – which officials think was written by the suspect. It included photos of him posing with the Confederate flag. Cue a national debate over whether the flag should still fly. Now, the Justice Department has said ‘we’re on it,’ and a federal grand jury indicted him. theSKIMM While announcing the indictment yesterday, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch called racially motivated violence “the original domestic terrorism.” This tragedy has shook the nation, shining a spotlight on symbols from an ugly time in American history and reigniting a debate on gun control.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF EATING A LOT OF CEREAL BEFORE PAY DAY... I need a raise. Low-wage workers around the country agree. For years, they’ve been protesting for a $15 minimum wage (aka $31,000 a year in a full-time job). Yesterday, the movement got two big bicoastal wins. In New York, the state’s wage board approved a $15 minimum wage for NY fast-food workers. The proposal still needs to get the final OK from the gov’s office...which it will . Cities like Seattle and Los Angeles have been making the $15 move, but NY is the first state to do it for a specific industry. In California, the University system announced the same raise for its employees. Big deal, since the system is CA’s third-largest employer. Businesses have said they wouldn’t be able to pay as many workers at $15 an hour, and would have to cut jobs. But low-wage workers say $15 an hour is a wage they can work with – unlike the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.  Skimm This

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO OVERUSES EXCLAMATION POINTS... We get it, you’re excited. HBO and Bill Simmons are reeeeeally pumped about a new “major exclusive multi-year, multi-platform agreement” that they announced yesterday. Simmons – a sports columnist, TV personality, Grantland editor, podcaster, and sports fan God – used to be going steady with ESPN. But earlier this year, they broke up after 14 years together. M any are thinking this is a good rebound for Simmons, since HBO produces pretty much every show you binge watch. He’ll be hosting a weekly talk show, and producing video podcasts and documentaries.  Skimm This

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU REALIZE YOUR OFFICE GUMMY BEAR SUPPLY IS RUNNING LOW... This is an emergency situation. Yesterday, the people who oversee Social Security said they have one too. Turns out, the Social Security disability fund – which provides aid to millions of Americans – will run out of cash next year. Unless Congress does something. This problem isn’t a surprise and has been flagged before, but apparently Congress isn’t so into planning ahead and much prefers fire drills.   Dems are now thinking they could shift tax revenue from another Social Security fund to cover the shortfall. But Republicans are saying ‘no way’ – first, they want to do things like cut down on disability fraud. Surprise: it looks like this could be a political mess, just in time for 2016. Hooray!

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO HAS THE “SPACE JAM” THEME SONG ON HER RUNNING MIX... Rumor has it ‘Bron ‘Bron could be singing it soon. Skimm This

THING TO KNOW Seems like everybody’s got a debt crisis these days. Here’s what’s going on with Puerto Rico.

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