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Skimm for July 21st

Skimm’d while catching up on “Last Week Tonight”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“We apologize for this unprovoked and criminal intrusion into our customers’ information” - The parent company of Ashley Madison. Yesterday, the dating site where married people find affairs was hacked. Karma took credit.

HAVANA GOOD TIME

THE STORY

Yesterday, the White House had mojitos. The US and Cuban embassies reopened for the first time in more than 50 years.

I THOUGHT THAT ALREADY HAPPENED.

Not quite. Late last year, President Obama announced that the US and Cuba would have relations again. The diplomatic kind. The two haven’t gotten along since dictator Fidel Castro took power during the Cold War. And a Castro’s still in charge. But thanks to a little matchmaking from Pope Francis , Raul Castro and Obama are trying to play nice. Meaning things like restrictions on travel and banking have been lifted…and now, the embassies are open for biz.

SO ARE THE COUNTRIES BFFS?

Well, the US still has a trade embargo on Cuba, which hasn’t been so good for its economy. Then there’s Guantanamo Bay, the controversial US military prison in Cuba that Obama would very much like to close. Cuba agrees on this one. But not everyone in Congress feels the same. Convenient, since Congress is the one with the power to get rid of the embargo and Gitmo.

theSKIMM

While many are giving Obama a pat on the back for reversing a policy that’s been around since the Cold War, others are saying that getting close to Cuba is like playing a game of ‘if you give a dictatorship a muffin.’

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT...

Sandra Bland . Earlier this month, the black 28-year-old civil rights activist was arrested after a traffic stop in Texas. She was found dead in her jail cell three days later. Yesterday, her family’s lawyer described the dash cam footage from the arrest. The lawyer says it shows a confrontation between Bland and the officer. After she refused to put out her cigarette, the officer allegedly pointed a Taser at Bland to get her out of the car. Meanwhile, authorities say Bland was arrested because she assaulted the officer. When Bland was found hanging in her cell later that week, authorities said it was a suicide. But her family’s not sure that’s what happened, and has asked for an independent autopsy. And the Texas district attorney on the case says he’s treating it as a murder investigation.

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO SENDS SNAPCHATS FROM THE NINTH HOLE...

Heard about Zach Johnson? Yesterday, the American golfer beat out some tough competition at the British Open to take the top prize. Which – in case you were wondering – is something called a ‘claret jug.’ Johnson had to beat out rain, some serious wind, and two other golfers in a rare playoff round to get it done. He also had to get past 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, who was hoping to get a golf Grand Slam after winning the Masters and the US Open earlier this year. At least he has his green jacket to keep him warm at night.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR BOSS LEAVES THE COMPANY BECAUSE OF ‘CREATIVE DIFFERENCES’...

So mysterious. Gawker has the opposite problem. Yesterday, two of the company’s top editors turned in some very candid resignation letters. That’s because Gawker ran a story last week that a married, male Conde Nast exec tried to pay for a gay escort. Cue a lot of criticism over Gawker’s decision to run the article, from commentators and – reportedly – from advertisers. Gawker’s managing team pulled the article after a vote that pretty much pitted the business side against the editorial side. Yesterday, one of the editors wrote that the move, “turns Gawker’s claim to be the world’s largest independent media company into, essentially, a joke.” Bridge, burned.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU HEAR BLAKE SHELTON AND MIRANDA LAMBERT ARE DIVORCING...

Depressing. A&P knows about hard times. The grocery store chain has filed for bankruptcy . Again. This is the second time in five years it’s done this. And – just like last time – it’s because A&P can’t hack it against the competition. Turns out, a lot of its customers are opting to pick up eggs and milk while shopping at places like Walmart and Target. And a lot of other customers are opting to pick up cage-free eggs and organic hemp milk at places like Whole Foods and Fairway. A&P plans on selling off as many of its stores as it can, as fast as it can.

THING TO KNOW

Gov. John Kasich (R-OH): Announcing a run for president today. Making him lucky number 16 in the GOP race. Kasich is a successful two-term gov. whose resume includes 18 years in Congress and a role as a Fox News host.

SKIMM GIFT

In case you missed it, Greece’s economy has seen better days. Take a trip to help it out. Five nights in the Greek islands. $2,000 shopping spree included. Opa. Enter here.

SKIMM LIFE

We like you, you like us. Let’s make it official.

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm’bassadors. Cake cake cake.

*Caroline Cook (Delray Beach, FL); *Catherine Baiocchi (North Branford, Connecticut); *Grace Peterson (Boise, ID); *Carrie Dorsey (Richmond, VA); *Kelli Holland (Clarkesville, GA); Sarah Biggs (Boston, MA); Allison Waldbeser (Honolulu, Hawaii); Barb Tankel (Rye Brook, NY); Blaire Luciano (Alexandria, VA); Hallie Dewey (New York,NY); Charlotte Dewey (New York, NY); Amanda Miller (Alcoa, TN); Barbara Barbour (Roanoke, VA); Elizabeth Tillman (Dallas, TX); Jen Corey Baca (Washington, DC); Sara Rennich (Chicago, IL); Leah Steinke (McLean, VA); Mary Livingston (Fort Worth, TX); Seton Talty (Southhampton, NY); Rosalie Dech (Arlington, VA); Shane Ryan (Washington, DC)