Back at Square One

Good morning.

Like almost everyone else on Earth, I’ve been glued to my screen to catch all of the updates about Artemis II’s historic trip to space. Now that they’re safely back on solid ground (and I’ve read every single comment on Commander Reid Wiseman’s Instagram after he was reunited with his daughters), I have to find other ways to spark joy. That includes watching Justin Bieber heal his younger self at Coachella (this might be the first thing Katy Perry and I have agreed on) and following a 104-year-old woman’s advice for a long life (we share the same favorite pantry staple, after all). Meanwhile, this explanation of hope vs. optimism has a few expert-backed tips I’d like to try. As for what’s happening in the rest of the world, here’s what you need to know…

— Kylie McConville / VP, Editorial / Queens, NY

International

Back at Square One

What’s going on: After 21 hours of negotiations, the US and Iran are no closer to ending the war. Surprising no one, the two sides blame each other. Vice President JD Vance, who led the talks, said Tehran would not commit to ending its nuclear program — a key point for the Trump admin. Iranian officials told The New York Times that the two sides couldn’t agree on the Strait of Hormuz and reparations for damage from US-Israeli strikes either. Unhappy with the results, President Donald Trump is now going after the Strait. The US Navy is expected to begin a blockade there today, intercepting every ship that tries to leave or enter Iran. Trump warned that other countries would join the effort, though at least one has already said no. A top Iranian official’s response to the blockade: “Enjoy the current pump figures… Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”

Where do things stand now?: It’s not often that the US and Iran come to the table, and Saturday’s meeting marked their highest-level talks since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. But when things didn’t go Trump’s way, he re-upped his earlier, dangerous threats to Iran and named potential targets. If the war restarts, crude oil prices could increase after a momentary drop, inflation will only get worse (it’s already at a two-year high), and civilian life in the region would be upended once again. Pakistan said it hopes to schedule a fresh round of talks soon, and Iran is open to it. Still, it’s unclear what will happen if both sides can’t reach an agreement by the time the ceasefire expires on April 22.

Related: Where Was Trump When Talks With Iran Failed? (New York Times Gift Link)

The News in 6

🗞️ Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) suspended his run for California governor after several women accused him of sexual misconduct — and that might just be the beginning of the political fallout. 

🗞️ Hungarian voters ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, bringing an end to his 16-year authoritarian rule. Guess VP JD Vance’s influence only goes so far. 

🗞️ In a recent interview, Ivanka Trump revealed her surprising reaction to the 2024 assassination attempt on her father.

🗞️ Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch’s first remarks since returning from space have us in tears (again). What a crew.

🗞️ New renderings for President Donald Trump’s triumphal arch just dropped. It looks oddly familiar…

🗞️ Who’s had it harder: boomers or millennials? The data is finally in — and someone better write an apology note.

Reproductive Health

Is Urgent Care the Next Frontier for Abortion Access?

What’s going on: Many visit urgent care centers when they have a stubborn cough or a UTI, but one Michigan clinic has given patients a new reason to walk through its doors: for abortion care. After a Planned Parenthood that served roughly 1,100 people in the area shut down due to federal cuts and financial challenges, Marquette Medical Urgent Care stepped in, NPR reports. Not only did it provide medication abortions, but the Michigan clinic offered patients in-person care options rather than telehealth or by-mail treatment. The clinic told NPR that it’s on track to treat as many abortion patients as the now-closed Planned Parenthood once did, and that it could serve as a blueprint for other states that’ve seen funding cuts post-Dobbs.

What it means: Advocates tell NPR that brick-and-mortar clinics will be crucial as opposition to telehealth and mail-order abortion pill access grows. And urgent care centers could be a game-changer, depending on a state’s laws and federal regulations. According to one nonprofit’s data, at least 38 abortion clinics closed last year in states where abortion isn’t banned, which further expands existing abortion and contraceptive deserts. Urgent care facilities are already designed to fill gaps in care and often serve people without a regular provider or with non-emergent health issues. Now, some may add abortion care to that list. Though it isn’t a perfect solution, this could become a workaround in a system that keeps shrinking.

Related: Judge Won’t Block Mailed Abortion Pills — at Least, for Now (AP)

Social Media

When MyChart Becomes OurChart

What’s going on: There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes (reminder!), and non-doctors offering medical advice on the internet. That’s especially true if you post personal health details from your patient portal. According to The New York Times Magazine, a growing number of people are sharing their medical test results in real time on social media, from portals like MyChart or Athena Patient, including for diseases like cancer. It’s now become as commonplace as uploading food pics or a pregnancy gender reveal (without the confetti cannon). Regardless of whether there’s relief or devastation, these videos rack up views. And comments run the gamut, with some hype-people writing things like, “your blood work is amazing,” and others offering unsolicited prognoses and medical advice.

Proceed with caution: This is the kind of content the algorithm lives for — high-stakes, real-consequences, dramatic, and personal — but it doesn’t mean you should trust it. So whether you’re waiting on scary test results or just trying to figure out why you’re so tired, make a plan to follow up with your doctor. They should be able to contextualize things better than your followers, and you can always get a second opinion. If you’re thinking of having your own medical test reveal, keep perspective. The risk of misinformation is real and you don’t know what the internet could do with your data — but both can have serious consequences for your health.

Related: How a TikTok User Named “PickleFart” Helped a Woman Catch Her Cancer Early (The Guardian)

Quick Hits

😋 A new sweet treat just hit the Costco food court — and we needed to try it yesterday.

🚽 We didn’t expect a simple bedroom staple to double as a bathroom storage hack. It’s the little things.

💪 These seven foods can help boost your muscle recovery. Leg day just got a bit easier.  

 💇‍♀️ Figuring out how to copy Nicole Kidman’s latest ponytail look is our only summer goal. Time to get practicing.

👀 Hold on, why is Sabrina Carpenter apologizing after her Coachella set?

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ It’s National Scrabble Day. Fun fact: Tile values were originally based on letter frequency in newspapers.

🗓️ It’s National Peach Cobbler Day, and this recipe has more than 4,000 stars.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

Forget the Labubus. People are obsessed with this viral Masters merch…

Skimm'd and fact-checked by: Rashaan Ayesh, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Margaret Wheeler Johnson, and Kylie McConville.