US News

Dinner, With Reservations

What the fork is going on?: At this point, it might be easier to ask what we can eat. The FDA is tracking 11 active foodborne illness outbreaks around the country as of Friday. Yes, cyclospora has already come for summer’s easiest lunch, with outbreaks tied to iceberg lettuce distributed across 41 states (we really just want our emotional-support Caesar salad back). But lettuce is hardly alone. A salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños has sickened 345 people across 27 states. Recent investigations have also involved eggs and salmonella and frozen fruit and E.coli. This summer certain soft cheeses have been linked to a listeria outbreak that killed one person and hospitalized 10 others. And the FDA still hasn’t identified the specific causes of several active outbreaks. So, pizza for dinner then? 

But why is this happening?: While better genetic sequencing and nationwide surveillance help health officials connect cases across states that once might have looked unrelated, there's still reason to side-eye the system and wonder if our food is less safe. A Government Accountability Office report says the FDA has missed mandated inspection targets since 2018. That doesn’t mean fewer inspections caused these outbreaks, but experts warn that fewer resources can mean fewer chances to catch a problem before it reaches your cart. What actually stays on the menu? You don’t need to blacklist an entire aisle. Recalls typically target a specific brand, product, lot, or date, so check the fine print before you purge the fridge entirely. And if you can’t quit jonesing for your salad, here’s what experts say about whether lettuce is “safe” yet.

Related: The “Superbug” Hiding in Your Hair Follicles (Newsweek)

Early Childhood

Two Steps Back 

What’s going on: The latest casualty of sweeping federal cuts? Head Start, the popular early education and anti-poverty program that for decades has provided education and care to young kids from low-income families. It also makes costly essentials free and accessible — think diapers, formula, vision screenings, and dental care. But last week, the Department of Health and Human Services shared plans to cut back the majority of Head Start federal requirements including math and literacy courses, home visits, some disability care, and even one rule about brushing teeth after meals. HHS Sec. RFK Jr. says his department is “removing unnecessary bureaucracy” and saving money as the federal government hands the reins to the states. 

What it means: HHS says these changes are about “trusting local leaders to make the decisions that are best for their local communities.” Without these federal guardrails, Head Start programs would default to using state and local licensing requirements. And advocates worry that states won’t fill in the gaps that the feds are leaving behind for the more than 700,000 children in the program. They have recent precedent to point to. Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid have affected millions of kids and their families. Some point out that the Trump administration encourages married families to have more children — but then handicaps the same programs that make raising kids possible for many parents. President Donald Trump has said that there’s no money for childcare and healthcare because of the Iran war. The proposed Head Start cuts would save $2.2 billion, which almost equals one day of fighting in Iran.

Related: See How Much Pre-K Enrollments Vary by State (US News & World Report)

Macro Aggressions

Have We Officially Maxxed Out on Protein?

Too much of a good thing?: Hate to break it to you, but we may have gone overboard with the “protein-maxxing” (which you already gathered from the proliferation of protein coffees, protein popcorn, and protein Pop-Tarts). A major new review examined more than 350 studies and struck the 2026 equivalent of research gold: a longevity connection. Mice, rats, flies, and fish consistently lived longer when they ate less protein. In a handful of small human trials, cutting back was also linked to weight and fat loss and lower blood sugar, sometimes even without eating fewer calories. To be clear, the research isn’t 100% on why these longevity benefits occur — is it eating less protein, or just eating “healthier”? But it’s awkward timing, considering the new federal dietary guidelines that came out this year encourage Americans to consume up to twice the longstanding minimum protein recommendation.  

Hold my (protein) beer: Before you dump your powders and supplements down the drain, know this: Protein is still essential. Needs vary based on age, activity level, and health (yes, we have a calculator). The bigger takeaway may be that you're better off making small changes than overdoing it on any one nutrient (we see you, glowing carrot-maxxers). Nutrition policy expert Marion Nestle tells NPR that she recommends a “triple duty” diet aimed at addressing hunger, health, and climate change. We won’t tell you how to eat, but listen to your body (“intuitive eating” is more than a buzzword) and think about consistency and variety. Some insurance plans cover a few nutrition-counseling sessions. In the end, your diet deserves more nuance than whichever nutrient the “experts” in your feed are currently maxxing.

Related: He Tried the White House Sauerkraut Diet So You Don’t Have To (The New York Times gift link)

PS: Nutrition advice changes faster than you change that box of baking soda in the back of your fridge. Every Wednesday, we break down what the latest news means for your life (and your dinner plans). Subscribe here.

Quick Hits

🤔 President Barack Obama finally revealed who's to blame for the tan suit scandal that rocked Washington more than a decade ago. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

🍽️ Cornell University instituted a new dorm rule after a grizzly incident that could only happen in upstate New York. 

💍 Gigi Hadid has been spotted wearing a ring — rumored to be a wedding ring — featuring this many diamonds. No, guess higher. 

🥳 Gen Z’s weird theme party ideas put ‘00s frats to shame. Justice for Anything But Clothes. 

🐣 Aubrey Plaza and Charlie from Girls had their baby. We’re going to need the Leslie Knope reaction cam, stat. 

🪞 This nostalgic Y2K beauty staple is back, and early reviews say it “smells like seventh grade.”  

💕 Two nepo babies are dating after meeting on the set of a third nepo baby’s movie. So many blue names on Wikipedia here.

How to Dress for August

The humidity is high, random thunderstorms may roll through, and you’re most likely sweating. Here’s what we would put on before stepping outside:

• Roomy, lightweight culotte pants

• A pair of square-toe flip-flops

• A ribbed tank with a built-in bra

• Underwear that feels barely there

Skimm'd by: Anna Davies, Marisa Iallonardo, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Samantha Darby, Kate Preziosi, Margaret Wheeler Johnson, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.