US News

Minneapolis's ICE Chapter Is Coming to a Close

What's going on: After 10 weeks, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis is wrapping up. Dubbed Operation Metro Surge, ICE’s tactics led to near-constant protests across the country, especially after the detention of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Yesterday, White House border czar Tom Homan hailed the effort as a success, saying ICE agents arrested more than 4,000 people and made Minnesota “safer.” He said 2,000 federal agents will start leaving as soon as this week, but he stressed that immigration enforcement will continue, with some agents staying in Minnesota. Gov. Tim Walz (D) said the state now faces “a long road to recovery” and called the admin’s withdrawal a “Trumpian” move “to save face.”

What it means: ICE’s operation has shaken up the White House and Minnesota. One Pew poll found that half of Americans disapprove of their tactics — prompting concerns among Republicans facing reelection this year. Local officials say the surge caused irreparable damage to Minneapolis, pointing to emotional distress among families, significant economic losses for local businesses, and strain on the local health care system. As for what’s next, the Department of Homeland Security is on track to lose funding at midnight. Without a last-minute deal in Congress, ICE and CBP workers are expected to remain on the job, but it’s unclear whether they’ll be paid. A partial shutdown would also likely affect TSA at airports, and some FEMA workers could be furloughed.

Related: The Trump Administration Turns Its Attention to Denaturalization (NBC)

The News in 5

🗞️ The Trump administration repealed the scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health — which means the EPA can no longer regulate them. 

🗞️ The Justice Department’s antitrust chief announced that she’s stepping down immediately, but sources told CNN she was forced out.

🗞️ A new study found 70% of baby food sold in the US is ultraprocessed. Not-so-soothing.

🗞️ In Signalgate-adjacent news, a retired colonel was just sentenced for sending war plans to his online date. Still better than sending nudes.

🗞️ Commercial dog food contains three to 13 times more heavy metals than human food, according to a new investigation. Woof.

Olympics

Politics Take the Podium

What’s going on: Ukrainian skeleton racer (and flag bearer) Vladyslav Heraskevych’s helmet stirred controversy for days at the Olympics. On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee ended the debate — and his race. Officials disqualified him minutes before his event after ruling that his helmet design, which honored Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia, violated a ban on political messaging during competition. Heraskevych (no stranger to Olympic protests), posted after the decision: “This is the price of our dignity.” Later, Ukraine’s luge team all knelt and raised their helmets in support — a gesture that appeared to avoid punishment. Heraskevych called his disqualification a double standard and pointed to other Olympians who’ve made similar displays. 

What it means: The Olympics have been politically charged from the jump. Multiple athletes have spoken openly at press conferences about their complicated feelings competing as an American right now (which is allowed under IOC rules). Earlier this week, snowboarding star Chloe Kim defended teammate Hunter Hess after President Donald Trump called him “a real loser” for having “mixed feelings” about the US. In another incident, figure skater Amber Glenn temporarily paused her social media accounts after receiving threats for speaking out about LGBTQIA+ rights under the Trump administration. Just days ago, Vice President JD Vance made his stance clear: “You’re not there to pop off about politics.” But political statements at the Olympics are nearly as old as the games themselves. 

Related: Chloe Kim Makes Halfpipe Podium Less Than a Month After Tearing Her Labrum  (Sports Illustrated) 

Sports

The Flip Heard 'Round the Rink

What's going on: Not long after US figure skater Ilia Malinin landed the first of two backflips at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, he went from “Quad God” to instant meme king (including many posts referencing the other Ilya). But there was much more to the story. Malinin was the first to legally backflip on one skate in the Olympics — shortly after the International Skating Union (ISU) allowed the trick for the first time in decades — but he wasn’t the first, period. The ISU banned Olympic backflips after American Terry Kubicka first landed one on two skates in 1976. Decades later, France’s Surya Bonaly made the move iconic anyway, landing this time on one blade. Bonaly’s flip functioned as protest, cementing her legacy, particularly as a Black woman in a sport long criticized for its lack of diversity. So, when Malinin, a white man, received widespread praise for Bonaly’s move? Eyebrows shot up.

Tell me more: Over on the ice dance rink, another Olympic controversy slid through. A French duo — dogged by personal scandals and labeled “sinister” by critics — stunned the world this week when they beat the three-time reigning US world champions. The upset alone would have been headline-worthy. But then scrutiny shifted to the nine-member judging panel. A review of the scores raised concerns about possible nationalism and bias among multiple judges. Now, fans have launched a Change.org petition demanding an independent investigation. The fallout has revived a familiar Olympic debate: How transparent is figure skating scoring, and how much room does subjectivity leave for controversy?

Related: What’s Up With All the Figure Skating Music Drama? (Front Office Sports)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ Will Team USA’s “Quad God” take figure skating gold? The men hit the ice starting at 1:00 pm ET, and he’ll go last.

🗓️ Wuthering Heights hits theaters. We’re still not over these Margot Robbie looks from the press tour.

🗓️ The NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off. But we’re also obsessed with the celebrity game lineup. 

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

Know It All

Every curling stone that's used in the Olympics comes from the same place...

Extra Credit

RSVP

Roughly 1 in 4 US adults is a caregiver, and the majority are women. *Pretends to be shocked.* Being a part of the sandwich generation — aka juggling parenting, work, and taking care of your parents — can be overwhelming, but you’re not in it alone. 

Join us IRL at Skimm HQ in NYC on Tuesday, March 24th for a candid conversation with caregiving experts and trusted voices. 

Plus, enjoy light bites, bracelet-making, and a guided meditation. You’ll leave feeling recharged, informed, and a little less alone.*

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.