Over the past few years, Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have filed more than a half-dozen lawsuits in the US and England. The couple has accused media orgs of invading their privacy and putting their lives at risk. There's an ongoing lawsuit against the Daily Mail's publisher for defamation. Last month, Harry lost a legal challenge over special police protection in the UK. As for what's happening in the courts this week…
Mirror, mirror…Yesterday, Harry appeared as a witness in court for his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). He's the first high-ranking British royal to testify in court in 130 years. Harry is accusing the publisher of hacking his phone and using other illicit methods to get information when he was a teenager. The royal said the hacking made him feel like he "couldn't trust anybody." He also believes it damaged his relationships, including with his ex Chelsy Davy. MGN has denied the hacking and said its journalists did everything by the book. Harry's back in court today.
Vis-à-vis…Yesterday, a federal judge gave the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a week to respond to a lawsuit asking for the prince's immigration records to be unsealed. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, filed the suit after Harry revealed in his book, "Spare," that he's used cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. Important, because evidence of past drug use can be used to reject US visa applications. It's not clear what visa Harry currently has. Now, Heritage is questioning if the US followed immigration law or gave the prince the royal treatment. A lawyer for DHS said "a person's visa status is confidential."
theSkimm
Prince Harry grew up in the public eye and is very much still in it. However, the spotlight hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows. Now, the Duke of Sussex is in court over how and which information makes it into the public's hands.
Gender identity. Yesterday, a federal judge temporarily blocked parts of a Florida law that bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The families of three transgender children sued the state after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed the law last month. They reportedly argue the law infringes on their "constitutionally protected rights to make medical decisions" for their kids. Now, the judge issued a preliminary injunction, allowing the three children to continue to take puberty blockers. The families' lawyers said the judge's ruling could be extended to include other trans minors in the Sunshine State. It comes as more than a dozen states have signed laws banning gender-affirming healthcare for trans minors.
...Oh and speaking of LGBTQIA+ rights, yesterday, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency over what it calls discriminatory legislation.
What could be changing the direction of Russia's war…
A broken dam. Yesterday, the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Russian-occupied southern region of Ukraine collapsed. The major dam and hydroelectric power plant holds about as much water as Utah's Great Salt Lake. Ukraine says Russian forces blew up the facility, while Russia says Ukraine is to blame. Now, Ukraine's evacuating 17,000 people, while more than a thousand homes "appear to be underwater." There's also concern that the dam's collapse could affect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — the largest in Europe — since it relies on the water to cool its reactors.
What's on a roll...
The SEC. Yesterday, the agency sued the largest US crypto platform Coinbase for allegedly failing to register as an exchange and operating illegally. In a separate move, the SEC also asked a federal judge to freeze all of Binance's US assets — one day after it filed 13 charges against the world's largest crypto exchange and its founder. The cases signal the agency's move to regulate and crackdown on the crypto industry, which the SEC has called the "wild west."
What's crossing borders…
Wildfire smoke. Yesterday, officials issued air quality advisories for several regions in the Northeast, Midwest, and Carolinas. It comes as smoke from more than a hundred wildfires in eastern Canada travels south. Here's how you (and your pet) can stay safe.
The news cycle can be exhausting (trust us, we know). But it's important for our mental health to take a break from the negativity — even if it's just for a few minutes.
Enter: "Seriously Good News," our new three-part podcast series, created with Ford, that'll help you do just that. For the first episode, we visited Enoteca Maria, a Staten Island restaurant where the food is cooked by women over 50 — affectionately called "nonnas" — from all around the world. Psst…we also Skimm'd some other headlines that made us smile. Listen here.
Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…
1. A tinted moisturizer that does everything but feels like nothing.
This viral SPF 35 moisturizer's 100% clean formula is chock-full of summer skincare essentials like Hyaluronic Acid, licorice root extract, and aloe vera. For a hydrated, dewy glow that'll last all day.*
2. A Mindy Kaling-selected book that's laugh-out-loud funny.
Alli Frank and Asha Youmans' novel, "The Better Half,"follows Nina Morgan Clarke as she faces an unexpected development in the second (ahem, better) half of her life. Read it free with Amazon Prime through June.*
Say 'bye' to pokey wires and itchy fabrics just in time for summer with this female-founded brand's Skimm-sclusive bundle. These bras give you a supportive lift and can double as a top. Bonus: Skimmr's get 25% off.*
Psst...looking for more discounts on brands Skimm'rs love? Check out all of our exclusive promo codes here.
Skimm'rs
We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.
Doing it all…Callie M (TX). As a single mom with a toddler, she worked full time while in grad school to get her masters in healthcare administration. She's now a manager at a nonprofit organization in San Antonio.
(Some) Birthdays…Lizzie Tisch (NY), Sam Horowitz (NY), Rebecca Schwartz (CT), Lanoy Phomkhai (CA), Corey Reed (TN), Nikole Smith (PA), Heather Martinez (IL), Cara Giovinazzo (NJ), Lindsey Campbell (CO), Karenna Dickerson (IL), Stephanie Reiner (PA), Joy Himmelsbach (SC), Ale Krudop (IN), Stephanie Wyse (PA), Debora Stein (NY)
PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Anacaona Rodriguez Martinez, Chantal Vaca, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Mariza Smajlaj
Photos by Jeff Moore - PA Images/Contributor via Getty Images, Brand Partners
Design by theSkimm
Subject Line: A scene from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
