EDITOR’S NOTE
Happy Thursday. Skimm HQ is off for Juneteenth (aka Freedom Day or Emancipation Day), the federal holiday commemorating when one of the last groups of enslaved African Americans learned of their freedom — marking the symbolic end of slavery. (For a deeper understanding of the holiday and its significance, read this.) But we always want to keep you informed, so we’re bringing you three things to know to start your day, plus recommendations for what to eat, read, watch, and follow in honor of today’s holiday.
— theSkimm editors
In international news: All eyes continue to be on President Donald Trump as he remains cryptic about whether the US military will join Israel in attacking Iran. Yesterday, hours after Iran’s supreme leader warned that US involvement will result in “irreparable damage” and rejected Trump’s calls for an “unconditional surrender,” Trump told reporters he hadn’t made a final decision on whether to strike Iran’s nuclear sites. “I may do it, I may not do it,” he said. “Nobody knows what I’m going to do.” Later, in the Oval Office, he reiterated his stance, adding: “I like to make a final decision one second before it’s due.” However, according to The Wall Street Journal, Trump told aides on Tuesday that he had approved attack plans for Iran, but “was holding off to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program.”
In the courts: In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender affirming care for minors, delivering a setback to transgender rights. In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts acknowledged the “fierce scientific and policy debates,” but decided that the law didn’t violate the Equal Protection Clause, and it was leaving “questions regarding its policy to the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process.” The impact of the high court’s decision will likely extend nationwide, as at least 26 other states have laws similar to the one in Tennessee. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to limit the sex options available on new passports, saying it “likely violates the constitutional rights of thousands of Americans.”
In US news: Yesterday, a jury in Massachusetts found Karen Read not guilty in the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe. Prosecutors had accused Read of drunkenly hitting O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow. Read’s lawyers argued that she was the victim of a cover-up orchestrated by other officers. The jury delivered their verdict — which convicted Read of one minor charge, operating under the influence — after roughly 20 hours of deliberations and nearly a year after her first trial ended in a hung jury.
This Creamy, Cheesy Casserole Will Disappear in Seconds
theSkimm
Content creator Rosalynn Daniels didn’t grow up celebrating Juneteenth — she didn’t even learn about it until college, from classmates who’d observed the holiday their whole lives. Now, she’s making up for lost time, with soul food spreads that include this Greens and Grits Casserole. “My sister-in-law, Angel, introduced me to this recipe,” says Daniels. “When she first described it, I was hesitant. But after one bite, I was sold.” It’s easy to see why: The delightfully gooey dish is loaded with creamy grits, tender collard greens, and an unholy amount of melty cheese — all topped with crispy bacon bits and baked until it’s bronzed and bubbly.
The Time Commitment: Just under an hour. But the prep and assembly can be done the night before — so all you have to do is pop it in the oven when you’re ready.
Key Tips: “I love that this dish [offers] a new way to enjoy one of the most iconic Black dishes: collard greens,” says Daniels. If you can’t find them fresh, frozen or canned greens will do the trick. Also, to add some protein, Daniels suggests folding in shredded rotisserie chicken or pulled pork.
Other Takes: Building your own Juneteenth menu? Daniels has thoughts. For starters, consider pound cake a nonnegotiable — whether it’s red velvet, strawberry-flavored, or lemon-glazed. (Bonus points if it’s her husband’s “addictive” Sour Cream Pound Cake.) Add to that: spicy deviled eggs (the level of heat can be customized for your tolerance) and a potato salad packed with family history. And, whatever you do, don’t forget the grilled BBQ chicken — specifically, this juicy, crackly, Sticky Barbecue Chicken.
Zeal by Morgan Jerkins
theSkimm
Morgan Jerkins’s Zeal opens on a Harlem rooftop in 2019, where Ardelia and Oliver are toasting their engagement. As the dreamy night winds down, Oliver hands his fiancée a Civil War-era love letter that’s been in his family for generations. Romantic? Sure. But also completely life-altering. The letter — written by a Black Union Army soldier, who, after being discharged as a free man, returns to Mississippi to reunite with the love of his life — becomes a bridge between past and present, uncovering long-buried family secrets along the way. Told across dual timelines, Jerkins’s sweeping novel blends historical fiction with romance to explore survival, identity, and the kind of love that endures. We asked the bestselling author of Caul Baby and This Will Be My Undoing a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?
Jerkins: Soft Core by Brittany Newell.
Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?
Jerkins: Garlic cannot be measured, only felt.
Q: What’s one recipe everyone should make?
Jerkins: [Wandering Chickpea’s] Slow Roasted Tomato and Chickpea Pasta.
What Happens When Shaq Runs a Sneaker Brand? Netflix Found Out
theSkimm
Shaq’s done it all: NBA champ, movie star, gummy mogul. And since 2023, the tank top-wearing DJ and meme machine has been quietly making waves in the C-suite — as President of Reebok Basketball. In the recently released Netflix docuseries Power Moves With Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend laces up for a different kind of challenge: to bring Reebok — his first-ever sponsor — off the bench and back into the spotlight. Across six episodes, follow Shaq as he links up with longtime friend Allen Iverson (now a Reebok VP), recruits fresh talent (hi, Angel Reese), and turns to experts — including his son Shareef — to stay plugged into what Gen Z actually wants. Can Shaq and Iverson revive a brand that’s been riding the bench for years? Can nostalgia actually sell sneakers? And can two of basketball’s biggest personalities make it work in the C-suite? Game on.
Three accounts to add to your Instagram feed…
@badguild
Brooklyn-based artist and textile designer Malene Barnett knows how it feels to be overlooked by the largely white design industry. So, in 2018, she launched the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a vibrant hub for Black creatives, including architects, interior designers, and artisans. Since then, the organization has collaborated with brands like Pottery Barn, organized various talks, and offered exposure, grants, and mentorship to emerging talent.
@wellreadblackgirl
Glory Edim didn’t intend to build a literary empire — she just wanted a book club that centered Black women and their stories. Nearly a decade later, Well-Read Black Girl has grown into an online community with over 425K followers, a podcast, literary festivals, a publishing partnership, and a cultural force. Even former President Barack Obama is a fan.
@malinfezhai
You might not know Malin Fezehai’s name, but you’ve likely seen the world through her lens. The Eritrean-Swedish photographer has a gift for finding intimacy in unexpected places — whether she’s documenting Malala Yousafzai’s wedding, Dakar’s surf culture, or the human cost of conflict in Ethiopia. With a style that feels both cinematic and deeply personal, she captures beauty, tension, and complexity that often gets overlooked.
Game Time
Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.
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