— One commenter on a video of a humanoid named Edward chasing a herd of wild boars through the streets of Warsaw. Mad Libs or real? You be the judge.
Uncle Sam’s Pockets
A-Tisket, A-Taxet
What’s going on: If you listen closely, you can hear a collective sigh of relief from Americans (or their accountants) who just survived tax season. Whether you spent months on your return — or frantically shuffled papers for that one last annoying document days ago — no judgment. (And if you didn’t hit the deadline, here’s how to file an extension.) So, how golden is your payoff? Many Americans are seeing larger refunds this year, according to The Washington Post. The average refund is about $3,462, up 11% from last year, according to IRS data through April 3. Sounds solid, until you learn that’s only a $300 jump, according to Axios, and much lower than the $600 to $700 many expected.
That’s not nothing: But it’s not exactly “book the flight” money either. And for a lot of people, their refund is already spoken for. One survey found 70% of families plan to use it on rent and other basics — which, honestly, tracks in this economy. Even people who weren’t counting on a bigger refund thought they might at least owe less, which isn’t happening for everyone. Why? It’s by design. The tax break focused on lowering what people owed throughout the year, rather than delivering a large payoff after filing,according to The New York Times. That makes the tax break a tougher sell — even as President Donald Trump and Republicans frame it as a win ahead of the midterms. And it may not land: Some studies show taxpayers credit the extra cash to whoever helped them file, not the lawmakers. Thanks, Sanford (yes, that’s his real name).
🗞️ The Pentagon will send thousands more troops to the Middle East (where there are already 50,000) — a move the Trump admin hopes will pressure Iran in the coming days.
🗞️ Vice President JD Vance’s reaction to anti-war hecklers at a Turning Point USA event is not what we would’ve expected.
🗞️ Democrats introduced at least five articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Axios reports. As for whether they’ll pass Congress...
🗞️ An influencer died while on a safari in Zanzibar just days after her engagement. Her family says everything seems suspicious.
🗞️ If you’ve been loyal to Trader Joe’s since 2019, you might get a payout… because of a $7.4 million lawsuit settlement.
In Our Rotation
Sensitive skin types: Your search for a sunscreen that doesn't break you out stops here.
What's going on: Forget mowing the neighbor’s lawn:Today’s teens are making bands on the stock market. Charles Schwab is helping high schoolers get in on the action, rolling out trading accounts for kids ages 13 to 17. (Fidelity launched a similar program in 2021.) These accounts give teens more control over their trades than the old-school custodial setup. There are still some guardrails, though: Parents can take a peek at any time, and teens cannot make high-risk trades. If they do strike gold, kids will learn that Uncle Sam always comes to collect, and it could impact how much college financial aid they qualify for. Charles Schwab told The Wall Street Journal, “With a teen account, the child really is in the driver’s seat.” And all we had was babysitting money...
Buy low, sell high: Gen Z is investing earlier than millennials and Gen X... and Gen Alpha could start even sooner. Who can blame them with this job market? While some of us first learned about the stock market during the 2008 financial crisis, many kids are talking about money in the classroom — 39 states require personal finance classes in high schools. However, trading stocks comes with more than just financial risks. Some psychologists say it activates the same parts of the brain as gambling and that excessive or pathological trading should be considered an addiction. And thanks to sports betting, that addiction is already on the rise among young people, particularly boys and young men. While kids might have the training wheels on right now, what happens when they age out?
What’s going on: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton just handed the athleisure status symbol of the 2010s a sour batch of Lululemons. He launched an official investigation into the company over its possible use of “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, in its clothing (please, not the Align leggings). Lululemon says it hasn’t used these chemicals for more than two years (should we be relieved?). Scientists are still sorting out the risks of PFAS, but studies link them to a range of health issues, including cancer, infertility, and low birth weights. Texas’ lawsuit is just one more setback in a long string of quality control problems, founder drama, and increasingly soft sales (yes, softer than “buttery soft”). Meanwhile, Paxton’s critics and Lululemon acolytes alike point out that Texas has bigger, local fish to fry — like, say, making sure pregnant people have access to potentially life-saving procedures.
And if they're still in our closet?: If this news has you reconsidering your entire athleisure drawer (guilty), don’t panic. (Yes, we’re brave enough to say we still wear our old Wunder Unders, even if Alo is the current “it” brand and leggings in general are out). One expert toldGood Housekeeping: “The greater risk of PFAS exposure comes from drinking water or food, rather than skin contact.” Repeated washes may have already reduced some of those chemicals — though that just means they’ve likely washed into wastewater, potentially affecting the environment. The company also said they were only used in a small portion of their water-repellent products anyway. So while you should make decisions based on your comfort level, it may not be worth it to run out and buy totally new gear. Either way, we bet the brand’s PR team will have a great time turning this one into Lululemonade…
🫨 “Panic pouches”? For 2026? Actually groundbreaking.
🥖 One writer spent months reporting on the most important story of our time: finding the best free restaurant bread in all of America. As in life, it was all about the (intense, starchy, magnificent) journey.
🧅 The latest FoodTok trend will force you to change how you see your vegetables. We promise.
Want your laundry to be a little...chicer? Through April 19, get two laundry detergents from DedCool and get another for free, plus a free room spray with orders of $85+.
Your lips need sun protection, too. This whipped lip balm with SPF 30 (and a delicious coconut-vanilla scent) makes that easy.
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
Know It All
One lucky Parisian got his hands on a $1 million Picasso painting. How much did it run him?
