“It is the best choice for me” – Jeremy Shuler on being accepted to Cornell’s engineering program this fall. Jeremy is 12. 

CSI: BALTIMORE

THE STORY

Yesterday, the Justice Department released the results of its investigation into the Baltimore police department. And it’s pretty bad. 

WAIT, BACK UP.

This all started with the death of Freddie Gray. Last year, the 25-year-old black man was arrested for making eye contact with a police officer and running away. He later died from a neck injury he got inside a police van while handcuffed and restrained without a seat belt. This led to protests and the worst riots the city has seen in decades, and Gray became one of the faces of the Black Lives Matter movement. Six officers were charged in connection with Gray’s death. But after three of those trials ended with ‘not guilty,’ prosecutors dropped all remaining charges. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has been investigating Baltimore’s PD since shortly after Gray died, and just released its findings.

WHAT DID THEY FIND?

That Baltimore officers disproportionately stop, search, and arrest black citizens. That black citizens are way more likely to be the subject of a traffic stop. That Baltimore police have a pattern of using unreasonable and excessive force against black citizens – including public strip searches, which yes, are unconstitutional. 

WHAT NOW?

The Justice Department and the Baltimore PD – one of the largest departments in the country – are going to agree on a set of reforms.

theSKIMM

If you’re having deja vu, here’s why: a similar script has played out across the country in places like Ferguson, Cleveland, and Chicago. Those reforms are still being put into place, so whether they make any meaningful change is still TBD.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR WHOLE OFFICE GETS DISTRACTED BY STEVE THE CLIMBER…

Makin’ moves. Yesterday, US-backed Libyan forces said they’ve taken over ISIS HQ in the country. Libya’s been a hot mess since getting rid of its dictator Muammar Gaddafi five years ago, with an assist from US airstrikes. ISIS happens to love countries that are having an identity crisis, and the terror group has been capitalizing on the power vacuum in Libya. Last year, ISIS took over the coastal city of Sirte and made it their HQ in the country. Earlier this month, the US launched airstrikes to help Libyan forces take it back. And now, after weeks of a stalemate, US-backed forces have retaken most of the city — including a building that has served as the terror group’s home base. BFD for Libya, because this is one small step towards wiping ISIS out of the country. But it’s also a BFD for the fight against ISIS as a whole, because Libya has been the terror group’s most successful expansion outside of Iraq and Syria.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT…

John Saunders. Yesterday, ESPN announced that its longtime host died at the age of 61. The cause of death hasn’t been released yet. Saunders joined ESPN 30 years ago and wore lots of different hats. He hosted “SportsCenter” and “The Sports Reporters,” while reporting on pretty much every major sport — especially college football and basketball. Yesterday, a fellow sports reporter tweeted “Kind. Smart. Ethical. Trusting. You didn’t need to know John Saunders to be inspired by his grace.” Saunders leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR BEST FRIEND TEXTS TO ‘DELETE AFTER READING’ BEFORE SENDING A MESSAGE…

This is getting juicy. Yesterday, newly surfaced court papers revealed a shady text convo between two staffers for Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ). Yes, this has to do with Bridgegate. Back in 2013, Christie’s administration was accused of purposely blocking off lanes of the George Washington Bridge as an act of political revenge. Two of Christie’s ex-staffers are going to court over this next month, and a third has pleaded guilty. But Christie has consistently said he knew nothing about it. The convo released yesterday happened between two staffers in 2013 while they watched Christie answer questions from reporters. At the press conference, Christie said his staff knew nothing about the lane closures. But in the text convo, one of the staffers says “He just flat out lied” and “If emails are found with the subpoena…it could be bad.” Not a good look for Christie. Yesterday, the governor called the texting drama “ridiculous.”

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU FIND $20 IN YOUR POCKET…

And then there’s this guy. 

PEOPLE MORE FIT THAN YOU

Skimm HQ likes the Olympics. A lot. So we’ll be bringing you all the athletes you should know about over the next two weeks. 

Kristin Armstrong: American cyclist who just won her third gold medal in the women’s individual time trial. Oh, and today’s her 43rd birthday.

Sam Dorman and Michael Hixon: Team USA synchronized divers who took silver yesterday in the men’s springboard finals — the best ever US finish in this event. Double the medals double the fun. 

April Ross: US women’s beach volleyball player. She’s Kerri Walsh Jennings’s new work-wife, since Misty May-Treanor retired in 2012. And she’s got big sandals to fill – Walsh Jennings is hoping to take home her fourth consecutive gold medal. Just beachy.

PS: We don’t want you to miss any of the major Olympic events. That’s why we made you a calendar. Download Skimm Ahead and get it here. (iPhones only, sorry)

SKIMM'BASSADOR HALL OF FAME

We love all Skimm’bassadors. But we really, really love ones who make it into the Hall of Fame. Thanks for raising the bar.

Elizabeth Bacharach (Chicago, IL); Meredith McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA)

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