Daily Skimm: The carousel never stops turning

Skimm'd while being reminded why midterms matter

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 READ IN BROWSER

Skimm'd while being reminded why midterms matter

QUOTE OF THE DAY   "Influencer Halloween Costume" - Urban Outfitters is selling leggings and a sports bra for people to "channel Instagram style." Nothing says 'I'm hip' like paying $59 for something that you probably already own.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

The Story Yesterday, SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh and CA psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford were given a platform to speak. The nation watched. I've been busy, let's refresh. Ford accuses Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party in the '80s. Since her story came out earlier this month, at least three other women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against him. The Senate Judiciary Committee - the group in charge of giving the first thumbs up in his confirmation process - delayed its committee vote to hear from Ford. Yesterday, that day came. So...how'd it go? It was a spectacle. Intense emotions, personal questions, senators trying to one-up each other, a president waiting on edge, and people glued to their TVs. What were the highlights? Ford's testimony...Her opening statement was quiet, emotional, and steady. She said she's 100% certain it was Kavanaugh who assaulted her. She was upfront when she didn't remember parts of the alleged incident. And she doubled down when she did. She showed off her knowledge of cognitive science. She said the most distinct memory she has is of Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge laughing when she was underneath Kavanaugh. She said she testified because she believes "it is my civic duty" to say what happened. She was asked about her political motives and said she's "no one's pawn." Kavanaugh's testimony...His opening statement was fiery and he was visibly upset. He said he's 100% certain the allegations against him aren't true. He was emotional when talking about the reaction his 10-year-old daughter had during this ordeal. He answered questions about his calendar, his high-school yearbook, and his fondness for beer. He was passionate in defending his name and reputation. He said the allegations are an "orchestrated political hit" from Democrats who are still angry about President Trump's win in 2016. He said he will not be forced out of the confirmation process. The senators...Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said if Kavanaugh isn't "afraid", he should pause the hearing and call for an FBI investigation himself. Kavanaugh dodged the question but said he'd do "whatever the committee wants." Then Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) jumped in, fired all the way up. He called this hearing a "sham" and said that if this is the new normal for treating SCOTUS noms, Dems should "watch out" when they throw a candidate in the ring. Some of the most tense moments of the day. Sooo I was confused about Rachel Mitchell's role... You're not alone. Reminder: She is the female sex crimes prosecutor from Arizona who was brought in by Republicans to question Ford and Kavanaugh on their behalf. But Republicans took back the mic during Kavanaugh's testimony. And she herself said this process didn't seem like the best way to get at the truth. Magic 8 Ball. What's gonna happen? If only we knew. But today, the committee will vote on whether to recommend Kavanaugh to the rest of the Senate. Unclear if Republicans have enough 'yay' votes to give him the go-ahead. theSkimm The question is: do the 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats on the committee believe what they heard yesterday from Ford. Or from Kavanaugh. The American Bar Association is calling for the FBI to look into the allegations, and for the vote to wait until an investigation is done. Either way, both sides of the aisle are stirred up...and more divided than ever.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when you're still shook from the hearing... We don't blame you. But here's what else is going on: yesterday, the SEC (aka Securities and Exchange Commission) sued Tesla CEO Elon Musk for fraud. Last month, Musk tweeted that he had the "funding secured" to take the company private at $420 per share - the largest corporate buyout, ever. But it turns out that wasn't true - he had only discussed the idea with an investor. And the price they allegedly talked about was $419. Musk allegedly rounded up because of "the number's significance in marijuana culture" and because he thought his gf would find it funny. You know what's not funny? Getting sued for making up info that misleads investors. Musk's tweet has been self-driving shareholders crazy. Now, Tesla's stock is taking a hit and the SEC is asking a federal judge to bar him from being the officer or director of a public company. PS: Can't get enough Musk? Our in-app audio episode goes deep. Get it here.

What to say to your friend who watches "The Affair" as their guilty pleasure... You're not a criminal. Yesterday, India struck down a colonial-era law on adultery that treats women like "chattel." 158 years ago, India decided it was illegal to have sex with someone's wife without permission...from the husband. Not exactly an idea of consent that flies today. The punishment a man gets for violating the bro code? Up to five years in prison. Now, India's Supreme Court is saying scratch that, because the law treats the husband as "the master" of his wife. This isn't the first time India's current Supreme Court took a pen to outdated gender-based laws. See: dropping its ban on gay sex, outlawing a form of instant divorce, and deciding that sex with an underage wife constitutes rape. But not everyone's happy with the court's latest edits - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is all about the sanctity of marriage and still into the idea that adultery should be a crime for both men and women. Because fairness.

What to say when you get your flu shot... Get on my level. Yesterday, the CDC said last winter was the worst flu season in decades. About 80,000 Americans died from it. And it wasn't just older people who suffered: all age groups were affected.

What to say when your manager reschedules your performance review... Great, more time to sweat it.

What to say when your friend lands a new job... Balloons for you and Eric Reid.

SKIMM READS

"The Masterpiece" by Fiona Davis Did you know there was an art school inside NYC's Grand Central Terminal in the 1920s? Decades later, a woman stumbles upon the remains of the abandoned school and finds a painting hidden there. Cue a quest to learn more about the mysterious artist. All aboard intrigue. Get it here. PS: Want to see all our Skimm Reads in one place? Here you go.

SKIMM PICKS

For when there's a political chill at the dinner table... Midterms are coming. Warm yourself up for the showdown with a No Excuses sweatshirt. It says "Vote Me In, Coach" and you want in on it. All our proceeds go toward a nonpartisan charity focused on increasing the number of women in politics. Get it here.* For when you wear the first thing you try on... Objects in mirror are as cute as they appear. Stitch Fix is a personal styling service that helps you style through the seasons. Outfits are curated based on your needs (think: petite, maternity, in a rut, etc.). Keep what you want and send back what you don't. Plus, first-timers get a free styling credit. S'cute.* *PS This is a sponsored section, which means if sign up, theSkimm may get something in return.

SKIMM SHARE

National Coffee Day is tomorrow. We've been filling our mugs - and giving you prizes all week long. Today, we're going big. Every person you sign up for the Daily Skimm enters you to win another $1,000 and an Amazon Alexa (so you can order coffee before you even walk out the door). And to yesterday's winner, check your inbox. Questions? Answers. Or use this referral link theskimm.com/?r=e98aa03e

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

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Daily Skimm: I have a brilliant beyond brilliant idea

Skimm'd while getting "This is Us" star Chrissy Metz's hot takes on the show

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 READ IN BROWSER

Skimm'd while getting "This is Us" star Chrissy Metz's hot takes on the show

QUOTE OF THE DAY   "It was an existential crisis" - A guy whose iPhone didn't recognize him after he shaved his beard. Brb, looking for a violin.

JUSTICE

The Story The first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era ended in jail time. The celebrity? Bill Cosby, formerly America's Dad and a cultural icon. In 2014, comedian Hannibal Buress mentioned rape allegations against Cosby in a stand-up routine. It gained national attention. And since then, more than 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct. What happened with the accusations? Almost all of them were beyond the statute of limitations. Except for Andrea Constand's. In 2005, she told authorities that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her. Prosecutors didn't file charges, and the two settled a civil lawsuit. But in that lawsuit, Cosby admitted he gave drugs to women he wanted to have sex with. In 2015, a new DA pressed criminal charges in Constand's case right before the statute of limitations expired. Then what? Earlier this year, Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Now what? Cosby's headed to prison. And will spend at least three years there before he becomes eligible for parole. But he could end up staying behind bars for up to 10 years. He's also been classified as a "sexually violent predator" - meaning he has to register as a sex offender and go through counseling for the rest of his life. theSkimm There's an ever-growing list of celebrities facing sexual misconduct allegations during the #MeToo era (here's a depressing reminder of how many). Cosby stands as one of the only to face trial. Then there's Harvey Weinstein.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when you decide to go for the UberPool... Not here to make friends. Yesterday, President Trump took the stage at the UN General Assembly. And made it clear he doesn't want to play nice with other countries. He trashed the "ideology of globalism" and said the US will mind its own business if everyone else does too. He called out Iran for its "corrupt dictatorship" (which is also the main topic of today's Security Council meeting he's hosting). He did a 180 from last year's speech and gave North Korea a high-five for its denuclearization progress. And he got laughed at for saying his admin has done "more than almost any administration in the history of our country." But he said he meant to be funny...so joke's on them.

What to say when your cousin wants to cut your hair... No confidence in this. Yesterday, Sweden's parliament ousted its PM Stefan Löfven after a confidence vote. Europe's years-long migrant crisis has led to a rise in nationalism and far-right movements there...including in the governments of countries like Austria, Italy, and Germany. Earlier this month, Swedes hit the polls to vote in new members of parliament. Löfven's party (Social Democrats) didn't grab as many seats as the party hoped - and the far-right party (Sweden Democrats, don't get them confused) picked up a bunch. No party wound up winning the majority, meaning the gov will pretty much be a hot mess until it can form a coalition. Because of this, parliament had to hold a confidence vote. So the PM is out - which adds more chaos to an already chaotic situation there. Now it's up to the speaker of parliament to tap a new leader. But don't expect that to be a walk in the park.

What to say when you and Dunkin' are on a first-name basis... Feeling the love. Pret A Manger isn't. The sandwich chain is reportedly being sued for allegedly falsely labeling and marketing some food. Multiple lawsuits claim the co labeled some breads "natural" when the breads actually had traces of a pesticide. Yum. Meanwhile, Walmart's going all Nancy Drew to make sure its food is safe to eat. And is enlisting the help of...blockchain. Hear us out: it's going to require food suppliers to upload info about their foods to blockchain. Which could make it quicker and easier for the supplier to check if farms have any issues (like E. coli or salmonella). If they do, Walmart will drop it like it's...legitimately tainted food. The company's giving suppliers until 2019 to get their sh*t together.

What to say when you hear Will Smith went bungee jumping for his 50th birthday... These women are pretty badass too.

What to say when your coworker starts mansplaining... Breaking news: woman is capable of doing something by herself.

PERSON TO KNOW

Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja The seven-year-old who went viral for singing the national anthem at an MLS game. She also acts, models, and has tens of thousands of Insta followers. We repeat: she's seven.

SKIMM PICKS

Ohhh, we're halfway there. Through the week, that is. Make your mornings better and the weekend come faster with some of HQ's fave AM products...* For when you wake up with bedhead... Not hair for this. Pantene can help. Their moisturizing conditioner is an HQ standby because it strengthens your locks and prevents breakage. Psst...and because great hair makes you feel pretty much unstoppable. Go for it. For when you need a morning mantra... Hustle, rest, repeat. Whether you're nervous about a pitch, or you're finally ready to ask for that raise you deserve, Secret deodorant is here to empower you through the big and small moments. Swipe, speak up, and don't sweat it. For when you hit the snooze button three times... No judgment. But Olay can get you up and at 'em faster. This weightless moisturizer has a light as air finish and won't leave your skin out to dry. Get it here. *PS This is a sponsored section.

SKIMM SHARE

Skimm HQ is reading "Less" for its book club. Share theSkimm with your friends who love to cozy up with a good book too. Or use this referral link theskimm.com/?r=e98aa03e

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

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