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| | | Quote of the Day | | | "It doesn't matter if the house is dirty, it can be cleaned" – A man, who sheltered 300 dogs in his home during Hurricane Delta. Poodles of love for him. | | | | | |
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The Story Social media companies are cracking down on QAnon. Q-what now? QAnon. It's a far-right conspiracy-theory group that emerged on Internet message boards shortly after President Trump was elected. The group believes (with zero basis) that Democrats, celebrities, and other high-profile figures are part of a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles. And that they run a global child sex-trafficking ring. Among the accused: Hillary Clinton, Tom Hanks, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. QAnon supporters also believe Trump is waging a war against this cabal, also referred to as the "Deep State." Where is this even coming from? It all started when an anonymous user – known only by the name of "Q" – posted cryptic messages on 4chan (a now-destroyed message board) alleging the existence of this cabal. Q claimed to be a high-ranking government official with a "Q clearance" access to top-secret information. And things spiraled out of control. QAnon supporters now believe in an array of unproven theories: that Bill Gates is using the coronavirus so he can inject people with a microchip hidden in a vaccine, that the cabal is made up of Democrats who drink children's blood, and that they all will be arrested and punished during an event called "The Storm" – led by Trump. Nobody believes this, right? Um, you'd think so. But during the pandemic, their baseless content has exploded online. In just the last four months, membership to QAnon groups on Facebook reportedly rose 700% (they now have millions of members). And it's not just happening online. Some QAnon believers have shown up at Trump rallies, donning Q merch. But they're not always harmless. Some have been linked to violent incidents, like "pizzagate" in 2016 (which some believe was the precursor to QAnon) as well as things like trespassing, armed standoffs, and even murder. Despite all this, they're also getting some high-profile support. From whom? Some estimates say over a dozen 2020 candidates are QAnon believers. That includes Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. In August, she won the primary runoff for Georgia's 14th Congressional District, and is likely to win in November. The president congratulated Greene on her primary win, and has also praised the theory's supporters. Yesterday, NBC's Savannah Guthrie pressed Trump on sharing conspiracy theories linked to the group on Twitter "like someone's crazy uncle." But he defended his retweets and refused to denounce the group. The FBI, on the other hand, says QAnon poses a potential domestic terrorism threat. And after years of leaving QAnon largely unchecked on their platforms, social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and now YouTube want to put an end to its fake news. theSkimm Social media companies face a lot of heat for how they censor what's posted on their platforms (see: backlash over Facebook's and Twitter's actions on an unverified story about Hunter Biden). But some fear these rampant conspiracy theories could fuel violence after the election (particularly if it's contested) and Big Tech is scrambling to stop it. | | | | | |
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| | A unique head-to-head matchup between the presidential candidates had Americans flipping back-and-forth between TV channels (for the first time in forever). After President Trump said 'no thanks' to a virtual presidential debate (following his COVID-19 diagnosis), he and former VP Joe Biden decided 'town halls it is.' They each appeared on different networks, in different cities, at the same time. Here's how that went down:
The ABCs on Biden…He called for a "national standard" to fight the pandemic – including a potential vaccine mandate. But TBD on how to enforce it. He dodged a question on expanding the Supreme Court (aka court packing). And acknowledged that elements of the 1994 crime bill – widely blamed for an increase in the mass incarceration of people of color – were a mistake. He said he won't ban fracking, but would reverse the Trump admin's ban on transgender people serving in the military.
The NBCs on Trump...He argued the US is "rounding the corner" on the pandemic as cases rise higher. And notably committed to a peaceful transfer of power, but made unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud. He promised to protect people with preexisting conditions – but didn't say how he'd replace Obamacare. And said he "probably" owes money to a foreign bank and "probably" took a coronavirus test the day of the last presidential debate (which was required).
Psst...here's how some of the candidates' policies could affect your wallet. | | | | | |
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Who's saying 'we'll see you soon'... The Senate Judiciary Committee. Yesterday, it wrapped up Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Over the last four days, senators talked (a lot), asked Barrett all the questions, and heard from outside witnesses. Including powerful testimony from Laura Wolk, the first blind woman to clerk on the Supreme Court and a former law student of Barrett's. Wolk described how Barrett got her the special tech she needed for classes – helping her succeed in school and leading to her clerkship. Meanwhile, Democrats' witnesses testified about how Barrett's confirmation could threaten things like health care, abortion, and voting rights. But that's expected to have little impact – Barrett's nomination is all but guaranteed to get the committee's approval next week before it goes to the Senate floor. | | | | | |
What's putting its foot down... The European Union and the UK. Yesterday, they announced sanctions against six high-ranking Russian officials for allegedly trying to assassinate opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Reminder: Navalny was poisoned back in August with a nerve agent (aka an illegal chemical weapon) and is still recovering. Russia denied any involvement, but the EU called the poisoning a "serious breach of international law." (And it's not the first time Russia's been accused of this.) Now, the six men – who were part of the Defense Ministry, a spy agency, and the Kremlin – are banned from traveling to the EU and their assets will be frozen in Europe. Russia has promised to retaliate against the sanctions. | | | | | |
What's got people worried… Falling enrollment at US colleges. A new study shows the number of first-year students dropped 16% at US colleges and universities because of the coronavirus pandemic. It's down nearly 23% at community colleges. And the largest drop was among American Indian and Black students – communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The reasons for not enrolling apparently ranged from financial strain, to travel concerns, to not wanting remote classes. And the study's executive director fears that some of these students may not pursue a higher education in the future. | | | | | |
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|  | | | Feeling stuck in a rut? Same. So we partnered with Mentos Pure Fresh Gum to bring you some ways to shake things up. Because Mentos is all about fresh ideas, fresh breath, and fresh perspectives. This week, we have ways to refresh your workouts.
Ask around. Poll your friends, and steal the exercise routine that sounds the least like yours.
Prep for a transition. If it's about to get cold where you are, get ready to move your sweat sesh inside. Look for online instructors (spoiler: there are tons of options) and try something new every week.
Re-energize post-workout. Mentos Pure Fresh Gum can help you stay refreshed long after you've done your last burpee. You got this. | | |
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| | "The Searcher" by Tana French Meet your latest suspense snack. This one — from the author of "In the Woods" and "The Witch Elm" — is about a divorced Chicago police officer who moves to a small town in Ireland. Instead of a relaxing post-retirement life, he finds himself looking into the disappearance of a 19-year-old. Come for the idyllic Irish scenery, stay to find out if he cracks the case. | | |
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| | Here are our favorite picks to help you take a break today...
1. The 10 best cheeses to buy from Trader Joe's. Come for the chèvre, stay for the Délice de Bourgogne. Life is gouda.
2. Expert tips for giving yourself a great blowout. Anything the salon can do, you can do better. Ok maybe not…but worth a shot. Here's how.
3. A guide to all the ingredients on the back of your skincare products. You've been hearing buzz about retinol and glycolic acid. Now it's time to actually figure out what they mean for your skin. Ready, set, glow.
PS: Want more? Sign up to get weekly recs in your inbox. | | |
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| | For when there's a lot to juggle right now… Relatable. But good news: we partnered with Northwestern Mutual on a Skimm Special podcast that can help you figure it all out. Listen in while an entrepreneur and mom of two talks with a Northwestern Mutual advisor about making a financial plan, and coming out on top. Find it here.*
For when your phone is in your hand one second and on the floor the next... Relatable. Enter: this company's 100% compostable, eco-friendly phone cases. They're made from plants, and they deliver eight feet of drop protection. So you can keep your phone safe, while keeping the planet safe too. Now available at Verizon. Ring ring.*
For when the crisp fall air is giving you life… Dress for the weather you love. In a jumpsuit, we mean. Outerknown's jumpsuits are sustainably made from high-quality material. Oh, and comfy AF. Plus, they just added new styles and colors. And Skimm'rs get 20% off. Here you go.* | | | *PS: This is a sponsored post. | | | |
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| | 1. Research teams from around the world have been hard at work on a COVID-19 vaccine. This week's episode of "Skimm This" breaks down where things stand. We spoke to Dr. Francis Collins – Director of the NIH – about the latest on the global hunt for a cure.
2. Whether you mailed in your ballot or are heading to the polls in person, we rounded up all the vote merch you need to match your 'I Voted' sticker. Like tees, jewelry, face masks, and more.
3. Speaking of the election… we're less than three weeks away. Deep breaths. We partnered with Shine to help you check in on your election mood and make a self-care plan. Because that's just as important as your voting plan. | | |
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| | In times like these, community matters more than ever. Let us know how you (or someone you know) is making an impact by helping others.
Do it for others...Kati G (NI). She's running 70km across a chain of active volcanoes in Nicaragua to raise money to build a house for a low-income family in the area. Donate here.
Zooming out...Cate T. She's part of a team of graduate students who have just launched a "Zoom movement" to create personalized Zoom backgrounds to encourage people to create voting plans and keep people accountable. Check it out.
(Some) Birthdays...theSkimm's Alex Carr (NY), theSkimm's Lindsay Vogelman (NY), Sam Schechter (FL), Tom Dubois (IL), Ellie Wertheim (NY), Nicole Saglamer (NY), Zoe Lobel (NJ), Celeste Stuczynski (OH), Caroline Mehl (NY), Sabrina Burda (NY), Lindsey Henley (AR), Lisa Schaedler (KS), Christina Womble (CT), Kim Thomas (PA), Aleka Dey (SC)
*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured. | | |
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| | Skimm HQ's getting into holiday baking. Share theSkimm with your friend who's all about the pumpkin pie. | |  |  | | | Or use this referral link theskimm.com/?r=41fd50f9 | | |
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| Skimm'd by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Ellen Burke, Niven McCall-Mazza, and Clem Robineau | |
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