Daily Skimm: I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious

Skimm'd after taking down our OOO JANUARY 3, 2019 [READ IN BROWSER]( [theSkimm]( [theSkimm]( [Share theSkimm]( Skimm'd after taking down our OOO --------------------------------------------------------------- QUOTE OF THE DAY "Why don't you die?" – [An Australian man](, screaming at a spider in his house and causing the police to show up. Leave that drama in 2018 please. mailto:?body=This%20spider%20clearly%20did%20not%20spark%20joy%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-quote-of-the-day%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare NEW YEAR, SAME SHUTDOWN The Story Meet the [new Congress](. First item on the agenda: get the gov back up and running. What's the status? It's day 13 of the [partial shutdown](. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are working without pay or are on unpaid leave. The holdup is over the border wall. President Trump wants $5.6 billion to fund a wall (read: [steel slats](). And says the US needs a physical barrier to [crack down]( on things like drugs, crime, and human trafficking. He may be willing to reach a deal on [DACA]( in order to get the money. But refused any offer that doesn't match his asking price. He warned the shutdown could last ["a long time."]( How does the new Congress play into this? Dems run the House starting at 12pm ET today. And plan to vote on legislation that would reopen the gov and include $1.3 billion for border security. But no new money for the wall – which isn't expected to fly with the Republican-run Senate or with Trump. This will also be the first of many tests for how newcomers handle the biggest item on Trump's domestic agenda: immigration. Last year, the issue involved the border wall, DACA, a [zero-tolerance policy](, [migrant caravans](, and the death of [two migrant children](. Just this week, border officers fired tear gas at [dozens of migrants]( – some of whom were throwing rocks at US officials – trying to cross into San Diego. So no, the immigration talk isn't staying behind in 2018. What else is on Congress's agenda? Voting for a new House speaker (act surprised, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)). Next on House Dems' [to-do list](: investigating all-things Trump, trying to protect Obamacare, and [campaign finance reform](. theSkimm Today marks the beginning of a split Congress under President Trump. And new members are walking into a situation of complete gridlock. With hundreds of thousands of people feeling the effects of the government shutdown, we'll see what our elected officials decide to do. mailto:?body=2019%2C%20off%20to%20a%20start%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7646111%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare REPEAT AFTER ME... What people are watching… [India](. Yesterday, protests broke out in a southern state after two women entered a centuries-old Hindu temple. For years, women between 10 and 50 years old (aka when women typically have their periods) were banned from entering a temple that honors a celibate god. Last year, the country's supreme court [lifted the ban](, because discrimination. Some conservatives and priests protested, arguing that letting women in will make the temple impure, and have prevented women from entering for months. But yesterday, two women in their 40s went in. Cue more uproar. India's PM Narendra Modi seemed to side with the conservatives, saying this is about religious beliefs, not gender discrimination. But the local government (run by a different party) has been supportive of lifting the ban – and organized an estimated 5.5 million women to come out in support of gender equality earlier in the week. More protests are expected today. mailto:?body=People%20in%20India%20are%20protesting%20two%20women%20who%20entered%20a%20temple%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7645305%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare --------------------------------------------------------------- What to say while feeling good about your New Year's resolution… Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is setting her sights on a 2020 resolution: [becoming president](. Earlier this week, she announced an exploratory committee – meaning she can start raising money for a potential campaign. She's the first big-name Dem to take this step, but expect a lot more Dems to throw their hats into the ring. Warren's not the only senator making headlines. Incoming Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) criticized President Trump in [an op-ed](, saying he hasn't "risen to the mantle of the office" and has "caused dismay around the world." Romney's [gotten heat]( from Republicans like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) who say this is a bad look for the GOP, and could make it harder to get things done in the chamber. Others are saying 'smells like 2020 spirit.' Oh and Romney's not the only one [with opinions](. mailto:?body=2020%2C%20here%20we%20coooome%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7645319%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare --------------------------------------------------------------- What people have questions about… The arrest of [Paul Whelan]( – a retired US Marine who was detained in Russia last week. His family says he was in Moscow for a wedding, but Russian officials say he was arrested "during an act of espionage." The details around all this are unclear, but the spy charges carry a max of 20 years in prison. mailto:?body=A%20retired%20US%20Marine%20was%20arrested%20in%20Russia%20for%20allegedly%20spying%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7645333%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare --------------------------------------------------------------- What to say after someone says 'no offense, but'… This doesn't sound good. Yesterday, Apple [warned investors]( that it's lowering expectations for its quarterly revenue. As in billions of dollars less than it was hoping to report. The main reason is because iPhone sales have been slow in China – which has been dealing with a slow economy, partially because of the trade war. This is the first time the Fruit's cut quarterly revenue expectations in more than 15 years. Speaking of China, today it says it became the first country to [land a spacecraft]( on the "dark" (aka far) side of the moon. Cue up your Pink Floyd playlist. mailto:?body=Apple%27s%20quarterly%20revenue%20isn%27t%20feeling%20so%20warm%20and%20fuzzy%20this%20holiday%20season%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7645347%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare --------------------------------------------------------------- What to say when you hear [Netflix has reservations about the "Bird Box" challenge](… People have reservations about [Netflix](. mailto:?body=Netflix%20is%20keeping%20some%20eyes%20off%20an%20episode%20of%20%22Patriot%20Act%22%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7645361%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare --------------------------------------------------------------- What to say when you hear [Kim and Kanye are adding one more to the family](… Is it a girl or a [boy meets world](? mailto:?body=Say%20hello%20to%20Topanga%27s%20future%20boy%20%28meets%20world%29%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7645375%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare THING TO KNOW [Caramel chocolate chip]( The new Girl Scouts cookie flavor. And the first new flavor to come out in two years. The pro: it's gluten-free. The con: it's gluten-free. mailto:?body=TTK%3A%20Caramel%20chocolate%20chip.%20Girl%20Scouts%20cookie%20season%20has%20officially%20begun%20%23SkimmLife%0A3Fjumpto%3Djumpto-7644497%26type%3Demailurl%26r%3D8c6ba2b1%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare SKIMM PICKS For when the holidays threw you off your routine… Get back in top form. [This company]( can help. They have 1,000+ workouts available to stream wherever, whenever. You can personalize your workout plan based on your goals and fitness level. And Skimm'rs get 60 days free. [Do it to it](.* For when your mom says you should take your vitamins… You don't say? Get started with [this company](. They do all the research for you, so you don't have to worry about what's going into your body. Hint: non-GMO, no colorants or synthetic fillers. [Get into it](.* For when your meals have been 'meh'... Get a new plan. We like [this one]( because everything's pre-portioned and ready in five minutes or less. Bonus: their frozen soups, smoothies and bowls are organic and sans artificial preservatives. Skimm'rs get $25 off their first box. [Here you go](.* *PS This is an affiliate section, which means if you purchase or sign up, theSkimm may get something in return. Thanks. SKIMM'RS Shoutout to…Carrie M (WA) who was just promoted at her job. Carrie works in supply chain/transportation and is trying to pave the way for other women in the field. Congrats to…Corey O (NY) who just finished submitting to the FDA a new antibiotic healing cream that helps prevent MRSA and other resistant bacteria from causing infection in a wound. The company hopes to have it market approved in a year. Birthdays...theSkimm's Kaitlyn Jankowski (NY), Mariska Hagarty (NY), Britt Bowe (IL), Colleen Hinsberg (SC), Taylor Hale (MI), Meg Ahrenberg (NC), Maxine Adekoya (PA), Dave LaBahn (OH), Mary McKee (SC), Glenda Davis (AL) *We're testing a new Skimm community section. Want to take it to the next level with us? [Reach out to us here]( for a chance to be featured. SKIMM SHARE Skimm HQ is reunited and it feels so good. Share theSkimm with your favorite co-worker. [Share]( Or use this referral link [theskimm.com/?r=8c6ba2b1]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Skimm'd something we missed? [skimmthis@theSkimm.com](mailto:skimmthis@theskimm.com) Issues? [help@theSkimm.com](mailto:help@theskimm.com) Copyright (c) 2018 theSkimm, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: theSkimm Inc. 50 West 23rd Street, Suite 5B New York, NY, 10010, United States [Unsubscribe]( [Unsubscribe](