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"Call of DooDee" - The name of a dog poop removal service that's PO'd the video game publisher of "Call of Duty." This could be breaking the paw.

NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The Story

Congress has a lot to wrap up before holiday break.

What's up?

Here's what's on the to-do list...

Taxes...as in overhauling the tax code is the GOP's top priority. The House passed a bill. Now, the Senate's up. Their version also aims to repeal a key part of Obamacare. Republicans barely have a Senate majority - so they need all the votes they can get. The party wants to get this done now so it can go into next year (an election year) with a big win under its belt.

Budget...as in the US government shuts down this month unless Congress can stop bickering long enough to write a check.

DACA...as in the Obama-era program protecting undocumented immigrants that have been in the US since they were kids is due to expire. Dems have signaled that they won't sign off on a budget unless DACA is safe.

Ugh...as in Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) are under investigation for separate allegations of sexual harassment. And Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore (R) is still here.

theSkimm

The fate of your tax bill and the status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants - among other things - is about to be decided by a handful of votes over a handful of days.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when your friend has big news...

Pop the champagne. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged. Now, the American actress will be the first bi-racial princess the British royal family's ever had. They're planning on making it a short engagement. They're set to get married next year, which is also when Princess Kate is due to give birth to baby no. 3. Cheers.

What people are watching...

Egypt. The country's military launched airstrikes on suspected terrorist hideouts in response to the deadliest terror attack in modern Egyptian history. On Friday, dozens of militants killed more than 300 people and injured more than 100 others at a mosque. The attackers - who wore military combat uniforms and carried an ISIS flag - opened fire and threw grenades during a service. While Egypt has suffered multiple terror attacks in the last few years, attacks on mosques are unusual. This one was targeted because it's a Sufi mosque. Sufism - a mystical form of Islam that Islamic extremists don't agree with. No group has taken responsibility for the attack yet.

What to say after a few drinks...

Seeing double. Over the weekend, two different people were named acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And last night, one of them sued. The CFPB was created after the '08 financial crisis to make sure businesses treat consumers fairly (think: mortgages, credit cards, student loans). On Friday, the head of the CFPB resigned and named an interim director. Hours later, President Trump tapped a different person to take over. The CFPB director pointed out that the law says it's his job to name a replacement. Now, his recently named successor is suing the Trump administration to make sure that law stays in place. But the White House is pointing to a different law that says it's the prez's call. Either way, it will end up in front of the Senate to confirm a permanent director. Until then, a court will have to decide which director gets to keep their office.

What to say after volunteering over the weekend...

Rwanda is helping out too. The country has offered to take in thousands of African migrants being held in Libya, some reportedly being sold as slaves. For years, migrants and refugees have been coming through Libya from Africa and the Mideast hoping to escape to Europe by boat. The EU has cracked down on smugglers that help them get there. Now, those smugglers are reportedly capturing and selling the migrants into slavery. Rwanda says it is willing to take in up to 30,000 migrants or help bring people back to their home countries.

What to say during an icebreaker game...

Pair up. Last night, media giant Meredith Corp said it's buying magazine publisher Time Inc. You know Meredith for magazines like Shape. And Time Inc for magazines like People, Sports Illustrated, and of course...Time. The billionaire Koch brothers helped make the deal happen by chipping in hundreds of millions of dollars. Meredith says the conservative donors won't be on the board of directors or have any editorial influence. It's a big deal for the magazine industry as the print world faces pressure from the digital world. But this digital powerhouse could help bring magazine content to a lot of people - around 200 million.

What to say when you're on a winning streak in fantasy football...

Auburn could get used to that too. The college football team has beaten two No. 1 teams in three weeks. Over the weekend, Auburn beat its rival Alabama - which was undefeated all season. Now, Auburn's coasting to the SEC championship game next week and is hoping to make it to the College Football Playoff - which wasn't much of a possibility before this weekend.

BALLS

Football pairs well with a food coma. Here are some of the NFL games that HQ watched yesterday with leftovers...

Nail biter...as in the Buffalo Bills jusssttt managed to pull a W against the Kansas City Chiefs. Meaning the Bills are still in the running for an AFC wild card spot, aka a place in the playoffs.

Fourth time's a charm...as in the Carolina Panthers won their fourth game in a row, this time against the New York Jets. This tightens the Panthers' race with the New Orleans Saints for the top spot in their division, the NFC South. Rawr.

Rammed...as in the St. Louis Rams beat the New Orleans Saints, ending NOLA's eight-game winning streak. And ramming up the competition in the NFC South.

SKIMM LIFE

For when you have a few extra minutes in bed...

Read about this. Over the weekend, an NYT article about a white nationalist and Nazi sympathizer went viral for all the wrong reasons. Here's the latest.

For when you're looking for a new life mantra...

50-20-30. A budgeting tip that we're trying to adopt. Because, goals.

SKIMM SHARE

Lots of Skimm HQ'ers are packing leftover turkey sandwiches for lunch. Share theSkimm with your friend who has a Tofurkey sandwich.

BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm'bassador. Balloons for you.

Aarthi Ramamurthy CA, Jason Berger CA, Erin Jankowski NJ, Rachel Grundmeier DC, Dave Warren FL, Sydney Williams NY, Taylor Salditch NY, Mimi Drake PA, Barbara Bush NY, Jenna Bush NY, *Erika Chapin CT, *Chrissy Chen CAN, *Kristina Sperline WA, *Julie Rodriguez, *Nicole Jala NY, *Kat Hulst FL, *Jess Sienkowski MN, *Lyan Rivera GA, *Nadine Carter ID, *Molly Harris ON, *Kayla Alexander SC, *Ashton Hoselton IL, *Maura McQuade CT, *Paiton Florey IL, *Jessica Reece Fagan GA, *Kristin Magette, *Anna Mahon VA, *Samantha Faragalli NJ, *Natalie Clark IN, *Jaclyn Jansen OH, *Susanne Fluri IL, *Bill O'Connor CA, *Mary Dowling IL, *Paige Olivetti ID, *Kelly Kraus, *Lauren Carle NH, *Korinne Barta IL, *Kimberly Wyse PA, *Marybeth O'Connor PA, *Ann Blessman MI, *Amy Ketchum KY, *Sahil Shah CA, *Mallory Pierpoint, *Meghan Clarke, *Jen Migonis MA, *Kate Sega MN, *Lauren Tellman WA, *Audra Anders GA, *Savannah Day MI, *Danielle Modica CT, *Ilana Lisann VA, *Caitlin Conklin CO, *Brooke Chandler LA, Jane Rosenfeld NY, Jessica Cable OH, Elizabeth Nurse MA, DeShonna Brown VA, Lina Galindo FL, Julia Neppl SC, Jessica Jeffress KY, Mariam Yara Elkadiki MS, Kathryn Vinson TN, Chelsea Leonard NY, Donna Jo Fitzpatrick KY, Allyssa Rose NH, Dana Fischetti CT, Melanie Sillman CT, Howard Woodard SD, Kevin Freeman NY, Natalie Moceri MI, Madison Stinson MN, Vasantham Annadurai WI, Allison Pataki IL, Liz Walker DC, Melanna Marcellot CO, Meredith Harris NJ, Alyse Chandler SC, Colin McCourt Bueche IL, Lauren Polakoff IL, Lauren Miller Apple LA, Matt Russell NC, Carolyn Cameron DC, Lauren Skrobacz VA, Olivia Joorman PA, Debbie Borman IL, Julieta Hinojosa TX, Ruthie Burrus TX, Donna Bailey SC, Mai Silvius GA, Natalie Zfat NY, Gillian Murphy MA, Devin Morse, Haley Freck IN, Ginny Deffendall NC, Laura McPherson DC, Hannah Gailen IL, Karen Barlow TX, Julia Tedesco CT, Taylor Ferguson PA, Caitlin Heinkel NJ, Shoham Bhadra MD, Kim Price LA, Linda Moses FL, Kayla Pappas IL, Nadine Nandi CAN, Kerry Roman NJ, Christine Courtwright CO, Cindy Renee FL, Jane Toskovich NJ, Kelley Chan GA, Mary Ann Dujardin UK, Leisa Nissi MA, Anna Mahon VA, Jess Ordeñana-Papa NY, Rachel Smith DC, Jillian Chiappisi NY, Imani Shaw NY, Sylvia Delk WI, Meredith Westerlund DC, Sam Spangler TX, Becca Elman IL, Amanda Dunn GA, Korinne Barta IL, Ellen Byck NY, Lesley Schmidt KS, Sivani Reddy AL, Zoe Tomaras IL, Mary Norton NY, Lauren Zelek, Judy Rossano SC, Cherry Lahar KS, Deb Grossman MD, Amy Lee SC, Savon Sampson VA, Cathy Cate TN, Rebecca Pollick IL, Taylor Morgan TX, Jill Leiderman CA, Melissa Principe NC, Ann Blessman IN, Kaitlyn Ulu TX, Starr Coughlin CT, Lauren Woo MA, Shelia Dixon KY, Katherine Morrison CA, Sally Ekus MA, Daniel Dunkelberger NY, Hadley Schneider GA, Becky Kerr SC, Colette Manning IA, Frederick Sowah CT, Hans Sahni CA, Kathleen Cannon CA, Samantha Halliday CT, Candace Buckley GA, Anna Wertheim OH, Danielle Derkink GA, Sylvia McClure FL, Anna Leigh Allman NC, Tammy Bennett CA, Jen Mast GA, Lori Garber NJ, Rachel Love MI, Bethany Hostetler OR, Sue Graditor CA, Izzy Kalb CT, Angie DelGrosso PA, Alex Hughey TN, Kelly Jones TN, Jewel O'Hanlon IL, Sabrina Tishko PA, Mandy Rauffer NJ, Michael Becker NY, Alli Shebek AZ, Maria McNeely OH, Jackie Dreher GA, Sharone Morris MD, Esther Hobbs CA, Sheann Avery CA, Alaina Rahamim NY, Savannah Kelly FL

HALP

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