In Liz They Truss

The Story

The UK is getting ready to welcome its new prime minister.

Catch me up.

Yesterday, Britain’s Conservative Party announced that Liz Truss, the country’s current foreign secretary, has been elected as the party’s new leader. That means she’ll replace Boris Johnson as the UK’s prime minister after he resigned in July following a series of scandals.

What’s on her to-do list?

Truss — who plans to “govern as a Conservative” — has big plans to slash taxes. It's a move she says will help grow the economy. A potential government aid program similar in scale to COVID-19 could also be in the works. And Truss is expected to lay out her plan to address the country's energy bills as soon as Thursday. Here’s hoping she delivers, because the UK is facing a dire winter energy crisis (we’re looking at you, Nord Stream pipeline), an expected 80% increase in household electricity bills, a cost-of-living crisis, and a potential recession. During his last speech as PM, Johnson said it's time "to get behind Liz Truss."

So what’s next?

Today, Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled to formally appoint Truss as Britain’s PM. That’s after Johnson has a chance to give his farewells in a final one-on-one. But in a break from tradition, the ceremony will take place at the queen’s Balmoral Castle in Scotland rather than Buckingham Palace. That’s because the 96-year-old is dealing with mobility issues.

While Master may have given Dobby a sock...

Special master has given former President Trump a win. Yesterday, a federal judge authorized Trump’s request to appoint a special master in the Mar-a-Lago saga. No, this is not another nickname from “Fifty Shades of Grey.” A special master refers to a third-party attorney the court picks. In this case, their job will be to review the box of classified docs the FBI retrieved from Trump’s home last month. The special master will now be in charge of reviewing more than 10,000 pages to make sure there’s no violation of attorney-client and executive privilege. It’s unclear who the special master will be. But now, Justice Department and Trump’s team have to submit a list of possible candidates by the end of the week. 

Where people are in mourning...

Canada. Over the weekend, Canadian officials launched a manhunt for two men after a mass stabbing left 10 people dead and injured at least 18 others in Saskatchewan, Canada. On Sunday, the two brothers allegedly stabbed over two dozen people in an Indigenous community and nearby area. Police are investigating 13 separate crime scenes. Some of the victims appear to be chosen at random while others were targeted. Officials have yet to give a motive. Now, one of the suspects has been found dead while the search for the other continues. It’s one of the worst mass stabbings in Canada. And is shining a light on violence against Indigenous people. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said he was “shocked and devastated.”

Who has to pay up…

Instagram. Yesterday, Irish regulators fined its parent company, Meta, $402 million for mishandling children’s data. It's one of the largest EU privacy fines ever. A 2020 investigation looked into teens who used business accounts on the platform and found that their contact info — from phone numbers to email addresses — was made public. Now, Irish regulators say Meta violated EU user privacy laws. But Meta says it updated its settings over a year ago and has released new features to keep teens and their privacy safe. The fine is reportedly equivalent to about 1% of Meta’s income for all of 2021. But the social media giant still plans to appeal.

What's making moves...

CVS. Yesterday, the drugstore giant said it's acquiring Signify Health for about $8 billion. The deal will help CVS reach customers at home because Signify Health operates a network of 10,000 medical providers making house calls. And CVS expects those providers to connect patients to care "how and when they need it." The transaction's expected to close — pending approval from regulators — in the first half of 2023.

Who got the best of his dad...

Oliver Shane Hawkins.

Who just got an a-maize-ing promotion…

South Dakota’s new corn-bassador.

Long weekend over but your brain’s still on vacation? Getting back into the swing of things after a holiday can be a major struggle. Especially when you're packing a five-day schedule into four. Pro tip: Try paring down your to-do list to only essential tasks to keep the shorter week simpler.

Another pro tip for this week? Check out Athleta’s Salutation Stash Flare Pant. They’re made from fan-fave fabric that feels like wearing nothing at all. With a high-rise fit that flares at the knee. (Which makes ’em perfect for pairing with everything from a workout top to a sweater.) And bonded pockets to keep alllll your essentials secure while moving through your week. You’ve got this.

Thing To Know: In the 2018 midterm election, only 42% of eligible millennials voted. We’re on a mission to change that this year. Meet: Skimm Your Ballot. Check out our hub that’ll give you resources to check your registration status, learn about the candidates on your ballot, make a voting plan, and get involved in local election efforts. Plus, find all theSkimm’s election-related content in one place. Stay informed. Get empowered. Take action.

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We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Climbing the ladder…Kristen D (PA). She’s worked as a registered dietitian for 10 years and helped her hospital have the highest volume lung transplant program in the country for the past seven years. Now, she’s taking on a new role as an application coordinator.

(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Crystal Gorman (IL), Andrea Zimmer (MI), Alison Andrews (DC), Jim Schwartz (IL), Barbara Hicks (IL), Keira Quigley (CA), Christa Houck (IN), Claire Becker (TX), Andrea Suarez (TX), Erin Sward (CT), Hannah Pressey (GA), Hannah Hutcheson (TN), Katie Krouse (MS), Kristy Armatys (IL), Michelle LeBlanc (GA)

PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Midterms are coming up. Prepare to head to the polls with theSkimm while earning points towards prizes.