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March 3, 2022
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Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day

"Another feather in your map” — A contestant, consistently mistaking a common phrase on "Wheel of Fortune." Happens to the _est of us.

Cities Under Siege

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The Story

Russian forces are advancing on Ukrainian cities.

Explain. 

Ukrainians have been fending off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army for over a week. But attacks have intensified on cities throughout the country — including in Mariupol, Kharkiv, and the capital, Kyiv. Now, following days of fighting that left dozens dead, Russian forces have made key advances on Kherson — a strategic Black Sea port in southern Ukraine. 

What does this mean?

Russia is gaining ground. Troops rolled in with the reported goal of setting up a military gov. The city’s mayor told its 300,000 residents the city is surrounded. If captured, it would be the first major Ukrainian city to fall. Kherson’s mayor has appealed to Russian troops to allow for the entry of humanitarian aid and civilian movement. But despite Russia’s claims it has captured the city, the mayor maintains “the flag above us is Ukrainian.”

What’s next? 

A Russian convoy stretching 40-miles-long is stalled right outside of Kyiv, which is currently being rocked by explosions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for additional support from the EU. A second round of talks between the two countries reportedly begins today.

theSkimm

Russian President Putin has escalated his invasion in Ukraine — and is now attacking on all fronts. Meanwhile, the toll on civilians is mounting — with Ukrainian officials saying more than 2,000 civilians could be dead as more than 1 million refugees have fled.

And Also...This

What’s making moves…

The January 6th panel. Yesterday, the House committee investigating last year’s Capitol attack laid out its first theory of a criminal case against former President Trump. The Dem-controlled panel said in a court filing that Trump and some allies may be liable for fraud and obstruction. Obstruction: for allegedly trying to obstruct a congressional proceeding — the certification of election results. And fraud for allegedly working to defraud the American people, including through repeated lies surrounding the election. The committee — which has interviewed hundreds of people as part of its investigation — largely seemed to rely on publicly known info. But it does not have the power to bring criminal charges. That’s up to the Justice Department, which is conducting its own investigation — and has so far not indicated charges. A final report from the panel could come later this year.

What's saying 'Material Gworl'...

The UN. Yesterday, 175 nations agreed to create the world’s first plastic pollution treaty. The goal: improve recycling, clean up the world’s plastic waste, and restrict plastics production. About time, considering the effect billions of pounds of plastic waste has on Mother Nature every year — wildlife included. A UN official called it an “epidemic” but said the resolution puts us “on track for a cure.” But it’s not good news for everyone. Plastic production restriction could affect oil and chemical companies and even the economies of major plastic-producing countries like China and the US. Do you ever feel like a plastic bag…

What we’re gearing up for…

A hike. Yesterday, the Federal Reserve said it’s hiking up interest rates later this month — likely by a quarter-point. It marks the first interest rate hike since the pandemic. The goal: to take a crack at bringing down inflation. But for those who are still house hunting, this could make your dream home more expensive.

PS: Here's more on how Fed rate hikes impact your wallet. And how to plan around it.

While Dr. Seuss books are getting a revamp…

The New York Times could have used another pair of eyes. Earlier this week, it ran a piece on Serena Williams...but used a photo of her sister instead. The piece was on Williams' $111 million venture fund, working to invest in founders with diverse viewpoints. Now, Williams is serving the NYT a lesson, saying 'here's another example of why diversity is necessary.' The New York Times' response: ‘our bad.’

Asking for a Friend

ICYMI: We asked you to share your burning homebuying and selling Qs. And got the inside scoop from REALTORS® (aka members of the National Association of REALTORS®). Next up…

Q: When do you think house prices will go down?

REALTORS®: Probably not anytime soon. Over the past year, home prices have risen by double-digit percentages because a lot of prospective buyers are drawn to historically low interest rates and there aren’t enough homes for sale to accommodate them all. But home price increases will likely moderate. More homes are expected to come up for sale, too. That could mean more choices for homebuyers. Homeowners, on the other hand, can expect to keep building equity. Cha-ching.

Psst…REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®.

On theSkimm Screen

Money. Fame. Romance. Loss. Hulu’s new limited series has all the ingredients for a must-watch show. And we’ve got the deets:

“The Dropout”

It’s...inspired by true events involving Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Ya know, the Stanford dropout whose blood-testing tech startup once had a valuation in the billions. But has since shut down.

And...Amanda Seyfried stars alongside Emmy®-nominated Naveen Andrews. Stephen Fry, William H. Macy, Laurie Metcalf, Dylan Minnette, and Sam Waterston also make appearances. 

Plus...there are only eight episodes. So you know each one is drama-packed.

The first three eps are streaming now on Hulu.† And new ones drop Thursdays. Tonight’s plans = made. 

†Hulu subscription required.

Skimm Money

Time to get your calculator out and your receipts ready. That’s right — it’s tax season. And warning: There may be a lot of paperwork heading your way. Whether you were unemployed last year, started a side-hustle, or began investing, there's a tax form for that. We Skimm'd twelve common forms you may need to watch for, including new letters for 2021, so you can get your taxes done by the April 18 deadline.

Skimm Picks

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. Crisp wine with a can-do attitude. Celebrate Women’s History Month with this female-founded brand’s canned white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines. They’ve got zero sugar and only three carbs (yes, three). Plus shipping’s always on them. Shop now for 20% off.*

2. Three sneaky ways to save on everyday purchases. Our new video, created with Fidelity, is full of little tricks that can help you stay in the green — sans serious effort. Watch now. Thank us later.*

3. A sale on bras and bralettes that never go on sale. We’re talking super comfy, stylish ones, too. Some of this brand’s best-selling styles are 50% off right now. But only for a very limited time. Run, don’t walk.*

4. Luxury clothes, minus the luxury price tag. This brand makes quality cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, and more – all for roughly half of what you’d pay elsewhere. No wonder they have over 15,000 five-star reviews. BRB, shopping 'til we drop.*

5. Something to help you move it move it. Psst…hydration isn’t just about drinking water. It’s about electrolytes, too. Andthis electrolyte drink mix has everything you need, minus sugar and artificial ingredients. The best part? Skimm’rs get a free sample pack. Step to it.*

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimm'rs

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.

Full of experiences…Jessie Asya K (NY). She came to the US as a Soviet refugee and is now writing about her experiences since then in her first book. 

(Some) Birthdays…Susan Lane (AUS), Caitlin Sachs (NY), Rachel Schragis (NY), Lidia Movahedian (NY), Sarah Eiden (VA), Giacomo Milito (NY), Sari Aljishi (PA), Elizabeth Dickensheets (PA), Brianna Gray (UK), Stephanie Brown (VA), Donna Lawson (MT), Jamie Gilbert (OK), Jason MargolinKatz (NY), Sarah Devitt (IL), Claudia Verdin (IL)

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

Skimm More

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Skimm’d by Rashaan Ayesh, Kate Gilhool, Julie Shain, and Mariza Smajlaj

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