Skimm'd over leftover holiday cookies

"I enjoyed the camaraderie that a seemingly random cell phone app gave to our family" - Dan Rather after he and his family won HQ Trivia. He's not like a regular mom.

SUIT UP

The Story

Three US cities are suing the Defense Department.

But why?

Because the Defense Dept. didn't report hundreds of service members - who were convicted of or charged with serious crimes - to a federal database that could stop them from buying guns.

How did we get here?

Last month, a gunman killed 26 people at a church in Sutherland Springs, TX. The gunman was convicted of domestic violence while he was in the Air Force, which means he should have been reported to the database. But that didn't happen. The Air Force said the gunman's criminal history wasn't reported, and later said it failed to report dozens of other service members.

What happens now?

Yesterday, NYC, San Fran, and Philly sued the Defense Dept. They want a court to oversee the Department's records to make sure these kinds of mistakes don't happen again. That's because local officials rely on the database for background checks in their own cities. If the Defense Dept. doesn't work with the court, it could face fines and more legal trouble.

theSkimm

This shooting was the worst in Texas history. And back in October, the deadliest shooting in modern US history happened in Las Vegas. Congress didn't pass any gun legislation in the aftermath. Now, cities are taking matters into their own hands.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when you hear retail enjoyed the holidays...

Santa's playing favorites. Yesterday, a report came out that Uber is selling the car-lending part of its company to startup Fair.com. A few months ago, Uber said it was going to stop its program that loans cars to Uber drivers with poor credit since apparently that part of the biz was losing cash. Now, it looks like they may have a buyer. Meanwhile, people are not happy with Apple. The Fruit's stock is down after it came out that the iPhone X wasn't X-actly what people wanted this year. Plus, people are suing over the company's move to slow down older phone batteries. And in case you're wondering how Edward Snowden spent his holiday, the NSA whistleblower watched "Home Alone" one too many times. He just launched an app that lets you turn your old Android phone into a security camera. Let it Snowden.

What to say when you get a $284 billion electric bill...

Seems just a little high. Earlier this week, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said she negotiated down the UN's budget by $285 million. Reminder: the US is the single biggest contributor to the UN's bank account, paying more than 20% of its operating budget. Another reminder: last week, the UN voted overwhelmingly to cast shade on the US's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Haley was not down with that shade. Now, she's slashed hundreds of millions from the UN's budget. Unclear if the budget cut is related to the vote. But Haley hinted more cuts may be coming in the future as a way of "protecting our interests." Message received.

What to say when you and your friends still don't have New Year's Eve plans...

Who's in charge? Liberia is waiting to find out who its next president is. Yesterday, the West African country headed to the polls to choose between an international soccer star and the current VP. People are hoping this will be the first democratic transfer of power there in more than 70 years. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, so a functioning democracy would be great news. Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Peru have been protesting a presidential pardon. Last week, Peru's Congress was thiiis close to giving the prez the impeach emoji for corruption charges. Days later, the prez gave a medical pardon to a former leader who used death squads and is now suffering from cancer. And whose son, who happens to be in Congress, opted out of the impeachment vote. People said, 'hmmm this pardon smells like a backroom deal.' And now hundreds of people are protesting the decision.

What to say when someone goes above and beyond for the holidays...

I'm not crying, you're crying.

What to do with your holiday cookies and milk...

Dunk.

SKIMM SLEEP

Dolphin plank

Not just meant for Flipper. This is an exercise you can do from bed. Hi, New Year's resolutions. It's when you get into plank position and then raise your hips into the air. Raise, rinse, repeat. It's good for your back and core...and for staying in bed longer.

You'll want to stay under the covers for as long as possible with this mattress anyway. It gives you the right amount of support to sleep well and get your Jane Fonda on from bed. And Skimm'rs get an exclusive deal on the price today. Sweet dreams.

SKIMM LIFE

For when another person asks where your wedding's going to be...

Hold up. First things first. A bunch of HQ'ers are recently engaged. Our fave way to relieve stress? Pick out all the presents we want. This makes it easy and fun. And it makes sure you don't receive 10 blenders. Gift game, upped.

SKIMM SHARE

A LOT happened this year. We're going to break it all down for you in Friday's Daily Skimm. Before that happens, share theSkimm with your friend. Because friends don't let friends wake up in the new year without knowing what's up.

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm'bassador. Party hats on.

Jason Bjorgo WA, Jessica Lichtenstein NY, Hyeji Jun NY, Christina Kiernan NY, Christina Karageorgiou MO, *Tilly Barnett MA, *Jennifer Smith CA, *Keri Kujala MI, *Sheila Ward VA, *Sarah Rushton CAN, *Alex Friedman OR, *Kinsay Zito CO, *Jadrianna Sobczak IL, *Carter McKaughn NC, *Elise Singer PA, *Mary Ryan NC, *Karla Gonzalez CA,Justin Trudeau CAN, *LeAndra Spicer NC, *Reena Rothman NY, *Shira Gelfand NY, *Athena Valero CA, *Carly Rothenberg MI, *Katelyn Moga WA, *Jess Keys NY, *Jillian Heise WI, *Ashleigh Carroll TN, *Sunny Massa NE, *Jordan Staus IN, *Elizabeth Brauer NY, *Carly Roman NY, *Jessica Hanes MI, *Nell Maynard CO, *Gianna Carpenello CA, *Amy Ammerman TX, *Hannah Jane North NC, *Ellen Sciales NY, *Sasha Fortunatti NJ, *Halee Ackerman TN, *Kate Zemek AZ, *Crystal Miller PA, *Taryn Marcorelle MA, *Cheryl Edenfield OK, *Elyse Cochran TX, *Kendra Olvany IL, *Maddie Bessinger MN, *Michelle Gibbs NY, *Katie Milam VA, *Robin Maddox AL, *Cait Felt GA, *Beth Cevasco OH, *Christina Kiernan NY, *Prithvi Guruprasad CA, *Carly Heft NJ, *Courtney Kelly IN, *Emily Schwarz PA, Caroline Pennell LA, Anna Schuster TX, Barbara Turner KS, Marti Belot KS, Kennedy Coopwood IN, Corinne Hoffman OH, Denesha Underwood, Danielle Hutcher MA, Natalie Beilein NY, Jasmine Hill GA, Jesseca North PA, Casey Daly NY, Danielle Donahue Paulin CA, Makenna Huck OR, Maegan Reilly MA, Talya Presser NY, Darlene Gareau OH, Samuel Palecek MN, Carol Block NJ, Carol Hesch IN, Hannah Pratt CO, Katie Anders, Jamie Cassutt-Sanchez, Tiffany Berch FL, Sara Nagel MO, Ashley Williams CO, Emily Thompson MO, Ellie Kleiman MI, Allie Fitter NY, Steffi Fitter DC, Jennifer Caldwell NY, Sajni Mehta NY, Erica Billingslea VA, Margalit Graber ISRAEL, Kim Berke NC, Brienna O'Neill PA, Tracy Liner CT, Keira Bailey MI, Barbara Krohn Lieber MD, Kelly Pollhammer MD, Lorie Papadelis FL, Clare O'Donnell FL, John Hicks SC, Lindsay Aleshire GA, Patricia Deuel MI, Melissa Eddy TX, Chelce Scaturchio GA, Monica Krishnan FL, Lori Janow FL, Jessica Hanes MI, Joie Shettler CA, May Wong CA, Danika Baez Vaughan CA, Morgan Frazier GA, Curt Madsen IA, Rebecca Stevens OK, Taylor Gleeson CO, Meagan Matthias MO, Megan Trudeau DC, Lisa Kramer Morgan TX, Lauren Orlina NZ, Michele Polino MD, Laine Mello IN, Laura Stacy Ramey TX, Meredith Keeler IA, Melanie Erin CA, Holly Madden IL, Andy Tam CAN, Jasmine Knowles PA, Kate Robison, Jennifer Hopkins MO, Kelly Lynn Stout NC, Debi Weinstein-Loarie IL, Courtney Morso IL, Elaine Patterson TX, Krysia Camino AL, Geri Jo Manson FL, Katie Abrames DC, Eve Feuerstein NY, Meghan Fridley CO, Stephanie Feldman MA, Kesley Zahn IL, Laura Seroogy WI, Terri Holman MN, Tareneh Manning AR, Janine Cross NJ, Kayla Waitrovich OH, Denise Gardner NY, Deborah Allen VA, Josh Karas NY, Dennie Byam IL, Beth Fairleigh KS, Susan Barker NY, Andrea Rose TX, Elizabeth Allen NC, Sarah Frey WA, Sarah Rushton BC, Michelle Harden, Meg Hein IL, Emily Schwarz PA, Chriz Cordero IL, Katie Caponero OH, Lakeisha Jackson AL

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