So far, Republicans are narrowly ahead in the race to take the House. But with Democrats holding onto key seats and dozens of races yet to be called, it’s a much tighter election than expected. Meanwhile, there are still five seats in play for the Senate. In Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) defeated Dr. Mehmet Oz (R) to fill a key open Senate seat. But Georgia’s Senate race is still too close to call — and could head for a runoff next month. Still, even with control of Congress up in the air, there were some big talkers last night.
Like what?
The red wave that wasn’t: Midterms are often seen as a referendum on the party in power. And with the economy top of mind for many voters, President Biden entered the midterms with low approval ratings. Many were expecting Republicans to not just take the House — but win it by more than a dozen seats. So far, that hasn’t panned out as expected.
State-level races: When choosing their governors, many voters stuck with what they knew. Texas re-elected Gov. Greg Abbott (R), defeating Beto O’Rourke (D). Georgia re-elected Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in his rematch with Stacey Abrams (D). New York and Michigan stayed blue. Florida and Ohio stayed red. And with state officials having a key say on issues like abortion and election administration, many are keeping close tabs on state legislatures.
Ballot initiatives: So far, three states with abortion on the ballot voted to protect it. Maryland and Missouri legalized recreational marijuana. North Dakota and Arkansas passed (on the blunt). Colorado is focused on shrooms. Iowa’s all for gun rights. Nevada could say ‘yes please’ to raising its minimum wage. Illinois may be looking to unionize. And while three states removed slavery as a form of punishment in prisons, Louisiana kept it.
The history makers: like women. Massachusetts elected Maura Healey (D) to become the first openly lesbian governor in US history. She’ll also be the state’s first female governor, with Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) breaking that barrier in Arkansas. And Katie Britt (R) is on track to become the first female senator from Alabama. But those weren’t the only firsts: Maryland elected Wes Moore (D), the state’s first Black governor. New Hampshire is projected to elect James Roesener (D) as the country’s first-ever openly trans man in a state legislature. And meet Maxwell Frost (D), the first Gen Zer elected to the House.
theSkimm
Americans headed to the polls with two key issues top of mind: inflation and abortion. Many expected inflation alone to hand Republicans a sweeping W. But the midterm elections also saw a surge in women registering to vote. And while experts are still puzzling out what happened tonight, some think one mistake may have been underestimating the impact of their vote.
Brittney Griner. The WNBA star’s lawyers say she's being moved to a Russian penal colony. Earlier this year, a Russian court sentenced Griner to nine years in prison for bringing cannabis oil into the country. Now, after losing her appeal, Griner’s legal team says she was transferred on Friday. And that they don't know her "exact current location" or “final destination.” Penal colony inmates — who reportedly sleep in dorms on metal bunks and work in production facilities — say they’ve been beaten, medically neglected, and put under severe psychological pressure. The White House says it's made the Kremlin a “significant offer” to resolve the “unacceptable and wrongful detentions” of Americans. And that it will continue to follow up, even though it's dealing with a “lack of good faith negotiation” by the Russians.
Who’s not scoring points…
Khalid Salman. This week, the former Qatari soccer player stirred global controversy after describing homosexuality as “damage in the mind.” The athlete — also a 2022 FIFA World Cup ambassador — made the comment in an interview while discussing Qatar’s criminalization of homosexuality. It comes less than two weeks before the country prepares to host the global soccer tournament — despite years of criticism over its human rights record, treatment of foreign workers, and accusations of bribery. Some have expressed worry about the safety of LGBTQIA+ fans who'll visit for the tournament. But FIFA has insisted that everyone will be welcome.
What’s seeing two become one…
The crypto world. Yesterday, the world’s largest crypto exchange Binance said it intends to acquire rival FTX — a move that shook the more than $1 trillion industry. That’s because the once-mighty FTX is the latest (and reportedly, by far the largest) casualty of the crypto bust. And experts say the acquisition underlines crypto’s volatility.
While Twitter’s new verified process is officially confusing...
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Save Your Seat: Book’d with Lauren Graham
We’re not like regular book clubs, we’re a cool book club. And you won’t want to miss it. Sign up for Book’d with Lauren Graham on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:30pm. We’ll cover allll the hot topics from Lauren’s new book, “Have I Told You This Already?” Like her writing process, behind-the-scenes secrets, and your biggest Qs. Plus, when you purchase a ticket, you’ll receive a copy of the book. Buy, buy, buy your ticket here.
Skimm Picks
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
1. What everyone you know will be watching tonight. Hint: It’s inspired by real events. Another hint: The ‘characters’ have names like Charles, Diana, and Elizabeth. Yep. New eps of “The Crown” are on Netflix right now. And things get prettyyyy intense. Press play.*
2. Bathing suits that’ll have you dreaming of warmer temps. Say ‘byeeee’ to the bikinis you’ve had since college and ‘hey what’s up hello’ to these buttery soft ones. They’re smoothing, compressive, and oh-so-comfy. Plus, you can get $50 off during their first-ever promo.*
3. Boots that can go from sidewalk to mountainside. Marc Fisher LTD’s boots and booties have shearling trim, lace-up details, and luxe lug soles. In cool color combos we can’t wait to pair with every cold-weather look. PS: Skimm’rs get 20% off with code FALLSKIMM.*
4. Organic cotton clothes and PJs that’ll keep your kiddo cozy. Add some fall colors and playful prints to their wardrobe with Pehr’s ethically made, perfectly mix-and-matchable pieces. Bonus: They make great hand-me-downs. Plus, Skimm’rs get 25% off† with code SKIMM25.*
On Our Radar
Cozy Earth's launch of their bamboo linen sheets in three gorgeous holiday colors. Oh, and did we mention you can get up to 30% off sitewide? Time for an upgrade.
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.
Spice up your life with…Brigid G (NC). She’s launching a challenge to bring adventure to people’s lives — from planning a weekend getaway to trying a new recipe. Learn more here.
(Some) Birthdays…Bernie Cohen (NJ), Yerin Kim (VA), Loretta Smajlaj (NJ), Justin Lowenthal (MD), Marci Hansen (MA), Laurel McQuinn (AL), Laura Power (TX), Charlotte Harris (TX), Emily Lenz (IL), Jessica Meeder (PA), Shea Smith (CA), Stephanie Klein (NY), Mackenzie Kaiser (MI), Michael Schauben (CA), Denease Thompson-Mack (FL), Jennifer Robertson (TX)
PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
Skimm More
Let’s be honest, we want a candle that says ‘I burn for you’ without breaking the bank. So we rounded up a list of the best scented candles that are worth your money and fit your style. Check it out.
Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Melanie De Lima, Kate Gilhool, Julie Shain, Mariza Smajlaj, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Xian Chiang-Waren, and Melissa Goldberg
