As an Eagles fan through marriage, my home was filled with voices singing “Fly, Eagles Fly” last night. And did they ever. After Jalen Hurts launched that epic pass to DeVonta Smith, I finally gave myself permission to celebrate. (What a way for Saquon Barkley and rookie Cooper DeJean to ring in their birthdays — they even got some post-game cake.) Go Birds. And one more thing… Skimm+ is here to make your life easier. We’ve taken everything you love about theSkimm and leveled it up — more perks, actionable insights, and a community of like-minded Skimmr’s to back you up. Now, let’s get to the news…
GoFundMe Has Become a Lifeline for Los Angeles Fire Victims
What's going on: The Los Angeles wildfires left entire neighborhoods in ruins, reducing homes to ash and memories. As families face the daunting question of how to rebuild, many have turned to GoFundMe. Donations have poured in, surpassing $250 million — more than the platform has ever raised for a single cause and $20 million more than what it helped raise for all natural disasters last year. For some, it’s a lifeline. One mother told The New York Timesshe needs $150,000 to replace her son’s cerebral palsy therapy equipment, but for now, the $13,000 donated by strangers to her GoFundMe will help. Still, the money raised on the platform is just a fraction of the estimated $250 billion needed to rebuild Los Angeles.
What it means: GoFundMe has become a key player in disaster recovery, stepping in where the federal government has struggled. That’s especially evident now, as President Donald Trump threatens to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and climate change fuels more frequent natural disasters. Many victims also don’t expect insurance to cover the full cost of rebuilding — especially in some of the country’s most expensive zip codes. While GoFundMe can help alleviate some of that financial anxiety, it still faces two major challenges: Fake accounts and fairness. Researchers have previously found that racial inequities in crowdfunding exist on the platform, with Black and Latino people raising less on average than others.
What's going on: For decades, Disney parks have promised a whole new world of magic, but for many families, that world is starting to feel out of reach. Disney has hiked up prices faster than Lightning McQueen, with Disneyland’s single-day adult passes now surpassing $200. A four-day trip for a family of four now costs over $3,200 — not including the added price of skipping lines, which used to be free, but now costs up to $449 per person per day. Without the FastPass, visitors can spend hours waiting for the most popular rides, watching their precious park time tick-tock like Captain Hook’s clock. Disney insists its parks remain accessible, pointing to year-round promotions and various price options (though TikToks devoted to Disney park hacks suggest otherwise).
What it means: While Disney is not alone (Universal Studios and SeaWorld have also raised ticket prices post-pandemic), some inside the House Of Mouse worry the company has become addicted to price hikes and may have finally hit the limit of what middle-class families can afford. Disney’s own surveys, per The Wall Street Journal, show a sharp drop in visitors planning return trips as even die-hard fans feel the sticker shock. Tourism experts warn that by pricing out young families, Disney risks alienating the very audience that built its empire — a tale as old as time — unless they’re just banking on Disney Adults and their bibbidi-bobbidi big budgets. The cost of experiential vacations is rising across the board, and 74% of Americans say trips to places like Disney resorts and cruises are financially out of reach. Instead, lower-cost nature getaways are gaining traction. It is an expensive world after all.
Now through February 18, Brooklinen is taking up to 25% off sitewide. Perfect timing if you're planning to spend the long weekend in bed.
If you're as obsessed with poppi as we are, you'll be happy to hear that 12-packs are on sale for $19.95 on Amazon. The sale ends today, so run over there now.
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
Virtually any meal can be a bowl if you try hard enough — but the beauty of The Palatable Life’s Herby Chicken Meatball Bowl is that you barely have to try at all. The base of this impressively low-effort, high-reward meal is a bed of nutritious kale, which is covered with crunchy, carby, and creamy toppings to keep every bite interesting. Think: tender chicken meatballs, roasted sweet potatoes, Parmesan-crusted chickpeas, and an exceptionally vibrant yogurt jalapeño dressing. Plus, if you double the recipe, you’ll have nearly a workweek’s worth of lunches. Sounds like a win-win.
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Game Time
Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.
