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 QUOTE OF THE DAY  |
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"I then went into action" – A karate instructor who saved a woman from an alleged kidnapper in a karate studio. Not all heroes wear black belts...but this one does.
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THINGS WITH MURKY END DATES
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The Shutdown
The Story
It's day 17 of the partial government shutdown – which is now tied for the second-longest shutdown in modern US history.
What's the latest?
The Trump admin and Democrats still can't agree on whether to fund a steel barrier ("Formerly known as the Border Wall"). Yesterday, Trump said that if talks don't improve, he's considering declaring a national emergency to bypass Congress and get the wall built on the grounds that this is a security issue. It's unclear if it's legal. So for now, he's still trying to get Democrats on board.
How?
In a letter to Dems from over the weekend, the Trump admin said he wanted to set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to improve humanitarian conditions at the border, apparently including better medical treatment, tens of thousands more detention beds, and thousands more law enforcement officials. Dems are saying 'let's reopen the gov, then we can talk about this.'
theSkimm
Until a funding deal is reached, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are on unpaid leave or working without pay. Courts, national parks, and airports are struggling to run smoothly. And there's no solution in sight.
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Syria
The Story
The US isn't backing out of Syria just yet.
Explain.
Last month, President Trump said the US has defeated ISIS in Syria and would start pulling troops out soon. Except ISIS still controls a small portion of territory (around 2% of what it previously had). And there are worries that leaving right now could help the terror group make a comeback. Or leave a power vacuum that countries like Iran and Russia might fill. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized the move. Defense Sec Jim Mattis resigned. And people were especially worried about what would happen to the US's Kurdish allies.
Why's that?
The Kurds are a stateless ethnic group in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey that have been pushing for more autonomy for decades. In Turkey, this has led to years of conflict. There are fears that when the US backs out of Syria, Turkey will start cracking down on Kurdish fighters. Yesterday, national security adviser John Bolton gave a speech saying 'don't worry' – the US won't withdraw from Syria until it has promises from Turkey that America's Kurdish allies will be safe. Meaning, US troops could remain there for months or years to come.
theSkimm
When Trump announced that the US would pull out of Syria, some of his allies and advisers were caught by surprise. Now, the Trump admin seems to be hitting reverse on an idea that may have cost the president his defense secretary.
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What people are watching…
Protests in Hungary. Thousands showed up this weekend to rally against the country's so-called "slave law." Since the prime minister's 2010 election, he and his party have been getting more and more powerful (think: rewriting the constitution, creating new courts that could be manipulated, and taking control over state media). But last month, he pushed through a law that allows companies to ask employees to work up to 400 hours of overtime a year – that would be almost one extra day per week. It gets worse: employees apparently aren't guaranteed immediate pay. Cue outrage. Over the weekend, at least 10,000 people showed up to protest that and other things like bias in the state-controlled media. The gov is claiming that Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros is funding the protests and encouraging migration to the EU. Protests could continue this month.
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What to say when you're tired of your routine…
Time to shake things up, just like Malaysia's king. Yesterday, the palace announced the king is stepping down – the first time a king has abdicated in the country. In Malaysia, nine royal houses alternate the throne among each other every five years. Think: if the Houses in "Game of Thrones" were down to share power. This king has had the throne for two years, so he's peacing out three years early. The palace didn't give a reason for why…but this is all happening after photos made the rounds online late last year appearing to show him marrying a former Russian beauty queen. The palace hasn't commented on that. Nothing says 'honeymoon' like early retirement.
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Who people are talking about…
Jazmine Barnes. Last week, the seven-year-old was killed in a shooting in Houston, TX. There were questions around whether the shooting was racially motivated. But over the weekend, authorities arrested a suspect and said her death was probably a case of "mistaken identity." Investigators are looking into a second person potentially involved in the shooting.
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Speaking of football, the NFL divisional playoffs are this weekend. You'll be seeing the Indianapolis Colts, the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to the wild-card round. And a double doink.
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Burnout generation
The new name for millennials. At least that's according to an article that made the rounds over the weekend. The next time you're feeling tired, use this as an explanation.
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For when it's your first full week back from vacation…
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*PS This is an affiliate section, which means if you purchase or sign up, theSkimm may get something in return. Thanks.
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Cheers to...LeighAnn S (Switzerland) who pulled off a Hamilton-style rap for her maid-of-honor speech at her sister's wedding. And to Kelsey C (TX) who – after working three part-time jobs – got her first full-time gig with a salary, benefits, and a pension. Repeat: a pension.
Spotlight on...Sabrina E (IL). She's working towards running the six World Marathon Majors. She's got four down, two to go. And for the upcoming race in London, she's raising money for the animal welfare org PAWS.
Birthdays...Lillie Zakin (NY), Lauren Roberts (NY), Chris Essner (NY), Ruby Papa (NY), Mary Dubois (IL), Katie Couric (NY), Dennis Hanowitz (NJ), Kevin Towler (NY), Megan Mairs (FL), Libby Champion (FL), Samantha Sandler (CT), Jessica Johnson (KY), Grayce Geitka (MI), Marci Gilbert (TX), Opare Densua (DC), Ella Shlonsky (OH)
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theSkimm50 West 23rd Street, Suite 5B; New York, NY, 10010, United States Update Profile
