The Daily Skimm

The Story

And just like that, the debates are over.

Let's hear that recap.

That's why we're here. Last night, President Trump and former VP Joe Biden took the stage for their last debate of the 2020 election. With less than two weeks until Nov 3, they each made their pitch for the top job spot. This time, no dumpster fire. (Thank you, mute button.) And they covered a lot of topics, like…

COVID-19…As cases rise in dozens of states, Trump says that the virus he recovered from "very fast" is now "rounding the corner." And that a vaccine will be announced within weeks. (But no promises.) He pushed for schools to reopen and said the risk of transmission to teachers is low. Biden warned that the country's entering a "dark winter," reminding Americans that another 200,000+ people could die from COVID-19 in the next few months.

National security…Election interference from Russia and Iran was top of mind. Biden said those responsible would "pay a price." And pointed the finger at Trump for not confronting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said 'nyet fair.' But when it came to Kim Jong Un, the president said he's "different" – and that being friendly with a nuclear power isn't such a bad thing.

Health care…It was a big topic. Trump wants to "terminate" the Affordable Care Act. And said he'd figure out a way to help the 20 million people who'd lose their coverage if the law's struck down, including those with pre-existing conditions. Biden said health care is a right, "not a privilege," and introduced "Bidencare" (aka Obamacare + a public option).

Immigration…Trump said the admin is "trying very hard" to reunite hundreds of children separated from their parents because of his "zero tolerance" policy at the border. And called the "catch and release" policy a disaster. Biden said it was "criminal" that families were separated in the first place. And that he and President Obama "made a mistake" in not delivering on immigration reform – but that he'd get right to it within his first 100 days in office.

Race in America…A contentious topic that could've gotten way more air time. Biden knows institutional racism exists. And said Trump "pours fuel on every racist fire." Trump touted his record on criminal justice reform, and said he's "the least racist person." Weird flex.

And everything else…Hunter Biden's laptop got some shoutouts. So did Abe Lincoln. Biden channeled Obama's line on not seeing "red states and blue states." Trump's not a "typical politician." Biden couldn't resist a "malarkey" reference. Trump doesn't want any birds to get hurt. And moderator Kristen Welker got props for not letting things go off the rails.

theSkimm

The last debate of the election season was less chaotic than the first. But voters heard two different versions about what's at stake. For Trump, he boiled it down to the economy. For Biden, it's the country's character. For voters, it's about what the next four years will look like.

Crunch Time

It's T-11 days until Election Day. And over 45 million Americans have already checked 'vote early' off of their to-do lists – either by mail or in-person. That's a record high. For reference, one report found only six million people had voted by this time in 2016. We're not mathematicians, but 2020 is bringing in more than seven times that.

Election experts say the numbers show a level of civic engagement and enthusiasm that hasn't been seen in years. (Talk about making democracy proud.) And the numbers are only expected to grow, as more states (hi, New York) kick off early voting in the coming days. Oh and, Americans around the country will be celebrating the first-ever Vote Early Day tomorrow.

We spoke to influential women across the political spectrum about how they're voting. Check out these tips from Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Hillary Clinton, and Meg Whitman on getting those ballots in.

And Also...This

Who's reaching the finish line…

Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent her Supreme Court nomination to the Senate floor. Every Republican on the panel voted in favor. And every Democrat on the committee boycotted the vote. On their empty seats, they left poster-size photos of Americans who could be impacted if SCOTUS strikes down the Affordable Care Act. Reminder: Dems have called Barrett's confirmation process a "sham." And say that she would put the ACA at risk in the middle of a pandemic. Republicans say Barrett's "exceptionally qualified" to serve on the court. The full Senate is expected to vote on her confirmation on Monday. A resounding 'yea' could result in Barrett becoming the first justice in history confirmed so close to an election.

Who's saying 'deny, deny, deny'...

Ghislaine Maxwell – Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend and longtime associate. Reminder: Epstein – a well-connected multimillionaire – was charged with sex trafficking in 2019. He died by suicide in prison a month later. Maxwell was accused of helping him run a sex trafficking ring and was arrested over the summer. Yesterday, after a long legal battle, a deposition Maxwell gave in 2016 was released. (It was part of a defamation case brought by Virginia Giuffre – an alleged victim of Epstein's.) In it, Maxwell repeatedly denies helping Epstein run a sex trafficking ring, recruiting underage girls or introducing Giuffre to a man believed to be Prince Andrew. She is still awaiting trial next year.

Whose case has an update…

George Floyd's. Yesterday, a Minnesota judge dropped a third-degree murder charge against ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. But said there's enough probable cause for second-degree murder and manslaughter charges against him for prosecutors to go to trial. Floyd died in May after Chauvin pinned him to the ground for at least eight minutes as Floyd repeatedly cried out "I can't breathe." Chauvin's trial is scheduled for March.

Who's getting a new co-worker…

The World Health Organization. Yesterday, it announced that it'll collaborate with Wikipedia to fight misinformation surrounding the coronavirus. The WHO will let Wikipedia use its infographics and videos to give the public the latest info on COVID-19.

What could be the scariest Halloween costume this year…

A Zoom meeting.

What can cure feelings of nostalgia...

The return of "Zoey 101" and "Borat."

Routine, Reality, and You

If you had big plans for 2020...and they didn't exactly pan out...you're not alone. But we have news: the year isn't over. And there's still time to go after your goals.

For inspiration, please see: a special episode of "Skimm'd From The Couch," sponsored by Estée Lauder. In it, we talked to two Skimm'rs who found that creating a schedule and sticking to a daily routine helped them feel steady. Steady enough that they were able to push forward, and make big, positive changes in their lives.

We like the sound of that. Listen to their full stories here.

Skimm Reads

"Leave the World Behind" by Rumaan Alam

Raise your hand if you're stalking Airbnb for new spots to work remotely. This book goes from Airbnb goals to...something quite different. When a family of four heads to Long Island for a dreamy weekend away, their hosts return to the house panicked from a blackout in NYC. Cue the book becoming an apocalyptic thriller and you leaving all your responsibilities behind to finish.

Here are our favorite picks to help you take a break today...

1. 11 things you should get rid of right now, according to professional organizers. One day you're in, the next day you're out. That is, if you're an old Tupperware without a lid. See ya .

2. A personalized monthly wardrobe refresh. With this subscription, a stylist will send you up to 5 sustainably designed pieces that you (and your wallet) will actually like. Shipping is always free and you can send things back at no cost, too. Skimm'rs get $50 off the first month, plus free styling. Enjoy.*

3. The most popular Halloween candies in every state. Apparently, there really are people out there who like Hot Tamales. We'll just be over here, utterly baffled, with a bag of Reese's Cups.

PS: Want more? Sign up to get weekly recs in your inbox.

For when you're looking for your next fave show to binge…

Clear your weekend. In "The Queen's Gambit," Beth Harmon, an orphan chess prodigy, is on a quest to become the best in the world at a male dominated game. All while struggling with addiction and unhealthy relationships. Oh, and it just started streaming on Netflix today.*

For when your morning smoothie creates too much mess…

Here's a way to make it...smoother (sorry). This brand's pod-based blender lets you create fruit and veggie smoothies, immune boosters, matcha lattes, and more in just 30 seconds. Bonus: their pods are biodegradable. And Skimm'rs get eight free blends. Drink up.*

For when you can't stop craving pumpkin-flavored desserts…

Break out the stand mixer. And get baking with a bench scraper, food scale, and lots (and lots) of sprinkles. Gimme, gimme...breads, pies, and muffins.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimm More

1. All caught up on the debates? Our podcast "Skimm This" looks at everything else making headlines this week – from big news out of the Vatican to what to expect as COVID-19 cases prompt another wave of lockdowns.

2. Meet Liza: She tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation at age 23. We spoke to her about her diagnosis. And her journey to getting a preventative double mastectomy.

3. With just over a week until Election Day, there's no better time to GOTV and mobilize your community. Join our friends at When We All Vote tonight at 6:30pm ET for their final virtual When We All Vote LOUD #CouchParty. And hear from guests like Common, City Girls, and Elaine Welteroth. RSVP here.

Skimm’rs

In times like these, community matters more than ever. Let us know how you (or someone you know) is making an impact by helping others.

Reaching new creative heights...Joy F (NY). She founded The All Black Everything Summit, a semi-annual digital event that provides vital support and resources to Black innovators. This week's event brought together artists from different industries to learn key elements of how to start and successfully run their business. Check it out.

Ain't no mountain high enough...Krista E (CT). She and her husband have signed up to #HikeOctober with HIKE for Mental Health. It's a nonprofit that raises funds for mental health research and hiking trail preservation. Learn more.

(Some) Birthdays...Melissa Brenner (NY), Nicole Sarno (IL), Anthony Allegra (IL), Laura Burke (NY), Kirenjot Singh (NJ), Aitana Zermeño (CA), Brandon Elias (NY), Quentin King (PA), Dani Mazza (NY), Misha Sharp (NY), Shelley Papa (NY), Donald Gardner (NJ), Shulamit Shain (MA), Megan Wise (OH), Andrew Li (CAN)

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

Skimm’d by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Ellen Burke, Niven McCall-Mazza, and Clem Robineau