The Daily Skimm

The Story

Joe Biden is officially the president-elect.

I feel like we knew this…

Au contraire. Yesterday, all 538 of the US's electors gathered in their states to cement last month's election results. 306 cast their votes for Biden and 232 voted for President Trump. While the move is usually a formality, all eyes were on the Electoral College vote this year. Especially as the Trump campaign and other Republicans worked on a last-ditch effort to overturn its results.

Remind me. How exactly does the Electoral College work?

First, all 50 states and DC have to certify their votes and name their electors. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress (plus three for DC). They're typically nominated by political parties in each state before the general election, and can be pretty much anyone, including local elected officials to celebrities. Some names you might recognize this year: Hillary Clinton in NY and Stacey Abrams in GA. The electors convene at their state capitals (and some chose undisclosed locations for safety) to review the election results and sign, seal, and deliver their formal votes.

And then it's done?

Not quite. The votes go to Congress, where they will be counted on Jan 6. VP Mike Pence announces the results. In all states except Maine and Nebraska, electors are expected to vote for the candidate who won their state's popular vote. But there've been a few electors (call them faithless) who've gone rogue in the past. But this summer, the Supreme Court ruled that states can require electors to act in line with their state's popular vote. And everyone seemed to have behaved. Even in key states the Trump campaign tried to overturn with lawsuits – Nevada, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin – all voted for Biden.

Does this mean the election drama is over?

We'll see. Lawmakers can still dispute a state's election results when the votes are counted next month. But a member of the House and Senate must sign onto it – something that's apparently unlikely. As for the Trump campaign's lawsuits challenging the election results, 59 have been dismissed by the courts, including most recently in Wisconsin. But their claims were enough to sow distrust in the election results.

theSkimm

Now that the Electoral College has cast its vote, Americans are one step closer to a transition of power. The milestone comes even as millions of Americans continue to disbelieve the results of the election.

And Also...This

Where there are updates…

Sudan. Yesterday, the Trump admin removed it from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Sudan has been on the list since 1993 for supporting acts of terrorism including backing militant groups like Hamas, helping bomb US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in '98, and providing a safe haven for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. But when protesters ousted longtime-dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Sudan's relationship with the US began to change. Earlier this year, it agreed to a few things to get its name off the list (think: normalizing ties with Israel, compensation for victims of terrorist attacks). Now, Sudan can rejoin the international community and get economic help amid skyrocketing inflation. The State Dept called the move "a fundamental change."

Nigeria. On Friday, gunmen attacked an all-boys boarding school in the northwestern part of the country and kidnapped hundreds of students. Some have escaped, but over 300 are still missing. The leader of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram has reportedly claimed responsibility. Gov officials say they're negotiating the release of the boys. It's the latest attack on a Nigerian school. In 2014, Boko Haram also kidnapped 276 girls from a school. Dozens remain missing.

Where the (runoff) race is off…

Georgia. Yesterday, early in-person voting began in the Peach State for two Senate runoff seats that could determine the upper chamber's majority. On the ballot: Incumbent Sen. David Perdue (R) versus Jon Ossoff (D). And Raphael Warnock (D) versus Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R). While lines looked shorter yesterday compared to early voting for the general election, officials say they're still expecting high voter turnout. Over 1.2 million people have already requested absentee ballots. And more than 200,000 of them have been returned. The big day's Jan 5, and until then both Republicans and Democrats are on the edge of their seat.

Crunching the numbers: Right now, Republicans hold a 50-48 majority in the Senate come the new year. But if Dems win both races, VP-elect Kamala Harris would be the tie-breaking vote, giving the Dems control of the Senate for the first time since 2014.

Who's saying 'au revoir'...

AG William Barr. Yesterday, President Trump announced that Barr's stepping down as head of the Justice Dept next week. Throughout the majority of his tenure, Barr's been loyal to the president's "law and order" message. But recently, the two have been at odds over things like voter fraud in the 2020 election. And Trump's been reportedly thinking about firing him. But the relationship still appears cordial, with Barr applauding the president for his "historic" record. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will step in as acting AG.

What needed a better vision board...

Pinterest. Yesterday, the company agreed to pay $22.5 million in a gender discrimination settlement – one of the largest ever publicly announced. In August, Former COO Françoise Brougher sued the company, accusing her male colleagues of edging her out of meetings, giving her gendered feedback, and ultimately firing her after she called for equal pay. Pinterest didn't admit liability. But it said it "recognizes the importance" of fostering an inclusive workplace and that it will continue to improve. Good idea. Now time to manifest.

When you've finished all the Herb Ertlinger wine...

Belt this out.

Holiday Bells and Whistles

It's the extra little somethings that make the holidays special. That's why we're partnering with CVS to trace the history of some fan fave traditions and rec some products to add to your own.

Legend has it the whole stocking thing started when the real St. Nick helped a down-on-his-luck father by filling his three daughter's freshly-washed stockings (that were drying near the fire) with gold coins while they slept. Fast forward a few hundred years, and you get the sock-like bags filled with fruit, candy, and small gifts a lot of us have on the mantle today.

If you're getting ready to stuff some stockings, head to CVS. This week, they have a BOGO 50% deal on premium candy, like Lindt, Ferrero Rocher, and Ghirardelli. They also have hundreds of gifts under $20. Make Santa proud.

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

1. How to mail holiday treats and sweets. Goodbye, box of crumbled cookie dust. Hello, gingerbread women who actually have heads. Love you, grandma.

2. 15 iconic "SNL" holiday sketches. "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite" – Buddy the Elf...and also us, after watching every single clip on this list.

3. The coziest of pajamas. This sleepwear brand has PJs perfect for hot or cold sleepers, people who like to match, people who love pretty prints, and more. Aka, there's something for everyone. Plus, Skimm'rs get $10 towards their purchase, a free gift (psst…it's three free face coverings), free gift box, and free shipping. Sleep tight.*

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

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

For when your coffee order is three sentences long...

Blue Apron supports you. They know every home cook is different, so they're making it easier to customize recipes. Because sometimes you want rice instead of veggies. Get what you like.*

For when it feels like you've given every gift in the book...

Try Book of the Month. It's a subscription service that curates five great reads for your giftee to choose from every month. Translation: it truly won't stop giving. PS: Skimm'rs get their first month for $5 with code SKIMM5. Wrap it up.*

For when you wanna get the perfect gift for your loved ones without spending all your money…

Gift now, pay over time. Without any hidden fees, ever. And all thanks to Affirm, you can shop brands like West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Williams Sonoma. So go ahead and get that espresso machine. Cheers to that.*†

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

†Subject to eligibility. Payment options through Affirm are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders.

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.

Cooking up some good...Joel G and Ben R (WA). They're the co-founders of Homemade – a company that offers private virtual cooking experiences. This year, they've partnered with Breville to help you prepare extra special holiday favs every Tuesday of the month. And all ticket proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry. Dig in.

Santa's helper...Megan B (MN). She's a team captain for Best Christmas Ever, a nonprofit that purchases and wraps gifts in secret, and works with the people who nominate families to surprise them with...wait for it...the Best Christmas Ever. Elfing awesome.

(Some) Birthdays...Nicole Barnas (NY), Sumeeth Jonathan (TN), Susan Bessemer (MD), Chelsea Webster (OH), Mandy Schnirel (CO), Susan Graff (OR), Christina Lee (CA), Nicole Barnas (NY), Pam Farmer (RI), Kailey O'Connor (IL), Caroline Stokes (CA), Alyssa Collins (LA), Shirley Garson (WV), Crystal Young (CA), Jena Zoll (NY)

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

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