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Quote of the Day
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"He took a little nip at the fresh powder" – The Smithsonian's National Zoo, on a panda's first snow. And honestly...we would have been disappointed if he hadn't.
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The Splintering of the Republican Party
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The Story
The Republican Party is fracturing.
Explain.
Throughout former President Trump's term, most Republican lawmakers stood by him – come hell or high water. They supported his baseless claims of election fraud and voted to block the certification of the election results. After Trump was impeached in the House for "incitement of insurrection" for his role in the deadly Capitol siege, nearly all 50 Republican senators voted against holding an impeachment trial. But cracks in the GOP are starting to show. Tens of thousands of registered Republicans have reportedly switched parties. And dozens of former officials from the Bush admin are reportedly saying 'we're done.' And someone else seems to be deepening those cracks.
Who?
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). The newly elected representative from Georgia's 14th Congressional District has been getting a lot of attention – and not for the right reasons. Greene is a known QAnon supporter (a far-right conspiracy theory group) and believes Trump won the election. She also has a history of racist, inflammatory, and false statements. She's suggested Muslims don't belong in the government. And that the Sandy Hook and Parkland shootings were staged – even harassing one of the survivors. She's claimed that the deadly 2018 California wildfires were started by space lasers controlled by a Jewish banking family. And recently, it's come out that she has reportedly 'liked' several social media posts calling for FBI agents and prominent Dems to be killed.
That's a lot.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) condemned House Republican leaders for sweeping Greene's actions under the rug and, instead, appointing her to the House Education Committee. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called Greene's beliefs a "cancer" for the Republican Party. And Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) called on his party's leaders to "stand up" against her. Yesterday, a group of House Dems planned to do just that – they are looking to remove Greene from multiple House committees (Education and Labor, and Budget). Others are calling for her to be expelled or censured.
What is she saying?
So far, Greene has not shown remorse for her past comments. The congresswoman tweeted that she will "never apologize." And said the "real cancer" for the GOP is "weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully."
theSkimm
Republicans are not only dealing with a loss of power in Congress, but widening divisions in their party. Now, many eyes are on the GOP to see how it repairs the fractures...or not.
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What'll be coming to a store shelf near you…
This over-the-counter COVID-19 test. Yesterday, the Biden admin announced a nearly $232 million deal to ramp up at-home coronavirus testing. In December, the FDA granted emergency use authorization to tests developed by Ellume – an Australian company. They provide results in 15 minutes and have shown to be about 95% accurate. Now, the White House is saying 'take our money.' Between now and July, Ellume's expected to send 100,000 tests to the US. And it'll build its own manufacturing plant in the US – which would increase the company's global production by at least 500,000 tests per day.
- The deets: Ellume's test will cost $30. To take the test, a person uses a nasal swab and puts it in a Bluetooth-connected analyzer that screens for the virus's proteins. The analyzer sends results to your smartphone. And it can be used on children as young as two years old.
- Perfect timing: The deal would help make testing more readily available at a time when vaccination efforts have slowed. And it comes amid the spread of several coronavirus variants in the US.
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What people are watching…
Myanmar. Several countries (Japan, the EU, and the US) and the UN are demanding the country return to democratic rule. Earlier this week, the military staged a coup, arresting Aung San Suu Kyi (the country's civilian leader) and several others. Military officials cited alleged fraud in the country's recent election, and said it will maintain control until new elections are held next year. The whereabouts of the arrested leaders are reportedly unknown. And internet and phone line disruptions have affected access to info on what's going on inside the country. The US has threatened to reimpose sanctions if order isn't restored.
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Who's refusing to be silenced…
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Yesterday, she chronicled her experience of the January 6th attack on the Capitol during a nearly 90-minute Instagram Live video. She said she hid in a bathroom while a man shouted “where is she.” She described seeing a Capitol Police officer and not knowing if he was there to protect or harm her. And said that like for “so many other communities in this country” the presence of police doesn’t necessarily signal safety. She also came forward as a sexual assault survivor. And said that those who are telling her and others to move on from that day are using the tactics of abusers.
- Doubling down: The congresswoman said Republican lawmakers who've supported former President Trump's baseless claims of election fraud must be held accountable for the Capitol riots. And said they "endanger the lives of others'' by continuing to hold positions of power.
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Who's being remembered…
Dustin Diamond. Yesterday, the actor who played Screech for nearly 13 years on "Saved by the Bell" died at age 44 from cancer. His death came three weeks after his Stage 4 diagnosis. His former "Saved by the Bell" costars paid tribute on social media, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar sharing he'd miss Diamond's "brilliant sparks." RIP.
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Double masking
When you wear two face masks to protect against COVID-19. Doubling up protection isn't always recommended (wink, wink). But when it comes to the coronavirus, some researchers have found that layering up can increase the level of protection from 50% to 75%. Mask up.
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Time to Start Shopping For...
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Valentine's Day. Because the weeks leading up to the big day of love shouldn't be spent stressing trying to find the so-called "perfect gift." Which is why we're here to help. Check out…
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For when you're still trying to eat better, but also low-key lazy...
Enter: meal kits from this company. Their recipes are easy-to-follow and the fresh ingredients come pre-measured. So you can say 'bye' to prep panic and 'hi' to healthy living. Plus, Skimm'rs get $90 off. You got this.*
For when you're in a committed relationship with your bed...
Get ready for V-Day with super luxe washable silk sleepwear from this female-founded brand. Skimm'rs get $20 off their first purchase with code FOR-SKIMMRS. Start shopping.*
For when you wanna bulk up your savings account…
Invest in the right things. Like a budget planner, a fabric shaver that'll refresh your linens, and containers that'll keep your produce from spoiling too soon. Cha-ching.
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*PS: This is a sponsored post.
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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.
Engineering success...Maansi N (MI). She founded STEM Without Boundaries, an org that's training high school students to host successful STEM nights in their community. It's been able to reach over 200,000 students from 37 states and 30 countries. Learn more.
Say halo...Michelle K (DC). She launched Local Angel Co, an online marketplace that helps build community wealth by allowing shoppers to buy directly from local businesses. And with every purchase, funds go toward DC and rural nonprofits. Shop here.
(Some) Birthdays...theSkimm's Remi Bruell (CA), Emma Eales (CA), Laura Beggins (TX), Stephanie Wurgler (NY), Carolyn Becker (CA), Claire Bewley (AR), Michele Corigliano (UT), Radhika Dang (FL), Kyoshi Robinson (MS), Trish Bradley (CAN), Roy Caudill (PA), Diane Geiger (CA), Samantha Maddin (GA), Margaret Verrico (CT), MacKenzie Foster (MA)
*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
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Skimm’d by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Kamini Ramdeen, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain
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theSkimm50 West 23rd Street, Suite 5B; New York, NY, 10010, United States Update Profile
