The $122 Million Question

Midterms

The $122 Million Question 

What’s going on: The 2026 midterms kick off today with Senate primaries in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas. But the Lone Star State is the main event — and the price tag lives up to the “bigger in Texas” cliché. The primary alone has topped $122 million in ad spending and reservations, making it the most expensive Senate primary on record. On the Republican side, Sen. John Cornyn faces Attorney General Ken Paxton — impeached by the state House in 2023 and later acquitted — along with Rep. Wesley Hunt. Voters on the left will choose between Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s anti-establishment approach and State Rep. James Talarico’s crossover pitch to moderates. Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat in the state since 1988, but party leaders argue demographic shifts and Trump-era realignment have cracked the door open. And some GOP leaders privately worry that a Paxton nomination could turn a long-safe red seat into a real race.

What to watch: Start with turnout. Early Democratic voting has set records and outpaced Republicans — and strategists will comb through those numbers, especially among Latino voters who shifted toward Donald Trump in 2024. Who wins could preview the type of candidate that’ll play better in red-state midterms — someone with crossover appeal or a more openly anti-Trump edge. Republicans first want to know if anyone can win outright without a runoff election. And if not, will Trump step in as kingmaker? He hasn’t endorsed anyone yet, but if Cornyn underperforms, strategists say pressure could mount on the president to back Paxton — an unusual move against a sitting senator. Come November, Democrats will likely need breakthroughs in other red states like Alaska, Iowa, or Ohio to reclaim the Senate.

Related: New Epstein Deposition Video Shows Hillary Clinton Confront Lawmakers Over Leaked Photo (NBC News) 

The News in 5

Today, this section focuses on the war in the Middle East.

🗞️ President Donald Trump refused to give an end date to the war with Iran or rule out putting US troops on the ground — telling CNN that Tehran has yet to face the “big wave” of strikes. Meanwhile, the US military death toll rose to six, and Americans in the region are being told to leave.

🗞️ Hezbollah entered the conflict, trading fire with Israel from southern Lebanon as people once again flee their homes.

🗞️ Satellite images of Iran show just how much damage the country sustained after the US and Israel’s initial attack.

🗞️Trump has now ordered more strikes on other countries than any other US president in modern history, Axios reports.

🗞️ This is how the war could impact what you pay at the pump (and inflation).

Work

Is It Time To Take an Adult Gap Year? 

What’s going on: You know that one funemployed friend who is somehow in a new country every week? They might actually be on a well-planned adult gap year. More working adults are taking extended time off from work or using a gap between jobs to recharge, learn a new skill, or live out their dreams (safari in Zimbabwe, anyone?). It doesn’t even have to last a full year. Some people take a mini-sabbatical or micro-retirement. An Alabama woman told USA Today that she takes three months off twice a year to live in Portugal. For others, the time off is built into their benefits package as companies look for new ways to keep employees happy. Who knew this wasn’t just for college kids? 

What it means: An adult gap year or extended time off doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all package, but one of the biggest challenges most people face is how to pay for it. A travel coach told The Associated Press that it’s probably more affordable than most people realize. The first step is deciding what you want your time off to look like: What are your goals? Where do you want to go? How long do you want to take time off? Then you can work backwards, create a budget, and start saving. Some people will house sit to help offset their travel costs or sublet their own home while they’re away. Don’t forget the fine print — visa restrictions can make or break your plans. Nobody wants their trip to end early. 

Related: How a Family of Four Took a Gap Year To Travel (Business Insider)

Work

HR's Least Favorite Love Story

What's going on: If watching The Office has taught us anything (besides our alarming tolerance for Michael Scott), it’s that work is a surprisingly efficient dating app. And beyond finding love in a hopeless place, new research offers evidence that workplace romances can come with financial benefits — and costs (yes, someone actually did the math on this). When a female employee starts dating her male manager, her earnings jump about 6% over two years — on top of standard raises. The catch? If the relationship crashes and burns — and it’s less Jim-and-Pam — women who break up with their boss see their pay fall about 18% in the first year, largely because many end up leaving the company altogether. 

Tell me more: To nobody’s surprise, men who were in relationships with their female managers not only earned more — they lost less after a breakup. That’s partly because they’re more likely to stick around if the relationship ends (of course, they are). Office romances aren’t exactly a niche HR headache. (Remember “Coldplaygate”?) About one in four US workers has dated a colleague — and nearly one in five of those relationships involved a boss, according to a 2023 survey. That puts companies in a bind. Banning office romances outright feels rigid — and wildly unrealistic. But ignoring the power imbalance isn’t an option either. Employers have to protect both parties in consensual relationships while limiting conflicts of interest that can tank morale — and careers.

Related: People Are Swiping Left on Dating Apps for the Most Valid Reason Ever (Cosmopolitan)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ President Trump hosts the German chancellor at the White House.

🗓️ Christina Applegate’s debut book, You With the Sad Eyes: A Memoir, comes out.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

What 185-year-old garment has been worn by Queen Elizabeth, King Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry — and 58 other royals — and is now going on display?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Stephanie Gallman, Mallory Simon, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.