Faire La Grève   

A Season of Protests 

What's going on: Europe’s autumn of protests continued over the weekend with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in France, Italy, Albania, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium. Officials say over 400,000 people marched across France on Saturday (the CGT union put the number closer to 800,000) in largely peaceful demonstrations. Meanwhile, in Italy, drastically different scenes played out — from mostly calm marches in Milan to a brief occupation of the Colosseum in Rome. Albania’s capital of Tirana saw riot police use tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets against protesters, who threw rocks at officers and started a fire in front of a government building. Across Europe, the reasons for these demonstrations vary: poor school conditions, high cost of living, rising fuel costs, a housing crisis, declining public services, and government corruption. But there are some common threads. As one expert put it: “Too many young Europeans doubt that existing institutions can deliver the security, opportunity and voice they expect.”

What happens next?: Many governments have quelled the unrest by instituting curfews, mobilizing troops, and arresting thousands. But it’s clear what the protesters want: “Respond to the demands,” the secretary general of France’s CGT union told The Guardian. The protests are likely to continue in the coming weeks. In France, labor leaders have called for a nationwide strike on Nov 5. And with key elections coming up in France, Spain, and Italy, these marches have become a talking point. Far-right politicians frame them “as the inevitable consequence of failed liberal governance and open-border policies.” Across the ocean, President Donald Trump supports this message. Last week, he took to Truth Social to proclaim that “migrants, jihadists, and communists” have “shattered that once great country” of France. French President Emmanuel Macron called the comments “unacceptable.”

Related: A Student-Led Opposition Movement Won Serbia’s Election, Defeating Putin-Backed Incumbent (The Associated Press)

Bring It On 

America's Sweethearts Mean Business 

What's going on: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have a new reason to celebrate, and this time, it's not about football. After years of fighting for better pay and benefits, the Cowboys have agreed to recognize the cheerleaders’ union, meaning the women can now negotiate pay and working conditions as a group. It's a major victory for some of the most recognizable performers in the history of sports, who represent the NFL’s wealthiest franchise (worth about $17 billion) — but have historically struggled to make ends meet. In 2018, a former cheerleader sued the team and claimed she earned about $15,000 per season, less than the team’s male mascot. The 2024 premiere of the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts brought renewed attention to their working conditions. The pressure paid off: Their efforts secured a 400% raise last year, but the benefits still leave something to be desired (like health insurance). 

A whole new playbook: In sports, unions have helped athletes secure better pay, health benefits, and workplace protections. But NFL cheerleaders have lacked that same power, despite complaints about inadequate facilities and sexual harassment. Some teams even require cheerleaders to also hold full-time jobs, a practice teams have reportedly justified as a way to inspire young girls. America's Sweethearts showed how organizations expect women to accept those sacrifices for the “honor of a lifetime.” Their fame and Netflix exposure may have strengthened their hand, but their fight reflects a broader gap for women in the workforce: Just 9.6% of employed women belong to unions, even though unionized women who work full-time earn $241 more per week on average. With support from the NFL Players Association, the squad now hopes to secure a contract that could pave the way for other professional cheerleaders and dancers.

Related: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Sue My Chemical Romance, Say “It’s Not Okay” To Wear Their Uniforms (NBC News)

Eating Out Is No Longer In

When Free Chips and Salsa Isn't Enough

What’s going on: The thrill of warm breadsticks delivered to the table, a waitress bringing us exactly what we want, and leaving dirty dishes behind apparently doesn’t have the same appeal it once did. The number of Americans dining out just hit a new low, according to a Gallup poll. Just 39% eat at restaurants at least once a week. That’s down from 53% in 2019. How we eat at home has changed, too. Americans are making fewer trips to the grocery store, and 15% are ordering groceries online weekly, an 11-point rise since 2019. 

So are we all agoraphobic now?: Price increases are one reason for this trend, according to Gallup. Aside from the financial commitment of dining out, Americans are also more anxious and less social. Add in a summer of food recalls and overall concern about the safety of what we eat, and it’s not hard to understand why more Americans opt to stay home. Looking to pivot, some restaurants are leaning into nostalgia. Pizza Hut is bringing back its unmistakable red-roof design across some of its restaurants, and Chick-fil-A is focusing on families with playground renovations. Other restaurants are finding ways to put their own spin on a classic like an adult happy meal (martini included) and offering a taste of grandma’s cooking. Others, like Chili’s, have experienced significant growth despite this turbulent time, and relied on their consistency to woo customers back. The time is always right for a Triple Dipper, after all.

Related: How To Host a Successful Soup Swap (The New York Times gift link)

Together with JPMorgan Chase

Outsmart Holiday Scams

Holiday scams come in many forms, from fake travel deals and fraudulent online stores to phony charities, spoofed delivery messages, and deceptive gift card offers.

That’s why Chase is sharing practical steps to help you protect your money this holiday season, including free educational workshops held at Chase branches in all lower 48 states and Washington D.C. throughout November. 

Here’s a tip to get you started: Scammers want you to act fast. So, if a deal, text, or offer pressures you to move quickly, pause and verify it’s legitimate before clicking, sharing personal information, or sending money.^†

Quick Hits

🏈 The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated their game in Paris with costumes inspired by Peaky Blinders… which is set in England. Close enough?

🍭 A pediatric dentist just weighed in on the eight worst Halloween candies for kids — from sticky to sour candy, taffy, and licorice. But how are they for adult teeth?

🏆 Women in their 60s and older competed in Ms. Senior America. The winner: Debbi Miller, 78. She’s beauty, and she’s grace.

🍳 You might be cooking your eggs the wrong way. Chefs say it’s typically better to use butter for most egg dishes, not oil. Don’t let this news scramble you.

🎹 Blue Ivy, 14, joined dad Jay-Z onstage to play keyboard at his Inglewood concert, while Beyoncé reunited with Destiny's Child in the crowd. Three very overqualified stage moms.

🐍 Paris Hilton recreated Britney Spears’ famous VMAs outfit for Halloween, and yes, there was a live yellow snake. Meanwhile, Heidi Klum shared a spooky close-up of her upcoming costume.

📺 Connie Britton told theSkimm how she made sure her White Lotus character Nicole Mossbacher was anything but a “stereotypical b*tch.” Those $75,000 bracelets were in good hands.

What I’m Gifting

Ali here, Senior Commerce Director. November is inching closer, and in order to even out my credit card bills over the next few months, I’ve started holiday shopping now. Here’s what I’ve bought so far:

• A new flannel for my boyfriend in colors that don’t make my eyes cross

• A digital calendar for my sister with a kid, in the hopes that it makes aligning her family’s schedules easier 

• A few personalized ornaments to hand out to distant family

• Pajamas for my mom, because she’s always throwing on mismatched tops and bottoms

• And a restock of my favorite chocolate for myself