Democrats' Self-Own Could Reshape the Midterms

Good morning.

It rained this past weekend in New York City, so I used the gloomy weather as the perfect excuse to stay inside — and under a big blanket. I streamed Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, and while I promise no spoilers, the emotional ending definitely delivers. After I read about yet another benefit to eating dark chocolate (as if I needed one), I leaned all the way in and baked my go-to banana bread recipe for maximum coziness. (Trust me, the reviews don’t lie.) Before I head out on vacation later this week, I plan to try the 10-$10 rule to hopefully cure me of all my “what if?” concerns over whether I’m traveling with enough stuff. Maybe it’ll finally be the thing that stops me from packing up 95% of my closet, you know, “just in case.” And in celebration of Mother’s Day, this hilarious, heartfelt, and sage advice from moms still feels incredibly pertinent. I’ll try to remember their most important pieces of wisdom when I’m standing in the TSA line. Now, let’s get to today’s top stories…

— Kylie McConville / VP, Editorial / Astoria, NY

Map Wars 

Democrats' Self-Own Could Reshape the Midterms

What’s going on: Rather than appealing to constituents, Republicans and Democrats are locked in a battle royale over congressional maps. As for who’s winning? Don’t ask the Democrats. They started shifting around the (map) pieces after the GOP got to work in Texas. It was going well for the Dems… until it wasn’t. Last month, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow redistricting. The new maps could’ve handed Democrats four additional House seats — a major advantage considering Republicans control the chamber by just five. But on Friday, the Virginia Supreme Court overturned the results on a technicality. So even though voters backed the new maps, the current districts will stay in place for now. The ruling has sent Democrats into a spiral.

How bad is the crash out?: Well, one House Democrat texted Axios an expletive that sums things up. (They did spend at least $65 million after all.) Losing Virginia is a serious blow to the Dems, who expected to gain up to 10 new seats with help from California and Utah. Virginia Democrats are already challenging the state Supreme Court’s ruling. As for the GOP, they haven’t put their drawing pencils down. Alabama and Florida are aiming to carve their own squiggly pieces of pie. But it’s not over until it’s over. Democrats have consistently outperformed Republicans in special elections over the past year, focusing their messaging on affordability as gas prices continue to rise and President Donald Trump’s approval ratings fall. The House is very up for grabs.

Related: Republicans Are Winning The Battles, But Maybe Not The (Midterms) War (NPR)

The News in 5

🗞️ This morning, 17 Americans from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius returned to the US. One person who tested positive and another with mild symptoms traveled in biocontainment units.

🗞️ Members of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission shared their wish list, which includes a change to a fundamental constitutional principle.

🗞️ Iran weighed in on the latest US ceasefire proposal, saying it wants to focus on ending the war. Trump responded on Truth Social and made his feelings clear… in all caps. 

🗞️ A dangerous marine bacterium is spreading along the East Coast thanks to climate change, and it could shake up your beach days and oyster happy hour plans. 

🗞️ This 22-year-old influencer has a plan to bring back Spirit Airlines, and we’re ready to board (but can we end carry-on fees this time?).

Health

Estrogen Patches, Meet Supply and Demand 

What's going on: After the FDA announced last year that it would remove black box safety warnings from most hormone replacement therapies used to treat menopause symptoms, demand for estrogen patches surged. Soon after, patients and pharmacists began to sound the alarm on the lack of availability, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has had estrogen patches on its drug shortage list since January. Last week, a group of women met with the FDA to talk about what they see as an ongoing scarcity. There’s just one catch: FDA chief Marty Makary says there isn’t a shortage because the industry is keeping up — barely. But the FDA relies on historic data to determine if drug companies are meeting the demand, so its information may be behind.

Well? What now?: For the FDA, adding a drug to its shortage list is a big deal: It can trigger actions that include extending expiration dates and finding new suppliers. If the agency does declare an official shortage, the US won’t be alone: Canada and New Zealand have also struggled to meet demand thanks to a complicated supply chain (and in the US, President Donald Trump’s tariff policy hasn’t helped). Other options are available, but different forms of HRT are less likely to be covered by insurance. Plus, suddenly stopping use can restart symptoms, and switching brands may cause new side effects (just what we needed). 

Related: Menopause Is No Longer a TV Punchline (The New York Times Gift Link)

Vitamin (O)K?

The Newborn Shot Getting Pulled into Wellness Wars

What's going on: Before new parents can send “the baby’s here” text, they’re asked to make a major medical decision: Do they consent to the vitamin K shot? According to a ProPublica investigation, more and more moms and dads say no, seeing it in part as an “unnecessary medical intervention.” The debate over what to do has become part of a broader conversation about parental choice, trust in medicine, and “shared clinical decision-making” by parents and lawmakers alike.

So, what’s the concern?: Babies are born with very low levels of vitamin K, which helps blood clot. Without enough of it, they can develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a rare but potentially fatal condition — sometimes without showing symptoms. That’s where the vitamin K shot (which is not a vaccine) comes in. The CDC says newborns who don’t get the shot are 81 times more likely to develop severe bleeding than those who do, and 1 in 5 babies with VKDB die. Don’t wait until you’re in the delivery room to do in-depth medical research. Talk to your OB-GYN or pediatrician during your third trimester (or sooner) about what care your baby will get right after delivery so you can make informed decisions instead of sleep-deprived ones. (There will be plenty of time for those.) Remember that the actual experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended the shot for more than 60 years… and continue to do so. So does the World Health Organization.

Related: Is President Trump Going to Fire the FDA Chief? (The Guardian)

PS: Understand how the headlines impact your health with Skimm Well + Good, our weekly newsletter that covers everything from viral trends to the latest groundbreaking studies — so you have the news you need to live well. Research-backed, never boring. Sign up now.

Quick Hits

👑 Kate Middleton just shared her morning routine, and not even the British crown could protect her from this. It’s ruff out there. 

🎨 The newest home paint trend is all about color shades, but without the colormaxxing.

🍳 One pantry staple is all that stands between you and the creamiest scrambled eggs of your life. Cottage cheese could never.

🛒 Ina Garten broke down what's worth grabbing at the grocery store — and one item she'd never let through her front door. Shortcuts aren’t always the answer.

🏫 This millennial-coded after-school trend is making a major comeback. We hope Pogs are next.

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ The Supreme Court’s decision to allow mail-order abortion pill access ends at 5 pm ET — will they extend or rule on it?

🗓️ Grab your helmet, laptop bag, and hit the road: National Bike to Work Week starts now. Bike lane lovers, rise up.

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

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Anna Davies, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Marisa Iallonardo, Mallory Simon, Erika W. Smith, and Kylie McConville. Fact-checked by Barbara Kean.