Daily Skimm: We need light, we need love

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"Spare"

The mysterious name of Prince Harry's upcoming book. The question is…will he spare his family members?

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Chief Twit

The Story

Elon Musk's the new owner of Twitter.

Officially?

Apparently. Musk posted an obscure tweet, signaling he went through with the deal but Twitter has yet to confirm it. The Musk-Twitter dynamic comes off like Daemon and Rhaenyra's relationship: toxic, messy, and uncomfortable to watch. Earlier this year, Musk love bombed Twitter with a $44 billion proposal. But months later, he tried to pull out, citing fake accounts and spam bots. Twitter didn't have it in itself to go with grace and sued Musk. Then a judge ordered Musk to close the deal by today. But in Kravis fashion, Musk and Twitter tied the knot earlier than expected.

I'm letting this sink in. 

So is Musk. One of his first orders of business: reportedly firing Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, and other top execs — including its head of legal who was the decision maker behind removing former President Trump from the platform. That, after he allegedly met with employees and denied reports he'll cut 75% of Twitter's staff. All of this has people wondering what Twitter will look like under Musk.

Imagining…

Musk pitched his buyout as a win for free-speech absolutists. And said he wants Twitter to be a "digital town square" where beliefs can be debated in a "healthy manner, without resorting to violence." According to Musk, even his "worst critics" have a place on Twitter. His takeover means people who've been kicked off the platform, like Trump or Kanye West, may be welcomed back. Then there's the whole question about ads. 92% of Twitter's revenue comes from ad sales. And advertisers don't love love love having their brands associated with violence and hate. The changes also come as the ad market — and media in general — goes through something of a reckoning: with Apple's recent privacy upgrade and inflation concerns taking a hit on everyone from Twitter to Alphabet to Meta.

theSkimm

The richest man in the world now owns one of the most popular social media sites (ahem, after Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram). The direction Musk takes will likely have a ripple effect on how we communicate…when we hit 'send tweet.'

And Also...This

What we're keeping an eye on…

The US economy. Yesterday, a GDP report found that the economy grew last quarter for the first time this year. The news — that the Apple Watch of the US economy is on the up and up — gave investors reasons to pop open the good stuff. The 2.6% annual growth rate was higher than predicted and had President Biden saying it's "evidence" that our economic recovery is "continuing to power forward." And simmered recession rumors...for now. A narrowing trade gap (aka ​​when US exports are on the rise) and spending on things like travel were big reasons we saw the boost. But the report also showed that consumer spending, which powers the US economy, slowed down.

…Oh and buying that dream home just got harder. Mortgage rates are peaking over 7% for the first time in 20 years. Guess we're back to treating Zillow like our Pinterest boards then.


Why we're checking our medicine labels…

Nitrosamine. Earlier this week, the FDA announced the recall of a blood pressure medication due to a potential cancer risk. Aurobindo Pharma USA says its quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets — typically used to treat hypertension and lower blood pressure — contain nitrosamine. Aka a chemical that's found in things like water, meat, and beer, but may increase a person's risk of cancer if they're exposed to high levels over long periods of time. Throughout the years, nitrosamine has sparked multiple recalls of other drugs. While no adverse reactions have been reported yet, the agency says patients should reach out to their doctor and see if they should continue taking it — or find an alternative treatment.


Whose report card says 'come see me'…

Donda Academy. Yesterday, Ye's private school reportedly reversed its decision to close its doors. This year, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West founded the Los Angeles-based Christian private school. The mission: to prepare the "next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators." And it gained a lot of buzz and dozens of students. But earlier this week, following the rapper's antisemitic comments, the principal said it's taking a hiatus for the rest of the school year — "at the discretion" of its founder. Now, the school has apparently changed its mind and students will be able to get right back to worshiping and taking parkour classes. 

…Oh and it's not the only Ye update yesterday: a new report says Ye wanted to name his 2018 album after Adolf Hitler and that he has an "obsession" with the Nazi dictator. The rapper ultimately went with the eponymous album title, "Ye."


Who's got a lot on the line…

These fishermen


Who's giving Derek Zoolander a run for his money...

Harry Styles as a merman. 


When you need a last-minute Halloween costume…

Try 'tragic space couple.' Thank you, fake Spirit Halloween memes.

While We're on the Subject...

Curious about today's subject line? (We need light, we need love.) We saved you a Google. It's a lyric from...

A: Rihanna's new single "Lift Me Up"

B: Drake and 21 Savage's upcoming album, "Her Loss"

C: Tems' "No Woman No Cry"

In Case You Missed It

If you've always got 10 tabs open, we get it. So much to browse, so little time. Which is why we've rounded up some of our fave recent product recs so you don't miss a thing. Check out…

Today's Vote Early Day

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Early bird gets the ballot. (That's the saying, right?) It's Vote Early Day. Each state has its own rules around voting early — and some don't allow it at all. Use our Skimm Your Ballot resources to find out how, when, and where you can vote early. PS: Check out our election segment on this week's episode of "Skimm This." We covered what's driving the political conversation and key referenda to watch out for.

Skimm Picks

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. Fresh, healthy dog food that's wayyyy better than dry kibble. We're serious. This brand will send real, human-grade dog food right to your door. No preservatives or weird, processed ingredients. The best part? Skimm'rs get 50% off their first box.*

2. All the news you need before the weekend. Our newest "Skimm This" ep, brought to you by Slack, our digital HQ, runs through the major headlines from the week. Plus how we use Slack to help us serve our audience (psst…that's you). Listen up.*

3. How to spread (stylish) cheer all holiday season long. This brand's eye-catching crystals make for glamorous decor and festive gifts. Psst…join their loyalty program for exclusive access to VIP events, pre-sales, and 10% off your first online purchase. Shine on.*

4. An LOL-worthy stand-up comedy special. We teamed up with ANNOVERA® (segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol vaginal system)† and comedy queen Whitney Cummings to show women alllll the things they should stop apologizing for. Like being baby-free by choice. Sorry, definitely not sorry.*

On Our Radar

30% off sitewide at Urban Decay. Which means you can finally replace that old eyeshadow palette that you've been using since college. Gimme gimme.

Skimm'rs

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.

Spreading the word…Lizzie B (WA). She lost her mom to cancer when she was in college. Now, she's explaining how that experience changed her perception of what it truly means to be well in a TEDx talk

(Some) Birthdays…Alex Grosvenor (NY), Catie Birmingham (NY), Bri Maas (WI), Marga Marshall (CA), theSkimm's Avery Carpenter (NY), Leila Deolall (NY), Nicole Delaney (CA), Quinn Cole (WA), Lynn Sape (MI), Gracee Wallach (IL), Katharine Noe (TX), Nandita Baloo (MA), Libby Pinkham (MA), Katie Bean (MI), Fiorella Reategui (FL), Kaitlin Schneider (CO), Sarah Schuler (MN)

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

Answer: A. Today's subject line (We need light, we need love) is a lyric from Rihanna's brand new single for the movie "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." It's her first solo single since 2016 — and a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. Listen up.

Skimm More

Girl, put your records on…but how should you actually listen to them? On our newest episode of "Skimm This," we spoke to an expert on album-listening advice and etiquette. Plus, a breakdown of Taylor Swift's new record "Midnights." Our takeaway: weird but it was beautiful.

theSkimm Loyalty Program

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Midterms are coming up. Get ready to head to the polls with theSkimm while earning points towards prizes. Not a member yet? Sign up here and get rewarded for preparing to cast your vote.

Skimm'd by Rashaan Ayesh, Melanie De Lima, Kate Gilhool, Julie Shain, and Mariza Smajlaj

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