…in your playlist: Ring the alarm. Beyoncé's "Renaissance" has arrived.
…in your skincare goals: Bouncy, beautifully plump jello skin. So not off-pudding.
…in your watchlist: "Surface," a new thriller about a woman with amnesia. You won't forget it.
…in your Doomsday fears: Incoming rocket junk from outer space. TBD where it'll land.
Meta Problems
Top Design: Camille Rapay
Time is TikTok'ing: If you're on Instagram or Facebook, you may have noticed a few new features. Like a full-screen feed. And an overwhelming number of videos from influencers and random accounts you don't follow. Those are just a couple of the recent changes from parent company Meta which made users revolt.
The Story
Before you deactivate, there's good news. Meta's walking it and other changes back. Mark Zuckerberg's company rolled them out to compete with TikTok's aggressive growth. But after backlash from some of its most influential users (hi, Kim and Kylie), the staff says it's taking "a big step back" to "regroup."
Awkward.
Right? It comes amid a tough time for the company overall. Last month, Zuck told its 77,000 employees, 'some of you should see yourselves out.' Now, staff are reportedly bracing for an "intense period." Meta reported its first ever quarterly revenue drop this week — and its stockfell by 5% the next day. There've been major blows to advertising profits thanks to competitors. Apple's recent privacy upgrade might cost Meta $10 billion this year. And there've also been blows to Zuck's dreams, as the FTC moved to stop him from holding a monopoly on virtual reality. AKA the metaverse. Which pretty much appears to be Zuck's main focus these days, even though it lost the company $2.8 billion in Q2.
theSkimm
More than 3.6 billion people use Meta's products. That's almost half of humanity — which is why Instagram and Facebook, the company's signature social networks, have seemed invincible at times. Now, some are saying Meta can't compete. TBD if the company can stay relevant, in this world or a virtual one.
Bookmark'd
Here's a look at the reads we've saved, texted, and emailed to our friends…
Downtime doesn't have to mean doing nothing. Here's one idea for making the most of your weekend.
Feeling hot, hot, hot? Yeah, same. And unfortunately, for many in the US, that's probably not going to change: Dangerous levels of heat will likely persist through the weekend and into next week in many parts of the country. But don't sweat. Try these drinks to help beat the heat:
If you're all about sugar, sugar, you can't go wrong with a classic milkshake or a refreshing slushie. But here's something even sweeter: creamy, dreamy frozen hot chocolate. It's practically a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults, and it only takes a few minutes to put together with a hardworking blender.
If you prefer something healthy, make a smoothie (think: coconut blueberry, mango peach, or honeydew cucumber) using whatever fruits and vegetables you have on hand. And to make it trendy, mix in some sea moss gel, like in Hailey Bieber's $17 Erewhon smoothie.
Last but not least, if you're craving something blended and boozy, there are plenty of thirst-quenching options (think: raspberry-ginger margaritas, pineapple-mint daiquiris, amaretto sour slushies, and — of course — frosé.) We'll raise a glass to all of that.
Eyes On: The 2022 Midterms
Design: theSkimm
The midterm elections have a big impact on the policies that affect our day-to-day lives. So we're here to help you Skimm Your Ballot. And Skimm what's going on next week...
In Kansas, voters will be the first in the nation to cast a ballot on an abortion measure post-Roe. If the "Yes" vote prevails, the amendment would revise the state's constitution to declare there is no right to abortion, which would pave the way for the GOP-controlled legislature to ban abortion access. And would affect state residents as well as out-of-towners, who in recent weeks have surged from nearby states with tight restrictions.
In Missouri, Sen. Roy Blunt (R) is retiring — and both Republicans and Dems are eager to replace him. While Dems are choosing between a Marine vet and the Anheuser-Busch heiress, the field of GOP candidates is a bit more crowded.
In Arizona,theastronaut-turned-senator Mark Kelly is widely seen as one of the most vulnerable Dems. So all eyes will be on the tight GOP race to challenge him, which includes the state's AG Mark Brnovich and venture capitalist Blake Masters, who's endorsed by both his former boss Peter Thiel and former President Donald Trump.
In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), is up for reelection. And a motley crew of Republican candidates are clamoring to challenge her. Meanwhile, in the House, Rep. Peter Meijer (R) is being primaried by his own party — after voting to impeach Trump.
PS: The results of these elections are up to the voters. Click here to learn more about how to make your vote count.
Skimm Picks
Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…
1. A special deal that'll get tails wagging. The Farmer's Dog delivers fresh, human-grade dog food (made with real meats and veggies) right to your door. Plus, you can personalize your meal plan to fit your pup's needs. Here's 50% off your first box.*
2. A lip tint that'll make you wanna kiss and tell. This oil-stain hybrid will keep your lips soft and hydrated. Pro tip: Apply on repeat to maintain their natural moisture levels. Psst…Skimm'rs get a gift with any $75+ purchase.*
3. How to rack up huge cash-back rewards. These high-paying cards are perfect for people with good to excellent credit. You can pocket $200 after spending $1,000. Plus, enjoy no annual fee and 0% interest for 15 months. Learn more.*
4. How to give your wardrobe a major refresh. Ready to kick that dreaded 'I have nothing to wear' feeling? You're in luck. Because this brand's got everything from wallet-friendly wedding attire to wallet-friendly workout gear. And Skimm'rs get 20% off sale items with code AffExtra20.*
*PS: This is a sponsored post.
Skimm More
More Skimm, more knowledge. Here's what else we covered this week…
Lollapalooza continues. Featuring J. Cole, J-Hope, Charli XCX, and more. Find out how to stream it here.
Alicia Keys kicks off the North American leg of her world tour. This girl is on fire.
PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here.
Skimm'd by Rasheeda Campbell, Xian Chiang-Waren, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau
It's been a mixed bag for us this week at the movies. We came away with a renewed appreciation for Canadian writer-David Cronenberg, who's been making films for more than 50 years (imagine that!). Many of his movies are fascinating meditations on what happens when our overreliance on technology begins to erode the parts of us that make us human. This week, Crimes of the Future, his first film in eight years, released on Mubi. "It's a surprisingly sentimental swerve for the director, even if his way of getting to the heart is to repeatedly take a scalpel to the flesh surrounding it first," writes Gayle Sequeira. Read her review to know more.
Speaking of slicing and dicing the human body, Mohit Suri's Ek Villain Returns hit theatres this week. Once again, his follow-up to the 2014 film Ek Villain suggests that if women behave a certain way, they deserve to die. Sigh. The director weaves a tangled web of love and violence, but does it work? Anupama Chopra's review will let you decide.
Another film about someone who finds herself caught in a tangled web dropped this week on DisneyPlus Hotstar — Siddharth Sen's Good Luck Jerry. The Hindi remake of the 2018 Tamil film, Kolamaavu Kokila, follows the same beats of a young woman who becomes a drug smuggler to pay for her mother's cancer treatment, but moves the action to Punjab. There's a dearth of great black comedies in Hindi cinema (Delhi Belly is still our #1 pick) and Good Luck Jerry looked like a promising new addition to the genre. As to whether it makes the cut, Rahul Desai's review spells it out.
Themes of crime and punishment continue in Vikrant Rona, Anup Bhandari's about a daredevil cop with a tragic backstory. Kiccha Sudeep is part superhero, part Indiana Jones and full-time swag master who wields a whip, strides instead of walks and occasionally breaks into a hook step with the local bartender. If this seems like a lot, let Anupama's review break it down for you.
Historically, villains in Indian cinema have had two defining traits. First: large, bloodshot eyes. Second: maniacal laughter. Rhea Candy breaks down why Sanjay Dutt, who has been crafting larger-than-life villain personas across his filmography, does this better than anyone else. If Dutt's Daroga Shuddh Singh was the highlight of Shamshera for you, welcome to the club.
Another performance we haven't been able to stop thinking about this week is that of Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan in Ms. Marvel. Shroff plays Kamala's mother as an exasperating mix of loving, yet overprotective, a combination of traits any South Asian viewer will recognise in their own parents. "On the page, Muneeba was this protective, 'Kamala do your homework/Kamala go to your room/Kamala you can't go out' kind of person," Zenobia tells Gayle Sequeira. "How do you take that dominance or that over-possessiveness and flip it to make her strong and interesting?" She also talks about how Brown vs White audiences reacted to Muneeba and not wanting to play a woman who "only made biryani".
Now that we're on the topic of the MCU, what better time to let you know we also got a chance to chat with the Russo brothers? Joe and Anthony Russo have helmed some of the franchise's biggest hits, including the two-part Infinity War saga. In Mumbai to promote their Netflix spy thriller, The Gray Man, they spoke to Anupama Chopra about the art of making a blockbuster, what they call "the greed of the Russos" and designing action sequences the way one would build a house.
