— The cast of “Friends” breaking their silence on Mathew Perry's death.
Top Story
Violence, Backlash, and Fear
The Story
Jewish and Arab communities are experiencing dangerous ripple effects from the latest Israel-Hamas war. That includes on:
Campuses: Yesterday, the Biden administration unveiled efforts to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia at college campuses. For the first time, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act will make it clear that antisemitism and Islamophobia are prohibited. The efforts come as authorities investigate shooting threats against Jewish students at Cornell. Incidents at Harvard, Cooper Union, UPenn, and other universities have exacerbated tensions. In recent weeks, there've been competing protests, statements from student groups and professors, torn posters of kidnapped Israeli civilians, and trucks exposing the names and faces of pro-Palestinian students on campus.
Workplaces: Employees have been feeling the pressure of the war at work. Some have allegedly been fired or forced to resign, and others have lost job offers after weighing in on the conflict. Boycotts and company statements have also left employees feeling ostracized and fearful of professional repercussions. Muslim and Jewish advocacy organizations reportedly say they've seen a spike in outreach, with people seeking guidance after either facing antisemitism at work or consequences for their political speech. Meanwhile, some workers have started to protest companies they see as endorsing violence against Palestinians or Israelis.
Around the world: Violence, harassment, and threats targeting Muslims and Jews have skyrocketed. In Chicago, a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Wadea Al Fayoume, was stabbed to death. In Russia, a mob descended on an airport carrying a plane from Israel, searching for Jewish passengers. Meanwhile, some protests have included hateful and violent rhetoric. One Muslim teen in NYC had her hijab ripped off on the subway and was called a “terrorist.” In Australia, protesters were heard chanting “gas the Jews.”
theSkimm
For some, the latest Israel-Hamas war has sparked empathy for the children and civilians suffering on either side of the conflict. For others, it has exposed the limits of human empathy and the beginnings of hate, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. Jews and Muslims across the world are noticing these reactions — and feeling its impacts.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Where the Hostage Situation Stands
Israel’s military objective is to defeat Hamas’s military capabilities. But another goal is to free the estimated 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas as part of its October 7th attack. Yesterday, Israel said that it had managed to free a hostage during its ground operations in Gaza, a female Israeli soldier named Ori Megidish. It reportedly marks Israel’s first successful military operation to free hostages from the latest war with Hamas, and it comes after Hamas released four hostages: two Israeli women and two US-Israeli nationals.
The news also comes as Hamas released a video of three other hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the video as “cruel psychological propaganda.” Meanwhile, Israel confirmed the death of Shani Louk, a 23-year-old German-Israeli citizen who was captured from a music festival and whose body was reportedly paraded in Gaza. Now, Israel is reportedly still engaged in negotiations with Hamas over the release of the remaining hostages. At times, Hamas has demanded fuel, a cease-fire, and Palestinian prisoners for their release. Still, Israel’s prime minister has rejected calls for a cease-fire — and may be attempting to free them militarily.
For a country that once exchanged more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners to free one captive Israeli soldier, the scale of this latest hostage situation is unprecedented in Israeli history — and has gripped the country. It remains a leading consideration in Israel’s domestic discussions surrounding the war. If Israel continues to attempt to free the hostages on its own, the process could also evoke comparisons to Israeli hostage rescue attempts from the1970s.
And Also...This
Whose lawyers are keeping busy...
Former President Trump's. Yesterday, a trial questioning Trump’s eligibility to run for president in 2024 kicked off in Colorado. Six voters and a watchdog group argued that Trump’s actions during the Jan 6 insurrection violated part of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits anyone who’s taken an oath to uphold the Constitution from holding office if they've “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.” The challengers hope to disqualify Trump from appearing on the ballot in Colorado next November — one of two similar lawsuits that could make their way to the Supreme Court. This is not the first of Trump's legal troubles this year: he’s currently facing a civil fraud trial in NYC and 91 felony counts in four criminal cases across the country, including Florida, New York, Washington, DC, and Georgia.
Who wants to have a little chat with GPT…
The president. Yesterday, President Biden signed his first executive order targeting potential risks from artificial intelligence. The biggest impact of the EO is that it requires tech companies like Google and OpenAI to share the results of any safety tests with the government before releasing findings to the public. That’s because the White House is concerned developing AI could pose national security or health risks. The order also hopes to kick off a process establishing standards to help avoid biological risks from AI and the threat of AI replacing workers. Biden called the order the “most significant action any government” has taken on AI. However, he stressed that more action is needed through Congress.
What’s driving up to the finish line…
United Auto Workers. Yesterday, the union reached a tentative deal with the last car-making holdout, General Motors, to restart auto manufacturing. Although the union's six-week-old strike is ending, the slowdown in production could make it harder for car owners to find spare parts for repairs.
While Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum are tying the knot...
Joe Jonas is adding "wedding officiant" to the résumé.
Forward this to a friend. Click here.
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
1. Cutting-edge kids’ contacts.
MiSight® 1 day is the first and only FDA-approved† product proven to slow the progression of myopia (aka nearsightedness) in children, aged 8–12 at the initiation of treatment.‡¹ Learn more at Warby Parker.*
No weeks-long waits here. Take this questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist within 48 hours. If you don't love your initial match, you can switch therapists anytime. PS: Skimmr's save over $50 on their first month.*
Until EOD today, get 20% off our favorite hydrating sheet mask and the under-eye masks that'll brighten and depuff — a must after a late-night Halloween party.
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
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.
Debuting a new smile…Maddy H (TX). She’s finally at the end of her six-month recovery for a total jaw joint replacement, in which she learned how to talk, eat, and smile again.
(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Melissa Menda (NJ), Kim Rightsell (CO), Cara Miller (MA), Rebekah Stokes (CA), Abby Ford (SC ), Kathryn Merrill (CA), Zoe Marx (FL), Rachel Gonzalez Greene (FL), Amanda Chapman (CT), Sandy Sautter (IA), Kevin Stuczynski (CA), Natanya Auerbach (MA), Melinda Marks (AR), Baba Barnett (NC)
PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.
Skimm'd by: Anacaona Rodriguez Martinez, Chantal Vaca, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Julie Shain
Photos Yassine Gaidi/Anadolu and Sean Gallup by via Getty Images, Brand Partners
Design by theSkimm
*PS: This is a sponsored post.
†Compared to single vision lens. -0.25D or less of change. Fitted at 8-12 years of age at initiation of treatment.
‡Indications for use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.
¹Chamberlain P, et al. A 3-year randomized clinical trial of MiSight® lenses for myopia control. Optom Vis Sci. 2019;96(8):556-567.
— Check out what we Skimm'd for you today October 30, 2023 Subscribe Read in browser Daily Skimm Update location or View forecast “Shake It Off” — The Taylor Swift song that played in the stadium
Skimm'd with new dinner recipes — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today October 29, 2023 Subscribe Read in browser Daily Skimm WEEKEND Skimm'd with new dinner recipes Update location or
Skimm'd with less stress behind the wheel — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today October 28, 2023 Subscribe Read in browser Daily Skimm WEEKEND Header Image Together with buick Skimm'd
Skimm'd with fresher, healthier, heartier dog food — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today October 27, 2023 Subscribe Read in browser Daily Skimm Together with the farmer's dog Skimm'
— Check out what we Skimm'd for you today October 26, 2023 Subscribe Read in browser Daily Skimm Update location or View forecast “140 years” — How long it took Sweden to complete its official
The LACMA Art + Film Gala looks were epic. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 11.4.2024 As soon as the calendar switches over to September, I usually go all in on the autumnal vibes. That means
My Favorite Apple Intelligence Feature Is Notification Management. A credit union is better for your bottom line and offers you something banks never will: A voice. Not displaying correctly? View this
Plus, Dolly Parton's beauty routine, Jennifer Lawrence's fave sneakers, your horoscope, & more. Nov. 4, 2024 Bustle Daily Procedurals Are Perfect Comfort TV For Election Anxiety Procedurals
Today in style, self, culture, and power. The Cut November 4, 2024 ESTHER CALLING 'I'm a Gay, Devout Muslim Man. How Can I Find Love Without Betraying My Family?' Esther Perel talks to this
Men's Health Shop logo FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS $50+ View in Browser Men's Health Holiday Gift Picks rotating Men's Health Editors Solve Your Shopping Dilemmas Holiday shopping doesn't
