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“Breast milk”

— Serena Williams on what she’s been using to help with her sunburns. She calls the shots.

Top Story

Abortion in Court

The Story

A woman is suing Texas over the right to have an abortion in the first lawsuit of its kind.

What about all the other abortion lawsuits?

This one is different: It’s the first time since the now-overturned Roe v. Wade ruling that a woman has asked a court to intervene and allow her to have an abortion. Now at 20 weeks pregnant, Kate Cox’s fetus has been diagnosed with trisomy 18 — a fatal chromosomal condition. The lawsuit says if she goes through with the pregnancy and has a C-section, she risks her ability to have kids in the future. Still, doctors told her she’s required under Texas law, which bans nearly all abortions, to continue with her pregnancy. Cox is asking the courts to grant her an emergency order to get an abortion and to protect her doctor from being sued for carrying out the procedure. Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court is hearing a bigger abortion case.

Catch me up.

A reproductive rights org filed a lawsuit against the state’s abortion law, arguing it doesn’t clearly define exceptions to the ban. The suit says it has created confusion and fear among doctors, as they could potentially serve life in prison. Last summer, a district judge issued a temporary injunction to protect doctors from prosecution for providing the procedure when there's a health risk for mothers or when the fetus is unlikely to survive. Shortly after, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) appealed the ruling. The Texas Supreme Court’s decision could affect whether Cox and other women carrying non-viable pregnancies can get an abortion.

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Texas is one of more than a dozen states that moved to restrict abortion since the end of Roe v. Wade, with one poll showing six in 10 Texas voters saying they’d support abortion “in all or most cases.” Now, these lawsuits could lead to more clarity on the exceptions in which the procedure's allowed.

Related Stories

Where Abortions Are Banned and Legal
A Mobile Abortion Clinic Is Hitting the Road
What Abortion Safe Haven States Can Do

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

The Latest:

Sexual violence: Israeli officials shared accounts yesterday of rape, sexual violence, and mutilation of women in front of the United Nations, as President Biden called on the international community to “forcefully condemn” the sexual violence “without equivocation.” It came as a released female Palestinian prisoner last week says she was threatened with rape in an Israeli cell.
Southern Gaza: The Israeli military closed in on Khan Younis, the largest city in the south, and is engaging in house-to-house gun battles with Hamas militants. The US is concerned about the humanitarian impact as thousands have fled to the city and are being told to evacuate again.
Visas: The State Department announced it’s banning visas for dozens of Israeli settlers and Palestinians who’ve committed violent acts in the West Bank. Since the start of the war, Israeli settlers and soldiers have killed at least 200 Palestinians.

And Also...This

Who’s ready to get back to business…

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). Yesterday, the Republican senator announced he’s ending his blockade on nearly all military promotions. For 10 months, Tuberville single-handedly blocked more than 450 promotions in response to the Pentagon's abortion policy. His decision left military posts empty amid wars in Ukraine and Gaza, garnering criticism from Democrats and Republicans. Now, Tuberville said he’s “not going to hold the promotions” any longer, as his fellow senators came up with a plan to go around him. However, his change of heart doesn’t apply to four-star generals. The Senate wasted no time and confirmed 425 military promotions yesterday.

Who else is busy on the Hill…

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Yesterday, he announced the House GOP is blurring the faces of rioters in Jan 6 footage. Johnson — who helped with efforts to overturn the 2020 election — said he'd release the footage to the public so they can “draw their own conclusions” about what happened. Now, he says he's blurring rioters' faces so they aren't “retaliated against” or face charges from the DOJ. A spokesman for Johnson later clarified that the DOJ already has the full footage. Federal prosecutors have charged more than 1,200 people in connection to the insurrection.

Why LinkedIn might be looking a little dry…

US job openings. Yesterday, the Labor Department reported that job openings dropped to 8.7 million in October — the lowest it has been since March 2021. This report comes as layoff and quitting rates are generally unchanged. As for Wall Street, it had a mixed reaction to the news, with some expecting the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates as soon as next spring. The November jobs report comes out at the end of this week.

…Oh and if inflation has your wallet or credit card hurting, we have tips to bring your debt down.

Who’s getting ready to take the debate stage…

The final four. Tonight, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former SC Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former NJ Gov. Chris Christie will be taking center stage at the fourth GOP primary debate. Former President Trump will be sitting this one out (again). Meanwhile on the Democratic side, President Biden told donors he's “not sure I’d be running” if Trump wasn't in the race.

We're building a tool to help you cross off the to-dos keeping you up at night. Meet theSkimm Beta, a space where you can learn how to manage your debt and get more pleasure. Check it out.

POP QUIZ

Together with

Not-so-fun fact: Chronic absenteeism (aka missing at least 10% of the school year) has been dubbed “a hidden educational crisis” by the Department of Education.† Do you know how many students are impacted? Give it your best guess…

A. 5 million

B. 12 million

C. 16 million

If you guessed C, you’re right.‡ One surprising reason kids miss school? A lack of access to clean clothes. That’s where the Care Countsᵀᴹ Laundry Program by Whirlpool comes in. They’re on a mission to break the cycle, one laundry machine at a time. Learn how chronic absenteeism affects students immediately and down the line — plus what they have planned next — in our new guide. Dig deeper.

†Based on Department of Education Report "Chronic Absenteeism in the Nation's Schools," updated 2019.

‡Based on “Monitoring Data Matters Even More: A Review of State Attendance Data Policy and Practice in School Year 2022-23,” updated June 2023.

Skimm Picks

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

1. A guide to having better money talks.

And fewer money awks. Almost every financial conversation feels fraught with possible faux pas. But they don’t have to. We teamed up with Bank of America to answer five of the biggest money etiquette questions on your mind.*

Get those tips

2. An anti-aging serum that works instantly.

This skin-science breakthrough backed by Nicole Kidman is worth every five-star review. The secret? Its advanced nano tech delivery system visibly minimizes fine lines in seconds. Psst…Skimm’rs get 25% off and free shopping.*

See for yourself

3. Comfy, limited-edition sneakers designed just for Skimm’rs.

Humble brag: We teamed up with Cariuma to create not one, but two versatile, sustainable sneakers to inspire and support your every move. Our advice? Grab a pair now before they sell out.*

Run, don’t walk

4. Thoughtful gifts for the mom in your life.

Whether she's your actual mom, a new-mom friend, or a dog mom (yes, they count), they'll appreciate these indulgent gifts.

Start shopping

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.

Helping hand…Jenni B (WA). Every November for the last four years, Jenni and her husband have helped raise funds for Northwest Harvest, the largest coalition of food banks, food services, and food pantries in the Pacific Northwest. They’ve raised over $100,000 over the past four-years.

(Some) Birthdays…theSkimm's Allie Greenwald (CA), Margie Fiverson (FL), Molly Brummond (NE), Elisabeth Zuerker (TX), Alyssa Schimel (CA), Emily Lemke (MD), Carla Gilsdorf (MN), Jayme Brace (IN), Natalie Thilges (IA), Alissa Traughber (WI), Vicki Lautsch (MA), Holly Corbin (MN), Lainey Battiston (MA)

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