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Skimm for November 20th

Skimm’d in pajamas

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“They didn’t know what was going on” – Oprah explaining that the “YOU get a car! YOU get a car!” moment was just to clarify the prizing. Pause for the Oprah effect.

RED LIGHT

THE STORY

Yesterday, the House told Syrian and Iraqi refugees to ‘stop in the name of security.’

EXPLAIN.

House lawmakers passed a bill – with backing from both parties – that overhauls security screenings for Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the US. It also hits the ‘pause’ button on anybody who’s already been cleared to come over. Right now, the US spends up to two years screening these refugees through background checks, fingerprinting, interviews etc. This bill goes even further, requiring the heads of Homeland Security, the FBI, and National Intelligence to all sign off on each refugee.

WHY THE OVERHAUL?

One of the suspects in last week’s Paris attacks might have come to the EU posing as a Syrian refugee. Which made a lot of people question whether the EU needs to tighten up security as it deals with hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees crossing its border.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?

Supporters say this bill is needed to keep the country safe. But critics – including Obama – say that the vast majority of refugees are non-violent and escaping things like terrorism themselves. Obama’s also thinking that this could rain on his refugee acceptance parade, since he already promised to take on 10,000 in the next year.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Yesterday, France confirmed that the alleged planner of the Paris attacks died earlier this week in a police raid. He’s also thought to have planned two other foiled attacks in Europe this year. Meanwhile, there’s still one other suspect on the run.

theSKIMM

It’s been a merde week for France, and the rest of the world. And to put us all in the holiday spirit, the US bill on refugees and security will soon head to the Senate.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING…

Mali. Early this morning, gunmen took 170 people hostage at a Radisson hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali. After a military coup in 2012, Islamic extremists took control of northern Mali. The country is a former French colony, so the coup caused France to send troops there to fight extremist militants. Most of the people being held hostage are reportedly foreign. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and so far there’s no word on how many hostages - if any - have been killed or injured.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU’RE NOT FEELING THE RELATIONSHIP ANYMORE…

We need to talk. Yesterday, UnitedHealth said ‘it’s not me, it’s you’ to Obamacare. United — one of the biggest US health insurers – said it’s been losing a lot of money through Obamacare, and it’s thinking about breaking up with the program. That’s in part because the Affordable Care Act’s become not-so-affordable to insurers, with consumers coming in and out of the system in search of the lowest premium. The Obama administration says the marketplace is just having some growing pains, and everything will be all good soon. But other big health insurers (think: Anthem, Aetna) have also voiced concerns over the program. Which is bad news for President Obama, who’s hoping to leave the White House as the prez who finally figured out how to fix healthcare. Pass the migraine meds.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN HEARING ABOUT THE NEW “HUNGER GAMES” MAKES YOU WANT POPCORN…

Just lost my appetite. Yesterday, former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to charges related to child pornography and sex with minors. Ugh. You know Fogle as the guy who was always holding up his old XXXXL pants in commercials. Then earlier this year, his house was raided in connection with a child pornography investigation. The case also involved the former executive director of Fogle’s foundation, which is aimed at fighting childhood obesity. Key word: childhood. Ugh again. Subway dropped its relationship with Jared and his pants. Next up, prison sandwiches.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN THE WAITRESS ASKS HOW YOU’D LIKE YOUR SALMON COOKED…

Genetically modified, please. Yesterday, the FDA gave the OK for people to eat a type of genetically modified salmon. Aka not the kind of salmon that are young, wild, and free. It’s the first time the FDA’s said ‘eat up’ for an animal that’s been genetically modified. The company that breeds the salmon says it combines genes from two types of salmon, another fish, and a dash of oregano that helps the salmon grow faster. Supporters say this practice protects wild salmon from getting overfished. Critics aren’t so sure genetically modified foods are good for the environment or human health. The FDA’s ruling also says labeling the salmon as “genetically modified” is voluntary. Meaning this producer of genetically modified salmon can just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR ADELE’S NEW ALBUM…

Hello, from the non-streaming side.

WHAT TO SAY SINCE IT’S FRIDAY AND YOU JUST GOT PAID…

It’s all relative. Just ask Hollywood.

SKIMM READS

“Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes

About the year the Queen of TV decided to say — spoiler — yes, and take on new opportunities. It’s like having a mini-Shonda in your head, encouraging you to go for it. And say ‘it’s handled.’

SKIMM WINE

Skimm’ologist suggests sipping on this spicy red to go with this read. Olivia Pope would approve.

SKIMM GIFT

How do you say vacation in Italian? Like this — six days in Rome, plus airfare, private tours, and lots of pasta. Ciao bella. Enter here.

SKIMM SHARE

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm’bassador. Cake cake cake cake.

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