Daily Skimm

Good morning.

With “kidulting” on the rise, my best friend and I embraced our inner children this weekend. We hit a cat café full of adorable new kittens, then an arcade for some Mario Kart-style racing and an unspeakable number of claw-machine attempts. My friend somehow proved they're not entirely rigged, and we left with eight plushies and a giant bag that had children (and adults) staring in awe. Sure, buying your kid every stuffie they want might teach bad money habits, but I have adult money and nobody to tell me no. Then I capped it off by building a Sherlock Holmes LEGO set. Maybe the best part was how little I cared whether any of this was age-appropriate. Research suggests kids are less afraid of judgment when they get creative. Consider this my case for taking playtime a little more seriously. Now, let’s get to the headlines…

— Mallory Simon / Writer / New York, NY

A dense crowd of demonstrators fills a Paris boulevard beneath French flags during the national protest in Paris.

Faire La Grève

A Season of Protests

What's going on: Europe’s autumn of protests continued over the weekend with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in France, Italy, Albania, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium. Officials say over 400,000 people marched across France on Saturday (the CGT union put the number closer to 800,000) in largely peaceful demonstrations. Meanwhile, in Italy, drastically different scenes played out — from mostly calm marches in Milan to a brief occupation of the Colosseum in Rome. Albania’s capital of Tirana saw riot police use tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets against protesters, who threw rocks at officers and started a fire in front of a government building. Across Europe, the reasons for these demonstrations vary: poor school conditions, high cost of living, rising fuel costs, a housing crisis, declining public services, and government corruption. But there are some common threads. As one expert put it: “Too many young Europeans doubt that existing institutions can deliver the security, opportunity and voice they expect.”

What happens next?: Many governments have quelled the unrest by instituting curfews, mobilizing troops, and arresting thousands. But it’s clear what the protesters want: “Respond to the demands,” the secretary general of France’s CGT union told The Guardian. The protests are likely to continue in the coming weeks. In France, labor leaders have called for a nationwide strike on Nov 5. And with key elections coming up in France, Spain, and Italy, these marches have become a talking point. Far-right politicians frame them “as the inevitable consequence of failed liberal governance and open-border policies.” Across the ocean, President Donald Trump supports this message. Last week, he took to Truth Social to proclaim that “migrants, jihadists, and communists” have “shattered that once great country” of France. French President Emmanuel Macron called the comments “unacceptable.”

Related: A Student-Led Opposition Movement Won Serbia’s Election, Defeating Putin-Backed Incumbent (The Associated Press)

The News in 6

🗞️ At least 12 people, including six minors, were injured in a mass shooting near Florida A&M University’s football stadium in Tallahassee after a homecoming game.

🗞️ At Democratic rallies in Ohio and Michigan, former President Barack Obama accused President Donald Trump of “chaos and cruelty” and joked that his White House looks like “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”

🗞️ An experimental melanoma vaccine could become the first personalized mRNA vaccine approved to treat cancer after it cut the risk of recurrence or spread by 42% alongside an existing treatment. Researchers hope to expand the approach to other cancers.

🗞️ President Trump announced that Audi will build a factory in Macon, GA, with construction expected to begin next year. The German luxury automaker said the plant will bring about 4,500 jobs and produce 200,000 cars a year.

🗞️ Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term as Brazil’s president, defeating Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff. Bolsonaro refused to concede and called for the election results to be overturned.

🗞️ Six Flags plans to add seat belts to a Georgia roller coaster and other rides with similar restraints after a 42-year-old man fell to his death earlier this month.

✴︎

In Our Rotation

Introducing your new fave transitional piece: a fleece vest made for everything from chilly walks to brunch. Plus, its slightly cropped length makes it an easy, stylish everyday layer.*

Wear these cozy suede slippers to grab coffee — no one will notice you're technically wearing indoor shoes.

Keep scrolling... more recs below

Bring It On

America's Sweethearts Mean Business

What's going on: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have a new reason to celebrate, and this time, it's not about football. After years of fighting for better pay and benefits, the Cowboys have agreed to recognize the cheerleaders’ union, meaning the women can now negotiate pay and working conditions as a group. It's a major victory for some of the most recognizable performers in the history of sports, who represent the NFL’s wealthiest franchise (worth about $17 billion) — but have historically struggled to make ends meet. In 2018, a former cheerleader sued the team and claimed she earned about $15,000 per season, less than the team’s male mascot. The 2024 premiere of the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts brought renewed attention to their working conditions. The pressure paid off: Their efforts secured a 400% raise last year, but the benefits still leave something to be desired (like health insurance).

A whole new playbook: In sports, unions have helped athletes secure better pay, health benefits, and workplace protections. But NFL cheerleaders have lacked that same power, despite complaints about inadequate facilities and sexual harassment. Some teams even require cheerleaders to also hold full-time jobs, a practice teams have reportedly justified as a way to inspire young girls. America's Sweethearts showed how organizations expect women to accept those sacrifices for the “honor of a lifetime.” Their fame and Netflix exposure may have strengthened their hand, but their fight reflects a broader gap for women in the workforce: Just 9.6% of employed women belong to unions, even though unionized women who work full-time earn $241 more per week on average. With support from the NFL Players Association, the squad now hopes to secure a contract that could pave the way for other professional cheerleaders and dancers.

Eating Out Is No Longer In

When Free Chips and Salsa Isn't Enough

What’s going on: The thrill of warm breadsticks delivered to the table, a waitress bringing us exactly what we want, and leaving dirty dishes behind apparently doesn’t have the same appeal it once did. The number of Americans dining out just hit a new low, according to a Gallup poll. Just 39% eat at restaurants at least once a week. That’s down from 53% in 2019. How we eat at home has changed, too. Americans are making fewer trips to the grocery store, and 15% are ordering groceries online weekly, an 11-point rise since 2019.

So are we all agoraphobic now?: Price increases are one reason for this trend, according to Gallup. Aside from the financial commitment of dining out, Americans are also more anxious and less social. Add in a summer of food recalls and overall concern about the safety of what we eat, and it’s not hard to understand why more Americans opt to stay home. Looking to pivot, some restaurants are leaning into nostalgia. Pizza Hut is bringing back its unmistakable red-roof design across some of its restaurants, and Chick-fil-A is focusing on families with playground renovations. Other restaurants are finding ways to put their own spin on a classic like an adult happy meal (martini included) and offering a taste of grandma’s cooking. Others, like Chili’s, have experienced significant growth despite this turbulent time, and relied on their consistency to woo customers back. The time is always right for a Triple Dipper, after all.

Related: How To Host a Successful Soup Swap (The New York Times gift link)

Together with JPMorgan Chase

Outsmart Holiday Scams

Holiday scams come in many forms, from fake travel deals and fraudulent online stores to phony charities, spoofed delivery messages, and deceptive gift card offers.

That’s why Chase is sharing practical steps to help you protect your money this holiday season, including free educational workshops held at Chase branches in all lower 48 states and Washington D.C. throughout November.

Here’s a tip to get you started: Scammers want you to act fast. So, if a deal, text, or offer pressures you to move quickly, pause and verify it’s legitimate before clicking, sharing personal information, or sending money.^†

Get More Tips

Quick Hits

🏈 The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated their game in Paris with costumes inspired by Peaky Blinders… which is set in England. Close enough?

🍭 A pediatric dentist just weighed in on the eight worst Halloween candies for kids — from sticky to sour candy, taffy, and licorice. But how are they for adult teeth?

🏆 Women in their 60s and older competed in Ms. Senior America. The winner: Debbi Miller, 78. She’s beauty, and she’s grace.

🍳 You might be cooking your eggs the wrong way. Chefs say it’s typically better to use butter for most egg dishes, not oil. Don’t let this news scramble you.

🎹 Blue Ivy, 14, joined dad Jay-Z onstage to play keyboard at his Inglewood concert, while Beyoncé reunited with Destiny's Child in the crowd. Three very overqualified stage moms.

🐍 Paris Hilton recreated Britney Spears’ famous VMAs outfit for Halloween, and yes, there was a live yellow snake. Meanwhile, Heidi Klum shared a spooky close-up of her upcoming costume.

📺 Connie Britton told theSkimm how she made sure her White Lotus character Nicole Mossbacher was anything but a “stereotypical b*tch.” Those $75,000 bracelets were in good hands.

On Our Calendar

Monday, October 26

⚖️ Chris Brown scheduled for sentencing in the UK

The singer, who pleaded guilty to a charge related to a nightclub fight, is set to be sentenced in a London court. He’s currently on a six-month tour with Usher — but could spend much longer than that in prison.

⚽ Ballon d’Or award ceremony

NWSL superstars Temwa Chawinga, Rose Lavelle, and Barbra Banda are among the women up for the prestigious Ballon d'Or — aka the Soccer Oscars — and one of them is topping prediction lists. On the men's side, Spain’s Lamine Yamal is a favorite as well. Watch it live here.

🎶 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

Taylor Swift — who now holds this distinction — Lyle Lovett, and Shawn Camp are among the songwriters set to be inducted at the 56th Hall of Fame Gala tonight. Proof that journaling works.

🎃 National Pumpkin Day

Yes, you can find fall’s favorite flavor in everything from cream cheese to Pop-Tarts to ravioli. But we think these cookies take it to a whole different level.

Psst... See what else is happening this week so you never miss a moment.

What I’m Gifting

Ali here, Senior Commerce Director. November is inching closer, and in order to even out my credit card bills over the next few months, I’ve started holiday shopping now. Here’s what I’ve bought so far:

A new flannel for my boyfriend in colors that don’t make my eyes cross
A digital calendar for my sister with a kid, in the hopes that it makes aligning her family’s schedules easier
A few personalized ornaments to hand out to distant family
Pajamas for my mom, because she’s always throwing on mismatched tops and bottoms
And a restock of my favorite chocolate for myself

✴︎

In Our Rotation

Counting down to the holidays can be just as fun as celebrating them. Which explains all the cute Advent calendars we're seeing this season.

Your dad's favorite jacket in 1994 is now the cool-girl's calling card.

Psst… love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).

Know It All

Charcuterie boards are getting a glow-up just in time for the holiday season. What's the latest twist on the classic appetizer?

A. Turning it into a dip

B. Serving it on skewers

C. Rolling it into sushi

Still catching up from the weekend? Jumpstart your brain with Flipart. Feel the rush.

A charcuterie innovation