Daily Skimm

Good morning.

My son celebrated his first Halloween over the weekend, and while he likely won’t remember any of it, at least we got some good photos of him in his pumpkin costume. I’m not the only one capturing these fleeting moments: See Kate Middleton’s rare Halloween photo of Prince Louis. With October in the rearview mirror, I’m gearing up for the holiday travel season and saving this guide on what to strike from the November packing list (I’m guilty of the extra shoes and just-in-case kit). Chicago is one of the places we plan to visit — and in great news for my wallet, it’s also one of the 10 cheapest locations to travel to this season, according to Kayak. Now, as I catch up on this year’s hilarious NYC marathon signs, here’s the latest on the midterms…

Maria Corpus

Editor | Madison, WI

Midterm Mayhem

Nearing the (Stay in Line) Finish Line

Skimm'd by: Stephanie Gallman and Samantha Darby

What's going on: Tomorrow is Election Day, if the dozens of text messages haven’t reminded you. With House and Senate majorities on the line, there’s a lot happening. All eyes will be on Michigan (which could elect the first Muslim US senator), Alaska (where the Dan controversy still looms large), Ohio (both Senate and gubernatorial races), and Georgia (which could elect Atlanta’s former mayor as the US’s first-ever Black female governor). Other races in South Carolina (with Darline Graham trying to hold onto her late brother’s seat) and Texas (where the GOP could lose its footing) are uncharacteristically close. Experts labeled several traditionally red states as “toss-ups.”

What else are we voting on?: In addition to the candidates, there are several ballot measures that could change state laws and constitutions. Abortion will be on four states’ ballots, with three of them voting for abortion protections and one voting for an anti-abortion measure. Voters in multiple states will decide on whether to ban transgender girls and women from female sports teams. And in what feels a bit meta, voting rights — including redistricting and voter ID — are also at stake.

Know before you go: If you’re not one of the tens of millions of people who voted early this midterm (no shade, we operate best with a deadline, too), there’s still time. You can check your registration status (and register to vote if you haven't), your precinct locations, and what you need to bring via Vote411. The Justice Department plans to send a record number of election observers out to the polls to ensure compliance.

When will we know who won?: It depends. We may go to sleep (or stay up all night watching John King and his Magic Wall) not knowing who wins. Each state handles vote counts differently, and with razor-thin margins in several races, it could be a few days or even longer until we know for sure. At least the text messages will stop. (We hope.)

Related: A Judge Tossed the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Over Alaska’s Election Certification (The Associated Press)

The News in 6

🗞️ At least 12 people died and more than 60 were injured in Halloween weekend shootings across seven US states. That includes four people killed and 15 injured in three separate incidents in Dallas.

🗞️ Federal authorities are investigating what caused a business jet to crash into a Florida neighborhood on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard.

🗞️ Christa Pike says she’s in constant pain and “deeply hurt by the incompetence,” in her first statement since her failed execution. She also acknowledged the continued pain and loss felt by her victim’s family.

🗞️ No party, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, won a parliamentary majority in Israel’s elections. The results are expected to be certified this week.

🗞️ Feast your eyes on what may be DC’s most controversial ballot item… foie gras. It’s not all it’s quacked up to be.

🗞️ Our sense of smell tells us when it’s time to toss leftovers or wash towels. Now, scientists hope to use body odors to diagnose diseases, like cancer or Alzheimer’s, with technology that could be as simple as a breath test.

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In Our Rotation

These electrolyte mixes help you hydrate smarter with citrusy and spicy flavors — no sugar required. Plus, Skimm’rs score a free sample pack.*

Feeling the squeeze? Here are 19 things to cut when money gets tight. Psst…most people ignore number 11.*

Keep scrolling... more recs below

A Winning Playbook

The NWSL's Next Power Move

Skimm’d by: Aryanna Prasad Bhullar and Mallory Simon

What's going on: The WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries made history Saturday as the first major North American sports team in recent history to win a championship after just two seasons. Now, Columbus's new women's soccer club wants to prove that blueprint works beyond the WNBA. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team won't debut in Ohio until 2028, but co-owner Whitney Haslam Johnson told The Athletic the goal is to “build a squad” that can “win trophies” (and new NWSL rules just made it even easier to establish a contender early on). Last week, the club broke ground on a training facility designed for women athletes that includes childcare areas, sleep and recovery rooms, and nutrition resources (and presumably their own “Believe” poster, sticky notes and all).

The payoff: Owners like Haslam Johnson, the Valkyries's Joe Lacob, and Michele Kang are paying record prices for women's sports franchises and betting big on world-class facilities from day one, with their sights set on trophies and sold-out stadiums. The Kansas City Current's owners announced plans for a $140 million stadium in their first season. The team reached the NWSL championship game a year later, and when the stadium opened in 2024, fans sold out every home match. Golden State saw that same appetite, with raucous crowds filling all seats for every regular-season home game over the past two seasons. As Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes declared after the confetti fell: “This is just what happens when you invest in women's sports.”

A Bowl of Clam Chowdah

Searching for the Ultimate Boston Accent

Skimm'd by: Erika W. Smith and Maria Corpus

What's going on: Forget whatever the Red Sox are up to. Massachusetts’s fiercest competition is between the residents vying to be the voice of Boston Logan International Airport. After over 5,000 submissions and social media virality, the Voice of Logan is now down to eight finalists (and no, Ben Affleck is not one of them). The winner will be announced Nov 5, and along with having the ultimate fun fact for icebreakers, they’ll read announcements for the airport’s more than 40 million annual travelers. “The accent is an energy, and people are looking for that when they travel here,” finalist Kristin Ingala, a 32-year-old bartender on Cape Cod, told The New York Times.

Save the regional accent: The competition comes as many regional accents, including Boston’s, decline in the US. Others include Southern, Appalachian, and New York accents. While you might think social media is to blame, linguists say there are bigger factors, like migration and the pressure to “talk regulah,” as one Boston-area local put it. Stereotypes attached to certain accents means that some people intentionally work to change the way they speak so they’re not stigmatized as unintelligent or lazy. Like language itself, accents are constantly evolving, but it’s understandable why some people feel nostalgic for the voices of their childhood. “Accents are about identity — the people we love, the people we choose, the people that feel like they get us,” one sociolinguist told Vox.

Related: Social Media Is Helping People Embrace Their Accents (Southern Living)

Gifts for Your Most Stylish Recipients

Caroline, Senior Commerce Editor, here. I have some discerning loved ones in my life, and little makes me prouder than finding stylish pieces that pass their highly specific vibe checks. Here are a few fashion gifts on my list this year:

For my mom: a standout signet ring that looks chic as a pinky ring
For my sister: a collar necklace that can be customized with initials and crystals
For my boyfriend: a new pair of Vans for the former skate kid
For everyone else: accessories that consistently draw compliments

PS: Want more options? Check out our gift guides here.

Quick Hits

✅ Get rid of these seven things in November — from car clutter to unused outerwear — for a calmer holiday season. Because you don't need eight winter jackets.

🦃 Worried about dry, flavorless turkey this Thanksgiving? Food Network chef Maneet Chauhan says to reconsider the butter and marinate your bird in whole-milk yogurt for juicier meat. Gobble bless.

🛋️ The latest home trend is an “antistimulation room," a cozy, screen-free space designed to help you unwind. Goodbye, man caves and she sheds.

💍 Dua Lipa revealed that her custom Chanel wedding gown featured an embroidered tribute to her dog. You know, something borrowed, something woof.

📺 Jason Priestley shared that Brandon and Kelly were supposed to get married on Beverly Hills, 90210. So much for their happy ending.

👗 The ultimate 2000s style icon is not Hilary Duff, it’s yourself as a tween. Go ahead and re-create your favorite outfit from middle school.

👖 Found: the ultra-soft sweatpants he won’t take off until spring.*

On Our Calendar

Monday, November 2

⚖️ Hearing scheduled in Lindsay Clancy case

One holdout juror led to a mistrial in the 36-year-old's murder case in September. Today, her lawyers are set to ask a judge to throw out the charges in the deaths of her three children.

🍪 Cookie Monster Day

In honor of the Sesame Street star’s birthday, make his beloved “sometimes snack.” Messy eating is encouraged.

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

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In Our Rotation

Introducing: the 97 kitchen products our Skimm Shopping team can't cook, eat, or entertain without.

A clean-and-cozy Fresh Snow candle for your holiday fragrance lineup.

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

A wicked viral story