Daily Skimm

Quote of the Day

"I’ve had these clothes probably since the ’90s"

— Kevin Bacon shared his frustration in an Instagram video after his package went missing. He's just like us... except when he posts about it, the company solves the problem.

. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump sign an executive order in the Rose Garden of the White House on October 19, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Monday Morning in the Rose Garden

Women’s Health Gets the Spotlight

What's going on: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump announced a new Women’s Health Division at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Monday morning. The president signed an executive order in the Rose Garden, where both he and the first lady — who he said came up with the idea — shared remarks. "Previous generations fought for women's rights. Our generation will fight to discover the cures that will ensure a woman can live her life in health and to the fullest," Melania said. The executive order specifically mentions menopause and maternal health, alongside conditions like heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic pain, endometriosis, and polyendocrine metabolic ovary syndrome (PMOS). The administration also announced a White House Women's Health Task Force led by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (who has previously spoken about her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment) and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Sounds great, right?: Depends on who you ask. Women’s health is historically under-researched, and many see federal policy directing resources toward it as necessary. While the NIH already houses an Office of Research on Women’s Health, this new division aims to directly improve healthcare outcomes. The news also comes amid increased discussion around menopause research and follows the FDA’s removal of “black box” warnings for menopausal hormone therapy last year. However, some are wary, citing the Trump administration’s record of abortion restrictions, curbing scientific research, and Medicaid cuts. These actions are “at odds with the deliverables touted in the executive order as proof the White House supports women’s health,” one law expert told USA TODAY. Additionally, unlike a previous Biden-era initiative on menopause and midlife research, this order allocates no specific funding. Then, there’s the timing: The executive order comes as Trump’s approval rating among women is at 29%, with midterms just two weeks away.

The News in 6

🗞️ Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office said the police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley in June was a “justified” use of force. An attorney representing the Wiley family called on police to release the body camera footage.

🗞️ The UN’s World Food Program said it’ll cut assistance to 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza and 200,000 others in the West Bank amid a funding shortage. It comes as 1.4 million people in Gaza experience “acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse.”

🗞️ French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu imposed a curfew Monday night in some towns and cities. The country is grappling with its worst riots in decades, which escalated from protests over poor school conditions and the cost of living.

🗞️ Sorry, Amelia Earhart fans. The latest search for her missing plane turned up empty. Twentieth time is, in fact, not the charm.

🗞️ Elon Musk says he’ll give every kid in America one share of his SpaceX company next year, but he didn’t give any other details. For those counting, that’s $10.66 billion.

🗞️ Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is sidelined for the remainder of the season after a blood clot in his legs traveled to his lungs. He’s expected to make a full recovery.

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In Our Rotation

Low sex drive? Not a problem thanks to this libido-boosting pill for women that gets at the root cause and starts working in 30 minutes. Get 20% off with SKIMM20.*

This posture-correcting bra isn't a cure-all, but it's a great tactile cue when you find yourself slouching at your desk.

Keep scrolling... more recs below

Coming To Collect

Paying for the Hottest Summer on Record

What’s going on: Summer might be behind us, but millions of US households are still feeling the heat. In over a dozen hot-weather states, laws prevent utility companies from cutting power if the heat index is above 101 degrees. But once it drops below that — usually in September or October — bills are suddenly due, and the rate of disconnections goes up. The New York Times profiled one family in McAlester, OK, that faced an energy bill of over $1,300 in September — even after taking measures to keep their costs down. The Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) said its rates were still below the national average, and most of the increase was due to constant AC use. But families in McAlester aren’t alone. According to federal data, one in six US households is behind on their energy bills.

How did we get here?: Climate change has worsened summer utility bills for years. But higher fuel and equipment costs aren't helping. In some instances, like in McAlester, renovations to aging power grids to meet growing energy demands (think: for data centers) also influenced what families are paying. The rising costs hit low- and moderate-income households hardest: They spend five times more of their income to keep the lights on compared to high-earning households. And just when you think your bill will drop, unpredictable winter weather (thanks, super El Niño) and higher-than-usual heating costs are in the forecast. Homes in the Northeast that use heating oil are expected to pay 21% more than last winter, with average households expected to see a 9% increase in energy costs this year.

Related: With Groceries out of Reach, Many Families Now Turn to Food Banks (The New York Times gift link)

Sound of Silence

Keep the Earbuds in Your Tote

What’s going on: Constantly listening to music or podcasts might keep you musically savvy and well informed, but it could also harm your health. Researchers are sounding the alarm that excessive listening can cause us to miss meaningful human connection and hinder our ability to stay present. In 2010, a study found that adults spent nearly half of their waking day on autopilot. And that was before smartphones. Headphone use may also contribute to loneliness as it keeps us from small, daily social interactions (like smiling at a stranger on a bus) that can improve our well-being. "People are using headphones to shield themselves from other people," one expert told CNN.

So you want me to just raw dog waiting rooms and airplane rides?: Not completely. But researchers say there are health benefits to embracing silence. In a previous study, a two-minute period of silence after listening to music significantly reduced subjects’ heart rate and blood pressure (which could explain our need to turn the car stereo down when parking). Silence has also been linked to stimulating brain growth and creativity, reducing cortisol, and improving insomnia. But considering one recent poll found that people ages 13 to 34 spend 4.5 hours a day listening to something (podcasts or music), it might be tough to put that audio genie back in the bottle. Experts suggest mindful silence tips: Carve out quiet time in the morning (we see you, parents, and we know this one is tough), embrace a noise-free commute, or cut the background music while doing other tasks. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, ditch the earbuds entirely. We know, we know, you might have to make eye contact with someone, but imagine the possibilities.

Related: Not Just Nostalgia: Lego Is Tapping Into an Adult Audience (The Wall Street Journal gift link)

What We've Been Testing

Skimm Shopping is forever on the testing grind to find out what really works. Here are our latest insights:

This calendar acts like a personal assistant, and damn, does it make mom life easier.
This matchmaking service eliminates the need to swipe, allowing dating to feel more intentional.
This stackable electric burner successfully cooks a steak sans grill, so apartment dwellers should pay attention.
This high-waisted shapewear doesn’t sausage you in, which makes for a much more pleasant wearing experience.

Quick Hits

✈️ Travel-booking company Hopper says airfare prices this holiday season will be the highest in a decade. Alexa, remove “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” from the playlist.

🦃 While some Thanksgiving essentials, like turkeys and cranberries, are more expensive than last year, experts say other cooking staples, like butter and cream, are seeing lower prices. Casserole fans, rejoice.

🤖 It was only a matter of time: A South Korean reality TV show stars three celebrities who embark on a quest to see if they can fall in love with an AI avatar. Love Is… Artificial?

🍬 Take some Halloween candy, add some salty snacks like pretzels, and turn it into a skillet cookie. Holiday magic.

🏠 Here are eight things experts say you shouldn’t store inside your house — including bulk pantry items in their original packaging. We love an excuse to buy new storage containers.

🍗 Lay’s will release five new flavors this fall. Pair the Roasted Holiday Turkey chips with your day-after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich.

🐶 A three-legged therapy dog with giant ears and a blind 8-year-old former stray took top honors at this year's World's Cutest Rescue Dog Contest. Such good boys.

Skimm of the Week

Skimm This Photo:

University of St Andrews' Raisin Monday foam party

Your move: Give us your best skimm in 20 words or fewer. We’ll pick our top three, and you vote for your favorite on Thursday. The winner gets a shoutout in Friday’s Daily Skimm.

This week: Raisin Monday is an annual tradition at the University of St Andrews in Scotland (yes, Prince William and Kate Middleton's alma mater), and it includes, as seen here, a giant shaving-cream fight. Every school has its thing, we guess.

Submit Your Skimm

On Our Calendar

Tuesday, October 20

🏀 NBA regular season tips off

We may already have playoff predictions, but the games officially begin at 3 pm ET today with Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons. That’s followed by two more: Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks at 7 pm ET and Oklahoma City Thunder against San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 pm ET. Catch them all on NBC.

🍿 Phony out on Hulu

The trailer for this “coming-of-age mystery series” feels both ominous and… funny? In it, Connie Britton plays a maybe-imposter mom who shows up after her son is in a car accident. Tami Taylor would never.

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

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In Our Rotation

Need some style inspiration? These are the pieces our editors have been living in recently.

This does-it-all serum brightens, retexturizes, and fades discoloration in one fell swoop, all for $37 on Amazon.

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

A long-time CNN anchor just announced their departure from the network after 43 years. Who is it?

A. Anderson Cooper

B. Christiane Amanpour

C. Wolf Blitzer

Ease into your day with Typeshift, the word-building game. Start playing.

Kevin Bacon gets results