News Information and Media Site: Daily Skimm: And then someday is yesterday

October 5, 2021

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Quote of the Day

"Your constant resilience in freeing me" – Britney Spears, thanking #FreeBritney fans after her father was removed as her conservator. She's feeling Lucky.

Red Card

Warning: This story mentions sexual abuse, which could be triggering to some readers.

The Story

The National Women's Soccer League has been rocked by sexual abuse allegations.

What happened?

Last week, The Athletic published more than a dozen NWSL players' stories of verbal and sexual misconduct, including at the hands of coach Paul Riley (the North Carolina Courage). One former player described how Riley allegedly coerced her into having sex in his hotel room. Another said Riley forced her to kiss a teammate so he could watch. Others detailed the verbal abuse (think: weight and sexual orientation comments) they reportedly suffered under Riley's coaching. And said the NWSL dismissed their concerns and still hired coaches for different teams. Now, the nine-year-old soccer league is coming to terms with its years of inaction.

What's being done?

The Courage fired Riley hours after the allegations went public. And the US Soccer Federation suspended his coaching license. It came after the NWSL had already cut loose another coach – the Washington Spirit's Richie Burke – following a separate harassment investigation. The league canceled five games amid the allegations. NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird resigned and general counsel Lisa Levine was ousted. And now, multiple probes – including from former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and FIFA – are looking into the allegations. Riley's denied the claims. But the players say the systemic abuse has been rampant for years.

Go on.

Riley's the third head coach to be fired after accusations of abuse since August. And Women's Professional Soccer – the NWSL's predecessor – dissolved in 2012 partly because of allegations of bullying. US Soccer star Alex Morgan called out the NWSL for failing to "protect its own players." And athletes are blasting the league's actions as "unforgivable," adding that they don't feel safe at work after officials protected their abusers. Now, the women want the NWSL to better defend them against future abuse. And they've got other soccer orgs like Canada Soccer on their side.

theSkimm

Another wave of sexual abuse allegations has shaken up the sports world. And it has female athletes calling out their abusers and the large entities failing to keep them safe.

And Also...This

What just gave booster enthusiasts a boost...

The European Union. Yesterday, Europe's top health regulator gave the green light for COVID-19 booster shots. Specifically, it recommended a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine six months after a healthy adult's second shot (earlier if they're immunocompromised). The move is a major departure from the FDA's approach – which largely restricted its booster recommendation to those 65 and up, immunocompromised or at high risk of exposure. And highlights how in this stage of the pandemic, different gov agencies can have vastly different approaches on interpreting the data for how best to fight COVID-19.

EU can go eur own way: Next up, each of the EU's 27 member states get to make their own choice about if or how they want to make booster shots available. Some (hi, France, Germany) have already rolled them out.
The case to hold off: The WHO's consistently called on countries to hold off on boosters until poorer countries get their first dose.

Who's about to lose a lot of followers...

Facebook. Today, Frances Haugen – the whistleblower who leaked research on the harmful effects of social media to the press – is testifying in front of a Senate subcommittee. Facebook's internal research had found that Instagram negatively impacted young teens. The company allegedly knew about it. But downplayed it. A FB exec was in the committee's hot seat last week – but now, lawmakers want to hear from Haugen herself. Including her eight complaints filed with the SEC about how Facebook misled investors and the public.

Spoiler alert: Haugen's been speaking out about her time at the company. And how plenty of research showed the social media giant fueled hate, misinformation, and political unrest. Hear her testimony at 10 am ET.

...Oh and speaking of unrest, FB, Insta, and WhatsApp had people constantly refreshing. Turns out, networking issues are to blame for the six-hour outage yesterday. At least we had LinkedIn.

Whose contributions have been ignored…

Henrietta Lacks'. Yesterday, her family sued a biotech company – Thermo Fisher Scientific – for allegedly selling their late family member's stolen cells. In 1951, doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital took tissue from the Black woman's tumor (without her consent) before she died of cervical cancer. Lacks' cells (known as HeLa cells) were the first human cells to be successfully cloned. And have led to scientific and medical breakthroughs like a polio vaccine and gene mapping. Now, her family's saying doctors exploited her – and many other Black women – as part of a "racially unjust medical system." And want the company to stop using the cells without the estate's permission. On its website, Johns Hopkins says it should've "done more" to work and respect her family. And that it hasn't sold or profited from her cells.

While this captain's soaring to space...

Bubba's zooming to NASCAR history.

So Fresh and So Green Clean

Ahhh, sweater weather. So warm. So cozy. Unfortunately, some of your scarves, hats, gloves, and – yes – sweaters are probably "dry clean only." And dry cleaners tend to use Earth- and health-unfriendly chemicals. Enter: The Laundress. Their plant-derived detergents and fabric care products make it easy to take extraordinary care of your clothes from home. Why not try…

This shampoo and spray kit that'll leave all your wool stuff supple ($28.50). And smelling fresh. Cashmere, merino, knits, and blends included.
Their incredibly powerful stain solution ($19). Which removes fresh spills and old, set-in stuff. Like that red wine stain you've been ignoring since last winter.
A tool for de-pilling your fine knits ($19). So you can nail that 'like new' look. Season after season.

PS: Skimm'rs get 25% off all the above — and more. Yes, really.

We've got news. Meet "Pop Cultured with theSkimm": Our newest podcast hosted by our very own Bridget Armstrong and presented by Gevalia. Each week, we're diving into the one story your group chat can't stop talking about. Like what's trending on your TikTok feed, the latest on Britney Spears' conservatorship, and a rundown of the celebs making headlines.

Listen to the trailer here, and follow wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss the first ep dropping next Tuesday, 10/12.

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

1. A new report about kids and mental health. Spoiler: it says that young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their well-being for years to come. And has some startling statistics about the number of kids dealing with mental disorders. Learn more.*

2. How to keep your skin hydrated as it gets colder. We're listening. Enter: these hyaluronic acid products by PCA Skin. Their professional-grade, clinically proven formulas keep your skin ultra moisturized and youthful. Plus, Skimm'rs get two free gifts with purchase of $135 or more. Skin-credible.*

3. How to save up to 30% on organic groceries. Can we get a raised hands emoji? This online marketplace delivers high-quality pantry and household products right to your doorstep. Plus, Skimm'rs get an extra 30% off their first purchase (and a special gift).*

4. What to wear when you're squeezing in a workout in between errands. Or squeezing in errands before a workout. And anytime after that, really. This brand's got chic, high-performance active and loungewear for allll your activities. PS: Skimm'rs get 15% off when they shop.*

5. Latinx book influencers on their favorite reads by Hispanic authors. With Hispanic Heritage Month underway, we chatted with five bookstagrammers to get their top recs. Check out their picks.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

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.

Add to cart...Victoria B (CA). She published her first book, "First-Gen, NextGen." The book is written for high school and college-age students. And explores the first five years of the first-generation Latinx experience in the American workplace.

A spoonful...Kendra A (CA). She launched Pregnant and Hungry – a searchable collection of simple and nutritious pregnancy-friendly recipes. Her goal is to help women combat gestational diabetes with fresh meals for modern mamas-to-be.

(Some) Birthdays...Ingrid Hogan (AZ), Susan Weiss (RI), Pankti Kadakia (NY), Gail Connell (GA), Kara Horsley (IL), Bre Stephens (PA), Sarah Pozek (OH), Tara Gonzalez (CA), Charlotte Lapp (LA), Nicole Reigel (TX), Steve Cinquanti (NY), Annie Phung (CA), Charlene Thrope (NY), Martina Molinari (NC), Laura Greenfield (MA)

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

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