Subject: Daily Skimm: You have a freak flag, you just don't fly it
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2018 06:35:46 -0500 (EST)

<=>Skimm'd with our alma mater sweatshirts on

=tr>

DECEMB=R 27, 2018

Skimm'd w=th our alma mater sweatshirts on

QUOTE O= THE DAY

"No Christmas gift could be greater than this" �=93 A woman tricked her da= by replacing Ferrero Rocher chocolates with chocolate-covered brussels sp=outs. You're a mean one, Mrs. Grinch.

CRISIS AT THE BORDER

The Story

A second=child died while in US border custody this month.

Not good.

Not at all. Eight-year-old Felipe Alonzo-Gomez had be=n in custody since Dec 18th for illegally crossing the border with his fat=er. They were moved around to different border stations. Felipe was taken =o the hospital earlier this week. He got sick again after leaving the hosp=tal and died on Christmas Eve. This comes weeks after seven-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin died while =n custody after crossing the border with her father. The official causes o= death for Felipe and Jakelin have not been determined yet.

I don't remember hearing about this before.

That's because before this, there hasn't been a child=who has died in border custody in more than a decade – which is wh= these two deaths are raising a lot of concerns about the current situatio= at the border.

Tell me more.

Typically, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is sup=osed to release detainees within 72 hours. But the head of the agency says it doesn't have enough re=ources, and border stations aren't equipped for the "enormous flow" of kid= and families. He's also calling on Congress for more money. In the meanti=e, CBP is making some much-needed changes to avoid another tragic situatio=, including conducting secondary medical checks on all kids. It's also loo=ing into releasing some migrants under a supervised release and reviewing =ts policies on taking care of kids in custody. Homeland Security Sec Kirst=en Nielsen is headed to the b=rder this week.

How does the government shutdown affect this?It doesn't help. Congress has been at a standstill since President Trump put hi= foot down for $5 billion for a border wall. Now we're on day six of a par=ial gov shutdown. Departments like Homeland Security – which CBP f=lls under – have run out of funding, and hundreds of thousands of =ederal workers are clocking in and not getting paid. Until Congress and th= president agree on a spending bill, funding remains on pause.

theSkimm

The Trump admin has made illegal immigration and bord=r security a big priority. But two kids have died in federal custody in th= span of a month. And many la=makers and Americans want answers on whether the admin's policies came=with plans for how to handle the influx of detainees.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when you make a surprise visit…

Just like President Trump. Yesterday, he showed up to=visit American troops in Iraq=/a> – his first visit to an active combat zone as commander in chi=f. If he hadn't, he reportedly would have been the first US president in <= href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/15533037.2751668/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2lt=XRoLmlzLzJHSXN3VnA/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Ba109109c" target="_blank" st=le="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">15 years to not visit US tr=ops around the Christmas holiday. It also comes after he announced plans t= withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan last week – which led =o the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. But Trump is saying 'do='t worry,' troops in Iraq are there to stay. In other news surprising peop=e, the stock market decided it was feeling the holiday cheer. There were a=few things putting the markets on the struggle bus, like Treasury Secretar= Steven Mnuchin calling the CEOs of the six largest US banks to confirm th=t banks have "ample liquidity=/a>" – something usually done during a financial crisis. After reassurance from the White Ho=se economic adviser that the Fed chairman doesn't have to worry about losi=g his job, the markets went from their worst-ever Christmas Eve to pulling=an impressive comeback. B=ing out the spiked eggnog.

What people are watching…

Tunisia<=a>. There have been protests there after a journalist set himself on fire =n protest of economic conditions and died. This situation resembles that o= late 2010, when a street vendor – protesting unemployment, corrup=ion, and repression – set himself on fire. That act is considered =ne of the things that sparked the 2011 Arab Spring revolution when Tunisia=s long-time authoritarian president was brought down and similar movements=happened in other countries (like Libya and Yemen). But a democratic trans=tion hasn't totally helped with things like unemployment and the country's=inflation. A journalist recently posted a video expressing his frustration=at unemployment and unfulfilled promises from the revolution. He also call=d for a revolt before setting himself on fire. His death has prompted days=of protests across the country. Authorities have arrested at least 18 peop=e and have used tear gas to disperse protestors. This is all happening bef=re the country's presidential elections next year.

What to say when your co-worker interrupts you…<=h3>

I'm going to keep going. Yesterday, Japan announced i='s going to start up commerci=l whaling next year. Since 1986, there's been an international ban on =unting whales for cash. But Japan used a loophole to still kill whales for=scientific research. Then, it sold the meat. Now, the country is opting ou= of the agreement altogether. Which has critics like conservation groups s=ying this is an issue about protecting "the future of our oceans and these=majestic creatures."

What to say when you watch the "Us" trailer…

Gonna need to listen to some Mariah to recover.

What to say to your friend obsessed with Nicholas Sparks=E2��

Ronnie and Will made things work.

SMALL BALLS

People who are more athletic than you are doing big t=ings. Like playing in the College Football Playoff. Four teams face off in=the semifinals this Saturday, December 29th on ESPN. Here's what's going d=wn…

T=gers vs. Fighting Irish: Meet the middle children of the College Footb=ll Playoff. Aka No. 2 ranked Clemson and No. 3 ranked Notre Dame. They're =oing head-to-head in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

C=imson v. Crimson: Alabama and Oklahoma square up in the Capital One Or=nge Bowl. They're the highest-scoring teams in the nation this season. Mea=ing: balls flying at nose, all day.

A=eee youuu readyyy? Get mo=e deets on the CFP here.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you didn't get what you wanted…

Pick a present for yourself. Tarte Cosmetics has your back. Th=y also have new markdowns and up to 70% off for their year-end sale. Yes, 70% off.=Not a typo. Cue: new year, new makeup bag.*

F=r when NYE is around the corner…

Finish your year sparkling. Literally. Try this Holid=y Sparkling Wine cocktail to cheers your way into 2019. Sip sip hooray.

*PS This is a sponsored section.

SKIMM SHARE

Skimm HQ is making some last-minute NYE plans. Share t=eSkimm with your procrastinator friends who also don't have plans yet.

Or use this referral link theskimm.com/?r==b66f6bb

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

* indicates Skimm'bassad=r. Make a wish.

theSkimm's Clem =obineau NY, Christina Kiernan NY, Jessica Lichtenstein N=, Barry Shain NY, Christina Karageorgiou MO, Cait Felt*Ashleigh Carroll TN, *Athena Valero CA, *Beth Cevas=o OH, *Carly Rothenberg MI, *Elise Singer PA, *Jess K=ys NY, *Jillian Heise WI, *Karla Gonzalez CA, *Christ=na Keirnan NY, Savannah Guthrie NY, *LeAndra Spicer NC, =b>*Mary Ryan NC, *Prithvi Guruprasad CA, *Reena Rothman =Y, *Shira Gelfand NY, *Sunny Massa NE, *Amy Ammerman =X, *Carly Heft NJ, *Carly Roman NY, *Cheryl Edenfield *Courtney Kelly IN, *Crystal Miller PA, *Elizabeth Br=uer NY, *Ellen Sciales NY, *Elyse Cochran TX, *Gianna=Carpenello CA, *Halee Ackerman TN, *Hannah Jane NC, *=essica Hanes MI, *Jordan Staus IN, *Kate Zemek AZ, *K=tie Milam VA, *Kendra Olvany IL, *Laine Mello IN, *Ma=die Bessinger MN, *Taryn Marcorelle MA, *Michelle Gibbs =Y, *Nell Maynard CO, *Rebecca Stevens OK, *Robin Maddox <=b>AL, *Sasha Fortunatti NJ, Katie Anders, Keira BaileyTiffany Berch FL, Kim Berke NC, Erica BillingsleaJennifer Caldwell NY, Jamie Cassutt-Sanchez AR, Jani=e Cross NJ, Shira Dickler, Allie Fitter NY, Steffi Fi=ter DC, Meghan Fridley CO, Sydney Gasparini NJ, Marga=it Graber, Meg Hein IL, Carol Hesch IN, Ellie Kleiman=MI, Barbara Krohn Lieber ND, Jessica Lichtenstein NY, CT, Sajni Mehta NY, Sara Nagel MO, Brienn= O'Neill PA, Lorie Papadelis FL, Kelly Pollhammer MD, CO, Emily Thompson MO, Ashley Williams CO, =b>Meagan Matthias MO, Lindsay Aleshire GA, Deborah Allen=VA, Elizabeth Allen NC, Lori Janow FL, Danika Baez Vaugha= CA, Dennie Byam IL, Krysia Camino AL, Katie Caponero=/b> OH, Patricia Deuel MI, Melanie Erin CA, Beth Fairleig= KS, Eve Feuerstein NY, Morgan Frazier GA, Rosanne Ga=gero-Brodermann UK, Denise Gardner NY, Taylor Gleeson CO= Michelle Harden ON, John Hicks SC, Terri Holman MN, =b>Jennifer Hopkins MO, Melissa Eddy TX, Lakeisha Jackson=AL, Geri Jo Manson FL, Josh Karas NY, Meredith Keeler=IA, Jasmine Knowles PA, Lisa Kramer Morgan TX, Monica Kri=hnan FL, Kelly Lynn Stout NC, Holly Madden IL, Curt M=dsen IA, Courtney Morso IS, Clare O'Donnell FL, Laure= Orlina ND, Elaine Patterson TX, Caroline Pennell CA, MD, Kate Robison MS, Kayla Romaniello CT,=Andrea Rose SC, Chelce Scaturchio GA, Emily Schwarz P=, Laura Seroogy WI, Joie Shettler CA, Laura Stacy Ramey CAN, Andy Tam CAN, Megan Trudeau DC, Debi Weinstein-Loa=ie IL, May Wong CA, Kesley Zahn IL

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