Subject: Daily Skimm: I think I’ll miss you most of all
From: "theSkimm" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2019 06:45:11 -0500 (EST)

<=m>Skimm'd while giving back

=tr>

JANUAR= 25, 2019

RE=D IN BROWSER

Skimm'd while giving back

QUOTE O= THE DAY

"We have plans with milk that day" – Oreo, on its Valentine's Day plan=. Good Stuf.

THINGS GOING DOWN IN AFRI=A

Congo

The Story

Yesterday, Congo swore in its new president: Felix Tshisekedi. It was the count=y's first peaceful transfer of power since it gained independence from Bel=ium almost 60 years ago. But there were allegations of vote rigging during=the election. And some think the former prez – known for leading a=repressive regime – could have made a deal with Tshisekedi that wi=l let him call the shots behind the scenes. Tshisekedi denies anything sha=y went down.

theSkimm

Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world. Yesterday, Tshisekedi said =e'll work to crack down on corruption, free all political prisoners, and r=portedly get rid of the country's dozens of violent rebel groups. But the =ury is still out on if the power change was all for show. Or if new leader=hip will lead to much-needed reforms for the country's 80 million people, =any living on less than $1,000 per year and lacking basics like electricit= or clean water.

Sudan

The Story

Yesterday, thousands of people protested throughout Sudan – the latest =n almost daily protests against President Omar al-Bashir. The protests sta=ted last month over the rising cost of bread. But they've grown into calls=for al-Bashir – who's been in office since the '90s – to s=ep down. Security forces have been responding with tear gas and live round=. Dozens of people have died. And hundreds have been detained. This isn't =he first time there've been m=ss protests. But this time, wealthier and younger Sudanese are taking =art en masse, as things like medicine and fuel are unaffordable or in shor= supply.

theSkimm

Al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes, including genocide in Da=fur. And Sudan is also listed by the US as a state sponsor of terrorism. B=t the int'l community isn't rushing to get involved. After the Arab Spring= some worry that a new regime could be worse. Many are watching to see how=this turns out.

Angola

The Story

This week, Angola reportedly decriminalized same-sex activities. And prohibited=discrimination based on sexual orientation. It was apparently the first ch=nge to the country's criminal code since it gained independence from Portu=al in the '70s.

theSkimm

There have apparently been no prosecutions in Angola =or same-sex activity. But the change is a key move toward protecting LGBTQ=rights not only in Angola, but around the world – where being gay =s still a crime in dozens=of countries.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say to your friend who always has some sort o= drama going on…

What a coincidence, so does DC. It's day 35 of the pa=tial government shutdown. That's more than a month. Yesterday, the Senate =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/15808100.2871541/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJST2RkajU/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bb20dd399" target="_blank" s=yle="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">rejected two bills �=93 one backed by Republicans, one backed by Democrats – to reopen =he gov. The overall sentiment in DC seems to be that this shutdown needs t= end soon. There may be a com=romise in the near future – but until that happens, hundreds o= thousands of federal workers won't get a paycheck for the second time sin=e the shutdown. Commerce Sec =ilbur Ross says he doesn't "really quite understand" why federal worke=s have been going to food banks, and not just taking out loans. He's been =a href="https://link.theskimm.com/click/15808100.2871541/aHR0cHM6Ly9za2l=bXRoLmlzLzJzTWg4T3QlMjA/5bae7b412ddf9c633bb801b8Bda5db9ef" target="_blan=" style="color:#00b2a9;text-decoration:none;">widely criticized for =ppearing to minimize the concerns of federal workers.

What people are still watching…

The US-Venezuela standoff. Yesterday, the US ignored Venezuelan President Nicol=C3�s Maduro's call to close the US's embassy there. The background: earl=er this week, hundreds of thousands of people protested to push Maduro out=of office after years of his authoritarian regime. Opposition leader Juan =uaidó declared himself =nterim president. And the US backed Guaidó up. Maduro didn't like=that, and cut off diplomatic ties with the US – giving diplomats a=couple days to leave. But yesterday, the US said 'here's the thing...you a=tually can't close our embassy because we don't recognize your authority a=ymore.' There's been worries this puts the safety of diplomats there in jeopardy. Especially conside=ing Venezuela's military now says it's team Maduro – and that the opposition's attempt to ta=e him down counts as a coup. Now the US says it's keeping the embassy open= but taking out "non-emergency" gov employees. Meanwhile, Guaidó said=he may grant Maduro amnesty if he agrees to step down.

Who people are talking about...

These as=lum seekers. Today, US officials are expected to send the first group =f migrants to Mexico while their immigration cases are being processed. La=t month, the Trump admin anno=nced that people seeking asylum would have to wait in Mexico while the=r cases play out in the courts – which could take months or years.=It's unclear how many migrants will be sent there or where they'll stay on=e they arrive.

What to say when you hear about HuffPost's layoffs…

Yikes, bad times for media companies. Here's what's a=so looking grim: a new report=/a> says that robots could replace about 36 million US workers in the next=few decades. Some of the industries that could be impacted the most are tr=nsportation, food, production, and office admin. But don't worry, we're no= necessarily headed toward "Ex Machina" part two. The report says it'll br=ng both "benefits and stress," but not an "apocalypse nor utopia." Did you=hear that, Alexa? We're good.

What to say to your friend who refuses to go out to d=nner alone…

You're also gonna want a buddy to watch this new Ted Bundy docuseries.

What to say to your co-worker who never knows what da= it is…

Reminder:

SKIMM READS

"Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist" b= Sunil Yapa

A biracial teen gets involved in a mass protest in Se=ttle. Turns out, his estranged dad is the police chief on the other side o= the barricades. This one's all about family, justice, and when the relati=nship between the two gets complicated. Get it here.

SKIMM PICKS

For when you want some inspiration…We rounded up the Skimm'rs who give back all year-rou=d so you can get your giving on too. Read about them.

F=r when you're going green this year…

Don't forget to clean house. This company can make su=e your home's energy bill goes green too. You can sync your utilities to s=pport renewable energy sources and enroll in programs that help you save c=sh on your utility bill. Learn more here.*

F=r when you're wondering why you're getting emails about tax forms…=/b>

Fun news: tax filing season starts on Monday. You hav= until April 15 to get it done. Our tax season calendar syncs with your pe=sonal cal to make sure you don't miss any of the important dates and deadl=nes. Because, adulting. Get i= here.

*PS This is a sponsored post, which means i= you purchase or sign up, theSkimm may get something in return.

SKIMM’RS

Cheers to…Kelly P (TX). She just retir=d from the Army after 12 and a half years. Thank you for your service. And=Lisa Garrett (TX), who ran a half marathon last weekend in 1 hour, =6 minutes, and 48 seconds. For perspective: That's about five episodes of =Friends" on Netflix.

S=otlight on…Nikki L (CO). She just launched a new project calle= Define the Line. It's focused on ending workplace harassment and already =as more than 1,000 advocates and allies.

(=ome) Birthdays…Shelby Alpert-Waldman (CA), Leslie Saewitz (DC)= Cindy Adams (CA), Ryann Moore (WV), Ali Perry (TN), Kera Recce (PA), Tany= Sehgal (NY), Chris Fretz (NJ), Meagan Gadreault (DC), Rebekah Garris (CO)= Lynn Rowland (GRC), Sherri Satnick (NJ)

*=elcome to a new section we're testing with members of theSkimm. Want to ta=e it to the next level? Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

SKIMM SHARE

Some Skimm HQ'rs are doing Escape the Room. Share theS=imm with your friends who could easily get you out of a puzzle-filled room=within 60 minutes.

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

Skimm'd something we missed?

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