Daily Skimm Weekend: The autumn leaves of red and gold

Skimm'd while protecting our hard-earned cash

September 24, 2022 Read in browser Daily Skimm Together with Skimm'd while protecting our hard-earned cash What's Happening ​​…in your group chat: How early is too early for dinner? And since when did reservations get harder to nab than a spot in daycare?  …in your fave streaming service: Closed captions rolling on screen all day, every day. …in your love life: Why you might want to consider prioridating. And reconsider your idea of soul mates. ...in your TikTok: While the "Corn Kid" is still all over your feed, the star of summer is actually back in school. ...in your new moms group: Lots of tips for C-section recovery. Top Story Puerto Rico Design: theSkimm | Photo: Getty Images Blackout: Nearly a week after Hurricane Fiona pummeled Puerto Rico, more than a quarter of the island still doesn't have power. A third are without water. And millions are once again picking up the pieces after a natural disaster. All of which is putting a renewed spotlight on the island's fragile state — and its complicated ties to the US. The Story Just over five years ago, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. It caused an estimated 3,000 deaths, at least $90 billion in damage, and one of the longest blackouts in US history. It took years — basically, up until now — for PR to even start to recover. And the power grid (controversially controlled by a private company) has been unreliable. The slow, painful path to recovery was still going on when Hurricane Fiona hit this week and undid years of hard work. Since many thought the federal response to Maria was "deeply inadequate," people are worried this time could be no different. That's reigniting a debate over the island's ties to the US. Explain. For more than a century, Puerto Rico has been a US territory. Meaning, Puerto Ricans are American citizens by birth and can travel freely within the US. But the island doesn't have any voting power in Congress and its residents can't vote for president — even though the US controls things like Puerto Rico's trade, mail service, and access to federal resources. Puerto Ricans don't get the same access to things like disability benefits and food assistance that Americans do in the states. (Despite the fact that they pay billions annually in federal taxes that fund programs like Social Security and Medicare.) And 40% of the island's population lives in poverty — so when disaster strikes, it's especially hard to bounce back. Is anything being done? For a few years now, many have called for Puerto Ricans to have more of a political say. In 2020, the island held its sixth referendum for statehood and voted in favor for the third time (though, some actually prefer independence). There's a bill in Congress that could start to make statehood a reality — and then-candidate Joe Biden supported the idea on the campaign trail. But given Congress's slow approach to just about everything...it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. theSkimm Amid Fiona's devastation, many are reminded that Puerto Rico's fate is often in the hands of a gov that's kinda, sorta there for them. President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration and said the gov would cover 100% of the recovery costs for the next month. (But reminder: Recovery took years after Maria.) TBD what comes after that. Eyes On Arizona. Where a judge's ruling has effectively outlawed all abortions. The decision is likely to be appealed. But in the meantime, doctors and clinicians will have to stop providing abortions or risk criminal charges. And people seeking the procedure will have to go to other states. All to comply with an abortion ban that was first enacted in 1864, decades before Arizona even became a state. (Yes, you read that right.) But it'd been blocked for nearly 50 years thanks to Roe v. Wade. Now, a judge has said that it can be enforced again, since Roe no longer stands. And people no longer have a Constitutional right to abortion. Bookmark'd Here's a look at the reads we've saved, texted, and emailed to our friends… The Enduring Wisdom of 'Goodnight Moon'...why the beloved children's book still has us, well, over the moon — even deep into adulthood.  Not Even the Rich Can Buy Fancy Watches…time's always been a luxury. But in the era of hype watches, that's taking on new meaning. On TikTok, an Album Containing Old Wartime Photos Causes Havoc…how a viral video shined a light on a dark chapter of forgotten history. Search Support Together with Finding time to job search while doing your current job can feel like a…full-time job. If you're using some of your downtime to get ahead (go you), let this list be your guide: Secure your references. Aka give a heads up to whoever's gonna sing your praises. Make a master resume. So it's super easy to tweak a new copy for each role you apply to. Update your professional profile. Fresh headshot? Check. Latest work experiences? Check. Types of opportunities you're looking for? Check. Typos? Never heard of 'em. PS: Indeed has more tips, tools, and resources that can help you get the job-getting job done. Online or IRL. Ready for better? Check. In Case You Missed It If you've always got 10 tabs open, we get it. So much to browse, so little time. Which is why we've rounded up some of our fave recent product recs so you don't miss a thing. Check out… Comfy and stylish shoes to wear this fall Smart things to buy now that'll save you money later Skimm Picks Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life… 1. A must-have resource for Asthma Peak Week. Which is happening *checks notes* right now. But no need for you (or anyone with asthma) to panic. Because Amgen has tips and tricks that can help you prevent flare-ups and hospital visits. Bless.* 2. A suuuuper comfy pillow for side sleepers. Say 'bye' to night sweats and neck pain with this cool-inducing memory foam pillow. Complete with three adjustable settings (think: plush, medium, and firm). Here's 10% off your first order and up to 40% off bundles.* 3. How to rack up huge travel rewards. These no-annual-fee travel cards were made for jet-setters. You can save big $$$ and earn miles toward your next vacay by making everyday purchases. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees. Time to set your OOO message.* 4. On-the-go sangrias started by Joe Jonas. Yep, that Joe Jonas. He's launched his own line of canned red and white sangrias. They're bubbly, refreshing, and absolutely perfect for camping, tailgating, and…everything else on your autumn agenda. PS: Skimm'rs get eight free cans and free shipping.* *PS: This is a sponsored post. Skimm More More Skimm, more knowledge. Here's what else we covered… Confused about retinoids, retinol, and tretinoin? We spoke to a dermatologist to help you choose the one that's best for you Here's how to advocate for yourself at your next doctor's appointment  What three things are always in Emily Ratajkowski's bag? Find out, here We asked the cast of "The Handmaid's Tale" to share the one piece of advice they'd give their characters. Praise be Save the Date Like ours, your work and personal calendars are probably hectic. So here are some events you should know about... Grab some apples and honey. Rosh Hashanah (aka the Jewish New Year) begins at sundown. L'shana tova. National Coffee Day. To celebrate your cold (or warm) brew, check out these freebies and specials. The Billboard Latin Music Awards. Expect lots of good things for Bad Bunny, who's leading this year with 23 noms. PS: Want more events like this on your cal? theSkimm App gives you a heads-up on when everything from holidays to sports games to awards shows are going down. Download it here. theSkimm Loyalty Program Join now – engage with our content, earn points, and use those points to unlock rewards. Think: swag, exclusive content, sweepstakes, and more. Start earning and get in on it here. Skimm'd by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Xian Chiang-Waren, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau Subscribe Listen Daily Skimm   ❯ Today's headlines, Skimm'd Skimm This  ❯ This week's news, Skimm'd Skimm Money  ❯ The week's news and your $ 9 to 5ish with theSkimm  ❯ Our weekly career podcast Skimm Your Life  ❯ Shopping recs, reads, and more Pop Cultured with theSkimm  ❯ Weekly pop culture podcast Download theSkimm App  ❯ The app for all things Skimm theSkimm.com Skimm'd something we missed? skimmthis@theskimm.com Issues? help@theskimm.com Advertise with us | Careers See our full sponsor agreement | Unsubscribe Copyright (c) 2022 theSkimm, All rights reserved. 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