First-born daughters unite

But first: starting or growing a family? Don’t skip this step — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today September 20, 2024 [Subscribe]( [Read in browser]( [daily_skimm] [Together with]( [myriad genetics]( But first: starting or growing a family? [Don’t skip this step]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Update location]( or [View forecast]( Quote of the Day "This is really gonna jingle your bells" — Sabrina Carpenter in a post with Netflix, [teasing a special project](. Please, please, please, let’s just get through Halloween first. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=Sabrina Carpenter is bringing the holiday spirit #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) What's Happening [Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam near the border on September 19, 2024.] International Tensions Mount in Lebanon After More Handheld Devices Explode What's going on: There are growing fears that [a second wave of exploding devices]( and a [series of Israeli airstrikes]( in southern Lebanon could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East. The leader of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, accused Israel of breaking “all conventions and laws” with the sophisticated attack using pagers and walkie-talkies and vowed that “retribution will come.” Tuesday’s pager attack, which Israel’s defense minister suggested was linked to Israeli actions, killed at least 12 people, including a child. On Wednesday, another wave of explosions, this time involving walkie-talkies, killed 20 people and wounded 450, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Since the blasts, Hezbollah and Israel have also exchanged cross-border missile attacks, injuring eight people in Israel’s Upper Galilee, per Israel’s public broadcaster. What it means: All this marks a [“new era” of war](, according to Israel’s defense minister. Although [Israel and Hezbollah have](been in conflict for decades, the temperature turned up after October 7. Analysts say this week’s apparent pager attacks humiliated Hezbollah, making the group look weak. As a result, the Hamas ally is likely to retaliate, possibly as soon as this weekend — though doing so could further escalate the conflict at a time when the recent attacks have injured and weakened their fighters. Analysts worry that Israel could be seeing a war on at least two fronts, with the Israel-Hamas war [far from a cease-fire deal](. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both sides not to escalate things any further. Related: [What Would a “Wider War” Between Israel and Hezbollah Mean for Lebanon?]( (NYT Gift Link) Politics Is Violence Defining a New Era of American Politics? What's going on: American politics has been marked by a troubling rise in violence recently. Yesterday, authorities arrested an individual for [threatening six of the nine Supreme Court justices](. Earlier this week, [suspicious mailings]( were sent to US election officials. Meanwhile, Congress just said it was bracing for the possibility of a [“mass casualty” event](. That’s as a recent poll found that nearly half of Republicans said they wouldn’t accept the results if their candidate loses, with some saying they would “[take action to overturn](” the outcome. Just a couple of months ago, there was an [attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life](, followed by another apparent attempt last week (and [Elon Musk's follow-up tweet](). *Checks calendar* — and all that’s just this summer. What it means: Violent political rhetoric and threats [aren’t new](. President Gerald Ford survived [two assassination attempts in one month](, and, of course, some political figures haven’t been so lucky when targeted by assassins. Still, the level of heated discourse the country is seeing now has analysts worried, with some warning that 2024 could be a “[tinderbox](.” However, democracy experts say there are ways to [reduce the risk of violence](, including politicians on all sides publicly condemning it, and everyday citizens challenging the perception that the people and leaders within each political party are a monolith. Related: [“Disturbing Comments.” The Report That’s Rocked the North Carolina Governor’s Race]( (CNN) Technology Are Social Media Platforms Spying on You? Spoiler: Of Course They Are What's going on: A [new report]( from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed that nine major social media companies, including Meta, YouTube, and TikTok, engage in “vast surveillance” of consumers to generate profit. The agency said that, in some cases, many companies shared users’ personal information — ranging from age to language to gender — to third parties that’d create targeted ads. The report, which began four years ago, also found that these companies fail to protect users, especially minors, and often don’t differentiate between adult and child accounts. The report states that many platforms “bury their heads in the sand when it comes to children.” Overall, these companies offer little choice for users to opt out of data collection. It might be time to start reading those privacy agreements. What it means: Tech companies have faced [increasing scrutiny in recent years]( over their handling of user data. While some companies have updated their policies since the study began, these changes may still fall short. Many of these data practices, like sharing customers’ location data and making retroactive changes to their policies without notifying users, are tied to the companies’ core business models. The FTC said “self-regulation has been a failure” and emphasized the need for the federal government to step in. However, legislation has stalled in Congress, and Big Tech continues to push back against proposed bills. The [Kids Online Safety Act]( just cleared a House committee…which was first introduced in 2022. Related: [The Right Age to Let Kids Use Social Media, According to Experts]( (CNBC) Quick Hits 👀 “Probably shouldn’t have said that.” [VP Kamala Harris’s chat with Oprah]( has social media reacting. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🩺 Where does the [US’s health care system rank]( compared to other high-income nations? You might (but probably won’t be) surprised. --------------------------------------------------------------- ✈️ Some JetBlue customers will finally get to [enjoy this perk](. It’s about time. --------------------------------------------------------------- 😩 First-born daughters [really do have it the hardest](. Not like they’ve been saying that all along. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🪫 Did you think Celsius was a health drink? [That might be the point](. We Want to Know... We’ve partnered with [Kindbody]( to uncover how access to fertility healthcare is shaping women's approach to this election. [Help us amplify your voices]( with tangible data to present to employers, industry leaders, and our community. [Take the survey]( Skimm Picks Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life… Here are [the best sales to shop this week](, from [jeans starting at $22]( to 25% off [luxury skincare](. --------------------------------------------------------------- We're loving these [open earbuds]( for our daily walks. They're flexible, sweatproof, and have noise cancellation that still offers situational awareness for safety. Plus, they're under $100. --------------------------------------------------------------- Our favorite phone case brand just dropped [a new collection for the iPhone 16](. If you've been putting off upgrading your phone, let this ["Twinkle Disco" case]( be your motivation. --------------------------------------------------------------- No matter what your skin is doing right now, [there's a face mask]( (or [eye mask]() to help. Psst…love our recs? Follow [@skimmshopping]( on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag). Settle This [An M&M's factory] [M&M’s debuted a new flavor]( for the first time in two years. What's the combo hitting the candy aisle? [A. Vanilla Ice Cream & Olive Oil]( [B. Peanut Butter & Jelly]( [C. Apple & Brie]( Extra Credit ["By Any Other Name" book cover] Read Jodi Picoult’s latest bestseller, [By Any Other Name](, explores an infamous Shakespearean theory — whether the playwright used a ghostwriter. The historical fiction novel tells the story of two female playwrights: Emilia Bassano, who is based on a real woman and in 1581, manages to get her play on stage with the help of William Shakespeare (reminder: women writers weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms back then). And Melina Green, her fictional descendant, who centuries later, also finds success as a playwright using a male pseudonym. For more recs... Check out the Daily Skimm Weekend newsletter, in your inbox every Saturday and Sunday. We'll help you spend your leisure time well. Game Time [Pile-Up Poker cards animation]( Kick your weekend off with [Pile-Up Poker](, a brand-new game where poker meets solitaire. Create as many poker hands as possible to earn cash and climb the leaderboard. [We’re all in](. Meet Us On The Leaderboard [Flipart]( | [Spelltower]( | [Crossword]( | [Typeshift]( | [Pile-Up Poker]( This is worth your money [Product Image]( mopio Velvet Sleeper Sofa [$279.00 at Amazon]( Stay ahead with the Skimm Well newsletter, where expert advice and tools help you confidently manage your health. [Subscribe now]( Spotlight on 🥳 Some Birthdays Husni Samara (CA), Lauren Kagan (CT), Sheina G (NY), Bobby DeLong (VA), Ana Martinez Rodriguez (MI), Marianne Arena (CT), Cole Rush (IL), Monique Floyd (NC), Kaitlyn Krizanic (MI), Tracy Yassini (CA), Rachel McMahan (KY), Lauren Meltzer (IL), Nikki TerHark (MO), Abigail Czerniecki (FL), Eileen Robledo (CA) Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Chantal Vaca, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff. --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos by AFP and Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images, Brand Partners, and Ballantine Books Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to all theSkimm has to offer](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram Icon]( [Tik Tok Icon]( [Linkedin Logo]( [Twitter icon]( [Facebook icon]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Skimm'd something we missed? skimmthis@theSkimm.com Issues? [help@theSkimm.com](mailto:help@theskimm.com) [Advertise with us]( | [Careers]( [See our full sponsor agreement]( | [Unsubscribe or Update Your Preferences]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2024 theSkimm, All rights reserved. TheSkimm, Daily Skimm, and all Skimm-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of TheSkimm, Inc. 53 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010