Daily Skimm: Happy Hump Day

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Skimm for September 9th

Skimm’d while watching George Clooney chat with Stephen Colbert

QUOTE OF THE DAY “I’m sorry” – Hillary Clinton. Last night, she said ‘my b’ for that time she used a private email server while she was sec. of state. Texting was so much easier. Skimm This

THINGS WITH AWKWARD OFFICE WATER COOLERS

UNITED THE STORY Yesterday, United Continental announced that its CEO Jeff Smisek is resigning. Immediately. SAY WHAT? This all has to do with a federal investigation into the very cozy relationship between the airline and the Port Authority (a major NY and NJ transportation agency). The Port Authority oversees Newark airport, one of United’s biggest hubs. One of the things investigators are looking into is whether or not Smisek arranged for a direct flight to go from Newark to Columbia, SC…where the then-Port Authority Chairman had a vacation house. It was a money-losing flight that was canceled…right after the chairman left the Port Authority. The feds are thinking that looks a lot like trading airline miles for political favors. theSKIMM Smisek used to lead Continental before it got married to United, making this federal investigation just another bonus from the 2010 merger. Skimm This

KENTUCKY THE STORY Last week, a Kentucky county clerk was thrown in jail for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Yesterday, she was released. SAY WHAT? Reminder: same-sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states. But this clerk says that goes against her religion, and refused to issue all marriage licenses in protest. After a lot of legal back and forth, she went to jail. And her deputy clerks took this as a cue to start letting same-sex couples get hitched. Yesterday, a judge said she was free as long as she doesn’t “interfere” with the issuing of licenses. Her lawyer said she won’t do anything that “violates her conscience.” theSKIMM TBD on whether her conscience will interfere with the issuing of licenses. This case is the first major challenge to the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling. And it’s hitting a nerve with those who say their freedom of religion is being compromised. Skimm This

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU SEE ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA... Everyone is f’ing in love. The corporate world is all about that M&A too. Yesterday, Media General, which owns a bunch of local TV stations, announced it’s getting hitched to Meredith Corporation in a $2.4 billion deal. Meredith is a media and publishing company that owns women’s magazines (think: Shape, Martha Stewart Living). It also owns local TV stations. Ding ding ding. The media industry has gone through the change in recent years thanks to companies like Netflix and Hulu. Traditional  companies like Media General and Meredith are betting that they can stay warmer by huddling together. Meanwhile, yesterday, investment firm Blackstone said ‘I do’ to Strategic Hotels in a $6 billion deal. Strategic Hotels owns prime real estate like the Four Seasons in DC and the Ritz in the OC. And Blackstone’s been on a major real estate shopping spree. Cue the two companies getting a room. Yes, global markets have been a mess lately. It hasn’t hurt corporate dealmaking just yet, but the M&A honeymoon could be over soon if the Fed decides to raise interest rates later this month. Stay tuned. Skimm This

WHAT TO SAY AT YOUR FANTASY DRAFT... Seen the ESPN report? Yesterday, ESPN published a story that made NFL execs reach for the Alka-Seltzer. Again. The highlights? That the New England Patriots may have illegally videotaped multiple opponents from 2000-2007. Fun fact: the Patriots have been accused of spying a few times in the past, and head coach Bill Belichick has been forced to apologize . But this report claims they spied a lot more than a few times. The report also says when the NFL found out about the alleged cheating, it had the tapes destroyed right away. This apparently didn’t go over too well with team owners. Which is why, ESPN says, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was harsher on the Patriots after this year’s ‘Deflategate’ debacle. The Patriots say the report is “unfounded, unwarranted and, quite frankly, unbelievable.” Not the kind of PR the League is hoping for right now, since tomorrow’s NFL kickoff is starring...the Patriots. Skimm This

WHAT TO SAY WHEN THE SECURITY LINE AT THE AIRPORT IS REALLY LONG… Can I get a fast pass? Yesterday, Pope Francis announced new rules that make it faster and easier to get an annulment. Reminder: while the Catholic Church doesn’t believe in divorce, it does believe that some marriages need to be consciously uncoupled. But Catholics say getting an annulment is a long and expensive process. So yesterday, Francis streamlined it. He got rid of some of the steps, said it should be mostly free, and gave bishops the power to annul marriages quickly. The announcement comes just a week after the pope announced that, for one year starting in December, priests all over the world will be able to forgive a  woman who’s had an abortion. Translation: breaking with tradition is becoming a tradition for the Pope. Skimm This

WHAT TO SAY WHEN THERE’S AN ARGUMENT AT A FAMILY DINNER… Not going down without a fight. Neither did Venus. Skimm This

THING TO KNOW Nomophobia: What happens when you break out in a cold sweat at your desk after realizing you’ve left your phone at home. It’s called smartphone separation anxiety. And you need help. Skimm This

SKIMM LIFE Have lots to tote around this fall? Rep the #SkimmLife while you do it. Email us to get involved.

SKIMM 50 These Skimm’rs outdid themselves. Thanks for sharing like there’s no tomorrow.  Becca Ferraro, Kiersten Fisher, Bernadette Smith, Trudy Larson, Brad Brazier, Hailey Kurth, Layne Mims, Melanie Bell, Daniella Sannuti, Riley Frazer, Heather Lana, Kady Kilbride, Jenn Breisacher, Elizabeth Spencer, Meghan Harvey, Alyssa Schor, Hilary Mathur, Jen Bokoff, Elyse Corbitt, Brennan LeJean, Shannon Pratt, Abby Dunkin, Rachel Batson, Lisa Stone, Kate Levenstien, Fallon Schlossman, Laurie Brill, Kara Samuels, Helene Rasmussen, Alison O’Connor, Kelly Stoski, Sahar Merchant, Valerie Cohen, Stacey Sulko, Avery Bandoian, Grace Bluefeld, Ashley Sipe, Genevieve Tankosich, Pascale Bernstein, Maegan Clark, Mallory Evans, Ashley Parent, Lauren Razzano

SKIMM BIRTHDAYS * indicates Skimm’bassador. Put on your dancing shoes.  *Abby Isaacs (Syracuse, NY); *Cami Mackey (San Diego, CA); *Gianna Mennone (Plantsville, CT); *Sara Oliphant (Dallas, TX); *Tyler Gindraux (New Orleans, LA); *Jennifer Chen (Saratoga, CA); *Kirsten Sanders (Ankeny, IA); *Chelsey Lamar (North Richland Hills, TX); *Frances Song (Los Angeles, CA); *Gianna Mennone (Plantsville, CT); *Mollie Busby (Whitefish, MT); *Paige Hebble (Gainesville, FL); *Emily Savage (Winchester, MA); *Sam Harrison (Chicago, IL); *Chloe McCotter (Battle Creek, MI); * Erin Tocalino (Sacramento, CA); *Audrey Smith (Lincoln, NE); *Meagan Martin (Henderson, NV); *Katie Finn (Los Angeles, CA); *Alli Philbin (Long Island, NY); *Claire Ryan (North Barrington, IL); *Aaron Griffin (College Station, TX); *Margie Susong (Hudson, OH); Amanda Soled Blechman (New York, NY); Shira Albagli (San Francisco, CA); Amy Bryant  (Chicago, IL); Doug Copeland (Greensboro, NC); Ellen DeGennaro; Jen Kroez (Delmar, NY); Jennifer VanBergh (Newport Beach, CA); Reece Mealy (New York, NY); Pam Strobel (Winnetka, IL); Patricia Beck (Boston, MA); Allie Bernard (Baltimore, MD); Maya Mashkovich (St. Louis, MO); Moises Diaz (Providence, RI); Sherrie Callahan; Caroline Johnson (Boston, MA); Beth DiVencenzo (Cleveland, OH); Abby Neuthaler (Chappaqua, NY);  Claudia Ibarra (New York, NY); Stephanie Mark (Toronto, Canada); Rachael Melancon (Lafeyette, LA)

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