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Skimm for January 27th

Skimm’d after a Knicks game.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I like French history” - The (already controversial) governor of Maine’s explanation for wanting to bring back the guillotine as a form of punishment for drug crimes. He said he was joking. Ha.

ZIKA

THE STORY

Yesterday, another US state got a case of the Zzzzs: the Zika virus.

REMIND ME.

It’s that virus you’ve been hearing about for a few months now. You get it from a mosquito bite, and symptoms include fever, rash, and pink eye. It’s more serious for pregnant women, because the virus can cause birth defects in newborns. Think: abnormally small heads and developmental issues.

SO WHAT’S THE LATEST?

The virus has spread to at least 20 countries - mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Yesterday, someone in Arkansas who recently traveled abroad tested positive for the virus, and this morning, a case was confirmed in Denmark. It’s not the EU’s first. So far, there are only a handful of cases in the US, and they have all been contracted outside the country. In El Salvador , officials recently told women to avoid getting pregnant for the next two years. And in Brazil - where thousands of cases have popped up in recent months - the country is deploying more than 200,000 troops to go door-to-door warning citizens about the virus.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Brazil is hosting that little thing called the Olympics this summer. The country’s already in hot (and potentially dirty) water for subpar conditions. So the Zika virus is exactly what the country doesn’t need right now.

theSKIMM

The World Health Organization thinks the virus will probably spread throughout most of the western hemisphere. And so far, there’s no vaccine and no cure. Health officials are working on that.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

WHAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING...

Oregon. Yesterday, the FBI and state police arrested members of an armed group of protesters that have been occupying a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon for weeks. Officials say shots were fired during the arrest, and one person was killed. One of the protesters arrested was Ammon Bundy, whose dad you might remember for fighting with the government over where his cows could graze. The protest originally started as a show of support for two ranchers, but turned into a government hating convention. Yesterday, shots were fired after two people refused to surrender to police during a traffic stop. Authorities haven’t said who fired first.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOUR OLDER SISTER CALLS YOUR MOM ‘MOMMY’ IN PUBLIC...

In other grown-up news, yesterday, Donald Trump told everybody he’s not coming to tomorrow night’s GOP debate on Fox News. That’s because moderator Megyn Kelly will be there, and he ‘doesn’t like her.’ Refresher: the last time Fox News hosted a debate, Kelly asked Trump about whether his past comments about women reflect the “temperament of a man we should elect as president.” The Donald did not appreciate. So yesterday, after a very public PR scuffle with Fox, Trump took his toys, flipped his hair, and left, saying that it was “time that somebody plays grown-up.” Instead, Trump said he’ll be hosting an event in Iowa to raise money for wounded veterans. Meanwhile, Fox said that “sooner or later” Trump will “have to learn that he doesn’t get to pick the journalists.” PS: this will be the first GOP debate without the front-runner in the middle. And the Iowa caucuses are on Monday. Psst: we Skimm’d the election calendar for you.

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO JUST GOT A ‘PUSH PRESENT’...

Did you also get screened? Yesterday, a healthcare panel said it’s time to get serious about depression in the US. It said that all adults should be screened at least once, and pregnant women and new moms should get extra attention. There’s a lot of recent evidence out there that mental health issues for new moms are very common. Think: an estimated one in seven women who’ve recently given birth. That’s why the panel is now recommending that 1. all pregnant women and new moms get screened for depression, and 2. health care providers make sure they get the right treatment when needed. This comes in the middle of a national debate about how to improve mental health care — and as providers have tried to make it easier for people to get screened in recent years. Happy face emoji.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU’RE ABOUT TO START A NEW JOB...

Hope people are welcoming. And then there’s Denmark. Yesterday, the country passed a bill aimed at helping it cope with the EU’s migrant and refugee crisis (here’s your Skimm on that ). Now, Danish police can seize valuables from asylum seekers worth more than $1,500 - not including sentimental things like wedding rings. This is to cover their costs of living (think: housing and food). Supporters say the bill makes sure asylum seekers who can afford to chip in are paying their fair share. But critics say this is like writing ‘GO AWAY’ in big, red, block letters on the border. Many are worried that Denmark’s law could set a bad example for other strained EU countries looking to keep people away.

WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR FRIEND WHO WANTS TO FREE THE NIPPLE...

Italians are with you.

THING TO KNOW

“The Birth of a Nation”: as in the new movie about a slave rebellion that everyone in the movie biz is talking about. It sold to Fox Searchlight for $17.5 million — the highest sale price ever for any movie at the Sundance Film Festival. Which is good timing, because Hollywood could use some diversity right now.

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SKIMM BIRTHDAYS

*indicates Skimm’bassador. Party time.

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