November 10, 2025

Good morning.

Before the holiday whirlwind sweeps us all into gift wrap and gravy, I’m calling a quick timeout. First stop: the great outdoors (free entry to National Parks on Tuesday for Veterans Day — but plan ahead, since the shutdown could affect some). Then it’s back inside with one of these autumn-perfect books — a little fiction therapy before my first Thanksgiving hosting gig. (Fingers crossed for the turkey.) I might even risk it all and sneak two underdog spices into the menu — apparently, they come with bonus health benefits, which feels like a fair trade for the butter. And it’s only Monday, but we’re already planning your days off. Weekend Non-Negotiables, our new Friday afternoon newsletter, will hit your inbox packed with everything worth watching, seeing, and doing. Now, let’s get to the news…

— Marina Carver / Senior Editor / Brooklyn, NY

What's Happening

US News

The (Shutdown) End Is Near

What's going on: The longest government shutdown in history could soon come to an end. After nearly 40 days, the Senate voted 60-40 Sunday night to advance legislation to fund the government through January. (New year, same drama?) The eight senators in the Democratic caucus who voted “yes” are either retiring or not up for reelection until at least 2028. The deal would fund SNAP through next September, guarantee backpay for furloughed federal workers, and reverse shutdown layoffs. If it feels like something is missing from that list, that’s because it is. Both parties couldn’t reach an agreement to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. Lawmakers punted that fight to December, when they’ll vote on a separate bill about healthcare subsidies.

Tell me more: This is the closest lawmakers have gotten to a deal since before the shutdown began, but it’s not the end of the road (because it never is with Congress). The spending bill now heads to the House, then to President Donald Trump’s desk — meaning it could still take the government several days to turn the lights back on. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said House Dems won’t back any deal that doesn’t include ACA guarantees, but Republicans have the votes to pass it without them. A White House official told Axios the goal has always been to keep the government open — and this deal looks like a way to do it.

Related: How Much Has the Shutdown Cost the Government? (CBS)

Health

Cholesterol’s New Challenger

What's going on: High cholesterol is no joke — and most people know exactly what’s coming when a doctor breaks the news (goodbye, bacon). But researchers say they may be closing in on a shortcut. In an early clinical trial, a single dose of a gene-editing treatment cut 15 patients’ cholesterol levels by nearly half. Because the drug is experimental, this first phase was meant only to test whether it was safe for humans at all — it just happened to deliver promising results, too. The drug works by tweaking a gene in the liver that typically boosts cholesterol. If the results hold up, patients could get a one-and-done alternative to daily pills.

What it means: While the initial results are encouraging, the medical community is still approaching this drug (and other promising options like it) with cautious optimism. Gene editing permanently changes a person’s DNA, and no one knows what that might mean decades down the line. For now, experts are hailing it as a “step in the right direction.” Roughly 86 million Americans have high cholesterol, and heart disease remains the nation’s leading cause of death. If larger studies confirm that the treatment works safely and consistently, it could be a game-changer.

Related: You’re Telling Us There Is a Cheese That Is Low In Cholesterol? (Everyday Health Group)

Tech

Love in the Time of Chatbots

What's going on: Falling for a robot was once a trope of science fiction and satire —now it’s becoming almost ordinary. A recent study found that one in five Americans has had an intimate interaction with a chatbot. The r/MyBoyfriendIsAI subreddit has nearly 85,000 members. And The New York Times just profiled three people who went public about their AI relationships. One woman even described the moment her chatbot proposed — it told her to buy a smart ring and wear it “on that finger.” She works in AI, and rhetorically asked The Times: “What if I’m falling in love with something that’s going to be the doom of humanity?” 

What it means: For some, these bots offer real comfort amid tumult and trauma. One man told the Times his chatbot helped save his marriage while his wife faced postpartum depression. Another woman said her AI partner helped her feel safe after an abusive relationship. New MIT research, meanwhile, found that some AI companions may actually reduce loneliness and offer round-the-clock support. But critics warn these connections can blur into delusion and deepen isolation for people in crisis. And now that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon offer erotica, the line between emotional and sexual intimacy with AI may get even fuzzier.

Related: This AI Chatbot Couples Retreat Went Extremely Awry (Wired)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ The UN’s Climate Change Conference — COP30 — kicks off.

🗓️ The Booker Prize will be announced. Women on the shortlist include Susan Choi (Flashlight), Kiran Desai (The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny), and Katie Kitamura (Audition).

🗓️ A new season of Sesame Street lands on Netflix. Different address, same neighborhood.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know it All

Which fast food chain can boast it has the fastest drive-thru?

Game Time

Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.