Good morning.
If there’s one thing I love receiving in the mail this time of year, it’s holiday cards. I appreciate a good font, a themed postage stamp, and, of course, a festive collage of family photos. One card I didn’t receive but still enjoyed was Jenna Bush Hager’s, which put a creative spin on the tradition. These small mail treasures offer the perfect opportunity to pause amid the chaos — from organizing a family gift exchange (this app works like a charm) and tackling holiday shopping (here’s the perfect guide to last-minute gifts) to baking cookies (these might be a strong contender). Meanwhile, I have yet to watch a single holiday rom-com. As I contemplate which film I’ll make my husband sit through (number 24 on this list is always a good choice), let’s catch up on the news headlines…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
What's Happening
Health
The Holiday Guest No One Invited
What's going on: That familiar seasonal soundtrack is back — and no, it’s not carols. It’s hacking coughs and nonstop sniffles. Flu cases are climbing across the US, with the CDC reporting high activity in states like Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Louisiana. Thanksgiving travel and family gatherings helped fuel the spread — an unwanted leftover, to say the least. And the US is not alone. Japan, China, the UK, and Canada also report a large number of cases. Much of this season’s surge ties to a newer variant called subclade K, which is associated with more severe illness. Symptoms hit fast and hard: high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and chills. Health officials expect cases to keep rising through December, peaking between January and March. In other words, we’re just getting started.
What it means: You can’t stop a kid from sneezing at the school cookie swap or your coughing coworker who insists they’re “totally fine.” But you can control how prepared you are. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, doctors still recommend it for anyone six months and older. It won’t block every infection, but it lowers the risk of severe illness and spread. Add a few practical tips: Wash your hands (which somehow still needs to be stated) and mask in crowded places like airports. Improve airflow when you gather indoors — crack a window or turn on a fan, especially when people share food. If you or someone in your house feels sick, test early. Antiviral meds — which require a prescription — can shorten the flu, particularly in the first 48 hours. And then, please give others the gift of staying home and resting.
Related: FDA Eyes “Black Box” Warning for Covid Vaccines (CNN)
The News In 5
🗞️ At least 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed when two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday. Authorities called it an act of antisemitic terrorism.
🗞️ Two students were killed and nine injured in a shooting at Brown University on Saturday. Officials said police will release a person of interest from custody and are looking for a suspect.
🗞️ Actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, in what authorities say is an apparent homicide.
🗞️ Thousands of Washington state residents are assessing the damage from recent devastating floods.
🗞️ First Lady Melania Trump’s work is news to her…husband — and he made that publicly clear in the most awkward way possible.
Health
Fibroids May Affect More Than Your Period
What’s going on: Heart disease isn’t a distant concern for women — it’s the leading cause of death worldwide. Now, new research suggests uterine fibroids (generally benign tumors) may be linked to a higher long-term risk of heart disease. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania reviewed over a decade of data from more than 2.7 million women in the US. People with fibroids had a much higher risk of heart disease than those without them, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The risk appeared across ages, races, and ethnicities, but it stood out most among women under 40 — unexpected, since heart disease typically shows up later in life. Researchers also found higher rates of coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery disease in women with fibroids.
What it means: Fibroids are incredibly common — most of us will develop them by age 50 (including 80% of Black women). Yet the condition receives far less funding in women’s health research (just add it to the list), which helps explain why so many patients wait years for clear answers. Many don’t know they have fibroids because symptoms don’t always show up, and doctors often find them only through imaging or a pelvic exam. So don’t brush off subtle changes, like shifts in your period, pelvic pressure, a growing abdomen, and more frequent bathroom trips. If fibroids are already on your chart — or you suspect they might be — talk with your doctor about heart health risk factors, too. Researchers say they need more data to learn whether heart disease prevention should look different for women with fibroids.
Related: FDA Approves First New Antibiotics for Gonorrhea in Decades As Cases Rise (CNN)
Relationships
Is Therapy Speak Affecting Your Relationship?
What's going on: These days, people hand out diagnoses like “narcissism” and accusations like “gaslighting” as casually as likes on an Instagram post. That’s according to actual couples therapists, who bemoan the advent of “therapy speak.” They told The Atlantic that their clients incorrectly apply clinical terms and diagnoses to their partners like “anxious attachment” and “trauma bond.” While the problem is pervasive, it’s cropping up a lot in romantic relationships. Social media has supercharged the spread of pop-psych vocabulary. As you can imagine, a partner might not be especially interested in problem-solving after you call them a “love-bombing” tyrant.
What it means: Although finding terms that seem to help describe someone’s frustrating behavior can feel helpful, it can be hurtful to the other person — especially if you’re wrong. In extreme cases, experts warn, these misfires can push couples toward divorce. But therapists have some advice. Skip the diagnoses, but share how specific actions make you feel. Resist the urge to turn one bad moment into a personality disorder. And remember one radical idea at the heart of healthy relationships: People mess up. That alone does not make them a walking red flag.
Related: The Happiest Couples Do These Seven Things on Weeknights (CNBC)
On Our Calendar
A few things to jot down today…
🗓️ The State Department expands visa screening for H-1B applicants.
🗓️ For the second night of Hanukkah, menorah lightings are taking place across the country.
🗓️ Happy National Cupcake Day — may we recommend these tricks for making boxed cupcakes taste homemade?
Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.
Our Favorite Budget-Friendly Gifts
We’re only 10 days away, but maybe you still have a few gifts to buy. Instead of wrecking your budget to get there, check out our guides:
(More) gifts of the day: a fan-favorite hoodie, waterproof Birkenstocks, and the coziest throw
Know It All
It's cough drop season, and pharmacists have spoken. Which brand claimed the “healthiest” crown?
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.
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