To Impeach or Not To Impeach

War and Pete

Skimm’d by: Katherine Shen and Maria Corpus

What’s going on: Congress is officially back in session, and lawmakers got straight to business. The Republican-led House defeated an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday. It comes after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) filed eight articles of impeachment on Monday, accusing Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” At issue was Hegseth’s role in the Iran war, which Massie said started without congressional authorization. The measure also focused on the boat strikes that killed alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. But in a show of unity, the GOP voted 211-204 to send the resolution to a committee, preventing an impeachment vote from moving forward. Massie joined Democrats as the only Republican in opposition.

What’s next?: Massie argued that if Hegseth isn’t held accountable now, Democrats will likely take action in January with their sizable majorities in both chambers. In his first press conference since May, Hegseth dismissed the resolution. He called Massie’s effort: “a farce and it’s a stunt and everybody knows it.” He also doubled down on his military operations even though many Republican lawmakers and Vice President JD Vance blamed the war in Iran for the GOP's losses in the midterms. President Donald Trump had vowed to "stand by" Hegseth: "He won two wars. He was in charge. We all won." So far, no Cabinet official has ever been removed from office through impeachment. And only two have ever been impeached: William Belknap, President Ulysses S. Grant’s secretary of war, amid a corruption scandal in 1876, and President Joe Biden’s homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, over immigration enforcement in 2024. 

Related: Hegseth Allegedly Blocked Promotions for Military Officers Over Support for COVID-19 Vaccines & International Women's Day (MS Now) 

Video On

Working From Home, at the Office

Skimm’d by: Erika W. Smith and Maria Corpus

What's going on: If you’ve ever commuted to the office just to do Zoom meetings from your desk all day, when you could have slept in and sat on your couch instead, you’re not alone. A recent New York Fed survey of college-educated workers found that “days in the office often lack human contact” and that roughly half of in-office days are spent entirely on Zoom or solo work. Specifically, nearly 50% of survey respondents said they had no in-person meetings on the day they most recently worked in the office. Another 37% said they had at least one virtual meeting with colleagues physically at work. (Guess all the conference rooms were full?) The study authors pointed to some fully remote staff members and organizational sprawl as factors that make face-to-face interaction difficult. They also cited low compliance with in-office mandates. What can we say? Sometimes wearing sweatpants really is that serious.

Alone in a crowded room: It’s not just one study; data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also shows that Americans now spend more time alone at work than they did before the pandemic. It has many wondering: Why not save on gas and work from home? The data on return-to-office mandates is mixed, too. Studies have found low employee satisfaction, with some workers even viewing in-office requirements as a strategy to make them quit their jobs. But there can be real benefits to in-person work, including that in-office workers are more likely to get promoted. Interestingly, the New York Fed study doesn’t conclude that employers should give up on in-office mandates. Instead, the authors write that they should ensure “adherence to the policy” and “deliver the face-to-face contact that workers crave.” Can we at least get some free bagels, too? 

Related: Calling All Hiring Managers: Share Your Advice for Entry-Level Applicants (TheSkimm)

Consumerism Countdown

Deck the Halls & Open All the Advent Calendar Doors

Skimm’d by: Stephanie Gallman and Samantha Darby

What’s going on: Every Christmas when she was growing up, Skimm editor Samantha received an Advent calendar from her English granny. That was back when the cardboard box with perforated doors held a single, bite-sized chocolate. Now, the sweet tradition of Advent calendars has become big business, with sales reaching $2.6 billion last year, according to the research firm Growth Market Reports. More brands are using the format to debut product lines or justify premium pricing for miniature packaging (looking at you, Bonne Maman). As one analyst told The New York Times, “You’re not just opening one gift. You’re getting that joy and excitement for 24 days, which for me is value.” And it seems to be working — the market is growing by about 9% annually across the US and Canada. 

Is this whimsy or just more stuff?: Advent calendars trace back to the 19th century when German Protestants got creative (with chalk lines on doors or lighting candles) to count the days until Christmas. We've come a long way from wooden frames and single cranberries to this year’s $25 Needoh version that sold out in October, or Christian Louboutin’s $720 makeup box (sadly, no red bottoms included). While a daily dose of holiday joy is hard to turn down, 24 days of premium tinned fish might be pushing it. And nobody wants another overpriced box of hair ties that ends in refunds — looking at you, Kim.

Related: This Reporter Tried $1,000 Worth of Advent Calendars — Here Are Her Favorites (USA Today)

Together with 1 MILLION CARE CONVERSATIONS

Thing to Know

Nearly 40% of people in the US are taking care of aging or sick family members, children, spouses, or disabled loved ones. Let that sink in.

Almost everyone will need or give care at some point in their lives. So, this National Caregiving Month, the 1 Million Care Conversations campaign is making a nationwide effort to talk with people who give and receive care about exactly what support they need. 

The goal? To create a vision for the future of caregiving in the US, shaped by families across all 50 states. 

Anyone can join the conversation, and it only takes a few minutes. In this case, sharing really is caring.^† 

Quick Hits

🏃 What do you do after becoming the first American in eight years to podium at the NYC Marathon? Jess McClain told theSkimm she ate a special NYC-themed snack. Victory is sweet. 

📱 “Tech neck,” meet “smartphone pinkie.” Luckily, there are simple ways to prevent both, like switching hands and taking a break to stretch.  

🍽️ These seven cooking tips will level up your sheet pan brussel sprouts. Number one: Use more oil than you think you need. 

🎶 Paul McCartney officially joined Taylor Swift and Jay-Z in the billionaires’ club. But money can’t buy him love, right?  

🛁 Forget the sauna. A hot bath at home can also offer powerful health benefits, like improving blood circulation. Get the bath bombs ready.

🦃 If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, these five cooking tools can make it easier, like an under-$10 peeler perfect for prepping mashed potatoes. 

A Few Good Things

As we’ve been browsing this week, we’ve spotted a few things we felt deserved your attention. You know we already have the holidays on our type-A shopping brains, so any of these would make fantastic gifts:

• A kid's bathroom kit they can bedazzle 

• A new retinol body lotion that actually makes a difference (and isn’t super expensive)

• A skincare set that comes with a festive fuzzy pouch

• The best red light option for those who are constantly on-the-go