The way people date has changed a lot.

XOXO

The Story

The way people date has changed a lot.

Let’s talk about it.

It’s Valentine’s Day. That means it can feel like everyone is posting gushy IG posts about their partner, shouting out their Galentines, or going to some Italian restaurant. However, the Census Bureau says more than 117.6 million Americans over the age of 18 are unmarried. That’s about 50% of the adult population — way up from the 22% of singles in 1950 and up about 5% since 2014. While that can mean there’s more fish in the sea, that doesn’t mean everyone’s going fishing. 

Explain.

More and more women are actively choosing to be single. Some say it's because they have negative experiences with infidelity. Others are focused on their career or say they get enough love from their non-romantic relationships. One study predicts 45% of women between 25 and 44 will be single by 2030. It’s not just wedding bells that women are skipping. Another survey found that about 41% of Americans said they’re not actively looking to date. But for those who have too much love to give, there are other options. 

Tell me more.

Companionship takes many shapes: polyamory, polycules, platonic partnerships, or even being “solo poly.” This all comes as the US surgeon general last year said that widespread loneliness in the country poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Now, some people are getting creative with how they accept and find love. 

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Romance and partnership look a lot different from when our parents were in the game. The media’s narrative of boy meets girl and they fall in love isn’t what everyone is looking for anymore, leading more people to find a shot at love in unconventional ways.

Who just got impeached…

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. In a historic, razor-thin vote last night, the GOP-led House voted 214-213 to impeach Mayorkas — the second time in history that a Cabinet member has been impeached. Back in the 1870s, Secretary of War William Belknap became the first — a Civil War hero later accused of taking bribes. Now, Mayorkas is being accused of a “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust” amid record border crossings and an ongoing fentanyl crisis. Unlike last week’s attempt, House Republicans this time managed to impeach Mayorkas by a single vote, made possible because House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) was back in DC after cancer treatment. The DHS said the House is “trampling on the Constitution for political gain.” Next, the issue heads to the Senate, where Democrats are expected to acquit Mayorkas or sidestep the issue.

...Oh and speaking of the House, the GOP's razor-thin majority just got smaller. Last night, Democrat Tom Suozzi won back his seat in New York’s special election to replace former Republican Rep. George Santos. Analysts say the win could give Democrats more hope heading into the general election. 

What everyone was watching…

Super Bowl LVIII. On Sunday night, more than 123.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, making it the most watched Super Bowl in US history. The game comes only second in viewership to the 1969 moon landing. In an era where TV networks are looking for new ways to adapt to the media landscape (cue: Paramount Pictures layoffs), the Super Bowl has consistently been able to draw millions of viewers every year. Still, it’s not clear if the drama of the game going into overtime, the Taylor-Travis relationship, or just American love for the sport is behind the surge. Viva Las Football.

What’s lowkey still feeling itself…

Inflation. Yesterday, the Labor Department reported the overall consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.1% in January from a year earlier. That’s a bit more than analysts' expectations of 2.9%. Meanwhile, the US stock market had its worst day in nearly a year as the Dow dropped more than 700 points at its low. The CPI report had investors worried it could be a bit longer before the Federal Reserve starts cutting interest rates.

Who could be feeling like a fashionista…

Tiger Woods.

What’s turning lemons into Lemonada…

Meghan Markle.

Who’s looking a little cozy…

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter.

The littlest humans can have the biggest personalities and while we want to encourage them to be who they are, we also get tired.

There are many times we can’t wait for our kids to go to bed… only to stare at pictures of them as they sleep, wondering, “Was I good enough today?” Skimm Parenting is here to help you feel more confident when you answer. (And just in case you need to hear it, you were.)

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