November 13, 2025

What's Happening

US News

The Shutdown's Over, but Thanksgiving Travel Is Still on Simmer

What's going on: The longest shutdown in US history ended last night after President Donald Trump signed a funding bill to reopen the government. But don’t expect everything to be back up and running just yet. The shutdown’s ripple effects are expected to linger — especially for travelers. Flight reductions are still in play, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says they won’t disappear overnight, likely affecting Thanksgiving travel. Best-case scenario? If delays start to dwindle soon, experts say travel could smooth out ahead of the big day — just in time to go from grateful to getting pulled into side-dish duty. The Federal Aviation Administration did deliver one small holiday miracle: It says it won’t increase flight cancellations.

What it means: Some travelers have already switched their plans — to cars, trains, or earlier flights to dodge the mess. Still flying? Here’s your quick travel game plan. Make sure you download (and update) your airline’s app and turn on push alerts. FlightAware, Flighty, and TripIt can help track delays. If things unravel, go full multitasker: Hit the app chat, call the airline, and get in line — all at once. (Just don’t be a jerk.) Hopper’s Disruption Assistance can rebook you on another airline if your flight falls through. Unless you’re getting a full refund, don’t cancel your flight just because it might get messy. You’ve got options — just keep your cool and a portable charger (or two) handy. 

Related: Canadians Are Still Boycotting Travel to the US — and the Cost Is Astonishing (CBC)

Health

Planned Parenthood's SOS

What's going on: A new report from Planned Parenthood says its clinics are “being pushed to the brink.” The organization warned on Wednesday that federal funding cuts have forced 20 clinic closures — on top of two dozen it shuttered earlier this year. Back in July, the Trump administration blocked Planned Parenthood from getting Medicaid reimbursements for essential reproductive health services like cervical cancer screenings and birth control visits. Since those changes took effect, the nonprofit says it has poured tens of millions into care for lower-income patients — stretching the organization’s resources.

What it means: Planned Parenthood — the largest abortion provider in the US — says it’s committed to providing abortions, but that it’s getting harder to fulfill that mission while also prioritizing essential services. At least seven states have stepped in to help fill the financial gap, yet it’s not nearly enough. Without a lifeline, CEO Alexis McGill Johnson warns, more closures are likely. “The damage will only grow,” she said, leaving patients with fewer places to turn for basic care. The warning came the same day an appeals court heard arguments in Planned Parenthood’s fight to restore Medicaid reimbursements — a reminder that this battle is far from over.

Related: These Anti-Abortion Groups Are Putting Their Money Where Their Mouth Is (Politico)

Culture

The Moms Are Not Alright

What's going on: We’re still months away from Mother’s Day, but Hollywood can’t stop putting moms on the big screen right now — and they aren’t just supporting characters. Two movies are currently driving the conversation: Jennifer Lawrence’s Die My Love and Rose Byrne’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. As Glamour puts it, they’re all about the mom meltdown. Lawrence portrays a new mom battling postpartum depression, and Byrne plays a single mother caring for a sick child while trying to hold it together. The stories are wildly different, but the women do share this: valid crash-outs. And in each case, a frustrating partner helps push them there. (Because honestly, who gives a new mom a puppy?)

What it means: Motherhood in America is a pressure cooker. Child care costs averaged $13,000 in 2024, according to one report. Nearly half of all mothers report symptoms of postpartum depression. Add the centuries-old demand to be the “perfect mom,” and it’s no wonder so many feel like they’re falling apart. These films don’t just tell that story — they confront it. Each one holds up a mirror to how society rushes to judge mothers for cracking under impossible expectations instead of asking what broke them in the first place. The result? A cultural moment that feels less like escapism and more like recognition. The only question now: Will people watch a movie that feels this close to real life?

Related: There Might Be a Blood Test To Determine a Mother’s Risk of Postpartum Depression (Smithsonian)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ Bad Bunny and Shakira take the stage at the Latin Grammy Awards.

🗓️ Will “MomTok” survive a third season? Secret Lives of Mormon Wives returns to Hulu.

🗓️ National Dream Destination Day — a little bit of mental escapism never hurt.

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

Highlight Reel

BY SKIMM SPORTS

The week's sports news and culture stories, ranked.

Hang it in the Louvre: We finally know what it looks like when five grown men fight over frozen rubber on ice. To be fair it was a big game.

Chaotic: NWSL “silly season” is here. Time to expect the unexpected — and maybe a little panic in the group chat.

Vaulting ahead: Simone Biles says she’s taken on a new “daring” sport. Bet she’ll be elite at this too. 

1, 2 Step: Ciara joined Serena and Venus Williams on their pod and broke it down — literally. Someone check on Serena’s back.

Know It All

Which company is seeing NVIDIA-like stock growth fueled by millennial nostalgia, birthday parties, and a lifestyle rebrand?

Game Time

Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.