Could Texas Be a Bellwether for the Midterms?

Politics

Could Texas Be a Bellwether for the Midterms?

What's going on: It’s not every day that a special election makes headlines, but when it produces one of the biggest upsets in decades, the story tends to linger. Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and machinist, defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss — 57% to 43% — in a historically conservative seat. He’s the first Democrat elected to represent northern Tarrant County since the 1980s, though only until November (the seat opened mid-term, triggering a special election). The upset surprised both parties, with Republicans scrambling to figure out what happened. While President Donald Trump said he hadn’t heard of the “local” contest (despite endorsing Wambsganss), another GOP lawmaker blamed the loss on the weather. One conservative strategist struck a more sober note, calling the loss a reminder that November will be a real fight.

What it means: Tarrant County’s upset isn’t just a Texas story — it echoes in battlegrounds across the US. The county has acted as a political bellwether for years, and gives hope to Democrats who have their sights set on larger gains this fall. But political strategists caution that special elections are quirky, with turnout typically low compared to larger elections. The true test arrives in November, when Rehmet faces Wambsganss again for a full term. That’s also when voters in states like Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina head to the polls in races that could shape control of Congress and governorships. For a state-by-state look at the key contests, check out this guide to the most important midterm elections.

Related: Republicans Are Raising Far More Money Than Democrats Ahead of the Midterms (Associated Press)

The News in 5

🗞️ We all know the job market isn’t great, but we’re not going to know (yet) how January fared, thanks to the shutdown.

🗞️ President Donald Trump announced the US solidified a trade deal with India after months of back and forth, agreeing to lower tariffs.

🗞️ Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to testify in the House’s Epstein probe ahead of a looming contempt vote. Here’s what happens next.

🗞️ Arizona officials released new details in the disappearance of TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother.

🗞️ A Florida couple is suing an IVF clinic after the birth of their daughter revealed they have “no genetic relationship.”

Care

Swiping for a Co-Parent

What’s going on: Once upon a nursery rhyme, love came first. The modern parenting remix doesn’t wait for sparks — it asks who’s actually showing up. The New York Times reports rising interest in platonic co-parenting, with apps like Modamily, CoParents, and LetsBeParents helping tens of thousands plan families without centering romance. The conversations often skip the butterflies and get practical fast — focusing on feelings about screen time, religion, and whether someone can reliably keep a shared Google calendar alive. The path itself isn’t new; many LGBTQIA+ couples have long built families this way. But the scale and the apps make these arrangements easier to find and formalize. 

Tell me more: Platonic co-parenting gives you permission to stop waiting for Mr. or Mrs. Right to sync perfectly with your timeline, let alone text back. It’s a shift from chemistry to consistency. If you do find someone who aligns with your values, experts recommend you talk through this major life choice with a mental health professional or legal expert. Then, focus on getting things in writing. You should work up a co-parenting contract that covers everything from custody and finances to school pickup, child-care costs, and how you’ll handle conflict. And while this might sound unconventional, early research suggests it works — a 2025 study published through the National Library of Medicine found that kids in these households were just as emotionally and behaviorally healthy as traditional setups.

Related: Can AI Be the New Village for Working Parents? (Fast Company)

Relationships

It Might Be Time To Leave Your Mom Group

What’s going on: Making friends as an adult is hard. Making them while exhausted, overscheduled, and emotionally raw? Even harder. Enter: the mom group. They can offer a built-in community — a place to swap advice, crowdsource answers to the awkward questions, and vent without judgment. These groups can matter most for families without nearby relatives or a built-in support system to call when the baby won’t sleep, eat, or stop doing that weird thing. You also need people who get it, whether that connection happens at playdates, a Little League game, or mom’s night out. As with any friendship, these circles aren’t without conflict. While many moms in survival mode use them as a lifeline, some can become competitive or cliquey (just look at Ashley Tisdale French’s very public breakup with hers). Others leave people out, compare kids in not-so-subtle ways, or make social pressure feel constant. 

What it means: If you walk away from conversations feeling worse or isolated, it could be time to break up with your mom group. One psychologist told The Wall Street Journal she recommends starting with an honest conversation with the person you trust most in the group. Their response can clarify whether the relationship deserves repair, distance, or a quiet pull away. There’s no need to put effort into people or “friends” who consistently make you feel small. She also tied this tension to matrescence — a psychological shift in women after becoming mothers, similar to adolescence. So yes, it can be awkward, emotional, and destabilizing. But fortunately, like other life phases, it doesn’t last forever — and there are ways to move through it.

Related: How Some Mom Groups Are Organizing in Minneapolis (Vogue)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ President Donald Trump will be hosting Colombian President Gustavo Petro for the first time. Things are…tense.

🗓️ House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) predicts that the partial government shutdown will end by today. It’s called a wait-and-see game for a reason.

🗓️ It’s the 40th anniversary of Pixar. Time to rewatch the two movies Kate McKinnon says contain “ancient wisdom.”

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

Winter Sales

Punxsutawney Phil has spoken: We’re in for quite a few more weeks of winter. As a little pick-me-up, we’ve gathered some Skimm'r-exclusive discounts, plus internet-wide sales that are too good to miss. Check out:  

• 20% off luxury laundry detergent to elevate your chores (use code SKIMM20)

• 20% off a pointelle cardigan you can wear through spring (use code THESKIMM20)

• A sale on the most comfortable bras

Know It All

McDonald’s really wants to elevate your Valentine’s Day experience with this new nugget topping.

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Stephanie Gallman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.