The Smile: 1/23

A judge protects voting rights in Virginia, Democrats gain momentum, and Stacey Abrams builds pro-democracy power!

January 23, 2026

Hi friend,

Happy Friday! A federal judge just delivered a huge win for democracy — ruling that Virginia unlawfully denied voting rights to hundreds of thousands of people, helping restore the promise that our elections should include every eligible voice.

And there’s more good news to wrap up the week: New York’s GOP-held House map is facing new scrutiny, Democrats are gaining ground in key polling, and Stacey Abrams is building a powerful coalition to fight authoritarianism and strengthen democracy nationwide.

Let’s dive into the good news! 💛

Today’s user-submitted photo comes from Belinda K., who shared this beautiful photo of the sky! If you want the chance to have your photo featured, reply to this email 😄

Thank you for reading, and we hope these articles shine a light on your day.

In solidarity,

Emily from The Smile

P.S. Know someone who could use a dose of good news? Forward this email and encourage them to subscribe to The Smile. Let’s spread the positivity together. 🌟

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