The Smile: 10/21

Arlington County steps up to protect voters, elderly cats have a safe place, and more!

October 21, 2026

Hi friend,

Happy Wednesday! Arlington County, Virginia, is taking the Trump administration to court to protect voters from intimidation at the polls ahead of the midterm elections. The county has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent armed ICE and FBI agents from conducting enforcement operations at polling places, arguing that their presence could intimidate voters and violate federal law.

There's even more good news today: Texas's five largest counties are shattering early voting records, congressional Democrats are preparing investigations into Elon Musk's government dealings and potential conflicts of interest, and a heartwarming retirement village is giving elderly cats a safe place to spend their golden years!

Let’s dive into the good news! 💛

Today’s user-submitted photo comes from Joanne E., who shared this adorable photo of her granddog, Buddy! 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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