After Iowa Chaos, New Hampshire Primaries Give Voters Some Clarity

Voters finished casting their ballots in the New Hampshire primary elections yesterday, and here’s how things shook out:

 

Bernie Sanders: 26%
Pete Buttigieg: 24%
Amy Klobuchar: 20%
Elizabeth Warren: 9%
Joseph Biden: 8%

 

Why Do These Results Matter?

 

While New Hampshire doesn’t actually have that many delegates for candidates to win, the results from the primary are important because, well, everyone is paying attention to them.

 

If a candidate does well in New Hampshire, their campaign usually sees a boost in donations, media coverage, and positive public attention. (And if they do poorly, then the opposite is true.)

 

The New Hampshire results are especially important this year considering what happened in Iowa last week.

 

What Happened in Iowa?

 

A hot mess, basically.

 

The app that officials were using to report results crashed, there was trouble entering numbers manually into a secure system, and then volunteers struggled to verify results with emailed pictures of paper forms. The results finally came in several days late, and both Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders have requested a recanvass (a double-check by election officials).

 

For the first time since 2004, no one dropped out of the race after Iowa. That’s a pretty big deal because usually it really cuts down the field of candidates.

 

Because of all the missteps with reporting the results in Iowa, folks were counting on New Hampshire to give a clearer picture of what voters think about the candidates.

 

So What’s Next?

 

We’re already feeling the impact of the New Hampshire vote, as Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet have announced the end of their campaigns.

 

This vote isn’t a solid prediction of what’s to come, though. Historically, plenty of candidates have won the nomination without winning in New Hampshire, so really it’s all TBD.

 

Next up is the “First in the West” Nevada Caucus on Feb. 22!

 

Take Action: Take 2 minutes to make sure you’re registered to vote in the upcoming 2020 elections.

Parasite Becomes the First Non-English Language Film to Win Best Picture at the Oscars

Director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite earned its place in Oscars history Sunday night as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.

 

The film is a Korean comedy-thriller about socioeconomic inequality that follows a wealthy household and the family of con artists they unknowingly employ. It also earned awards for Best Directing, Best International Film, and Best Original Screenplay.

 

While the historic victory has been applauded as a milestone for Korean cinema, the Oscars are still getting a lot of heat for the Academy’s lack of overall diversity (and the way it’s reflected in the award nominees).

 

Janelle Monáe called attention to this issue in a really public way, performing at the awards show with dancers dressed as characters from snubbed Black-led films.

 

Take Action: Hollywood may have work to do when it comes to representation, but we can take control of the media we consume. Read and share our list of must-see Netflix shows and series for this Black History Month.

328 Days in Space: US Astronaut Finishes Record-Breaking Space Mission

US astronaut Christina Koch touched down on Earth after spending 328 days in space, making it the longest continuous spaceflight for a female astronaut.

 

For almost a year, Koch was living and working on the International Space Station (ISS). During her mission, she conducted experiments and investigations, finished six different spacewalks, and helped install new technology in the station.

 

This also isn’t the first time that Koch’s space travels have made headlines. Earlier this year, Koch made history with fellow astronaut Jessica Meir for completing the first ever, all-female space walk.

 

Koch’s contributions will help scientists better understand the impact of long-term spaceflight on human bodies (particularly female bodies), paving the way for future women in space.

Why aren’t more people talking about… how Thailand just experienced the worst mass shooting in the country’s recent history?

 

Meanwhile, in Antarctica… the continent experienced a record-high temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and an iceberg the size of Tampa broke off the Pine Island Glacier.

 

My hero today is… 9-year-old Timothy Prather, who saved his younger cousin from choking by performing the Heimlich maneuver.

 

My *other* heroes today are… these young women leading their student newsrooms and fighting for truth and justice in their communities.

 

Today in viral cuteness… this little girl’s adorable rant about her perfect attendance pencil (and the fact that some girl named Lizzy stole it even though she didn’t even EARN it cause she was in CANADA).

 

I’m obsessed with… “Ribs'' by Lorde but you’re in the bathroom at a party. (This is me formally coming out to y’all as a Lorde stan because TBH my only wish is melodrama.)

HEY! Do You Remember Anthony?

 

For those just joining us, Anthony is the other half of this news-changing duo. He and I usually send The Breakdown twice a week (things have been a little different this past month because our Editor-in-chief was away on sabbatical).

 

Anthony has been working behind-the-scenes, but he’ll be back in your inbox soon, so let’s welcome him back with a poll!

 

Tell us: On a scale of 1-7, how excited are you for Anthony to be back?

Finding this newsletter useful? Forward today's edition to a friend and encourage them to subscribe.

 

Copyright © 2020, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: 19 West 21st Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010