Hey News-Changers. The new year just started, and there’s already a lot going on in the country and around the world.

Yesterday, the Kenosha County district attorney announced that no charges would be brought against the officer who shot and paralyzed Jacob Blake in August (to learn more about the shooting and ensuing protests, check out our explainer). Following the announcement, Kenosha residents took to the streets for a peaceful protest in Blake’s honor.

Meanwhile, folks in Georgia took to the polls as their Senate runoff elections came to a close. Keep scrolling to learn how the races unfolded -- and why the winners can thank young Black voters for their victory.

Let’s Do This,

Jackie

With the Nation’s Eyes on Georgia, Democrats Warnock and Ossoff Take the Lead in the Runoff Races

Plus, Gen Z (and young Black voters in particular) make their mark on the runoff elections.

So Who Won?

Several news outlets have called one of the Georgia races for Democratic candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock, beating out Republican opponent Sen. Kelly Loeffler.

Democrat Jon Ossoff has declared victory in the remaining race over Republican Sen. David Perdue, and some projections favor him to be the eventual winner, but the race is too close to call for most.

What Are The Georgia Runoffs?

On November 3, no candidate in Georgia’s two Senate races reached the required 50% threshold to win, so the state held runoff elections to decide their senators. Early voting began December 14 and ended yesterday.

Why Are The Runoffs So Important?

If both Democratic candidates defeat their Republican incumbent opponents, then the Democrats will have 50 seats in the Senate plus Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s tie-breaking vote. Coupled with Democrats’ current control of the House of Representatives and an incoming Democratic president, it would give the party more power in passing legislation (though a 50-50 Senate still doesn’t guarantee that it’ll be easy).

How is Gen Z Impacting the Runoffs?

Young voters (particularly young Black voters) were hugely influential in President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia, and they’re expected to have made a similar impact on the runoffs.

Georgia currently has the highest number of Black youth registered to vote in any state. In November, it also had one of the highest youth voter turnouts in the country, and young Georgians showed similar enthusiasm for the runoff elections, with exceptionally high early voter turnout.

Why Such High Turnout for Young Black Voters?

Young people of color have historically faced disproportionate barriers to voting, including the closing of polling places in Black communities and more difficulty acquiring needed ID. Understanding this, a lot of folks have made specific outreach efforts for these communities to help make their voices heard -- including the voters themselves.

Whether it’s through TikTok or texts and dating apps, youth-led efforts to get out the vote have been going strong for months leading up to the runoffs. And from early voter turnout data, it seems to have paid off in big ways at the polls.

Register to vote in the midterm elections on November 8, 2022. (Check your state’s requirements -- you may be eligible to register early if you'll be 18 by Election Day!)

Why aren’t more people talking about… how the officers who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland in 2014 won’t face federal charges?

Meanwhile, in Brazil… a group of students launched a successful campaign to get their state government to reduce taxes on menstrual products.

My hero today is… 9-year-old Josh Cox, who used his savings to buy bikes for 20 kids this Christmas.

This week in Black joy… Mr. Prather’s virtual class has got some super cute dance moves.

Today in viral cuteness… this pup wandered into the middle of a professional soccer match and then got adopted by one of the players.

I’m obsessed with… Mila Tequila, a TikToker-turned-YouTuber who makes videos about early 2000’s pop culture and has single handedly convinced me that Lindsay Lohan deserves to make a comeback.