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"Diva" – The name of a giant vagina sculpture on a Brazilian hillside. It's (c)lit.

Things We Don’t Know

What Happens to Congress

The Story

Today, we might find out who controls the Senate.

Go on.

Yesterday, Georgians went to the polls to vote in two Senate runoff elections. And one of those seats went blue. Rev. Raphael Warnock (D) beat out incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R). In a virtual speech, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church – where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as co-pastor with his father – promised he'd "work for all of Georgia." He will be Georgia's first Black senator.

What does that mean for the Senate?

Who controls it depends on the still-too-close-to-call results of the race between incumbent Sen. David Perdue (R) and his challenger Jon Ossoff (D). If Perdue wins, Republicans will control the Senate 51-49. If Ossoff wins, both he and Warnock will have made history, and there will be a 50-50 tie in the Senate. VP-elect Kamala Harris will then act as the tiebreaker. Final numbers are expected to come today.

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All eyes are on Georgia's record turnout runoff elections. And whichever party wins will play a significant role in whether President-elect Joe Biden can implement his legislative agenda.

PS: This is a developing story. These results have been tabulated based on sources' projected winners and could change once all ballots have been counted. Follow us @theSkimm for the latest.

What Happens in Congress

The Story

Today, we'll find out if Congress faces a partisan showdown.

Over what?

The 2020 election. Today, Congress certifies President-elect Joe Biden's 306 electoral votes – a typically easy process. But at least 13 Republican Senators plan to object to the Electoral College results by challenging some states' certification. And they want a commission to start a 10-day audit into allegations of voter fraud. (Note: there has been no evidence of widespread voter fraud.)

Will this change the end results?

Unlikely. But it could delay Biden's certification. The whole process is being viewed as a loyalty test to President Trump. Especially for VP Mike Pence, who's been pressured by the president to reject the results. And had to remind him that the Constitution doesn't allow that. While this unfolds on TV (FYI: it starts at 1pm ET), some pro-Trump supporters plan to protest in Washington, DC.

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The 2020 election is closer to officially being over. But President Trump and his supporters aren't going down without a fight. Now, many wait to see if the democratic principles outlined in the Constitution still stand tall despite this unprecedented attack.

And Also...This

What people are watching...

Kenosha, WI. Yesterday, county District Attorney Michael Graveley announced the police officer who shot Jacob Blake will not face any criminal charges. In August, a white police officer shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back as he leaned into his SUV, where his kids were in the back seat. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down and sparked nationwide protests and riots. Graveley said investigators reviewed over 40 hours of video and hundreds of pages of police reports. And said that Blake was "clearly armed with a knife," and had admitted to it. Blake's family lawyer said they were disappointed with the decision and that it failed "the community that protested and demanded justice."

• Calls for justice: Blake's shooting came amid mounting protests against police brutality and racial inequality. And rising calls for justice. Now, Kenosha is bracing for more protests, and the governor has mobilized 500 National Guard troops.

...Oh and speaking of Kenosha, Kyle Rittenhouse pleaded not guilty after he was charged with killing two people and injuring a third at a protest there following Blake's shooting.

Where people are raising alarms…

Hong Kong. Yesterday, dozens of opposition figures there were arrested under China's national security law. The reason? Because they were reportedly "subverting state power" (which basically means: trying to overturn power) when they held unofficial primaries last July in hopes of winning a majority in Hong Kong's legislature. The arrests (which are considered the largest crackdown since the law was enacted) happened early in the morning local time and took many by surprise. And there's more. Since many have been denied bail, they could be sitting in jail for weeks until formal hearings begin.

Who's about to knock your Sox off…

Bianca Smith. Earlier this week, the Boston Red Sox announced they hired Smith as a Minor League coach. The move makes her the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball. Smith said she hopes this will "inspire other women who are interested in this game." Home run.

Who's on a Heisman high...

DeVonta Smith.

What went south...

The Wests, apparently.

You don't need to be a resolution person to want some adjustments after 2020. Like making meal time easier. That's why we partnered with Daily Harvest to help you stock your home with clean, yummy food that's built from real fruits and vegetables. Without further ado...

A berry refreshing way to start the day. This strawberry, peach smoothie perfectly blends sweet and satisfying. Waking up just got delicious-er.

A fiber-packed, flavorful flatbread. Say that five times fast. This one has a sweet potato crust, roasted red cabbage, tender kale, and zesty cilantro sauce. Chef's kiss.

The healthier version of mint chocolate chip ice cream. This rich, plant-based treat is 100% dairy- and refined sugar-free. Creamy, cool, and chocolate-y? Talk about a triple threat.

PS: All ingredients are frozen at peak ripeness, nothing's artificial, and everything is ready in minutes. Oh, and Skimm'rs get $25 off their first box. Order up.

It's day four of our 21-day How to Skimm Your Life Challenge where we're helping you make small changes in your wallet, career, well-being, and more.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the freshest of them all? It's time to check in on your makeup. Because it does expire. So open all (yes, all) your products to see if anything smells off or has changed color or texture. Then get rid of anything past its prime.

Snow White would be proud. Now whistle while you...Check out our past challenges here.

For when your top drawer could use a refresh…

Lively's got you covered. They have all the bras, underwear, and swimwear you need to kick off the new year. Oh, and super soft loungewear and PJs, too. PS: Skimm'rs get 15% off their first purchase. Stock up.*

For when the scariest part of 2020 was your credit card balance...

See if transferring it to a new card can help you save. The Ascent recommends this one. Because it doesn't charge any interest for 18 whole months. And there's no annual fee. Get the deets.*

Skimm’rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

A living mission...Camille G N (MI). She's the executive director of the Children's Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region, which has a mission to expand awareness about the impact of grief and each individual's ability to build resilience and strength to work through it. Learn more.

Educating through film...Amanda D (TN). She's producing an independent documentary series about special needs caregivers. Her team is currently raising funds for the first episode and just released a trailer. Check it out.

(Some) Birthdays...Lauren Roberts (NY), Mary Dubois (IL), Chris Essner (NJ), Gina Angrisano (NY), Jackie Grenier (NY), Susan Mazza (NY), Norah Cox (CA), Skylar Allen (CA), Ellen Seercewski (CT), Arlene Geis (NC), Nora Bolster (NY), Crystal Diamond (KS), Catherine Ross (NC), Dianne Field (TX)

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Skimm Share

Skimm HQ is participating in the 21-day challenge to start our year off right. Share theSkimm with your friend who's ready to make small changes.

Skimm’d by Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Kamini Ramdeen, and Clem Robineau

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