THE BIG STORY

Today is the day of the Iowa caucuses

Because democracy is an enigma wrapped in a mystery, for some reason the start of the political theater leading up to an election in the US starts in a state with 1% of the population, and which is more than 90% white.

Iowa is going to choose a candidate, properly kicking off primary season in America. As caucus day arrives, Sen. Bernie Sanders is seeing a significant surge in the polls. Four months after a heart attack almost threatened to end his campaign, Sanders could be on the verge of a remarkable vindication — just don’t ask him about it.

One of the reasons Iowa is dramatic: The caucus system allows for supporters to pick a second choice if their candidate doesn’t clear a 15% viability threshold. Supporters of Andrew Yang — yes, he’s still in — haven’t yet picked a second choice.

Meanwhile, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is promising Iowa voters electability. But much like mayor Pete Buttigieg, she’s polling near zero percent with black voters nationwide. John Kerry, who lost to George W. Bush, made the electability case for Joe Biden.

Is the Democratic party fractured? Moderate Iowa Democrats told us they would definitely vote for Sanders if he wins the nomination, even as the party establishment becomes concerned about a Sanders win. “I would vote for my dead cat over Trump,” someone told us at a Biden campaign stop.

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Senate Republicans blocked witnesses from appearing in Trump’s impeachment trial

Democrats were hoping four Republican senators would join them in voting to consider witnesses but they got only two: Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah. They were defeated in a 51–49 vote.

The decision means that senators will not hear from former national security adviser John Bolton, the one senior Trump administration figure who had agreed to appear before the Senate trial if subpoenaed.

The vote came after Republicans said Trump did what he is accused of — they just don’t care.

The trial now moves on to its final stages. Trump is all but certain to be acquitted of both impeachment articles by the Republican majority, and remain in office.

Impeachment Today

And nothing new was ever learned. What happens now that the Senate has opted not to hear new witnesses? We get into the details of it. Listen and subscribe.

SNAPSHOTS

The UK left the European Union after almost half a century of membership. After three and a half years of bitter division and political turmoil since the Brexit vote, the UK left the group chat. Here’s what the exact moment looked like in photos.

The Trump administration declared coronavirus a public health emergency in the US. The announcement triggers mandatory quarantines for US citizens traveling from the epicenter of the disease in China's Hubei province. Travelers from elsewhere in China would be asked to self-quarantine at home.

Best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark has died at 92. In a career spanning over 45 years, Higgins Clark wrote 56 books, each one a best seller; over 100 million copies have sold in the US alone. She was known as the “queen of suspense.”

The 2020 BAFTAs were last night. The British movie awards opened with a monologue on diversity, while Brad Pitt made a joke about Prince Harry moving to Canada in front of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Here’s the full list of winners.

The Kansas City Chiefs staged a massive comeback to win the Super Bowl last night. People had strong thoughts about a new mascot for Planters, named #BabyNut. Jennifer Lopez brought a stripper pole to the half-time show, and the internet loved it. People couldn’t believe she is 50, and Shakira is 43. J.Lo’s 11-year-old daughter Emme also sang.

IN THE MIX

Here’s what it’s like to be an expat living in China through the coronavirus outbreak

The Chinese city of Wuhan, in Hubei province is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. The whole city is on lockdown, with public transportation closed, outbound flights suspended and roads out of the city blocked.

While the number of confirmed cases elsewhere has remained comparatively small, in Wuhan, they number in the thousands. This said, the panic generated by the coronavirus has managed to spread far beyond China’s borders.

We spoke to five British expat teachers living in China, all of whom are currently unsure about when they will be able to return to work as the coronavirus has meant the school holiday period has been extended.

A PIECE OF GENIUS

In praise of Jason Momoa’s Super Bowl commercial

Without spoiling it for you, Moma starred in a Quicken Loans commercial, and people are loving the concept so much. It involves the actor getting home, and just, uh, kicking back and unwinding.

Reserve some gentle words for yourself today,

Elamin