Pentagon Orders Review Of Overseas Social Media Campaigns
The Pentagon has ordered a review of how it conducts clandestine information warfare after social media giants Twitter and Meta reportedly removed fake accounts suspected of being run by the US military.
The call for review came last week when Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl reportedly asked the military commands participating in online psychological operations (PSYOP) to give a complete rundown of their activities by next month.
In August, researchers from the Stanford Internet Observatory and social network analysis firm Graphika reported that more than 150 fake accounts created in the US have been removed from Twitter and Meta in recent years.
Pro-establishment narrative
The US government is in the tricky position of having to maintain its credibility and uphold its values without abandoning the online PSYOP battlefield. US adversaries are at the forefront of online propaganda, spreading misinformation and fomenting global unrest, and the US must take a stance. Hopefully, this review will shed some light on the military's information warfare and pave the way to a new digital-age hearts-and-minds campaign.
Establishment-critical narrative
While not illegal, using ersatz social media accounts is dangerous and hypocritical. The US has long condemned countries like China and Russia for their use of propaganda but has been quick to implement its own social media-driven PSYOP, with embarrassingly unsuccessful results. It's time to turn the page.
Trump Lawyers Oppose 'Declassification' Details for Special Master
During a hearing on Tuesday, the federal judge who was appointed "special master" to review the documents seized from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence questioned the former president's lawyers over their reluctance to confirm whether the records are declassified, as Trump has claimed.
This comes as on Monday, Trump's legal team expressed opposition to Judge Dearie's request to reveal information regarding the declassification of some documents, claiming it could compromise Trump's defense should he be indicted.
Judge Dearie was appointed as special master last week by Judge Aileen Cannon following a request from Trump's attorneys, who argued that an independent arbiter was needed to review and separate documents subject to attorney-client privilege.
Democratic narrative
Trump's lawyers requested a 'special master review' and suggested Dearie for this role, but it's apparent that Dearie isn't going to be as favorable to Trump's cause as Cannon. The review might still be advantageous for Trump, but with Dearie on the case, there's some hope the former president will be held accountable.
Pro-Trump narrative
A potential criminal trial on the rightful return of Trump's personal property would be the right place to explain the declassification of the documents, not the special master review. Explaining these claims to the special master would compromise the Trump legal team's arguments and isn't required by the District Court's order.
Nerd narrative
There's a 21% chance that Donald Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 210 Roundup: Putin Declares Partial Military Mobilization as World Leaders Gather at UN
On Wednesday, in a rare videotaped address to the nation, Russian Pres. Putin announced the partial mobilization of Russia's military. He described the decision as "necessary and urgent," claiming that the West had "crossed all lines" by sending advanced weaponry to Ukraine.
Roughly 300K reservists will reportedly be called up. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that only people with relevant combat and service experience will be mobilized and that only around 1% of the 25M who meet these criteria will be utilized under the new campaign.
Wednesday's address also saw Putin accuse the West of "nuclear blackmail," pointing to alleged "statements of some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia."
Pro-Russia narrative
These mobilization measures are a response to Western aggression that will help protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regions within the Russian Federation. Only citizens with prior military experience will be called up and will undergo further military training before being dispatched to support military units in this special operation. The government will also provide defense units with all the supplies and financial resources necessary for success.
Anti-Russia narrative
This mobilization is the desperate move of a Russian regime under military and domestic threat. Russia's military has already sustained significant loses, and the recent Ukrainian counteroffensive has revealed the vulnerability of Russia's overstretched invasion forces. Even some on the political right in Russia are beginning to criticize the sustainability of the invasion, while evidence has emerged that the Kremlin is desperately coercing groups, including prisoners, to volunteer for service.
Nerd narrative
There is a 24% chance that a coup or regime change will take place in Russia in 2022 or 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Joint Investigation Says Abu Akleh’s Killing ‘Deliberate’
A joint investigation by Forensic Architecture, a London-based multidisciplinary research group, and Al-Haq, a Palestinian rights group, has refuted Israel’s account that the killing of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was accidental.
The analysis reportedly includes a detailed digital reconstruction of the incident based on previously unseen footage recorded by Al Jazeera staff at the scene and witness testimony, open-source video, and a drone survey of the area.
The report's reconstruction of events concluded that there were neither armed gunmen nor shots fired in the minutes leading up to Abu Akleh’s killing, directly contradicting the Israeli military's assertion of accidental death.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's denial that one of its soldiers intentionally killed Abu Akleh is becoming farcical as new evidence continues to prove otherwise. The Israeli sniper could clearly see that Abu Akleh was a journalist and fired at her and those who tried to help her for two minutes. Israel must be held accountable for this terrible crime.
Pro-Israel narrative
Though this recent investigation may seem like a smoking gun, Al Jazeera hasn't made public the unseen footage it gave to Forensic Architecture and Al-Haq. Accordingly, its findings are hearsay until they can be verified by independent observers. In addition, Al-Haq is associated with the terrorist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which cannot be trusted considering its criminal history. There is still no reason to believe that Abu Akleh's killing was deliberate.
US Republicans Block ‘Dark Money’ Bill
On Thursday, US Senate Republicans blocked a bill that aimed to combat 'dark money' — political funds with unknown donors — in US elections.
The bill, known as the DISCLOSE Act, would've required political groups to disclose donors who contribute $10k or more during an election cycle and would've banned donations from foreign entities.
With only 49 votes in favor in the 100-member Senate, the bill fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed.
Democratic narrative
Transparency is a pillar of democratic governance, and "dark money" goes directly against this. An unregulated campaign finance system allows rich businesses to manipulate the system and is as much of a threat to US democracy as coup plots, such as the Jan. 6 attack. Not passing the DISCLOSE Act is a blow to the country.
Republican narrative
The DISCLOSE Act was a brazen violation of every American's right to free speech and would've created repercussions for organizations that simply wanted to participate in democracy. The bill — which defied significant Supreme Court precedent — was clearly an attempt to retaliate against speakers with "unfavorable" political ideas.
China Seeking Peaceful 'Reunification' With Taiwan
A PRC government official said Wednesday that Beijing is willing to do its utmost to achieve peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. Tensions over the island have recently escalated following the trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and subsequent Chinese military drills.
According to the spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Bureau, the reunification of China and Taiwan is inevitable, though Taiwan could maintain its own social system to ensure the continuation of the Taiwanese way of life, including religious freedom.
Referencing the formula by which Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997, Beijing is proposing the "one country, two systems" model for Taiwan. However, the concept is reportedly widely criticized in Taiwan's political and public spheres.
Anti-China narrative
Apart from the fact that only about 5% of Taiwanese support reunification with mainland China, Beijing's idea of a "homogeneous Chinese people" on either side of the Taiwan Strait doesn't correspond to the reality of two fundamentally different political and social cultures. Hong Kong is the best example of how Beijing would seek to undermine Taiwan's liberal and democratic values following reunification.
Pro-China narrative
The historical and legal facts leave no doubt that Taiwan is part of Mainland China - affirmed by the "One-China" principle recognized by the UN and the US. Washington, however, undermines this agreement, and therefore regional stability - which is exacerbated by the mafia-like customs of the military-industrial complex. Moreover, the reunification of Taiwan with China isn't in Washington's strategic interest of containing China.
George Floyd: Former Officer Sentenced to 3 Years
On Wednesday, former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane was sentenced to three years as part of a plea deal for his involvement in the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Lane, who is already serving a 2.5-year federal sentence on charges of violating Floyd's civil rights, pleaded guilty in June to aiding and abetting the second-degree manslaughter of Floyd.
The former officer received a lesser sentence than the 41 months recommended. State prosecutors are allowing him to serve his federal and state sentences concurrently in federal prison.
Left narrative
Despite playing an active role in Floyd's death, Lane is getting away largely unscathed this sentencing is nothing more than a slap on the wrist and is a step back in the fight against the police violence that has fueled racial unrest.
Right narrative
While Lane certainly played a role on that tragic day, he's not the monster some accuse him of being. He was a rookie who tried to take charge in a crisis but was dismissed by his superior, Chauvin. Now he's paying the price for someone else's actions.
House to Vote on Bipartisan Election Law Overhaul
The US House is set to vote on the bipartisan Presidential Election Reform Act, introduced by Representatives Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) to reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887 in response to the Jan.6 Capitol riots.
The new legislation would prevent the vice president from overruling states' election results, and would narrow the amount of time and the number of reasons members of Congress can use to object to the results.
It would also require governors to certify legitimate election results and allow candidates to take non-conforming governors to court. Under the new act, state election laws wouldn't be allowed to change after an election.
Republican narrative
In a violation of free speech, Democrats are trying to prevent anyone — including the presidential candidates themselves — from objecting to the results of an election unless those objections meet a very narrow list of specifications. This bill is as illegitimate as the Jan. 6 Committee, which wasn’t even bipartisan due to the House Speaker refusing to seat the GOP’s desired committee members.
Democratic narrative
Republican animosity toward election reform laws shows they’re willing to allow Trump to attempt to steal an election in the future, so it’s imperative this new bill is passed while Democrats have the majority in both chambers. They should next focus on protecting voting rights for those in danger of being disenfranchised by future Supreme Court rulings.
Health Panel: US Adults Need Routine Anxiety Screening
Following the conclusion of a review that started before COVID, the US Preventive Services Task Force on Tuesday recommended that US doctors regularly screen all adults under 65 for anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health problems in the US. According to Lori Pbert, a task force member and co-author of the report, roughly 40% of women in the US, and more than one in four men, will face an issue with anxiety at some point in their lives.
Some ethnic and social groups are at more risk than others - including Black people, people living in poverty, and those who have lost partners.
Right narrative
While it's good that society takes mental illness seriously, now even the most mundane irritations are hastily attributed to underlying clinical issues. "Safetyism," "microaggressions," "identity politics," and "intersectionality" have weakened people's resilience to the point that they can't cope with being offended or challenged. This rampant overdiagnosis needs to stop.
Left narrative
This isn't about so-called "overdiagnosis." There was a genuine and rapid rise in mental health pressures during the pandemic due to the virus and related stressors. Adults across the US are at risk, and proactive screening would help many receive the specialist care they require and deserve to protect their quality of life.
Nerd narrative
There is a 70% chance that psilocybin will be an accepted treatment for end-of-life anxiety by January 1st, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UN Chief Calls for 'Energy Windfall Tax' on Polluters
On Tuesday, at the UN General Assembly in front of 193 world leaders, UN Chief Antonio Guterres called on wealthy nations to tax windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and use those funds to pay countries harmed by climate change.
Guterres said that "polluters must pay" for the damages caused by heatwaves, floods, droughts, and other disasters believed to be linked to climate change. He declared that the taxes collected should be directed "to countries suffering loss and damage" and "to people struggling with rising food and energy prices."
In his speech, the UN chief demanded accountability for "enablers" who are complicit in the damages caused by fossil fuel companies. These include banks, private equity firms, asset managers, and public relations firms that invest, promote, and underwrite carbon pollution.
Establishment-critical narrative
A large portion of people vulnerable to climate change, roughly 3.5B people, are located in the global south. Calls for wealthier nations to pay up are getting louder. Types of reparations can include apologies, compensation, and legislation to ensure that the harm ends and will not be repeated. Impacted nations are rightfully demanding that the exploitation end and a period of healing begins.
Pro-establishment narrative
Despite the understandable intent, calls for a windfall tax on energy-producing companies will damage the global economy. It's not a good move to penalize entities to stimulate economic growth. A better approach would be for all nations to invest in renewable and climate-friendly energy infrastructure - this would protect the environment while building green energy deliberately over time.