Tesla Unveils Optimus Humanoid Robot
On Friday, Tesla unveiled a prototype of its Optimus humanoid robot that, for the first time, was able to perform without support. It was seen walking, raising its hands, and executing other basic functions.
The robot was revealed at Tesla's AI 2022, with Elon Musk promising to deliver a commercial product that will likely cost consumers less than $20k. While there has yet to be a set timeframe for availability, Musk mentioned that the product could be ready for purchase in 3-5 years.
Narrative A
Tesla is failing to meet the standard it set for itself. There was nothing wrong with the Optimus prototype, but there was nothing right with it, either. Based on what was unveiled, Tesla's robot will not make the same industry splash as Musk did with SpaceX and electric cars.
Narrative B
Tesla has secured the best AI talent to build Optimus, and the outlook of this latest venture is promising. A fully functioning robot could increase labor and productivity, potentially changing the economy as we know it. Musk's robot will encompass the same Tesla Vision approach used on its industry-changing cars; why shouldn't Optimus experience the same success?
Cynical narrative
Regardless of whether Optimus is successful or not, the intent behind its production is concerning. This type of technology can completely alter our future and revamp our industries. While this may sound like a good thing, our environment was made by humans for humans, and, in its attempt to fit into our domain, this endeavor could bring more problems than its worth.
Brazil: Presidential Race Goes To Bolsonaro-Lula Runoff
Brazil's Electoral Superior Court announced on Sunday that Pres. Jair Bolsonaro and former Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will compete in a second-round run-off, on Oct. 30, after no candidate won over 50% of the vote in the presidential election.
With over 99% of electronic votes counted, left-wing Lula da Silva is leading with 48.4% of the vote against 43.2% for the right-wing incumbent Bolsonaro. More than 123M Brazilians turned out to vote on Sunday with 32M abstaining.
Left narrative
Bolsonaro has overseen an abysmal response to COVID, severe economic mismanagement, accelerated deforestation of the Amazon, soaring inflation, rising poverty rates, and a surge in membership of neo-Nazi groups. His administration has represented little more than a full-on assault on public services and the environment in favor of capital. While Lula is running more to the center than as a left-leaning progressive, his popularity shows that Brazil is ready to move on.
Right narrative
Lula’s corruption conviction was overturned by a Supreme Federal Tribunal, which consists of ministers appointed either by Lula or his successors Dilma Rousseff and Michel Temer. While the mainstream media claims that Bolsonaro threatens democracy and the environment, during Lula's two terms as president Brazil deepened ties with authoritarian states such as China, Cuba, Russia, and Venezuela.
Cynical narrative
Although the Brazilian electoral dispute between a vengeful left and a toxic right will be hyped as a turning point for the nation, whoever takes office will have to deal with the hyper-fragmented party system that only benefits the “Centrão”, or the “Big Middle” – the congressional majority without clear principles that have historically been able to control presidents.
Nerd narrative
There's a 19% chance that Jair Bolsonaro will be president of Brazil on January 2, 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Burkina Faso: Damiba Agrees to Resign After Coup
On Sunday, Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba reportedly agreed to step down as Burkina Faso's interim president on conditions that include guaranteeing his safety and respecting the deadline to return to civilian rule within two years.
This comes after a faction of the Burkinabe military seized power in Burkina Faso on Friday and appointed Captain Ibrahim Traoré as the country's new president. His predecessor Damiba had himself come to power in a military coup in January after toppling former Pres. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Establishment-critical narrative
The recent coup and protests in Burkina Faso are an expression of growing frustration in the country and throughout the Sahel over France's neocolonial ambitions under the guise of fighting terrorism. Only when Paris abandons its complicity with regional elites and its exploitative policies will truly independent African nations succeed in overcoming jihadist terrorism.
Pro-establishment narrative
The coup in Burkina Faso should be a serious concern for Western governments. Taking advantage of the growing anti-French sentiment in the Sahel region, Moscow is now also likely to try to gain a foothold in Burkina Faso with the help of its Wagner mercenaries. There is no doubt, however, that Russia's aim isn't to fight terrorism but to secure access to the natural resources of fragile African nations.
Narrative C
Recent events in Burkina Faso are bad news on the road to a possible democratic transition. The renewed political instability is also likely to play into the hands of Islamists, thereby exacerbating the severe humanitarian situation. It should not be forgotten that Burkina Faso is dealing with one of the world's largest displacement crises, with security incidents up 220% compared to last year. This internal instability does not help.
Indonesia Soccer Tragedy: President Orders National Stadium Audit
On Wednesday, Indonesia's Pres. Joko Widodo ordered an audit of all soccer stadiums in the country amid an ongoing investigation into one of the deadliest stampedes that took place on Saturday during a soccer match at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java. The announcement comes as Widodo is currently visiting victims.
The national soccer association argues that delays in unlocking the gates contributed to the disaster. A police investigation, however, suggests that doors were opened, but exits were too narrow, allegedly accommodating just two people at a time.
Narrative A
This tragedy isn't an accident but a grave crime. If the police hadn't over-responded to the playing field surge by fans, this bloodbath wouldn't have occurred. An independent investigation will ensure that the truth will come out – preventing police cover-ups – and those responsible will be held accountable.
Narrative B
This is a deeper structural problem in Indonesia. Though needed, investigating police actions and holding those responsible accountable isn't enough. Police aren't equipped or trained to deal properly with soccer crowds, despite fans having an infamously violent culture. On top of that, Indonesia's sports facilities lack standard security protocols. A deeper review needs to happen.
Day 222 Roundup: Ukrainian Forces Claim New Gains; Russia to 'Consult' Locals on Borders of Annexation
Following a Russian retreat in the Donetsk city of Lyman, followed by confirmation from Ukrainian troops that they've recaptured the city on Sunday, Ukrainian forces reportedly continued to press against Russian adversaries and reclaim its territory. This offensive was in the southern region of Kherson.
While Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south hasn't enjoyed the same success as in the Kharkiv region, on Sunday, Ukrainian forces claimed to have broken through Russian defenses in the village of Khreshchenivka. In his nightly address, Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy also claimed to have retaken control of the nearby settlements of Arkhanhelske and Myroliubivka.
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup." This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.
Nerd narrative
There's a 26% chance that Ukraine will have de facto control of at least 90% of the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts by January 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK to Reverse Cut to 45% Tax Rate
After proposing a cut to the highest tax bracket in its mini-budget on Sept. 23, the UK government reportedly reversed its plan on Monday in response to backlash.
The announcement of the plan, which would've reduced the top bracket from 45% to 40% as part of a "growth plan" to be funded by vast government borrowing, led to the value of the pound plummeting and was met with opposition from several senior lawmakers.
Left narrative
Liz Truss's mini-budget was a failed proposal from the outset, and her attempt to throw chancellor Kwarteng under the bus shows how ill-prepared she was to push this profoundly concerning policy. Though choosing not to cut taxes on the rich is a good thing, there's no doubt she would have pushed ahead if it weren't for the backlash she received from members of her own Conservative Party.
Right narrative
The problem wasn't the mini-budget itself, but the way PM Truss and her team communicated it to the public. The multiple tax breaks - which weren't just for the rich - were an attempt to generate economic growth, and it needed time to play out and see how the market reacted. If Truss had communicated her goals more clearly, she may have received the support she needed and her plan could've worked.
Yemen Truce Expires
The six-month truce between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi and UAE-backed Yemeni government expired on Sunday without being extended as fears of a renewal of large-scale fighting grow.
The truce was originally implemented in April, and since then has been renewed twice, but now both sides are becoming reluctant to continue the ceasefire. The UN's Yemen Envoy, Hans Grundberg, called for the continuation of talks to reach an agreement.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Houthis have continued to threaten peace and security in Yemen since they launched their coup in 2014, and the failure to renew the truce is no different. What is the point of implementing an agreement if one side does not fulfill its promises? In this case, the Houthis refused to lift the siege of Taiz and allow humanitarian aid into the city, which was one of the key points in the agreement.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's the Yemeni government and its powerful Gulf allies who have obstructed peace in Yemen and continue to punish its citizens for standing up for themselves. The Saudi-led coalition hasn't taken the truce or its terms seriously, and the only reason fighting hasn't broken out is because the Houthis have acted with restraint and caution. Peace will only be found when the siege of Yemen is lifted.
Cynical narrative
The war in Yemen, now in its eighth year, is every bit as brutal as what's taking place in Ukraine, and both sides have violated the agreed ceasefire on numerous occasions. The West's failure to address this humanitarian disaster or cover it in the media with any sort of urgency says a lot about the world's inherent bias and who is considered worthy versus unworthy victims.
SCOTUS Declines to Hear Gun Rights Case on Bumpstocks
On Monday, the US Supreme Court refused to take two cases that challenged a ban on 'bump stocks' - gun attachments designed to allow semi-automatic guns to fire rapidly, in a similar fashion to machine guns.
Bump stocks were banned during President Donald Trump's administration, following a mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017 that killed 58 people. The shooter in that tragedy employed the technology, which uses the recoil of a trigger pull to enable a shooter to fire up to hundreds of rounds per minute.
Right narrative
This is a dangerous SCOTUS decision that enables the government to further encroach on second amendment liberties by defining thousands of bump stock owners as felons. This will only embolden the executive branch to pursue its goal of criminalizing all gun ownership.
Left narrative
Lower courts were correct to leave the ban in place and, together with this SCOTUS decision, Americans are being protected from future massacres akin to the tragedy that occurred in Las Vegas. Dangerous bump stocks, which are correctly categorized by the ATF, will become harder to obtain by criminals and lawful gun users alike.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution will be amended or repealed before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Somali Government Says It Killed al-Shabaab Co-Founder
The Somali government said on Sunday that it had successfully killed one of the co-founders of al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist militant group, in a joint operation with international partners the previous day. Al Shabaab didn't immediately comment on Abdullahi Nadir's death, and the insurgents claimed responsibility for a new attack on Monday..
Nadir was the group's chief prosecutor and was in line to replace its leader, Ahmed Diriye, who is reportedly sick.
Establishment-critical narrative
The fact that Mogadishu has turned to the US, of all countries, for assistance in its fight against al-Shabaab is just another example of America's desire for regional dominance. It's certainly no coincidence that Washington decided in May to redeploy troops to Somalia under the guise of "fighting terrorism." In reality, Washington is primarily concerned with containing the growing influence of China, as well as Russia, in this strategically important region.
Pro-establishment narrative
After Trump decided to withdraw US troops from Somalia, there was an uptick in terrorist violence. The fact that the Somali federal government is now making progress fighting al-Shabaab terrorists is primarily due to the return of US troops to the country and America's military cooperation with Mogadishu. Since al-Shabaab poses a direct threat to the US itself as well, defeating the terrorists is also a matter of national security.
Preview: SCOTUS to Decide Landmark Cases This Term
On Monday, the new term for SCOTUS will begin with several landmark cases expected to be argued and decided during the court’s nine-month term. The court convenes in the face of a Gallup poll released last week that said 58% of Americans disapprove of the job SCOTUS is doing - the worst rating since 2000.
The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority since former Pres. Trump made three lifetime appointments during his term, proved its tilting to the right with rulings that ended the constitutional right to abortion, and expanded gun rights last term.
Republican narrative
If the last SCOTUS term wasn’t enough of a series of victories for conservative values, this upcoming term promises to provide even more reasons to rejoice. Based on the SCOTUS' past willingness to hear certain cases, unfair affirmative action policies will likely be abolished, and freedom of religion upheld.
Democratic narrative
America’s trust in SCOTUS has never been lower. This is because of the court’s willingness to ignore precedent, and in some cases, compelling facts, to make ideological rulings. There might be more conservative victories in this term, but those decisions will continue to erode the court’s legitimacy – a scary prospect for the American people.
SCOTUS Declines to Hear Case on Vaccine Mandates
SCOTUS on Monday declined to hear a case brought by Missouri and nine other states challenging the Biden admin.'s COVID vaccine mandate for workers in healthcare facilities that receive federal funds.
In January, the court voted 5-4 - with conservative justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh siding with more liberal judges - to allow the mandate to continue while arguments played out in lower courts.
Democratic narrative
Not only has SCOTUS established the Biden administration's legal grounds for its vaccine mandate, but it's also expressed the moral duty of every healthcare worker to "do no harm." The vaccine mandate is for the good of the caregiver, the patient, and the US as a nation. This mandate is a prudent health and safety measure.
Republican narrative
Though his White House handlers have worked to backtrack his statement, Pres. Biden, as well as Dr. Fauci, have declared the pandemic "over," so why are millions of healthcare workers still under the emergency power-induced vaccine mandate? This policy corrals more patients onto Medicaid and then uses the "federally funded" argument to force those patients' caregivers to get the jab.