08 December 2022

Daily Newsletter

Report: Pakistan Journalist Sharif's Murder a Planned Assassination

Facts

  • In a report released Wednesday, Pakistani investigators concluded that the killing of Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Sharif in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in October wasn't a "case of mistaken identity" as claimed by Kenyan police, but a "planned targeted assassination."
  • According to the fact-finding team, there were several discrepancies and contradictions in the Kenyan police's version of the events that led to his death. In addition, the investigators allege that "transnational characters" from Kenya, Dubai, and Pakistan could have been involved in his murder.
  • The team further claimed that the Kenyan police were apparently "used as instruments" in Sharif's killing, and that his host was connected to Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other international agencies and law enforcement.
  • Meanwhile, Pakistani TV cited the post-mortem report as saying that the renowned Pakistani journalist wasn't fatally shot in a moving car, but was forced out of the vehicle and tortured for nearly three hours before being shot in the head and right lung.
  • Sharif, a vocal opponent of the current Pakistani government, fled into exile earlier this year after charges of sedition were filed against him. He was also reportedly behind a documentary about corruption during the Nawaz Sharif-led government that was about to be released at the time of his death.
  • On Thursday, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered a five-member Special Investigation Team (JIT) tasked with investigating the case to submit a progress report every two weeks. According to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PM Shehbaz Sharif had spoken directly with the Kenyan president and explicitly requested assistance.

Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Sharif was shot dead to end his ongoing investigation of corruption at the highest levels of Pakistan’s military. It's no secret that the Pakistani Generals, who run the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), work hand in hand with Afghan and Pakistani drug cartels. Sharif was working to expose their ulterior motive – to raise funds for global terrorists and fill their pockets – and was promptly silenced.

Establishment-critical narrative

Sharif's murder silenced a very influential voice warning Pakistanis against US interests in their region and sent a chill down the spine of Pakistani journalists seeking to challenge global hegemony. The US is clearly behind Sharif's brutal murder — only the CIA has the resources, experience, and expertise to assassinate troublesome individuals in foreign countries. Despite this, there is very little chance that authorities will be able to conclusively trace the assassins and bring them to justice.

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Croatia Joins Europe's Free-Travel Zone; Romania, Bulgaria Barred

Facts

  • Europe's 26-member free-travel zone welcomed Croatia as its latest member on Thursday, but opposition led by Austria is preventing Romania and Bulgaria from also joining amid criticism of growing unauthorized immigration.
  • The so-called Schengen area, which abolishes border checks between EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, is the world's largest free-travel zone.
  • Austria blocked Bulgaria and Romania’s entrance to the Schengen, arguing that too many undocumented migrants are crossing into Austria from the two countries and that "this needs to be solved first.”
  • The Netherlands also voiced its opposition to Bulgaria joining the zone despite supporting Romania’s bid, with France and Germany backing the applications of both Balkan states.
  • In November, the EU's executive, the European Commission, pushed for Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania to be granted membership to the zone, stating that they “have all the necessary tools, structures, and procedures in place to contribute to a well-functioning Schengen area.”
  • As citizens of EU member states, Bulgarians and Romanians have already had the right to travel freely and work throughout the EU since 2014.

Spin

Narrative A

These three countries have significantly contributed to the well-functioning of the Schengen area for years. They've performed well during the pandemic and when faced with the unprecedented consequences of the war in Ukraine. Through reinforced protection of the common external frontier, an enlarged Schengen area without internal borders will make Europe safer and more attractive to businesses. It's time to also welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the passport-free Schengen Area.

Narrative B

At this point, it doesn't make sense to enlarge the EU's free-travel zone when it's clearly not working. Europe hasn't yet recovered from the 2015 influx of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Afghanistan, and the African continent. Austria is still struggling to accommodate asylum requests, having more than 100K illegal border crossings this year alone. Admitting Bulgaria and Romania would only increase this irregular immigration.

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Day 288 Roundup: Putin Admits War Could Be 'Long-Term Process'; Europe Lacks Defense Capabilities, Says Top Diplomat

Facts

  • In a meeting with his Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin admitted the war could turn into a "long-term process," but hailed the achievements of his military's territorial gains to date.
  • In response to a question, Putin said: "As for the slow process of the special military operation, then, of course, it can be a long-term process. But then you mentioned that new territories had appeared. This is such a significant result for Russia … The Azov Sea has become an internal Russian sea. Even Peter I had fought for access to the Azov Sea."
  • Meanwhile, on the question of nuclear weapons, Putin said: "Such a threat is growing, it would be wrong to hide it." However, he insisted that "under no circumstances" would Russia use the weapons first. "We have not gone mad. We are aware of what nuclear weapons are," he said. "We aren't about to run around the world brandishing this weapon like a razor."
  • Asked to comment on Putin's remarks, US State Dept. spokesman Ned Price said: "We think any loose talk of nuclear weapons is absolutely irresponsible." He added: "We think any other rhetoric — whether it is nuclear sabre-rattling or even raising the spectre of the use of tactical nuclear weapons — is something that is irresponsible."
  • Elsewhere, Josep Borrell, the EU's chief foreign policy advisor and head of the European Defense Agency (EDA), said the war in Ukraine has been a wake-up call for Europe to replenish its military stockpiles after "years of underspending." Echoing earlier remarks from Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Borrell said: "We lack critical defense capabilities."
  • On the ground, fighting remained heaviest in the Donetsk region where Ukrainian officials said nine civilians were killed and 15 more were injured in the past day. Separatist officials from the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said that two civilians were killed in Ukrainian attacks for the same time period.
  • Russian attacks were also recorded in Kherson, where two civilians were reported killed, and in Zaporizhzhia, where one person was reported injured. Russian attacks were also recorded in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk without reports of civilian casualties.

Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

Putin's Human Rights Council, like many other public events conducted by the Kremlin, was highly orchestrated to avoid the Russian leader facing scrutiny and difficult questions. The remarks are largely meaningless.

Pro-Russia narrative

In a show of transparency, Putin took a host of questions about the ongoing conflict from journalists and civic leaders. The president offered leadership by giving frank responses to a range of issues, in order to help settle the minds of the Russian population.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that Vladimir Putin will cease to hold the office of President of Russia by November 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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Iran Conducts First Protest-Related Execution

Facts

  • On Thursday, Iran announced its first-known execution of a prisoner convicted of an alleged crime during the ongoing nationwide protests.
  • The man, whom Iranian media identified as Mohsen Shekari, was arrested after allegedly blocking Sattar Khan Boulevard in the capital, Tehran, on Sept. 25 and injuring a security guard with a machete. On Nov. 20, the Supreme Court upheld the verdict against him for "waging war against God."
  • According to Amnesty International, Iranian authorities have sought the death penalty for at least 21 people in connection with the protests. Tehran claims that the demonstrations, in which at least 458 people are believed to have been killed, are fueled by foreign forces.
  • The anti-government protests, which turned into demands for regime change, began in mid-September after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained by the morality police for violating the hijab law and died in custody. More than 18K people are believed to have been arrested since the protests erupted.
  • Meanwhile, in one of the largest general strikes in decades, businesses have reportedly been closed in Tehran, Isfahan, and many other cities in recent days. The nationwide strikes are said to signal the next phase of protests calling for an end to clerical rule in the country.
  • On Tuesday, former Iranian Pres. Mohammad Khatami expressed his support for the protest movement, saying that its slogan, "Woman, Life, Freedom," shows that Iranian society is moving toward a better future. He also criticized the arrests of students amid the security forces' crackdown.

Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

In condemning Tehran's crackdown, the West is once again exercising double standards. No government in the world would stand idly by while rioters destroy public property and terrorists masquerading as protesters randomly target security forces. Moreover, the majority of the Iranian population refuses to join the protests, which are being fueled by the hypocritical West to destabilize Iran and instigate a civil war like in Syria.

Pro-establishment narrative

Only an illegitimate and inhumane government like the theocratic regime in Tehran kills people who take to the streets for legitimate causes. In the past, the international community turned a blind eye as Tehran mass executed its own citizens. This time, the West can no longer remain silent, given the ruthlessness of the Islamists who rule Iran. It's no longer a matter of reforming the existing regime but of regime change.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that Iran will cease to be an Islamic Republic by May 2033, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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Report: FTX Founder Facing Market Manipulation Inquiry

Facts

  • Federal prosecutors in New York are probing FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried over potential market manipulation leading to the collapse of Terraform Lab's cryptocurrencies, TerraUSD and Luna, to benefit FTX and its hedge fund Alameda Research.
  • TerraUSD was supposedly a so-called "stablecoin," but unlike other stablecoins, it wasn't backed by the US dollar. Instead, its value came from the Luna coin through a complex set of algorithms.; whenever TerraUSD's price fell, traders would create more Lunas to match the difference.
  • In May, traders and exchanges saw a sudden increase in "sell" orders for TerraUSD which, under normal circumstances, would've been met with matching "buy" orders of Luna. However, the overwhelming shift led to an abnormal drop in value for both coins.
  • The investigation is in its preliminary stages, and prosecutors have yet to provide a timeline for the probe or announce any misconduct by Bankman-Fried. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking information from investors and potential investors in FTX.
  • This comes as FTX and its founder face multiple other investigations into the company's collapse last month. Extraditing Bankman Fried from the Bahamas to the US would require cooperation between the two nations.
  • The US House Finance Services Committee is also looking into the FTX crash, with committee chair Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) having faced scrutiny for allegedly initially suggesting she wouldn't subpoena Bankman-Fried. She later stated: "A subpoena is definitely on the table. Stay tuned.”

Spin

Republican narrative

While authorities are looking into Sam Bankman-Fried and his years-long Ponzi scheme, you shouldn't hold your breath waiting for an indictment. The crypto king dubbed "SBF" has gotten away with his crimes for so long because he's been a top Democrat donor. This is why he's received praise from the media and cautious treatment by the government even after his so-called "company" collapsed and millions lost their savings.

Democratic narrative

While some have jumped the gun and compared Bankman-Fried to Bernie Madoff, this case is actually very different. Madoff immediately confessed to all of his crimes, and the Feds were also able to compile concrete evidence against him. Neither of these has occurred in the case of FTX and Bankman-Fried. Congress and the Dept. of Justice are looking into the issue, but it will take some time to build a case against the crypto CEO.

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2 More Classified Documents Found at Trump Storage Site

Facts

  • According to sources familiar with the matter, two more documents with classified markings were found in a Florida storage unit used by former Pres. Trump during an independent search by a team hired by his lawyers.
  • Both documents have reportedly been handed over to the FBI. The team is believed to have searched several properties, including Trump's Bedminster, N.J., golf club, his home and office at Trump Tower, and the storage unit in West Palm Beach, Florida.
  • The searches came at the request of a federal judge who instructed Trump's lawyers to ensure all sensitive material had been turned over to the federal government.
  • One source said the storage unit is run by the General Services Administration and that Trump had never been inside of it. Though people close to Trump reportedly stated earlier that "no classified material had been found during the searches," this is now reported to be incorrect.
  • This comes after FBI agents already seized thousands of documents, containing approximately 100 marked classified, during a court-approved Aug. 8th search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Spin

Democratic narrative

It has been a terrible week for Trump. Alongside the news of even more classified documents being retrieved, his company was found guilty of a heap of fraud, while his hand-picked candidate lost the Senate race in Georgia. Having gotten away with a lot for an individual who has long been digging a brazenly illegal hole, it seems reality is finally starting to catch up with Trump.

Pro-Trump narrative

The deep state has long used its "national security" claim to retain its power over outsiders and the common people, and the DOJ's continued refusal to give the Trump team access to the warrant they used to initially search his home is a prime example. If the DOJ has nothing to hide and the entire investigation is not an illegal witch hunt, why have they still not unredacted the full affidavit?

Nerd narrative

There's a 36% chance that any US court will rule that Donald J Trump is disqualified from holding the presidency before January 20, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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WNBA Star Griner Freed in Prisoner Swap

Facts

  • Following a high-level negotiation between the US and Russia, detained US basketball star Brittney Griner was released on Thursday in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. US Pres. Biden announced that Griner was safe and "on a plane" home.
  • Russia had been holding the two-time Olympic gold medalist since detaining her at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February for carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. Her detention coincided with the start of the war in Ukraine, which complicated US relations with the Kremlin.
  • Griner, whose lawyer argued she needed the medical cannabis – illegal in Russia – to assuage pain from injuries, pleaded guilty to possession in July.
  • Bout, considered the highest-profile Russian held by the US, was convicted for allegedly conspiring to kill Americans in 2011 and was in the midst of a 25-year sentence. He has also been accused of supplying arms to al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and rebels in Rwanda.
  • The UAE president and Saudi crown prince released a joint statement saying they led the mediation efforts. The White House later denied their involvement, saying Griner's release was negotiated only between the US and Russia. The exchange did, however, take place in Abu Dhabi.
  • There had been hope the US would also be able to secure the release of former Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained since 2018. Biden said that Russia is treating Whelan’s case “differently than Brittney’s,” but “we are not giving up.”

Spin

Republican narrative

Biden is treating this like a victory, and it might be in terms of public relations because of Griner’s status as a star athlete. But the fact remains that Whelan, a man who served his country in the armed forces, has been left behind, and the US has clearly been taken advantage of in this trade of the “Merchant of Death” for a basketball player.

Democratic narrative

Of course, it’s disappointing that Whelan remains imprisoned. But Griner’s release, in the face of sexist and racist backlash even from her fellow Americans, is a triumph. And with Griner’s family working to keep Whelan’s name in the news, perhaps this is a step toward freeing him in the near future.

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India: PM Modi's BJP Wins Record Landslide in Gujarat

Facts

  • India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a record landslide victory in PM Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat as Thursday's election results showed it received 156 seats out of 182 — a more than 80% majority and the highest of any party in the state's history.
  • Despite retaining its 27-year control in Gujarat, the BJP lost to its main opposition, the Congress Party, in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.
  • Meanwhile, the relatively new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — which already has control of Delhi and Punjab — campaigned heavily in Gujarat. Despite only winning five seats, it secured 13% of the vote, becoming a national party.
  • The Congress Party lost 60 seats in Gujarat and is reportedly losing ground nationally as a dominant political force as the AAP looks to replace it as BJP’s main opposition.
  • While Modi — who took office in 2014 — remains popular in his home state, some have accused him of stoking religious divide and, according to a Delhi think tank, economic concerns are resulting in younger voters turning away from the BJP.
  • Modi tweeted, “Thank you Gujarat,” following the results as supporters celebrated outside the BJP office in the state capital Gandhinagar. Experts predict the BJP’s strong showing is a good sign for Modi’s re-election campaign in 2024.

Spin

Left narrative

Unfortunately, hate continues to win in Gujarat. Modi has engrained Islamophobia into state policy and employed it to color people's votes, despite obvious and growing dissatisfaction with his politics. This is a dangerous time for Muslims in Gujarat as the BJP only stokes hatred and division.

Right narrative

The patriotic people of Gujarat delivered a decisive victory to the BJP and PM Modi’s agenda of development. Amid the celebrations, however, were the loud voices of the opposition, who can't seem to accept fair and democratic elections when those elections don't go their way.

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Biden Admin. Urges SCOTUS to Narrow Protections for Big Tech

Facts

  • In a filing to SCOTUS on Wednesday, Pres. Biden’s admin. argued there should be limits to Section 230 protections for social media companies, and companies should face liability in cases where their algorithms recommend dangerous content to users.
  • Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was passed by Congress in 1996 to shield all websites, including social media platforms, from being sued over the dissemination of third-party content. It has been criticized from both sides of the political aisle because of its potential contribution to the spread of hate speech and misinformation, as well as political discrimination.
  • SCOTUS is presiding over a lawsuit filed by the family of Nohemi Gonzalez, an American who was killed by Islamist militants in a mass shooting at a Paris bistro in 2015. Gonzalez’s family argues Alphabet —the parent company of Google and YouTube — should share liability for the deaths because YouTube recommended videos by the Islamic State group to the killers through an algorithm.
  • In its brief, the Dept. of Justice didn’t argue for Google to be held liable in this specific case and voiced support for most of the protections Section 203 provides. But the Dept. suggested that more scrutiny should come for algorithms like the ones used by YouTube and other platforms.
  • Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also filed a brief in this case, writing that Section 230 hasn’t been applied correctly to social media platforms, and “far from making the internet safer for children and families, Section 230 now allows platforms to escape any real accountability for their decision-making — as the tragic facts, and procedural history, of this case make clear."

Spin

Narrative A

Reducing Section 230 protections would cause a tidal wave of litigation and the financial collapse of social media platforms. These companies have invested heavily in content-moderating technology and are doing their best to keep dangerous content from spreading. Leave Section 230 alone, it holds an important function in protecting platforms from overwhelming lawsuits.

Narrative B

It’s time for Big Tech to stop ducking responsibility for the harm its platforms cause and face the same liability as other industries. For too long social media platforms have gotten away with aiding and abetting horrific events and movements. It’s time for the antiquated Section 230 to be reformed. The reality of the internet of the 1990s does not apply to 2022.

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NFL: House Committee Says Commanders' Owner 'Obstructed' Inquiry

Facts

  • The US House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday said Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder "obstructed" a congressional investigation into his football team and gave "misleading" testimony.
  • The committee released a 79-page report claiming that Snyder "permitted and participated" in the team’s reportedly toxic work culture amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
  • The report said Snyder evaded questions over 100 times, claiming he didn't know the answer or could not recall information. Snyder is also accused of publically assailing witnesses, refusing to release former employees from confidentiality agreements, and blocking Congressional access to thousands of documents.
  • The Committee also claims that Snyder interfered with an NFL investigation into the team’s culture that started in July 2020, with the NFL fining the Commanders $10M. The results weren’t publicly released.
  • Committee Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) claims the NFL knew about the pervasive misconduct in Washington but chose not to meaningfully address it. She contends that the NFL investigation was essentially a public relations stunt and the league was only intent on burying its findings.
  • Snyder’s representatives say the Committee’s report is a "one-sided" attack, with House Republicans saying they will drop the case once they take control of the lower chamber next month.

Spin

Democratic narrative

The House Oversight Committee's report is a damning indictment of Dan Snyder and the toxic culture he created as Washington’s NFL owner. Not only did Snyder turn a blind eye to abhorrent behavior like sexual harassment, but he also actively participated in such behavior. To make things worse, Snyder did all he could to obstruct investigations, tamper with witnesses, and exacerbate problems.

Republican narrative

Committee Democrats are more concerned with investigating the non-criminal activities of a professional football team than they are with providing relief to the American people during troubling economic times. The Democrats are suspiciously using their power to push out Dan Snyder as mega-donor Jeff Bezos expresses interest in buying the Washington Commanders.

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