Twitter Files 4.0: Trump Targeted With Ban
Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Saturday backed the release of "Twitter Files 4.0," the fourth installment of a series of confidential internal communications between the platform's senior executives before the Tesla owner took over.
Part four of the Twitter Files — a Musk initiative to show how Twitter's previous leadership allegedly stifled free speech — was released through independent journalist Michael Shellenberger.
The previously unseen communications appear to show how Twitter's former Global Head of Trust & Safety, Yoel Roth, tweaked the rules of the platform in order to permanently ban former US Pres. Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 riots.
Democratic narrative
There's no doubt that Musk's ostensibly apolitical gesture of transparency is aiding a partisan messaging campaign. The previous Twitter Files could neither disclose how the GOP candidates were blacklisted nor indicate how the suppression of Hunter Biden's story created a constitutional crisis. The documents have so far failed to provide evidence of the previous management's political bias. Yet, they offer substantial insight into how Musk uses the platform to promote tendentious, partisan narratives.
Republican narrative
Elon Musk is doing the country a favor by releasing Democratic secrets for every US citizen to examine. The Twitter Files have exposed political corruption, proven that shadow banning was real, and described how conservatives were often caught in the crossfire. Instead of dismissing the documents as boneheaded statements, the government and US intelligence officials must analyze them to protect national security, avert election theft, and safeguard freedom of speech.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the US will elect a President who is not a Democrat or a Republican by March 2107, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Base Editing Clears Girl's Incurable Cancer
Alyssa, a 13-year-old girl from Leicester, England, who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia last year, has been cleared of her incurable cancer after undergoing a base editing cell therapy at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
According to her doctors, the teenager had an aggressive form of cancer where her T-cells — which are supposed to protect a person by seeking out and destroying defective cells — had become dangerous to the healthy parts of her body.
After extensive chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant (BMT) failed to rid the cancerous cells from her body, Alyssa entered a clinical trial and became the first patient to receive an experimental treatment involving base editing.
Narrative A
The outcome of this revolutionary treatment is remarkable, and makes base editing a strong contender in the development of innovative cell and gene therapies. With trials for curing single-cell diseases already underway, the next step is for the biomedical community to develop a versatile, cost-effective program to make base editing cures a reality for millions of patients worldwide.
Narrative B
Though base editing might have saved Alyssa's life, it's too early to guess her prognosis. Furthermore, considering that the treatment can permanently change a patient's genetic code, every effort must be made to identify and address ethical issues that may arise with its use, such as the privacy and confidentiality of genomic data.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that the mean year survival rate of all cancers for both sexes in the US will exceed 75% by April, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 292: Biden, G7 Pledge Further Boost To Ukraine's Air Defenses
In a call with Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy late on Sunday, US Pres. Joe Biden pledged to further boost Ukraine's air defenses, as well as to continue efforts to restore the country's battered energy infrastructure following Russian attacks.
According to a White House readout: "The US is prioritizing efforts to strengthen Ukraine's air defense through our security assistance, including the Dec. 9 announcement of $275M in additional ammunition and equipment that included systems to counter the Russian use of unmanned aerial vehicles."
In a tweet, Zelenskyy said the exchange was: "A fruitful conversation with POTUS. I expressed gratitude for another security package. We discussed further defense cooperation, protection and maintenance of our energy sector." He added that the pair coordinated their positions ahead of an online G7 summit on Monday.
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 is an 10% chance that Ukraine will join NATO before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UN: Over 11K Children Killed or Maimed in Yemen
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) released a report on Monday stating that more than 11K children have been killed or maimed in Yemen's civil war since it began in late 2014, triggering what has been characterized as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
According to UNICEF, between July and September of this year alone, at least 74 children were among the 164 people killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance. More than 17.8M Yemenis also lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Following her recent visit to the country, agency chief Catherine Russell called for the "urgent renewal" of the truce between the Yemeni government and the Houthis that was originally implemented in April but expired in October. Since the ceasefire ended, another 62 children have reportedly been killed or injured as of Nov. 30.
Establishment-critical narrative
There is only one party to blame for Yemeni children's horrific suffering Saudi Arabia and its allies. The war has ultimately been the result of Saudi Arabia's aggression toward Yemen and the resulting siege it imposed on Houthi-controlled areas. Saudi-US aggression must bear the responsibility for this humanitarian cataclysm.
Pro-establishment narrative
The suffering of Yemeni children falls on Iran and its proxy force that only seek to terrorize Yemenis and cause chaos in the region. Though the Houthis and their supporters pretend that Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen out of nowhere, they only responded when the Houthis captured Sanaa and the internationally-recognized Yemeni government invited the intervention. Iran and its proxy forces must take responsibility for this atrocity.
US to Announce Fusion Energy ‘Breakthrough'
The US Department of Energy has announced that a "major scientific breakthrough" has been made in the federal Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, with additional details to be provided Tuesday.
It's thought that scientists have recently achieved an elusive "net energy gain" in a fusion reaction, according to a Financial Times report citing three individuals privy to the experiment.
The reaction involved bombarding a pellet of hydrogen plasma with the world's largest laser to trigger a nuclear fusion reaction — reportedly producing 2.5 megajoules of energy, which is 120% of the energy used to power the experiment.
Narrative A
The news is a breakthrough in the search for clean energy and a true milestone in the journey to move economies away from carbon-producing fossil fuels. With bipartisan support in Washington, we are one step closer to reaching the "holy grail" of energy production.
Narrative B
At least for now, nuclear fusion will likely not solve climate change. With efficient, reliable fusion reactors, we could conceivably meet the world's energy demands. However, we are far away from this being a reality because it is challenging to scale and implement this technology on a widespread level. To keep global warming down, we must cut carbon emissions right now — this development may play a role later this century.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that nuclear fusion will provide at most 10% of the world's primary energy by September 2060, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US Accused of Abducting Lockerbie Suspect
The US has been accused of abducting Abu Agela Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a Libyan man who allegedly made the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988. Mas'ud appeared in a federal court in Washington DC prior to being formally charged last week.
Libya's prime minister, Abdulhamid al-Dbaiba, admitted last week that his administration was involved in Mas'ud's capture in the Libyan capital. Critics have claimed that Mas'ud was illegally abducted by militias associated with al-Dbaiba's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.
Pan Am flight 103, traveling from London to New York, exploded over Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988, killing all 259 people onboard and 11 on the ground. The incident remains the deadliest terror attack in UK history.
Narrative A
Justice is finally here for those killed in the Lockerbie bombing. Gaddafi, who at the time was opposed to the West, was guilty of many things, including ordering this terror attack. Hopefully, the victims' families will have closure now that another perpetrator will also be held accountable.
Narrative B
Though the mainstream media have always blamed Libya and Gaddafi for the Lockerbie bombing, the truth is far murkier. Much of the "evidence" against al-Megrahi and the Libyan state was fabricated or otherwise manipulated, and it's quite possible that Iran was behind the Lockerbie bombing in retaliation for the US downing of an Iranian civilian airliner. The US should follow the evidence instead of embellishing the facts to fit a pre-determined outcome.
Peru: President Seeks Early Elections Amid Protests
Peru's new president, Dina Boluarte, announced on Monday that she plans to submit a bill to bring forward the general elections to April 2024 amid widespread protests that have killed at least two.
Demonstrations supporting former Pres. Pedro Castillo were reported on Sunday across the country's interior, with a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old reportedly killed during clashes with police in the southern city of Andahuaylas, in the Apurimac region.
Apurimac's regional governor, Baltazar Lantarón, added on Sunday evening that more than 30 people have been injured in confrontations between protesters and police, while violence has also been reported at the Andahuaylas Airport.
Left narrative
Castillo's ousting was part of a classist, racist plot concocted by far-right elites to break the popular will; Boluarte should not have agreed to a truce with these undemocratic coup plotters. Peru needs to return the power to its people, by advancing general elections and convening a Constituent Assembly.
Right narrative
Castillo and his supporters have been following other Latin American autocrats' coup playbook, demanding Congress to be shut down and trying to subvert Constitutional order. His impeachment and arrest came as an institutional warning that the Peruvian people will not accept attempts to break the rule of law.
4 Charged in EU Parliament Corruption Investigation
Belgian authorities on Sunday announced they had charged four people with corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization as part of a major investigation into alleged bribes from "a Gulf state" to current and former members of the European Parliament.
Prosecutors searched 16 houses and confiscated 600K euros ($631.8K) in Brussels on Friday, with six people being initially detained and two released without charges. A source close to the case alleged that the "Gulf state" trying to meddle in EU decisions is Qatar.
Though the names of those indicted haven't been released, the European Parliament has suspended the powers and duties of Greek official Eva Kaili, one of its vice presidents. Her socialist PASOK party has also stated that it's expelling Kaili from its ranks.
Establishment-critical narrative
While this may be the most blatant and grand corruption scheme to hit the European Parliament to date, it shouldn't come as a surprise. The Parliament is in charge of not only policing the EU but of monitoring itself, which is why they have yet to create the ethics board they voted to approve over a year ago. Maybe this outrageous international fraud scandal will finally encourage the EU "watchdogs" to fulfill their ethical duties.
Pro-establishment narrative
This news is sickening to those who care about the integrity of Europe's institutions, which is why the EU has suspended Kaili from her duties and is thoroughly investigating the matter. Ministers are working diligently to broker deals with rising nations like Qatar, but that doesn't mean they'll allow such a blatant disregard for the rules to go unpunished. Anti-corruption measures will be implemented.
'Twitter Blue' Re-Launches After Pause
On Monday, Twitter officially relaunched its paid subscription service that paused last month after the platform was flooded with users violating the blue checkmark verification feature to impersonate famous brands and public figures.
Called "Twitter Blue," the paid subscription service offers verified status to users for $8 a month, or now $11 per month for Apple devices.
Under the revamped system, Twitter Blue subscribers cannot change their account handle, display names, or profile photos after receiving their verified badge until their accounts are reviewed again.
Narrative A
Twitter's new offering will undoubtedly help the social media platform diversify its revenue stream, reduce its reliance on advertising, and cut down on trolls, impersonations, and fraud. In addition, Twitter Blue adds premium value to a user's account; at $8 or $11 a month, it's a bargain for the content.
Narrative B
Musk initially mocked Twitter's "lords and peasants" blue tick system, but now he's charging a fee and legitimizing it. Musk claims he's redirecting more "power to the people." Unfortunately, his tone-deaf move is further dividing Twitter between the haves and the have-nots.
China Deactivates National COVID Tracking App
Days after China began a scaleback of its long-running zero-COVID policy, on Monday, Beijing pulled the plug on its COVID tracking smartphone app that recorded people's travel movements during the pandemic.
The government-run "communications itinerary card," which used residents' mobile data to identify and quarantine residents who traveled to pandemic hot spots, was deactivated even as cases continued to surge across the country.
Beijing's decision to roll back its zero-COVID policy and abandon the tracking app was reportedly taken after unprecedented anti-lockdown protests swept China late last month — posing the biggest challenge to the Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping's authority during his term.
Pro-China narrative
China is fine-tuning its COVID response based on the facts on the ground, and it hasn’t abandoned its effective policies to contain the virus. Saving lives and safeguarding public health, while at the same time ensuring economic growth, are the government's top priorities — regardless of what Western countries and their media pontificate.
Anti-China narrative
Decisions like ending the tracking app are part of a knee-jerk reaction by China to the rare protests over its zero-COVID policies and other criticisms. But China still faces many stiff challenges, including getting more people vaccinated before it can permanently loosen restrictions. COVID outbreaks and more dissension from the Chinese people will undoubtedly lead to tighter restrictions in the future — this is a volatile situation.
Second Oath Keeper Trial Begins
On Monday, opening statements in the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) case against four Oath Keepers began.
This comes two weeks after Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
The four defendants in the current case — Roberto Minuta, Joseph Hackett, David Moerschel, and Edward Vallejo — all pleaded not guilty to charges of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties. The men were reportedly awaiting orders during the Jan 6. Capitol riots.
Right narrative
The DOJ is taking a dangerous and unprecedented step of criminalizing dissent. After nearly two years of trying to spin the Jan. 6 Capitol riots into a large-scale terrorist attack, the government is trying to say that a “militia” planned a coup at the Capitol without a single firearm or explosive. This is pure political persecution and a threat to democracy.
Left narrative
American democracy is under attack, and if perpetrators of domestic terrorism aren’t stopped now, dangerous militias will continue to commit atrocities like those of Jan. 6, 2021. The sedition trials of the Oath Keepers are about holding extremists accountable for their words and actions and preventing violent attacks.