A plea of not guilty was Bankman-Fried’s only choice at this point because prosecutors don’t seem inclined to work with him now that they have Ellison and Wang on their side. But the government’s plea agreement with Bankman-Fried, who already admitted he made mistakes that he didn’t think were criminal, hints at something else that might happen before he gets to trial.
People in power often cross ethical bridges to protect themselves and their friends. Bankman-Fried was a major political donor. White House logs reveal he met with Biden administration officials four times in 2022. It won't be surprising if prosecutors strike a plea deal with Bankman-Fried and hide whatever role he played in the FTX fraud to protect the highest echelons of government power.
There's a 50% chance that Sam Bankman-Fried will be sentenced to at least 252 months in prison before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
This move endangers women with its dishonesty over the risks of abortion pills, which have led to at least 3k women suffering complications and 28 deaths since their approval, and provides no protection to unborn children who may survive. The Biden administration's pro-abortion extremism will further allow retail pharmacies to funnel abortion pills into states where abortion is banned — an act that undercuts the Supreme Court's verdict.
The benefits of mifepristone far outweigh the risks, and this decision could change the conversation about abortion. As a step in the right direction for health equity, the regulatory change will empower patients across a broad spectrum, including people of color, immigrants, rural populations, and teenagers. Access to abortion pills isn't a magic solution to the end of abortion rights, but it can blunt the fallout.
While the move paves a way to ensure women's legal access to abortion isn't entirely shut off, the question remains — can US states block the use of abortion pills even though they are FDA approved? The ball is in the retail pharmacies' court, which will now have to weigh whether or not to offer the drug following federal and state laws given the political controversy surrounding abortion.
There's a 4% chance that abortion will be banned nationally in the United States before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Russia's attacks on Druzhkivka are another example of its actions as a terrorist state. The ice rink was beloved by many in the community and was used to deliver humanitarian aid. A bus station, a church, and a hotel were also damaged.
Russia's attacks on Druzhkivka targeted the rocket launchers and weaponry that targeted Makiivka. Ukrainian soldiers and foreign mercenaries were also killed. These attacks were on legitimate military targets.
There is a 2% chance that Ukraine will officially recognize a former Ukrainian territory (Luhansk, Donetsk or Crimea) as independent before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
As Petro is busy fantasizing about a ceasefire with the ELN, the killing in the country continues. Indeed, a historic peace deal with the FARC was reached in 2016, but the vacuum has been filled by a myriad of armed groups and the ELN, while violence and coca production have only increased. To effectively combat organized crime and dry up the drug swamp, the government would have to tackle structural reforms while faced with security, logistical, and political challenges. It's doubtful that Petro will bring "total peace" to Colombia.
There's no doubt that Petro faces a mammoth task with his plan to bring "total peace" to Colombia. The murder rate exceeds that of Mexico, and drug trafficking is flourishing as seldom before. Nonetheless, over twenty criminal and armed groups, including the ELN and FARC offshoots, have expressed willingness to enter peace talks with Bogotá. In addition, there's a pro-government majority in Congress and a population that elected Petro precisely because the stakes could hardly be higher. The task is daunting, but if Petro succeeds, it could ripple throughout Latin America.
Local elections must be welcomed as the first step to restoring normalcy in Sri Lanka following months of nationwide protests along with political and economic turmoil. Softening dissent and providing stability for the country, however, will require general elections so as to ensure those implementing reforms have a public mandate.
It should be evident by now that elections alone will not solve the Sri Lankan crisis as it has been engendered by the very nature of the country's political system, which has focused on short-term planning for more than 75 years. Though Sri Lanka is bankrupt, politicians remain unable to join efforts to agree on an economic framework to lift the country out of its chaos.
Musk's practice of reckless trial and error is why the company is running dry financially. After firing the majority of its staff and reinstating far-right conspiracy theorists, advertisers were rightfully scared away from the platform. Instead of acknowledging these poor business decisions, Musk has instead decided to retain his erroneous policies as he continues his pursuit of staying afloat.
Beyond simply growing its revenue, this policy change will give conservatives even more of a voice on social media. After already opening up previously-censored free thought surrounding COVID, disenfranchised political candidates and advocates will now be able to amplify their messages at a time when corporate-government censorship is being brought to light.
DeSantis, like his fellow Republicans, is against real governance and would rather spend his time targeting the so-called "woke" agenda with authoritarian impulses. DeSantis should be careful — despite being hyped by supporters as the future face of the GOP — as his continual onslaught against minorities and progressive values may come back to bite him on a national stage.
As the Republicans in Washington debate which establishment elitist to anoint as House speaker, DeSantis' inauguration speech has inspired further praise and speculation surrounding a 2024 presidential run. Rallying against far-left ideology, global elites, and government overreach, DeSantis is not only a top contender for the White House but someone who could co-headline the primary circuit with Trump.
There is a 30% chance that Ron DeSantis will become US president by 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
McConnell is the archetype of a strong and intelligent statesman. He has demonstrated a willingness to reach across the aisle, enjoying good relationships with many high-ranking Democratic leaders. Indeed, his style of politics has been marked by compromise and the ability to craft fair and intelligent deals. Even as the Republican Party experiences internal strife, McConnell's political acumen has guaranteed his position as a top leader.
McConnell is just another establishment snake in the grass who only looks out for big business and the political class. His laundry list of betrayals to the conservative movement includes an ever-increasing national debt, continued illegal immigration, the stagnation of real wages, bailing out banks in 2008, and enacting Obamacare in 2010. More recently, he has enabled Biden to pass leftist policies, including giving Ukraine billions in aid, tightening gun laws, and attacking “MAGA Republicans.”
The New Year's Day attack is the latest sign of tension between Christians and Jewish extremists in Israel. In recent years, Jewish extremists — seeking to cleanse their nation of religious minorities — have carried out acts of vandalism at Christian sites across the country without fear of prosecution or justice. If the Netanyahu government resists preventive measures to protect the community, radical Israeli groups will ultimately drive Christians out.
While the perpetrators of this incident must be held to account, allegations that Christians are frequently the target of sustained attacks by radical groups are baseless and distorted. Israel is a democratic state and has finally formed a popular government. Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to protecting the country from radical Islamists and its citizens from coercion, irrespective of their faith. The West must support Israel instead of tarnishing its image with propaganda.
There's a 44% chance that Israel will recognize Palestine by 2070, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
While Kohberger has yet to be proven guilty, his arrest and decision to waive extradition is a major turning point in a complicated and heinous case. The suspect — ironically hailed a brilliant academic in the field of criminology — made some of the most elementary mistakes that led to his arrest. It's now time for the full force of the court to bring justice to the victims and their families.
While this latest development is a breakthrough, Kohberger should be presumed innocent until proven guilty and no conclusions should be drawn before this trial plays out. Authorities should be left to investigate, and the victim's families should be allowed to mourn without the intrusion from social media, which has tainted an already tragic case with rumors and speculation.