Narrative A

Pyongyang is sending a message to the world that it has nuclear capabilities to deter and coerce. This was evident in Wednesday night's military parade, which featured ICBMs capable of striking the US mainland, as well as a variety of other nuclear-capable weapons. The new ICBMs support North Korea's policy of power-to-power, all-out confrontation against its enemies.

Narrative B

This show of force is actually about Kim Jong Un ensuring the continuity of his family's dynasty. Kim's daughter was prominent in the parade, which telegraphs an intention to maintain the survivability of his family's command of the nation if conflict were to occur.

Nerd narrative

There's a 33% chance that there will be at least one fatality from an offensive nuclear detonation in North Korea by 2050, if there's an offensive detonation anywhere, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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 a 2% chance that Russia will be removed from the UN Security Council by 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Progressive narrative

While Britons can certainly take the small win here, the Church of England is still holding on to old beliefs that the majority of Anglicans don't agree with anymore. Within the Church, as is already the case in secular society, there is plenty of room for differing views on sexuality and marriage. Hopefully, this is only the first step toward the Church finally approving same-sex marriage and thus fulfilling the demands of inclusivity preached by God and the British government.

Conservative narrative

This is the result of the decades-long secularist movement to overtake religious institutions as our moral leaders. Most of the world for most of its history understood marriage as a permanent sacrament between men and women who, regardless of their personal or emotional qualms, were unified in the goal of raising children. Though progressives will counter with anecdotal what-about-isms, this fundamental human purpose can only occur between the two sexes. While blessing unions is one thing, approving same-sex marriages would be an attack on fundamental Church doctrine.

Republican narrative

Biden is blaming inflation on the pandemic rather than his reactionary policies to it, and many of his comments at the SOTU highlight the real danger of his administration's attempts to arbitrarily control the markets rather than support them. Such a strategy has historically only taken power away from the average worker and destroyed nations — under Biden, the US economy looks likely to continue to suffer.

Democratic narrative

Americans' economic woes aren't unfounded, but it's Biden's agenda that's keeping hope alive. In a U-turn from years past, the president is calling out corporate corruption and tax evasion while highlighting the importance of a strong working class. Even Republicans, albeit grudgingly, applauded some of the president's speech, which — along with the poll's optimism surrounding the economy's future — shows the American people are willing to latch onto the hopeful message Biden has for the country.

Nerd narrative

There's a 30% chance that the US will enter a recession before the end of 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-establishment narrative

The EU has been taking decisive action to curb online hate speech and the spread of misinformation and extremism, with the regulatory Digital Services Act coming into effect next year to enforce social media platforms to protect people's life and safety. As the Internet is no longer a lawless land, Musk-owned Twitter could face fines and even a ban if goes down a shaky path.

Establishment-critical narrative

Most European countries have never genuinely valued free speech. Yet, Brussels is taking this attitude to a new level by imposing a radical censorship mechanism intended to force social media companies — especially Twitter — to follow an imposed ideological content-moderation policy.

Nerd narrative

There's a 44% chance that Twitter's net income will be higher in 2023 than in 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Narrative A

India's democratic boom over the last decade is rapidly distancing from the multicultural and multiethnic foundation it was built upon. The beauty of India since its independence from the UK was that it allowed Hindu, Muslim, and secular beliefs to flourish side-by-side. The nation's constitution was written with those values in mind, but the current regime has sadly used its popularity to go directly against the founders' wishes.

Narrative B

Cows are the backbone of India's majority-Hindu tradition, which is under attack as Western influence grows. This innocent initiative is a light-hearted way of reminding the population of that fact and honoring Vedic traditions, all while bringing emotional and mental health benefits to those who partake.

Republican narrative

It shouldn't be surprising that Disney is suffering, considering all the bad press it earned last year. Iger took over a company that fought and lost a culture war against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and has made its name synonymous with “woke” content. Disney used to be old-fashioned fun for the whole family, but now most average Americans are steering clear of the brand and its sinister agenda.

Democratic narrative

Disney was predicated on being a morally instructive company and has long been esteemed as a model for a healthy civic society. Its recent so-called shift in content is merely a reflection of the nation's progressing culture, and GOP's accusation of woke nonsense attests to its inability to keep up with the mainstream.

Narrative C

Although Disney+ Hotstar took a hit in Southeast Asia because of the loss of Indian Premier League streaming rights, subscriber growth has been promising in the US and Canada. Streaming services are all facing stiff competition and are trying to find ways to stop finicky users from canceling and returning month to month. Disney+’s new, cheaper ad-based tier – in addition to its wide-ranging content – could help it grow toward the desired profits.

Establishment-critical narrative

While violence must be condemned, the Congolese people have a right to be upset with the UN peacekeepers. Decades of MONUSCO presence in the country have failed to subside rebel attacks and conflict that have displaced nearly 200K people. Furthermore, the UN mission has neither listened to the Congolese people about their grievances nor denounced Rwanda's involvement in this crisis.

Pro-establishment narrative

Though it's undeniable that MONUSCO has fallen short of achieving its mandate to stabilize the country and bring peace to eastern Congo, demanding UN peacekeepers leave the country is not a solution. As peacekeepers are the only ones ultimately trying to protect civilians, their departure would benefit only rebels and unscrupulous soldiers.

Establishment-critical narrative

Constitutionally, the argument against these Authorizations is clear as day Congress is the sole governmental body with the power to declare war. Since the illegal authorization to fight the so-called "War on Terror" 20 years ago, nearly a million people have been killed and more than $21T has been spent, all because of executive branch-led ventures. It's well past time to repeal these laws.

Pro-establishment narrative

These Authorizations are legal and necessary in the counter-terrorism era of warfare we live in today. The US faces threats from state and non-state actors — including al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group — which is why the president and the Pentagon need authority and flexibility. Congress can be briefed by the executive branch, but the president can’t wait around for a painstaking declaration of war process.

Republican narrative

Unlike California's renewed anti-Second Amendment agenda, Missouri understands that gun control doesn't lead to safer communities. While those opposed to unfettered concealed carry laws will claim it allows criminals to run rampant, what it actually does is give citizens a more affordable chance to defend themselves. All Missourians should be free from police harassment so long as they carry their weapons properly and in accordance with the law.

Democratic narrative

Despite the proposal being unanimously recommended by the bipartisan working group, Republicans, in their fanatical attempt to protect the Second Amendment, decided to block it. But the Second Amendment isn't meant to allow children to carry weapons or hinder police from preventing crimes committed by armed minors.