Narrative A

Section 230 offers a vital protection that has facilitated the tremendous innovation we’ve seen in online platforms over the past two decades. Without it, companies would be unable to provide the user experience, recommendations, and economic opportunities currently afforded to people around the world. The loss of such legislation would cause irreparable damage to the sector and come at a huge cost to internet users globally.

Narrative B

When Section 230 was first created in 1996, its creators could have never envisioned the behemoth social media would become in the lives of millions around the world. Big Social Media companies represent some of the largest and most influential corporate entities in the world and, with that much power, comes proportionate responsibility. Companies like Google can shape the psyche and actions of the population — there must be greater accountability and regulation in the online world.

Nerd narrative

There is a 43% chance that Section 230 will be revoked or amended by January 20, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-China narrative

It's not China that threatens stability in the region, but Japan's military buildup to counter the alleged "Chinese threat" while demonstrating just how firm security ties with Washington supposedly are. By bowing to US hegemonic interests and shifting from a defensive posture to offensive deterrence against China, Japan is playing a dangerous game. Tokyo should instead embrace the talks to work with China toward peace and stability.

Anti-China narrative

With the December announcement of its new national security strategy, Japan proved that it's no longer willing to stand idly by and hide behind a naïve belief in its pacifist security stance amid China's military intimidation. Therefore, Tokyo has correctly decided to double its defense spending and expand its alliance with the US. Japan has identified China as the greatest challenge to its security and shouldn't fall for Beijing's tricks.

Nerd narrative

There's a 2% chance that there will be a deadly clash between Japanese and Chinese armed forces before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-establishment narrative

This verdict shows just how high up the corruption went under Felipe Calderón's presidency, as it's scandalous that a US jury could convict Mexico’s former drug czar on charges of aiding the Sinaloa drug cartel. US officials have for years complained about the difficulty of knowing who to trust and share information with inside the Mexican government. Now, that distrust has been proven justified.

Establishment-critical narrative

While US attorneys pat themselves on the back for this conviction, what should be investigated more is what US officials knew about this corruption throughout the years. García Luna worked closely with the US government dating back to the Bill Clinton presidency, during which his corruption was carelessly — or more cynically, deliberately — unnoticed. This shouldn't just be a Mexican story but a conviction of US negligence, too.

Narrative A

US counter-subversion operations like COINTELPRO considered activists and leaders like Malcolm X as threats that had to be neutralized by any means necessary. While we may not have direct proof implicating US intelligence agencies in his murder, the FBI’s fingerprints are all over Malcolm X’s assassination, and an unfettered, thorough investigation must be conducted if the powerful are to be held accountable.

Narrative B

While there are still questions to be answered surrounding Malcolm X's assassination, it's important to note that the third man convicted in the murder — whose case was not overturned — had confessed, which doesn't bode well for the government-did-it theory. Though justifiably so, this lawsuit could also simply be Malcolm X's daughter seeking compensation for the pain she's endured after decades of legal battles and controversy involving her father's murder.

Pro-establishment narrative

After Putin's falsehood-ridden speech, Biden pushed back by triumphantly declaring that Russia will never be victorious against Ukraine. As the one-year anniversary of the war approaches, that's exactly the message that the world — particularly Ukraine — needs to hear.

Pro-Russia narrative

As Putin rightly highlighted, Russia tried to engage the US and NATO on security guarantees before the conflict started — the efforts were ignored and followed by a further buildup of NATO presence on Russia's borders. The blame for this conflict lies with the West for flagrantly posing an unacceptable security risk that prompted a defensive military operation.

Nerd narrative

There's a 5% chance that China will get involved in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict by 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Narrative A

The decision is disappointing, and the power to banish a citizen in such an ad hoc manner shouldn't exist in modern society. Lured to Syria as an impressionable year-old, Begum was groomed and trafficked to join IS, and the UK should be treating her as the victim she is rather than leaving her stranded in Syria.

Narrative B

While this is a tragic case, Shamima Begum made a conscious decision to join a murderous terror group that she stayed with and supported for years, and she must take responsibility for her actions. The state has an obligation to prioritize national security, and the commission is right to stand by Javid's decision.

Establishment-critical narrative

North Korea has joined the nuclear weapons club, and there's little chance of turning back. Rather than living in denial, the West should focus now on ensuring the nuclear program is carried out safely and responsibly, and prioritizing human rights issues. Though nuclear war is frightening, nations such as India and Pakistan were able to build ICBMs while simultaneously joining the international community. It's time for Pyongyang to be invited to the table on the condition that it stops starving its people.

Pro-establishment narrative

The West, particularly the US-South Korea military alliance, has a right to maintain its strict sanctions against and focus on the North's erratic ICBM tests. Though the Kim regime may see this as a threat and subsequently double down on its missile launches, that is no reason for the South or its allies to back down militarily. The North enjoys its stranglehold on its people, which is why it continues to oppress them and fend off Western intervention through nuclear threats.

Nerd narrative

There is a 39% chance that there will be a major famine in North Korea before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-Palestine narrative

Not even two months into the new year, and Israel has already committed two massacres against the Palestinian people. This massacre was even more heinous than the one in Jenin, as Israeli forces breached Nablus — one of the larger Palestinian cities — during the day when the old city was packed with civilians. Emboldened by international silence after killing more Palestinians last year than in any other calendar year since the Second Intifada, the occupation is becoming even more violent.

Pro-Israel narrative

Though it's truly tragic when civilians die in the crossfire, the reality is they would still be alive if Palestinian terrorists chose not to hide among the civilian population. Israeli forces were fired upon before they engaged, and the fighters killed launched attacks against civilians. Ultimately, the media will uncritically blame Israel, but the truth is that the deadliest thing for Palestinians is Palestinian terrorism.

Nerd narrative

There's a 44% chance that Israel will recognize Palestine by 2070, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Democratic narrative

These cases are delicate and involve many powerful potential indictees, so it’s important that Willis was able to take the cases on a test run — by way of the special grand jury — where she controlled the flow of information before moving on to real trials. Meanwhile, Khors’ media appearances provide valuable observations about which witnesses sound most credible and might best complement physical evidence.

Pro-Trump narrative

Kohrs came across as an unserious grifter in her appearances, making this whole process – which is nothing more than Democrats weaponizing the legal system to attack Trump – look like a farce. In addition to her making the grand jury sound partisan, her revelations didn't reveal any new information.

Nerd narrative

There’s a 53% chance that Trump will be indicted on criminal charges in 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Narrative A

South Korea is on the verge of a demographic crisis that will bring an economic crisis along with it. The population pyramid is completely distorted, and the shrinking number of young people won't be able to support the ballooning number of retirees in the coming decades. In addition to the population reducing dramatically, the key number of workers will decrease even more, leading to financial ruin.

Narrative B

Low fertility isn't a bad thing, and in fact, it can be a key component of an alternative economic and social development system. South Korea adopted a plan in the 1960s to reduce population growth, and the measures proved wildly successful in the subsequent decades. Reduced population can lead to innovative ways to order society, all while protecting our environment, which is in grave danger.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that South Korea's fertility rate will be at least 0.891 in 2032, according to the Metaculus prediction community.