Narrative A

There are economic, humanitarian, and health reasons for people to switch to lab-grown and insect-based diets. Eating alternative proteins could lessen our environmental impact on the planet by 80% compared to the current European diet, as it avoids the need to farm livestock or poultry and uses significantly less water to produce. Furthermore, unlike some purely vegetarian or vegan diets, lab-grown and insect-based diets can still be nutrient- and protein-rich.

Narrative B

While switching to lab-grown and insect-based protein alternatives has huge potential, these routes shouldn't be uncritically cited as environmental silver bullets. Due to the amount of energy required to produce lab-grown meat, production in its current form could produce more CO2 than the methane currently produced by cows, so it actually risks obstructing decarbonization targets. A systemic switch to these diets would help mitigate climate change only if we also make progress in other areas, especially renewable energy usage. Dietary change needs to be part of a wider environmental plan and infrastructure change to be effective.

Nerd narrative

There is a 50% chance that at least five cultivated meat products will be approved for sale in the US by May 10, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Left narrative

It is high time that compensation be paid by those who profiteered by turning people into merchandise. Europe and the West have an obligation, not only to apologize for these wrongs, but to embark on comprehensive social justice programs to counter the long-standing effects of previous atrocities. Apologies are commendable but pragmatic steps must also be taken.

Right narrative

There are many practical issues with issuing reparations for the grotesque suffering of forebearers. The question of who would qualify is ambiguous, the criteria for quantifying monetary compensation is subjective, and such decisions are often made at the expense of people who never themselves practiced or endorsed slavery. Clumsily redressing what cannot be righted poses the danger of only making things worse.

Narrative A

As of last month, an AP-NORC poll suggested that less than half of the US population supported providing US weapons to Ukraine. It was one of many indicators that public support is gradually eroding for all aspects of the Biden administration's Ukraine policy. Developing war weariness among the public is a commonly repeated trend, previously seen towards conflicts in South Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Pres. Biden should tread carefully, as electoral victory for the Democrats may soon rely on him reneging on his pledge to support Kyiv for 'as long as it takes.'

Narrative B

Despite the shift in GOP attitudes concerning the conflict in Ukraine — which appears to indicate a veering towards unfettered isolationism — the 2024 election is a long way off, and there is very little the Trump-DeSantis factions can currently do to affect military spending. In addition, Western intervention can continue even without support from inside the White House, through initiatives such as the IMF's recently announced $16B loan package to help rebuild the Ukrainian economy. US and Western support for Kyiv will remain stalwart.

Nerd narrative

There is a 50% chance that the US will provide Ukraine with any fighter aircraft by Dec. 20, 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Narrative A

Drugs like Wegovy, among several others, have proven slightly effective in helping people lose weight while leading to diseases like thyroid cancer and eating disorders. The industry has been a money-making scheme since the inception of weight loss surgeries 70 years ago, and it seems that these new drugs — which cost upwards of $1k or more per month — are Big Pharma's next billion-dollar lie.

Narrative B

Obesity is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, contributing to millions of deaths annually, but we may finally have the solution to this problem. We now see medications that can aid weight loss and reduce the risk of weight-related complications like diabetes. As for cost, It's time for insurance companies and governments to treat obesity similarly to other diseases so people can finally gain access to their life-saving effects.

Narrative C

While weight loss drugs provide a valuable tool in the fight against obesity, they don't tackle the root cause. More must be done to create a multi-faceted approach to preventing obesity in the first place by promoting healthy lifestyles and holding the food industry — which has promoted unhealthy food for years — to account.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that at least 71.7% of Americans will be obese or overweight in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-establishment narrative

It has been widely known that TikTok's data-harvesting practices in favor of the Chinese government represent a national security threat, but this platform has an even darker side. While promoting educational clips to children in its Chinese version, TikTok purposely exposes Western children to inappropriate sexual and substance-related content. It's about time that this weaponized app is banned once and for all.

Establishment-critical narrative

Concerns about the experience of children using TikTok are entirely justifiable, but it's outrageous that the platform has been criticized as if such issues are not common to every other major social media platform. Politicians have been exploiting the most striking fears of parents while failing to address basic, urgent challenges, such as providing food to all school children, in a blatant show of hypocrisy.

Nerd narrative

There's a 30% chance that the US will ban TikTok before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Narrative A

It’s time to take a breather as we figure out the best way to live peacefully with and avoid some of the pitfalls of this rapidly advancing technology. Just as other technology has safety measures in place, we need similar rules for AI.

Narrative B

Musk isn’t afraid of what AI technology will do; he’s just concerned he’ll lose the race to develop the best and most profitable AI systems in the world. He left OpenAI over a power struggle, and Musk's motives for participating in this letter are purely business.

Nerd narrative

There's a 55% chance that there will be a positive transition to a world with radically smarter-than-human artificial intelligence, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-establishment narrative

It would be unprecedented for the State Dept. to turn over anything it feels is too sensitive for Congress’ eyes, and the House has few tools to force compliance with this request. Allowing Congress access to the "dissent line" would have a chilling effect on future correspondence between diplomats and their bosses. Blinken has made many other documents available and is more than willing to brief Congress on the cable’s contents, but instead, the House has opted to issue a subpoena it can’t enforce.

Establishment-critical narrative

There must be Congressional oversight of the State Dept., especially when it bungles something as badly as it did the Afghanistan withdrawal. Thirteen US service members died because of government incompetence, and the American people deserve transparency. Beyond the "dissent cable" — which can reasonably be reviewed as a redacted version or in a secure location — the State Dept. should turn over everything the committee has requested so it can get the answers it needs.

Republican narrative

Vice President Harris has been left to deliver a compelling message and make empty promises to African leaders despite massive gains by Russia and China across the continent. Beijing has dropped tariffs to allow duty-free imports from several African countries and struck a multibillionaire deal with Ghana, and Russia likewise is showing increased geopolitical influence. Her visit on behalf of a languishing Biden administration is too little, too late.

Democratic narrative

Harris’ visit to Ghana — the first stop on her week-long trip to Africa — was a poignant event that can serve to inspire millions of young Africans, particularly women. The Biden admin. is bringing Africa and the US into a new era of partnership by honestly confronting the past and looking to the future.

Anti-China narrative

Tsai is simply passing through the US, and her so-called trip is an unofficial visit, consistent with US-Taiwan relations. Any tension or military conflict caused by Tsai's visit would be an outlandish escalation on China's part.

Pro-China narrative

China has made its case to the US about why meeting with Tsai would be a provocation, and if the two countries go through with it, they’ll be risking the lives and well-being of the people of Taiwan and undermining the "One China" policy. This trip, posturing as an innocent "transiting through," shouldn’t happen.

Nerd narrative

There’s a 68% chance that the US would respond with military force if China invades Taiwan before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Republican narrative

Though the going narrative is that this break was "pre-planned," Alvin Bragg has every power to convene the jury whenever he chooses. If he was close to indicting Trump, he would, but he isn't and is stalling to save face. This alternative theory makes more sense since Trump only gains more political support the longer this witch hunt lags on. As Bragg keeps grasping at straws, the Democrats' chances of jailing Trump grow smaller and smaller.

Democratic narrative

While this decision is certainly unusual given the jury has already taken a hiatus, it's likely that Bragg is ensuring all his ducks are in a row before an indictment. Trump has been using social media to try and derail his fate for weeks. This is why Bragg is staying calm — he wants to make sure his approach is flawless.

Nerd narrative

There's a 28% chance that Donald Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.