10 April 2023

Daily Newsletter

Yemen: Saudi-Oman Envoy Meets with Houthi Officials for Peace Talks

The Facts

  • Saudi and Omani officials reportedly held talks with the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, over the weekend in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. The envoys discussed ending hostilities and lifting a Saudi-led "blockade" on Yemeni ports.

  • Chief Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam said Saturday that they want a stop to "the aggression completely, lifting the blockade completely, paying the salaries of all Yemeni employees from oil and gas revenues...as well as the exit of foreign forces from Yemen, compensations and reconstruction."


The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Though the extent to which China played a role in this potential ceasefire is still unclear, it does seem that Beijing's diplomatic approach far outweighed the US style of saber-rattling. This is shown by CIA Director William Burns' angry statement on the matter, in which he scolded Saudi Arabia for coming to a peaceful agreement with the Houthis. The US is thirsty for more profits from this unnecessary war, which is why China stepped up to offer another diplomatic ally other than declining American hegemony.

Pro-establishment narrative

The idea that China miraculously brokered a Saudi-Iran peace deal is delusional, as Beijing has been meddling in Middle Eastern affairs for years to no avail. The PRC has also not proven capable of maintaining a peace deal of this magnitude. Many unforeseen incidents can break this agreement apart, such as Houthi rebels launching attacks on their own or anti-government protests in Iran that stoke renewed anger toward the Saudis. Diplomacy isn't as simple as some are making it out to be, and Beijing will soon learn that as it digs its claws deeper into challenging Middle Eastern issues.

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White House, Dept. of Justice Plan Response to Abortion Pill Ruling

The Facts

  • On Monday, the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) initiated a request in a federal appeals court to block last week's ruling from a Texas federal judge that would restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone.

  • This comes as US Sec. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra said Sunday that "everything is on the table," responding to a Texas federal judge’s ruling to suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone.


The Spin

Democratic narrative

This is one of the most lawless acts by a federal judge in US history. This decision not only breaches the scope of the judiciary but also has the potential to impose "fetal personhood" laws nationwide, effectively banning abortions even in states that uphold a woman's right to reproductive autonomy. This is unconstitutional, immoral, and must be overturned.

Republican narrative

Critics of this decision are purposefully ignoring the procedural arguments made in Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling. He isn't banning the abortion pill for political reasons but rather due to the FDA's failure 20 years ago to test the drug on girls under 18 or evaluate the psychological or long-term medical consequences of the pill. The FDA's approval was politically motivated, not Judge Kacsmaryk's legal decision.

Nerd narrative

There's a 5% chance that elective abortion will be banned nationally in the United States before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

See sources

Iran, Saudi Arabia Set to Reopen Embassies

The Facts

  • The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that ministry officials will travel to Saudi Arabia this week to prepare for the reopening of the Iranian diplomatic missions in the Persian Gulf kingdom.

  • According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Enayati, two separate delegations will visit Saudi Arabia to arrange the reopening of Iran’s embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in Jeddah.


The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The Saudi-Iranian diplomatic overtures are not necessarily bad news for Washington, as greater regional security also serves US interests. Yet Washington should also seize the opportunity to focus on promoting political pluralism and human rights in the region to achieve lasting peace. Moreover, to effectively contain the authoritarian PRC regime's growing regional influence, Washington must defend its interests and liberal values there with like-minded allies.

Establishment-critical narrative

That Saudi Arabia and Iran are about to reopen their embassies signifies that China's efforts to bring peace to the region are bearing fruit. That the US pretends to welcome any development that benefits peace shows Washington has instigated regional conflicts to profit from chaos. The recent developments in the Middle East are the latest expression of the fact that Global South countries are finally fed up with Washington's hypocrisy and the export of its so-called "values."

Nerd narrative

There is a 55% chance, that Saudi Arabia will normalize its relations with Israel by 2031 if Iran obtains a nuclear bomb by then, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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Court Backs Teacher Firing for Preferred Name Refusal

The Facts

  • A US appeals court on Friday ruled that a high school in Indiana did not break the law when they forced music teacher John Kluge to resign over his refusal to use transgender students' preferred names. Kluge claimed he was acting in line with his religious beliefs.

  • According to the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, Kluge's rights to express his religious convictions were superseded by the potentially disruptive impact of his conduct on learning.


The Spin

Right narrative

The school district clearly violated Kluge's religious rights — despite Kluge himself going out of his way to accommodate his students' divergent beliefs and treat them all with respect. This kind of unlawful dismissal is exactly what Title VII is designed to prevent. Kluge deserves damages for the undermining of his First Amendment rights.

Left narrative

Kluge's legal tirade is simply false martyrdom. Legislation protecting minority rights is important, hence why the school district intervened to ensure that transgender students — and their education — were protected. Rather than feigning to be martyrs, teachers like Kluge should revise their theology and recognize that Christianity is about understanding rather than conflict.

Narrative C

Church-state issues have come to the center of the modern culture wars, partly because protecting the rights of minorities without unjustly curtailing religious liberties is such a delicate balance to strike. The US has veered far from the founding fathers' initial conception of religious freedom. In this time of partisanship, revisiting such a modest approach to religious liberty and encouraging both religious and non-religious individuals and groups to rub shoulders in the search for equality could be beneficial.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that at least 20.4% of the global population will identify as "religiously unaffiliated" in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community

See sources

Fox News Settles Election Defamation Lawsuit

Photo: The Hill

The Facts

  • Fox News has announced that a settlement has been reached with Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil, ending a defamation case in which Khalil claimed he was falsely accused by host Lou Dobbs of helping rig the 2020 US presidential election against Donald Trump.

  • Khalil had called the accusation, which aired in December 2020, a "lie totally devoid of reality." Fox allegedly portrayed Khalil as one of four people who worked with two electronic voting companies — Dominion and Smartmatic — to ensure that Joe Biden won the election.


The Spin

Left narrative

The series of defamation suits against Fox raises the issue of how far the media can bend the truth before they are held accountable. Fox knew that many of its claims were untrue, yet it continued to push its on-air narratives to prevent viewers from leaving the network for the likes of Newsmax or One America. No matter the verdict of the cases, the limits of lying in the news have now been firmly established.

Right narrative

While right-wing outlets get all the attention, one need look no further than MSNBC to see how left-wing establishment media are protected from defamation cases like these, as the left-wing network is still airing segments accusing Trump of being a Russian operative. Years after the Russia hoax was debunked, these news outlets still allow accusations like these to reach millions of viewers with no fear of retribution. There are clear double standards at play.

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Ukraine Alters Military Plans in Wake of Pentagon Leaks

The Facts

  • In the wake of classified US documents being leaked and circulated on the internet in the past several days, Ukraine has modified some of its war plans, a source close to Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN on Monday.

  • The documents divulged perceived areas of Ukrainian vulnerability and weakness, including shortages in weaponry and ammunition as well as scarcity in air defense coverage over certain regions. The leaks also detailed the sizes and locations of troop deployments and their combat readiness, in addition to what weapons and training they were due to receive.


The Spin

Narrative A

While it's understood that the US has one of the most sophisticated intelligence apparatuses in the world, the leaked documents provide a rare glimpse into how the country spies on its allies and foes alike. The revelations are likely to anger some of its closest partners at a time when cohesion is badly needed.

Narrative B

While the leaks may show some accurate information, this bears the hallmarks of an American disinformation operation. This release was created to prompt confusion among Russian ranks ahead of Ukraine's plans to launch a spring counteroffensive.

Nerd narrative

There is a 3.5% chance that NATO Article 5 collective defense action will be taken before Jan. 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

See sources

Marseille Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 8

The Facts

  • The death toll from a collapse of a residential building in the southern French city of Marseille on April 9 has risen to eight, as rescue teams found the bodies of the last two missing people on Wednesday.

  • French authorities opened an investigation to find the cause of the explosion of the four-story apartment building as hundreds of rescuers continued searching the rubble four days after the blast.


The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Very sadly, France has learned nothing from the 2018 disaster. Housing standards in Marseille have stayed the same as 40K residents continue to live in shoddy structures. The latest collapse casts a harsh light on the city's poorly-built homes.

Pro-establishment narrative

It's too early to jump to conclusions. Potential factors could include faulty wiring, criminal intent, or gas leak. The nation is in mourning right now, and the focus must remain on helping survivors and relocating the displaced residents instead of casting blame. Due process will ultimately yield the truth.

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Shooting in Louisville, Ky. Leaves 4 Dead

Photo: Reuters

The Facts

  • At least four people were killed and nine others critically injured in a mass shooting at Louisville's Old National Bank on Monday morning. Among those shot were two officers, one of whom is undergoing surgery.

  • The shooter, 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, reportedly live-streamed his attack on Instagram before he was fatally shot by police. Four of the slain victims ranged from 40 to 60 years old, all of whom were bank employees.


The Spin

Left narrative

This kind of recurrent gun violence is a uniquely American epidemic. How many innocent victims must die before gun laws are reformed? The US has more guns than any other country — essentially one gun for every citizen — and one of the highest gun-related death rates. This madness needs to stop with better regulation, including limiting who has access and the types of weapons they own.

Right narrative

In tragedies like this, the left sadly focuses too much on curtailing the 2nd Amendment rights of American citizens, and also using gun violence to further an agenda driven by extreme identity politics. Each case is situation-specific, and woke politicians and activists would be better served by addressing the stressors impacting specific perpetrators.

Cynical narrative

Another day in the United States, another mass shooting. And just like all the previous tragic attacks, nothing will change based on the empty rhetoric of both sides. Mass shootings have become a part of America's landscape, and neither the left nor the right has enough political willpower to change that.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that there will be at least 1.39 small firearms per capita in the USA by 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

See sources

Second Tenn. State Rep Reinstated

Photo: The Hill

The Facts

  • Less than a week after being expelled, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners has reappointed Justin J. Pearson to his seat representing Tennessee House District 86 in the state legislature.

  • Pearson's reinstatement comes just two days after the Nashville Metropolitan Council unanimously voted to restore fellow Democrat Rep. Justin Jones to office.


The Spin

Democratic narrative

Jones and Pearson were already popular because of the policies they support, and the compassion they showed for the victims of the Nashville school shooting. By expelling them, and not considering they would easily be reinstated by their county commissions, Republicans made two of their opponents into nationwide celebrities who will now be better able to push for gun reform, racial justice, and other progressive causes.

Republican narrative

These Democrats violently led a rebellion against an elected body and broke several of the House’s rules. Unfortunately, Democrats continue to believe the rules don’t apply to them, especially when it comes to pushing for unconstitutional gun restrictions. They shouldn’t celebrate too hard, though. Jone and Pearson still have to win reelection in order to remain in their seats.

See sources

Boat Carrying 400 Migrants Adrift in the Mediterranean

Photo: cnn

The Facts

  • A vessel with around 400 migrants and refugees onboard is adrift in the Mediterranean between Italy and Malta as it awaits rescue from the Italian coast guard, according to sea rescue support service Alarm Phone.

  • The boat is about 170 miles southeast of Capo Passero, off the coast of Calabria, and is at risk of capsizing after being stranded for at least 24 hours. Italy's coast guard has three rescue operations involving multiple vessels.


The Spin

Left narrative

Italian and Maltese authorities have left hundreds of people to die at sea, showing a complete disregard for humanitarian values. The delays in maritime search and rescue represent extraordinary negligence. However, Italy and Malta’s deliberate political choices prevented stranded migrants from getting the help they needed to survive. Anti-immigration governments are costing people’s lives.

Right narrative

While woke nonprofits point fingers and demonize Italian authorities, Italy competently conducts search-and-rescue at sea. Italy cannot stop thousands of migrants from embarking on dangerous journeys. While certain organizations and left-wing groups point the finger at Italy, they offer no solutions for addressing the root of the migration crisis.

See sources

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