X Brings Antitrust Lawsuit Against Advertising Group
X (formerly Twitter) filed an antitrust lawsuit in Texas federal court on Tuesday against the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and several other major companies, including Unilever, Mars, CVS Health, and Orsted.
The lawsuit accuses the companies of violating antitrust laws by orchestrating a "massive advertiser boycott," resulting the loss of billions of dollars of advertising revenue.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino said evidence presented before the US House Judiciary Committee in a July hearing to scrutinize current anticompetitive laws proved this alleged "organized" and "systematic illegal boycott."
Narrative A
The WFA and other companies engaged in an advertising boycott racket. This was a coordinated effort to demonetize and limit certain platforms, content creators, and news organizations. This conspiracy cost X billions of dollars in ad revenue and was an unfair anti-competitive tactic aimed at limiting certain viewpoints.
Narrative B
It will be very hard for X to prove that advertisers were engaged in a boycott. Even if X wins this case, companies cannot be forced to advertise on X, which isn't automatically guaranteed the money or business of advertisers. Besides, the truth is that advertisers left the platform due to Musk's gross mismanagement of the company.
UK Clears Gene-Editing Therapy for Rare Blood Disorder
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has been cleared to use gene-editing therapy to treat the blood disorder beta thalassaemia.
The therapy, termed Casgevy, may help the estimated 2.3k people in the UK with thalassaemia, a rare group of inherited disorders in which the body produces too little hemoglobin, stunting its ability to carry oxygen.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has said thalassaemia mainly affects those of Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi origin in the UK. The goal is to replace patients' current need for life-long blood transfusions every three to five weeks.
Narrative A
Gene-editing therapy will revolutionize thalassemia treatment with the UK’s approval of the groundbreaking Casgevy therapy. It corrects the faulty gene responsible for thalassemia, offering a potential lifelong cure. Previously, the only permanent solution was a bone marrow transplant, requiring a closely matched donor. Casgevy, instead, uses the patient’s own stem cells to produce healthy hemoglobin, drastically reducing the need for regular blood transfusions.
Narrative B
As CRISPR receives an outpouring of positive coverage due to its expected ability to cure diseases, it's important not to forget the negative side of the gene-editing industry. Gene-editing, if left unchecked, will undoubtedly go beyond fixing blood diseases and lead to a world where all differences among humans are artificially eradicated. We shouldn't allow the medical industry to play God when it comes to how we're born and how we develop.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that at least 57 gene-edited babies will have been born worldwide by the end of 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Study: Hottest Sea in 400 Years Threatens Great Barrier Reef
According to a study published in Nature on Thursday, water temperatures in and around Australia's Great Barrier Reef have reached their highest levels in 400 years in the past decade, posing an existential threat to the marine ecosystem and biodiversity.
The researchers reconstructed sea surface temperature from 1618 to 2024 using coral skeleton samples and ship and satellite data and found that the sea had warmed 0.12°C (0.22°F) on average from 1960 through 2024.
Repeated bleaching events — which occur when water temperatures rise by more than 1°C (1.8°F) — threaten the reef's fragile ecosystem and deplete the coral's nutrients and color.
Narrative A
The scientific evidence strongly indicates that human-induced climate change is responsible for increased ocean temperatures, which threaten the world's largest reef. Australia must do more to reduce its emissions to battle climate change and protect its greatest natural asset.
Narrative B
While climate change could affect ocean temperatures, weather phenomena such as El Niño may also play a role. Chaotic weather patterns can reduce ocean cloud cover, which could lead to an increase in solar radiation and ocean warming. Further research is required to establish certainty.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that there will be at least 2.88°C of global warming by 2100, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Biden 'Not Confident' of Orderly Power Transfer if Trump Loses
In a clip of an interview with CBS News, set to be aired on Sunday, US Pres. Joe Biden said he is "not confident at all" of a peaceful transition of power if the Republican candidate, former Pres. Donald Trump, loses the 2024 presidential election.
Biden, who has quit the presidential race, emphasized that "He [Trump] means what he says," referring to Trump's past statement that there would be an economic "bloodbath" in the auto industry if Democrats win.
Regarding the larger Republican Party, he said, "Look what they’re trying to do now, in the local election districts where people count the votes," though it's unclear what exactly Biden was accusing his opponents of doing.
Democratic narrative
It's not just Trump repeating anti-democracy rhetoric; his whole campaign strategy is based on it. One of his top advisors recently stated that Team Trump won't accept any election results until Inauguration Day, suggesting it will be Trump and only Trump who is sworn into office next year. The pro-Trump Republican Party has become eerily comfortable with this language, and the American public should be aware of it.
Republican narrative
The same Democrats who just installed a presidential nominee with no voting process should not be accusing Trump of authoritarianism. While the Biden-Harris administration distracts the public with hyperbolic claims about Trump, they've embarked on one of the most authoritarian missions in US history overhauling the Judicial Branch to establish permanent Democrat power.
Narrative C
Donald Trump's norm-breaking actions are more spectacle than substance. There is absolutely no evidence that he seeks to unconstitutionally seize power. The real danger lies in neglecting underlying social and economic issues. Focusing on exaggerated threats of tyranny distracts from addressing economic inequalities and social justice, which are the true sources of political instability. And that is the real threat to US democracy, not Trump.
Nerd narrative
There is a 25% chance the US will become a dictatorship by 2100, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
White House Contacts Ukraine to 'Learn' About Kursk Offensive
While it was previously reported that US intelligence agencies are taking an active role in supporting Ukraine's war effort against Russia, the White House said on Wednesday that it was contacting Ukraine "to learn more about their objectives" after it launched a cross-border offensive into Russian territory this week.
Responding to questions from reporters, the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: "Generally speaking, as you know, we have been supportive of Ukraine as they are defending themselves against Russia's aggression."
She added: "But as for the specific operation, we're going to reach out to them to see what their objective is and continue to stay focused."
Pro-establishment narrative
While the US supports Ukraine in this conflict, it had no prior knowledge of this offensive into Russian territory. It is contacting the Ukrainian military to learn more about the objectives of this attack and to ensure that it continues to support Ukraine in its wider war aims.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Gratitude goes out to all warriors who are bravely fighting for Ukraine. Their actions exert pressure on Russia and this will be instrumental in bringing about peace.
Pro-Russia narrative
This is a large-scale provocation from Ukraine who are indiscriminately firing weapons at civilian buildings and residential homes. Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin is meeting with military heads to ensure that the threat is eliminated.
Nerd narrative
There's a 32% chance that Russian territory will be reduced by at least 1% before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Study: Abortions in US Increased After Repeal of Roe
The Society of Family Planning's (SFP) quarterly #WeCount report claims that the number of abortions performed in the US has increased since the June 2022 repeal of Roe v. Wade by SCOTUS.
The report found that abortions taking place in the first quarter of 2024 sat at a monthly average of over 98K, an increase from 2022 and 2023 figures. The SFP, a pro-abortion rights group, credits much of the rise to abortion pills provided through telehealth services.
Around 20% of abortions each month in 2024 have been provided through telehealth. The removal of in-person screening requirements to prescribe the abortifacient mifepristone and the enactment of state-level "shield laws," which grant legal immunity to telehealth prescribers, were cited as factors.
Right narrative
Enabled by reckless doctors protected by shield laws, more women are turning to medicated abortions prescribed remotely without knowing the full risks that these medicines entail. Women deserve to have the resources they need to take care of their future children, not abortion pills that carry four times the risk of complications compared to surgical abortions. There needs to be a continued effort to build a culture of life in America.
Left narrative
Overreach from conservative judges and states cannot abrogate a woman's right to bodily autonomy, as restrictions have failed to reduce abortions nationwide. Instead of being forced to rely on back alley means, as some feared, legally protected telehealth providers have created a new landscape for abortion access. Getting medicated abortions can be as easy as a few clicks online, a terrific step forward for reproductive rights.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that at least 55% of US states will have Casey-era abortion protections on May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Harris and Walz Campaign to Win Midwestern Support
Democratic US presidential candidate Kamala Harris traveled to Michigan and Wisconsin on Wednesday with her running mate Tim Walz, the governor of nearby Minnesota, as part of their bid to garner support in the highly contested Midwest region.
During their rally in Eau Claire, Wis., the Democratic duo claimed to fight for the middle class, with Walz expressing that his view on abortion was "mind your own damn business."
Later that day in Michigan, Harris and Walz rallied at the Detroit Metro Airport to a thousands-strong crowd — their address again focused on the middle class and reproductive rights.
Democratic narrative
Energy for the Harris-Walz ticket is continuing to rise, and while the polls still show a close race in these Midwestern states, it appears Walz has only boosted Harris' chances. This also comes amid the backdrop of a declining Trump campaign, whose allegations of Walz being an extreme liberal don't seem to be landing well with voters. Even their allegation that Walz allowed Minnesota to burn during the BLM riots is slowly being debunked.
Republican narrative
Harris and Walz do not represent neighborly Midwestern values. Harris fundraised to bail out the BLM rioters who completely destroyed Minneapolis, Minn., in 2020. It's also a fact that Walz waited days to deploy his state's National Guard — only doing so once the city had burned to the ground. And, on top of allowing massive BLM crowds to roam the streets freely, Walz simultaneously passed COVID laws prohibiting regular citizens from holding small gatherings in their homes.
Nerd narrative
There's a 22% chance that Wisconsin will be the "Tipping Point" in the 2024 US presidential election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Boeing Starliner Astronauts Could Remain on ISS Until 2025
After thruster problems left two Boeing Starliner astronauts — Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore — stranded at the International Space Station (ISS), NASA said on Wednesday that the return of the pair may not take place until early 2025.
As the Starliner approached the ISS in June, it reportedly suffered loss of thruster power and helium leakage, affecting the propulsion system's pressurization. A NASA administrator has said that returning the astronauts on their Starliner remains the "prime option," as inquiries into the failure continue.
On Wednesday, NASA revealed back-up plans that would see the pair return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in February 2025 after it launches this September, while the docked Starliner would return unmanned. A final decision will be made later this month.
Narrative A
This is another embarrassing incident for Boeing, as its extraterrestrial dreams fail to come to fruition. The Starliner incurred billions of dollars in unplanned expenses, has been fraught with technical issues, and is operating well behind schedule. As the company faces multiple crises regarding its manufacturing, SpaceX and other entities remain undefeated in private space travel.
Narrative B
The Starliner saga is a roadbump on the path to better space policy in the US. NASA would have to rely on Russia to transport astronauts if it were not for both SpaceX and Boeing, and fixed-cost contracts kept taxpayers off the hook for cost overruns at both firms. NASA has made able use of the private sector's innovation to deliver great successes, regardless of the unrepresentative outcome here.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the 10,000th human will reach space by 2053, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Catalan Separatist Returns to Spain, Sparking Police Manhunt
Ex-Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain for the first time since 2017 despite an outstanding arrest warrant against him, appearing in Barcelona before fleeing the scene. Local police are still searching for the fugitive who is wanted for organizing an independence referendum in Catalonia.
After seven years in self-imposed exile, Puigdemont announced earlier this week that he would be at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona for Thursday’s investiture of Catalonia’s new leader Salvador Illa. He delivered a short speech to a crowd of supporters at the Arc de Triomf before disappearing.
Puigdemont is believed to have fled in a car belonging to a member of Catalonia’s police force – called Mossos d’Esquadra – and two officers were arrested for their alleged involvement. The regional police activated a search-and-detain operation around 10 am but ended the active search later in the day.
Narrative A
Carles Puigdemont courageously returned to Spain despite the illegitimate and fascistic arrest warrant against him. Numerous international and European courts have denounced Spain’s legal action against Puigdemont and other Catalan nationalists, yet the country’s authoritarian leaders still target patriots. Organizing a vote for independence is not a crime, and the Spanish government must stop its persecution of Puigdemont and other freedom fighters.
Narrative B
Puigdemont is a treasonous criminal who tried to illegally separate Catalonia from Spain, and he must be brought to justice. While some politicians may try to make a deal with traitors for political gain, Spanish patriots will not allow subversive opportunists to fracture the nation. Catalonia is an integral part of Spain, yet Puigdemont decided to disgrace his countrymen. This cannot stand.
Nerd narrative
There is a 10% chance that Spain will recognize Catalonia by 2070, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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