Canada Deploys Black Hawk Choppers Along US Border
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced Wednesday plans to deploy two new Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters — leased from an Ottawa-based aviation firm — to patrol the Canada-US border.
The move is part of its $1.3B border security plan — which includes 60 new drones and surveillance towers, as well as mobile x-rays and chemical analyzers — drawn up following US Pres.-elect Donald Trump's comments concerning the introduction of tariffs between the US and Canada.
Canada's Public Safety Minister David McGuinty has said the chopper deployment would begin Friday, three days before Trump's inauguration which is set for Jan. 20.
Right narrative
Canada's deployment of Black Hawk helicopters has long been needed to tackle the rise in illegal border crossings and human smuggling. The move comes as a response to mounting pressure, as border security has become a central issue in Canada's relationship with the US, with increasing encounters and threats prompting both nations to fortify their defenses against trafficking and unauthorized migration.
Left narrative
Canada's decision reflects a costly, fear-driven response to migration, and chimes of the exclusionary politics of the incoming Trump administration. Framing asylum seekers as security threats erodes Canada's humanitarian commitments while lining the pockets of private contractors in the border surveillance industry. Rather than escalating militarization, Canada should focus on strengthening its asylum system, safeguarding human rights, and resisting the dehumanization of those seeking protection.
Nerd narrative
There's a 23% chance that the USMCA will be extended promptly at its July 2026 joint review, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK's Starmer Pens 100-Year Partnership Deal With Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer traveled to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday, marking his first trip to the war-torn country as British prime minister.
Starmer visited a hospital that specialized in treating burns victims before meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a wreath-laying ceremony for fallen soldiers. Shortly after its conclusion, air raid sirens were heard and a single drone exploded in the city.
The two leaders then made their way to Mariinsky Palace for bilateral talks and the signing of a "100-year partnership" treaty.
Pro-establishment narrative
This is a landmark agreement that formalizes Britain's relationship with Ukraine and commits the UK to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a sovereign Ukraine for the next century. It ensures that the country is never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia over the last three years.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's well known that Britain's parliament and prime minister cannot bind the actions of its successors. So apart from some nice-sounding prose, this agreement offers very little to Ukraine and certainly doesn't come close to offering them any meaningful solutions to the problems they face.
Nerd narrative
There is a 20% chance that combat troops from any NATO country will be openly present in Ukraine in significant numbers before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Group Founded by Stacey Abrams Fined Over Campaign Law Violations
The New Georgia Project and its action fund have been fined $300K in a unanimous Wednesday vote of the Georgia Ethics Commission for violating state campaign finance laws during the 2018 election cycle, marking the largest ethics fine in state history.
The current leaders of the organizations admitted to 16 violations, including failing to disclose $4.2M in contributions and $3.2M in expenditures used to support founder Stacey Abrams and other Democratic candidates in 2018.
The groups conducted activities, including canvassing, distributing campaign literature, and social media engagement without proper registration as political committees or required financial disclosures.
Republican narrative
It turns out that while Abrams was accusing Republicans of voter fraud and suppression, she and her groups were the ones engaging in questionable activities. This record-breaking fine sends a clear message that organizations attempting to illegally influence elections will be held accountable, but it doesn't go far enough. These types of actions should lead to criminal charges.
Democratic narrative
Considering the indifference the ethics commission has shown toward past complaints of this nature — not to mention the ethical lapses of recent members of the commission — this was obviously a politically motivated investigation and decision. With the fine paid, the New Georgia Project can get back to focusing on its important work of securing democracy for vulnerable communities.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that either the Democratic or Republican party in the US will cease to exist by January 2065, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Israeli Security Cabinet Vote on Gaza Deal Delayed
Though an agreement between Israel and Hamas regarding a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages was announced on Wednesday, the meeting of Israel's security cabinet, to vote on the deal, has been delayed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Hamas of holding up the deal in "a last-minute blackmail attempt." Hamas denied the accusation, claiming it had agreed to the deal, and adding that the agreement met all the group's conditions.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday: "we’ll be able to solve these last minute issues and get it moving." The deal, which is divided into three phases, is expected to come into effect on Sunday.
Pro-establishment narrative
Though there are some last-minute issues that still need to be ironed out, the deal has been agreed upon and the hostages are coming home. Reports that the deal have collapsed are overblown, and the remaining gaps will be resolved before the cease-fire comes into effect on Sunday. The US is proud of its role in mediating an end to this tragic conflict.
Pro-Israel narrative
Yet again, Hamas is using dirty tricks to delay and manipulate the process of negotiations. Though these issues can be solved, Israel will stand firm on its commitments and rejects Hamas' last-minute extortion attempts.
Pro-Palestine narrative
As always, Netanyahu is stalling so that he can play politics. It has been quite clear over the last year that the only reason Netanyahu hasn't accepted a deal is because he fears his government will collapse if Smotrich and Ben-Gvir resign. Indeed, Netanyahu would rather continue Israel's genocide in Gaza than risk his political future.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that Israel will lose control of the Golan heights before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Australia: TikTok Star Charged with Poisoning Baby for Fame
A 34-year-old Queensland TikTok influencer has been arrested and charged with torturing and poisoning her one-year-old daughter with unauthorized medications between August and October 2024.
The mother filmed and posted videos of her child in severe distress — while allegedly falsely claiming the child was battling a terminal illness — and used the content to solicit A$60K ($37,300) in donations through GoFundMe.
Medical staff at a Brisbane hospital alerted authorities on Oct. 15 — when the child was admitted with a serious medical episode — leading to an immediate investigation by the Morningside Child Protection and Investigation Unit.
Narrative A
This case highlights a disturbing exploitation of social media platforms and public generosity for financial gain, with the accused apparently deliberately harming an innocent child to build an online following and solicit donations. The premeditated nature of obtaining unauthorized medications and documenting the child's suffering demonstrates calculated abuse of both the victim's and donors' trust.
Narrative B
While nothing would excuse such a crime, this case highlights social media's negative impact on "influencers" and their mental health. As the pressure to influence their followers' opinions and behaviors grows, so do the unrealistic expectations of popularity, glamor, and lavish lifestyles, resulting in people pushing the boundaries of ethical behavior in pursuit of views.
Nerd narrative
There's a 30% chance that TikTok will still be available in the US on Dec. 31, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Epstein Estate Swells to $145M After Tax Refund
Jeffrey Epstein's estate received a $111.6M tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in late 2023, increasing its total value to $145M from a previous low of $40M, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing probate court filings in the US Virgin Islands.
The estate has already paid approximately $164M in settlements to nearly 200 sexual abuse victims, $105M to the Virgin Islands government, and settled various other claims including a $30M loan repayment.
The tax refund resulted from an estimated $190M payment made to the IRS in July 2020, based on overvalued assets that later sold for less than expected, including Epstein's Manhattan mansion which sold for almost $40M below asking price.
Narrative A
Epstein's victims deserved justice and compensation from his estate years ago. His 2019 death and the creation of the secretive "1953 Trust" delayed restitution, while the estate's executors prioritized asset sales over timely victim payments. Despite settlements, survivors still face hurdles, from withheld FBI records to ongoing lawsuits, obstructing transparency and closure.
Narrative B
Epstein's victims remain blocked from justice because his sex trafficking operation was fueled by a vast network of powerful individuals and institutions still protected by wealth and influence. Big banks and tech companies facilitated his operations, avoiding accountability through settlements that hide key details. Full justice requires exposing all of his enablers.
Georgia: Former Prime Minister Assaulted, Opposition Blames Ruling Party Members
Georgia's opposition For Georgia party has claimed that its leader, former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, was assaulted by members of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Tuesday in an alleged politically motivated attack to intimidate the opposition.
Gakharia suffered a broken nose and a concussion after an incident at the Sheraton Hotel in Batumi, on the Black Sea coast. It's still unclear how exactly it started, with the two parties pointing fingers at each other.
On Wednesday, Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that an investigation into the case involving Gakharia under Article 126 of the Criminal Code is underway, and that the former prime minister will be questioned in the coming days.
Narrative A
While Gakharia is fine now, the brutal assault against him is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the ruling Georgian Dream party has done to the people of the country. Georgians and the international community must focus on and support those unlawfully arrested by the authoritarian regime.
Narrative B
It's outrageous that the opposition is relying on false narratives to deceive the public at home and abroad and destabilize the country. It was Gakharia who initiated violence as he threw a drink at Georgian Dream's Dimitri Samkharadze. Though no one wants such an incident to take place, the reaction was fully justified.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that Georgia will be part of the EU in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: TikTok Plans US Shutdown If Ban Takes Effect
Various media outlets have reported that TikTok is preparing to completely shut down its operations for 170M American users if a federal ban takes effect Sunday.
The platform, which could avoid the ban if parent company ByteDance sells its US assets or if the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) intervenes, plans to display a pop-up message directing users to an informational website about the ban and will provide options for users to download their personal data before the shutdown.
This comes on the heels of other media outlets reporting that Chinese officials are considering allowing ByteDance to sell TikTok's US operations to SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, which the social media platform has said is "pure fiction."
Pro-establishment narrative
The TikTok ban is crucial to national security, as ByteDance's control over TikTok poses risks through data collection and potential manipulation of American users' content. Recent reports even allege ByteDance has been requiring executives to pledge allegiance to China's socialist system, demonstrating the platform's true alignment.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's time for SCOTUS to prevent this ban. Regardless of what ByteDance is planning to do with TikTok, this law is a slippery slope toward weakening the First Amendment. US lawmakers continue to claim TikTok presents a national security threat but have provided zero evidence.
Nerd narrative
There's a 70% chance that TikTok will be banned in the US or sold before Jan. 20, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Blue Origin Successfully Launches SpaceX Rival Rocket
Jeff Bezos-owned space company Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket at 2:03 am Thursday, later reaching orbit in the second stage of its maiden flight. This marks a significant milestone for Bezos' company in the private space race.
The launch successfully tested the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a vehicle designed for future satellite orbital maneuvers, demonstrating new technological capabilities. While the rocket's booster failed to land on a barge in the Atlantic, Blue Origin emphasized that the main goal was orbit achievement.
New Glenn, a 320-foot-tall reusable rocket designed by Blue Origin, reached orbit 12.5 minutes after launching. While the landing failed, its booster was able to fire three engines to conduct a reentry burn, as was planned.
Narrative A
Jeff Bezos' spacefaring ventures are now catching up to the impressive capabilities of Elon Musk. Despite the cynicism of "spacefaring billionaires," the reality is that society benefits from this type of innovation. From spin-off technologies that benefit life on Earth to exploring new celestial frontiers, the good resulting from private innovation in the space sector is incalculable.
Narrative B
That tech oligarchs have their own personal space armadas and are deeply intertwined with the US government is beyond disturbing. What "space billionaires" have done to occupy Earth's orbit they now stand to inflict on democracy itself. What's needed is urgent regulation of the space-faring tech class — space is a good place to start to help clean up the debris and atmospheric damage already caused by extravagant celestial ventures.
Nerd narrative
There's a 0.5% chance that Elon Musk will personally set foot on the moon by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.