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Hubble Confirms First Starless 'Failed Galaxy' Cloud-9
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observed a cosmic object called Cloud-9, described as a "failed galaxy" located 14 million light-years from Earth. The object is a cloud of dark matter that contains no stars, marking the first confirmed detection of such an object.
Cloud-9 is scientifically known as a Reionization-Limited H I Cloud, or "RELHIC," where H I refers to neutral hydrogen. Scientists believe it represents a primordial building block of a galaxy that never fully formed stars, preserving conditions from the universe's earliest eras.
The object's core consists of neutral hydrogen spanning approximately 4,900 light-years across, with gas mass estimated at roughly 1 million times that of the sun. Calculations indicate the entire structure contains approximately 5 billion solar masses of dark matter.
Narrative A
Cloud-9 matters because it provides strong new evidence that dark matter exists even where no galaxy ever formed. By showing a massive cloud of gas shaped by gravity but containing no stars — a so-called “failed galaxy” — Hubble reveals a structure that can only be held together by unseen mass. This confirms a core prediction of dark-matter theory that the universe is filled with invisible dark-matter halos, many of which never became galaxies at all.
Narrative B
The RELHIC classification remains premature without discovering similar objects to confirm Cloud-9 isn't just an anomaly. Its irregular shape contradicts theoretical expectations for such pristine remnants, and alternative explanations like circumgalactic gas interactions haven't been definitively ruled out. Confirming absolute starlessness proves nearly impossible given observational limits.
Nerd narrative
There's a 54% chance that we will know what Dark Matter is before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Orders US Withdrawal From 66 International Groups
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including 31 U.N. entities and 35 non-U.N. ones. The withdrawals span areas such as climate change, counterterrorism, human rights, and migration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the organizations were found to be "redundant," "mismanaged," "wasteful" or "captured by interests" advancing agendas contrary to U.S. interests. The administration also alleged that many of the organizations promote a "progressive ideology."
The U.S. withdrawals include exiting the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty ratified by Congress in 1992 that underpins global climate cooperation. It will also leave the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the U.N.'s leading climate science body.
Pro-Trump narrative
International organizations have morphed into a sprawling architecture of global governance dominated by progressive ideology, actively constraining American sovereignty through DEI mandates and climate orthodoxy. These wasteful institutions are captured by foreign interests advancing agendas contrary to American interests while draining billions in taxpayer money. Ending participation in these redundant, mismanaged organizations rejects inertia in favor of prudence and puts American interests first.
Anti-Trump narrative
Withdrawing from the bedrock global climate treaty is an authoritarian, anti-science move that sacrifices public well-being and destabilizes crucial international cooperation. This shameful action isolates America, diminishes standing worldwide, and cuts the nation off from the world's most trusted climate science at the exact moment credible information is urgently needed. Forward-looking states and nations recognize mounting climate impacts and demand collective action for a livable future.
Nerd narrative
There is a 44% chance that a new international organization focused on AI safety be established before 2029 with participation from at least three G7 countries, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Proposes $1.5T Military Budget, 50% Increase
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed raising the U.S. military budget for fiscal year 2027 to $1.5 trillion, a more than 50% hike from the current $901 billion. He said this would enable the country to build a "Dream Military" during "troubled and dangerous times."
Trump claims the proposed $600 billion increase could be funded through tariff revenue. The U.S. collected $288.5 billion in tariffs in 2025, up from $98.3 billion in 2024, though this falls short of covering the proposed increase and other pledged expenditures.
The president also announced restrictions on defense contractors, stating he would "not permit" stock buybacks or dividends and would cap executive compensation at $5 million annually until companies accelerate equipment production and invest in new facilities.
Anti-Trump narrative
Proposing a $1.5 trillion military budget while America drowns in $38 trillion of debt is fiscal insanity that will bankrupt future generations. Tariff revenue falls billions short of covering this reckless spending increase, and new military endeavors like Venezuela will only deepen the deficit crisis. This massive defense hike prioritizes geopolitical adventurism over fiscal responsibility at precisely the moment when the nation can least afford it.
Pro-Trump narrative
The threat environment hasn't been this dangerous since World War II, making a $1.5 trillion defense budget absolutely essential for national survival. Like the Reagan Buildup that won the Cold War, this generational investment will modernize outdated equipment and deter adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Raising defense spending to 5% of GDP is necessary to maintain American technological leadership and prevent conflict.
Nerd narrative
There is a 20% chance there will be a "World War Three" before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Rubio Outlines Three-Phase Plan for Venezuela
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined to reporters on Thursday a plan for Venezuela, consisting of stabilizing the country, allowing foreign companies to access its markets and granting amnesty for opposition leaders and supporters during the recovery phase, followed by a transition.
Rubio said that this will cost nothing to U.S. taxpayers, but provided no further details over the plan. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told The New York Times that "only time will tell" how long the U.S. oversight of Venezuela will last.
This comes as Rubio and other senior officials briefed the Senate and the House on the military operation in Venezuela that captured Nicolás Maduro in closed-door sessions on Wednesday, with lawmakers in a partisan split over the matter.
Pro-Trump narrative
Regime-controlled institutions would not allow anyone other than Delcy Rodríguez to take office despite broad popular support for the opposition, so the only realistic path to stability in Venezuela is to work with Rodríguez and her circle. The good news is that Trump holds maximum leverage over them through credible military force and legal threats — they either follow orders or face a second strike.
Anti-Trump narrative
Though the Trump administration claims that Venezuela is not Iraq 2.0, the actual plan is far from clear and the similarities are striking. Now, like then, the U.S. is promising a limited intervention to temporarily run the country. As Trump has a long record of apparent great achievements that collapse upon contact with a complex reality, this nation-building effort in the Western Hemisphere is likely to become a disaster.
Anti-Maduro narrative
Keeping Maduro's discredited inner circle in control while sidelining the democratic opposition creates perverse incentives for looting and instability as the ones in office face inevitable electoral defeat. Real stability requires recognizing the actual 2024 election results and facilitating a time-bound transfer to legitimate leadership, not postponing democracy indefinitely under the guise of managed transition.
Pro-Maduro narrative
Venezuela's revolutionary state remains intact and functional despite the illegal abduction of Maduro. The U.S. military operation, while brutal, actually exposed imperialism's weakness by avoiding full invasion due to eight million armed militia members and domestic opposition to war. That the country's leadership has called for negotiation is a strategic retreat under duress, not capitulation, preserving state power as a base for future struggle.
Nerd narrative
There's a 42% chance that the U.S. will invade Venezuela before Jan. 20, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK Police Under Scrutiny Over Last Year's Ban of Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans
British police chiefs were on Wednesday questioned and criticized by parliamentarians at a hearing of the Home Affairs Committee over their October 2025 decision to ban soccer fans from the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
British club Aston Villa announced the ban on supporters traveling to the November fixture three weeks in advance, stating that Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) — which includes the club, the city council and local police — made the decision as the match was deemed "high risk" to public safety.
At the time, West Midlands Police (WMP) supported the decision, citing "current intelligence and previous incidents, including violent clashes and hate crime offenses that occurred during the 2024 Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam."
Pro-establishment narrative
West Midlands Police stands by its decision to ban traveling Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. Following internal inquiries, the force is confident that while others tried to influence the decision for political reasons, that was not done by its officers who, in the heat of the developing situation, were trying to make the right decision in the interest of public safety.
Labour Party narrative
As the prime minister and home minister have made clear, the decision from WMP was a mistaken one, particularly as its own review revealed that they could have instead decided to allow a reduced allocation of fans. The government has tasked the Chief Inspector of Constabulary to conduct an urgent investigation into matters.
Right narrative
Islamist extremists planned to attack Jews for attending a soccer match and the response from West Midlands Police was to blame the Jewish people and have them removed from attendance, proceeding to collaborate with the Islamists to cover-up the evidence. This is utterly disgraceful behavior from the police chief — his position in public office is no longer tenable.
Left narrative
Events from Amsterdam and Birmingham seem to serve as a microcosm of the wider conflict between Israel and Palestine. Israelis commit crimes and destroy property, but when the ensuing street justice comes, all the emphasis placed on Israeli victimhood and claims of antisemitism.
Nerd narrative
There is a 15% chance that Andy Burnham will win the next U.K. Labour Party leadership election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Lebanese Army Announces Hezbollah Disarmed in Country's South
Lebanon's army announced on Thursday that it had achieved operational control south of the Litani River, excluding areas still controlled by Israeli forces, marking completion of the first phase of its plan to consolidate arms under state authority.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Lebanon's disarmament efforts are an encouraging beginning but far from sufficient, citing what it described as evidence of Hezbollah's attempts to rearm with Iranian support.
The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and France in November 2024 ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Anti-Israel narrative
Israeli forces continue to violate Lebanon's sovereignty through assassinations, bombings, airspace violations and preventing citizens from returning home, even as Lebanon has fulfilled all ceasefire obligations south of the Litani. The Lebanese government must exhaust all capabilities to compel the occupier to withdraw fully and unconditionally, as any concessions would only encourage continued Israeli aggression.
Pro-Israel narrative
Lebanon's government and army have failed to disarm Hezbollah, allowing the terror group to rearm and rebuild infrastructure with Iranian support despite ceasefire terms requiring full disarmament. The Lebanese army's claims of operational control ring hollow when Hezbollah operatives continue working to reestablish positions, all while the army avoids confronting the group.
Study: Weight-Loss Injections Linked to Rapid Weight Regain
Research published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday analyzed 37 studies involving more than 9,000 participants and found that people using weight management medications — including weight‑loss injections — regained an average of 0.4 kg (0.9 lb) per month after stopping treatment, returning to their pre-treatment weight within approximately 1.7 years.
The Oxford University study found that weight regain occurred almost four times faster for people who stopped weight loss medications than for those leaving behavioral weight management programs, where regain averaged about 0.1 kg per month.
The review included GLP‑1 receptor agonist medications, such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), though only eight of the 37 studies assessed these newer drugs, and follow-up was limited to one year after treatment stopped.
Narrative A
Weight‑loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy can produce quick results, but most users regain nearly all lost weight within a year, often faster than people following diet and exercise programs. The drugs create dependence without building lasting habits, and prolonged use can carry health risks, making lifelong reliance unrealistic and unsafe. Relying on expensive, short-term interventions while ignoring behavioral change sets millions up for failure and wastes resources on a fleeting fix.
Narrative B
GLP‑1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can be a powerful tool for adults with obesity when combined with diet, exercise and professional support. They can produce up to 20% weight loss and reduce risks of heart attack, stroke and diabetes by around 20% over three years. Although sometimes seen as a "quick fix," these therapies offer millions a medically validated option to supplement lifestyle changes in managing a chronic condition that causes 3.7 million deaths globally each year.
Trump to Host Colombia's Petro at White House
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to host his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, at the White House in the near future, both leaders said on Wednesday. Trump added that arrangements for the meeting are underway.
This comes after a phone call lasting about an hour between them, which addressed multiple sensitive issues — including drug trafficking, Venezuela, U.S.-Colombia bilateral relations as well as U.S. relations with Latin America.
According to Petro, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) brokered the call earlier this week after talks with Colombia's ambassador to the U.S. Meanwhile, Trump said that Petro had called to discuss disagreements they have had.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump backed down from his reckless invasion threats after Petro stood firm and refused to be intimidated. Days after threatening military action and hurling insults at Colombia's president, Trump suddenly changed his tune and praised Petro's call. The about-face proves that standing up to bullies works and diplomacy is vital.
Pro-Trump narrative
Petro caved in as President Trump's deft pressure campaign forced him to the negotiating table. What was supposed to be a defiant anti-American rally turned into an embarrassing display as Petro abandoned his prepared speech to announce he'd spent an hour on the phone with Trump. Supporters waving "Yankee Go Home" signs watched in stunned silence as their leader pivoted from resistance to rapprochement.
Minnesota BCA 'Reluctantly' Withdraws from Fatal ICE Shooting Probe After FBI Limits Access
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) announced Thursday that it had "reluctantly withdrawn" from investigating the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer after the FBI informed the agency it would no longer have access to case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough investigation. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said local officials lack "jurisdiction."
The ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Noem said that the officer feared for his safety after Good threatened him with her vehicle. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have challenged this account.
Video footage shows the vehicle reverse as ICE officers approached, with one officer holding the door handle. A third officer positioned near the front of the car drew his weapon and fired three times as the vehicle moved forward, according to witness accounts and video analysis. The ICE agent — identified as Jonathan Ross by the Star Tribune, a detail not confirmed by officials — was reportedly previously dragged 100 yards by a vehicle during a traffic stop in June.
Democratic narrative
It's difficult to rule out federal authorities orchestrating a cover-up since they're blocking Minnesota investigators from accessing evidence in Good's killing. The FBI's reversal to exclude the state's BCA from the probe undermines any chance of an independent investigation and violates Minnesota's jurisdiction to investigate a resident's death on their own streets. Without state access to witnesses and evidence, the investigation lacks credibility and transparency.
Republican narrative
The ICE officer acted in clear self-defense when Good accelerated her vehicle toward him after obstructing a lawful enforcement operation, with video evidence showing she left him no choice but to discharge his weapon — a tragedy attributable to those encouraging disruption of immigration laws and violence against officers. The FBI's exclusive leadership in the subsequent investigation appropriately maintains federal authority, prevents jurisdictional conflicts with state agencies, and ensures a uniform, efficient and unbiased probe that safeguards sensitive national security details.