Narrative A

This is undemocratic. Citizens have the right to express their opinions, and Germany's response to the conflict in Ukraine must be open to public debate. The decision to ban free speech by criminalizing those supporting Russia is a slippery slope that will only lead to other forms of repression.

Narrative B

Freedom of expression is only granted insofar as it doesn't break criminal law. Since Putin has initiated an illegal war against Ukraine, anyone publicly condoning this campaign is supporting a violation of international law and disturbing the public peace in Germany.

Establishment-critical narrative

It's hypocritical to ban expressing support for Russia's Ukraine invasion, but not for the US invasion of Iraq for equally unjustified reasons.

Republican narrative

So what if Ginni Thomas sent a couple of text messages to an old friend? This whole "scandal" really boils down to the left's dislike of Justice Thomas. There's no evidence Ginni Thomas ever encouraged violence or was present at the riots. There's no case for recusal here, much less for the liberal daydream of an impeachment.

Democratic narrative

Ginni Thomas' texts were not just friendly political banter. They reveal that she actively participated in Trump's efforts to overturn a free and fair election. Justice Thomas is bound by the same rules as any federal judge to recuse himself from cases in which his spouse has a considerable interest.

Narrative C

The real issue here is not Ginni Thomas but Trump. Instead of accepting the disappointing election results, he attacked the constitutional transition of power. Like the rioters on Jan. 6, Ginni Thomas wasn't acting in bad faith but merely supporting the leader of her party. If Trump hadn't pushed his election fraud conspiracy, none of these events would have happened.

Left narrative

Public health advocates and more than two dozen state attorneys general have been pushing Walmart, along with other pharmacies, to cease tobacco sales. It's especially inappropriate for health care providers to be profiteering from the addiction of Americans, rather than providing services to tackle such health issues.

Libertarian narrative

Walmart shouldn't be in the business of morally policing its customers. Tobacco products are legal, and if customers want to buy them, Walmart should sell them.

Narrative C

This decision is smart business. According to market research, mixed retailers like Walmart only account for about 14% of all tobacco sales, which are restricted and less profitable anyway.

Anti-Russia narrative

This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to re-write history.

Pro-Russia narrative

NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.

Nerd narrative

There's a 3% chance that Kyiv will fall to Russian forces by June, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Pro-Israel narrative

This is but the latest in a recent outbreak of violent terrorism across Israel. With Ramadan coming up, Israeli security forces must be on the look-out for more heinous terrorist activity, especially in Jerusalem where attackers may seek to damage the fabric of Israeli life.

Pro-Palestine narrative

While tragic, such operations come as a reaction to Israeli acts of aggression against Palestinians. Attacks carried by Israeli settlers, right-wing militants and occupation soldiers are driving the security situation by radicalizing Palestinians to seek revenge.

Republican narrative

There is no doubt that this was a disinformation campaign, but it wasn't Russian. It was the dangerous alliance of mainstream media and big tech conspiring to silence the story of Hunter's laptop and evidence of Joe Biden's own corruption.

Democratic narrative

This story is a long way from over, and when all is said and done it won't be a story about Hunter's laptop any more, but rather one of rampant corruption within the Trump wing of the GOP and a shameless effort to hold on to power whatever the cost to truth and American democracy.

Establishment-critical narrative

The mainstream media was so busy fighting Russian misinformation that it forgets it can have a misinformation problem of its own. It needs to acknowledge that it can be part of the problem if it's ever going to regain trust.

Narrative A

The only way to make Putin stop the war in Ukraine is to squeeze any Russian benefiting from links to Moscow. Britain's strong stance sends an example to the international community.

Narrative B

Economic sanctions might make life difficult, but they'll never work to thwart the invasion. The only thing that will work is more military assistance to the Ukrainian army.

Establishment-critical narrative

It's hypocritical to impose sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, but not on the US for invading Iraq for equally unjustified reasons, or on Israel for invading and annexing Arab lands.

Democratic narrative

Justice Thomas' failure to recuse himself is unjustifiable and he deserves the ultimate censure impeachment. With such weak ethical standards for recusal in place, the executive and legislative branches must use this scandal to bring public pressure to bear on the Supreme Court.

Republican narrative

Once again AOC is making a mountain out of a molehill. There was nothing remotely illegal or unethical in Ginni Thomas' texts. She was merely advocating the mainstream Republican position that the 2020 election was mired in widespread fraud. This is a desperate attempt by Democrats to try and steal another SCOTUS seat for Biden and fill it with a radical leftist judge.