25 April 2022
Daily Newsletter
Twitter Accepts Musk's Takeover Bid
The Facts
Twitter has agreed to sell itself to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for roughly $44B, in a deal that follows weeks of drama pertaining to Musk's pursuit of the company. The deal is expected to close this year.
Shareholders will receive $54.20 cash for each share of Twitter stock they own, marking a 38% premium over the price from the day before Musk revealed he had purchased 9.2% of the company's shares, becoming its largest shareholder.
This comes after Twitter's board had reportedly decided to reconsider Musk's offer to take over the company after the board met this weekend. Musk had previously met with shareholders to make the case for his bid and possibly discuss a tender offer.
The Spin
Left narrative
This is bad news. Musk has a flippant attitude toward authority, and his naïve vision of Twitter as a platform of unlimited free speech is dangerous and almost unattainable. Twitter executives were right to tighten the rules to limit nefarious uses of their platform, and shouldn't have bowed to pressure.
Right narrative
Twitter needs Musk to help end the censorship the Left is using to reset American Marxism. There's no reason for the woke executives at Twitter to fight a Musk takeover unless they're afraid they won't be able to control public discourse, or that he'll discover ethical, moral and legal problems at the company.
Cynical narrative
Musk and his businesses face extraordinary regulatory headwinds and potential legal liabilities. Could the Twitter gambit be a way to curry favor with a certain segment of right-wing Republicans to try to sidestep those pressures?
SCOTUS: Puerto Rico Residents Can Be Denied Federal Welfare Benefits
The Facts
Congress doesn't need to extend federal welfare benefits to residents of the US territory of Puerto Rico, SCOTUS ruled on Thursday.
The 8-to-1 decision ruled against a Puerto Rican resident who argued it was unconstitutional to not be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a monthly payment to low-income seniors and people living with a disability.
The plaintiff, Jose Luis Vaello Madero, continued receiving SSI after moving from New York to Puerto Rico, which the government said was an error. He was sued $28k to recover the payments.
The Spin
Narrative A
This is a heartbreaking case that highlights the prejudice against American citizens living in Puerto Rico. The SSI program was developed to support vulnerable Americans in need. But only, apparently, the right kind of American. SSI benefits are available to residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. So why not residents of Puerto Rico?
Narrative B
Why should Puerto Ricans receive SSI? They don't pay federal taxes and so don't pay into the system. They receive the benefits they pay into - like Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes. Additionally, there is already a similar social benefit system in Puerto Rico known as the Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD).
Narrative C
This is a Congressional issue and not a Constitutional one. SCOTUS simply ruled that it's up to Congress. In fact, Biden's social spending agenda would've extended SSI to Puerto Rico, but that has currently stalled in Congress.
New Congressional Maps Approved in NY
The Facts
NY state judge Patrick McAllister finalized the state's new congressional maps late Fri. night. The state Supreme Court appointed a "special master" after throwing out previous iterations of the maps earlier this year.
The new map forces two veteran Democratic incumbents to compete against each other and boosts GOP odds in the Nov. midterm elections.
The new map still only has 15 clear majority Democratic jurisdictions, three clear majority Republican districts and eight competitive districts. New York's current congressional delegation has 19 Democrats and eight Republicans, and the state is losing a seat due to the population loss in the 2020 census.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Even liberals recognize that it was hard to defend the New York State congressional map for 2022, which is clearly unconstitutional. Fearing a landslide defeat in November, Dems. are desperately trying to retain power in the House of Representatives by gerrymandering and leaning on their woke allies in state Supreme Courts.
Democratic narrative
The GOP is the long-standing expert on gerrymandering. Without a national standard, Democrats are forced to replicate some of the Republicans' approach to questionable cartography. The same scrutiny must apply to GOP maps nationwide.
Establishment-critical narrative
Both Democrats and Republicans gerrymander massively, making American democracy far from fair. Election laws should change.
Federal Judge Blocks Kentucky Abortion Law
The Facts
On Thu., federal judge Rebecca Grady Jennings temporarily blocked a law in Kentucky that effectively eliminated abortions after the only two clinics said they couldn't meet its requirements.
Kentucky's Republican-led legislature passed the law in March and then overrode Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's veto of the measure last week.
The state law, known as House Bill 3, bans abortions after 15 weeks and includes new regulations such as strict requirements for collecting patient information and rules around the handling of fetuses, among others.
The Spin
Left narrative
While a win for the state of Kentucky, this is only the first step. More needs to be done to maintain women's rights to basic healthcare as the Mississippi law that attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade makes its way to SCOTUS.
Right narrative
The decision to temporarily block the bill is due to issues enforcing the new regulations rather than the bill's constitutional merit. With several other states also standing up for the rights of the unborn in recent months, there is greater pressure to reverse the precedent of Roe v. Wade.
Nerd narrative
There's a 62% chance that Roe v. Wade will be overturned before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Macron Wins Second Term in France
The Facts
For the second time in 5 years, Emmanuel Macron defeated Marine Le Pen in the second round of France's presidential election on Sunday. He secured 58.55% of the votes against 41.45% for Le Pen, according to final figures released on Monday.
That compares with 66.1% of the vote for Macron against 33.9% for Le Pen when the two first squared off in 2017.
Macron's victory marks the first time a French president has won re-election in 20 years – last achieved when incumbent Jacques Chirac defeated Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, by a margin 82% to 18% in 2002.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As Macron himself conceded, France is a divided country and many people only voted for him to keep far-right Marine Le Pen out of power. He's the first to admit he has challenges in his next term, but is committed to being everybody's president and governing in the best interests of the country. The EU, meanwhile, is delighted and can breathe a sigh of relief.
Establishment-critical narrative
While Macron may have won, France's record-breaking abstention rates demonstrate that its population are overwhelmingly rejecting the policies of the elite. Macron may have been able to suppress the vast "yellow vests" protest movement prior to the election, but much of the economic hardship and social discontent that underlay it still remains.
Day 61 Roundup: Five Killed in Railway Station Strikes, Mariupol Denies Ceasefire Agreement
The Facts
At least five were killed and 18 injured after five railway stations were struck in western and central Ukraine on Mon., according to Ukrainian officials, as heavy fighting reportedly continued in Luhansk and Donetsk.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has denied Russian reports that a ceasefire agreement was reached around the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol on Mon., with Deputy PM Iryna Vereshschuk stating "A corridor announced unilaterally doesn't provide security, and therefore isn't a humanitarian corridor."
Elsewhere, explosions were reported in Transnistria, a breakaway Moldovan republic controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine claims these were "planned provocations," after Moscow previously said the region could be drawn into the war, saying there were instances of "oppressing the Russian-speaking population."
The Spin
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 rewrite 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 is a 36% chance that Putin and Zelenskyy will meet to discuss the peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukraine conflict before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Climate Activist Dies After Setting Himself on Fire at Supreme Court
The Facts
Wynn Bruce, 50, from Boulder, CO, died on Sat. after setting himself on fire outside the US Supreme Court on Fri., which was also Earth Day. He was a climate activist and Buddhist, and potentially alluded to the act on social media.
Bruce was airlifted to a hospital in Washington DC after the incident, where he succumbed to his injuries. The Supreme Court area was closed on Fri. evening for investigation, but re-opened on Saturday.
Bruce was reportedly a devoted Buddhist. A reported Zen Buddhist Priest, and self-proclaimed friend of Bruce, tweeted that "This act is not suicide. This is a deeply fearless act of compassion to bring attention to climate crisis."
The Spin
Narrative A
Self-immolation is an extremely rare form of protest in the West, but has deep roots in Buddhist tradition and eastern culture. We must hope that this tragic act wasn't in vain and that those in power will hear Bruce's message about climate change - many others are devastated by climate inaction and the Earth's future.
Narrative B
Despite noble intentions, there are important questions that must be raised about the circumstances surrounding Bruce's act, which was not only tragic and preventable, but also potentially damaging to the very cause he fought for.
EU Deal Paves Way for Strict Big Tech Rules
The Facts
On Sat., the EU reached a deal known as the Digital Services Act (DSA) that will force Big Tech firms to take greater responsibility for content on their platforms - or risk multibillion dollar fines.
New obligations include removing illegal content and goods more quickly, transparency around how algorithms work, and stricter actions on the spreading of misinformation, among others.
The agreement also includes a competition bill to prevent large companies from abusing their power to take down smaller rivals.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This is nothing more than a censorship bill. Instead of meeting the rising tide of populism and nationalism with any concessions to the masses, the EU is working to expand online censorship, regulate speech during times of crisis, and restrict online anonymity through digital passports.
Pro-establishment narrative
The DSA is the first serious attempt to set responsible rules and standards for algorithmic systems in digital media markets worldwide. This a greatly needed paradigm shift in tech regulation that will push companies to keep their platforms clean from illegal content, hate speech, and disinformation.
Trump's Chief of Staff was Allegedly Warned of Possible Jan. 6 Violence
The Facts
Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as a special assistant in the Trump White House, told the Jan. 6 Committee that former WH Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was aware that violence could occur at the Capitol, according to a new court filing.
Meadows was allegedly given intelligence reports and warned by Anthony Ornato, a senior Secret Service official, about concerns the protests could turn violent.
Hutchinson also claimed that Meadows met with at least 10 lawmakers, mostly members of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, on Dec. 21, 2020 to discuss efforts to overturn the election.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Meadows clearly colluded with other senior Republicans in plotting the attempted coup at the Capitol. Meadow's intransigent behavior toward the Committee makes it quite apparent that he's aware of his guilt and wants to avoid the consequences.
Pro-Trump narrative
Meadows has complied with the Committee's requests for relevant documents and is under no obligation to be interviewed. Meadows hasn't been linked to the Jan 6. riot by any of the hundreds of DOJ cases against its participants, making the accusations against him ludicrous.
Israel Strikes Lebanon After Rocket Attack
The Facts
Israeli forces fired dozens of artillery shells into several southern Lebanese towns on Mon., after a rocket was launched over the border from Lebanon Sun. night.
Israeli forces said they targeted infrastructure near the border, identified as the source of the projectile fired into an open area in northern Israel. The exchange resulted in no casualties or damage on either side.
Lebanese sources indicate that the rocket fired into Israel was launched from between al-Ma'aliyah and Qlaileh in southern Lebanon, as two 120-mm Grad rockets were found on a launcher in that area by the Lebanese Army on Monday.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
This isn't the first time Lebanon has been used as a base of operations for Palestinian terrorist groups seeking to attack northern Israel. The Lebanese government must take responsibility for provocations that occur on its territory, and the Lebanese Armed Forces must take action against Palestinian militancy on its border.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's response to a lone unguided rocket was unnecessary and a dangerous escalation. Even international authorities involved in peacekeeping operations in the Middle East agree that the Israeli shelling was disproportionate. Israel has a long history of overreacting to minor provocations, and this case is no different.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Dies at 88
The Facts
Orrin G. Hatch, who holds the US Senate record for longest-serving Republican, has passed away at 88. His cause of death has yet to be disclosed by his foundation, which announced his passing.
Hatch, who represented Utah from 1977 until his retirement in 2019, served as chairman of the prestigious Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Finance Committee at points in his tenure.
An ardent conservative on most issues, Hatch famously established a cordial working relationship and friendship with late liberal Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Hatch left the US worse off after his time in the Senate. He had brief bouts of bipartisanship but mostly was a non-compromising hatchet man. He was terrible on labor, gay rights, the budget, and health care. The Hatch Act is a vile limitation on abortion access.
Republican narrative
Regardless of your political persuasion, you had to respect Hatch's sincerity and determination. Hatch did great things for his side of the aisle by prioritizing religious liberty and limits on abortion. He also reached across party lines to produce important legislation related to public health, biomedical research, AIDS, child care, summer job programs, and civil rights for the disabled. Hatch left this world a lot better than he found it.
