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Mexico: Rescuers Race to Free 10 Trapped Miners
On Sun., Mexico's Pres. Andrés Manuel López Obrador urged rescue teams to intensify their efforts to save 10 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine as he visited the operation in Agujita, in the northern state of Coahuila.
This comes four days after Mexican authorities reported the incident and sent hundreds of personnel to participate in the rescue mission. Five other workers have been able to escape from the mine, all of them on Wednesday.
Miners reportedly breached a neighboring area filled with water, causing the collapse. There has been no contact with them since the structure was compromised on Wednesday.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Mexican mining sector has sought to increase the safety of mining through advanced standards and procedures that allow for productivity while protecting and prioritizing employees' health and safety. Accidents continue to happen, so there is still work to be done, but progress is certainly being made.
Establishment-critical narrative
This latest collapse exposes systemic problems in the Mexican mining sector, such as the lack of inspections and complicity with mining companies. The government must devote every resource to rescuing the trapped and commit to reviewing mining conditions and safety to prevent further tragedies.
Mich. AG Requests Investigation into Trump-Backed Opponent
Michigan AG Dana Nessel on Fri. requested a special prosecutor to investigate her Trump-endorsed opponent, Matthew DePerno, over an alleged criminal scheme to seize and tamper with voting machines while searching for fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
After an investigation by Mich. State Police and the AG's office, DePerno - a lawyer and vocal proponent of Trump's claims about voter fraud in 2020 - is among those being accused of convincing local clerks to hand over voting tabulators, breaking into them, and performing "tests."
Nessel, who is running for re-election against DePerno, has called for a special prosecutor to avoid a conflict of interest.
Democratic narrative
Nessel has properly called on an independent special prosecutor to investigate DePerno as one of the prime instigators of this illegal scheme. DePerno is already known to have propagated Trump's false and debunked claims of election fraud, and this investigation is needed to ensure no election tampering like this ever occurs again.
Pro-Trump narrative
Nessel knows she could lose her re-election bid, so she is going as outrageously far as prosecuting her opponent to ensure that doesn't happen. Don't be fooled by her call for a "special prosecutor," she is weaponizing her power as AG to advance political goals. This is yet another example of how "woke" members of the judicial system can be dangerous for the country.
Nerd narrative
There is a 30% chance that any state will refuse to certify its election results during the 2024 US presidential election, according to the Metaculus Prediction community.
Top Pakistan Taliban Leader Killed in Afghanistan
According to Pakistani officials, a senior leader of the Pakistan Taliban, Abdul Wali - also known as Omar Khalid Khorasani - was killed on Sun. when a vehicle carrying members of the militant group was struck by a roadside bomb in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika, near the Pakistan border.
While the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Mon. blamed Pakistani intelligence agents, no one immediately claimed responsibility for the bomb which caused Wali's death, and that of his driver and two close aides.
The militant leader, who carried a US bounty of up to $3M, was part of the TTP's negotiators who were holding talks with Pakistani officials about a ceasefire that has been in place since May. It's not immediately clear if and how the attack might affect the agreement.
Establishment-critical narrative
This assassination is a major blow to the Pakistani Taliban, who are a stakeholder in the region. However, it also has the potential to derail the fragile dialogue process and could lead to intensified militant violence in Pakistan. This is a concerning development that could jeopardize the hard-fought diplomatic gains during these early peace talks.
Pro-establishment narrative
This was a victory against radical jihadism and terrorist activities. These individuals have been on the US radar for several years. The Pakistani Taliban consists of various members of al-Qaeda's core leadership and the US is right to be worried that their aims could be expanded beyond the region.
Report: Biden May Have Overstated the Role of Al-Qaeda's Zawahiri
A New York Times report released Mon. suggests that Biden may have exaggerated when claiming that the slain Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was the architect of the USS Cole bombing in 2000 and that he was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11.
Though it's undisputed Zawahiri was the deputy to Osama bin Laden and became the head of Al-Qaeda in 2011, counterterrorism and intelligence officials speaking to the Times said that, as a matter of historical accuracy, Biden's words went beyond how experts regarded his role in both those attacks.
On Fri., lawyers in death-penalty cases for accused perpetrators of the attacks at Guantánamo Bay – still in pretrial hearings after more than a decade – demanded that government prosecutors provide evidence backing Biden's speech. Hundreds of pages of legal filings, where the government lays out its understanding of the attacks, make scant reference to Zawahiri.
Pro-establishment narrative
This killing is likely to put Al-Qaeda into a leadership crisis at a critical moment for the global jihadist movement. As the US seeks to focus on other national security issues, this blow to Al-Qaeda's structure might prove to be a decisive step toward eradicating the threat of terrorism.
Establishment-critical narrative
Everything concerning this killing should disturb us. We have once again witnessed the US extrajudicially assassinate someone rather than bring them to court to face justice. Zawahiri, like Osama bin Laden, had skeletons in his closet about the US and those secrets will die with him.
Nerd narrative
There's a 47% chance that Afghanistan will be used as a base for anti-NATO terrorism before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Colombia: First-Ever Leftist President Sworn In
Gustavo Petro, a former senator and member of the demobilized M-19 rebel group, was sworn in as Pres. of Colombia on Sun., becoming the first leftist to hold the office in the country's history.
In his inauguration speech, Petro pledged to fight poverty and hunger and to engage in talks with armed rebel groups. He also plans to redistribute wealth, modernize the countryside, and adopt green economic policies.
This was followed by the introduction of a tax reform proposal on Mon. aimed at increasing public revenue by almost $6B next year to finance social programs and policies.
Left narrative
This is a historic moment for Colombia and brings a feeling of hope to the nation and the world. Although the Petro admin. will face big challenges, this is a much needed change to unite the nation, bring peace, and protect the environment.
Right narrative
Petro's radical policies will most certainly threaten the Colombian economy and likely impact the entire continent. His victory will endanger Colombia's longtime alliance with the US in the anti-narcos fight and in countering Venezuela, potentially allowing China to become even more influential in Latin America.
Day 167 Roundup: US to Inject Billions More into Ukraine; Russia Suspends US Inspections of its Nuclear Arsenals
On Mon., the US Treasury Dept. announced it's sending an additional $4.5B of funding to Ukraine, bringing the total amount of budgetary support since the invasion began to over $8.5B. The funds will be used to pay government salaries and keep hospitals and schools operating, as well as to help distribute humanitarian aid.
It comes as the US Dept. of Defense confirmed it's sending an additional $1B in military aid, raising total US military assistance to over $9.8B since Pres. Biden came into office. The package will include artillery ammunition – such as 1K Javelin anti-tank missiles – more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems, mortar systems, and 50 armored medical treatment vehicles.
The announcement came as broadcaster CBS partially retracted a documentary in which it stated only about 30% of military aid to Ukraine had reached the front lines as of April. Following criticism, CBS said it's updating the documentary with new information and noted that US Brigadier Gen. Garrick M. Harmon has since been sent to Ukraine to oversee the deployment of military aid.
Pro-establishment narrative
Making sure Ukraine continues to be well armed is the only way to fend off Putin and Russia in this unprovoked war of aggression. The US and NATO must not simply offer up their latest and most hi-tech weapons however; combat is about supply lines and the West must ensure basic equipment and ammunition are kept flowing as needed.
Establishment-critical narrative
Multi-billion dollar weapons packages will make little difference in the outcome of the war. The US has been meddling in Ukraine since the end of the Cold War, and what we're witnessing is a geopolitical ponzi scheme to benefit those aligned with the military-industrial complex. War is a lucrative racket.
Nerd narrative
There's a 57% chance the US will provide at least $50B in foreign aid to Ukraine by the end of 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
FBI Searches Trump's Mar-a-Lago Home
The FBI searched the Palm Beach, Florida residence of former Pres. Trump on Mon., reportedly as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago home.
Fox News reported that the National Archives and Records Administration referred the case to the Justice Department, which previously recovered 15 boxes of classified materials from Trump's Fla. home.
Trump wasn't in the house at the time, and the FBI reportedly entered without any complications. The FBI and Secret Service - who are responsible for securing the former president's residence - were in contact before the search was carried out.
Pro-Trump narrative
It's unprecedented and absurd for the FBI to target a former president, especially when that former president is considering a run for office against the current administration. The search warrant will eventually have to become public, and the American people will hopefully then know the official reasons why Trump is under attack.
Democratic narrative
No one is above the law, and federal law enforcement officials have acted in a straightforward and process-oriented manner. Federal law officials believe there is evidence of a crime, so they coordinated with a judge, and they executed a search warrant. What is incredibly concerning is the GOP enflaming tensions among Trump's base, calling into question the FBI as an institution, and taking a dangerous and indefensible position that Trump is above the law.
Ahmaud Arbery Killers Sentenced to Life in Prison
On Mon. a federal court sentenced father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, to life in prison for a federal hate crime in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, in 2020.
A third defendant, William "Roddie" Bryan, was sentenced later in the day to 35 years imprisonment for recording the murder on his cell phone.
The three men chased Arbery, who was jogging through their neighborhood, with trucks before Travis McMichael fatally shot him. The McMichaels told police they suspected he was a burglar, but investigators determined he was unarmed and hadn't committed any crime.
Left narrative
This wasn't an isolated event, but rather points to a bigger issue of systemic racism in the US. While the sentencing is a step in the right direction to holding the McMichaels accountable, much more needs to be done in order to reform the system and prevent other such tragedies from occurring.
Right narrative
This is another tragic event that the media has manipulated to further divide America along racial lines. The actions of three men - which have been condemned by all on both sides of the political spectrum - doesn't represent America or its system.
Democrats Ask Wyoming Voters to 'Consider' Backing Cheney
Two House Democrats, Reps. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), have appealed to members of their party to consider voting for Republican incumbent Liz Cheney in the Wyoming Primary on Aug. 16.
In ads running on Facebook, the two lawmakers stated that "principle must always come before politics" and that "we're on the same side today fighting for a country where we settle our differences by voting, not violence."
Cheney, the Vice Chair of the House January 6th Committee, is facing off in the primary race against the Trump-endorsed candidate, Harriet Hagement.
Pro-Trump narrative
Despite standing against the Trump-endorsed norms of the GOP and purporting to "protect the Constitution," Cheney has sat on the January 6th Committee that has been illegitimate since its inception. As a consequence, despite her rhetoric, Cheney will likely suffer with Republican voters come the Wyoming Primary.
Democratic narrative
Democrats have been fated to try and govern the country alone, following near-total resistance by Republicans. Cheney, a hard-right stalwart, is being purged not because of policy but because of her ethical stance on Trump. Democrats have been underappreciated for trying to run a country where near-half of its politicians are more focused on Trump-based chaos rather than on how to make the country a better place.
Nerd narrative
There is a 60% chance that Republicans will control US congress following the 2022 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Biden Admin. Ending ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program
The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) on Mon. said the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" program, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), will soon end after US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk lifted an injunction that blocked the Biden admin. from doing so.
Asylum seekers will no longer have to return across the border to await a decision on their applications for US protection, and those currently in Mexico will be able to cross into and remain in the US while awaiting a decision.
Former Pres. Trump implemented MPP in late 2018 - citing it as a deterrent to illegal immigrants claiming asylum - and returned nearly 70k migrants to Mexico during his term.
Democratic narrative
A policy that forced people fleeing for a better life to stay in parts of Mexico where they faced even more danger should never have been implemented in the first place. It's about time the courts allow the current admin. to exercise its authority and end the inhumane "Remain in Mexico" program.
Republican narrative
The "Remain in Mexico" program discouraged people from trying to enter the US with false asylum claims. Ending the program is only going to make the southern border, which is already in crisis, worse off and further overwhelm law enforcement agents.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance at least 294k refugees will be admitted to the US from 2021 to 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.