Trump-Endorsed Diehl wins Mass. GOP Governor Primary
Trump-endorsed Geoff Diehl has won the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Massachusetts over the moderate, Chris Doughty.
With the state's current Republican governor, Charlie Baker, deciding against seeking a third term, Diehl will face Democrat and current Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey in November.
Diehl has, over time, come to promote Trump's unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. Doughty, meanwhile, has stated that Pres. Biden was legitimately elected.
Pro-Trump narrative
Despite the uphill battle Diehl faces in liberal Massachusetts, Trump's power is on full display. The former president remains the most popular and influential politician in the GOP and has been on a roll with gubernatorial and party primaries this summer.
Democratic narrative
The nomination of Diehl is a gift for Democrats. Although popular with far-right GOP activists, Diehl's anti-abortion stance and his unsubstantiated claims around the 2020 election are simply a non-starter in Massachusetts.
Former Trump Adviser Bannon Indicted in NY
On Thurs., former White House strategist Steve Bannon was charged in NY with defrauding donors to the 'We Build the Wall' organization, which was supposed to help pay for erecting the wall on the southern border of the US.
Bannon, who surrendered to authorities in Manhattan on Thurs., has been charged with two felony counts of money laundering, two counts of conspiracy, and a felony count of scheming to defraud. He could face up to 15 years in prison.
The charges echo a federal case brought against Bannon two years ago. Federal prosecutors in 2020 accused him and three others of taking donations from the crowd-funded border wall project, which raised $25M, and was used to pay for personal expenses.
Left narrative
Bannon received a 'get out of jail free' card from his former boss for federal charges, but Trump can't save him now. With Bannon's partners having already pleaded guilty to similar charges, it's not looking good for the former White House advisor.
Right narrative
Silencing Bannon before this fall's crucial midterms is a top goal of the left. Now they're ignoring Trump's pardon and pushing out false charges against him, which are even more unfounded when you consider the success of We Build the Wall.
Nerd narrative
There's a 26% chance that Donald Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Teacher Jailed for Violating Court Order in Row Over Student's Pronouns
Enoch Burke, a teacher in County Westmeath, Ireland who refused to use a transgender student's chosen pronouns, was jailed on Tues. after ignoring a court order barring him from entering the school's grounds.
The History and German teacher was suspended and placed on administrative leave in June, when he refused to use the student's preferred pronouns of "they/them" - something that the pupil and their parents had agreed with the school.
Burke argued that gender neutral pronouns went against his Christian beliefs and that being forced to use the student's preferred pronouns would have breached his constitutional rights.
Conservative narrative
Burke has the right to his beliefs, and it's dangerously undemocratic and Orwellian to be compelling speech. It's commendable of him to be standing up for what he believes in. By choosing to stay in prison rather than disobey his conscience, Burke is setting himself up as a martyr in this contentious liberal culture war.
Progressive narrative
Burke isn't being imprisoned for his beliefs, but rather because he publicly harassed a student and a teacher during a school church service. He isn't a martyr - he committed contempt of court and demonstrated prejudice against a member of a minority community.
Day 197 Roundup: Ukraine Reportedly Makes Major Gains in Surprise Attack on Northeast
With Russian forces reorganizing to respond to a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south, Ukraine's forces reportedly advanced as much as 12 mi (20 km) in a surprise attack in the northeastern region of Kharkiv – reportedly reclaiming roughly 150 sq mi (400 sq km) of territory, according to military analysts.
Ukraine's forces were reportedly driving southeast from Kharkiv city towards the Russian-held city of Izyum. According to an official from the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Ukrainian attacks were launched on the city of Balakliya – in between Kharkiv city and Izyum – which was now "in operative encirclement and within the firing range of Ukrainian artillery."
Despite claiming to have recaptured a village in the south earlier in the week, Ukraine's forces are reportedly incurring heavy losses in the region. A soldier told the Washington Post: "We lost five people for every one they [lost]"; others reported that Russia was focused on halting the counteroffensive and that Ukraine was heavily outmatched in artillery capabilities.
Anti-Russia narrative
Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive seems to be taking shape and it's not only making gains in the southern Kherson region – it's driving Russians out of the northeastern Kharkiv region as well. The war's momentum is shifting in Kyiv's favor.
Pro-Russia narrative
Ukraine has thrown thousands of men into the southern counteroffensive – many of which have died without making any substantial gains. Ukraine's efforts in Kharkiv will likely suffer the same fate. Is all this human loss necessary, just for the sake of a few positive headlines in the press?
Nerd narrative
There's a 70% chance that more than 100,000 people will be killed in the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
FDA Votes to Approve Experimental ALS Drug
After voting against approval back in March, a Food and Drug Admin. (FDA) advisory panel on Wed. voted 7-2 to recommend approval of an experimental ALS drug, coming with strong support from patients and advocates.
The medication, called AMX0035, is a combination of two older drugs: one being a prescription medication for liver disease and the other a dietary supplement used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The same panel's original rejection of the drug cited a lack of "substantially persuasive" data. This time, however, its maker Amlyx Pharmaceuticals reportedly showed it could extend life by around 10 months.
Narrative A
Between the current unmet needs of ALS patients and Amlyx's promise to withdraw the drug if shown ineffective, this was the right decision by the advisory panel. With no cure for this devastating disease and few other medications on the market, it's only fair that patients be given the chance to try and extend their lives as much as possible.
Narrative B
Though patients and advocates understandably want any and every possible treatment available, the FDA should be skeptical of a drug that hasn't completed its trials and a company's promise to voluntarily withdraw it from the market if it fails in order to receive approval. There's a reason it was declined in the past.
New UK PM to Freeze Energy Bills at £2.5k A Year
On Thurs., UK PM Liz Truss announced a new "energy price guarantee" designed to reduce the cost of energy bills to less than half the figure currently forecast for the coming winter, down to £2.5K for the average household.
The new average price cap will reportedly apply to private households until Oct. 2024, while the PM has also pledged to support businesses struggling with the cost of energy bills for up to six months and further targeted support for vulnerable firms in the months beyond.
A universal handout of £400 was already due to be given to households this fall - this policy, in combination with the new price freeze, will effectively keep average annual energy prices at their current rate of £1,971.
Left narrative
All parts of the political spectrum agree that intervention is needed on energy bills - the real discussion is over who will pay for it. Truss's firm ideological commitment to a small state means she is leaving a bill, created in the first place by corporate greed, with the taxpayer. If the Labour party were in government, Kier Starmer would instate a windfall tax to effectively redistribute wealth and properly protect consumers.
Right narrative
It's insane that, at a time when the UK economy is trying to balance the budget and reduce the deficit after investments made during the COVID pandemic, Truss is contributing to the growing specter of recession with such huge spending plans. It would make far more sense to scrap the price cap and support vulnerable households - this freeze is a totally un-conservative intervention and a terrible economic policy.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that UK's total national debt (excluding public sector banks) will be at least 106% in Dec 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK: Queen Elizabeth II Dies Age 96
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has passed away at age 96, Buckingham Palace has announced. She died peacefully on Thurs. afternoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, according to a statement.
This comes after it was announced earlier in the day that palace doctors were "concerned for Her Majesty's health." All four of the monarch's children - Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - were reportedly by her side. Other members of the Royal Family, including Prince William, had also traveled to Balmoral, with Prince Harry reportedly en route.
Messages have flooded in from across the nation and the world, with newly appointed PM Liz Truss stating "we are all devastated" at the news, which is a "huge shock to the nation and the world."
Establishment-critical narrative
Queen Elizabeth was undoubtedly a dutiful monarch and became a symbol of stability and constancy. But, with the inevitable end of her reign will come a crisis in the very identity and purpose of the monarchy itself. Queen Elizabeth kept the monarchy running with an exceptional blend of modernity and tradition, but the complexities and crises that have plagued the rest of the royal family will inevitably see the end of her era prompt furious debate.
Pro-establishment narrative
Queen Elizabeth will inevitably be a hard act to follow, but everyone, especially the current heirs to the throne, know how much work there is to be done. King Charles is looking to make the monarchy more inclusive and ecumenical in style, and plans to trim the family and its pageantry down to a size more befitting Britain's modern standing on the world stage. The monarchy will adapt, as it always has, to serve the nation and identify its purposes in today's landscape.
Nerd narrative
There is a 60% chance that any part of Great Britain will be under a monarchy in 2075, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Jeff German Murder: Nevada County Official Arrested
Clark County, Nev. Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested Wed. in connection with the fatal stabbing of journalist Jeff German, who'd been reporting on Telles extensively. German's body was found Saturday.
German, 69, wrote multiple stories for the Las Vegas Review-Journal about Telles' office, including articles about alleged bullying and an improper relationship between Telles and a staffer. Telles publicly accused German of writing smear pieces.
Before the arrest, police questioned Telles and searched his home. Soon after, his house was surrounded by officers, and he was reportedly wheeled out on a stretcher into an ambulance.
Narrative A
This case is a sad statement on the level of respect for journalists. Telles had made several public threats against German, who expressed fears about his safety to colleagues. Now German is among at least 15 journalists killed in the US since 1992; more has to be done to protect those who carry out this valuable work for the public good.
Narrative B
This is an incredibly tragic case, and between German's reporting and Telles's letters and social media posts, tensions between the two had certainly reached a fever pitch. However, more details are needed before a final judgment can be made. More information will undoubtedly emerge about what led up to this horrific day in Clark County, and justice will hopefully be served.
Hong Kong: Court Finds Five Guilty Of Sedition Over Children's Books
On Wed., a Hong Kong District Court found five speech therapists guilty of conspiracy to produce 'seditious' illustrated children's books allegedly intended to promote hatred toward local authorities and Beijing.
Lorie Lai, Melody Yeung, Sidney Ng, Samuel Chan and Marco Fong - all in their mid-to-late 20s - pleaded not guilty. They will be sentenced on Sat. and face up to two years in jail.
This ruling comes after the five defendants have spent more than a year detained in custody on national security charges.
Anti-China narrative
Hong Kong authorities have been using the overly broad crime of sedition to clamp down on peaceful dissent. Even writing children's books has become a crime as creative productions are now vulnerable to subjective judgements.
Pro-China narrative
These illustrated books were produced solely with the intent to brainwash very young minds against the government, promoting sedition and exalting unlawful behavior. This could affect the notion of right and wrong in future generations.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Hong Kong will stop being a Special Administrative Region of China by 2046, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Judge Denies Oath Keepers Founders’ Request to Delay Trial
A US District Judge on Wed. denied the request of Oath Keepers founder, Stewart Rhodes, to delay his seditious conspiracy trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 27, and fire his lawyers. The judge called the request "incorrect and frankly bewildering."
The motion filed claimed Rhodes couldn't work with his current lawyers because of "a complete, or near-complete breakdown of communication" and that he needed at least three months with new representation to prepare for the trial.
The judge told Rhodes, who has pleaded not guilty, that he could add an attorney to his team but would have to also continue to work with his original counsel.
Pro-Trump narrative
This is a major test for the DOJ, as Rhodes' trial has been fast-tracked compared to those of other defendants. Rhodes' newly-desired lawyer staunchly believes in the innocence of his defendant and believes these accusations are unfair. Thoughtful due process must prevail.
Democratic narrative
These attempts by Rhodes to delay his trial are just meant to wreak havoc on the court's docket and postpone justice. Most of his motions are outright lies. The trial of this far-right, anti-government group for their seditious actions must continue without delay.