Gabon Coup: Nguema Named Transitional President
On Wednesday, the head of Gabon's elite Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema, was named the interim leader of the central African country shortly after military officers announced they had seized power.
Nguema was "unanimously" appointed Gabon's "Transitional President," according to a TV statement by the coup leaders. They also announced maintaining a curfew imposed four days ago and allowing foreign francophone media to resume broadcasting in Gabon.
Wednesday's coup came shortly after the country's national election authority announced that incumbent Pres. Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family ruled Gabon for 55 years, had won a third term in last week's disputed elections.
Narrative A
Doubts about the fairness of the elections in Gabon may be justified, but a military coup isn't a legitimate means of expressing political discontent. It's absurd for the putschists to claim they want to restore democracy by resorting to undemocratic means. After five coups in Africa in recent years, the one in Gabon is the latest indication of autocracy spreading across the continent. Recent events in Gabon and elsewhere in Africa don't bode well for the continent's political stability.
Narrative B
To claim that the coup in Gabon, following recent overthrows in several other African states, represents the return of dictators and an erosion of democracy is short-sighted. Like the former French colonies of Mali, Burkina Faso, or Niger, oil-rich Gabon was never a truly sovereign country, let alone a democracy. Instead, the events in Gabon are only the latest expression of an awakening continent that no longer wants to be exploited and subjected to political, economic, and military interference.
Narrative C
While the coups in the former French African colonies are interpreted either as anti-democratic upheavals or as an expression of the struggle against neocolonialism, there is another dimension to the events. As in Niger, the US decided it was time to push aside France to expand its influence in the resource-rich region, thereby attempting to contain China's and Russia's growing leverage more effectively.
China’s Baidu Rolls Out AI "ERNIE Bot"
The Chinese search giant Baidu rolled out its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot "ERNIE bot" on Thursday. The release is a major development for China's technology sector as AI booms within the tech sector.
Beijing issued new regulations for PRC AI developers earlier this month. The regulations are meant to increase competition while maintaining tight information controls.
This is the first AI app available to China's domestic population and won't be available outside of the PRC.
Pro-China narrative
After US company OpenAI launched ChatGPT earlier this year, the race is on to develop generative artificial intelligence models. Beijing sees AI as a key industry to rival the US and aims to become a global leader by 2030. The PRC is now officially a major player in the vibrant AI sector.
Anti-China narrative
ERNIE Bot is overtly parroting PRC talking points. Beijing's new regulations also include provisions for labeling AI-generated content and curtailing false and harmful information, offering state-approved answers to "taboo" questions. Service providers must also hand over their algorithms to the authorities if their software is viewed to have an impact on public opinion — this is a concerning development.
Book: Zelenskyy 'Bombed' First Meeting With Biden at White House
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly "bombed" his first meeting with US Pres. Joe Biden at the White House, according to a new book that will be released next week.
According to a pre-release copy of Franklin Foer's "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future" obtained by the Guardian, Zelenskyy infuriated Biden in their September 2021 meeting.
Coming five months before Ukraine's war with Russia would break out, the White House's official transcript of the meeting reported mutual declarations of respect and gratitude and included some of the policy aims the leaders discussed.
Pro-establishment narrative
Biden was delighted to welcome Zelenskyy to the White House. In the meeting, the US reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and international integrity, as well as supported Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Establishment-critical narrative
Biden's meeting with Zelenskyy was a disaster. The Ukrainian leader came with a long list of demands and started to lecture the US president when he didn't get his way. It wasn't the best way to start off their relationship.
Nerd narrative
There is a 1% chance that Ukraine will join NATO before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
China's Xi May Skip G20 Summit
Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping is likely to miss the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, between Sept. 9-10, according to multiple anonymous government officials.
While neither China nor India has officially commented on the matter, a senior Indian government official told Reuters that Chinese Premier Li Qiang would represent the country instead.
Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin has already confirmed he will not be attending, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov taking his place.
Anti-China narrative
It's up to India at the G20 summit to, with the help of the US, project its power in light of China's border claims and show that it is moving away from Chinese dependency. As both China and India continue to joust with one another, India must put its best foot forward and project itself at such an important event as a nation that must be respected in the same manner as any other global superpower.
Pro-China narrative
Although India and China remain at odds over several flashpoints, they're aligned on several key issues. The West, however, is quick to exaggerate any differences at the first sign of trouble — while ignoring its own differences with New Delhi — in order to polarize Beijing and contain its expanding influence. These deliberate disruptions will only hinder global cooperation.
Nerd narrative
There's a 15% chance of a China-India war by 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Clarence Thomas Discloses Trips Paid by GOP Donor
In a delayed financial disclosure, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas documented that he accepted three trips involving private flights paid for by Texas billionaire Harlan Crow.
The trips funded by the GOP mega-donor included a visit to an American Enterprise Institute event in Dallas, a trip to a Crow property in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, and an additional trip to Texas in February all via a private jet.
In addition to new disclosures, the financial report amended previous disclosures to include a real estate transaction between Justice Thomas and Crow in 2014. A lawyer for the Justice said there had been no willful wrongdoing by the Justice and that errors in reporting were "strictly inadvertent."
Republican narrative
Democrats have relentlessly pursued the destruction of Justice Clarence Thomas' reputation. Questioning his ethics is just their latest attempt to display their hatred for who he is. Democrats strongly believe that a Black man should not be a conservative and disagree with the outlandish demands of their party. As long as he remains true to his beliefs, he will continue to the be subject of their unabashed attacks.
Democratic narrative
The recent reporting by ProPublica and now the financial disclosure clearly signal that it's time for an investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas and his unethical behavior. The Judicial Conference should complete a review and quickly refer this matter to the Justice Department. Justice Thomas continues to insult the intelligence of the public by saying he "accidentally" omitted critical information or believed it to be unnecessary for reporting. A full investigation by the Dept. of Justice is warranted.
NY AG: Trump Inflated Net Worth by Billions
On Wednesday, a court filing by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office as part of a $250M civil fraud suit revealed that former Pres. Donald Trump is accused of overstating his net worth by billions over the course of several years.
According to James, Trump’s net worth between 2011 and 2021 was never more than $2.6B, as opposed to his claims of being worth up to $6.1B.
The suit, which accuses Trump of exaggerating his net worth by $2.2B in one of those years, alleges the former president's company knowingly manipulated the value of his assets in an attempt to skirt paying higher taxes and to improve insurance coverage.
Democratic narrative
With all the indictments Trump is facing, it’s easy to forget he’s also facing this civil fraud case in which the evidence against him is overwhelming. Trump’s fraud was blatant, and when he finally stopped invoking the Fifth Amendment and actually tried to make his case in his deposition, he could barely make a coherent argument in his own defense.
Pro-Trump narrative
James’ case is the flimsiest part of the Democrats’ witch hunt against the former president in their attempts to stop him from winning the GOP nomination for 2024. No one was injured by this so-called fraud, and Trump had little to no involvement in his companies' financial statements anyway. A civil case is just an excuse for James to up her political profile.
Nerd narrative
There’s a 50% chance that Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Meta Modifies Its 'Dangerous Organizations' Moderation Policy
According to a report published by The Intercept on Wednesday, social media giant Meta has admitted that its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) moderation policy was too strict, stating it would loosen its ban on controversial topics.
The policy blacklisted thousands of people and groups it deemed dangerous— from terrorists and drug cartels to rebel armies and musical acts — and banned its users from engaging in "praise, support or representation" of those included on the list.
In 2022, a third-party audit commissioned by Meta claimed the policy violated the human rights of Palestinians by stifling political speech.
Left narrative
While the policy should be modified to prevent wrapping insightful and positive content in the same box as pro-terrorism content, the goal of Meta's DOI list is still a virtuous one. There's no need to allow Facebook or Instagram users to bolster violent movements or governments, which makes DOI the perfect prevention policy. Referencing a DOI in order to condemn it is good, but the internet shouldn't be a Wild West where murderers and warlords can preach their harmful rhetoric.
Right narrative
Meta's secret blacklist didn't just ban Palestinian freedom fighters but specifically targeted conservative and majority-White organizations. While it banned pro-Western Civilization groups and men's rights groups, it allowed the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam to run free. Like it or not, Meta systematically condoned and even propagated violent rhetoric against one racial group while simultaneously prohibiting them from defending themselves.
At Least 74 Dead in Johannesburg Building Fire
On Thursday, Johannesburg authorities announced that at least 74 people, including 12 children, have been found dead inside a five-story building that was ravaged by fire. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
As search and rescue operations continue, the death toll is expected to rise. It's believed that up to 200 families were occupying the informal settlement.
In inner city areas, abandoned buildings, even some owned by the City are "hijacked" as informal settlements. In most cases, those occupying the buildings are illegal immigrants and people who have migrated from other African countries.
Establishment-critical narrative
This fire is nothing short of tragic. These living conditions and vulnerabilities for the people of Johannesburg are not unique to this building. A large swath of the inner city population is impoverished and unable to afford safe and sanitary living accommodations. These systemic failures are fed by a government that refuses to act — not only are officials allowing Not only are they allowing people to reside in unsafe conditions, but they are not providing an adequate amount of safe, regulated, and well-maintained housing solutions.
Pro-establishment narrative
The City of Johannesburg is committed to ensuring that inner-city communities are safe and that people are living in conditions that are not harmful. The City has provided resources to seek out and investigate so-called "hijacked" properties. These investigations have been successful in their efforts and returned dozens of properties that were taken over by criminal elements to their rightful owners. This is an unspeakable tragedy, but there are efforts to improve the city one dilapidated building at a time.
US Dept. of Labor Proposes Expanded Overtime Eligibility
On Wednesday, the US Department of Labor released a proposed rule that would offer mandatory overtime pay to 3.6M salaried workers who make a minimum of approximately $55K per year.
Currently, the minimum salary threshold is $35.5K, which was set during the Trump administration in 2020.
Although the rule establishes that any salaried employee making more than the set threshold is ineligible for overtime pay, it allows for the threshold to be reviewed and updated every three years to “prevent a future erosion of overtime protections.”
Democratic narrative
The middle class needs to be rebuilt after it deteriorated under Trump, and this rule is a step toward raising wages for workers across numerous sectors nationwide. Millions of the nation’s most vulnerable workers — including women, people of color, and workers without college degrees — stand to benefit in the immediate future, and when the rule is updated for inflation every three years.
Republican narrative
The Biden admin. is so desperate to pander to voters that it’s willing to recycle a failed Obama policy despite courts previously ruling the Department of Labor lacks the authority to implement it. Business leaders warn it will weaken an economy that’s in the doldrums. This jives with Biden’s past attempts at executive overreach and lackluster economic policy. Luckily the courts can protect the American people from this ill-advised idea.
Alabama AG: State Can Prosecute Those Who Assist Out-of-State Abortion
According to a court filing by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, the state has the authority to prosecute those who help women leave Alabama for out-of-state abortions.
Marshall submitted the filing asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by pro-abortion advocacy groups, which claims that prosecuting people who help women travel for out-of-state abortions violates their constitutional rights.
Marshall argues that aiding a woman’s travel to circumvent Alabama’s abortion laws could be considered “criminal conspiracy” and that the state has the power to prohibit any Alabama-based conduct that defies its abortion laws.
Left narrative
Alabama continues to show why it's one of the most oppressive states as its attorney general doubles down on his power to determine what a conspiracy is and punish those who help a woman travel out of the state to exercise her reproductive rights. Alabama cannot impose its anti-choice laws on other states or restrict people's movements.
Right narrative
Despite claims to the contrary, Alabama has the legal authority to prosecute those who conspire to break its laws. Alabama isn’t trying to enforce its laws in other states or restrict women's movements; it's simply targeting conspiracies to break the law within the state’s borders. Alabama has rightly been at the forefront of protecting life and will continue to be.
Nerd narrative
There's a 5% chance that elective abortion will be banned nationally in the US before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.