Trump Administration Explores Deporting Migrants to Libya, Rwanda
The Trump administration reportedly held talks with Libyan and Rwandan officials about deporting migrants with criminal records in the US to those countries, marking a significant expansion of its deportation policy. The talks include a "safe third country" agreement with Libya that would allow asylum seekers caught at the U.S. border to be sent there.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed these efforts during a cabinet meeting, stating that Washington is "actively searching for other countries" to take in third-country nationals and that Washington aims to send them "some of the most despicable human beings." Rubio added, "the further away from America, the better."
In March, the U.S. deported Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, an Iraqi refugee the Trump administration claims has ties to the Islamic State group (IS), to Rwanda in what sources labeled a test for a broader deportation program. Rwanda has reportedly agreed to accept more migrants.
Pro-Trump narrative
That Libya and Rwanda are poised to take in criminal migrants from the US is another victory for the Trump administration and demonstrates its seriousness in its efforts to make the US safe again. Due to President Trump's strong leadership, thousands of illegal migrants have already been deported from the US, and an increasing number of countries are ready to bolster their ties with the US by taking in these criminal elements. The further away these individuals are sent, the less likely they'll attempt to re-enter illegally.
Anti-Trump narrative
Sending asylum seekers to countries with documented human rights abuses is morally reprehensible and legally dubious. Libya's record of migrant torture and abuse makes it wholly unsuitable as a "safe third country." These deportation schemes are dangerous political theater designed to appear tough on immigration while outsourcing America's responsibilities to nations with questionable human rights records. Migrants and U.S. citizens should be very afraid.
Nerd narrative
There is a 20% chance that at least twice as many deportations by U.S. ICE occur in Fiscal Year 2025 compared with Fiscal Year 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
German BfV Labels AfD as Extremist Party
Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) officially classified Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a "confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor" on Friday, upgrading its previous designation from a "suspected case" of extremism.
The BfV stated that the AfD "aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society" and described its "exclusionary understanding of the people" as incompatible with Germany’s democratic order, citing that the party does not recognize German citizens with Muslim migration backgrounds as equal members of society.
The new classification, previously reserved for the party’s state associations in Thuringia, Saxony, and Anhalt, allows German authorities to intensify surveillance of the party, including using undercover informants and monitoring communications under judicial oversight.
Pro-government narrative
The BfV’s findings are resolute and clear. The AfD, through its aggressive xenophobic, anti-Muslim rhetoric and its understanding of the German people based on ethnicity and race, is an extremist right-wing organization that would subject ethnic minority groups in the country to unconstitutional discrimination. This is a decision not taken lightly and is supported by a three-year investigation and 1,100 pages of evidence.
Opposition narrative
The German political establishment is afraid of the AfD, which is the sole reason behind this latest attempt to smear the party's name. This investigation by the BfV was clearly politically motivated and the AfD will challenge its decision in court. Actions like this are the true threat to German democracy, not the AfD, as the German political class seeks to silence the voices of millions of German citizens for daring to have a differing political opinion.
Nerd narrative
There is a 20% chance that an application to ban AfD will be filed at the Federal Constitutional Court before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Lebanese Army Dismantles 90% of Hezbollah Border Infrastructure
The Lebanese army has dismantled over 90% of Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River since the November ceasefire agreement with Israel, according to a Lebanese security official who spoke to AFP on Wednesday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated in an interview with Sky News Arabia that the army now controls over 85% of southern Lebanon and is "fulfilling its role without any problems or opposition" as soldiers have reinforced checkpoints to prevent weapons transfers from north of the Litani.
Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal that ended more than a year of hostilities, Hezbollah was required to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the Israeli border, while Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers would be the only forces permitted in southern Lebanon.
Pro-government narrative
The Lebanese army's dismantling of Hezbollah's infrastructure represents a significant step toward restoring state sovereignty in southern Lebanon. This progress demonstrates Lebanon's commitment to implementing UN Resolution 1701 and establishing the state's monopoly on bearing arms. The continued Israeli occupation of five border positions violates the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Pro-Israel narrative
Hezbollah's weapons pose a grave threat to Israeli civilians and regional peace. The dismantling of 90% of its terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon is a long-overdue enforcement of the ceasefire. Israel has to remain in the five strategic outposts as they are vital for early warning and defense along a volatile border.
Narrative C
Hezbollah has maintained its right to resist Israeli occupation and defend Lebanese sovereignty. Israel seeks to dominate Lebanon, establish settlements, impose resettlement, and weaken the country. The resistance has expressed willingness to discuss its weapons as part of a defensive strategy.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 6 states will have normalized relations with Israel in 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Croatia's Parliament Passes New Law Targeting War-Era Cemetery Inscriptions
Croatia's parliament has passed a new Graveyard Law requiring the removal of cemetery inscriptions from the 1991-1995 war period that might "offend the morals and feelings of citizens," specifically targeting monuments erected after May 30, 1990, that glorify Serbian forces or contain nationalist messages.
The law allows any citizen to report potentially problematic tombstones, with local commissions of five members, including historians and lawyers, determining violations. Plot owners will have 30 days to change offensive inscriptions or face fines ranging from $1,135 (€1,000) to $5673 (€5,000).
One example cited is the grave of Vukašin Šoškočanin, a rebel Serb leader responsible for the deaths of 12 Croatian policemen in Borovo Naselje in May 1991.
Pro-government narrative
This law is a long-overdue step toward protecting the dignity of its constitutional order and honoring the victims of aggression. It targets only post-1990 monuments glorifying a violent separatist campaign, like the Šoškočanin mausoleum, not ordinary graves. Serbia has taken similar action with Albanian monuments — Croatia has every right to do the same without being unfairly vilified.
Opposition narrative
Croatia’s move to erase tombstones “glorifying Serbian aggression” dangerously conflates justice with selective memory. By targeting only post-1990 Serbian graves — many in Cyrillic — this law deepens ethnic divides, fosters fear among Serbs, and risks politicizing mourning. True reconciliation requires confronting all atrocities, not sanitizing history.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that a West Balkan state will join the EU by Dec. 29, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Vows to Strip Harvard of Tax-Exempt Status
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration intends to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status. "We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement follows weeks of dispute after the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard in April, citing the university's alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus and non-compliance with requests regarding curriculum, protests, and diversity programs.
In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit, calling the government’s actions "unprecedented and improper." The university argued there was no legal basis for revoking its tax-exempt status and warned it would impact financial aid and medical research.
Pro-Trump narrative
Harvard’s own report admits the truth antisemitism has infiltrated its coursework, faculty hiring, and student life. Israeli students were shunned, Jewish students bullied — entire departments fueled by "social justice" ideology spread hate. Now, after years of looking the other way, Harvard offers weak, last-minute reforms. As President Trump said, stripping their tax-exempt status is fair to hold them accountable and remind every university federal support comes with responsibility.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump’s push to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status is a dangerous abuse of power, aimed at punishing dissent and controlling what universities teach. Harvard’s refusal to comply matters — it’s the linchpin of U.S. higher education. If it caves, others will follow. If it stands firm, it sets the standard. In this fight, Harvard isn’t just defending itself — it’s defending the freedom of every college and nonprofit in America. Higher education must stand united behind Harvard's lead or risk losing its freedom entirely.
Cynical narrative
Trump’s push to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status is a dangerous move that threatens the very foundation of academic freedom. While his demands to combat antisemitism are valid, the government’s overreach is deeply troubling. Harvard’s resistance is vital to preserve the autonomy of universities, but its delayed response to Jewish students’ safety concerns shows that it wasn’t prioritizing this issue until its financial survival was at stake. Both sides are at fault here, but the real cost is borne by students caught in the middle.
Nerd narrative
There's an 93% chance that the Supreme Court will end racial preferences in university admissions in SFFA vs. Harvard before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Chile: 7.4 Magnitude Quake Triggers Tsunami Alert, Mass Evacuations
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck in the Drake Passage between Cape Horn and Antarctica on Friday morning, prompting Chilean authorities to issue tsunami warnings for coastal areas in the southernmost Magallanes region and Antarctic territory.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred approximately 219 kilometers (136 miles) south of Ushuaia, Argentina, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Multiple aftershocks followed, including several measuring above 5.0 magnitude.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric called for immediate coastal evacuations throughout the Magallanes region, stating that "all resources are available" to respond to potential emergencies. The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response issued its highest-level alert.
Narrative A
The Chilean government's swift and comprehensive response highlights excellent disaster preparedness in a region prone to seismic activity. Evacuation procedures were executed efficiently, and residents showed remarkable calm and cooperation, reflecting the effectiveness of Chile's emergency protocols. The mobilization of all available resources and high-level coordination between multiple agencies show the country's commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
Narrative B
The earthquake and tsunami warnings expose the ongoing vulnerability of remote communities in southern Chile and Antarctica. Despite technological advances in earthquake detection, the unpredictable nature of tsunami waves means residents face hours of uncertainty waiting for potential impacts. The disruption to daily life and economic activities, including the suspension of maritime operations, creates significant hardship for communities already challenged by their extreme location.
Narrative C
Climate change drives sea-level rise, amplifying tsunami risks by increasing wave heights and extending the affected areas. Studies show that ports face greater disruptions under extreme sea-level scenarios, with closures lasting over 200 days. In response, we must integrate sea-level projections into tsunami models, strengthen port infrastructure, and develop regional adaptation strategies.
Narrative D
Climate alarmists continue to undermine their credibility on rising sea levels, which they tie to threats like tsunamis. It's highly questionable whether the rising sea level rate is nearly enough to make a perceptible impact in a situation like this. Rather than fearmongering about climate chaos, a better solution is simply developing better tsunami preparedness plans and resilient infrastructure for when earthquakes invariably strike.
Nerd narrative
There's a 24.5% chance that there will be an 8.0 magnitude or greater earthquake in the Pacific Northwest before 2034, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Unveils $163B Budget Cut Plan
U.S. President Donald Trump released a "skinny budget" blueprint for fiscal year 2026 proposing $163 billion in cuts to non-defense discretionary spending, representing a 22.6% reduction from current levels, while increasing defense spending by 13% to over $1 trillion and homeland security by nearly 65%.
The proposed cuts target environmental, education, foreign aid, and health programs, including reductions to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Institutes of Health, but do not affect Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.
The budget blueprint follows earlier efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has already targeted many of the same programs for cuts, though courts have blocked some of those moves as judges ruled they were arbitrary or improperly executed.
Republican narrative
The budget blueprint represents a bold and necessary course correction after years of bloated government spending. These cuts target wasteful programs while prioritizing essential functions like national defense and border security. By slashing bureaucracy and eliminating initiatives focused on "woke" ideologies, the administration is putting American taxpayers first and restoring fiscal discipline that will strengthen the economy.
Democratic narrative
These draconian cuts would devastate critical programs that millions of Americans depend on. The proposed 22.6% reduction in non-defense spending would gut environmental protection, scientific research, public health, and housing assistance, harming vulnerable communities and undermining America's leadership in innovation. The proposed cuts are so extreme they would make it impossible for agencies to fulfill their core functions.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the U.S. national debt will reach $50 trillion by Nov. 19, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: CEO Pay Has Increased by 50% Since 2019
The average global CEO compensation has increased by 50% in real terms since 2019, reaching $4.3 million in 2024, while average worker wages grew by 0.9% during the same period, according to an analysis released by Oxfam on Thursday. This increase is 56 times more than the increase in worker wages, according to the report.
The highest-paid CEO of 2024 was James Anderson of Coherent Inc., who received a package worth $101.5 million, while some of the other highest-paid were in Ireland and Germany. This exceeds the median CEO pay of $25.6 million, which represents a record high, according to Equilar research.
A study by ISS-Corporate found that median pay among top U.S. CEOs rose 7.5% to a record $16.8 million in 2024, far outpacing the 4% increase in average hourly earnings for U.S. workers and the inflation rate of just below 3% during the same period.
Left narrative
Right-wing oligarchs are wrecking the economy by funneling wealth to a tiny elite. Donald Trump's reckless tariffs and tax cuts for the rich erode the middle class, while billionaires like Elon Musk and Bill Ackman, who backed him, dodge accountability. Wealth inequality, which is now defined by the top 10% owning over two-thirds of household wealth, threatens democracy, even for those who naively voted such ideologies into office.
Right narrative
Market capitalism doesn't fuel runaway inequality. Research shows the top 1%’s income share rose just 1.4% since 1979, while the bottom half's after-tax income grew 66%, with capitalism helping to double median incomes since the 1950s. Policies like tax cuts and deregulation spur broad growth, not elite gains, while social shifts, like declining marriage rates, distort perceptions. Expanding homeownership and employee stock ownership plans will further democratize wealth.
Cynical narrative
The establishment left and right both collude to create a billionaire-dominated world, crippling the masses. Decades of neoliberal tax cuts, deregulation, and bailouts from both parties have fueled a "rentier" economy where the top 10% drive half of U.S. spending. This elite reliance, backed by corporate-government alliances, risks catastrophic crashes that hit the bottom 80% hardest. Modern-day serfdom thrives as both sides serve oligarchs, eroding democracy and freedom.
Nerd narrative
There's a 54% chance that the richest person in the world in 2033 have a net worth equivalent to or greater than 2% of the United States' GDP at the time, according to the Metaculus prediction community.