Report: Disability Registrations Surge at Elite US Universities
According to a report published by The Atlantic, more than 20% of undergraduates are registered as disabled at Brown and Harvard, while at Amherst, that figure reaches 34% and at Stanford University, 38% of undergraduates are registered as having a disability.
The University of Chicago has seen the number of students with disabilities more than triple over the past eight years, while UC Berkeley experienced nearly a fivefold increase over the past 15 years, driven by more young people receiving diagnoses for conditions such as ADHD, anxiety and depression.
Research found that only 3 to 4% of students at public two-year colleges receive accommodations, a proportion that has remained relatively stable over the past 10 to 15 years, while rates at selective four-year institutions have increased substantially during the same period.
Pro-establishment narrative
The steep rise in disability registrations at elite universities may reflect overdue recognition and destigmatization of mental-health, learning and neurodivergent conditions. Institutes like Stanford are making it easier for students to declare genuine issues — anxiety, ADHD or depression — that previously went unacknowledged or untreated. For many, accommodations such as extended test time or housing adjustments are vital for equitable academic access in high-pressure environments. What critics call an "explosion" of claims may be a long-overdue correction to systemic neglect of invisible disabilities.
Establishment-critical narrative
The surge in disability registrations at elite U.S. universities reflects systemic gaming rather than a genuine rise in impairment. Elite universities have created perverse incentives where claiming disability status brings tangible benefits, leading to absurd outcomes. Most of these diagnoses are for mental-health or learning issues — conditions that are so loosely defined they allow affluent students to secure extended exam time and other advantages. What was once a necessary protection has morphed into a system so liberally applied that it threatens to declare half the student body cognitively impaired.
Benin: ECOWAS Deploys Forces After Foiled Coup Attempt
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered the deployment of standby forces from Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone to Benin to support the government and preserve constitutional order following an attempted military takeover on Sunday.
On Sunday, Benin's government announced that it had thwarted an attempted military coup after a group of soldiers appeared on state television claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon from office and dissolved all state institutions.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed that Nigeria deployed fighter jets and ground troops to Benin after receiving two separate requests from the Beninese government for immediate air support and assistance in protecting constitutional institutions.
Pro-government narrative
ECOWAS rightfully condemned the unconstitutional military takeover attempt that threatened Benin's democratic institutions and deployed forces to defend constitutional order. The coup plotters' actions represented a dangerous subversion of the people's will in a country that has maintained democratic stability for decades, and swift intervention by loyalist forces backed by regional support successfully protected Benin's territorial integrity and constitutional framework.
Government-critical narrative
The soldiers who declared Talon removed acted because democratic channels in Benin had collapsed. Years of shrinking political space, mistrust in electoral reforms, and rising frustration inside the ranks made a rupture inevitable. Their intervention framed itself as a correction to a leadership that ignored security and accountability. In this view, the broadcast on state TV was not treason but a last resort to reclaim sovereignty from an entrenched and unresponsive France-backed puppet regime.
Nerd narrative
There's a 74% chance that there will be a successful coup in Africa or Latin America before March 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Thailand Launches Airstrikes on Cambodia After Deadly Clashes
Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodian military positions on Monday after a Thai soldier was killed and several others were wounded. Thai military spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree stated that the strikes targeted arms supporting positions near Chong An Ma Pass.
Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense denied initiating the attacks and accused Thai forces of launching the first assault at around 5:04 a.m. near Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples — it stated that Cambodia did not retaliate during the assaults.
About 35,000 people in Thailand have been evacuated from areas along the border with Cambodia, according to Thailand's Second Army Region, while Cambodian officials reported villagers near the border are fleeing to safety and schools in Oddar Meanchey province have been suspended.
Narrative A
Cambodia repeatedly opened fire first on Thai positions along the border, forcing Thai troops to respond in self-defense and injuring two Thai soldiers. Clear evidence shows that Cambodian forces crossed into Thai territory while engineering units were conducting legitimate road work, then attacked the security team protecting them. Cambodia's denial of responsibility for the firing is false and follows a pattern of rejecting responsibility for cross-border aggression.
Narrative B
Thailand launched unprovoked military assaults across multiple border locations using heavy artillery, tanks, mortars and F-16 airstrikes targeting both Cambodian forces and civilian areas. Despite these escalating attacks that injured civilians and destroyed homes, Cambodian troops maintained restraint and did not return fire, adhering strictly to the ceasefire agreement. Thailand's false claims attempt to shift blame and provoke further military escalation.
Nerd narrative
There's a 9% chance that there will be another deadly clash between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in three or more fatalities, before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
China's Trade Surplus Tops $1T Amid Macron Comments
For the first time, China's yearly trade surplus has reportedly surpassed $1 trillion. This comes as, during his state visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he suggested imposing tariffs on China if Beijing did not cut its trade imbalance with the EU, which was more than €300 billion ($349 billion) in 2024.
Macron said during his China visit that the EU needed to accept more Chinese direct investment to reduce the trade deficit, stating Chinese companies must come to Europe but cannot be allowed to act in an allegedly predatory manner.
Macron acknowledged that achieving consensus on China tariffs across the EU is challenging, noting that Germany is not yet entirely aligned with France's position, while the 27 EU members cannot set trade policy individually and are represented by the EU Commission.
Pro-Europe narrative
Breaking the $1 trillion trade surplus barrier reveals an economy propped up by export dumping while domestic demand remains dangerously weak. Shipments to America collapsed 28.6% in November alone, and sluggish import growth exposes the fundamental weakness Beijing refuses to address. French President Macron already threatens tariffs over the massive EU trade gap, and the temporary truce expires late next year with no guarantee it survives.
Pro-China narrative
China's export machine keeps roaring despite trade tensions, with shipments surging to Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and the EU while the country races toward its 5% growth target. The trade truce with America has stabilized relations, and economists predict China will capture 16.5% of global export market share by 2030 — thanks to dominance in electric vehicles, robotics and batteries. Advanced manufacturing prowess ensures continued expansion even as protectionism spreads worldwide.
Nerd narrative
There is a 20% chance China and the EU will reach a trade or tariff agreement in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
100+ UK MPs Demand Binding AI Regulations Amid Delays
More than 100 U.K. parliamentarians from across different parties have signed a campaign calling on the government to introduce binding regulations on the most powerful AI systems. The campaign is coordinated by Control AI, whose backers include Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn.
Labour's 2024 manifesto pledged to introduce binding regulation on companies developing the most powerful AI models. Having initially intended the quick implementation of an AI bill focused on large language models (LLMs) post-election, the U.K. government has reportedly postponed legislative proposals until the 2026 King's Speech.
Speaking to the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee last week, Secretary of State Liz Kendall claimed that she was considering AI regulation "more in terms of specific areas where we may need to act rather than a big all-encompassing Bill."
Pro-establishment narrative
Rushed AI regulation would stifle innovation and push developers out of the U.K. The EU's AI Act already demonstrates how bureaucracy struggles to adapt to rapid technological change, and imposing stricter copyright laws than the U.S. or Asia would undermine Britain's competitiveness. Clear, flexible frameworks take time to develop properly, and premature legislation would only create more problems than it solves.
Establishment-critical narrative
Labour promised binding AI regulation over a year ago, yet the government continues to delay while AI companies race toward superintelligence that experts warn poses extinction-level risks. Optional AI safety tests have been exposed as fundamentally flawed, and advanced systems are already exhibiting dangerous behaviors like blackmail in controlled tests. The time for consultation has passed, the U.K. must act now.
Nerd narrative
There is a 30% chance that, if a global catastrophe occurs, it will be due to an AI failure-mode, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
U.S. Deports Over 50 Iranians in Second Flight Under New Deal
The Trump administration deported approximately 50 to 55 Iranian nationals on a chartered flight from Mesa, Arizona, on Sunday, marking the second such deportation under a deal reached between Washington and Tehran two months before coordinated returns.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the deportations were based on political grounds and anti-migrant policies that violate international law, while a U.S. official described the operation as a routine deportation flight including nationals from multiple countries.
The flight made stops in Egypt and Kuwait, with Arab and Russian nationals disembarking in Cairo before Iranian deportees continued to Kuwait to transfer to a Kuwait Airways plane for the final leg to Tehran, according to Iranian officials familiar with the transfer.
Anti-Trump narrative
Deporting Iranians fleeing persecution violates human rights and puts lives at risk. Individuals escaping torture for their sexuality face death penalties back home, yet the administration forces them onto planes despite pending asylum claims. This disturbing policy compounds harm with detention abuses and ignores credible threats of interrogation by Revolutionary Guards upon arrival.
Pro-Trump narrative
Coordinating deportations with Iran demonstrates effective immigration enforcement against illegal border crossers. The flights return nationals who completed legal procedures and had asylum requests properly denied. This marks the successful implementation of a mass deportation policy targeting undocumented immigrants who lingered in detention facilities.
Nerd narrative
There is a 7.5% chance that the Iranian government will lose power before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Paramount Launches $108B Bid for Warner Bros. Amid Netflix Deal
Paramount Skydance announced on Monday that it has commenced an all-cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Warner Bros. Discovery for $30 per share, valuing the company at an enterprise value of $108.4 billion — a 139% premium to the undisturbed stock price.
The hostile bid comes days after Netflix agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and HBO Max streaming business for $27.75 per share in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $72 billion, excluding the Global Networks segment, which houses CNN, TBS, and other cable channels.
Paramount's offer is backed by equity financing from the Ellison family and RedBird Capital, as well as $54 billion in debt commitments from Bank of America, Citi and Apollo. It includes funding from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, as well as from Affinity Partners.
Narrative A
Paramount's all-cash $per-share offer delivers $17.6 billion more to shareholders than Netflix's inferior stock-and-cash deal, while keeping Warner Bros. Discovery whole rather than splitting it apart. The combination creates real competition against streaming giants and offers a faster regulatory path given Paramount's smaller size and friendly ties to the Trump administration. Netflix's anticompetitive grab of the No. 3 streaming service by the No. 1 player deserves heavy skepticism.
Narrative B
Paramount's hostile takeover attempt exposes desperation after losing the bidding war, relying on controversial Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds while freezing out governance rights to dodge regulatory scrutiny. The Oracle heir's claims about superior value ignore that shareholders also receive a stake in the linear TV spinout under Netflix's deal. Paramount's lobbying about competition rings hollow when the real threat comes from allowing a smaller player to absorb major assets without proven streaming scale.
Narrative C
Neither Netflix nor Paramount Skydance is likely to rescue the struggling theatrical business. Perhaps the real issue pushing audiences away is $20 tickets and $18 popcorn — an experience that feels too costly for many. Still, whether Netflix's massive $82.7 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery succeeds or Paramount ultimately prevails with its bold $100 billion hostile offer, the consequences will be profound. CEOs, dealmakers, unions, creative talent and everyday consumers will all face major changes as Hollywood undergoes a seismic power shift.
Narrative D
The Netflix–WBD deal initially seemed poised to reshape Hollywood, but Paramount Skydance's $108.4 billion all-cash bid has turned it into a full-blown power struggle. Paramount argues that its offer pays more and faces fewer global regulatory hurdles, but either deal could dangerously concentrate the power of creative media and distribution powerhouses. With deep-pocket investors, political allies and antitrust scrutiny in play, the fight reveals how money and political influence now steer who controls Hollywood's content empire.
Syria Marks First Anniversary of Assad Government Collapse
Fireworks erupted, flags lined cities and thousands of people held rallies across Syria on Monday, as the country marked the first anniversary of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's 53-year rule following an 11-day military operation.
In late November 2024, opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — a Sunni Islamist group formerly designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., U.N., and other countries — launched a major offensive from Idlib into Aleppo province, resulting in the rapid capture of Aleppo and ultimately the collapse of the Assad government in December, ending the Assad family's decades-long political dominance.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa invited citizens to celebrate what he called a "historic victory," describing the day as "the beginning of the struggle that liberated all of Syria" and urging the public to demonstrate their commitment to freedom and national unity.
Narrative A
The new Syrian government signifies the culmination of decades of legitimate insurgent energy against brutal Assad rule, finally giving the Sunni majority control after generations of systemic humiliation. Revolutionary anxiety is natural when defending hard-won fragile victory from forces seeking to restore the old sectarian order. Al-Sharaa’s regime has real staying power because it channels authentic grassroots popular will rather than fragile factional control.
Narrative B
Syria's transition has devolved into sectarian repression where religious minorities face kidnappings, beatings and threats from security forces loyal to Ahmed al-Sharaa. The promised freedoms have evaporated as Alawites, Christians and Druze now live in fear while government-affiliated gunmen terrorize communities with impunity. This isn't liberation but a new authoritarian order where Sunni extremists have simply replaced one dictatorship with another.
Narrative C
A year after Bashar al-Assad's departure, Syria remains a land of shattered stones and tentative hope. Former prisoners hobble home to families — freed from hellish jails yet haunted by tuberculosis, anxiety and nights of terror. Cities scarred by war show faint signs of life shops reopen, shattered homes slowly rebuilt by their owners. Across Damascus and Homs, crowds wave new flags in bittersweet celebration. The revolution brought freedom — but peace, justice and reconstruction remain fragile.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that Syria will be partitioned into new, internationally recognized sovereign states before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Supreme Court Weighs Trump's Power to Fire FTC Official
The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments Monday in Trump v. Slaughter, a case centered on President Donald Trump's firing of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) member Rebecca Slaughter without cause earlier this year, challenging a 1935 precedent known as Humphrey's Executor.
The 1935 Humphrey's Executor ruling upheld limits established by Congress that enabled presidents to remove members of commissions, like the FTC, only for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. The Trump administration has argued that those limits violate the separation of powers.
During oral arguments, the court's conservative majority appeared receptive to the Trump administration's position. Chief Justice John Roberts called Humphrey's Executor a "dried husk," while Justice Neil Gorsuch claimed the opinion was "poorly reasoned."
Pro-Trump narrative
For too long, independent agencies have wrongly escaped democratic accountability because of Humphrey's Executor. Agencies, including the FTC, now wield sweeping executive power, so the president must be able to remove commissioners who defy elected priorities. By ending this outdated precedent, SCOTUS would restore constitutional clarity and fix the century-long drift toward an unaccountable fourth branch of government.
Anti-Trump narrative
If SCOTUS ends 90 years of precedent to let Trump fire independent regulators at will, it will hand unchecked power to giant corporations and billionaires, gutting essential institutions that ensure fairness and competition. Independent agencies, like the FTC, have proven vital to long-term economic stability for workers, consumers and businesses alike. This march toward oligarchy threatens the legitimacy of SCOTUS.
Nerd narrative
There's a 12% chance that an attempt will be made to fire Jerome Powell as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve or his role as Chair of the Federal Open Market Committee before the end of his term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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