Protests erupted across Indonesian cities after a 21-year-old motorcyclist, Affan Kurniawan, was killed by a police vehicle during clashes in Jakarta, leading to the arrest of seven officers and widespread calls for police reform. President Prabowo Subianto ordered a transparent investigation into the incident while urging calm, as the unrest caused economic impacts including a 1.5% drop in Jakarta stocks and a weakened rupiah. Police brutality can often serve as a flashpoint for bubbling frustrations as ordinary citizens can tolerate a lot of corruption but it is difficult to navigate an environment in which police are killing people who seemingly are simply going about their day. These ongoing protests signal a real test for the new president who inherited a situation which was already a tinderbox.

Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi during a cabinet meeting, and currently there are ongoing assessments for potential deaths of other senior officials. The strikes were part of Israel's response to Houthi attacks on Israel and reflect the ongoing tension between the rebel group and the Israeli government. Given the U.S. backing, Israel has been empowered to engage war on many fronts simultaneously and it will be quite interesting to see how this attack on senior Houthi officials impacts the nature of the conflict. We imagine that this will only lead to further aggression by the Houthis who will see this as an escalation of tactics on the part of the Israelis.

Thailand's Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for ethics violations stemming from a leaked phone call with Cambodia's Hun Sen that aimed to ease border tensions but sparked outrage. Her father was the former Prime Minister and still holds a tremendous amount of political influence but she was nonetheless dismissed and her removal will significantly weaken the Pheu Thai party's coalition. It is interesting to see how Constitutional arrangements constrain the behavior of political actors as it strikes me as quite odd that an overly friendly tone in a conversation with a world leader could produce such a significant ethics violation that a prime minister is removed. Nonetheless, this appears to be a justifiable consequence of courts imposing the rule of law, so I guess on the whole, this is functionally a positive outcome.

President Trump used a pocket rescission to block $4.9 billion in approved foreign aid, targeting funds for the State Department, USAID, and UN peacekeeping near the fiscal year's end to bypass Congress. Critics called it unlawful, warning of potential government shutdown risks given the tension it will fuel amongst partisan actors in Congress related to the budget. Once again the president has aggressively advanced interests from the executive suite and the courts will have to determine if this use of presidential power is lawful. Regardless of that determination, we remain of the opinion that the foreign aid industrial complex has long been an arm of U.S. imperialism and must be shut down and if that comes about due to the aggressive action of a ruthless president, so be it.

A federal law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C., initiated by President Trump, led to an 87% drop in carjackings and a 15-19% overall crime reduction in the initial weeks. Mayor Muriel Bowser credited the effort for lowering crime but raised concerns about resident anxiety caused by ICE agents and National Guard troops, calling for a return to local control after 30 days. So this gets at the heart of the question as the mayor has flatly admitted that the addition of federal police power effectively reduced the crime in the city but came at the expense of a sense of ease and calm amongst residents. So now the question becomes of the sustainability of tactics like these as obviously federal troops can't constantly occupy major American cities, so after their withdrawal, how do these cities maintain lower crime rates?

The U.S. sought U.N. authorization for a new Gang Suppression Force to combat escalating gang violence in Haiti, potentially transforming the current Kenya-led mission with enhanced support. This initiative addresses a humanitarian crisis displacing 1.3 million people, with seven countries forming a group to provide strategic direction and funding amid low U.N. appeal contributions. The situation in Haiti does not seem to be improving and with world powers increasingly disinterested in using resources to advance a solution it would make sense that a power within the region like the U.S. might take the helm on bolstering efforts to improve conditions. However, much like the crime problems in major American cities, the problem seems to be how we can go about creating sustainable practices and institutions so that herculean efforts are not needed to keep citizens safe from violent crime.

The Portland City Council approved sending a minimum wage increase proposal to the November ballot, raising it from $15.50 to $19 per hour by 2028 after amending from an initial $20 target. Business owners expressed concerns over potential layoffs and closures, while supporters highlighted the need to match rising living costs, following a similar rejected proposal in 2022. It is interesting to think about the difference between direct and representative democratic functions especially in light of something like a minimum wage. It's hard to imagine a world in which the population would not have a plurality willing to raise wages, but simply having a majority does not mean the outcome chosen is the best decision. We shall see what happens here though!

Governor Jared Polis implemented $252 million in budget cuts and redirected $146.7 million to close a $750 million deficit caused by federal tax changes, including halting Medicaid rate increases and reducing higher education funding. The measures also involve using $325 million from reserves and a hiring freeze, sparing K-12 education and public safety while lawmakers raised business taxes in a special session. Despite our continued collective head-in-sand approach to the fiscal crisis in the country, many of the problems are about to surface in ways that can no longer be ignored. The adjustments made will be painful and somewhat frightening, however, we can no longer afford to carry on like states, cities, and the federal government can afford to provide services that they don't have the money for.

A judge ruled Utah's 2021 congressional map unlawfully gerrymandered Salt Lake City, ordering a redraw that could create a competitive district for Democrats in the midterms. Lawmakers will convene a special session on September 15 to submit a new map, despite Republican efforts to delay and criticism from President Trump labeling the ruling unconstitutional. As we routinely argue here at Mituye, political gerrymandering is squarely within the rules and in this case was prompted by a court ruling. We shall see how these attempts at redrawing districts in Utah will reshape national politics as the hyper-polarization of our political climate has caused even the slightest shifts in proportional power to be super meaningful in terms of legislative power.

Governor Gavin Newsom expanded California Highway Patrol crime suppression teams to six regions, including the Bay Area and Los Angeles, building on efforts that yielded over 9,000 arrests and 4,000 recovered stolen vehicles. The data-driven surges aim to enhance safety without reacting to federal actions, with local officials noting positive impacts despite CHP officer shortages. So despite all of the consternation by partisan actors like Gavin Newsom that the president was making up a crime issue in order to overreach into the domain of states and cities, he has for some reason seen the need to bolster policing efforts in California cities. No matter one's opinion on how these issues can best be addressed, there needs to be some clarity in terms of people's position. Is there a crime problem in major American cities, or is there not?