Seven Indigenous groups in Ecuador’s Amazon have criticized the government’s plan to auction 49 oil and gas projects valued at over $47 billion, arguing it overlaps with their ancestral territories without prior consultation and violates constitutional rights. The Noboa administration’s moves, including dismantling the Environment Ministry and supporting private management of conservation areas, have sparked national strikes and legal challenges, with Indigenous leaders vowing resistance amid ignored court rulings and a referendum against drilling in Yasuní National Park. Modern nation states have to come to terms with the actual sovereign existence of indigenous nations if we are to truly move beyond the age of conquest and want to dismantle the mechanisms which allow for imperialism and colonialism.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced mandatory digital ID cards for citizens and permanent residents to control immigration and access public services like health care, set for implementation before the 2029 election and provided free of charge. This revives a contentious Blair-era proposal abandoned due to opposition over privacy and liberty concerns, with civil rights groups criticizing potential risks to personal information despite assurances that carrying or showing the ID won’t be routine. This is a complicated issue because on the one hand mandatory digital IDs is clearly a recipe for dystopian totalitarian governance as the government has nearly unlimited surveillance power under such a plan; at the same time the digital revolution is clearly unstoppable so we have to become comfortable with the increasing need for cohesion through digitization.

A World Bank arbitration tribunal has barred Niger from selling or transferring uranium from the Somaïr mine, which was seized by the country’s junta from French company Orano SA earlier this year. The ruling by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes impacts Niger’s control over uranium resources and trade, following Orano’s statement on the decision. One of the biggest fears of global capital is that their interests will be thwarted by uprisings in third world countries, and here we can see how the World Bank is not a neutral arbiter of financial transactions but a political tool used to ensure the needs of global elites are bolstered by global banks.

A grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making a false statement and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, amid President Trump’s push for retribution despite federal prosecutors’ doubts about the case’s validity. The indictment reflects ongoing political tensions, with details explained by a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and FBI. It does appear to us that the intelligence agencies were so determined to ensure Trump did not return to the presidency that they were willing to engage in unscrupulous and possibly illegal behavior. Comey must be held accountable for this to set a precedent that the intelligence agencies are not autonomous and above the law.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order tasking the FBI and other agencies to disrupt financial networks funding what he calls “left-wing terrorism,” naming Democratic donors like George Soros and Reid Hoffman without evidence of their involvement in violent protests. The order, following incidents like the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, directs the IRS to revoke tax-exempt status from supporting organizations and marks Trump’s second designation of groups as domestic terrorists this week, drawing accusations of targeting political rivals. There has long been a question regarding the influence of elites and left-wing radical organizations and perhaps this type of crackdown will facilitate the transparency needed to figure out what is actually going on. The problem however, is that law enforcement is given a broad mandate to combat terror which could facilitate an unconstitutional incursion into the organizing activities of those who are not terrorists but profess left-wing ideologies.

President Trump declared he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, conveying this stance to leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations during a United Nations General Assembly meeting. This position comes amid recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by several countries and pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from right-wing figures to extend sovereignty, potentially diminishing prospects for a Palestinian state in the territory controlled by Israel since 1967. While Trump’s push against Israeli plans here is laudable, it remains unclear that the United States has any meaningful influence on the decision making of Israeli officials.

Nevada signed an agreement with the Department of Justice to collaborate on immigration enforcement, removing the state from the federal “sanctuary states” list under Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo’s leadership. The memo commits the state to using National Guard and FEMA funds for ICE operations, counters potential sanctuary policies, and builds on efforts to align with federal immigration laws amid rising arrests and political debates. The federal structure requires that states cooperate with federal agencies and this is at least one example of relationships between a state and the federal government normalizing so that federal law enforcement doesn’t create chaos and fear at the neighborhood level.

Arizona’s new age-verification law, effective Friday and sponsored by Republican Rep. Nick Kupper, requires websites with significant pornographic content to confirm users are 18 or older, prompting PornHub to block access for state users over safety concerns. Signed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and modeled after a upheld Texas law, it allows parental lawsuits with fines up to $250,000, though critics highlight cybersecurity risks, privacy issues, and potential First Amendment violations. Pornography has long been a litmus for free expression, however, the internet has made it increasingly difficult to ensure those who should be protected from early exposure to adult content are kept at bay. While typically on the side of free expression, here we think Arizona and other states looking to tighten regulations around pornography are principally in the right.

The Aurora Police Department seeks to implement facial recognition technology to generate leads by comparing suspect images with mug shots and public social media photos, requiring city council approval under Colorado law. Civil rights groups like the ACLU oppose it due to misidentification risks for marginalized groups and privacy concerns, while the department promises human review, no photo storage, and coverage of costs within existing budgets. Perhaps facial recognition is a reality that can no longer be held off and the only thing citizens can do is demand that lawmakers implement mechanisms that catch and punish abuses of power.

The Seattle City Council unanimously passed the “Roots to Roofs” bill, creating a pilot program offering density bonuses for housing and community projects on sites historically under racially restrictive covenants, supporting up to 35 projects across districts. Sponsored by Councilmembers Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Mark Solomon, the legislation aims to increase housing in marginalized areas but faces criticism for potentially enabling large developments without ensuring benefits for impacted communities or preventing displacement. Nearly all progressive policies meant to target so-called marginalized groups do little to empower the actual people and balloon the influence of government. This strikes us as another effort in that vein.