Vladimir Putin has warned that any Western troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets for Russian strikes, in response to a French proposal for a multinational postwar security force involving NATO countries. The 26-nation pledge, announced by Emmanuel Macron, includes commitments for land, sea, and air presence to guarantee Ukraine's security, though several European nations like Germany, Spain, and Italy have declined to send troops amid risks of escalation. While we try to be cautious about hyperbolic rhetoric, it's hard not to see these growing tensions and alignments as the prelude for the kinetic phase of WWIII.

The United Nations has documented potential war crimes and crimes against humanity by all parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern conflict, including summary executions, gang rapes, torture, and forced recruitment. The violence has displaced over seven million people, killed thousands, and highlighted the problems that occur when institutions totally fail. Despite U.S.-brokered peace deals in June and July, the violence in the Congo seems to be continuing to intensify, and no one seems to be of the opinion that there is a clear path toward a stable environment.

Thailand's parliament elected Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, marking the third change in two years. This comes in the wake of the constitutional court ousting Paetongtarn Shinawatra for ethical violations linked to a border dispute and brief war with Cambodia. Anutin, a conservative politician leading a minority government, has pledged to dissolve parliament within four months, hold national elections by early 2026, and conduct a referendum on amending the constitution amid ongoing political instability. Thailand is in a pivotal moment where several critical decisions could dramatically alter the trajectory of the nation; we'll watch closely.

AI company Anthropic has agreed to a settlement of at least $1.5 billion in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by authors alleging the illegal use of approximately 500,000 pirated books to train its language models. The deal, potentially the largest copyright recovery on record with payments starting at $300 million, follows a partial fair use ruling but could set precedents for similar cases against other AI firms like OpenAI. U.S. copyright laws will serve as one of the most pivotal hurdles for AI companies to overcome, as it remains unclear what this technology means for the protection of intellectual property.

The Justice Department is considering restrictions on transgender individuals owning firearms, prompted by a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school by a transgender perpetrator, though the proposal remains in early discussions without a finalized plan. The idea has drawn widespread backlash from the NRA and other gun rights groups, who view it as an arbitrary violation of Second Amendment rights without due process, as well as from LGBTQ advocates who argue it discriminates against a group more likely to be victims of violence. At Mituye, we are staunch advocates of robustly protecting Second Amendment rights and are happy to see the reaction to this idea being heavy condemnation. All citizens must have their rights protected equally with no respect to creed, class, or something like gender identity.

The U.S. has designated Ecuador's largest gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as foreign terrorist organizations, enabling asset freezes, targeting of associates, and enhanced intelligence sharing to curb drug-related violence. Announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to Quito, the move includes $19.5 million in security aid and addresses Ecuador's role in transiting 70% of the world's cocaine, though it may impact civilians through complications in asylum claims and extortion penalties. The tensions between the United States and organized crime in Latin America are increasingly forcing the hand of these governments to respond. Interestingly, governments in the region have radically different feelings in regard to the aggressive stance by the U.S.

Oregon lawmakers are advancing a bipartisan constitutional amendment to ban 'secret police' by mandating that law enforcement officers wear uniforms and display names and badge numbers, with exemptions for SWAT teams and undercover operations. Set for introduction in the 2026 session and a potential public vote, the measure responds to concerns over federal agencies' plainclothes tactics during enforcement actions under current immigration policies. It seems that the solution may be to ensure that police are identifiable as police and that the penalties for attacking law enforcement in retaliation for their job-related duties are extremely harsh. There is something deeply unsettling about unidentified masked men making orders, and it also seems that it could be a recipe for triggering violent resistance to lawful orders.

Sound Transit is grappling with a $30 billion shortfall for its 2016 voter-approved expansion, threatening delays to key projects like the West Seattle and Ballard lines originally slated for 2032 and 2039. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's push to prioritize these westward extensions has created regional tensions, with other county leaders advocating for completing the north-south spine first and exploring cheaper alternatives like rapid ride services. It seems like everywhere you look, American cities have no idea how to manage their public transportation services. As transportation is certainly critical infrastructure, it is certainly disheartening to see so many cities struggle to maintain and enhance their services.

A Salt Lake County judge ruled that Utah must immediately redraw its congressional district maps after determining lawmakers improperly ignored an independent commission's plan in favor of a gerrymandered version benefiting Republicans. With a one-month deadline for compliance, the decision rejects delays for the 2026 midterms, citing successful rapid redistricting in other states and emphasizing the protection of voting rights. This is a very aggressive ruling from the judiciary and is sure to cause political chaos in the state. As of now, though, it appears the state has no choice and will join the growing number of states rushing to create new maps in short order.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty has introduced a plan to construct 135 tiny homes at a shelter campus, each costing $20,000 and featuring electricity and air conditioning, as a cost-effective approach to homelessness compared to million-dollar permanent housing units. Amid related policies banning outdoor sleeping at City Hall, the initiative includes identifying additional microvillage sites, though it has sparked internal conflicts including a retracted threat by the mayor against a councilmember opposing the ban. We remain unconvinced that simply adding housing options will solve the problems of homelessness, as they seem to be more related to the growing spiritual and communal crisis in the country than simply an inability for the homeless to find somewhere to shelter.