The Federal Government Has Officially Shut DownCongress failed to pass funding due to disputes over Affordable Care Act subsidies, furloughing 750,000 workers and disrupting services like disaster relief and military pay. As partisanship and polarization continue to dominate our political climate, it is no surprise that we find ourselves once again watching a government fail to be able to keep itself open. Unlike other shutdowns, this one feels like both sides are so committed to gutting their opposition that it may be harder than usual to find enough common ground to restart normal governance.
Gen Z-Led Protests Erupt and Escalate in Madagascar, Peru, and MoroccoIn Madagascar, protests over water/power shortages turned violent with 22 deaths and over 100 injuries, prompting President Rajoelina to dissolve the government, though unrest continued; in Peru, Gen Z rallied against pension reforms and corruption, injuring over a dozen and disrupting mining; in Morocco, GenZ 212 protested World Cup spending over health/education, leading to 400 arrests and hundreds injured in clashes. Between this and the overthrow of the communist regime in Nepal, we might start to wonder if Gen Z will come to be the most revolutionary generation since the Boomers. Perhaps they, as a generation, are willing to burn down the system that has yielded them very little good. We again are in amazement at the intensity of Gen Z resistance to corrupt government. Hopefully, this energy can be organized by like-minded and more mature leaders to foster a structural push for a better world going forward. Increasingly, Gen Z is unleashing its own brand of FAFO on corrupt government leaders, and we can simply hope from a distance that the long-needed reckoning against corrupt elites is upon us. Sources:Al Jazeera (Morocco) Reuters (Peru)
New Gaza-Israel Peace Deal Supported by Qatar, Egypt, and TurkeyThe plan involves releasing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, aid surges, Israeli withdrawal phases, and Hamas disarmament, with Trump threatening consequences if rejected. It is hard not to become cynical at the release of peace deals given the recent history of Israel outright rejecting any reasonable negotiations, but perhaps this time, Israel will be willing to be compliant.
UN to Send More Military Forces to Fight Haitian GangsThe UN Security Council approved expanding the security mission in Haiti to a new military force with up to 5,500 personnel, including soldiers, to combat escalating gang violence, addressing political instability and humanitarian crises, with authorization for one year. The momentum behind rallying international forces to address the Haitian crisis had all but fizzled out, but it appears that there may be increased interest in finding a resolution by countries in the Americas. The people of Haiti deserve to have a functional and popular government as opposed to being subjected to the tyranny of gang leaders.
13.1 Millions of Acres of Federal Land to Be Opened for Coal MiningThe Trump administration plans to open 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining while reducing royalty rates and repealing regulations on pollutants like carbon dioxide and mercury to revive the declining industry, despite warnings of increased pollution and costs from competition with gas and renewables. We will continue to highlight efforts related to energy production as ensuring adequate power production is perhaps the most critical infrastructure issue of our time.
Taliban Implements and Reverses Nationwide Internet Shutdown in AfghanistanThe Taliban severed fiber-optic connections to prevent “immoral activities,” reducing connectivity to 14% and impacting businesses, education, and aid; after a 48-hour blackout disrupting flights and banking, services were restored amid UN concerns over isolation and humanitarian crises. Attempting to repress access is one of the biggest mistakes governments can make in the modern era. Not only are they attempting to prop up an authoritarian theocracy, they are now provoking an uprising by disabling what many have come to recognize as an essential utility. If the Taliban, who have installed one of the worst governments of all time, can come to see that internet repression is an absurd tactic, perhaps there is hope for us yet.
Mayor of Atlanta Unveils $5 Billion Plan to Improve NeighborhoodsMayor Andre Dickens announced a $5.1 billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative to revitalize underserved south and westside areas using tax allocation districts for affordable housing, transit expansion, greenspace, and infrastructure, targeting poverty and health disparities. This is an ambitious plan, but the cynic in us cannot help but be concerned that this funding will not be used for basic infrastructure development but be used for flourishes and symbolic improvements.
Louisiana Puts Out Arrest Warrant for Californian Doctor Who Allegedly Mailed Abortion PillsThe warrant targets Dr. Remy Coeytaux for violating Louisiana’s abortion ban, highlighting interstate conflicts, with California’s shield laws likely blocking extradition. It seems clear that the state of Louisiana will not be able to compel this California resident to appear in a Louisiana court; however, this does present a frightening example of what happens when different states have widely different approaches to the legality of something like abortion.
Federal Deployments: National Guard to Portland and Border Patrol to Chicago200 Oregon National Guard troops were deployed to Portland to protect immigration facilities amid small protests, prompting a lawsuit from Oregon over sovereignty; in Chicago, Border Patrol conducted arrests based on appearance as part of “Operation At Large,” criticized by Gov. Pritzker for intimidation despite low crime. We will continue to advocate for political leaders to become more compliant with the federal government in an effort to keep the enforcement of immigration law from turning into lawlessness and chaos. Having Border Patrol conduct policing in this manner is obviously a recipe for disaster. Our advice remains the same: governors must come into compliance with the federal agenda or we’re going to end up with disputes that can’t be resolved through conventional means. Sources: Reuters (Portland)
