Simone and Malcolm Collins, prominent advocates of the pronatalist movement, have proposed a “pronatalist” city-state to counter an anticipated demographic collapse. The couple, who have four children, proposed a dystopian-like model city-state where human reproductive biology is modified, the value of voting rights is determined by an individual’s perceived societal value, and the city-state is run by an executor or “dictoar”. Immersed in the rejection of traditional conservatism, the Collinses’ proposal was formulated for a supposed wealthy investor, who later turned out to be an undercover researcher from the UK-based anti-racism group, Hope Not Hate. Despite the proposal not being pitched, Simone and Malcolm Collins have said they stand by its core tenets. Their views align closely with those expressed by political figures like J.D. Vance and entrepreneur Elon Musk.
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Former US President Donald Trump has made a potentially dangerous statement at a rally in Pennsylvania, suggesting he wouldn’t mind if an attempt to assassinate him involved shooting through members of the media. Both Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris have been speaking behind panels of bulletproof glass as a security measure following an assassination attempt against Trump in July. After pointing out the glass in front of him, Trump mentioned that there was no glass between him and the media, stating someone would have to “shoot through the fake news” to get him. This comment sparked concerns about it being a potential call for violence.
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IKEA will pay €6m ($6.5m) to a German government fund set up to compensate victims of forced labour under the country’s communist regime. Political and criminal prisoners during the Cold War era were forced to build flatpack furniture for IKEA, which was aware that political prisoners were being used, according to an investigation by Ernst & Young. IKEA Germany said the payment was the result of a long-term discussion with the Union of Victims’ Associations of Communist Dictatorship. This is the first payment of its type and has been welcomed by advocacy groups who hope this will prompt other companies to follow. Germany’s parliament will vote on the establishment of the fund in the coming weeks.
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Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, is calling for preemptive strikes on North Korean troops located in Russia. His request is based on his contention that North Korean soldiers are readying to join the war in support of Russia. Zelenskyy’s proposal contemplates the use of long-range weapons to preemptively target these troops. He believes the decision is dependent on the support of western partners. While the UK and France seem inclined towards approval, the US and Germany are hesitant due to concerns of provoking Russia.
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Subway surfing, a dangerous trend of riding on top of moving subway cars popularized on social media, has resulted in six deaths and 181 arrests in New York City this year, according to the New York Police Department. In response, the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is working with social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to remove related content and discourage the practice. The NYPD is also using drone technology to apprehend and deter subway surfers. Social media platforms’ policies forbid dangerous content, but the spread of such challenges is often driven by peer pressure and attention-seeking behavior. Lawsuits have been filed against some platforms, alleging they encourage dangerous behavior among young users.
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Generation Z is participating in a trend of ‘cancelling out’ the votes of family members who are voting differently in the upcoming 2024 US election, showcasing their decision through TikTok videos. Several women posted videos of themselves going to vote for the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, intending to cancel their fathers’ or husbands’ votes for Donald Trump. The trend sees individuals documenting their journey to the polls with a piece of paper (presumably their ballot) in hand. A September poll of roughly 2,600 registered voters aged 18-29 revealed that half would vote for Harris, a third for Trump, 10% would not vote, and 6% would vote for another candidate. The 2024 election in four days’ time has already seen over 47 million votes cast.
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The US has deployed B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to the Middle East, according to a Twitter post by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The bombers were dispatched from the Minot Air Force Base’s 5th Bomb Wing. The B-52 is a long-range heavy bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and carrying nuclear or precision-guided conventional ordnance. The deployment comes as Israel braces for a potential Iranian attack in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iranian missile production facilities. The US has warned that it will take necessary measures to defend American personnel or interests should they be targeted by Iran, its partners, or its proxies.
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A surprising turnaround in Iowa sees Democrat Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump 47% to 44% in a recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, despite Iowa’s swing to the right in recent elections. The shift towards Harris is primarily driven by older and politically independent women. Trump however continues to lead with his core base, which includes men, evangelicals, rural residents, and non-college graduates. The poll was conducted from October 28-31 among 808 likely voters, including those who have already voted and those planning to. This development comes as a surprise given the state’s recent electoral history favoring Trump.
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Clark County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant John Rodgers has faced public scrutiny after suggesting in Facebook posts that caller’s voting preference would influence how he responded to emergency calls. Rodgers reportedly stated that he would not help those who supported the Democratic Party and indicated people would need to show proof of who they voted for before he would assist them. Chief Deputy Mike Young said the comments were highly inappropriate and did not represent the Sheriff’s Office’s policy of serving all residents impartially, regardless of their voting preference. Rodgers, who claims not to remember publishing the posts, is reported to be on medication that can cause communication to be ‘out of character’. Rodgers has been given a written reprimand for violating the Sheriff’s Office’s social media policy.
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Elon Musk’s America Pac, a canvassing operation in support of Donald Trump and the Republican party, is facing a lawsuit filed by two women. They allege that they were underpaid and denied reimbursement for expenses incurred during their work to rally support for Republican congresswoman Michelle Steel. The lawsuit claims that the women were promised an hourly wage but were instead paid by the number of houses they visited. No specific amounts have been mentioned yet. Defendants in the suit include America Pac, a hiring and payroll company called Liberty Staffing Services, the Blair Group which is a national canvassing company and Michelle Steel’s re-election campaign.
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John Q. Hosedrinker