Elon Musk has been criticized for reposting a theory on X that claims “high status males” should run a “Republic” to maintain a free-thinking democracy, arguing that women and “low T men” are incapable of objective thought. The anonymous theory, which appears to originate from 4chan, suggests that only “high T alpha males” and “aneurotypical people” can think freely and should therefore be the sole decision-makers in a democratic society. Musk’s repost of this controversial theory has been met with backlash, with many criticizing it as sexist, exclusionary, and a promotion of hegemonic masculinity. It remains unclear whether Musk’s repost was intended to agree with the theory or to mock a critic, but it is consistent with his stance on “free speech” and his history of promoting controversial and misleading information on his platform.
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JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, has proposed linking US support for NATO to the European Union’s respect for free speech, specifically criticizing their potential regulation of Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. Vance believes that the US should leverage its power to ensure that its allies uphold American values, including free speech. However, his stance has drawn criticism as it appears to favor Russia, as he has also suggested a peace plan for the Ukraine conflict that would involve Russia keeping seized territory and Ukraine becoming neutral. These proposals raise concerns about their implications for the ongoing conflict and for the future of the US-EU relationship.
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Jacob Hersant, a self-proclaimed Nazi, was sentenced to one month in prison in Melbourne, Australia, for performing a Nazi salute. This makes him the first person in Australia to be imprisoned for this offense, which was outlawed nationwide shortly before the incident. Hersant was convicted for performing the salute outside a court after avoiding a prison sentence for inciting violence. Magistrate Brett Sonnet ruled that the prison sentence was warranted due to Hersant’s promotion of Nazi ideology and white supremacy in the public sphere, despite his claims that his actions were protected by freedom of speech. Hersant’s lawyer has announced plans to appeal the sentence.
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Geography and history teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded by an Islamist terrorist in 2020 after a student falsely claimed he had discriminated against Muslim students in class. The girl, who had been suspended for bad behavior, lied to her father about Paty showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad from Charlie Hebdo and instructing Muslim students to leave the room during the lesson. Paty’s killer, Abdoullakh Anzorov, traveled to the Paris suburb to carry out the act after the girl’s father posted about the incident online. On Monday, the father and seven others will stand trial in connection with the murder, charged with association with a terrorist organization. Last year, Chnina’s daughter and five other former students aged between 13 and 15 were tried; she received an 18-month suspended sentence for making “slanderous and false accusations.”
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Former President Donald Trump, at a recent Pennsylvania rally, heightened his criticisms of news outlets. He stated he wouldn’t be bothered if someone shot “through the fake news”, a reference to the media representatives often present between him and the crowd at such events. His comments were described as follows by Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung, “President Trump was stating that the Media was in danger, in that they were protecting him and, therefore, were in great danger themselves, and should have had a glass protective shield, also.” These remarks come soon after Trump’s arguably threatening comments about former congresswoman Liz Cheney, whom he labelled a “war hawk”.
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A UK court has sentenced a man, Piotr Kucharski, to two and a half years in prison for claiming to be part of the terrorist group, Wagner Group, and for his aggressive behaviour. Kucharski attended a Viking battle reenactment event in combat clothing with Wagner Group patches, where he behaved aggressively and claimed he was fighting for the group in Ukraine. He later stated that these claims were attempts to provoke reactions from other participants due to differing views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At a hearing, he pleaded guilty to wearing symbols associated with extreme right-wing ideology and white supremacy. The prosecutor’s office reiterated that it would always prosecute those who support terrorism.
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A man who destroyed signs supporting Democratic politicians Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at an early voting site in Raleigh has claimed he was the victim. The man, who was seen on video shouting at other voters, ripping up signs and arguing with people who confronted him, said he believed signs left on government land were litter and he was entitled to remove them. The Democratic coordinator for the early voting site disagreed, while state laws suggest taking or damaging campaign signs can lead to a fine or jail time. Police have not yet said whether they will arrest the man.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent complaints about people “hating” her for her opinions strike a fascinating nerve. It’s almost comical to hear a politician, especially one so steeped in controversy, bemoan the backlash that follows their inflammatory remarks. Greene invokes the spirit of free speech, suggesting that part of being American is expressing opinions without the burden of negative reception. Yet, I cannot help but feel that she misses the fundamental principle that while one is entitled to their voice, that does not shield them from the reasonable consequences of what they say.
Greene states, “We should respect each other and our differences.”… Continue reading
Australia’s decision to ban Candace Owens from entering the country due to her history of antisemitic remarks resonates with me on many levels. In a time when hate speech is rapidly proliferating through various media channels, the Australian government’s stance signals a firm rejection of divisive rhetoric. It takes courage for a nation to stand by such a decision, especially when it comes from both sides of the political aisle, a rare occurrence in today’s polarized climate. The fact that Tony Burke, the Immigration Minister, articulated that “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else,” says a lot about the collective sentiment around her influence.… Continue reading
Elon Musk’s recent tirade against Tim Walz is a vivid illustration of just how thin-skinned even the most powerful among us can be. The attacks, spurred by Walz’s provocative “dipshit” remark, reveal a fragile ego wrapped tightly in a cloak of bravado. It’s as if the richest man in America feels threatened by a man whose wealth barely touches the surface of his own. The irony is palpable; here’s a man who touts himself as a champion of free speech, yet he finds himself rattled by a simple insult, thrusting himself into the late-night Twitter trenches like a wounded animal.
What struck me most about Musk’s reaction is the sheer volume of his defensiveness.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood