Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady and Mental Health Advocate, Dies at 96

Rosalynn Carter, ABC News

Rosalynn Carter, former first lady and wife of former President Jimmy Carter, passed away at the age of 96 this Sunday. Carter had entered hospice care in November this year and was diagnosed with dementia six months prior. She is remembered not only by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren but also for her significant contributions as First Lady and her nonprofit work after former President Carter lost his reelection to Reagan. 

Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter during 75th wedding anniversary, NBC News

As first lady, Rosalynn Carter was a political force of her own, and during Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, she was claimed to be “her husband’s most influential political adviser,” according to the U.S. News & Political Report at the time. Carter also often listened to Cabinet and National Security Council meetings to gain a better understanding of Jimmy Carter’s decisions as president. She also often served as an international envoy and learned Spanish for her trips to the Caribbean and Central and South America. In meetings with these nations, she discussed human rights, demilitarization, and opioids. 

Additionally, Rosalynn Carter was a staunch advocate for mental health and hoped to destigmatize mental health. Her interest began in 1966 during her husband’s first run for governor, where she told TIME, “One day I made a remark that I might work with people with mental illness… And the more I thought about it and found out about it, the more I thought it was just a terrible situation with no attention. And I've been working on it ever since.” Carter worked as honorary chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health and worked for policy change and reform in how mental health was treated in the United States.

Her advocacy work did not end with her term as First Lady; she founded the Carter Center with her husband in 1982. The nonprofit organization worked on increasing knowledge on mental health, housing the homeless worldwide, aiding farmers in developing nations, and much more. The Carter Center attempted to nearly eradicate Guinea worm disease in Africa and managed to reduce it from 3.5 million cases per year in 186 to a mere 30 in 2017 (ABC News). Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999 by President Bill Clinton for their work with the Carter Center. 

 From The Carter Center

Rosalynn Carter will forever be remembered for her work that helped improve countless lives. Jimmy Carter announced shortly after her death, saying, “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” She will be mourned not only by her family but countless “U.S. political figures, world leaders, social justice icons, and celebrities” (USA Today). 

- Amit Shilon

Sources: 

• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/19/rosalynn-carter-dies-nation-reaction/71647635007/ 

• https://time.com/5359393/rosalynn-carter-dies/#:~:text=Together%2C%20they%20founded%20The%20Carter,Center%20Mental%20Health%20Task%20Force. 

• https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-first-lady-rosalynn-carter-dies/story?id=55565598

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rosalynn-carter-former-first-lady-dies-rcna62862 

Images: 

• https://www.cartercenter.org/ 

Pedro Sánchez’s re-election as Spanish prime minister leads to protest of 170,000 against his amnesty deal

The re-elected Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez congratulated by

People's Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo at the Spanish Parliament (Gzero)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was reelected in a parliamentary vote on Thursday (November 16th, 2023), representing the Partido Socialista Obrero Español or Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. This election ended the four-month long deadlock in this year’s election for prime minister, but the country is not out of trouble yet, as hundreds of thousands protest the prime minister’s amnesty deal used to gain support.

Similar to the US presidential election, the Spanish election does not employ a direct democracy but instead a representative democracy. A similar electoral system is used, but instead of electors being picked for each constituency in the Electoral College, the vote is by the members of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of Spain’s legislative branch. The members of the Congress are directly elected by each constituency, and the number of members per constituency is proportional to population

The deadlock occurred when Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the Popular Party could not find enough support for an absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies despite having the most votes. This deadlock finally ended months later with the second round of voting, where Sánchez gained the support of Catalan separatist parties.

In order to gain the critical support of two Catalan separatist parties, Sánchez agreed to sign an amnesty deal for the pardon of Catalan separatists whose crimes root from efforts towards succession ever since 2012. Such efforts include an informal vote held in 2014 that highlighted high backing for independence and an independence referendum by the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in 2017. The amnesty deal may pardon up to 1,400 politicians, all in exchange for votes from Catalan separatist parties in the election. Among the politicians is Carles Puigdemont, who since the Catalan independence referendum in 2017, has been a well known fugitive “considered public enemy No. 1 by many Spaniards”(AP News).

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont among a crowd at a demonstration supporting the referendum (New York Times)

Critics, including groups of Spanish judges and the Spanish Council of the Judiciary, point out that the amnesty deal was unconstitutional and a threat to the rule of law. The amnesty agreement undermines the power of the judiciary, creating a new committee that goes over each amnesty case and avoids the risks of judges impacting the deal.

International trade lawyer and founder of España Mejor, a nonpartisan political organization supporting political involvement, Miriam González Durántez commented on the amnesty deal, stating that amnesties “must be deployed in exceptional circumstances and with the utmost care because they imply a conscious breach of the principle of equality before the law”(Financial Times). Despite that, Prime Minister Sánchez still went through with the amnesty deal, creating what Durántez described as a “direct assault on the separation of powers” where “international condemnation [is] unequivocal”.

Even several bishops expressed their opposition towards the deal, claiming there is a “spiritual crisis” in Spain and stating that “the unity of Spain is in danger”. The archbishop of Valladolid, Luis Argüello, also voiced his opinion on the issue, sourcing the division of political views to the increased praise of autonomy leading to a shift in the popular culture from one of public interest to one focused on self interest.

Ever since the proposal of the amnesty bill a few weeks prior to Pedro Sánchez getting sworn in on Thursday, thousands have gathered daily to protest the bill. Today was the largest protest yet, with around 170,000 people gathering at the center of Madrid, including the opposing party leaders Alberto Núñez Feijóo(People's Party) and Santiago Abascal(Vox). Many bring the arguments stated by judges and bishops, believing that Sánchez’s selfish use of the amnesty deal threatened the rule of law and the separation of powers.

Hundreds of thousands of people protest against Sánchez's election through the amnesty deal. (France24)

Sources:

Financial Times     Catholic News Agency     France24     Euronews     Reuters     AP News

Additional Reading:

News:

Al Jazeera     LA Times     Wall Street Journal     Reuters     The Guardian

Info about how the PM is elected in Spain:

Catalan News 

Opinion Pieces:

El País     The Guardian     Financial Times 

Will Mike Johnson Pass His Budget Plan and Prevent a Government Shutdown?

New Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, now faces a similar task that got his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, removed as Speaker of the House, creating a federal budget plan to prevent a government shutdown.

Republican Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson       Source: ABC News

But what would a government shutdown entail? After a federal budget plan is not passed, federal agencies have no plan for spending money that is approved by Congress. The Anti-Deficiency Act, passed in 1884, prohibits federal agencies from spending money without Congressional approval. As a result, federal agencies cannot pay their employees, and thousands get put on furlough while essential government workers, such as law enforcement, work without pay. While federal employees are paid retroactively when the shutdown ends, they need a stable income in the present, not the future. 

With the upcoming federal funding deadlines this Friday, Johnson needs to create a funding plan that will both gain some Democratic votes and not alienate far-right members of Congress. His approach was to create a complex temporary funding plan with two deadlines in January and February to finalize budgets. This plan would keep the government from shutting down but faced opposition from the Republican House of Representatives caucus called the Freedom Caucus. Member and Texas Representative Chip Roy said on X (formerly known as Twitter) that “I 100% oppose” in reference to House Speaker Johnson’s plan. While the Democrats seem open to his plan, they are still in the process of discussing it, according to a senior House Democratic aide. 

Source: U.S. News

Since the GOP majority is so small, Johnson needs to alienate as few far-right members as possible to get the bill passed with only Republican votes or gain even more Democratic support at the expense of the far-right. Will Johnson be able to pass his funding plan to prevent a government shutdown? One only has to wait until Friday to see.

- Amit Shilon

Sources: 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/politics/mike-johnson-shutdown-house-gop-government-budget/index.html 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/13/government-shutdown-mike-johnson-house-republicans/ 

https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2023-11-13/markets-economy-awaken-to-looming-government-shutdown-inflation-data-and-biden-xi-meeting 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/26/what-government-shutdown-means-2023 

 

Trump Echoes Nazi Propaganda in Veterans Day Speech

On Veterans Day, President Donald Trump held a campaign event in Derry, New Hampshire. After quickly providing a tribute to America’s veterans, Trump proceeded to berate President Biden and the left.

(Source: CNN)

During his speech, Trump vowed to “root out…the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.” Trump’s provocative language—especially his description of his political opponents as vermin—draws comparison to Nazi rhetoric used to dehumanize Jews. For example, in 1942, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler asserted that if he had to send German youth to fight and die in World War II, then he also had “the right to eliminate millions of an inferior race that multiplies like vermin.”




Moments later, Trump claimed that “[America’s] threat is from within.” He appeared to warn that these internal foes are a greater threat than the US's foreign opponents: “If you have a capable, competent, smart, tough leader: Russia, China, North Korea, they're not going to want to play with us.”

(Source: TNR)

The dehumanizing language Trump employed against his political opponents has drawn significant backlash. Many critics, such as Timothy Naftali, a senior research scholar at Columbia University, compare Trump’s rhetoric to that of a dictator. Naftali suggested, “The language [Trump used] is the language that dictators use to instill fear.” Naftali further argued that “When you dehumanize an opponent, you strip them of their constitutional rights to participate securely in a democracy because you’re saying they’re not human. That’s what dictators do.”




One of Trump’s campaign spokesmen, Steven Cheung, responded by claiming that “those who try to make that ridiculous assertion are clearly snowflakes grasping for anything.” However, I believe that Trump’s speech reflects a significant political issue in the US: the rise of far-right extremism. From the Proud Boys to the January 6 Insurrection, right-wing extremism has become a visible presence in United States politics. I believe that these extremist movements, with their vocal support of authoritarianism and fascism, pose a significant threat to democracy in the United States. One can only hope that in the upcoming elections, logic and moderation will prevail over hate and radicalism.

-Konstantinos Paparrizos

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/12/trump-rally-vermin-political-opponents/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/us/politics/trump-new-hampshire-veterans.html

https://newrepublic.com/article/176877/trump-vermin-speech-nazi-language

https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/11/12/trump-compares-political-foes-to-vermin-on-veterans-day-echoing-nazi-propaganda/?sh=1b0ca2917229

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/11/politics/trump-new-hampshire-primary-biden/index.html

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/proud-boys-leaders-sentenced-prison-roles-jan-6-capitol-breach

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/adolf-hitler-on-cruelty-1942

Pella, Iowa Voters Narrowly Protect Libraries; Another Case Among Many

    Earlier this week (Nov 7, 2023), residents of the rural town of Pella, Iowa, narrowly voted against increasing the Board of Trustee's power over public libraries. "Resolution 6442" failed to pass with 2,042 no votes against the 1954 yes votes. This resolution would have given the Board the power to ban, among other books, the book "Gender Queer: A Memoir," by Maria Kobabe. Ultimately, while this resolution failed to pass, it is only one of many similar attempts to restrict the freedom of libraries all over the nation. 

Source: Miami New Times

     In many states, libraries are under siege. In Santa Rosa, Florida, just a day prior the vote in Pella, members of the far-right "Moms for Liberty" group marched to the local sheriff's office demanding a police probe into a school library that allegedly contained a young adult novel with "risqué" passages -- likening it to the adult Playboy magazines. It should be noted that the book in question, "Storm and Fury" by Jennifer L. Armentrout, is rated for ages fourteen to eighteen by Barnes and Noble. Thankfully, the case went nowhere, with the sheriff county simply closing the case. However, the basis on which the Moms for Liberty filed their complaint, HB 1069 - which requires schools to remove books alleged to contain sexual content until the complaint resolved, and the "Don't Say Gay" laws - which prevents the teaching of sexual orientation until after high school - are still rampant throughout the state, with other states copying. 1,400 similar incidents were recorded in Florida last year, with 625 in Texas, 333 in Missouri, and 281 in Utah. 

  Until decisive action can be taken, scenarios like the ones in Florida will only continue to happen. Narrow, reactive votes can delay the inevitable, but I believe governments on all levels should be proactive. Libraries represent an accessible hub for knowledge, and restricting this knowledge will certainly raise concerns over violations of the First Amendment. Can librarians and teachers talk about LGBTQ+ even informally? These concerns are not even limited to the LGBT community; this can form a precedence for deniers of American history. What if a governmental authority insists the Civil War was not because of slavery? I may just be paranoid, and this may just be a slippery slope, but I do not want to find out. 

-Janus Sucharitakul 

Sources: 

https://who13.com/news/pella-voters-narrowly-reject-resolution-to-give-city-council-power-to-restrict-public-library-books/ 

https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/florida-moms-for-liberty-member-demands-criminal-investigation-over-fantasy-novel-18181127 

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/new-sex-education-bill-closer-to-becoming-law-in-florida-but-what-does-that-mean-for-students/3002814/

Infants born with Syphilis Rising All Over America

    

Trepona pallidium, the bacteria behind syphilis (Source: NYT)

     Syphilis is one of the most rampant sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in America. Spread through sex with a partner who already has the disease, syphilis presents itself in sores, headaches, and eventually mental confusion. However, syphilis can also spread to newborns from positive parents. For babies, the effects are much more dire: damaged organs, bones, vision, and even stillbirth are all possible effects. According to the data released last Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3,700 babies were born with syphilis in 2022 -- resulting in 231 stillbirths. For comparison, ten years ago, only 355 babies were born with syphilis. Tragically, each case is considered a "never event" - tragic outcomes that should never happen - because of how preventable the disease is. A single treatment of penicillin, an antibiotic that has been in use for over 80 years now, is almost always sufficient to prevent infected mothers from passing the STD. Unfortunately, a lack of testing, budget cuts, and even available medical care have contributed massively to this rise. 

Rise in Newbon Syphilis Cases (Source: CDC)

    According to the CDC, as of 2021, more than 70% of people in the U.S live in counties with a high rate of syphilis - 4.6 cases per 100,000 people - yet many pregnant women do not get tested with their OBGYN, at most seeing their local E.R. which are not equipped with the tools to test and treat patients over repeated visits adequately. This issue is especially prevalent in states that have banned abortion, interestingly enough, with places like Mississippi requiring women to drive hours on end to seek adequate medical care -- something which may not be possible when these same citizens are struggling to get by. Furthermore, budget cuts have neutered the ability of more willing states to adequately respond to the growing crisis. In May, Congress agreed to retract approximately $27 billion in unspent block grant funding allocated for Covid-19. While I actually agree with many aspects of this decision, the deal also cut two years of funding dedicated towards state health departments hiring disease intervention specialists. States, such as Louisiana, used this funding to employ 28 of these specialists to dedicate themselves to syphilis-related programs. However, the loss of funding cut half of the available money towards these programs.

    Syphilis in newborns is extremely deadly and sometimes fatal. However, it is also highly preventable. To ensure such a tragic loss of life never happens again, I believe more efforts should be made to increase the availability of both syphilis tests and treatments. While budget plans have already been tied to larger overarching budgets (the Covid-19 one for example), I believe that a categorical grant specifically tied to syphilis prevention in newborns will go a long way to stopping this ever-increasing, yet highly preventable, epidemic. 

https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s1107-newborn-syphilis.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/health/syphilis-babies.html 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/health/dire-increase-in-syphilis-infections-in-babies/index.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/newborn-syphilis-cases-reached-dire-levels-cdc-says-rcna123856

U.S. Foreign Aid: Balancing Military and Humanitarian Assistance in Conflict Zones

The U.S. has been involved in both Russia-Ukraine and Israel wars by supporting them with abundant resources. The assistance of support in both countries shares similarities and could lead to positive and negative impacts on civilians. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, during the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. provided humanitarian, financial, and military aid. Among 61% of the aid was security assistance, weapons, and equipment, and only 5% served as humanitarian aid. This big difference in aid illustrates that much of the aid has gone toward providing military systems, training, and intelligence demanding Ukrainian commanders to defend against Russia. Many Western analysts believe that the military assistance provided has been crucial in helping Ukraine because if Russia won, Putin might pursue similar aggressive actions in other powerful countries. So support for Ukraine is seen as a way to prevent these negative outcomes. But why is the U.S. providing more military assistance than humanitarian aid? One reason is the U.S. political considerations. Domestic and international politics can influence aid decisions. U.S. policymakers may face pressure from various interest groups, including defense contractors, that advocate for military aid.  And it depends on the situation, goals, and interests. U.S. policymakers must make logical decisions and estimate potential conflicts that might provoke a larger confrontation with Russia. 

Compared to the assistance for the Israel war, this year, the U.S. has been providing 14.4 billion dollars, which is more than 11 billion more than the funds for Ukraine. According to the Congressional Research Service, most funds are also used for military aid rather than economic. Recently, Secretary Blinken has been advocating the importance of humanitarian aid such as food, shelter, and medical assistance. However, as seen in the data, the U.S. has been conducting more military drills, holding its largest one ever. Part of President Biden’s political team announced that they believe their support is demonstrating a “moral clarity” in protecting Israel from terrorists. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in U.S. officials also said, “We can do both and we will do both.” However, the Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder challenged these purposes by saying both Russia and Israel war used military assistance as an advantage and justification for their violent actions. Both countries claim to target only military objectives but often end up causing harm to innocent civilians, sometimes without acknowledging this fact. Both their armed forces exhibit the same amount of aggression. It appears that the Russian military is seven outpacing the Israeli military in brutality and is accused of committing war crimes against a defenseless civilian population. 

Over the past few years, there have been so many large-scale wars that made me recognize that brutality is happening consistently everywhere and the world is not so ever in peace. While I was watching the news videos recorded during the violent attack in Gaza, I saw families fleeing with their injured children, desperately seeking assistance. It was heart-wrenching to see ambulances unable to navigate due to numerous casualties blocking the way. I felt helpless, guilty, and lucky that the country where I lived was relatively safe, but I could not prevent the violence in their homeland or the violence that might happen elsewhere in the future. While some military assistance may be necessary to a certain extent, I think it should not be excessive. What nations genuinely require is a focus on promoting peace and stability rather than resorting to violence. 

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/12/ukraine-israel-war-russia-effects-attention/

https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/

https://www.cfr.org/article/how-much-aid-has-us-sent-ukraine-here-are-six-charts

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3578196/defense-department-continues-to-stress-law-of-war-with-israel/#:~:text=Since%20the%20initial%20Hamas%20attack,across%20the%20region%20in%20order

Big Wins for Democrats in 2023 US Elections

As votes continue to be counted for Tuesday’s federal and state elections, predictions suggest Democrats have achieved several important victories.



In Virginia's 4th congressional district and Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district, Democrats Jennifer McClellan and Gabe Amo defeated their Republican opponents to fill seats in the House of Representatives. Notably, Amo will be the first person of color to be a congressman for Rhode Island. On the other hand, predictions suggest that Republican Celeste Maloy will win the House seat for Utah’s 2nd congressional district. All three victories conform with the partisan indices of their respective districts, supporting the assertion from chapter 11 of the textbook that party identification plays a significant role in congressional elections.




Democrat Andy Beshear won re-election as governor of deep-red Kentucky, signaling hope for the Democratic Party in less liberal states. As a state that strongly supported Trump in previous elections, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christies described Beshear’s victory as “another loss for Trump.” In Louisiana, Republican Jeff Landry was elected governor, and in Mississippi, voters re-elected Republican Tate Reeves. Both incumbent candidates, Beshear and Reeves, defeated the challengers for their positions, emphasizing the advantage incumbent candidates tend to have in elections, as described in textbook chapter 11.

(Source: ABC News)

Perhaps most importantly for the Democrats, Ohioan voters, including the majority of Republican voters, passed an amendment to the state constitution that will preserve abortion rights. Alongside the victory of Andy Beshear, a pro-choice candidate, the Ohio election emphasizes the importance of abortion as an issue in the current political climate. Democratic strategist Lis Smith suggests that “As long as Republicans embrace unpopular abortion stances and run extreme candidates, they will continue to underperform.”

(Source: CNN)

These victories come in spite of the fact that recent polls have found public opinion of President Biden largely negative. I believe that although Biden has a challenging electoral race ahead of him in 2024, this election shows that there is cause for cautious optimism for the Democrats. In recent years, many Republicans, Trump included, seem to be taking increasingly extreme positions. These polarized positions appear to have alienated many potential Republican voters, as seen with the abortion ballot measure in Ohio. I think that if Democrats successfully harness these issues, they will be able to attract many moderate voters who may have otherwise voted Republican, signaling hope for the Democratic party in the upcoming elections.

-Konstantinos Paparrizos

Sources:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/takeaways-from-election-night-2023-as-democrats-notch-early-wins-in-kentucky-and-ohio

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-live-updates-11-07-23/index.html

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/6-election-night-takeaways-democrats-win-big-gop/story?id=104696780

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67353115

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/21/1158659747/virginia-elects-its-first-black-women-to-congress-in-richmond-area-special-elect

https://rollcall.com/2023/09/06/former-stewart-aide-maloy-wins-utah-primary-for-his-seat/

https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2022-partisan-voting-index/district-map-and-list

The 2023 Hamas-Israel Conflict: “A Complex Balancing Act"

The war between Hamas and Israel in 2023 was marked by intense violence. It is not the initial war they ever had. The previous conflict between Hamas and Israel had also aroused war, except in 2023, the war was in a large-scale attack on southern Israel, causing a high number of casualties. Their leaders justified the attack by Hamas because they believed that Israel’s actions, such as the blockade of Gaza, its presence in Palestinian territories, and alleged mistreatment of Muslims, were injustices and needed to be challenged.

While Israel is attending an intensive war with the terrorist Hamas, the U.S. is urging to provide assistance and protection; however, Israel refused the support. As the Secretary of State and a diplomat of the United States, Antony Blinken announced the obligation of humanitarian concerns toward Israel, particularly in Gaza. He said in his meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "We need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians…It matters because it's the right and lawful thing to do.” He emphasizes, “There will be no partners for peace if they're consumed by humanitarian catastrophe and alienated by any perceived indifference to their plight.” Blinken illustrates his worries about the attack by highlighting the importance of a “humanitarian” pause, serving for medical assistance, halting military operations, and other services that can reduce the ongoing hostilities to ensure peace. However, Blinken's willingness to support was rejected by Netanyahu, who stated, “Please move out, because we have the right to self-defense…a temporary cease-fire that doesn't include a return of our hostages '. Netuahu’s response reveals a strong sense that without releasing “hostages", they do not appreciate the humanitarian aid.

Blinken later addressed the humanitarian assistance by highlighting how to maximize it in a way to release the hostages and ensure Hamas doesn't use these pauses to its own advantage. As a father of two kids, he reflected on one of the videos during the attack that a father was sitting next to his wounded sons, shouting, “capturing this on camera for the entire world to see…Film for everyone… These individuals are kids”. By showing compassion with the film, Blinken’s intention to support Israel could be making a long-standing strategic partnership with Israel, enhancing its defense capabilities, and balancing these objectives concerning civilian casualties. 

The rejection of a ceasefire proposal demonstrates the complexity and sensitivity of the ongoing conflict and the differing views of both Israel and the U.S. Blinken's passion for addressing humanitarian issues. In some cases, the U.S. should facilitate or support a particular war or military action depending on specific circumstances, international consensus, and goals of U.S. foreign policy. It’s a matter of ongoing debate regarding situations and several factors. 

-Sarah Hu

Sources: 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-war-hamas-blinken-gaza/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/03/blinken-israel-visit-gaza-hamas-war/

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209644555/biden-s-plan-to-send-military-aid-to-israel-has-bipartisan-support-in-the-senate

Gay Couple Turns to GoFundMe to Achieve Their Dream of Fatherhood

    Have you ever wondered how infertility definitions impact same-sex couples trying to conceive? Well, in New York, same-sex couples don't meet the criteria. Jack and Kyle Maurelli, a gay couple living in New York State, shared their challenges with NBC News when it came to covering the substantial costs of surrogacy and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to make their dreams of fatherhood come true. Since taking out a loan against their home and working two jobs each hasn’t quite brought them to their financial goal, the couple reached out to their community through a GoFundMe Campaign.

Source: NBC News

Source: NBC News    

The estimated cost of surrogacy can range from about $150,000 to $200,000. The Maurelli's assumed that their insurance would cover the expenses related to creating embryos, as is typically the case in most fertility coverage plans. However, they were mistaken. Their insurance provider informed them that they did not qualify for such coverage. Similarly, the couple did not meet the criteria for infertility coverage because, according to New York State law, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex for people under 35 and after 6 months for those over 35. Being a gay couple, neither of them has the ability to get pregnant, making them ineligible for infertility coverage. This law not only discriminates against same-sex couples but also impacts transgender individuals and single individuals trying to conceive.

    On a broader scale, 21 U.S. states have laws requiring coverage for couples diagnosed as infertile, with 16 of them mandating coverage for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Many of these states, including New York, use infertility definitions that exclude many LGBTQ+ individuals, making it discriminatory and a national accessibility issue.

Source: Resolve

Source: Resolve 

  

Molly O'Brien from the International Infertility Law Group expressed her concern: “They’re not going to change unless the employers who are purchasing the insurance policy make them change.”

    Compelling couples like the Maurelli's to take on the burden of extensive effort and personal sacrifices solely because society attaches a stigma to two fathers raising a child is simply unjust. In a society growing towards more inclusivity and accessibility, it is imperative that we take the necessary action to continue fostering inclusivity. In cases where individuals excluded from fertility and infertility definitions are unable to bear the significant financial costs associated with this societal bias, it underscores the need for an urgent transformative policy change.

Sources: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/gay-couples-turn-crowdfunding-raise-money-fertility-costs-rcna123881

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Making-Maurelli

Image #2:

https://resolve.org/learn/financial-resources-for-family-building/insurance-coverage/insurance-coverage-by-state/ 

Deepfakes: The Masters of Digital Deception

     Today, where the lines between truth and deception are increasingly difficult to differentiate, a new danger emerges – “deepfakes”. Using artificial intelligence, deepfakes are computer-manipulated images and videos, typically developed to depict individuals engaging in actions they didn't actually partake in.

Source: Vimeo

Recently disclosed on October 20th in Westfield, New Jersey, several male students at Westfield High School utilized AI technology to produce deepfake nude images of a few female classmates, which were then uploaded and shared to student group chats. Right now, the Westfield police are conducting an investigation into the incident in response to a request from a state lawmaker to have the case examined by county law enforcement. Dorota Mani, one of the victim’s mothers, explained her fear over how the incident may impact her daughter’s future “professionally, academically, or socially,” according to Julie Jargon from The Wall Street Journal.

In response to the limited safeguards offered by federal and state governments, New Jersey State Senator John Bramnick is currently in the midst of examining existing state laws to determine if any—according to Arden Dier from Newser—“criminalize” the creation and use of deepfakes. If no such legislation exists, Bramnick claims he will draft a new bill to address the issue. 

Source: Politico

The Westfield incident underscores the power of media and the detrimental and harmful impact of misinformation. Society’s growing dependence on artificial intelligence has led to and encouraged its misuse in ways that can severely harm individuals, particularly children, as demonstrated in this case. The deepfake created by the male students can be considered as “fabricated” and “manipulated” content as exemplified by the students’ exploitation of artificial intelligence to create convincing falsehoods, revealing the pressing need for protection from the evolving digital threats. Not only did the incident violate privacy rights but it also unveiled a large governmental policy issue. If there continues to be a lack of control and protection over deepfakes, it has the potential to influence political propaganda, exacerbating distrust in media and exposing more people to fabricated narratives. 

Technology is here to stay, and in a world increasingly reliant on media, implementing protection from misinformation and misuse is imperative. Just like we rely on cars, if there were no traffic lights guiding intersections, the amount of car accidents would increase as a result. The consequences of deepfake-driven misinformation should be more than enough reason for state and federal governments to implement digital protection policies.

Sources:

Peta Pixel Article

News 9 Article

Newser Article

Axios Article

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