Harvard president resigns after plagiarism exposed, immigration crisis intensifies, Middle East tensions rise. Podcast explores US role as global power, war perspectives, TikTok spiral, South Africa decolonization, and survival story on Table Mountain.
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Quick takeaways
Claudine Gay's resignation as president of Harvard exposes a culture of fraudulence in academia.
The unchecked influx of migrants across the border raises concerns about the migrant crisis and its impact on cities like NYC and Chicago.
The targeted drone strike on Hamas leader Saleh al-Aruri escalates tensions in the Middle East and risks broader conflict.
Deep dives
The TikTok Spiral
The article explores the phenomenon of individuals, particularly young girls, getting trapped in an obsessive loop of content while using TikTok. It discusses how the platform's algorithm adapts to users' micro gestures and preferences, leading to a spiral of extreme content. The author provides data, studies, and case studies to demonstrate this phenomenon and its potential negative impacts.
Revenge of the Liberators
This piece examines the case of South Africa and its decolonization process. It challenges the notion that South Africa serves as a model for decolonization efforts, highlighting the negative consequences of racial divisiveness and recrimination. The author discusses the dangers of perpetuating a racial register and emphasizes the need for truth and reconciliation, rather than lies and animosity.
The Killing of Saleh al-Aruri
The article discusses the recent targeted drone strike that killed Saleh al-Aruri, a high-ranking Hamas leader involved with Iran and Hezbollah. The piece highlights the potential ramifications of the strike, particularly the possibility of escalation and retaliation. It also explores the complexities and tensions within the Middle East region, focusing on the dynamics between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the potential for broader conflict.
The Border Situation
The summary touches on the ongoing border situation, specifically in relation to the Biden administration's immigration policies. It highlights the challenges faced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in dealing with the influx of migrants and the potential consequences of shifting this burden to other states. The summary also mentions the concerns surrounding the potential spread of conflicts and tensions in the Middle East region.
It finally happened: Claudine Gay is out as president of Harvard after a tireless guerrilla journalism campaign led by the Manhattan Institute's Chris Rufo, who conclusively exposed Gay's fraudulence as a scholar. But is plagiarism just par for the course? Seth and Spencer consider the low, low bar that Gay failed to clear, and where the fight over higher ed will take us next. Plus: migrants continue to flood unchecked across the border, and the powder keg in the Middle East grows ever more flammable. What will come of it all? The editors discuss before insisting for the first (but not the last) time in 2024 that you read the damn site!