🚨 / 🇫🇷 FRANCE RIOTS: PROPAGANDA/MISINFO WARFARE
Since the riots in France began, A TON of Misinformation has been spread on various social media platforms.
In this thread, I’ll address some videos/pictures that many believe are from the riots, when in fact, are not.
What drives me nuts the most are people who KNOW what they're posting is false, but they keep it anyway for engagement.
What is the best solution to misinformation & disinfromation?
Let's check out a few examples: /1
🚨TWITTER LIMITS: What’s Going On? What’s Next? (explanation & analysis)
Elon is shaking up Twitter, pushing back against aggressive A.I data scraping with controversial measures:
Verified accounts limit of reading 10,000 posts per day (if you spend all day on Twitter, excluding sleep, that’s over 700 tweets an hour, or 11 per minute)
Unverified accounts limit is 1,000 posts per day, so 90% less
New unverified accounts, 500 per day
BUT WHY?
Under Elon’s directive, Twitter imposed limits on daily tweet views, trying to curb rampant data scraping by hundreds of organizations. This move has sparked a heated debate about data privacy and openness on the platform.
ELON’S MOTIVE?
Preventing Twitter from becoming a "bot-strewn hellscape", preserving the user experience while fighting "data pillagers."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Twitter's new limitations could drastically change the social media landscape.
For users, it might mean adjusting to restricted access, especially if they're not verified.
For A.I companies, it presents a new challenge in collecting big data.
The change in Twitter’s policy could be a tectonic shift similar to the advent of Twitter Blue and the premium API, according to critics.
CAN IT DELIVER?
The drastic measures have stirred the Twitterverse, with users divided over the imposed limits.
Twitter's move can be seen as a response to the growing issue of data scraping, which has plagued social media and affected user experiences.
However, industry pundits like Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, have raised concerns over these 'account walls' and the potential detrimental effects on browsing the platform.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
- Elon said that current limits are TEMPORARY. This means that the limits may be changed, or scrapped altogether in the future.
- In response to this move, Truth Social (Trump’s alternative to Twitter) has surged to the 18th position of most popular apps whilst Twitter has declined to the 62nd. Bluesky, another Twitter competitor, had to apparently halt sign ups due to the influx of users.
I think people migrating to other platforms are acting prematurely based on emotion. We’ve seen this rodeo multiple times since Elon took over Twitter, yet the numbers at Twitter continue to hit All Time Highs.
MEDIA ATTACK:
I witnessed first hand the nasty ire of mainstream media over the past few days, so I can only imagine what bigger personalities like Elon go through. And they didn’t disappoint.
Headlines included:
- "Rate Limit could be Elon Musk's excuse, Twitter is broken likely due to bug or cloud issues”
- “Elon Musk imposes idiotic limitations on how many tweets you can view”
- “RIPTwitter begins to trend after Elon Musk announced limits on users”
We’ve seen the same drama before, especially when Elon began unbanning accounts, or when Twitter Blue was introduced.
While criticism is healthy, media has biases like all of us, and it is undeniable they see Twitter as a growing threat.
Ironically, Elon’s tweet announcing the limitations had a record half a billion views. We’ve also seen Tucker Carlson’s videos hit figures that dwarf Fox News, and yesterday comedian Theo Von released his podcast on Twitter after it was banned on Spotify, reaching 30m views in 24 hours.
MY THOUGHTS:
We are in the EXTREMELY EARLY stages of Elon’s Twitter (less than a year).
Elon still remains committed to free speech, and to me, THIS is the biggest improvement we’ve seen over ANY other social media platform.
FREE SPEECH is more important than user experience, glitches or occasional downtime, and users will realize this as time passes.
A.I's impact on Twitter could be transformative, but the platform is just starting to navigate these choppy waters.
TIME WILL TELL
Do you agree with my thoughts?
Is Elon's Twitter BETTER or WORSE?
🚨 / 🇫🇷 FRANCE ON FIRE After Boy Shot at Traffic Stop
You’ve probably seen all the videos of buildings and cars on fire, the explosions and reported shootings in Europe’s 3rd largest economy. Some have even compared the footage to a war zone.
While this is very dramatic, to say the least, it still shows the extent of the unrest in the country. But why?
WHY?
An officer shot and killed a 17-year-old North African boy at a traffic stop. A prosecutor has determined the need for an investigation for voluntary homicide.
It was the third killing this year during a police traffic stop, after a record 13 deaths last year. Most of the victims have been black or Arab.
A study by an independent French human rights watchdog found that Blacks and Arabs in France were 20x more likely to be stopped by Police.
Amnesty International has been critical of French Police’s ethnic profiling and discrimination records.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Protests kicked off 3 days ago and continue to get worse. 40,000 law enforcement personnel were deployed in response to the unrest with hundreds of arrests and counting.
Fears are mounting of a repeat of the 2005 riots, also sparked by the death of African boys during a Police chase, which saw mayhem in the country and thousands arrested.
While most of France agree violent protests are never ok, some are using this as an opportunity to attack migrants and religious minorities, blaming them for the violence and claiming these riots are a result of lenient immigration laws.
MY THOUGHTS:
First, this hits close to home. I’ve spent a LOT of time in France and speak the language fluently. France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but they have their flaws, and we’re seeing one of them unravel yet again.
We all agree the boy should not have been shot by the officer. We also agree that violent protests are NOT the answer.
BUT, the problem goes deeper than this. Studies have shown systemic racism within the French police, despite denial by President Macron and France's Foreign Ministry.
So, if there IS systemic issues, aren’t protests one way to force needed change?
Yes and no. Protests serve an important piece of our democracy, one that should be cherished. They pressure authorities and Government officials to act. Unfortunately though, there will ALWAYS be bad actors in any protest, and these bad actors sometimes turn a peaceful protest in to a riot.
When that happens, when a protest is dominated by rioters, a line is crossed.
Do you agree with my take?
WHEN does a protest CROSS THE LINE?
🚨BREAKING: SUPREME COURT MADNESS | Controversial LGBTQ+ Decision | Student Loan Relief AXED
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court made two decisions that have caused uproar among members of the LGBTQ+ community and college students.
CONTROVERSIAL LGBTQ DECISION:
The Supreme Court has ruled that businesses can refuse to offer services to members of the LGBTQ+ community if the requested services go against their personal or religious beliefs.
The issue brought to court originated in Colorado, involving an evangelical Christian named Lorie Smith, who was a web designer that declined to work on same-sex weddings.
Her reasoning was that it contradicted her religious beliefs. Consequently, she sued the state, and to the surprise of many, the Supreme Court agreed with her, resulting in her victory.
Many dedicated members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community perceive this as a significant setback to their rights, while others view the decision as a victory for the First Amendment.
It’s also worth noting that of the 9 justices of the Supreme Court, 6 are Republican. Of the 6, 3 were appointed by Trump, and the other 3 are Democrat.
The court's decision today was 6-3, with the conservative justices taking Lori's side, while the Democratic justices opposed her.
“Colorado seeks to force an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion.
A liberal justice, Sonia Sotomayor, wrote, “Today, the Court, for the first time in its history, grants a business open to the public a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class.”
Many argue that this law will heighten discrimination towards the LGBTQ+ community.
SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN BIDEN’S STUDENT LOAN RELIEF:
The Supreme Court has recently made a series of controversial rulings.
Yesterday, it deemed race-based college admissions unconstitutional, and today, it struck down Biden's plan to cancel $400 billion in student loan debt.
Biden proposed the idea of canceling student loan debt during his 2020 presidential election campaign, and it would have resulted in forgiving up to $10,000 in debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000 a year.
Again, it was a 6-3 ruling that foiled Biden’s plans, as the 6 Justices said Biden does NOT have the authority to cancel student loan debt.
Biden responded by saying, "I will stop at nothing to find other ways to deliver relief to hard-working middle-class families. My administration will continue to work to bring the promise of higher education to every American."
All 3 decisions made by the Supreme Court in the last 2 days have caused high levels of controversy, with a notable uproar from the left.
Do you agree with the recent decisions made by the Supreme Court?
Is the court being POLITICIZED?
🚨Biden Says Supreme Court is "Not a Normal Court" After Race-Based College Admissions are Ruled Unconstitutional
Today, the Supreme Court ruled that race-based admissions to college are unconstitutional and instructed colleges to stop considering the race of applicants for admission.
The 6-3 majority stated that the two programs "unavoidably employ race in a negative manner" and "involve racial stereotyping" in a way that violates the Constitution.
Biden responded to this decision by stating "discrimination still exists in America," and added that "today's decision does not change that."
As Biden was leaving the room, a reporter asked if the court is "broken," to which Biden replied "this is not a normal court."
Agree with Biden's Criticism of the Supreme Court?
Does the court’s decision promote RACIAL EQUALITY, or does it have the opposite effect?
🏳️⚧️ Why Are Transgender Suicide Rates SO HIGH?
A study spanning four decades and involving seven million people in Denmark shows that transgender individuals have SIGNIFICANTLY higher suicide rates compared to other groups.
The study found that in Denmark, transgender people had 7.7 times the rate of suicide attempts and 3.5 times the rate of suicide deaths when compared to the general population.
Other studies conducted in 2022 have also shown that over 50% of transgender and non-binary youth in various states across the U.S. have seriously considered suicide.
Furthermore, several studies have found that transgender individuals are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to the general population.
WHY IS THIS THE CASE?
There are several possible reasons for this, although it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the root cause:
GENDER DYSPHORIA: Gender dysphoria is a medical condition that describes the distress or discomfort experienced by individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
It's important to note that not all transgender people experience gender dysphoria, and not all individuals who experience gender dysphoria are transgender.
It is argued that individuals grappling with mental health issues may turn to suicide attempts as a result of undergoing gender transition. Critics posit that altering one's gender is an inadequate solution and, in fact, may contribute to a significant increase in suicide rates. In contrast, many proponents contend that providing mental health support to these individuals is a more appropriate course of action.
DISCRIMINATION: Although society, particularly in the West, has become more accepting of transgender people, discrimination still persists.
A study in 2021 found that nearly HALF of all transgender people have faced mistreatment by medical providers. As some states have imposed restrictions on transgender healthcare under the guise of opposing the 'woke agenda,' it has become increasingly challenging for many transgender individuals to access the medical treatment they need, leading to worsened mental health outcomes.
OTHER FORMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS: Many individuals may be dealing with other mental illnesses such as depression, PTSD, or anxiety.
These conditions can contribute to confusion or impulsive decisions, ultimately exacerbating mental health challenges and potentially leading to suicide in extreme cases.
One thing remains certain however, more needs to be done to address this issue and more research is needed in order to prevent this problem from spreading.
How do we effectively tackle the mental health crisis many trans people, and people in general are dealing with?
IS THE WORLD EXPERIENCING A DEPRESSION EPIDEMIC?
JUST IN: @elonmusk begins training with for his highly-anticipated fight against Mark Zuckerberg
His training partner, Lex Fridman, says he was "extremely impressed with his strength, power, and skill, on the feet and on the ground. It was epic"
However, Lex believes Elon and Mark should NOT fight, and I agree.
Their time is better spent focusing on changing the world, both in their own rights.
Anything that delays Neuralink's chips or our trip to Mars, I am against.
Jokes aside, DO YOU REALLY THINK Elon and Mark should fight?
Putin Tells Imran Khan War Would Last 4 Weeks 🇷🇺 / 🇺🇦
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, held the belief that the Russia-Ukraine war would only last for a few weeks. During our interview with him, simultaneously, Wagner Group, initiated their rebellion.
Imran Khan revealed that the primary objective of the meeting was to discuss trade matters. Pakistan aimed to secure deals for oil, wheat, and even military hardware with Russia. However, the topic of the invasion naturally arose during their conversation.
Khan, known for his staunch anti-war stance, firmly believes that war is never the solution. Hence, he desired for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to conclude as swiftly as possible.
Inquiring about the duration, Khan asked Putin, "How long do you think this will take?" To which Putin replied, "4 weeks, but you never really know in war."
Below is the complete clip featuring Khan's perspective on the Russia-Ukraine conflict:
🚨BREAKING: LEAKED Audio Recording of Trump Showing Off CLASSIFIED Files | Fair or Framed?
The CNN-leaked audio has Trump showing off CLASSIFIED files to those in the room with him.
The special counsel’s indictment alleges that Trump showed classified documents about the plan of attack on Iran to four unauthorized people.
The new details will play a critical role in Trump’s indictment of the ‘mishandling of classified information’
Here are notable excerpts:
- "This completely supports my case, you know, except it's highly confidential... this is classified information."
- "This was done by the military and given to me."
- "See, as president, I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but it's still a secret."
These revelations seem to contradict Trump’s claim on Fox that the documents were merely “newspaper stories, magazine stories and articles”
MY THOUGHTS: I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump broke some laws, though my guess is that most Presidents may have done so, albeit intentionally or unintentionally. It appears though, based on the evidence thus far, that Trump may have gone further. However, I’m not a lawyer so I cannot come to any conclusions.
At the same time, it’s difficult to argue that none of the charges against Trump are politically motivated.
So yes, I think Trump likely broke some laws, but this doesn’t mean that politics plays no role in the indictments.
The U.S is a symbol of Democracy to the world. I had the honor of talking with Prime Minster Imran Khan who is a perfect example of the importance of a functioning democracy: He was ousted from Government and is facing 177 serious charges, his name is completely censored from all forms of media, he was arrested under duress, and all this despite being the most popular politician in his country.
We should respect and cherish the democracy we have, but also protect it from abuse and corruption.
What happens over the next 12 months will definitely shape the next decade for U.S politics.
Do you agree with my analysis? Do you think Trump is facing EQUITABLE JUSTICE?
🚨WATCH: Putin delivers his first speech since the Wagner Rebellion.
Here are some quotes and key points:
- “We took all measures to neutralize danger”
- “We would have destroyed the armed coup in any case”
- "The organizers of the coup betrayed the homeland and the people"
- “Wagner fighters were also patriots and liberated land that belonged to the homeland and one of them tried to use them in a dark operation.”
- "Wagner operatives can sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense or go to Belarus"
- "There were extortions and attempts to arrange internal unrest, but they were doomed to failure"
- Putin thanked those Wagner soldiers who stopped at the last line and did not resort to bloodshed.
- Putin assured that the promise he made to Wagner mercenaries would be fulfilled.
- Vladimir Putin thanked Lukashenka for his contribution to settling the rebellion.
The speech is as expected, however I was surprised by Putin's aggressive stance against Prigozhin, Wagner's chief. Although indirect, It shows bad blood between the two despite the brokered deal.
Do you agree with Putin's statement that any attempts at a coup would have been NEUTRALIZED?
🚨BREAKING: CHIEF OF WAGNER BREAKS HIS SILENCE AFTER 'MUTINY'
There has been absolute silence from Putin and Wagner's Prigozhin since the mutiny, with rumors circulating about the house arrest of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and various theories attempting to explain why Wagner halted their 'march' towards Moscow.
We know that Prigozhin and Lukashenko (President of Belarus) negotiated a deal which included dropping all charges against Prigozhin, who will move to Belarus. The agreement reportedly included the integration of the Wagner mercenary group into the Russian military.
PRIGOZHIN'S STATEMENT:
Prigozhin has now broken his silence by releasing an 11-minute audio message providing further details on what happened and the current deal.
Here are some translated excerpts from the audio file:
"Our forces were hit by missiles and helicopters, even though we did not show any hostility.
We had planned to make a showy handover of military technologies in Rostov on June 30, but we were bombed.
Wagner was supposed to cease to exist on July 1; no one agreed to sign a contract with the defense ministry.
We began our march due to injustice. We showed no aggression, but we were attacked by missiles and helicopters.
This was the trigger.
We demonstrated how February 24, 2022, (how Russia invaded Ukraine), should have looked.
We turned around to avoid shedding the blood of Russian soldiers. We regret that we had to target Russian aviation.
The aim of the march was to prevent the destruction of Wagner. We wanted to hold those who made mistakes accountable during the special military operation.
We did not march to overthrow Russia's leadership."
PRIGOZHIN'S POINTS:
According to Prigozhin, Wagner initiated their march as a form of protest. The Wagner columns halted their progress just over 200 km away from Moscow, with the entire march spanning 780 km. When, in his view, bloodshed seemed imminent, his forces stopped.
Prigozhin does not deny that retaliatory strikes were made on Russian aircrafts, attributing it to self-defense.
This was due to 30 Wagner members being killed, as reported by PBS.
Prigozhin claims that Lukashenko proposed a solution for Wagner to remain under Belarus' jurisdiction.
According to Prigozhin, the "march for justice" highlighted issues within the Russian Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies. He believes that if Wagner had fulfilled their tasks at the beginning of the Special Operations Forces, the outcome would have been different ("we demonstrated the outcome the Russian army was supposed to achieve").
Prigozhin is now advocating a different perspective, distinct from what was conveyed on Friday-Saturday: the march was an act of protest, not disobedience. He believes that Wagner exhibited a "master class," receiving widespread support, while the Russian Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies were weaker in comparison.
There were no remarks made regarding Shoigu (Minister of Defense) and Gerasimov (Chief of the General Staff), despite both of them previously being the focus of his apparent mutiny.
Prigozhin also mentioned that one of the objectives of the march was to expose significant security issues in the country.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Prigozhin’s claim that the Russian Defense Ministry wanted Wagner to "cease to exist" is interesting, as it suggests that the 'mutiny' was more of a survival response by Wagner's chief rather than a planned event. This contradicts the earlier briefing by US Defense Officials to congressional leaders, which stated that Wagner had been preparing for such a move by gathering military equipment and personnel near Russia.
- In his audio messages, Prigozhin refrained from naming anyone, including his adversaries Shoigu and Gerasimov. This lack of confrontation could indicate that Prigozhin was either forced to back down (according to British Intelligence 'sources,' his family was threatened with harm) or that his chances of success were slim (considering the public support for Putin from many high-ranking officials during the mutiny). Another possibility is that Prigozhin's actions were not originally planned as assumed (although I doubt it, given the speed with which he advanced).
- Prigozhin mentioned that Lukashenko "offered to find ways for Wagner to continue its work legally," contradicting earlier reports that the mercenary group was to be integrated into the Russian military. If Wagner is not dissolved or weakened, it will remain a threat to Putin's hold on power.
IN SUMMARY:
Prigozhin's audio message confirms his presence in Belarus, but it provides little else. Putin's level of control over the Kremlin remains uncertain, and further actions are necessary to address the damage caused over the weekend.
Do you agree with my analysis? WILL PUTIN'S RUSSIA RECOVER?
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