"You shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes, in all the settlements that the Lord G-d is giving you and they shall govern the nation with righteous justice" Deuteronomy 16:18
On April 13th, Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested and charged with two counts under the Espionage Act for disseminating top secret documents through a Discord server that he moderated. Although the source of America’s most consequential National Security leak in at least a decade has been found, questions still linger about the potential ramifications from the publication of some of America’s most sensitive secrets about the war in Ukraine, relations with China, and the ongoing surveillance of international allies like South Korea.
On April 4th, the Manhattan district attorney made the unprecedented decision to issue an indictment of US President Donald J. Trump on 34 criminal charges relating to his alleged falsifying of business records and allegations that he used campaign money to pay a pornstar to keep silent about her extramarital affair with him. Trump predicted his imminent arrest in a post on Truth Social and urged his supporters to “protest, [and] take our nation back”. However, protest crowds were lightly attended, a concerning sign for his presidential candidacy in 2024. Nevertheless, he is still the candidate to beat in the GOP primary. This past April, a Wall Street Journal poll found that 48% of GOP (an acronym for “Grand Old Party”, a nickname for the Republican Party) voters backed Trump. This is a figure that is twice as high as his main rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, with the former President leading DeSantis 51%-38% in a potential head-to-head matchup. DeSantis announced his candidacy late this month, pledging to “lead our great American Comeback”. Trump's unpopularity with independents (a PBS poll in September of 2022 found that 67% of independents didn’t want him to run again) and popularity with the GOP base, suggests that conservative voters should carefully consider other alternatives before choosing Trump as their nominee for president in 2024.
On March 10th, 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish their diplomatic relations, in a deal sponsored by China, ending seven years of estrangement and changing the regional balance of power in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh's execution of a leading Shiite cleric for terrorism, which escalated tensions between the two countries. In the last decade, the two countries have fought proxy wars in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen and maintained a fierce enmity towards one another, while competing for influence in the region. This surprising new agreement between the two regional rivals, includes the restoration of diplomatic relations, within a maximum period of two months.
"The real question is not whether machines think but whether men do. The mystery which surrounds a thinking machine already surrounds a thinking man."
- B.F. SkinnerWelcome to Edition 18 of The Platform Mag, where we embark on a captivating exploration of the intricate world of geopolitics. This edition's theme, "Trial and Error," encapsulates the dynamic nature of our global landscape and the constant pursuit of progress through experimentation. Within this edition, you will find a diverse range of articles and voices that shed light on the challenges, breakthroughs, and transformative moments that shape our geopolitical reality. From the urgent call for the Republican party to reassess its ties with Trump, to the delicate intricacies of the China-brokered Iran-Saudi agreement, we delve into the complexities of trial and error in the political arena. In our quest for a more just society, we examine the case for judicial reform, acknowledging the importance of trial and error in shaping legal systems that align with our evolving values. Furthermore, we delve into the consequences of classified document leaks, exploring the delicate balance between transparency and national security. As a testament to our commitment to inclusive discourse, our "Voices-in-the-Crowd" segment brings you a thought-provoking survey on the ongoing debate surrounding Israeli judicial reforms. The diverse range of perspectives serves as a reminder that trial and error play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our legal framework and that we all have a part to play in working towards a more fair and just society. Edition 18 of The Platform Mag invites you to join us on this intellectual journey, where we embrace the notion that progress often emerges from the crucible of trial and error. We encourage you to engage with the articles, share your thoughts, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue that fuels our collective growth and understanding. Thank you for being a valued member of our community, where we celebrate diverse viewpoints and foster an environment of critical thinking. We hope this edition sparks meaningful discussions and inspires you to reflect on the ever-evolving tapestry of geopolitics.
