Within three weeks, South Korea experienced one transient declaration of martial lawits sudden cancellation and the impeachment its president Yoon Suk Yeol.

An underappreciated driver of the recent drama is the rise of YouTube agitators, activists and influencers who’re making the most of and fueling a brand new sort of populism. The impact in South Korea is serious – however the trend is global.

An extremely online constituency

In the 2022 South Korean election, Yoon trailed his opponent for much of the campaign. He is aggressive Populist politics received some support, nevertheless it gave the look of it will fail.

Then he found it a brand new constituency – a gaggle of lively and partisan young men who campaigned for the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. These agitators used YouTube and other platforms to spread their message.

This crowd, together with traditional conservative voters, allowed Yoon a narrow victory and control of South Korea's strongest political position. He then duly abolished The gender ministry said structural sexism was “a thing of the past”.

After gaining power, Yoon relented Arrest warrants for several of his supposed political opponents. Among these was Kim Yeo Juna critical and inflammatory YouTube journalist and a polarizing populist figure with ties to liberal politics. Kim's weekly videos Send news, guest interviews and snarky comments to hundreds of thousands of lively followers.

We have turn out to be accustomed to the concept that social media platforms Influence democratic processes by disseminating news and evaluation and by directing users' attention by recommending specific content. However, the increasing political visibility of platform actors like Kim suggests that the influence is becoming more direct.

Platforms for populist news and views

Social media platforms provide access to a big selection of stories and media producers, from mainstream media outlets to independent commentators at the acute ends of the political spectrum. However, not all news receives the identical attention.

Research shows, no less than in South Korea, fake news receives more likes and interactions than verifiable messages. “Real news” is commonly dismissed and ridiculed.

Further South Korean research shows residents could also be using platforms Look for conspiracy theories and despise unpopular political groups or decisions. Users also notorious direct hatred on topics comparable to women's rights.

These problems will not be limited to South Korea. Polarizing and populist news and evaluation is a worldwide phenomenon.

Trust in traditional news media is declining, partly due to fear in keeping with elite and powerful personalities. These fears are sometimes confirmed Social media influencer who wish to turn out to be the brand new opinion leaders.

Online influencers are great vehicles for populist politics. They normally have close relationships with their viewers suggest easy solutionsand frequently resist accountability and fact-checking.

Platforms are sometimes more more likely to recommend polarizing and even radicalizing content for viewers, crowding out more balanced content.

Platforms for journalism?

However, these polarizing personalities will not be alone in these areas. Experienced journalists and newcomers get used to the platforms and still provide reliable information.

On YouTube, former mainstream journalists, comparable to B. Australia Michael West and the American Phil Edwardshave built a following while combining personal and casual content with more traditional journalism.

Non-journalists, comparable to Money & Macro and the English Tom Nicholashave expanded their influence by adopting some basic journalistic practices. With the support of their many viewers, they produce content that researches, explores and explains current news and evaluation.

These YouTube news influencers show that journalistic content can contribute to the brand new news media ecosystem and attract large audiences without counting on populist and polarizing content.

“Newsfluencer” produce Journalism on platformsB. YouTube, adapt their content to the conventions of the platforms.

Newsfluencer and the long run

Newsfluencers often film in informal settings moderately than traditional sets, constructing an informal relationship with their audience. They use “authenticity” and exit of their method to “Avoid looking like polished corporate media“.

Their diverse sources of income include advertisements, sponsors, merchandise and, most significantly, direct audience contributions. These contributions may be made through memberships or through third-party platforms comparable to Patreon and Substack.

Even major news organizations like Australia's ABC have began adopting YouTuber norms. While the present podcast was produced under the auspices of the national broadcaster If you listenFor example, with its casual style and deal with giving the audience what they need, it significantly outperforms traditionally formatted content.

In South Korea there are YouTube channels like VoiceOfSeoul Take similar steps and mix street reporting with informal talk show panels and investigative journalism. OhMyTV combines YouTuber and breaking news styles and includes hyperlinks for private contributions and sponsorships.

At the identical time, legacy media like KBS maintains a powerful following via TV and portal sites like Naver. However, KBS's conventional format is struggling to realize comparable viewership on the increasingly dominant platforms on which these unconventional journalists thrive.

There is a transparent space for journalism on YouTube and similar platforms. However, it has to adapt.

As the South Korean experience shows, the time may come when platform journalism is crucial to democracy.

SAN FRANCISCO – De'Anthony Melton will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season with a sprained left ACL.

Melton, 26, is scheduled to have surgery Dec. 3, he said. Although he has missed the last two games, he and the team have been diligent in getting multiple opinions on his injury. They concluded that the perfect plan of action was season-ending surgery.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Melton said at his locker. “Especially because it’s still so early in the season. I have to deal with that and push through it to get better.”

Melton was productive when available this season, earning a starting role alongside Steph Curry within the backfield. A two-way, multi-dimensional guard, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

The starting lineup with Melton was by far the most efficient starting lineup the Warriors have tried this 12 months, outscoring opponents by 22.4 points per 100 possessions.

“I feel so sorry for De’Anthony,” Steve Kerr said. “He is a perfect fit for us and we were very happy to have him. He would definitely be our starter next to Steph.”

Golden State signed Melton to a one-year, $12.8 million contract last offseason, meaning he will likely be a free agent after the season ends. He missed greater than half of last 12 months as a result of serious back injuries, but had worked on strengthening his core over the summer to stop further problems.

There is an extended track record of NBA players recovering to full strength after ACL surgery. Kerr and Melton discussed recovery and his upcoming free agency.

“He should be able to come back and continue his career really well,” Kerr said.

However, before his knee injury, Melton missed five straight games as a result of a back strain. He described it as mild – and significantly less painful than what he suffered last 12 months – however the team treated him with caution.

Three games after his return — and after earning the starting guard role — he sprained his knee against the Mavericks. He tweaked it late within the second quarter and after limping for some time, Melton finished the sport. But because the adrenaline wore off, Melton felt his knee stiffen.

Given Melton's status as an impending free agent, it's possible his tenure as a Warrior will only last six games.

Without Melton, the Warriors will make their third straight start against Lindy Waters III. Kerr likes the look of Waters next to Curry due to his 3-point shooting, passing skills and on-ball defense.

“You want to get as many two-way players together as possible in this league,” Kerr said. “They are not easy to find. Luckily we have a strong team and the boys will be ready to step up. We just have to continue to look at different combinations and put the best ones on the floor.”

The Warriors could apply for a disabled player waiver, but since they’re lower than $1 million under their first-court hard cap, the trail to using the spending flexibility shouldn’t be yet paved.

Melton plans to undergo surgery in Los Angeles after which rehabilitate with the team within the Bay Area. When asked if there was a probability for an outdoor return if the Warriors make a deep playoff run, Melton said he didn't know.

“Then you can all poll me,” Melton said. “Hopefully. I'd love to. Deep Run, you never know.”

Originally published: November 20, 2024 at 5:09 pm PST

Although cynics might query their motivesKamala Harris' recent call to Ban food price gouging has received plenty of attention – and for good reason.

Food costs have been a serious concern for Americans because the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with food prices within the United States Increase by 25% between 2019 and 2023. As food inflation rises within the US slowed down considerably In 2024, food prices are still above pre-pandemic numbers.

Price increases like these are as painful as they’re aggravating, and might have real impacts on each household spending and the broader economy. It is subsequently not surprising that the difficulty is being raised within the election campaign.

But the complexity is commonly lost within the political debate. Here economic history – and economic historian like me – can provide some context.

How Americans spend their food money

First of all: Despite the rise in food prices within the USA There is hardly any evidence today's price gouging within the food industry.

“Price gouging” is notoriously difficult to define, however the term is normally used after a supply or demand shock of some sort, when sellers supposedly make the most and lift prices, particularly on staples like groceries or gasoline. Concerns about “gouging” return a great distance – in some ways it could possibly be seen because of this of medieval Christian precepts against industrial greed.

Although Many states have laws in effect In the fight against price gouging, such laws have proven difficult to implement. In the case of the US food industry, profit margins – traditionally razor-thin at around 1% or 2% – are still slim today.

Additionally, it is vital to notice that food prices within the US are – relatively speaking – the most cost effective on this planet and have been for a very long time. This is true whether it’s disposable personal income or percentage of household spending.

For example, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows Americans spent in 2023, probably the most recent 12 months for which data is out there about 11.2% of their disposable personal income – or income after taxes – on food. That was unchanged from 2022.

This includes each spending on food at home – typically purchased in supermarkets and other grocery stores – and on food purchased “away from home” in restaurants and the like. Interestingly, the share of the “away from home” component of total food spending has increased because the COVID-19 outbreak.

Food prices all over the world

Nobody likes paying more for food, but a bit comparison data can lessen the sensation of victimhood, if not ease the wallet pain.

Cross-country data compiled by the USDA shows that Americans in 2022 spent less on food in proportion to total consumer spending than people in every other country. In many other countries, people spent, in percentage terms, two, three or 4 times as much, sometimes much more.

Differences were biggest between the United States and low-income countries in South Asia and Africa—Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, for instance—but were also quite large between the United States and middle-income countries similar to Argentina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, and Mexico .

These differences should not entirely surprising. Why not? Because, because the German statistician Ernst Engel first discovered within the mid-Nineteenth century, family or household income increases as family or household income increases the share of total expenditure on food falls. After all, you’ll be able to only eat a lot, regardless of how wealthy you’re.

Scientists have found Engel's insight still applies in today's worldwhich provides context for the sharp differences between low- and middle-income countries and the United States

However, there are large differences between the United States and other high-income countries similar to Japan, Sweden, Norway, France and Italy within the share of spending on food significantly lower than in all these others wealthy countries. This is partly because economies of scale play a bigger role in American agriculture.

Of course, if one is so inclined, one can point to certain negative environmental impacts in American food production and query the best way animals and staff are treated within the American food system, which values ​​efficiency—or a minimum of low prices—above all else .

But food being comparatively dirt low-cost, even at a time of rising food prices, is an issue that virtually every other country on this planet would really like to have.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – For the third time within the last 4 seasons, Mike Trout’s 12 months ended prematurely attributable to injury.

The three-time MVP will miss the remaining of 2024 attributable to a second meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced and he later confirmed it.

“After months of hard work, I was devastated (Wednesday) when an MRI showed a tear in my meniscus that will require further surgery,” Trout posted on X. “Playing and competing is a huge part of my life. This is as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans.”

The circumstances of how Trout re-tore his meniscus are unclear. He underwent surgery for a tear on May 3 and, after a longer-than-usual recovery, began rehab at Triple A final week.

His rehab stint lasted just two innings, and he returned to Anaheim for further evaluation after experiencing some discomfort. An MRI showed no abnormalities, and Trout said he expects to restart his rehab process soon.

On Monday, nonetheless, he began to feel severe pain, said Perry Minasian, general manager of the Los Angeles Angels. A follow-up exam showed the tear. It is unclear if there was a selected incident that led to his re-injury.

pic.twitter.com/BPt1KRh0XZ

— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) 1 August 2024

“I'm not the emotional guy, but being in the room with him and hearing the news was tough,” Minasian said. “Nobody wants to play more, nobody cares more about this building, this fan base, this team than he does. He's going to come back … he's going to win the MVP and he's going to hit 70 home runs. That's for sure.”

The meniscus tear was in a distinct location, said Minasian, so it was not necessarily a re-tear of his original injury.

“There's no event,” he said. “This isn't someone out there playing one-on-one basketball. You know how eager this guy is to get back. I know everyone's wondering, 'What happened? Why?' I understand that. I have the same questions. That being said, sometimes things happen. And sometimes that's the answer.”

Minasian added that the Angels haven't discussed moving Trout out of center field or methods to manage his body. At this point, nonetheless, Trout's durability is a legitimate concern. Over the past 4 years, he has played a median of 66.5 games per season.

Trout missed the ultimate 4 months of 2021 with a calf strain. He missed a month in 2022 with a back injury. He missed the second half of last season with a hamstring fracture. And now, in 2024, the knee problems persist.

“The injuries are real. I understand that,” Minasian said. “Those are facts. I also know that this is someone who will do everything he can to get back on the field. We have to create contingency plans for everyone on the roster.”

The reality, nonetheless, is that Trout isn’t just anyone. He is an all-time superstar under contract for the subsequent six seasons and owed greater than $210 million. Significant changes may have to be made to how the Angels handle his workload and the way often he plays on the sector.

“No, a lot of people have had meniscus surgery,” manager Ron Washington said when asked in the event that they would should treat Trout otherwise next 12 months. “It's just too bad he blew it again. He's going to get strong again, he's going to get into spring training, he's going to get ready for the season and we're looking forward to him coming back.”

Minasian said the team has been talking to Trout over the past few weeks about potential swing changes, and the GM said Trout is “really, really excited” to implement them once he returns.

In addition to Trout's injuries, his performance on the sector when healthy has not been the identical as in his prime. He batted just .220 this season with an OPS of .867, well below his profession average.

These are difficult times for Trout, who turns 33 on August 7. After nine years with almost no health problems – nine years by which he was unquestionably one of the best offensive player in the sport – the last 4 seasons have marked a drastic turnaround.

The Angels still consider Trout may be an MVP in the longer term, but the current presents a far bleaker outlook.

“It leaves us all speechless,” said Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe, who rose to turn out to be team leader last 12 months. “I feel for him more than anyone else. I feel for his family, too. Beckham (Trout) loves to come and watch his dad play, as do we. So, yeah, it's frustrating news.”

As “Christian-conservative“At the Supreme Court Historical Society’s members-only gala, liberal journalist and filmmaker Lauren Windsor spoke secretly recorded her conversations with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito, and Alito's wife Martha-Ann Alito. The event on June 3, 2024 was not open to journalists.

The nature of the remarks within the secretly obtained recordings renewed discussion about Judge Alito's impartiality – Windsor's goal in making the recording – and raises questions on journalistic ethics. But the recordings also highlight two significant problems facing society.

First, there may be the truth of ubiquitous electronic surveillance: everyone carries a number of always-on smart devices equipped with sophisticated audio and video sensors. The microphones and cameras in people's smartphones and smartwatches Record, collect and share their communications, locations and activities. Even the few individuals who avoid such devices are frequently still surrounded by other people's devices.

Second, the failure of the once robust legal framework for electronic surveillance within the United States, which was Law on data protection in electronic communicationscommonly often known as wiretapping laws, and government counterparts to maintain pace within the age of smart devices. The weakened surveillance safeguards go hand in hand with the laws's failure to guard privacy.

I’m a Lawyer and law professor on the University of Richmond School of Law, and these laws and issues are the main focus of my legal practice and research as lead writer of “Wiretapping and eavesdropping“, a four-volume work on data protection and electronic surveillance law.

The who, how and where of the recording

Electronic surveillance laws make it a criminal offence to make use of a “device” to secretly record or intercept communications corresponding to emails and oral conversations without consent. This, whether done remotely or in person, is typically known as Wiretapping or electronic interception. The nature of Samuel and Martha-Ann Alito's statements suggests that they weren’t aware that they were being recorded. Did this covert Advocacy journalist violate wiretapping laws?

From a legal perspective, the facts about who was recorded, the way it was recorded and where it was recorded are essential. If someone knows they’re being recorded – and continues to talk – or has consented to the recording, the recording is often lawful.

The Wiretapping Act and a few state laws, including the District of Columbia law, allow recording if one person within the conversation agreeseven when the opposite participants within the conversation have no idea they’re being recorded. In other words, while you speak to someone privately, you run the danger of being recorded, even in case you are deceived about their identity, as Windsor did on this case and as undercover agents do on a regular basis.

Some states, corresponding to Marylandrequire the consent of all individuals involved in a personal communication to record it. Wiretapping and eavesdropping laws also consider whether a communication or conversation is private, taking into consideration where and the way it takes place. If it takes place in a public place where others can hear what is claimed, it is often not private and never protected.

What device did Lauren Windsor use? She could have used a small, sophisticated device specifically designed for electronic listening, or she could have used her phone. Under the law, it doesn't really matter. It was a tool, and virtually everyone carries sophisticated listening and recording devices in the shape of smartphones and smart watches of their very own volition.

The facts surrounding this recording suggest that it was made in Washington DC – a jurisdiction where consent from a celebration is required – by a one who was involved within the conversation. More importantly, it was made at an event where many individuals were present and speaking inside earshot of others. Given the setting and prominence of the judges as public figures on the event, the recording of their conversations is probably going lawful – whatever the jurisdiction. Windsor could have violated some conditions of attendance for the event – legally speaking, a contract – but not wiretapping and eavesdropping laws.

A failure of wiretapping and data protection laws

Judges mustn’t be surprised by this recording. No one needs to be surprised. Wiretapping laws offer little protection today. The outdated consent exceptions in these laws – enacted long before the era of always-on, always-listening smart devices – and the shortage of a federal privacy law render once-robust electronic surveillance laws toothless.

Because people routinely click “I agree” to just accept the terms of use of smart devices and apps – which is usually the one solution to use the device or app – Consent to tracking and recording 24/7 via your personal devices and apps. Smart devices all the time listenostensibly to enable the device to reply to verbal requests or prompts from the user, but additionally it is designed to gather communications and related data. This data can then be analyzed, sold, or traded on the information market to govern behavior through targeted messages or promoting.

Because users have sooner or later given their consent to be tracked or recorded – no matter how meaningful and informed that consent was – the protections provided by wiretapping laws are undermined.

Almost everyone seems to be recorded almost continuously.