Compiled by Neha Muthiah and Bess Olshen
Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen revealed company documents to the Wall Street Journal. She later testified to a Senate Commerce subcommittee alleging that the company chose to ignore information indicating their products were destructive to democracy, negatively affected mental health, were used by human trafficking rings, and were designed to amplify misinformation. Facebook has discredited Haugen as a low-level employee who had only been with the company for two years. Lawmakers across the political spectrum seem to agree that Facebook must be regulated, but they have not proposed a solution.
Abortion
Texas’ passed Senate Bill 8 prohibits abortions once cardiac activity can be detected—approximately six weeks into pregnancy—without exceptions for abuse, incest, or fatal birth defects. Prohibitions apply to individuals that perform or “aid and abet” a restricted abortion in the state. Ordinary citizens are entitled to at least $10,000 from any violating individual. The Supreme Court refused to block the law in a 5-4 decision and is expected to issue a final ruling soon. Modeling the citizen enforcement provisions of Senate Bill 8, Ohio legislators have introduced House Bill 480 to prohibit abortions at any stage of pregnancy in the state.
Infrastructure
Despite a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives and Senate, President Biden endured months of negotiations to pass his keystone infrastructure bill. His initial $3 trillion proposal was split into a bill centered on physical infrastructure and job creation (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and a social safety net bill (Build Back Better). The $1 trillion infrastructure and job creation bill passed the House and Senate with 13 and 19 Republican votes respectively. In the House, a group of progressives known as “The Squad” voted against the bill, arguing that provisions did not go far enough and that Build Back Better must be passed too.
Climate Change
World leaders signed a new climate pledge after two weeks of negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland. While certain nations agreed to more ambitious emissions reductions—net-zero pledges, methane cuts, and phasing out deforestation—scientists and climate activists like Greta Thunberg argue that the commitments are not enough to prevent the worst damage: intensified storms, heat waves, and droughts. The measures would achieve 1.8oC warming by 2100, an improvement from the current pace of 2.7oC but above the crucial threshold of 1.5oC. Wealthy nations including the United States rejected a compensation proposal for “loss and damages” for climate-related damage in developing countries.
Astroworld
Ten people died and hundreds more were injured as a result of Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival. The crowd surged toward the stage at the concert, suffocating and trampling attendees. Many have pointed to Scott’s incitement of violence at previous concerts, blaming him along with concert organizers, who overbooked and packed 50,000 people into NRG Park. Lawsuits on behalf of victims currently total over $3 billion. The incident is currently being investigated as a criminal case involving the narcotics and homicide divisions of the Houston Police.
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