📰 Coda Story · 25
United StatesKBJ Just Blasted Amy Coney Barrett’s “Contempt” for Congress
The article discusses a recent Supreme Court decision where the Republican-appointed justices weakened a statute protecting investors by preventing them from suing when certain funds break the law. Justice Amy Coney Barrett's majority opinion dismissed the idea that Congress intended to allow injured parties to sue under the statute, despite clear legislative intent. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a dissenting opinion criticizing the majority for showing 'contempt' for Congress and undermining democracy.
Donald Trump’s $250 gift to launderers and criminals
The article discusses the increasing prevalence of high-denomination banknotes, such as the U.S. $100 bill, and their role in facilitating money laundering due to their anonymity and portability. It highlights data showing that the share of $100 bills in circulation has risen significantly over two decades. The author suggests that discontinuing the production of large denomination notes could help reduce financial crime, citing examples from other countries like Singapore and the Eurozone.
AI is not the answer to AI-enabled fraud
The article discusses concerns around the use of AI in detecting financial crimes within banking operations. It critiques the current system where compliance officers manually review transactions flagged by automated systems, calling this process both costly and largely ineffective. The piece references Standard Chartered CEO Bill Withers' controversial remarks about replacing lower-value human workers with AI, which sparked criticism.
Crypto’s corrupt American dream
The article discusses the proposed CLARITY bill in the U.S., which aims to provide legal clarity for cryptocurrencies. While supporters, particularly in the crypto community, view it as a step toward financial innovation, critics warn of potential risks related to money laundering. The bill has passed the Senate banking committee, and Senator Tim Scott has expressed support, linking it to his vision of the American Dream. However, the article suggests the bill could negatively impact vulnerable populations.
The new samizdat
The article discusses the evolving nature of the information struggle, moving beyond traditional concerns like censorship and access to focus on the systems that shape how information is organized, distributed, and trusted. It highlights issues such as state propaganda, algorithmic feeds, platform monopolies, and AI-generated content. The piece also mentions a collaboration between Coda and The Continent, a pan-African newspaper, to explore themes of power, fragmentation, and the future of journalism in an era of informational instability.
Legalize Cocaine to save democracy
The article discusses concerns over the influence of cryptocurrency-related funds on politics, citing Nigel Farage's financial ties to crypto individuals, including someone convicted of U.S. financial crimes. It highlights the recent success of Farage's party in local elections despite these controversies and draws parallels to ongoing investigations into financial connections involving U.S. officials. The piece argues for increased transparency, stronger enforcement, and stricter regulations to prevent illicit money from influencing democratic processes.
How Brazil is starting to rein in Big Tech
Brazil's competition authority, CADE, has launched an investigation into Google's use of news content, assessing whether it constitutes unfair competition against Brazilian media outlets. This move aligns with efforts in other countries like Australia to address the extraction of value from news publishers by large technology companies. Civil society groups support the initiative, emphasizing the need for a fair balance between digital platforms and journalism. The debate in Brazil has evolved with the introduction of AI-generated summaries by Google, which some legal experts argue could have更
The afterlife of empire
An unusual parade honoring Red Army soldiers took place in Washington DC on May 3, organized with permits from the Russian embassy and escorted by local police. Similar events occurred in European cities like Paris and Berlin, where authorities restricted Soviet symbolism near war memorials. Meanwhile, Russia's traditional Victory Day celebrations were significantly scaled back, with the Immortal Regiment march moved online due to heightened anxiety within the Kremlin.
Wealth is health, Insider betting & Trump will see himself in court
The article discusses the negative impact of inequality on health, citing recent data showing declining healthy life expectancy in the UK, particularly in poorer regions. It attributes these trends to post-pandemic effects and austerity measures affecting healthcare. Similar patterns are noted in other countries like the U.S., Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands. The piece highlights the role of socioeconomic factors such as employment, housing, and community support in influencing health outcomes. It then shifts to examine emerging biotech companies like Retro Biosciences and Altos Labs, led
Why an insurgency in Mali matters in Moscow
An armed conflict is escalating in Mali as rebel forces, including Al-Qaeda affiliates and Tuareg separatists, have launched coordinated attacks across the country. These attacks have targeted key locations such as Bamako, Gao, Kidal, Sévaré, and Kati, resulting in significant casualties, including the death of Mali's defense minister, General Sadio Camara. The situation highlights growing instability in the Sahel region, where Russia has been involved through various forms of interference.
Why Trump-backer Justin Sun is suing the Trumps’ firm
Justin Sun, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency industry and a supporter of Donald Trump, is involved in a legal dispute with the Trump family's financial firm, World Liberty Financial. The article discusses the broader relationship between Trump and the crypto sector, noting both mutual benefits and underlying tensions within the industry.
“All my fundees have blue eyes.” Epstein and the tech world’s dark ideology
The article explores Jeffrey Epstein's alleged preference for individuals with blue eyes, citing internal communications and documents from the Department of Justice's Epstein Library. It references instances where Epstein's associates described potential victims based on their eye color and mentions Epstein's own interest in blue eyes among those he funded and associated with.
Teens making drones: Russia’s demographic collapse
The article discusses the recruitment of teenagers in Russia for various roles related to the war effort, including drone manufacturing and media training programs aimed at promoting government values. It highlights the relaxation of child labor laws and the involvement of young people in both industrial and propaganda activities.
Why Europe must disable Russia’s crypto ecosystem
The article discusses the diminishing effectiveness of Western sanctions against Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, citing factors such as shifting political priorities and geopolitical developments like Trump's actions in Iran. The author suggests that European nations should focus more on targeting Russia's digital payment systems, including cryptocurrency, to counter its financial capabilities.
Peter Thiel is building a parallel justice system — Powered by AI
Peter Thiel has launched Objection.ai, a startup designed to provide a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional legal processes for challenging media content. The platform allows anyone to file objections against media statements, which are then investigated by teams sourced from intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The findings are analyzed by an AI model to determine outcomes.
An endless purgatory: How an exiled Iranian waits and watches
The article follows Hemad Nazari, an Iranian exile living in Denmark, who is unable to contact his family in Iran during a period of unrest and internet blackout. The piece describes the emotional toll of being separated from loved ones during a crisis and highlights the experience of Iranians abroad, many of whom have fled since the 1979 revolution.
The performative war on money laundering
The Netherlands' Court of Audit has criticized the country's approach to combating money laundering, calling it expensive, discriminatory, and potentially ineffective. The audit found that the system costs banks €1.6 billion annually, with compliance officer reports increasing significantly since 2021. The report questions whether these efforts have any real impact on reducing money laundering.
Exiled at Midnight
Egana Djabbarova, a Russian writer, was forced to flee her home country after being denounced by pro-war activists and labeled an enemy of the state. She was exiled following the publication of her novel 'My Dreadful Body,' which explores themes of surveillance and societal control. Djabbarova is part of a group of writers known as the 'fifth wave' of Russian exiles. After obtaining a humanitarian visa to Germany, she spent time in a refugee camp before finding more stable housing.
How much longer will Orbán be Putin and Trump’s man in Brussels?
The article discusses Viktor Orbán's re-election prospects in Hungary amid international scrutiny. It highlights Orbán's alignment with Russia and the United States, as well as controversies involving Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, including leaked conversations suggesting cooperation with Russia and opposition to sanctions against Moscow. The piece also notes reactions from other European leaders.
How dodgy digital finance destroys democracy
The article discusses concerns over the impact of digital finance on democracy, highlighting recent measures taken by the British government to limit overseas political donations and proposing a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations to politicians. The author references the Rycroft Review and mentions international examples of foreign interference in democratic processes.
How Italy’s Chernobyl ghosts might stop a new atomic age
The article discusses the legacy of Italy's decommissioned nuclear power plants, particularly the Caorso plant in the Po Valley, which was shut down after the Chernobyl disaster. The piece explores how the physical presence of these plants has shaped public perception and individual experiences, using the story of Alessandro Maffini, who grew up near the plant and later pursued a career in nuclear physics. The article reflects on the lingering fears associated with nuclear energy and its historical impact on Italian society.
Memeification and digital slop: AI and the fog of war
The article discusses how Iran has effectively used AI-generated content to gain influence in the global 'meme war' following OpenAI's decision to shut down its video generation app, Sora. It highlights Iran's strategic deployment of culturally sophisticated content tailored for different audiences through platforms like X, Russia Today, and MAGA-aligned influencers. The piece also notes the broader implications of accessible AI tools in shaping online narratives.
The Alibi Machine
The article discusses how Russian officials and propagandists created 'information alibis'—cover stories for potential war crimes—before these crimes were committed. Legal experts suggest such actions could be prosecutable.
The Alibi Machine: The Pattern
This article examines a recurring pattern in Russian military actions during the war in Ukraine, focusing on two attacks: the maternity ward and the Drama Theatre in Mariupol. It highlights how Russian officials and media often deny responsibility for such attacks and instead blame Ukrainian forces. The article also draws parallels between the current situation in Ukraine and the earlier events in Syria.
The Alibi Machine: The Suspects
The article explores how Russia's information operations function through a network of individuals and entities, including government officials, media executives, and journalists. It describes a system where the Kremlin issues directives to state-controlled media, using 'temniki' (talking points) to control narratives and suppress certain topics. A former Russian journalist in exile explains how the presidential administration acts as the central authority, enforcing censorship through mechanisms such as blacklisting content.