Is Zuck copying Musk?

Hi Global Recap readers,

The political landscape is heating up this month, with

• 🇺🇸 President Trump making waves with strong rhetoric

• 💻 Meta CEO Zuckerberg updating his software company’s policies

• 🇩🇪 Yet another shooting

• 🇬🇧 Andrew Tate dipping his toes in politics

• 🇮🇪 Ireland doubling down on its genocide accusation against Israel.

Everything’s so unpredictable now that expecting the unexpected is basically the new normal. Or is it just me?

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Meta Embraces Musk’s
”Community Notes” Program

Zuckerberg is ditching Meta’s fact-checking program in favor of a community-driven system similar to X’s Community Notes. This move is part of a broader shift to embrace free speech and simplify content moderation.

Major Changes

• The fact-checking program will be replaced with a community-driven system, allowing users to suggest community notes on posts for clarity, fact-checking, and more. If it’s like X, users will upvote or downvote these notes, with the most helpful ones getting wide visibility.

• Changes will affect Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

• The decision seems to be influenced by recent elections and a desire to prioritize free speech.

• He even dropped Musk’s X by name.

Content Moderation Overhaul

Meta is also changing its content moderation policies.

• The company plans to roll back changes that cut down political content, letting it thrive on its platforms again.

• Content filters will now need more proof to remove posts, shifting focus to major illegal violations like drugs, terrorism, and child exploitation—much like X’s claimed standard.

Moving Operations

Meta is relocating its trust and safety team.

• The team will move from California to Texas.

• This move aims to prevent regional political biases from influencing policy enforcement, supposedly creating a more balanced approach.

Political Influence

The recent elections played a significant role in Meta’s decision.

• Zuckerberg slammed governments and legacy media for pushing censorship. He notably apologized for giving in to the Biden administration’s requests to remove stories about Hunter Biden’s laptop and other COVID-related narratives that contradicted the “official story.”

• Meta aims to restore free expression on its platforms.

• The company will work with the incoming Trump administration to promote free speech globally.

Historical Context

Meta’s fact-checking program has been around since 2016.

• It involved over 90 organizations fact-checking posts in more than 60 languages.

• The program expanded to Instagram in 2019 and Threads last year.

• Fact-checkers reviewed various content types, including ads, articles, photos, and videos.

📊 Poll

Despite this shift, many remain skeptical of Zuckerberg.

Some are even joking that while they “like this update to Zuckerberg’s software,” he’s still not to be trusted.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Trump’s Plans for
Canada, Greenland, and Panama

In a recent Mar-a-Lago news conference, President Trump refused to rule out using military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, citing national security concerns.

Bold Statements

Trump made some spicy claims during the conference, but many think it’s just a tough stance to strengthen his position for future negotiations with them. Personally, I agree with this assessment.

• He declared US control of Greenland and the Panama Canal as vital to national security.

  • For instance, Trump claimed the US first built the Panama Canal and handed it over to Panama with the understanding that their mutual interests would prevail. Now, according to Trump, China controls the Canal, creating a major security gap.

• Trump left open the possibility of using the military to secure these territories.

• He also vowed to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

Canada and NATO

Trump also had some thoughts on Canada and NATO.

• He floated the idea of Canada joining the US as the 51st state but ruled out military invasion.

• Instead, Trump plans to use “economic force” against Canada. But Trudeau fired back, saying there’s “not a snowball’s chance in hell” of Canada joining the US. Honestly, that’s one of the most Canadian things I’ve ever heard. 🤣

• Trump called for NATO members to increase their defense spending to at least 5% of their GDPs.

Context

Trump’s interest in Greenland and the Panama Canal isn’t new.

• Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, is home to a large US military base.

• The Panama Canal has been solely controlled by Panama for over 25 years.

Middle East

Trump also warned that “all hell will break out in the Middle East” if Hamas doesn’t release the hostages in Gaza by Inauguration Day.

• Reporters at separate events repeatedly asked Trump what he meant by this, as this isn’t the first time he’s made this threat. The conference was no different.

• He repeated the threat four times during this particular conference.

• About 100 hostages, including some Americans, remain captive since October 7, 2023

• Trump didn’t specify what actions he might take if the hostages aren’t released, citing, you know… military strategy. Here’s one moment where a reporter asked him to clarify. Now, the reporter’s getting roasted online.

🇩🇪 GERMANY
Two Dead in Factory Shooting

In Baden-Württemberg, a masked individual opened fire at a machine-building company, leaving two dead and one critically injured. The suspect was apprehended after a manhunt involving a helicopter and special forces.

The Incident

The shooting occurred at a factory in Bad Friedrichshall.

• The incident took place around 5:45 p.m. local time.

• The factory produces high-precision cogs and gears for machinery.

• Two workers were killed, and a third person is in critical condition.

Police Response

The police launched an extensive manhunt involving a helicopter and special forces.

• The suspect was captured in Sekach, 30 km north of the crime scene.

• Police assured there is no ongoing danger to the public.

Community Impact

• The factory employs around 400 people in the town of 20,000.

• Other employees present during the shooting are being questioned.

• Bad Friedrichshall’s mayor, Timo Frey, expressed his condolences.

Investigation Ongoing

Authorities are piecing together the events.

• Investigators are interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence.

• The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

• The police are working to provide more details as the investigation progresses.

Is This Related?

Incidentally, while researching the story, I came across this video—supposedly of a “non-German” person emptying a magazine in the middle of the street in Baden-Württemberg.

Please take this with a grain of salt, as it’s NOT VERIFIED.

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM
Andrew Tate Launches Bruv Party

I debated with myself whether this news was fit for our newsletter, but I just couldn’t resist. 😂

Andrew Tate is back in the spotlight, and this time, he’s launching a political party called the Bruv Party. The controversial influencer has faced widespread ridicule online, with many describing his policies as “bizarre.”

Controversial Policies

• He wants a “24/7 live broadcast of knife crime offenders serving solitary confinement,” streamed through a reformed BBC.

• The new public broadcaster will get its topics from Elon Musk’s social media network, X.

• A community notes-style online system will verify all stories and debates with the public.

Economic Plans

Tate’s economic ideas are equally unconventional.

• The Bruv Party pledges to purchase a “national Bitcoin reserve.”

• The party’s charter claims this will future-proof Britain’s economy.

• The charter is filled with spelling errors, adding to the ridicule.

Political Engagement

Tate wants to increase public involvement in politics.

• He proposes “weekly referendums” to get more people involved.

• Tate asked his X followers if he should run for prime minister.

Public Reaction

The public and politicians have not taken kindly to Tate’s announcement.

• Labour MP Emily Darlington criticized Tate, calling him a “misogynist charged with sex trafficking and rape.”

• Many pointed out that Tate is currently under house arrest in Romania.

🇮🇪 IRELAND
Ireland Joins Genocide Case

Ireland has officially joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, arguing that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to collective punishment.

Formal Filing

Ireland made its move official on January 7, 2025.

• The filing was made at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

• Ireland invoked Article 63 of the Statute of the Court.

• The case concerns the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza.

Background

South Africa initiated the case in December 2023.

• South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

• Israel has strongly rejected the allegations.

• The ICJ ordered Israel to restrain its attacks in Gaza in January 2024 and to halt its military offensive in Rafah in May 2024.

Ireland’s Position

Ireland’s government has been vocal about its stance.

• Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin highlighted the collective punishment of Palestinians.

• Martin emphasized the need to broaden the interpretation of genocide to prevent impunity.

• Ireland’s intervention reflects its longstanding support for Palestinian civilians.

Diplomatic Tensions

The case has strained diplomatic relations.

• Israel announced the closure of its embassy in Dublin last month.

• Israeli officials cited Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.”

• Despite the closure, diplomatic relations between the two countries remain intact.