WHAT’S THIS? The Stringer publishes a roundup of news items that you may have missed—with a global bent.
HOUSEKEEPING: The Stringer is back to publishing weekly.
When Elizabeth II died last week, it took up not only all the headlines in the realm but virtually shorted the global supply.
Because it’s viewed more like a reality show than an embarrassing relic, the monarchy retains its power to fascinate even Britain’s former colonies. But the turnover has raised questions about whether the United Kingdom actually needs an overlord, ornamental or not.
Elizabeth’s son, Charles, at the tender age of 73—probably the most extreme case of a child waiting breathlessly to collect an inheritance—has become Charles III. The first Charles lost his head in the English Civil War; the other was a popular ruler until his death. So, judging on that alone, it could go either way.
News items you may not have noticed:
POLITICS and WORLD
PINOCHET’S LEGACY: The plebiscite on the new, progressive constitution—which would have undone the one installed by Chile’s infamous dictator Augusto Pinochet—failed. Onlookers say that the “no” vote may have halted the reform movement.
ABORTION: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) brought a bill that would institute a nationwide ban on abortions after 15 weeks with nearly no exceptions. Passing it would require the GOP to hold both the House and the Senate. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “dismissed” the bill.
TRUMP RAID: The legal dance continues over the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s raid on former President Donald Trump, which turned up classified documents.
POPULISM: Steve Bannon is facing money laundering and conspiracy charges for his part in the “We Build the Wall” scam that fleeced Trump supporters. Bannon narrowly escaped prison when then-President Trump tossed him a pardon over the charity fraud. It will be harder to secure a presidential pardon from the other side.
DEVOLUTION: Police in the U.S. evolved, in part, out of decentralized forces that were in tow to private interests. It’s supposed to be different now. In the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, though, Charles “Rob” Betts runs a firm where the wealthy can purchase the security they say the city police aren’t capable of providing. As a piece in ProPublica details, Betts’ firm, called “The City’s Finest,” employs off-duty police. From the outside, it looks like the city is cultivating a two-tiered system of policing.
GREED IS GOOD: Bank of America is allegedly throwing shady charges at PPP loan borrowers after refusing to cancel the debt.
NO MONEY DOWN: Big banks—Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and TD America—are offering “no money down” loans to Black and Hispanic borrowers. It’s supposed to chisel away at the racial gap in homeownership in the country, which makes up a large part of the racial wealth gap.
CULTURE
CELLULOID: Jean-Luc Goddard hung up his camera for good, having died of assisted suicide, aged 91, in Switzerland this week. A film critic turned filmmaker, Goddard revolutionized movies as a leader in the “French New Wave.”
TUNE IN: San Francisco is moving to decriminalize psychedelics. Perhaps micro-dosing will make the city bearable.
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