Committee Recommends: Week 5

Welcome to 5th Week Committee Recommends. What a week. From early confidence to a growing this-can’t-happen-again pessimism, by way of a couple days of little sleep and even less certainty, it looks like we’ve arrived at some kind of conclusion. For now.

This week, we’ve decided that avoiding the US election is impossible, and so have committed our ‘long reads’ section to the pieces we found the most insightful and inspiring from an overwhelming confusion of media coverage, focusing both on the immediacy of this week’s chaos, whilst also taking a step back to look at the position of the US in a global landscape.

However, we’ve also dedicated space to some global news that might have passed you by this week amidst the wall-to-wall election coverage, as well as pointing you in the direction of some well-earned escapism. Whatever it is, we hope you find something you enjoy.

Long Reads

This is America

“The United States is not at all united. We live in two countries.”

This impassioned piece by NYT opinion writer Roxane Gay offers a scathing take on the state of a country riven by partisan polarisation, but offers too an importance dose of hope for the future of progressive activism in a Biden-led America.

How the Murdoch empire turned on Trump

“Fox’s call, which was followed by the Associated Press a few hours later, infuriated some of the network’s core audience. But for its most powerful viewer – the president himself – it was something akin to a betrayal by a family member.”

One of the biggest shocks of election night itself was the previously Trump-aligned network Fox’s decision to call Arizona for Biden well before most other outlets, representing a broader turn in the Murdoch media empire’s portrayal of Trump. This FT deep-dive explores the testy relationship.

How China’s economic rise threatens US global dominance

“We are witnessing the end of the US as the world’s absolutely dominant economy”

This New Statesman piece provides a crucial perspective on this weeks tumultuous events, as it zooms out to look at the US’s threatened global stature. Well worth a read to consider the long term implications of the craziness of contemporary American politics.

If you don’t laugh you’ll cry …  an eclectic collection US election memes

“The internet has turned towards what the internet does best: memes, of course.”

As ever in times of international crisis – the current pandemic, the threat of nuclear war, and now the nail-biting US election to name but a few – there has been one solitary and resounding winner: meme culture. So, please do enjoy a Guardian selection of this week’s best.

IN THE NEWS

Norwegian Supreme Court hears challenge to Arctic natural resources drilling

The Norwegian constitution’s demand that all its citizens have the right to live in a healthy environment is being invoked to challenge the continued exploitation of natural resources in the Arctic, representing an important examination of the principles surrounding fossil fuel extraction.

The humanitarian fallout of the Nagorno-Karanakh conflict

Conflict in the Southern Caucasus continues as the international community’s attention has been distracted. The displacement of thousands of civilians amidst the ongoing pandemic bodes ill for the humanitarian future of the region.

41 children left homeless as Palestinian village razed, according to the UN

A forced displacement in the West Bank by Israeli forces has left 73 Palestinians homeless according to a UN report, in a worrying escalation of regional tensions.

A BIT OF LISTENING

Fearne Cotton’s ‘Happy Place’ podcast with Wim Hof

For much-needed escapism take a listen to Fearne Cotton’s interview with the mental health guru Wim Hof, for a calming and timely reminder of how to look after yourself in this disorientating times.

WATCH LIST

Cori Bush acceptance speech

For a testament to the inspirational and emotional power of politics, much amiss in the course of this election campaign, the first Black congresswoman in Missouri’s moving acceptance speech will lift your spirits.

That’s all for this week. Interested in writing for us? Contact us to chat about submissions.