The Acta Publica

[Lumine]

CLARIFICATION / NATIONAL

Hurricane Laura

For clarification, it is ruled that Hurricane Laura is taking place as in real life, affecting a similar area across the Southern region.

CLARIFICATION / REGIONAL

Jacob Blake

For clarification, having taken into account context, Game Engine mechanisms and, in particular, upon review of Lincoln and Federal legislation, it is ruled that Mr. Jacob Blake, NPC resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was shot twice during an arrest by KPD officers, . Mr. Blake is currently at Froedtert Hospital with injuries to his right arm and leg. Kenosha, WI is currently the site of a small march by local residents, a protest currently described by the local sheriff as "peaceful".

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of Sestak

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: August 2020
DA triumphs, achieves breakthrough in Lincoln,
Labor strong in Fremont, but experiences severe losses elsewhere,
Federalists prevent collapse with last minute offensive,
Turnout surge amidst hyperactive campaigning

Governors / Mayors:

Party		Executives
Labor Party		6
Federalist Party		3
Democratic Alliance		1

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance		Seats
Labor Party/SF/B&B/Tricolor		1584 (+701)
Democratic Alliance/AFP/CPL/FN		841 (+553)
Federalist Party		710 (+329)
Liberal Party		148 (+75)
Green Party		108 (+60)
Peace Party		16 (=)
Dixieland Patriots Party		2 (=)
Law and Justice Party		1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – With a record participation – easily surpassing July’s turnout – Atlasians from eleven different states voted today on their local Gubernatorial, Legislative and Mayoral races after a stunningly active and spirited campaign, which saw exponential growth in the number of campaign events whilst also featuring less dispersion of the vote, with all regional parties contesting the races up for grabs choosing to stand in an alliance with the national parties.

It is generally agreed by political commentators that the Democratic Alliance had easily the best night out of all parties, having finally achieved a long awaited breakthrough that took them to victory in four different states and – by the thinnest of margins – the Miami mayoral race. Strengthened by their July performance and supported by favorable midterm results, the DA campaign was agreed to have been the most consistently active one, and more importantly, the most efficient one in terms of selecting issues to run on. Whether it was infrastructure in Michigan or energy in Alaska, the DA amplified its positive momentum by skillfully exploiting popular local issues – though whether those stances will be well received in other states is a different question -, and was spared from most of the truly effective attacks. The DA also proved capable of ruthlessness, successfully landing several punches on Labor which culminated on a classroom ad that observers described as “brutal”.

Conversely, fears of underperformance within Labor proved more accurate than expected as the party’s vote share collapsed in several competitive states, costing the party potential victories in Wisconsin, Indiana, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia in spite of a strong night in Fremont and, of course, an actual victory in the number of elected legislators. This has come across as something of a paradox to psephologists, which note the Labor campaign was consistently strong, threw the strongest punches, and even featured some of the most effective ads of the campaign – a Monty Python themed ad being credited with having crippled the Federalist momentum before their final offensive -, in spite of blunders such as Governor MB’s visit to Puerto Rico (who nonetheless acquitted himself very well in Wisconsin). Commentators disagree as to the precise causes of Labor’s underperformance, which some attribute to fundamental factors such as the economy and midterm defeat, and others attribute to being “outgunned” on the ground when compared to the DA and Federalist campaigns (psephologists suggest it may have been both).

The Federalist Party was generally felt to face a similar paradox to Labor in campaigning terms, with high quality efforts being undercut both by superior DA momentum and sustained attacks from the Labor Party, many of which caused serious damage. This appeared to change due to a last minute offensive launched on the final days of the campaign, widely credited with preventing a collapse across the board and even helping the Federalists score victories in Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, despite falling short against the DA (it is argued this strong finish almost secured Miami, only to fall short after recounts). Although performers such as Rep. Joseph Cao and Sen. Yankee made an effective case for federalism, the last minute dash was undercut by a number of unenforced mistakes or obscure references, with lines such as “Portland Values” generally puzzling voters. Nonetheless, it is believed that if the Federalist Party was able to fight in a more consistent basis and/or contain the damage caused by Labor attacks, its competitiveness would be greatly enhanced.

With regional parties contained within the major alliances – and profiting from it -, and with the gradual disappearance or collapse of the Peace Party and LJP, the final challenger spots were reserved by the Green and Liberal Parties, with varying results. Generally, it was felt the Green campaign had been unable to make much ground, in spite of their concentration in Fremont helping them to make a few dozen legislative gains. Crucially, a coordinated push in Alaska was undercut through negative campaigning from rivals. Conversely, the Liberal Party made further gains in Lincoln and was able to expand in Fremont and the South, though its unconventional style of campaigning may be reaching a ceiling of sorts, partly due to fierce competition with the DA over similar voters.

Next month voters will go to the polls on North Dakota, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, the Virgin Islands, and the city of Los Angeles.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Mass protests in Paflagonia
European nation in a critical state of tension,
Field Marshal von Kummerspeck attempts to tighten his grip with the pandemic out of control,
Opposition leaders organize, request urgent international support

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - Re-elected President in March 2018 with 92% of the votes (amidst serious allegations of widespread electoral fraud) and enjoying the support of a strong parliamentary supermajority, Field Marshal Adolf Von Kummerspeck had been able to continue his rule in almost unmolested fashion, the deep internal divisions of the opposition and his own harsh methods helping cement his rule. Now, having entered his fifth year in power last August, Von Kummerspeck appears to be facing a critical situation, signaling the weakest moment for his regime thus far. Having chosen to downplay the risk of COVID-19 in order to bolster the declining Paflagonian economy, the current government was blindsided as cases began to grow at an exponential rate, soon leading to hospitals being overwhelmed.

Following the example provided by his neighbor Hungary, Von Kummerspeck made a conscious choice to try and turn the pandemic into an opportunity to further centralize his rule, passing several constitutional amendments that drastically increased the powers of the Presidency and which, as of last week, led to the dismissal of Prime Minister Werner Schmidt following the dissolution of his office. With a permanent state of emergency in place, Von Kummerspeck rapidly had a number of opposition leaders arrested, including his most famed rival from the 2016 elections, human rights activist Conchita Schicklgruber (subsequently barred from running in 2018 by the government). However, far from crushing the opposition, the limited crackdown has allowed it to refocus as thousands of Paflagonians take to the streets in protest.

Denouncing Von Kummerspeck as a "bloodthirsty dictator" and his 2018 election as the result of fraud, a group of ideologically diverse politicians, activists and/or personal rivals of the President have gathered in some sort of coalition, which presents itself as "Paflagonian Unity" (PU). Unofficially led by former Minister for Justice Gerta Baer (SPP), and seconded by a triumvirate comprised of former Minister for the Environment Heide Gruber (SPP), businessman Norbert Weltschmerz (CDP), and retired Colonel Wolfgang Zeller (IND), the PU has demanded Von Kummerspeck's resignation, a transitional government and "free and fair elections". Thus far, forces loyal to Von Kummerspeck have been unable or unwilling to put down the protests, and the PU has openly requested assistance and support from the EU and other Western nations.

NEWS UPDATE / REGIONAL

Tension in Kansas
Local elections approaching for divided state,
Pro-South and Pro-Frémont "Unionists" organize in rival camps,
Citizens fear potential sectarian violence across Kansas

TOPEKA, Kansas - Almost three and a half months after the "Liberal Riots" resulted in one death and over forty injured, the state of Kansas is set to vote on the most tense local elections in living memory, set against the backdrop of increasing political tension, regional polarization and even mounting threats of violence. With the incumbent (non-partisan) state government widely perceived as having been too soft - a perception shared by both sides - and the incumbent governor retiring, observers expect voters will flock to the national parties, which will face the difficult issue of choosing a side on the increasingly bitter debate about the future status of Kansas and its membership either on the South or the Commonwealth of Frémont.

Although the "Pro-South" and "Pro-Frémont" camps (both describing themselves as "Unionists") have started to organize and develop in rival organizations, it is believed neither side will attempt an electoral foray, relying instead on the regional and national parties to represent them or offer solutions to the present situation. The Kansas Southerner side appears to be represented by the Unionist Coalition, led by Ms. Jane Hunter, a Wichita lawyer and political activist, whereas the Kansas Frémonter side appears to be organized in the "Commonwealth Movement", led by Mr. Henry "Hank" Secord, a Topeka doctor and political activist. Ms. Hunter and Mr. Secord have become something of a local media and online sensation on account of their fiery defense either for the present status of Kansas or its inclusion on the Commonwealth, often to the point of hyperbolic attacks on each group.

Polls have proven unreliable in terms of measuring the relative popularity of both camps, leading to conflicting analysis from political observers ranging from suggestions that the state could be evenly split, to those that argue either the Coalition or the Movement have a strong silent majority. With open campaigning by national and regional politicians set to start soon, many residents are fearful the campaign could further increase the already high levels of tension, and or lead to a repeat of the "Liberal Riots". Already there are rumours of Pro-South and Pro-Frémont militias starting to form within certain isolated communities, though many dismiss them as alarmist tales, or, more succinctly put, as "fake news."

NEWS UPDATE / STATE

New York faces electoral confusion
Citizens notice mistake in regional electoral law,
State set to elect almost three times more Senators than Representatives,
Local candidates petition regional government to address issue

ALBANY, New York - Having already successfully chosen a new Mayor of New York City, residents of New York City expected to join the rest of the voters across the state to choose a new Governor and State Legislature at the end of this month, only for an unexpected event to cast doubt on current electoral law. The mistake was first noticed by legislative staff, then rapidly brought to social media and eventually becoming a viral story after being shared by the new Federalist mayor of NYC: for unexplained reasons, the Lincoln Downballot Elections Act determined the state was to elect only 63 Representatives, against a total of 150 Senators.

This apparent error, if left standing by the time New Yorkers go to the polls, would result in the state having three times as many Senators than Representatives, a first for the nation. Although on by itself this situation does not place the election in any jeopardy, local candidates from several national parties - including two gubernatorial candidates - have petitioned Lincoln legislators to address this issue as fast as possible, in order to hold the election with a more sensible number of seats for each legislative chamber.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: September 2020
Federalists launch successful offensive, capture several states,
Labor triumphs in Fremont amidst employment gains, but continues to be outgunned,
DA recedes from August success, but still performs strongly,
Liberals gain further strength, are only narrowly prevented from a surge,
Green Party officeholders defect to Labor, Liberals and DA

Executives:

Party		Governors
Labor Party		12 (+3)
Federalist Party		10 (+5)
Democratic Alliance		7 (+2)

Party		Mayors
Federalist Party		1
Democratic Alliance		1
Labor Party		1 (+1)

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance		Seats
Labor Party/Allies		2071 (+491)
Federalist Party		1263 (+553)
Democratic Alliance/Allies		1111 (+272)
Liberal Party		272 (+124)
Dixieland Patriots Party		22 (+20)
Green Party		20 (-88)
Peace Party		16 (=)
Law and Justice Party		1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – Featuring high turnout and participation – though particularly focused on a handful of states -, this month’s local and state elections saw Atlasians from eleven different states voting after a particularly contentious month, which featured new records in terms of campaigning and sustained partisan momentum, coupled with the virtual collapse of one of the nation’s largest parties and the defection of almost its entire officeholder corps.

Coming from disappointing results in July and a last minute push in August, the Federalist Party experienced a triumph last night which arguably matched – some say surpassed - the DA breakthrough of August. Perhaps the most decisive factors in the Federalist surge were the combination of sustained efforts across the campaigning period combined with an unprecedented diversity of campaigners, featuring members from different backgrounds and wings of the party. Avoiding for the most part major gaffes – despite specific missteps in areas like Los Angeles or Massachusetts -, the Federalists combined a strong economic and domestic push with a skillful display of ideological diversity (involving different pitches in different states, some more successful than others) and launched particularly successful assaults in places like Iowa, West Virginia and New York. A special mention goes to an unprecedented team effort in North Carolina which saw the state flooded with events, turning a competitive state into a Federalist stronghold.

The Labor Party had an arguably disappointing night in that competitive states slipped from their grasp and some areas saw pronounced losses, but at the same time it both successfully absorbed most of the Green Party base and scored triumphant landslides in Idaho and North Dakota thanks to the active effort of the Fremont Laborites. Despite being strengthened due to a substantial drop in the unemployment rate and the avoidance of campaign missteps, most political scientists agree Labor was once again outgunned in the battlegrounds, the combination of enemy momentum and wounds from previous attacks maximizing their losses. Having chosen to execute a mostly last minute offensive, Labor also made a skillful use of ideological diversity and was able to harm the Democratic Alliance, though attacks on the Federalists were buried under their momentum avalanche. All in all, some experts see future signs of hope in the relative effectiveness of Labor efforts when they were able to sustain an equally active effort.

In comparison, the Democratic Alliance also had a mixed night in that they were unable to repeat their August performance, but still achieved significant success by capturing the Kansas state government on a pro-South platform (the state featuring a surprising absence of pro-Fremont pitches), securing the Virgin Islands and coming close to taking the Los Angeles mayoralty through RCV. Observers agreed that, despite Labor – and particularly First Minister Truman – drawing blood, the DA’s use of advertising continued to be effective and the decision to field their presidential candidate on the campaign trail proved helpful, but other strategic decisions – such as heavy investment in North Carolina – ultimately fell short against the Federalist onslaught. Despite being unable to win a state, the Liberal Party was generally agreed to be the most improved challenger alongside the Federalist Party. A shift towards the use of more specific and somewhat traditional issues was believed to have paid off for party leader Poirot and the new Liberal members, who achieved limited success in appealing to former Green voters, made a particularly successful push in New York – observers on the ground believe they could have won the state were it not for the sheer amount of Federalist campaigning -, and generally ensured both Federalist and particularly DA gains were limited in a number of states due to their own substantial momentum.

The epilogue of the campaign was provided by the demise of the Green Party, which while still technically existing essentially ceased to function as a campaign unit. With the controversial means of its demise becoming a relevant campaign theme for some parties – attacks on Labor being less successful than some opposition activists expected -, efforts were deployed to seduce the 108 elected representatives of the party to defect. In the end 88 of them did so during the course of the month, with Labor capturing the lion’s share of defectors with 61. The Liberals secured 18 of them, and the Democratic Alliance closed the list with 9 defections. The remainder 20 Green Party representatives – all Fremonters - have chosen to remain in the party for the time being, in the unlikely hope that their previously relevant party will be able to survive. When pressed for comment, 28-year old Arianne Wyzgowski – Green MP for California and one of the few members of her caucus not to defect – puzzled reporters by briefly singing:

“It all returns to nothing,
It all comes
Tumbling down,
Tumbling down
Tumbling down…”

Next month voters will go to the polls on Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, Vermont, New Jersey, Guam, and the city of San Francisco.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

REPORT / POLICY

INFOWARS.COM PRISON PLANET.COM Act
A report on current legislative effects of the bill (2020)
Directed to the House of Representatives

EFFECTS OF THE BILL:

Originally passed in 2018, the INFOWARS.COM PRISON PLANET.COM Act is currently the subject of debate in the House of Representatives on account of its repeal - partial or full - being proposed. It is projected by the Pontifex Maximus that the current effects of the bill are as follows:

FLAG RESTRICTIONS: Current restrictions on displaying Atlasian flags if they have decorative fringes in a court of law - among other spaces - have been bitterly resented by supporters of the so-called tax protester conspiracy, who have long maintain the existence of a loophole due to the presence of such flags (which would restrict court jurisdiction by turning them into an "Admiralty Court"). A number of law officers have described the current restriction as frivolous, and further attempts to deploy the "Admiralty Court" argument have not been attempted since the law came into effect.

BLACK HELICOPTERS: Restrictions on the use of aircraft with cell-site simulators through the usage of federal funds has been bitterly resented by a number of law enforcement agencies within the Republic of Atlasia, which contend the restriction deprives from a "vital tool" to gather key intelligence. Although protests have been muted due to the need of secrecy, the measure is reported to be the source of frustration within parts of the FBI and NSA.

THIOMERSAL: Current prohibitions on the use of Thiomersal as a vaccine preservative continue to be heavily criticized by a large number of medical organizations, which contend current criticism of Thiomersal to be "fear mongering". Conversely, a number of organizations - some of which belong to the anti vax movement - celebrate the current restrictions as a triumph against a preservative they consider to cause autism. Although the Atlasian medical system has been able to cope with the elimination of Thiomersal, medical professionals argue current restrictions are harmful to vaccine development, and hit
undeveloped nations particularly hard.

FLUORIDE: Current restrictions on the use of fluoride in drinking water - in the order of 1.5mg/L (1.5 ppm) - have somewhat decreased its use in certain isolated areas, whereas most of Atlasia was already abiding by somewhat smaller proportions of fluoride use, in the order of 0,7 to 1,2mg/L. There have been complaints from members of the water industry that the specific restriction is held as a symbol of conspiracy theories surrounding fluoride, counter by arguments from medical professionals that argue the limit is both sensible and in light with recommendations.

EXTRATERRESTRIAL AUTOPSIES: Current regulations surrounding a prohibition to conduct autopsies on extraterrestrial lifeforms have been acknowledged and noted by government agencies, which nonetheless contend no such autopsies have been conducted in the past. This is currently the subject of jokes within NASA and other agencies dealing with space-related matters, though a number of papers have been written within the federal government suggesting such a regulation would prove counterproductive in the event of an extraterrestrial eventuality.

KENNEDY ASSASSINATION: The order to release current files surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy led to a scramble within the National Archives and Record Administration, which was forced to work overtime within limited time to try and release thousands of outstanding files. It was stated by NARA that all records had in all likelihood been released in spite of the enormous difficulty involved in their massive release, but it left the door open to mistakes in their release on account of the "unreasonable schedule" imposed by Congress. This, in turn, has led conspiracy theorists to argue that some files may yet be unreleased. The release of the files - thought to be against strident opposition from the CIA and FBI - was followed by a long period of review from interested people, and has been the source of persistent embarrassment for both government agencies despite many of the documents being heavily edited to protect the names of current living individuals.

Among other things, documents have shed light on extensive CIA operations in Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba; as well as a number of violent or dark Cold War operations conducted by the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson Administrations; a lack of coordination between government agencies regarding investigations and follow-ups on Lee Harvey Oswald before the President's assassination (suggesting he slipped through bureaucratic cracks); withholding of evidence to the Warren Commission and the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations from the CIA to protect covert operations, and from the FBI to cover-up a number of bureaucratic mistakes regarding Oswald and the immediate aftermath of the assassination; regarding the network of anti-communist Cuban exiles in Cuba and their own networks within the island; and regarding the links between organized crime and the US intelligence apparatus in terms of failed assassination attempts on Fidel Castro.

This, in turn, has divided Kennedy assassination experts in two camps: those described more on board with "conspiracy theories" continue to allege a large-scale joint FBI and CIA cover-up regarding the involvement of intelligence officers in a conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy; whereas those critical of said conspiracies assert the documents prove Oswald acted alone, but that intelligence and government agencies were both incompetent and attempted to cover-up said incompetence.

ANNEX - ORIGINAL TEXT:

Act of Congress

To stop martial law and the new world order.

Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia assembled

SECTION I: TITLE

1. This law shall be referred to as the INFOWARS.COM_PRISONPLANET.COM Act.

II: CRUSHING THE NEW WORLD ORDER

1. It shall be expressly prohibited for Atlasian Flag to be displayed in any federal court, or during any federal administrative hearing, tribunal, or arbitration, if that Atlasian Flag has been adorned by decorative fringe.

2. No federal monies shall be appropriated or expended for the purpose of flying black helicopters or other aircraft with a cell-site simulator for the purposes of collecting private data. Any unspent federal monies appropriated for the above purpose is hereby rescinded.

III: PROTECTING HEALTH

1. The addition of Thimerosal as a preservative in any vaccine subject to federal regulation is hereby prohibited. 21 C.F.R. 610.15(a) shall be amended accordingly.

2. The maximum allowable level of fluoride allowed in drinking water subject to federal regulation shall be reduced to 1.5mg/L (1.5 ppm). 40 C.F.R. 141 shall be amended accordingly.

IV: PROMOTING SCIENCE AND UNCOVERING THE TRUTH

1. No federal monies shall be appropriated or expended for the purpose of conducting autopsies or vivisections of extraterrestrial lifeforms. Any unspent federal monies appropriated for the above purpose is hereby rescinded.

2. By December 31, 2018, the National Archives and Record Administration shall certify that all files and records pertaining to the investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been publicly released.  

SECTION V: EFFECTIVE DATE

1. This act shall take effect immediately. No lawsuit to enforce the provisions of the law shall be justiciable in any federal or Regional court until 90 days after this law takes effect.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

War in the Caucasus!
Azerbaijan invades Artsakh and Armenia, restarts Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Death toll believed to be in the thousands, propaganda war obscures actual developments,
Turkey threatens NATO withdrawal, is seen to be supporting Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Four years after the most recent - and short lived - war, armed conflict has once again returned to the Caucasus as of early October, the long term rivalry between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Armenian-majority and self-proclaimed Republic of Artaskh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, currently not recognized by most of the world) one again becoming hot as the Azerbaijani military crossed the Artaskh border on October 10th and started shelling and bombing Stepanakert, the enemy capital. This has been followed by substantial mountain clashes between the Azerbaijani military and the forces of Armenia and Artsakh, the former's advance being allegedly facilitated through the indiscriminate use of high-tech drone attacks.

Both sides have been quick to spin the current situation in terms of its origins and present events, making it difficult for international observers to accurately judge the state of the conflict. Whereas Azerbaijan asserts that the blame rests on an Armenian attack and further acts of provocation, as well as a major success from its military on "liberating" increasingly large parts of the region, Armenia and Artaskh insist the enemy offensive was both calculated and unprovoked, and that it has been contained after crippling enemy casualties. The conflict is already being considered to be a "proxy war" of sorts in light of the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East, with reports of increasing Russian interest on supporting Armenia, and more decisively, reports of massive aid given to Azerbaijan from the Republic of Turkey.

Indeed, the Turkish government has been significantly active since the start of the crisis, condemning "Armenian aggression" calling for their evacuation of the contested territories and accusing them of harboring "Kurdish terrorists". Additionally, President Erdogan has taken advantage of his latest speech on Armenia to touch the subject of Turkish-Atlasian relations, already heavily strained due to past diplomatic crisis and Turkish accusations of Atlasian support for a failed 2016 coup. Citing the latest resolution by the Atlasian Senate to recognize the Armenian genocide an "outrageous and worthless act of hostility", President Erdogan has doubled down on his past criticisms of Atlasian foreign policy, and has once again threatened to follow the example once set by General de Gaulle's France and unilaterally withdraw from NATO.

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Paflagonian crisis deepens
Paflagonian Unity consolidates, vows to form alternate government,
PU-led general strike paralyzes the nation,
Despite fiery rhetoric, Von Kummerspeck perceived as being on the ropes

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - Six weeks after the start of mass protests against the continued rule of President Adolf Von Kummerspeck - citing, among other reasons, electoral fraud, mismanagement of the pandemic and authoritarian rule -, harsh repression tactics have thus far proved unsuccessful in crushing the large opposition movement, thus leading to significant uncertainty and speculation concerning the future of the small European country. The formation of the opposition coalition "Paflagonian Unity" (PU) in early September was widely perceived to have provided the protests with an increasingly organized political structure behind them, enabling the daily marches to be replaced with a full blown general strike supported by a majority of Paflagonia's largest unions.

Although the uneasy combination of ideologically and socially diverse individuals within the PU has caused problems of its own, its leading figures have been strengthen by the apparent unwillingness of the government to attempt their arrest, which many observers read as a clear sign of weakness from the Kummerspeck government. For his own part, the Field Marshal has given almost daily speeches - televised and with pro-government crowds - denouncing the opposition and lobbying various charges of treason, criminal behavior and even immorality against its leaders. Despite his constant warnings that the general strike can only end in tragedy, von Kummerspeck has only been able to rely on police and security forces, the Paflagonian military seemingly reluctant to intervene up to this point. However, repeated efforts by retired Colonel Wolfgang Zeller, one of the leading UP members, don't appear to have secured actual military support for the opposition.

The most significant development of the last couple of weeks took place during the weekend - in the aftermath of harsh sanctions from the EU against Paflagonia -, as the PU leadership has stepped up its rhetoric to argue their demanded transitional government must be formed regardless of what von Kummerspeck does. Indeed, European newspapers report that opposition leaders are engaging both in domestic talks to select an Acting President - as opposition symbol Conchita Schicklgruber remains imprisoned - and in foreign talks to sound out the willingness of European neighbors to recognize such a transitional government, in the hopes foreign recognition might finally bring the military on board. In the meantime, chants concerning foreign nations can be heard at almost every protest, with interviewed protesters urging other nations "not to allow another Hong Kong".

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

TikTok app under fire
As popular Chinese social network app reaches 50 million Atlasian users,
Law enforcement and security experts warn of credible threat to national security,
App already banned in India, Japan and both Koreas, sparking debate over its future

NYMAN, Atlasia - Originally launched by ByteDance Ltd. into the Chinese market on 2016 and across most of the world in 2017 - on the eve of the Korean conflicts -, social network app TikTok rapidly gained popularity among younger users on account of its flexibility and direct connection to countless viral moments and trends, leading to increasing numbers of popular creators and attracting several well-known celebrities. Although its introduction of Atlasia was greatly delayed due to the North Korean Civil War, the signing of the armistice allowed for its entry and exponential expansion into the country on early 2019, to the point in which after a year and a half, and despite being a source of derision in certain corners, a record 50 million Atlasians are currently believed to be using the app on a monthly basis to check or upload short videos.

This unprecedented global success, however, has not come without serious controversy. Already a number of human rights activists had charged the app was intentionally censoring content critical of Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party, including current repressive efforts in Xinjiang, Hong Kong an Shanghai. This concern, however, has been overshadowed though the second half of 2020 on account of several experts in law enforcement, security and intelligence in most of the developed world accusing the TikTok app of being an actual "threat to national and international security". Citing the dependence of Chinese companies on Beijing on a number of matters, different experts have accused ByteDance both of censorship as well as sharing private user data with the Chinese government, as well as potential espionage.

ByteDance, in turn, has actively criticized these accusations and defended its record as an independent entity, but only with limited success. In a heavy blow to the company, the Indian government banned TikTok several weeks ago citing its potential security risks, a move which was followed only last week by South Korea, North Korea and Japan, all of which are reported to be extremely wary of Chinese espionage following the aftermath of the North Korean Civil War. This, in turn, has led commentators within Atlasia to wonder what route should be taken concerning the app. Amidst discussions on whether the Justice Department could or should investigate and/or ban the app, detractors of TikTok have doubled down on the security and censorship charges, whereas its defenders - including a disproportionate number of young Atlasians - condemn the idea of a ban as an attack on freedom of speech.

[Lumine]

There will be a foreign elections special tomorrow, concerning elections in Bolivia (President + Congress), Venezuela (President + Congress) and New Zealand (General Election). Reminder that New Zealand and Bolivia are taking place as scheduled in OTL - although results may or may not be different - and Venezuela is taking place on a significantly different context (see earlier updates). If anyone is interested in a specific result or aspect to be covered tomorrow, do let me know!

[Lumine]

CLARIFICATION / REGIONAL

Flag of Georgia

For clarification and having taken into account context, it is ruled the current flag of the state of Georgia is the one established in 2003.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: October 2020
Labor stages comeback, benefits from presidential coattails,
Federalists narrowly lose ground in the South, but remain main opposition,
Liberals continue to overperform, gain their first governorship,
Peace surprises with strong campaign, also benefits from Labor pact,
DA behind due to limited efforts, aided by RCV in Lincoln

Executives:

Party		Governors
Labor Party		16 (+4)
Federalist Party		12 (+2)
Democratic Alliance		8 (+1)
Liberal Party		1 (+1)
Peace Party		1 (+1)

Party		Mayors
Labor Party		2 (+1)
Federalist Party		1
Democratic Alliance		1

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance		Seats
Labor Party/Allies		2454 (+383)
Federalist Party		1620 (+357)
Democratic Alliance/Allies		1256 (+145)
Liberal Party		400 (+128)
Peace Party		93 (+77)
Dixieland Patriots Party		22 (=)
Green Party		20 (=)
Law and Justice Party		1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – Featuring somewhat decreased turnout - while still higher than in July or August -, this month’s local and state elections saw Atlasians from ten different states voting after a particularly intense month of campaigning, voters going to the polls one week after the October 2020 Presidential Election and the victory of the Labor ticket against the joint DA/Federalist opposition effort.

This month observers agreed Labor had finally managed to win the cycle after delivering increasingly strong performances over the past couple of months, maintaining their near impenetrable hold over Fremont and, crucially, capturing the battleground of Texas following an exhaustive effort in which party officials "threw the kitchen sink" at the crucial state. It is believed Labor's efforts were significantly aided both due to momentum gained after the presidential victory and due to pacts with the rising Peace Party, amplifying the effect of their campaigning against a consistently divided opposition. Choosing the controversy over the High Speed Rail as their key weapon to bludgeon the opposition and multiplying the number of events held by their officerholders, Labor was able to inflict significant damage on the Federalists and the Democratic Alliance, another important factor in their overall victory. However, there were signs of trouble for the future, exemplified by a surprise defeat in New Jersey (credited to the introduction of regional RCV), the backfiring of a couple of ads, and particularly an excessive concentration of campaigning on the last day, which was left by many to be something of a waste.

Conversely, it was now time for the Federalist Party to be outgunned on a number of battlegrounds, only managing to defend Kentucky and narrowly seize Vermont - due to RCV - against the Liberals in another surprise result. It was generally argued that the Federalist campaign itself was for the most part competent in terms of its overall pitch - including a relatively clever focus on specific grpup of voters -, in spite of a number of gaffes which may have muddled their economic message up to a point. However, they both sustained consistent fire from the Labor-Peace effort and were overwhelmed in both battlegrounds of Missouri and Texas, which were only lost by very narrow margins. For their own part, the Democratic Alliance was bolstered by Ninja's performance in the presidential election, but their very limited campaigning - smartly focused on local issues - and sustained enemy attacks ensured further loss of electoral ground in a number of states. However, the introduction of RCV proved to be a blessing, as a consolidation of the anti-Labor vote (and a number of missteps by Labor) helped the DA secure the NJ Governorship.

This, in turn, left the Liberals and particularly the Peace Party as the more successful challengers, the first repeating and expanding on previously strong performances and the second matching, in a way, the quality of effort shown by the Democratic Alliance in their previous August breakthough. Although there was a perception of controversial choices in the Liberal campaign - their San Francisco pitch won the ire of NIMBY voters despite gaining others, and the repeat of a Labor-made anti-Federalist ad in order to criticize it actually expanded its negative effect -, observers were impressed by the Liberal success in choosing smart state issues in which to run, which had a clear impact on their success in Fremont and the capture of the Guam governorship. For their part, the Peace Party ended months of absence on the campaign trail with a vengeance, displaying a clear talent in terms of positive and negative advertising as well as an ability to stay on message to persuade both left-wing and infrequent voters. The combination of a strong campaign - which managed to overcome effective Federalist attacks - with electoral arrangements with Labor narrowly won them the Missouri governorship on the first try, an accomplishment they could well repeat.

Next month voters will go to the polls on New Mexico, Hawaii, Nebraska, Louisiana, Florida, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, the Northern Marianas, and the city of Chicago.

[Lumine]

The DA is Navy according to the census/wiki so the next time you do polling, you should probably change that.

They shall conform to my authority as Pontifex Maximus and learn to love the blue color.

(Right, will try to change this later on)

[Lumine]

Multiple states IRL have effectively shut down again due to a massive surge in cases - what is the effect of this in Atlasia?

I'll give a pandemic update when I have the time (will take a while), but I can say this is not the case in Atlasia. There are some troublesome areas, but the general trends remain favorable.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: November 2020
Labor triumphs across the board, captures seven governorships,
Liberals surge as an alternative in Fremont and Lincoln, secure Maine,
Federalist offensive conquers Chicago, loses ground across the South
Peace benefits from alliances, Democratic Alliance absent from the campaign trail

Executives:

Party		Governors
Labor Party		23 (+7)
Federalist Party		12 (=)
Democratic Alliance		8 (=)
Liberal Party		2 (+1)
Peace Party		2 (+1)

Party		Mayors
Labor Party		2 (=)
Federalist Party		2 (+1)
Democratic Alliance		1 (=)

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance		Seats
Labor Party/Allies		2982 (+528)
Federalist Party		1845 (+225)
Democratic Alliance/Allies		1294 (+38)
Liberal Party		622 (+222)
Peace Party		138 (+45)
Dixieland Patriots Party		22 (=)
Green Party		20 (=)
Law and Justice Party		1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – Featuring decreasing but still strong turnout, this month’s local and state elections saw voters in ten states giving new verdicts on the efforts of current political parties a month after the latest presidential election, and a few weeks before President MB's first midterm election.

Coming off from a strong performance in October and greatly aided by presidential coattails and a favorable map in terms of demographics, the Labor Party undoubtedly also benefited from a strong and nationwide electoral offensive, matching previously successful examples set by the Federalists and the Democratic Alliance in previous cycles. Consciously choosing to fight across several different states while drawing specific fire on key battlegrounds, a team effort by prominent Labor politicians created a strong sense of momentum, combining both issues with clever advertising and/or attacks on rival parties to seize a dominant position. The rewards of this combination of factors were substantial even in comparison, perhaps highlighting Labor's continued advantage in terms of membership. Though the general perception shared by experts was that the campaign had avoided damaging mistakes, there were reports of voter confusion - and or backlash - surrounding some of the campaign language and/or characterizations of rival parties, and a certain amount of last minute efforts were thought to have had less impact than desired.

Much like the Democratic Alliance and the Federalist Party had assumed alternating roles as the main apparent opposition to the Labor Party, this time it was the Liberal Party's chance to seize that role as the second most active party, featuring continued tours both by the party leadership and its new members. Experts continue to agree that the Liberals are still somewhat hampered in terms of the depth and variety of their efforts despite their persistent activity, but a combination of consistently clever use of local issues and a void left by the lack of campaigning by other opposition parties - leaving entire states to the Liberals to make an impact - was seen to have allowed the party to seize the Maine governorship and maintain a sense of growth and momentum which, much like the Democratic Alliance after its August triumph, may be of help in future contests.

The Federalist Party continued to be outgunned for a second consecutive month, with observers believing the party may have chosen to focus only on specific battlegrounds only to find many of their efforts surpassed by the effective deployment of the Labor machine - which digital consultant Brad Parscale described as the "Death Star" - and by the damaging Labor-Peace alliance, which may have kept Delaware out of reach. However, it was also generally agreed the actual campaigning done, while perhaps suffering from a lack of variety, did prove effective in a number of areas. This was displayed in full effect by Speaker Cao's tireless efforts in the city of Chicago, an expected Labor stronghold which slowly but surely became competitive - despite a last minute Labor counteroffensive - until a strong performance on Election Day turned into a mayoral victory due to RCV.

This, in turn, left the Democratic Alliance and the Peace Party running behind, but with significant differences. A lack of presence in most states resulted in Peace receding back after a strong October performance, but the party was both able to secure the Delaware governorship thanks to the Labor-Peace pact and inflict a certain measure of damage on the Liberals through their negative advertising, including a successful mention to the highly controversial salt tax in Lincoln. Perhaps the party most damaged by the November results was the Democratic Alliance, both due to its lack of presence and due to significant momentum by other parties - particularly the Liberals - driving previously soft DA voters into supporting other candidates. However, it is argued by some that such losses for the DA and the Peace Party could well be temporary and short-lived, depending on future efforts. Experts also cite the introduction of RCV in the South for executive offices as an interesting development in which said parties may also benefit or play an interesting role.

Next month voters will go to the polls in Nevada, Oregon, Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Connecticut, Atlasian Samoa, and the city of Houston.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Paflagonia faces Presidential showdown
Paflagonian Unity proclaims Gerta Baer as Acting President,
Von Kummerspeck and Baer battle for domestic and foreign legitimacy,
Political tension reaches a climax

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - The ongoing "Paflagonian Crisis" has now reached its third month since the start of opposition-led protests against President Adolf Von Kummerspeck, originally based around accusations of electoral fraud and authoritarianism and now increasingly related to a strong push for drastic social, political and economic change in the battered European country. A general strike supported by key trade unions has been suspended and restarted at different days as the security forces join the police in increasingly harsh attempts at a political crackdown, often applying tactics already used by Beijing with considerable success against the dying protest movement in Hong Kong. With the strain of police and security tactics weakening some of the mass protests, the opposition coalition known as Paflagonian Unity (PU) has undertaken a bold step in an attempt to force Kummerspeck to stand down or his allies to force his resignation.

After a heated and spirited debate - involving a weeks long deadlock over the formation of a new cabinet -, the PU has decided to form a "transitional government", invoking the seemingly successful example provided by Venezuela after the ouster of General Padrino. Appointing former Minister for Justice Gerta Baer (SPP) as Acting President and having her take the oath of office at a large rally in Würstburg's Debrecener Square, the PU has former an alternative government which they assert is "the legitimate government of the people of Paflagonia", calling for immediate snap elections and arguing that Von Kummerspeck has forfeited his moral right to govern the country after the alleged deaths of dozens during the ongoing protests. This, in turn, has led to a mad dash by both Baer and Kummerspeck to secure foreign support to cement the legitimacy of their respective governments.

As of today, several European Union governments have signaled their support for Acting President Baer and are expected to offer formal recognition as well as support for an electoral solution to the crisis. Conversely, Kummerspeck has received strong statements of support from Moscow, Beijing and particularly from Prime Minister Orbán in neighboring Hungary, with unconfirmed reports of Hungarian advisors and military aid having been seen crossing the Paflagonian border. The next few days will be crucial to determine the fate of Paflagonia, with actors such as the Paflagonian military and relevant foreign governments being perceived as the key for a political victory for Baer or Kummerspeck, either of which would have dramatic consequences for Paflagonia.

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

Pardon controversy develops
Mixed reaction to Presidential pardons,
Activist groups and NGO's praise what they perceive a step forward on civil liberties,
Former FBI agents and families of victims denounce measure as unfair

NYMAN, Atlasia - Following the steps of now former President Pericles, who granted a historic pardon to Native Atlasian activist - and convicted murderer - Leonard Peltier a few months ago, President MB's sweeping pardon of a number of individuals convicted of a number of arguably political criminal offences has led to a heated debate both on the merits of the Presidential pardons and their overall meaning in terms both of criminal justice and domestic security. The pardons include famous individuals such as Theodore Kaczynski, AKA the "Unabomber", members of the Weather Underground, the Black Panther, the Earth Liberation Front, and so on, and cover offenses which range from bank robbery and money laundering to several counts of murder.

On the favorable side, former members of said organizations have celebrated the pardons as a vindication of their belief that those convictions were fundamentally unfair and politically motivated, and in this they have been joined by a number of political activists. Native American activists in particular celebrated Peltier's release a few months ago, resulting in a low profile celebration in North Dakota. They have also been joined a number of NGO's associated with criminal justice, human rights or minority interests, many of which allege at least some of the convictions addressed by the pardons may have been the result of a number of prejudices within the Atlasian criminal justice system.

Conversely, the presidential decision has sparked outrage among victims of the now pardoned individuals and their families, particularly those involved in murder cases. Many have stepped forward to speak to the media or stage small or individual acts of protest in Nyman, arguing the pardons are an insult to the memory of their loved ones. A substantial number of former FBI agents - including two former FBI directors - have signed an open letter criticizing the move, stating that it both undermines the work of the FBI and that in spite of their advancing age some of the pardoned individuals are still a danger to society. With constitutional experts now starting to debate on the merits of the presidential pardon system and amidst vigorous support or criticism of the President's decision, an interesting debate is to follow.

NEWS UPDATE / REGIONAL

Salt Tax defeated in Lincoln!
Referendum overturns legislative measure to place a 20% salt tax,
Significant criticism directed towards Lincoln Council for passing the measure,
Fast food chains wary of expanding operations in Lincoln

NEW YORK CITY, Lincoln - With the results now certified, over 70% of Lincoln voters have decided to overturn a highly controversial measure passed by the Lincoln Council last month, the Sanction Fast Food Act. Citing a need to tackle high levels of obesity, the measure called for a 20% tax on salt, a 30% tax on processed meats, a 20% tax on sugar, fines for food establishments, and urged the public not to work or even consume products at the popular McDonald's fast food restaurants. Although the measure did have its own defenders, with a number of doctors and health experts coming out in favor of urgent and decisive measures to combat obesity, public backlash was sudden and was not limited to prominent politicians: it is reported McDonalds's sales across Lincoln skyrocketed in the days after the passage and up to the current referendum.

Extensive criticism was levied at how the bill might impact low income families across the region, and a number of medical experts - contradicting their colleagues - noted the impact of a lack of salt could be "catastrophic". The regional government was also believed to have been in serious danger of a difficult legal process, with both McDonald's and several fast food chains and meat processing industries prepared to launch lawsuits against the bill. With the result of the latest referendum and the current backlash - which may have impacted a number of local races - many believe the idea will remain dormant for the time being, although its impact before being overturned is difficult to calculate. For the time being, reports indicate a number of fast food chains are wary of expanding operations in Lincoln due to fear of the Council taking restrictive measures, and are eyeing Fremont or the South to either build new restaurants or move some of their operations into a safer territory.

[Lumine]

CLARIFICATION / NATIONAL

SALT Deductions

Upon request and for clarification, having taken into account context, Game Engine mechanisms and, in particular, upon review of legislative discussions, the Pontifex Maximus makes a provisional ruling: it is temporarily ruled - deferring to the Comptroller General in case of a different understanding of the issue - that State and Local Tax (SALT) Deductions both exist in Atlasia and have been treated as existing by previous legislation both on the federal and state level, with no equivalent seemingly existing at the regional government level. As legislative proposals stating the specific level of the federal cap have not been successful, it it ruled the caps are at the level previous to the (non-existent in Atlasia) Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 in the United States of America.

Explanation: Struggled with this one, as it is a complex subject (that I knew nothing about) and one in which legislators have assumed a specific reality in previous limited debates. Thus the answer is provisional, and partly based on then Deputy GM Encke's comments in 2019. If the answer does not make economic sense, it will be best for the outgoing or incoming Comptroller General to issue a more sensible ruling.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

REPORT / ELECTORAL

International government changes
A list of relevant electoral results and government changes,
relating to the last few weeks of 2020

JAPAN

• Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (LDP) voluntarily steps down as in OTL. Yoshihide Suga elected new Prime Minister of Japan.

NEW ZEALAND

• Jacinda Ardern (LAB) defeats Todd Müller (NAT) in a historic landslide at the October 2020 General Election, gains strong absolute majority.

BOLIVIA

• Luis Arce (MAS) narrowly misses victory on the first round of the Bolivian Presidential Election. Arce subsequently defeats Carlos Mesa (FRI) with a convincing margin.

VENEZUELA

• Elections are finally held to elect the new Venezuelan government, a contest described by international observers as "free and fair". Congress elects a center-left plurality, center-right nominee Leopoldo López (VP) defeats Héctor Rodríguez (PSUV) for President. Transitional government holds difficult but relatively peaceful transfer of power.

PERU

• Substantial political strife in Peru as President Martin Vizcarra is impeached by Congress twice and replaced by opposition legislator Manuel Merino. Merino steps down after mass protests, Constitutional Court rules impeachment process violated the Constitution and reinstates Vizcarra.

[Lumine]

Glad the NZ result is the same.

A few extra seats for Labour, but yes.

Going through the pandemic update now, which should - I think! - end the present backlog and leave us up to date.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

Atlasia battles the Coronavirus (V)
Death toll at 82,000 following false second wave,
Pfizer announcement leads to hopes of a vaccine amidst international competition,
new "danger zones" after Thanksgiving will require political decisions

NYMAN, Atlasia - Ten months after the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in New Jersey and Washington state, the Republic of Atlasia has slid from third to fourth in terms of total casualties, being now below Brazil, India and China at a total of 82,000 deaths. Having added from 7,000 deaths over the past three to four months, experts attribute these to previous infection increases in the highly populated states of California and Texas, which formed part of a much feared "Second Wave" which has not yet materialized nationwide. Indeed, despite the enormous strain posed by the pandemic, the still significant death toll and the rising resentment and defiance against various types of lockdown and quarantine measures, there are clear signs of hope amidst the signs of trouble.

On the positive side of the news, a recent announcement by Pfizer that their COVID-19 vaccine could be effective up to 90% led to widespread hopes that 2021 could be a year of successful vaccination efforts to combat the pandemic. With the Oxford vaccine also showing promising tests and with a Russian and a Chinese vaccine also claiming encouraging results thus far, a number of experts are hopeful that the upcoming tests will allow a vaccine to be licensed and distributed, but many warn such hopes may be premature in light of future testing and/or the virus's own resiliency and ability to adapt. Another positive development has been the successful stall or disappearance of cases in much of Atlas's noncontagious states, as well as the growing number of states with positive trends.

On the negative side, the most pressing concern is provided by the effects of this year's Thanksgiving, in which a unexpectedly large number of Italians travelled to meet with their families. This increase in movement has led to serious concerns among health experts, who have identified a growing number of cases in three "danger zones": One in California, one in Texas and neighboring states, and one in New York and New Jersey. Although many state officials warn that further restrictive measures could have harsh social consequences in a population increasingly resistant and rebellious against such measures, others warn an inability to contain those trends within an increasingly positive context could well led to the feared "Second Wave" which has already hit Europe and China with brutal effects.

VISUAL REPORT / PANDEMIC

Coronavirus by State - November 2020

1. Overall trends
(Clean, Favorable, Contained and Negative)

[Lumine]

Can I just say how much I love that the Paflagonia storyline, begun by Kalwejt in 2016 and continued with major additions by two successive GMs, is still ongoing more than four years later? In spite of problems with activity on the party of the CG, this is a major success story for those who fought to make the game engine relevant at the ConCon and since.

Oddly enough I disliked the notion of inventing countries back in 2016, but Paflagonia has grown on me and it's a pleasure to write about it. Plus, it's also a symbolic way to honor Kal now that he's - regrettably - gone from the game and forum.

Who do the Conservagreens support in Paflagonia, the opposition or the dictatorship from general von Kummerspeck?

The ConservaGreens loathe Kummerspeck, who deposed the late President von Bongbong in the original coup. They don't like Baer either (they hate the SPP as well), but some of their members are an uneasy part of Paflagonian Unity.

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: December 2020
Labor holds the line, but faces disappointment in the South,
Democratic Alliance stages limited comeback, Peace secures its third governorship,
Federalist and Liberal gains contained due to varying factors,
Unprecedented negative campaigning takes hold, RCV alters Southern results

December 2020 - National Results

Executives:

Party		Governors
Labor Party		28 (+5)
Federalist Party		13 (+1)
Democratic Alliance		10 (+2)
Peace Party		3 (+1)
Liberal Party		2 (=)

Party		Mayors
Federalist Party		3 (+1)
Labor Party		2 (=)
Democratic Alliance		1 (=)

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance		Seats
Labor Party/Allies		3442 (+440)
Federalist Party		2134 (+289)
Democratic Alliance/Allies		1571 (+277)
Liberal Party		786 (+165)
Peace Party		241 (+103)
Dixieland Patriots Party		22 (=)
Green Party		20 (=)
Law and Justice Party		1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – Featuring increased turnout in spite of the proximity of Christmas to election day, this month’s local and state elections saw voters in nine states - and one city - giving new verdicts on the efforts of current political parties in the aftermath of the December midterms, coinciding with the start of the February 2021 Presidential race.

The current set of elections featured intense and dramatic campaigning amidst a backdrop of increased usage of regional and national advertising, with many experts describing the process as "notoriously bitter". This due to the increased role of negative campaigning via advertising or campaign rhetoric, which was felt to be something of a contrast with some - not all - of the previous contests. What the long term consequences of this development may end up being are still the subject of speculation and analysis (with leading newspapers and commentators offering their own takes on the subject), but electoral experts suggested it had both a relevant impact on some of the results and even in the behavior of voters, although not always in the manner intended by the parties. This, coupled with the dramatic effects of introducing RCV into the South executive races made for an exciting if also chaotic month, said to be the subject of upcoming - and competing - books by journalists John Heilemann and Michael Wolff.

Entering December after two landslide victories against a divided - and at times demoralized - opposition, the Labor Party attempted another strong offensive on the battleground states, featuring both a spirited and populist defense of the Labor record (particularly the Red Green New Deal, one of the main campaign talking points) as well as a substantially more negative tone, in a strategy described with some as risky in light of some perceived minor missteps back in November. On the brighter side for Labor, a substantial part of their advertising was perceived to have been both effective - anti-Liberal ads in particular being described as "viciously effective" and memorable, coupled with reasonably strong performances by old and new campaigners alike (with highlights in Ohio, Oregon and Houston). On the darker side, it is argued that some of the rhetoric and attack lines did not land as well as expected (perhaps even influencing RCV results), and a number of gaffes - including a number of unenforced errors in states like Georgia or Atlasian Samoa - were exploited by the opposition.

A surprising return to electoral success was staged by the Democratic Alliance, which after a number of low profile performances returned in force to the campaign trail. With relatively decent ground performances - if not nearly as effective as that of other parties - and a focus on public transportation, the DA continued to innovate in terms of advertising, a key factor both in generating positive momentum even if states not visited (and in which the DA vote share had been collapsing lately) as well as forcing Labor to spend a substantial part of their efforts in recovering lost ground due to negative momentum. However, Labor attacks, a lower floor generated by previous defeats and a still strong Liberal performance denied the DA a stronger surge, with their surprise Georgia victory being partly attributed due to the effects of RCV. Still, a number of efforts were less successful than desired, including an attack ad on classrooms which was deemed to be "confusing", and a controversial use of material in an anti-Labor ad.

The Federalist Party, while less present than their rivals, also made an effort to show up with the traditionally strong rhetorical performances of some of their usual campaigners - some of which, however, may have been perceived as overtly intellectual by certain voters - whilst seemingly making a strategic choice to focus on Georgia and defend Southern positions. This, in turn, may have been a factor in Federalist losses in other states to DA and Liberal momentum, although some note the Federalists were seemingly effective in seizing on a particular Labor gaffe. That aside, it was perhaps the Federalists who were most affected by the introduction of RCV, as the combination of opposition forces denied them Georgia by small margins, pushed them into almost beating Peace in Arkansas, and, ironically, ensured their victory in Houston in spite of a highly competent Labor effort. For their part, the Peace Party continued to display a competent and effective use of advertising despite limited efforts, the combination of said advertising - one of the few not to go negative - and a pro-stimulus message sealing their third overall victory in Arkansas.

Having steadily risen into a major player over the course of six months, the Liberal Party saw their growth limited during December. A competent campaign performance - if arguably less effective in terms of the issues - saw a significantly more ambitious use of advertising, with some of the more uplifting or clever pieces receiving praise or having a clear impact, and some of the anti-Labor ads also helping in the construction of negative momentum. On the other hand, other efforts were seen as more questionable - including an ad which was believed to have aided the DA, and a particular campaign pledge for Atlasian Samoa that was widely seen as backfiring -, and the apparent Liberal decision to gamble on the issue of immigration causing different - if mostly positive - results in different states. Perhaps the most crucial steps in halting their rise were both the newfound competitiveness of the Democratic Alliance and a number of strong Labor attacks.

The end result of this confusing, adversarial process has resulted in Labor - in spite of drastic southern losses - now holding roughly half the governorships in the nation after five additional gains. The Federalists and the Democratic Alliance fight for second place, with the Federalist national edge on mayoralties suggesting reports of their appeal to urban voters - as opposed to the Labor stronghold on certain rural areas - may be more truthful than expected. With regional parties having for the most part joined forces with the national ones, Peace and the Liberals end 2020 in a still strong position, having both seized five governorships from their rivals and placed themselves to be more competitive in upcoming contests. Although anecdotal evidence suggests the bitterness of the December campaign may have a number of unforeseen impacts - it's been suggested only the immediate preferences as opposed to later held runoffs prevented a large turnout drop-off to elect governors and mayors -, this is just mere speculation.

Next month voters will go to the polls in Colorado, Washington, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, Rhode Island, Illinois, New Hampshire and New York City, and potentially deliver a verdict on incumbent governments.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Day of Terror in Paflagonia
Facing internal collapse, Von Kummerspeck orders military crackdown,
Acting President Baer arrested, opposition leaders targeted for assassination by loyalist militias,
Unconfirmed reports of military units refusing to obey the Field Marshal's orders

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - After taking the dramatic step of forming an "alternative government" in order to secure the removal of Field Marshal von Kummerspeck from power, Paflagonian Unity (PU) closed ranks behind Acting President Gerta Baer, who set to the task of consolidating her administration. Her initial efforts were aided immensely not only by the immediate diplomatic recognition offered by most of the European Union, but by the seemingly crucial decision of the Atlasian government - via executive order - to recognize Baer and treat Kummerspeck as devoid of any legitimacy. The Paflagonian President was reportedly furious at this series of developments, with rumors that a proposed crackdown was only halted at the last moment by the intervention of the Army Chief of Staff, General Narriman. A tense and at times violent standoff ensued during the month of December, with Baer gaining further foreign recognition, bolstering support among the newly reactivated ConservaGreens, and securing a handful of defections, but failing to secure substantial police and military defections from the government loyalists.

Amidst reports of Von Kummerspeck growing increasingly paranoid and surrounded by Hungarian advisors as opposed to his usual inner circle, the intense, unyielding political tension finally exploded at the dawn of December 30th. By all indications, it appears von Kummerspeck has given the greenlight to the so called "Retribution", an operation based on state-sanctioned violence which has resulted in a day of carnage across the beleaguered country. Indeed, Würstburg and other cities woke up to intense troop and militia movement across several key avenues and buildings, as well as to the sound of gunfire. Among other notable events, Acting President Gerta Baer was beaten up and arrested by a commando squad, which raided her residence and gunned down many of her guards and staff; opposition businessman Norbert Weltschmerz narrowly avoided kidnapping by militiamen; and the body of former Presidential candidate and Kummerspeck critic Tender Wurst was found in a ditch outside the capital, riddled with bullets.

The opposition has reacted quickly in spite of heavy blows delivered by the "Retribution", with several key figures - including 90 year old former President Helmut Kohlwurst, whose residence was firebombed - escaping arrest or even assassination by loyalist units and attempting to coordinate their efforts. Interestingly, although several gatherings of protesters have been assaulted by militia - with reports of several deaths -, the largest protest at Debrecener Square is as of yet untouched, with military units in the area not participating in the repressive efforts of the militia. Despite the "Retribution" also temporarily disrupting much of the media and news sources, reports in social media talk of military resistance to Kummerspeck's orders and even of entire units rejecting directives to mobilize. With Gerta Baer's whereabouts currently unknown, and President Kummerspeck declining to make an official statement, all eyes are on loyalist General Narriman and opposition retired Colonel Zeller, neither of which has been seen in public.

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Isaias Afwerki assassinated!
Eritrean President shot dead by sniper mid-speech,
Special Forces searches for assassins, Republic of Djibouti is main suspect,
Asmara in chaos as Afwerki's family, followers and the Eritrean military fight for power

ASMARA, Eritrea - 27 years of undisputed rulership over the State of Eritrea - in a type of regime critics have described as totalitarian in nature, and which the UN accused of severe human rights violations - ended today in a surprising development in the capital city of Asmara, as President Isaias Afwerki's strident and bombastic speech touting the accomplishments of the ongoing war between Eritrea and Djibouti was cut shot by a sniper. A single and seemingly perfect shot hit Afwerki in the head, and in spite of the efforts of his security detail he was pronounced dead on arrival upon reaching the hospital. It is reported by foreign media sources that the city of Asmara has been put under lockdown and the borders closed as General Eyob Fessahaye's Special Forces stage an intense manhunt for the assassins, with a government spokesperson tentatively blaming the Republic of Djibouti - partially invaded last March by Eritrea - as being behind this assassination plot.

Due to the highly personal rule of Awferki - who was said to humiliate, torture and terrorize his subordinates - and the lack of formal or informal successors, a constitutional crisis has erupted as there is no immediate successor to assume the Eritrean President. Indeed, there is talk of intense political and military maneuvering within Asmara, as different groups attempt to secure enough military support to make a bid for power. Despite the enigma that Eritrean politics poses to most observers, some potential candidates for the succession have been identified in Afwerki's eldest son Abraham; General Filipos Woldeyohannes, the Chief of Staff; Yemane Gebreab, influential politician, and Brigadier General Tekle Kiflay, said to be deeply involved in human trafficking. With all four men described as loathing each other, the future of Eritrea - and of its conflict with Djibouti - remains most unclear.

NEWS UPDATE / REGIONAL

FBI foils Kansas terrorist plot
Governor James Benson targeted by so-called "Pathfinders",
Federal agents prevent the kidnapping of the Governor via raid, 13 arrests are made,
"Commonwealth Movement" and "Unionist Coalition" join forces to condemn the plot

TOPEKA, Kansas - Having steadily grown into a serious and divisive political issue, polarization over the debate over the regional status of Kansas reached a new height today as a successful raid by FBI agents a dozen arrested as part of a now unsuccessful terrorist plot. With the pro-Fremont membership campaign seemingly defeated in the polls after the September state elections - which resulted in the election of a pro-South Governor -, the FBI was alerted a few weeks ago as to a number of militia groups (both pro-South and pro-Fremont) inspired by the Liberal Riots, one of which appeared to be particularly concerning. Describing themselves as the "Pathfinders", a cell of pro-Fremonter radicals considered the newly elected state government as illegitimate and the result of widespread fraud, and thus had resolved to take drastic action.

Postponing a proposal to storm the State Capitol for a later phase, it appears the "Pathfinders" had decided to start their ambitious plan by kidnapping Governor James Benson (K-DA), without a clear consensus as to what was to be his eventual fate. Having grown convinced of the seriousness of the threat, FBI agents were authorized to conduct an ambitious undercover operation. Upon learning of an imminent move on Governor Benson, a raid took place late at night on December 29th, resulting in at least thirteen arrests of "Pathfinders". The news has resulted in widespread shock within Kansas itself, with Governor Benson denouncing the plot and lamenting the political polarization of the last few months.

In a more encouraging sign, both the pro-South Unionist Coalition and the pro-Fremont Commonwealth Movement staged a public event in which their respective leaders - Jane Hunter and Hank Secord - associated themselves with Benson's remarks, thanked the FBI and the Administration for foiling the plot, whilst denouncing the use of political violence within the Kansas context as "unacceptable and beyond the pale".

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Paflagonian Revolution?
Bloody street battles between protesters and militia, casualties continue to rise,
Televised presidential speech cut short and replaced by joint Narriman-Zeller address,
Military turns against Von Kummerspeck, tanks headed to Würstburg

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - Determined to crush the large opposition movement that had grown into a formidable foe over several months of strikes and protests, Field Marshal Adolf von Kummerspeck's crackdown gamble appears to be spiraling out of control as of the last few hours, in a series of events which could determine the fate of the nation. Although the opposition was temporarily disrupted by the arrest of Acting President Baer and the assassination of Tender Wurst, part of the surviving leadership of Paflagonian Unity joined forces with new opposition leaders like former President Kohlwurst and used social and foreign media to rally the public, arguing that unless Paflagonians took to the streets everything could be lost. Continued silence and inactivity from the military meant that only the police and the pro-Kummerspeck militia were able to take on the protesters, leading to bitter and bloody infighting - and dozens of casualties - across the dark, bitter New Year.

President Kummerspeck reacted harshly at the inability to complete the "Retribution" with the required speed, the immediate condemnation from Atlasia and most of the international community - and the imminent placement of harsh EU sanctions - reinforcing the need for a swift conclusion. Determined to act, von Kummerspeck fired Defence Minister Kriegler (who was shortly after found dead on his office, in what a government spokesperson described as "suicide by gunshot") and prepared a blustering, harsh speech to be televised from the Presidential palace. Charging Paflagonian Unity with treason and asserting his intention to cleanse the nation from "foreign traitors", the signal from the state channel was abruptly cut and replaced with a broadcast from a military base. Amidst a backdrop of high-ranking military officers, General Narriman (Chief of Staff) and retired Colonel Zeller (Paflagonian Unity) charged Kummerspeck with treason instead, arguing he had lost the moral right to govern the nation and announcing the Paflagonian military would no longer support the President.

With the military plotters seemingly in control of state media - now running non-stop denunciations of Kummerspeck -, there are reports of gunfights between military units, between the military and Kummerspeck militiamen, as well as of intense movement in the Hungarian border. Broadcasting from the outskirts of Würstburg, a BBC crew has showed images of tanks moving towards the airport and the main highway, leading analysts to suggest the elite 1st Armored Brigade has been deployed on Narriman's orders to seize control of the capital. Rumors have intensified as the "Retribution" enters its third day, with the dramatic military announcement and the continued street resistance of the crowds being now described as a potential "Revolution" in the making. Von Kummerspeck is believed to remain at the Presidential Palace, his next movements unknown.

[Lumine]

CLARIFICATION / NATIONAL AND REGIONAL

Federal and Regional Budgets

For clarification, without intromission into Comptroller General prerogatives, and having taken into account context and the following pieces of legislation: Second Continuing Resolution to Avoid Shutdown (Federal, 2020); Budget FY 2021 (Fremont, 2020); Southern Budget Act (South, 2020); and Resolution to Establish the Budget of the Lincoln Government (Lincoln, 2019), is it confirmed that:

• The Federal government remains funded until January 31st, 2021 by virtue of Congressional resolution.
• The Fremont regional government is funded until December 2021, via its 2021 budget.
• The South regional government is funded until April 2021, via its 2020-2021 budget.
• The Lincoln regional government has been in a government shutdown since September 2020.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Paflagonian Revolution (Part I)
General Narriman secures the capital with tanks, hundreds dead,
Field Marshal von Kummerspeck flees by helicopter, current whereabouts unknown,
Uncertainty reigns as crowds take to the streets and no government has been formed

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - As the so called "Retribution" by Field Marshal Adolf von Kummerspeck enters its seventh day, the dramatic turn of events started on December 30th has grown into what is now described as the "Paflagonian Revolution". Following a dramatic televised speech - after Kummerspeck's own address was cut off -, Chief of Staff General Narriman has led most of the Paflagonian military in an uprising against the government, leading the elite 1st Armored Brigade to storm the capital city of Würstburg. Bitter infighting took place in the course of the next couple of days as Kummerspeck loyalists and militiamen created barricades of their own, and it was only the combination of a renewed popular uprising with a steady rate of defections in the government ranks that allowed the tanks to push through. During the night of January 4th, opposition forces finally secured Würstburg and all of its key buildings, the Presidential Palace - now riddled with bullets - being last.

This key victory by anti-Kummerspeck forces has provided the opposition with a renewed momentum, with government militias retreating back to rural areas or dispersing as more and more commanders declare against the Field Marshal. Oddly enough, von Kummerspeck's whereabouts are unknown after he was reported leaving the presidential palace via helicopter before it was stormed by Narriman's men, with rampant speculation surrounding a potential escape to a friendlier climate in neighboring Hungary or in Russia, or a tactical withdrawal to a loyalist unit, perhaps in the hopes of a civil war in the Syrian mold. In his absence, crowds have exponentially grown and taken to the streets to celebrate and burn Kummerspeck in effigy, with reports indicating that a number of government officials have been arrested either by military forces or by opposition mobs.

However, a general sense of uncertainty now surrounds Paflagonia not only due to the next moves by the Field Marshal, but due to the lack of a government. With Acting President Baer still missing and the surviving Paflagonian Unity leaders seemingly paralyzed to choose a successor, eyes are turning on General Narriman - and on Colonel Zeller - in terms of his actual intentions, his successful gamble to turn on the President and his storming of the capital providing a tempting and perhaps unique opportunity. At least for the time being, observers agree that this Paflagonian Revolution might just be beginning.

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

The Trial of the Kim dynasty (Part I)

Defendants plead "not guilty" to all charges,
Kim Jong-nam breaks down in court, Kim Yo-jong denounces "western hypocrisy",
Trial expected to last for a long period due to ICC issues

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Months of political tension surrounding the trial for war crimes of the former leadership of North Korea have now entered a new phase with the start of a dramatic trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC), under which 26 ministers, generals and members of the "Kim dynasty" will be tried for a variety of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against South Korea and Japan in 2017-2018, in the course of the Second Korean War and the North Korean Civil War. Although the scope of the trial will be substantially limited after both North Korean President Choe and the UN Security Council declined or failed to allow for an investigation for crimes committed in North Korea proper, leading to speculation on whether some of the lesser defendants might escape conviction.

Two years after their arrest by the Royal Cambodian Army - or their transfer to the Allied Powers by Beijing as part of the peace treaty -, the North Korean leadership started their trial on December 1st, 2020, a day marked by brief opening speeches and by the collective decision by all defendants to declare themselves "not guilty" of all crimes. A marked contrast developed within those who merely refused all guilty or questioned the authority of the court, and those who took on a more fiery or spirited defense of their actions. Perhaps the most noteworthy moments were provided by the - in terms of public perception - two chief defendants: former supreme leader Kim Jong-nam (who had attempted suicide months ago), who broke down in tears after a rambling, incoherent speech; and his half-sister Kim Yo-jong, who made an passionate speech condemning what she described as "pure western hypocrisy", and arguing North Korea had always acted in self-defense against "western imperialism".

Due to the difficulty associated with trying cases before the ICC, and due to the sheer magnitude of documents and evidence regarding both wars, the trial is expected to take months, if not several years before verdicts are reached, in what proves to be a difficult challenge for the International Criminal Court and a media sensation given the high profile nature of the case. Indeed, there is already talk of relevant political figures of the war - including Atlasian politicians - as eventual witnesses for the prosecution in coming months. The trial is also proving to be a continuous source of division for North Korean domestic politics, and the now bitter and declared rivalry between President Choe and Prime Minister Thae is expected to lead to a dramatic outcome before long.

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

Order of the Star Controversy
Presidential decision brings mixed results,
OJ Simpson praises President, accepts gesture in viral online video,
Goldman family bitterly denounces decision, calls it "an insult"

LOS ANGELES, California - Almost 26 years since the controversial acquittal of athlete OJ Simpson in a high profile murder trial which came to dominate pop culture and media in the former United States, the issue of the OJ Simpson trial is back on the futures after a surprising - and unexpected - decision taken by the White House, with the move of last December's issuing of the Order of the Star of Atlasia. Two months after President Pericles awarded his own set, President MB signed Executive Order 011, bestowing a Silver Star on OJ Simpson himself, as well as two technically posthumous ones for Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, both murdered in 1994. The decision was particularly welcomed by Mr. Simpson himself, who after his release on parole in 2017 has turn into something of an internet personality by virtue of controversial statements and actions.

In a Youtube video which has already gone viral, Mr. Simpson praised the President for "doing justice", and reasserted his innocence from the murder of his ex-wife. In this he was followed by a number of his family numbers, a number of fans - particularly in some areas of the African Atlasian community - and defence attorney F. Lee Bailey, the only surviving member of the "Dream Team" who has continued to defend Mr. Simpson. Conversely, the decision to award Simpson the Silver Star drew condemnation from a larger number of groups, particularly feminist groups, who described the decision on very harsh terms. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these criticisms came from Mr. Fred Goldman - father of Ron Goldman, who has only recently started to talk to media -, who recorded a personal video (which has also gone viral) stating his unwavering belief on Simpson's guilty, denouncing the Silver Star award, and condemning the President for causing "deep sorrow" to his and the Brown families.

NEWS UPDATE / REGIONAL

Lincoln shutdown ends
Four month shutdown ended by Continuing Resolution,
Region spent several weeks without legislators noticing the expiration of 2019-2020 regional budget,
Regional programs disrupted, regional workers facing significant hardship

NEW YORK CITY, Lincoln - After a brief debate, the passage of a Continuing Resolution by the Lincoln Council has temporarily restored funding to the region by essentially maintaining the 2019-2020 budget until a new budget is finished. With this ends a regional shutdown of almost four months, one of the longest in recorded Atlasian - and US - history, and one which was not noticed by legislators or regional officeholders until very recently. Having already struggled to pass a budget in previous years, the successful passage of the 2019-2020 budget kept Lincoln funded all the way to September 2020, after which the region went without funding until January 2021. Both the unusual length of this period and the inability of officeholders to notice has drawn sharp condemnation by Lincoln regional workers and other citizens affected by this entire situation, which as been described as "too surreal to be believed."

When interviewed by local media, regional worker Anne McCullough - who went through four months of being furloughed by her agency - tearfully complained "they forgot about us!", expressing her sheer disbelief at the lack of attention placed on the issue both by regional politicians and, to a lesser degree, by federal ones, arguing there was no reason for the region to undergo a shutdown and for it to have gone on for so long, and with little to none public attention or interest. With the passage of the CR previously furloughed regional workers will finally be able to return to work and receive a paycheck, and regional programs previously undercut by having run out of their budget will once again resume. However, experts agree the damage is likely to be very significant and to take place in both the short and long term, outlining some of the personal effects experienced by regional workers who went without pay, as well as the damage inflicted on a number of regional programs.

What the economic consequences of the shutdown will end up being is as of yet unknown, but at the very least, the domestic and social consequences will be felt for a long time.

[Lumine]

I understand you’ve got a lot to work on-and thanks so much for your effort-but is a pandemic  update coming soon? I expect that there will be a substantial surge in cases, this could then create some more policy based activity.

Expect at least one more publication this week (more but not solely focused on the pandemic), with a couple of very important developments.

So yes, one is coming soon. At least two big stories with the pandemic.

[Lumine]

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

Atlasia battles the Coronavirus (VII)
Alarming rise in cases, death toll approaching 90,000 and rising,
Experts confirm second wave, 3 "danger zones" see hospital capabilities outstretched,
Atlasia faces urgent decisions surrounding vaccine approval and deployment

NYMAN, Atlasia - After a number of weeks featuring a number of positive national trends, Atlasia has fallen to what health experts are identifying as a much feared "second wave" of COVID cases, a process already experienced with harsh results by much of Europe, China and much of South America. With an increase in cases already noted in the aftermath of Thanksgiving, the December holidays once again featured increase movement and travel across the nation, as well as a relaxation surrounding personal behavior. As January goes through and with the pandemic close to its one year anniversary within Atlasia, the three danger zones identified by professionals (California, Texas and New York/New Jersey) have seen increasing and now almost exponential growth in cases and in deaths, dragging neighboring states into negative trends as the death toll fast approaches 90,000.

A equally concerning development has been the increasingly reduced capacity of local hospitals - particularly in states with a large population -, despite the health care system's best attempts to contain the renewed spread of the pandemic. Previous measures from past months - including regional restrictions and the government's app - are credited with having aided to prevent an even harsher situation, although there's been significant public debate on whether local, regional and federal authorities should update, expand or reduce some of the decisions taken during 2020. There are also reports of decreased morale within health care workers and medical professionals, many of which have expressed both frustration with the behavior of some parts of the population as well as exhaustion over their ongoing efforts to battle this new wave of the pandemic.

Crucially, Atlasia and its elected representatives will face important choices to make in the realm of vaccination due to a series of developments across the last six weeks. With a number of promising vaccines (Novavax, Sanofi, and Janssen, the latter of which is the only vaccine of a single dose) still in development and months away from finished testing, five vaccines are already being approved and deployed by a number of nations following successful but rushed testing. The five potential vaccines - the origin of which has resulted in political debates regarding their reliability - are:

• Pfizer–BioNTech: A joint Atlasian-German mRNA vaccine, effective up to 95%, requiring extremely cold storage.

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• Moderna: An Atlasia-made mRNA vaccine, effective up to 95%, requiring very cold storage.

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• AstraZeneca: A UK-made viral vector vaccine, effective up to 70-90%, requiring moderately cold storage.

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• Sputnik V: A Russian-made protein subunit vaccine, said to be effective up to 92%, requiring moderately cold storage.

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• Sinovac:A Chinese-made whole virus vaccine, said to be effective between 50 to 80%, requiring moderately cold storage.

Once a vaccine - or several - has been approved by the federal government via the Food and Drug Administration (or FDA, itself dependant of the Attorney General), the issue of deployment of the vaccine will pose important questions to federal, regional and state authorities regarding the vaccine schedule, prioritization for doses, whether it should - or even could - be made mandatory, and so on. Polling suggests between 60 to 70% of Atlasians seem willing to be vaccinated, but the rise of anti-vaccine arguments (and/or conspiracy theories) within the public debate and discourse could also pose additional complications. With the vaccines providing a potential way out of the pandemic, and a second wave wreaking havoc in all three regions, the decisions taken in the next few weeks might well prove decisive in how Atlasia battles the pandemic during the first half of 2021.

VISUAL REPORT / PANDEMIC

Coronavirus by State - January 2021

1. Overall trends
(Clean, Favorable, Contained and Negative)

[Lumine]

How has the winter weather situation compare to the real world? Is the weather as severe? Are the power issues happening?

The weather conditions are exactly the same, with the corresponding effects of it being that severe. I'll try to get into detail if I can get an update done - though I was hoping to wait until after the election -, but to provide some general guidance the situation in Texas is bad and much of the power grid has failed, but not to the extent as in OTL.

Part of this is due the fact that the state - and Atlasia in general - relies far more in renewable energies as opposed to coal/oil, but this only goes so far in light of A. how renewable energy has also failed in OTL (only less so than non-renewable sources), and B. how the implementation of such energy sources has been so rushed and based on very demanding legislation, with the corresponding extra strain on the power grid.