The Acta Publica

[Continential]

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

[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)

[OBD]

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

[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.

[OBD]

Could there be some clarification regarding the status of QANon in this universe? I, for one, would like to know about any pedophilia allegations against me, a legal minor.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Until Lumine reports the COVID numbers, I think we should just go off on real-life trends.

This isn't meant to rush Lumine, but COVID is still an issue and the parties and general public ought to act accordingly.

[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.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

December's map:


_{+Atlasian Samoa and 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.

[Pericles]

Glad the NZ result is the same.

[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.

[Pericles]

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.

Oh nice. If you have a clear scenario for that is there any chance you could share it with me?

[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)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

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.

[Former President tack50]

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

[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".

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

January's map:

_{(plus New York City - Federalist held)}

[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.

[Pericles]

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.

[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.