The Citizen's Dispatch - the official publication of the Game Engine

[Peanut]

The Citizen’s Dispatch
Volume V: NPC elections issue

Ut-ah, that's bad
Reports emerge of lies in Utah Governor Udall's handling of pandemic and death reports

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - The political landscape in the Beehive State was shaken up earlier today as first reports emerged of total incompetence in Governor Udall's administration's death reports.

The incompetence was first spotted by a collaborator here at the Citizen's Dispatch, who noticed that the death rate for children under 10 was amazingly high. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the state's Health department's system for counting deaths only accounted for two digits, so those over 100 years of age were counted as children. Ms. Jennifer Swire, Citizen's Dispatch investigative journalist, set out to determine whether this was indicative of a larger plot to downplay COVID deaths, or an isolated incident. The findings were frankly outrageous.

During the Governor's time in office, the Department's pleas for funding and for information transparency were repeatedly shot down on direct orders from the Governor himself, resulting in a dozen dozens of deaths not being counted - especially those that occurred during outbreaks in nursing homes earlier in the pandemic. Reportedly, aides to the Governor rewrote reports from the Health Department in order to hide the true number of deaths, not to mention the above-mentioned incompetence regarding the counting systems.

When reached for comment, the Governor's office simply stated that the numbers are true and the whole region is already moving beyond the pandemic to a brighter future. However, a recorded call, given to the Citizen's Dispatch by a former aide to Governor Udall, shows the Governor saying that employees needed to "cover this up - we can't have Truman looking bad over in Denver", leaving avenues open to claims that the Governor's recklessness was inspired by efforts to make Fremont First Minister Truman look good - with or without his knowledge. The First Minister, who is currently highly popular and set to have an HBO miniseries based on his political career, and the rest of the Labor Party have not commented on this story.

What's going on with them? Have they been eating cheese?
Labor legislators in Wisconsin stage "protest", grind legislature to a halt

MADISON - State legislators Vivian Baldwin and Thomas Peterson, both Laborites, have reacted to unconfirmed reports that Federalist Governor Bunsen will move to cut state taxes by sleeping over and banging drums before the dais in the State Capitol. They have spent the last two nights, drawing attention to their picturesque display on the floor: signs calling for Governor Bunsen's resignation as "bourgeoisie rabble", pictures of Governor Kaiser Dave and President Sestak with "not far enough!" drawn across their faces, and communist memorabilia like a copy of the Communist Manifesto and the selected writings of infamous former politician TNF.

Ms. Baldwin and Mr. Peterson, who both rank among the state legislators with the highest Twitter followings, have always been very disruptive in legislative proceedings: earlier this session, they introduced copies of TNF bills in the legislature, all of which were quickly struck down by their party leadership and, even if they weren't, would not have fit under the purview of the state legislatures. Despite their inability to pass the billls, the legislators have remained adamant they're doing the right thing, claiming "the Wisconsin proletariat will never truly be free until our government structure is completely changed and the workers can govern themselves".

The Federalist Speaker gave comment to the Citizen's Dispatch, saying that it was impossible to conduct legislative business while the legislators "went on a barefoot picnic and a juvenile sleepover on the House floor", adding they are "disrespecting the people of Wisconsin and it's a shame the Labor Party hasn't condemned them in the strongest possible terms". He also disagreed with the legislators' philosophical views, mentioning that "you know, the Revolution worked in Russia because they were a backwards, you know, agricultural society, they were basically centuries behind in every way, and these two act like Wisconsin is like that as well... oh wait."

Dam, LT!
Financial analysis of proposed Missouri dam predicts windfall for the South

After the Southern Chamber passed the MERAMEC Act, economists were quick to estimate its possible impact on Southern finances, and their report is impressive: in an indubitable win for the Southern Federalist Party, especially in Missouri, projections are that the employment in the area will go up significantly, and public approval of the project clocks in at over 80 percent, as developers start clearing the land for new residences and construction planning begins on the proposed dam.

Elliott stunned
Michigan legislators send letter to Governor Kaiser Dave asking about legality of recall elections

LANSING - A multi-party group of state legislators (5 Fed Representatives, 2 Fed Senators, a Liberal Representative, one Liberal Senator, 3 Labor Representatives and one Labor Senator) have sent a letter to Governor Kaiser Dave asking the General Court to consider rewriting regional state election legislation to allow for a recall election against Governor Elliott, citing reports of incompetence in his handling of the state's finances and mismanagement of the budget. Neither members of the regional government nor DA authorities have commented on this attempt to remove Governor Elliott and, presumably, trigger a recall election.

[Peanut]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1391956155887493123?s=19

[Peanut]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1393989095991435270?s=19

[Peanut]

BREAKING: the unprecedentedly fast impeachment trial of Governor Udall has concluded, and in a 34-5-1 vote (with four Labor and one Federalist votes to acquit, and one Federalist Senator not voting), the (now former) Governor was convicted. The Governor of Utah is now Tasha Robards.

[Peanut]

The Citizen's Dispatch
Special report: Labor convention security threats

VENTURA, CALIFORNIA - We're on the ground here in Ventura at the hotel where most Labor delegates are staying during the party's nominating convention where, across the next month, the Laborite slates will be selected for offices across the country. We interviewed Mr. Don Goodman, the chief of security for the convention, tasked with coordinating efforts between the Secret Service details accompanying high-ranking government officials, Fremont authorities, and private security hired for the event.

He commented that online movements have been concerning, as concerns have become widespread that there will be a "Patriotic March" on the convention hall, to protest continued Labor government. Hotel bookings and online posts concur with this analysis: there is, apparently, an underground effort to disrupt the Labor convention with strong protests sometime in the next few weeks. However, Mr. Goodman says the exact timing of the attack is "hard to tell, for now", but assures potential protestors that security will be very high in the convention. Perhaps more worryingly, he draws attention to the cybernetics of the affair: communication between supporters of far-right conspiracy theories has mostly happened on anonymous message and image boards, and the messaging agreed in these boards is later disseminated through apps like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp to unassuming Atlasians. Their leader is a figure known as R, who portends to give "insider information" that the highest-ranking of Labor politicians are engaged in a worldwide conspiracy to destroy Atlasian democracy.

Their beliefs are as follows:
The higher echelon of the Labor inner circle meet at an unknown location called "Laborcord". Here, they discuss their plot to destroy Atlasia as we know it (starting by subverting the February election results, stealing YT's win, and installing Sestak as an illegitimate President). Additionally, a select few also meet at another place called "Pragcord", where all sorts of shadowy elites conspire with politicians to destroy freedom of thought in Atlasia - and, some claim, even end the existence of Atlasia as a nation.

The theorists have been moderately successful in spreading their debunked "ideology", and Mr. Goodman is worried about their potential both for protests and for cyberattacks on the Labor convention. Both are, he sayhs, "possibilities worth exploring", as all eyes are on the convention hall hoping for a peaceful and traditional show of support among Labor partisans. More information will be shared in due course with the public and Attorney General and First Minister Truman, Governor Feinstein, and Chair OBD.

This report is the first in the Labor Convention series.

[Peanut]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1394455299877113856?s=19

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Not to wreck your game canon but my birthday was last Saturday.

I said it was fast approaching in the context of my response on the pre-Civil War period in the thread (which was on Thursday), because at that time it was.

[Peanut]

Not to wreck your game canon but my birthday was last Saturday.

I said it was fast approaching in the context of my response on the pre-Civil War period in the thread (which was on Thursday), because at that time it was.

Dammit. Well, the statewide celebrations will be this Saturday so as to allow you family time(?) And happy belated birthday!

[AustralianSwingVoter]

Not to wreck your game canon but my birthday was last Saturday.

I said it was fast approaching in the context of my response on the pre-Civil War period in the thread (which was on Thursday), because at that time it was.

Dammit. Well, the statewide celebrations will be this Saturday so as to allow you family time(?) And happy belated birthday!

Or the South canonically celebrates Yankee’s birthday as a public holiday, and like the Queens Birthday it is held on a random day that works with school terms rather than his actual birthday.

[Peanut]

Not to wreck your game canon but my birthday was last Saturday.

I said it was fast approaching in the context of my response on the pre-Civil War period in the thread (which was on Thursday), because at that time it was.

Dammit. Well, the statewide celebrations will be this Saturday so as to allow you family time(?) And happy belated birthday!

Or the South canonically celebrates Yankee’s birthday as a public holiday, and like the Queens Birthday it is held on a random day that works with school terms rather than his actual birthday.

Yes what he said

[West_Midlander]

Yankee Day festivities with fried chicken and tea is based

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1394455299877113856?s=19

https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=427130.msg8095176#msg8095176

Did an executive order to recognize this.

[Biden his time]

Can we get stats for the percentage of the population that has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by region as well as the percentage of households sporting a high-speed internet connection by region, if it isn't too much to ask?

Repeating the second request

[Peanut]

Can we get stats for the percentage of the population that has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by region as well as the percentage of households sporting a high-speed internet connection by region, if it isn't too much to ask?

Repeating the second request

Oh yes, sorry! I'll get it done tomorrow.

[Peanut]

The Citizen’s Dispatch
Special bulletpoints report: High-speed internet access

Key numbers:

• Nationally, 81% of households have access to broadband connection.
• Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington are the states with the highest proportion of broadband users (86%).
• Conversely, the worst performers on the list were Mississippi and Arkansas, with a 71% rate.
• Regionally, the South has 79.47% household access to broadband, Fremont 82.4%, and Lincoln 83.5%.
• These figures take into account only continental Atlasia: the situation elsewhere ranges from very high access rates (in the mid-80s for both Alaska and Hawaii) to very poor results in the other island states.
• Atlasia is ranked 9th in broadband access and download speeds.

Further information can be found in this The Markup post from 2020 and linked articles and reports, mostly from 2018.

[Peanut]

The Citizen's Dispatch
Volume VI: international issue

Paflagonia: burgeoning democracy, or cycle of dictatorship?
Parties begin to campaign for September election, Von Kummerspeck reported dead

WÜRSTBURG - The leadup to democratic consolidation in Paflagonia has been bloody, as events a few months ago raised concerns that conflict in the Central European country was inevitable and democracy would be impossible to establish. However, recent reports have emerged that change the world outlook on happenings in Paflagonia, namely:

Former leader General Von Kummerspeck is reported to be dead, quietly executed, along with former high-ranking government officials, by Acting President Narriman's regime in an attempt to distance themselves from past instability. However, these reports are not confirmed, and stem mostly from gossip over the resignation of the Internal Security Minister.

Currently, the September elections are expected to proceed normally,and the campaign has been described as free and fair by international observers: already, rallies (with the appropriate COVID precautions) are being held, and homes in rural areas are putting up flags with the colors of their preferred candidate.

Three main candidates are running for President. General Narriman is a candidate himself, to serve out the present term. He enjoys spectacular support mostly among the middle-aged working class, those who were mostly scarred by the conflict of the last few years after growing up in a relatively peaceful Paflagonia. The daughter of assassinated Acting President Bauer, Anna Bauer, has also thrown her hat in the ring as a presidential candidate: her tech-savvy campaign, more resembling an Atlasian one than a Paflagonian one, has stirred up interest and support among the youth and in urban centers. However, there are some unconfirmed reports of police forces interrupting events in support of Bauer's candidacy. International organizations are exploring more on the subject. A third candidate, with support among the old Kummerspeckite elite and upper classes, is Jakub Schmid. There is fear among some that a Schmid victory would inevitably lead to further democratic backsliding and a rebirth of the old regime, as well as concerns over his reported ties to the Hungarian and Russian governments.

Only time will tell whether the reports of Kummerspeck's death are true, what consequences (if any) it will have on the democratic process in Paflagonia, and what the results of the September election will be.

Gantz angst
Dramatic presidential election in the Knesset ends with Miriam Peretz as President-elect, but with the Knesset on the brink of dissolving for fourth elections in two years.

TEL AVIV - The short premiership of Benny Gantz, always designed to be at most a two-year affair, seems to be coming to a close just after a historic presidential election which designates Independent Miriam Peretz as Reuven Rivlin's successor once he leaves office in July. While an alliance of Likud and Blue and White elected Ms. Peretz, only a few hours after that Avigdor Lieberman, leader of YB and backer of Gantz's thin governing coalition, threw his support behind a vote to dissolve the Knesset, which passed 64-54. A second vote will be held on May 31, and should it (as is currently expected) pass, the Knesset will be dissolved and elections will be scheduled for July 29.

The Gantz tenure and coalition have been deemed a failure by most of the Israeli press, as (while pandemic efforts have gone smoothly) he has not pleased either side of the aisle: the old Netanyahu right decries his lack of aggressiveness in the West Bank after he backed off from annexation following a chilly diplomatic reception from Atlasia, while the left (even some in his party) have called him a stooge of Likud who wasted a strong mandate in conceding to the right wing and YB.

[Peanut]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1395610632049897473?s=19

[Biden his time]

The Citizen’s Dispatch
Special bulletpoints report: High-speed internet access

Key numbers:

• Nationally, 81% of households have access to broadband connection.
• Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington are the states with the highest proportion of broadband users (86%).
• Conversely, the worst performers on the list were Mississippi and Arkansas, with a 71% rate.
• Regionally, the South has 79.47% household access to broadband, Fremont 82.4%, and Lincoln 83.5%.
• These figures take into account only continental Atlasia: the situation elsewhere ranges from very high access rates (in the mid-80s for both Alaska and Hawaii) to very poor results in the other island states.
• Atlasia is ranked 9th in broadband access and download speeds.

Further information can be found in this The Markup post from 2020 and linked articles and reports, mostly from 2018.

Wow, thank you, this is great!

[S019]

Will we get results for the recent Mexico and Peru elections?

[Peanut]

Will we get results for the recent Mexico and Peru elections?

Same as irl. Castillo elected, thinner left majorities in México.

[Peanut]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1395610632049897473?s=19

Yeah this is still going on you know.

[Peanut]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1402303798807257098?s=19

[Joseph Cao]

https://twitter.com/atlasiagm/status/1395610632049897473?s=19

Yeah this is still going on you know.

Have there been additional developments since May? This is concerning.

[Peanut]

Big updates coming soon, on national, international, and NPC issues. Meanwhile though...

The Citizen's Dispatch
Special look at tonight's edition

• Opinion  |  I was a lifelong Federalist. Then I heard Ninja deregistered.
• In this Paducah bar, "Louisville Thunder" still means the horse Thunder Gulch, and not the Southern Governor, and they'd still rather have the 1995 Kentucky Derby over the June 2021 presidential election.
• Lukashenko, Ortega, Museveni, among others, congratulate Atlasia on its recent peaceful democratic process.
• Convicted felons, retired cybercriminals, Catholic bishops deliver stern warnings to President-elect SevenEleven.
• Rumors emerge in Facebook groups that the President-elect is just a convenience store in a trenchcoat.
• School districts in the South ban teaching of Arabic numerals in schools, alleging they are Laborite conspiracies.
• In this exclusive Virginia country club, Blair means the British Prime Minister, not the incoming Vice President. But they do know something: champagne prices could spike over growing political instability in the nation, which the French argue is cultural appropriation.

[Biden his time]

   

• School districts in the South ban teaching of Arabic numerals in schools, alleging they are Laborite conspiracies.

As a Southern delegate, I denounce this