In the world of technology, there are tools that try to guess how people feel. These tools are called emotion inference models. They work like a black box, meaning we can see what goes in and what comes out, but we don't know exactly how they make decisions. This can be a big problem, especially when these tools are used in important areas like politics. One major i...
There is a widespread belief among conservative figures that Google Search favors liberal viewpoints. This belief has some scientific backing, as a few studies have shown that search results can lean towards a positive stance on immigration. However, the truth is not as simple as it seems. A recent study looked into how Google's search results handle immigration-r...
Brazil's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was heavily influenced by politics. This is especially clear when looking at the use of certain drugs. Azithromycin, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, and ivermectin saw shifts in their use. These shifts happened alongside COVID-19 cases and key political events. This analysis looks at how these drugs were used over time. It a...
A prominent law firm is standing up to a presidential executive order that targets them. The firm, Perkins Coie, claims that the order is unconstitutional and an attack on their right to represent clients and causes that the administration opposes. The order, signed by President Trump, accuses the firm of dishonest and dangerous activities, including undermining elec...
Judge's writing and citation practices have been under the microscope for over a century. The focus is on how political leanings influence their decisions. This isn't about judges blatantly favoring one side; it's more subtle. It's about the words they choose and the cases they reference. The study looks at how judges' language and legal citations reflect their poli...
Education, or lack of it, is a hot topic nowadays. Some folks think that the Department of Education isn't pulling its weight. They believe that the federal division hasn't been effective for a long time. Some people think that it really doesn't matter when schools are only places to socialize. Some people wonder what else could we be doing with all that money. The...
In Argentina, the rise of new right-wing parties has shaken up the political landscape, with some of these figures gaining popularity through social media. This platform has become a breeding ground for hate speech, especially against women politicians. Recent research combined quantitative and qualitative methods to examine this issue. The study found that right-win...
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has chosen to end the company's third-party "fact-checking" program. This move has sparked different views among people. Some see it as a cynical attempt to stay in Donald Trump's good graces, while others believe it's a step towards the political center. But what if it's a bit of both? Zuckerberg and other powerful business leaders,...
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has caused a stir by dumping its fact-checking partners. This move has left journalists involved high and dry, and some might even lose their jobs. The company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, claimed that fact-checkers are biased and have ruined trust. But who's really trusting who here? President Trump and his supporters seem pretty happy w...
In a big change, Meta is saying goodbye to fact checkers on Facebook and Instagram. Instead, they're bringing in something called community notes. These are like labels that users can add to posts, pointing out if something might be wrong. This shift comes as Meta's top bosses seem to be moving more to the right. They're also changing how they use automated systems t...