Topic: Independent Governance

Former President Obama delivered a speech commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, emphasizing the radical nature of self-government established in 1776. He highlighted the transition from a world of "conquest and caste" to one of equal citizens with unalienable rights. A minor linguistic debate ensues regarding his use of "unalienable" versus "inalienable."

Mark Zuckerberg discusses a new "independent appeal" body for Facebook content takedowns in a CNN interview. The hosts argue that creating human tribunals to review "hate speech" appeals will be financially unsustainable for the social media giant.

Catalonia's new president, Carles Puigdemont, has taken office with a mandate for independence from Spain, refusing to swear loyalty to the crown. Simultaneously, the EU is reprimanding Poland's democratically elected right-wing government for its moves to control public broadcasters and the judiciary. These events are framed as evidence that the European Union is rapidly "falling apart."