Shifting Gears
Elections results, a blackout exposes Europe’s grid, and are AI outputs protected by free speech rights?
I’ve been doing some reflection on how I want The Decanter to evolve, and I feel like it’s time to shift gears a bit. Mainly, I’ve been asking myself: what can this space offer that’s different from the daily news? As I’ve been writing over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed the parts that energize me most are those that spotlight what’s not getting enough attention and deep dive into one topic that stuck with me.
Also, in talking with some of you, I’ve heard that’s also where you find the most value, too. So going forward, I’ll be focusing this space on around three to five weekly stories, usually those underreported, and I will occasionally include a reflection on something that stood out to me.
With that, let’s dive in:
1. Center-left wins in Canada and Australia
Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has pulled off a remarkable comeback in Canada, defeating Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives and extending its hold on federal power. The result marks a dramatic turn of fortune for the Liberals, who just months ago were widely expected to lose. Poilievre himself lost his seat in Parliament, a symbolically devastating blow for a party that held a double-digit lead in polls just three months ago. This was also a high-volatility election: 1 in 6 seats changed parties, compared to just 7% in 2021, suggesting a restless electorate seeking change.
Meanwhile, in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party scored a victory over the conservative Liberal Party in what’s being called a “landslide.” Albanese has defied Australia’s so-called “incumbency curse,” dramatically expanding his parliamentary majority. Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who lost the seat he had held for the past 24 years, accepted “full responsibility” for the loss.
Both contests shared a growing public interest over cost-of-living issues, especially housing and healthcare, and foreign policy, particularly in relation to the U.S.
Interested in more? BBC - Why the Liberals won and Conservatives lost
2. U.S. and Ukraine sign a major resources deal
The U.S. and Ukraine have finalized an agreement to jointly develop the latter’s oil, gas, and mineral resources, including rare earth elements. The deal establishes a co-managed investment fund that will reinvest profits into mining, energy, and infrastructure projects. Ukraine preserves full state ownership of all resources, retaining control over where and how extraction occurs.
Additionally, the fund will only draw from new ventures, thus excluding existing projects, and no profits will be taken for the first ten years. Ukraine will commit 50% of future earnings from projects to the fund, while the U.S. will contribute through direct funding, equipment, and military aid. The Ukrainian parliament must still ratify the agreement before it takes effect.
The deal does not mention any form of security guarantee, something Kyiv has repeatedly sought to deter future Russian aggression. Nor does it impose debt obligations on Ukraine, meaning that proceeds from the fund will not be used to repay past U.S. assistance.
Interested in more? BBC - Seven takeaways from US-Ukraine resources deal
3. Massive blackout hits Spain and Portugal
A sweeping power outage left tens of millions across Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France without electricity on Monday in one of the worst blackouts Europe has seen in recent history. The outage, which began shortly after midday and lasted into the night, disrupted critical infrastructure, including hospitals, cellular networks, transit systems, and businesses across the Iberian Peninsula.
Authorities are still piecing together what caused the collapse of the system. Around 12:30 p.m. local time, Spain suddenly lost 15 gigawatts of electricity, roughly 60% of national demand, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. While the exact trigger remains under investigation, officials in both countries have downplayed the possibility of a cyberattack.
Europe’s electric grid is designed for cross-border sharing, which can strengthen resilience but also introduces vulnerabilities. As Spain’s system suddenly lost electricity, a major imbalance between energy generation and demand triggered automatic shutdowns, disconnecting its grid from the rest of Europe. The effects rippled, also impacting Portugal and parts of southern France.
Interested in more? Wired - What Caused the European Power Outage?
4. AI platform defends its outputs as free speech
In a legal filing that could shape the future of AI and speech rights, chatbot company Character.AI has argued that its outputs are protected under the First Amendment. The platform, known for letting users interact with fictional or historical characters, is facing a lawsuit over harmful and misleading generated content. Character.AI’s defense hinges on the claim that its generative responses are comparable to other forms of free expression and, therefore, constitutionally protected.
The case has wide-reaching implications: Should a chatbot’s outputs be treated like speech? Courts have yet to define the legal boundaries of AI expression, and this case could be a key test of First Amendment protections and whether they extend into this new territory.
Interested in more? Tech Crunch - In motion to dismiss, chatbot platform Character AI claims it is protected by the First Amendment
5. Earthquake rattles Chile and Argentina, but no major damage
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina on Friday, prompting tsunami warnings and mass evacuations. Despite the initial alarm, no major damage or casualties have been reported.
Fearing a possible tsunami, Chilean authorities ordered evacuations along the coastline and at the country’s Antarctic research bases. Hours later, the tsunami warning was lifted. Residents were allowed to return home, though officials urged caution near beaches and boardwalks.
Chile is no stranger to seismic activity. Its position on the volatile Pacific Ring of Fire places it at the intersection of three tectonic plates.
Interested in more? AP - 7.4 magnitude quake off Chile’s far south briefly triggers tsunami alert but causes no damage
That’s all for this week. As I continue testing this new structure, I’d love to know what you think. Starting next week, I’ll also bring back a deep dive on something that caught my eye. It’s often where I have the most fun in writing this newsletter.
As always, feel free to share The Decanter with anyone who might appreciate it. And if there’s a story or an odd corner of the internet you think I should read, send it my way. This week’s story on AI and the First Amendment, for example, came from a thoughtful reader. Thank you again.
Until next time!
Any views expressed in this space are solely my own and do not reflect those of my current or former employers, or any institution I’ve been affiliated with.
+1 on focusing on those pieces otherwise out of focus!