The shared experience before the credits roll

A farewell to Pope Francis, fragile ceasefire talks, and what a laugh at the movies reveals

Apr 27, 2025

I'm writing this on Saturday morning, before heading out on a weekend trip, so bear with me if it doesn't capture the latest developments. This week alone, the world lost Pope Francis, and now 1.5 billion Catholics wait to see who will lead their church and what direction will it take. Meanwhile, economic uncertainty continues to murk forecasts, political scandals seem endless, and international standoffs are hanging by a thread.

In all this chaos, I think we're craving stability and, dare I say, some light-hearted humor too. The kind you find at the movies. But even when we share a theater, do we all experience stories the same way?

Let's dive into that and what stood out this week:

Three stories everyone’s talking about

1. The death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The Argentine pontiff had been battling ongoing health issues and had only recently been discharged following a five-week hospital stay. In the hours after his death, crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pay their respects.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, he became the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the role, elected in March 2013. His twelve-year papacy was defined by efforts to reorient the Catholic Church toward social justice, climate action, interfaith outreach, and institutional transparency. He took unprecedented action against abuse and misconduct within church institutions. Recently, in January, he dissolved the Peruvian movement Sodalitium, after a Vatican investigation revealed systemic abuse and financial mismanagement.

Though he energized liberal Catholics with his openness to debate theological reforms, critics on both sides see his legacy as incomplete. Still, he reshaped the global image of the Church through a tone of humility and solidarity with the marginalized. A conclave to elect his successor will begin shortly after his funeral, with most eligible cardinal electors appointed by Francis himself.

Interested in more? NYT - Francis Worked to Make Catholic Church More Inclusive

2. The Signal saga continues

New reporting reveals that U.S. Defense Secretary shared details about a March airstrike on Yemen’s Houthi militants in a second Signal chat, one that included his wife and brother. The messages reportedly contained operational details such as flight schedules and strike timelines.

It’s also been reported that Hegseth accessed Signal via a personal mobile phone and an unsecured internet line installed in his Pentagon office. The phone number used in the Signal chat group seemed to be publicly available on various websites, including social media and a fantasy sports league.

Despite these revelations, White House officials have publicly backed Hegseth, dismissing the allegations and attributing the leaks to disgruntled staff.

Interested in more? NYT - Personal Phone Use Created Vulnerabilities

3. Kyiv under fire, while negotiations continue

At least 12 people were killed and more than 80 injured, including children, during a major Russian attack on Kyiv late Wednesday night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut short a visit to South Africa and returned to Kyiv on Thursday morning. On a social media post later that day, the U.S. President called on Vladimir Putin and urged him to “stop.”

On Friday morning, a senior Russian general was killed in a car bomb explosion, the second such targeted attack on high-ranking military officials in four months. Moscow has blamed Ukraine for the assassination.

Later that day, the U.S. President claimed that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal,” following Moscow talks between Russian President Putin and the U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff. Meanwhile, Zelensky declared that Russia must face “real pressure” to accept an unconditional ceasefire, and ruled out recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea, which was annexed in 2014 and remains a sticking point in negotiations. As negotiations unfold, the war continues to grind on, with nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory still under Russian control.

Interested in more? BBC - Why Zelensky can't and won't give up Crimea

Underreported, but worth your attention

1. Budget shortfalls force major downsizing at the WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing for a major contraction in its workforce and global operations, following a budget shortfall of between $560 and $650 million for the 2026–2027 period. The cuts are a result of the United States’ decision to fully withdraw funding to the organization. U.S. contributions have already dropped from $1.3 billion in 2022–2023 to zero in 2024 and 2025.

To cope, the WHO plans to slash staff costs by 25%, shrink its senior leadership team, and consolidate departments. While the most significant impact is expected at WHO headquarters in Geneva, several country offices, particularly in higher-income nations, may also be shuttered.

The funding crisis could severely limit the WHO’s capacity to support global health programs, particularly in lower-income countries. As a result, critical efforts, such as pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases prevention, and vaccine access, could be scaled back or suspended unless alternative funding is secured.

Interested in more? France 24 - WHO announces 'significant' layoffs amid US funding cuts

2. Kashmir attack sparks an international standoff

Tensions between India and Pakistan have surged following a militant attack in India-administered Kashmir that left 26 people dead. A group called Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility via Telegram. Officials in New Delhi see it as a proxy for a Pakistan-backed militant organization, a claim Pakistan denies.

In response, India expelled Pakistani diplomats, closed a key border crossing, and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old agreement governing shared river access. Pakistan responded by banning Indian aircraft from its airspace, suspending bilateral trade, and expelling several Indian diplomats.

Pakistan also issued a stark warning: any attempt by India to block or divert water flows would be considered an “act of war.” The situation marks one of the most serious confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Interested in more? Council on Foreign Relations - Conflict Between India and Pakistan

What to watch next week

Elections, Earnings, and Economic Signals

Canada heads to the polls, with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s governing Liberal Party facing Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives. Recent polling shows the Liberals leading the Conservatives by a narrow gap that has only become slimmer since the campaign began last month. However, most analysts still see the Liberals as favored to win.

Next week will also bring a fuller picture of how recently imposed tariffs are beginning to ripple through the broader economy, both at the macro level and among major companies. Several tech giants, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft, will headline a packed calendar of corporate earnings, alongside results from carmakers, consumer good producers, credit card companies, and major oil corporations.

On the macroeconomic data front, a first look at U.S. GDP growth for the first quarter is due, along with the April nonfarm payrolls report, and the latest personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index. The PCE, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, will be especially closely watched ahead of the Fed’s next interest rate decision on May 7.

Interested in more? NYT - Polls Tighten in Homestretch of Canada’s Election

Something that stuck with me

That awkward laugh at the movies

I love watching movies and I love them most at the cinema. Once a ubiquitous presence and now a rarer species, the movie theater still holds its magic for me. I’m lucky enough to live about a twenty-minute walk from one, and whenever a film catches my eye, usually a historical drama or anything that promises to keep me at the edge of my seat, I make the trip, buy myself some popcorn (why does theater popcorn taste better?), and settle in for a good story. Of course, it all starts with the classic Nicole Kidman AMC pre-movie intro.

Being a fan of dramas, there’s nothing I enjoy more than those critical inflection points in a story: will they stay or go? Will they choose the right path? Will they make it out at all? It's at those moments, when I’m fully absorbed, popcorn forgotten, hands glued to my face, that it often happens: someone laughs. And honestly, it pulls me out of the moment every time. I can’t deny it, though: I’ve been that person too. I remember, as a teenager, laughing with friends during a horror movie at the most horrifying scene: it just felt too absurd, too over-the-top, almost begging for disbelief rather than fear.

So when someone, whether it’s you, me, or the person in row six, laughs at what feels like the "wrong" time, did they miss something? Or are they catching something the rest of us didn’t?

I recently stumbled across an article in The New York Times that shed some light. It turns out, trailers, especially those we now often see scrolling on social media, tend to highlight funny moments, priming audiences to look for humor where there might not have been any intended. Plus, with media now hyper-personalized by algorithms, we no longer share a common language of how stories are "supposed" to feel.

Finally, we don’t experience emotions the same. For some, laughter might be a product of discomfort, surprise, recognition, or just because someone’s funny laugh set off a chain reaction. In the end, going to the movies isn’t just about the popcorn, the giant screen, or the booming sound. It’s also about collectively sharing a story, and all the unexpected emotions and reactions each one of us experiences from it before the credits roll.

Interested in more? NYT - At the Movies: To Laugh, Cry or Cringe?

That’s all for this week.

If there’s something you think I should be paying attention to, or if you just want to share a thought, feel free to reply to this email or leave a comment. I read everything, and your input truly helps shape how this space grows.

The Decanter

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