Now more than ever, America is a country of immigrants and their descendants. Welcome to the Diaspora.

Newly American is your MWF source for world news from a Diaspora perspective — politics, business, and culture from East to West. It only takes 5 minutes to become a global citizen (thanks to us).

This morning’s 3-by-3 travels across a military coup in Bolivia, a tax on billionaires from the G20, a trance music festival in Israel, and more. Let’s fly!

Politics

• Biden supporters panic post-debate

November hopefuls President Biden and former President Trump met at an audience-free CNN studio debate last night, appearing on stage together for the first time since the 2020 campaign and displaying little civility in a 90-minute bashing of each other’s administration and character. While many are criticizing the validity of several of Trump’s remarks, such as his proud claim that “all legal scholars” and “everyone” supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Republicans and Democrats alike seem to be more focused on Biden’s alarming performance — stumbling over most sentences in a quiet voice, looking away from the camera for prolonged periods, and failing to resolve widespread concerns about his age and mental fitness. Left-leaning media and political leaders are urging the Democratic Party to consider alternative candidates leading up to its national convention in August (such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker), though it would be unprecedented and highly difficult to select a different nominee without Biden stepping aside — a move considered unlikely by insiders who know the 81-year-old’s stubborn and confident nature and especially so given he won 99% of delegates in the Democratic primaries.

• Bolivian general blames president for attempted coup

Bolivian General Juan Jose Zúñiga has been arrested for mounting a military coup against the government, occupying the main square in La Paz with armored vehicles, and crashing a small tank into the presidential palace of President Luis Arce, who emerged as a hero to the large crowd that gathered during the takeover attempt. As a politically unstable country with almost 40 attempted or successful coups since 1946, the recent attempt responded to a dire economic state caused by shortages of fuel and foreign currency reserves. With over 20 mostly military individuals arrested, Zúñiga has accused President Arce (without corroborating evidence) of secretly coordinating this coup in order to successfully thwart it — aiming to garner political support and earn public trust at a moment of considerable disapproval and in preparation for a fierce political rival in next year’s election.

• Taiwan warns its citizens to avoid China

Just days after the U.S. approved the sale of $360 million in weapons to Taiwan, China has threatened to target supporters of Taiwanese independence and inflict the death penalty on “diehard” advocates — leading the Taiwanese government to caution its citizens from traveling to mainland China and warn them not to express any controversial political opinions if they do. Community Party-led China ceased all communication with Taiwan’s government in 2016 when former President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party was elected, supporting a sovereign Taiwanese state and rejecting Beijing’s demands for recognition. This safety threat impedes hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese residents from their frequent professional and tourist travel, matching China’s recent tactics of military exercises dangerously close to the island and cyberattacks on 70 Taiwanese organizations by a suspected Chinese state-sponsored hacking group.

Business

• Brazil proposes a super-rich tax in G20 report

Brazil has commissioned a G20 report proposing a global 2% tax on individuals with over $1 billion in total assets, as opposed to the 0.3% they currently pay — aiming to raise an additional $50 billion annually for education, healthcare, and other public services. The South American nation is most committed to alleviating global inequality and reducing hunger in its one-year presidency of the G20, an intergovernmental forum of 19 leading countries, the European Forum, and new member the African Union. With the AU and G20 outsiders such as Colombia, France, and Belgium in support, the proposal regards a progressive tax as critical for social cohesion and addresses an extreme wealth divide in which billionaires own a 13% equivalent of the world’s GDP.

• Leading news companies battle with AI

The Center for Investigative Reporting has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for unauthorized and uncompensated usage of its news content to train its ChatGPT chatbot, stating that AI-generated article summaries threaten publishers and damage the valuable relationship between reader and news outlet. This lawsuit underscores an entire industry’s struggle with artificial intelligence, as OpenAI also battles copyright lawsuits from The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Denver Post, and several others. OpenAI hopes to partner with the news industry in displaying content such as quotes and summaries in ChatGPT, and news giant Time has chosen to collaborate rather than sue — signing a multi-year deal to grant OpenAI its archives from the past 101 years in exchange for compensation and credit in the form of citations.

• Tokyo makes plans for a new stadium and skyscrapers

After demolishing the Tsukiji fish market 6 years ago, Tokyo’s development company Mitsui Fudosan has announced a $5.7 billion project to construct a waterfront stadium and skyscrapers for diverse commercial and residential uses. The city hopes the Tsukiji project will be a “giant city in itself,” converting a 47-acre waterfront area previously known for tuna auctions into a stadium for the local Yomiuri Giants baseball team and an international showcase for large conventions that can increase Japan’s tourism industry. As Mitsui Fudosan prepares to build, backed by Toyota Motor and many prominent corporations, critics argue the space should be turned into a garden for environmental benefits or even remain a remodeled fish market to honor the city’s cultural legacy.

Culture

• Israeli survivors hold trance festival to remember October 7

Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel interrupted the 3,000-person Tribe of Nova music festival just outside of Gaza, with militants storming through the concert around 7 a.m., killing at least 364 people, and taking over 40 people hostage. Nearly 9 months later, thousands of survivors have gathered again in Tel Aviv for the Nova Healing Content to enjoy mainstream Israeli musicians, raise money for a volunteer network that supports the families of October 7 victims, and push for the release of remaining hostages. The Nova Foundation has consistently provided therapy to survivors since the attack, turning to houses, massage, surfing, yoga, ice baths, and peer counseling to support those experiencing trauma.

• Bronny James joins Lebron on the Lakers

Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the #55 overall pick, disproving several scouts who felt he was not yet ready to transition from the college level to the NBA and many others who claim he is a product of nepotism. Lakers superstar Lebron James and Bronny are the first father-son duo to play in the NBA simultaneously, and there is potential for them to play together on the same team — though Lebron is eligible for free agency next week and could take his talents elsewhere. Even so, Lebron has been vocal about his desire to play with his son for years and is unlikely to leave Bronny, whose ability to make the Lakers 2024-2025 roster remains to be seen.

• Sabrina Carpenter becomes a certified popstar

Around 10 years since she began a Disney career, 25-year-old Sabrina Carpenter has had the year of her life — boasting a Coachella set, a season finale performance on Saturday Night Live, and a viral “song of the summer” in “Espresso". After spending weeks in the Hot 100’s top five, “Espresso” has now been outdone by Carpenter’s latest pop-country single “Please Please Please” and her first chart #1. With Carpenter preparing for a full-length album release in August and both lead singles dominating social media and radio alike, Carpenter’s ascension ironically follows and challenges a post-COVID notion that the era of the traditional pop star was over.

Written by Outer Voice founders

Please prepare for landing. We know you have many options when you read, so thank you for choosing Newly American. Until Monday, follow us on Instagram and subscribe below if you haven’t already. If this email made you smarter, forward it to a friend! See you soon.