Key news and views on democracy at home and abroad.

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** Republicans Crash the DNC, Ukraine Needs Germany, The Deepfake Election, and Why Local News Matters
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** Key news and views on democracy at home and abroad
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RENEW DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE

AUG 29

Dear Readers,

This is the last regular issue of The Topline. Beginning in September, RDI will publish one weekly newsletter. I know you’ll find it informative and thought-provoking.

The Topline launched in March 2019, as we awaited the release of the Mueller Report. We’ve been through a lot since then—a global pandemic, an insurrection, two impeachments, wars in Ukraine and Israel, an assassination attempt on a former president, and protests at home and abroad, to name just a few of the events that have bruised and reshaped democracy as we know it.

As the fight for democracy rages ever forward, may we remain committed to the values on which we were founded—liberty, equality, and truth. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor


** A DNC with some R for good measure
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If you watched almost any night of the Democratic National Convention last week, you might have noticed something unusual—rhetoric and symbols that in recent years have been more associated with the Republican Party. “USA!” chants, camo hats, copious references to freedom and American exceptionalism, and US flags galore.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech ([link removed]) incorporated a Reaganesque foreign policy and—gasp!—talk of a tax cut. But perhaps most extraordinary was the parade of Republicans ([link removed]) who appeared on stage to endorse the Vice President. Democrats welcomed them ([link removed]) with open arms, as they see them as critical to winning the 2024 election, particularly in crucial swing states.

Nevertheless, some analysts were more struck by who wasn’t there than who was.

“Did Liz Cheney or Mitt Romney not have anything to say about the upcoming election? How about Mike Pence, the man Trump was happy to see hanged in service to his coup attempt?

What about any of the men or women who ran against Trump in 2016 and 2024, who have variously issued clarion calls about the threat he posed to the country and the conservative movement?

Where were the Trump officials who got us into this mess? Not a single cabinet member took this opportunity to testify to Americans about the dangerous man they saw up close. Is that not their obligation?” —Tim Miller ([link removed]) in The xxxxxx

Retired federal appeals court judge and conservative legal scholar J. Michael Luttig ([link removed]) , who is preparing to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time this year, summed up the views of these disaffected Republicans:

“In the presidential election of 2024 there is only one political party and one candidate for the presidency that can claim the mantle of defender and protector of America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law.”

READ THIS TOO: Why Kamala Harris’s Centrism Is Working ([link removed]) —The New York Times


** Ukraine’s defense begins with Germany
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As Russia batters Ukraine ([link removed]) with missiles and drones, Ukraine needs more support not just from the US, but also from its European allies.

RDI chairman Garry Kasparov ([link removed]) makes the case that Germany, given its history, has a special role to play—and it should play it:

“It’s not too late for Germany to change course. Today, my organization, the Renew Democracy Initiative, is launching a petition ([link removed]) with a clear message: Scholz shouldn’t just reverse his planned reduction in aid—he should increase Germany’s assistance to Ukraine. And he must give Ukraine the long-range systems it needs to stop Russian aggression at the source.”

CHECK IT OUT: Stand With Ukraine ([link removed]) —RDI


** Israel’s two-front war
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While a larger regional war has been averted for now, Israel’s conflicts with Hezbollah ([link removed]) in Lebanon and Hamas ([link removed]) in Gaza still have no end in sight. What happens next depends on whether Hamas accepts the ceasefire deal ([link removed]) proposed by the US and agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It’s not looking promising.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s ninth visit to the Middle East since the war broke out in Gaza ([link removed]) ended this week without a deal. He left with a warning ([link removed]) : “Our message is simple. It’s clear and it’s urgent. We need to get a ceasefire and hostage agreement over the finish line, and we need to do it now. Time is of the essence.”

Stay up-to-date ([link removed]) and discover ways to participate as we fight to protect democracy.
Get involved ([link removed])


** Countering Iran’s hacking campaign
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As in 2016, both presidential campaigns have been targeted by international hackers, and the FBI has determined that Iran ([link removed]) is behind the most recent campaign. But these are no garden variety hackers, and their toolbox of sophisticated tactics ([link removed]) is keeping tech companies ([link removed]) on alert.

While not as advanced as China or Russia, Iran’s cyber operatives have also attacked critical infrastructure in the US and the Middle East. Even more troubling, CNN reports ([link removed]) that:

“There is a darker element to some Iranian cyber activity that goes well beyond traditional espionage. Hackers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps appear to have a broad mandate to collect data the Iranian regime might find useful for kidnapping and assassination plots ([link removed]) .”


** The deepfake election
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The risk that artificial intelligence ([link removed]) could have an influence on the presidential election becomes greater ([link removed]) as the election draws closer.

Because deepfakes are largely unregulated, the onus is on the companies ([link removed]) that provide publicly available AI tools to self-regulate. So far, the results ([link removed]) aren’t promising. The best solution? Healthy skepticism.

“As deepfakes become more convincing, teaching people about their own limitations is at least as important as trying to stop the spread of disinformation. Computers can identify and flag deepfakes circulating online, but even the best operate at only about a 90 percent success rate. We can all but guarantee that people are going to continue to come across fake news online, so some healthy skepticism is vital.” —RDI ([link removed])

READ THIS TOO: How Utah, Texas, Louisiana became the face of political deepfakes ([link removed]) —Fast Company


** The importance of local news
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The way we consume news has changed dramatically over the last few decades—the fact that you’re reading this newsletter on an electronic device of some kind is a testament to that. Along with a loss of advertising revenues, those changes are driving a decline of local news outlets.

There have been real-life consequences ([link removed]) of the disappearance of local news, researchers say—more news silos ([link removed]) with greater bias, less community cohesion, declining local voter participation ([link removed]) , and the phenomenon of “fake news.” California took action, passing legislation ([link removed]) to force Google to pay a portion of its advertising profits to fund local journalism in the state. Kudos to them.

“Weak journalism leads to a sick democracy. A functional democracy must be fueled by a reliable flow to citizens of credible information.” —Journalist George Skelton ([link removed])

LISTEN TO THIS TOO: The projects saving local media ([link removed]) —What Works: The Future of Local News
* Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged in France over illegal activity on app ([link removed]) —Axios
* Jack Smith appeals dismissal of Trump classified documents indictment ([link removed]) —The Washington Post
* Special Counsel files reworked indictment against Donald Trump in January 6 case ([link removed]) —CNN
* Arizona Republicans sue after Dem governor opens more voting locations ([link removed]) —Raw Story
* How Georgia Officials Wrote Rules to Deny Election Results ([link removed]) —Rolling Stone
* Army says Arlington National Cemetery worker was 'pushed aside' by Trump aides ([link removed]) —NPR
* The Americans Who Long for Caesar ([link removed]) —Persuasion
* US general, pointing to Maduro, says democracy is under attack globally ([link removed]) —Reuters

Hey Topline readers, you remember the drill. We want to hear your reactions to today’s stories. We’ll include some of your replies in this space in our next issue of The Topline.

Click here ([link removed]) to share your take, and don’t forget to include your name and state. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Got feedback? Let us know (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=)
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