South China Sea Tensions, Cuba’s Grim Future, Trust in Governments, and More

Hello, all.

Welcome back from the holiday. We hope you had the chance to spend time with loved ones, eat whatever you wanted, and have entirely normal conversations at the dinner table.

Speaking of, thanks to the holiday, Inkstick had a light week. Not to spoil the post-feast cheer, but I do want to point out the deteriorating situation in Cuba. Because President Joe Biden failed to reverse the harsh policies of his predecessor, Ramona Wadi points out, Donald Trump is likely to return to office this January and pick up where he left off.

Here at Inkstick, we’re back at full speed, and you can expect a newsletter packed with new reportage and analysis next Monday. In the meantime, if you’d be kind enough to allow me one more reminder, Inkstick is asking everyone who values independent journalism to consider supporting our work. Thanks to NewsMatch, your donations can count as double without costing you any extra.

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“The Media’s High-Stakes Game in the South China Sea” by Michelle Ngo & Narayani Sritharan (Nov. 25)

Tensions in the South China Sea continue to mount. Enter the media — cameras ready, pens poised, and tweets prepped. Filipino and Chinese journalists are stationed on opposing ships and boats in the region, providing live media coverage of confrontations.

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“With Trump’s Return, the Prospects for Cuba Are Even Grimmer” by Ramona Wadi (Nov. 26)

In his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden’s rhetoric seemed to hint at a possible reversal of the Trump administration’s policies on Cuba. Yet, no change came. Now that Trump’s soon to return to power, Havana could face severe challenges from the US.

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“Deep Dive: Do You Trust the Government?” by Emily Tamkin (Nov. 27)

A new paper in the European Journal of Political Research examines which qualities of governments influence their perceived trustworthiness. The authors look at the distinct roles of “competence,” “benevolence,” and “integrity.”

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From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.