Trump Says Syrian Attack Has Changed His View of the Conflict: Here’s What We’re Reading
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Here’s what we’re reading today.
1. Trump says Syrian chemical attack changed his view of Assad
“Before the chemical attack, Mr. Trump’s administration had repeatedly said it did not intend to pursue the ouster of Mr. Assad. As recently as Tuesday, Mr. Trump’s spokesman said doing so would be ‘silly’ in the face of the political realities in the country.”
+1: Stephen Bannon removed from National Security Council – Washington Post
2. RCMP reveals use of secretive cellphone surveillance technology for the first time
“The RCMP for the first time is publicly confirming it uses cellphone surveillance devices in investigations across Canada — but at the same time says the potential of unauthorized snooping in Ottawa, as reported by CBC News, poses a threat to national security.”
– CBC News
3. Even with controversy, Pepsi’s new ad is undeniably a success
“All the criticisms are dead-on. But they don’t matter, because the ad is an undeniable success. Yes, true, it coopts the politics of protest, particularly as they surround race relations in America today. But that’s not the ad’s goal, so the public’s objection is ultimately irrelevant to Pepsi’s mission. The ad’s point is to put the consumer in a more important role than the citizen anyway. And to position Pepsi as a facilitator in the utopian dream of pure, color-blind consumerism that might someday replace politics entirely.”
4. Is violence declining because we’re evolving more patience?
“Socioeconomic forces might be encouraging us to be nice to each other, but there’s a possibility that keeping your cool is genetic.”
– Nautilus
5. TV has become an augmented reality game
“No one wants to just watch things anymore.”
