US EditionDaily Briefing
French elections polling rightward; Deepfake acceptable to many; EPA identifies new PFAS
10 Articles •
UK Study: 25% Find Nonconsensual Deepfakes Acceptable
Left 67%
Right 33%
The finding: A recent survey reveals that one in four people find creating or sharing sexual deepfakes acceptable or hold neutral views about the practice, highlighting concerning attitudes toward non-consensual digital content.
Why it matters: This widespread acceptance of sexual deepfakes poses serious risks to personal privacy and safety, as anyone could become a victim of non-consensual intimate imagery created and distributed without their knowledge or permission.
100% of sources are Original Reporting
18 Articles •
Report: EPA Approves New PFAS Pesticides
Left 54%
Center 38%
8%
What happened: The EPA approved two new pesticides containing PFAS forever chemicals this month for use on vegetables like broccoli, potatoes, and romaine lettuce, with four more approvals planned. An estimated 22 to 35 million pounds of PFAS pesticides are used annually in the US, with nearly 15 million pounds sprayed in California alone between 2018 and 2023.
Why it matters: PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and immune system harm, and these pesticides break down into trifluoroacetic acid that persists in the environment for over 100 years. While some scientists argue these ultrashort-chain PFAS are less toxic and necessary for food security, advocacy groups warn the chemicals accumulate in drinking water, food, and plants with unknown long-term health effects.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
94% of sources are Original Reporting
61% of sources are High Factuality
49 Articles •
Jordan Bardella Ahead in 2027 French Election Polling
Left 35%
Center 38%
Right 27%
The latest: Recent Odoxa-Mascaret polling of 1,300 French adults conducted in mid-November projects National Rally leader Jordan Bardella winning every hypothetical 2027 second-round matchup, defeating centrist Édouard Philippe 53-47 percent, socialist Raphaël Glucksmann 58-42 percent, and far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon 74-26 percent. Bardella leads first-round scenarios with 35-36 percent support, while his approval rating stands at 39 percent, surpassing Marine Le Pen and other rivals.
Why it matters: The polling signals erosion of France's traditional 'republican front' that historically blocked far-right advances, with nearly 40 percent of center-right voters now willing to support Bardella over centrist candidates. Marine Le Pen's five-year ineligibility ruling positions Bardella as the presumptive RN candidate, while his party's expanded parliamentary influence since 2024 snap elections and President Macron's historic 21 percent approval rating create favorable conditions for a potential far-right presidency in 2027.
84% of sources are Original Reporting
24 Articles •
Space Force Awards Golden Dome Missile Defense Contracts
Left 33%
Center 45%
R 22%
What happened: The U.S. Space Force awarded approximately six small contracts, mostly under $9 million, to companies including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, and True Anomaly to develop space-based interceptor prototypes for President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Winners remain officially undisclosed due to security measures, though sources have revealed contractor names, and these initial awards will seed competition for production contracts worth $1.8 billion to $3.4 billion annually.
Why it matters: This marks a significant step toward Trump's promised 2028-2029 operational missile defense system, but experts warn the space-based interceptor program could cost up to $542 billion according to Congressional Budget Office estimates, potentially trigger an international arms race, and face fundamental physics challenges that make the system easy to overwhelm or defeat. China and Russia have already criticized the initiative as destabilizing, while analysts question whether resources would be better spent on existing ground-based defense layers.
96% of sources are Original Reporting
67% of sources are High Factuality
9 Articles •
Scientists Achieve Record Conductivity in Silicon Chip Material
Center 100%
The breakthrough: University of Warwick and National Research Council of Canada researchers created a nanometre-thin, compressively strained germanium-on-silicon material that achieved record hole mobility of 7.15 million cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, the highest ever for a silicon-compatible semiconductor. The breakthrough, published this week in Materials Today, was achieved by applying controlled strain to an ultrathin germanium layer on silicon, creating an ultra-clean crystal structure that allows electrical charge to flow with minimal resistance.
Why it matters: This silicon-compatible material could enable future chips that run faster while consuming less energy, addressing current limitations as devices shrink and generate more heat. The technology is compatible with existing silicon manufacturing infrastructure, potentially enabling practical applications in quantum computing, AI workloads, data centres with reduced cooling demands, and energy-efficient electronics within several years.
100% of sources are Original Reporting
Daily Briefing
French elections polling rightward; Deepfake acceptable to many; EPA identifies new PFAS
10 Articles •
UK Study: 25% Find Nonconsensual Deepfakes Acceptable
Left 67%
Right 33%
The finding: A recent survey reveals that one in four people find creating or sharing sexual deepfakes acceptable or hold neutral views about the practice, highlighting concerning attitudes toward non-consensual digital content.
Why it matters: This widespread acceptance of sexual deepfakes poses serious risks to personal privacy and safety, as anyone could become a victim of non-consensual intimate imagery created and distributed without their knowledge or permission.
100% of sources are Original Reporting
18 Articles •
Report: EPA Approves New PFAS Pesticides
Left 54%
Center 38%
8%
What happened: The EPA approved two new pesticides containing PFAS forever chemicals this month for use on vegetables like broccoli, potatoes, and romaine lettuce, with four more approvals planned. An estimated 22 to 35 million pounds of PFAS pesticides are used annually in the US, with nearly 15 million pounds sprayed in California alone between 2018 and 2023.
Why it matters: PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and immune system harm, and these pesticides break down into trifluoroacetic acid that persists in the environment for over 100 years. While some scientists argue these ultrashort-chain PFAS are less toxic and necessary for food security, advocacy groups warn the chemicals accumulate in drinking water, food, and plants with unknown long-term health effects.
Blindspot: Low Coverage from Right Sources
94% of sources are Original Reporting
61% of sources are High Factuality
49 Articles •
Jordan Bardella Ahead in 2027 French Election Polling
Left 35%
Center 38%
Right 27%
The latest: Recent Odoxa-Mascaret polling of 1,300 French adults conducted in mid-November projects National Rally leader Jordan Bardella winning every hypothetical 2027 second-round matchup, defeating centrist Édouard Philippe 53-47 percent, socialist Raphaël Glucksmann 58-42 percent, and far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon 74-26 percent. Bardella leads first-round scenarios with 35-36 percent support, while his approval rating stands at 39 percent, surpassing Marine Le Pen and other rivals.
Why it matters: The polling signals erosion of France's traditional 'republican front' that historically blocked far-right advances, with nearly 40 percent of center-right voters now willing to support Bardella over centrist candidates. Marine Le Pen's five-year ineligibility ruling positions Bardella as the presumptive RN candidate, while his party's expanded parliamentary influence since 2024 snap elections and President Macron's historic 21 percent approval rating create favorable conditions for a potential far-right presidency in 2027.
84% of sources are Original Reporting
24 Articles •
Space Force Awards Golden Dome Missile Defense Contracts
Left 33%
Center 45%
R 22%
What happened: The U.S. Space Force awarded approximately six small contracts, mostly under $9 million, to companies including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, and True Anomaly to develop space-based interceptor prototypes for President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Winners remain officially undisclosed due to security measures, though sources have revealed contractor names, and these initial awards will seed competition for production contracts worth $1.8 billion to $3.4 billion annually.
Why it matters: This marks a significant step toward Trump's promised 2028-2029 operational missile defense system, but experts warn the space-based interceptor program could cost up to $542 billion according to Congressional Budget Office estimates, potentially trigger an international arms race, and face fundamental physics challenges that make the system easy to overwhelm or defeat. China and Russia have already criticized the initiative as destabilizing, while analysts question whether resources would be better spent on existing ground-based defense layers.
96% of sources are Original Reporting
67% of sources are High Factuality
9 Articles •
Scientists Achieve Record Conductivity in Silicon Chip Material
Center 100%
The breakthrough: University of Warwick and National Research Council of Canada researchers created a nanometre-thin, compressively strained germanium-on-silicon material that achieved record hole mobility of 7.15 million cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, the highest ever for a silicon-compatible semiconductor. The breakthrough, published this week in Materials Today, was achieved by applying controlled strain to an ultrathin germanium layer on silicon, creating an ultra-clean crystal structure that allows electrical charge to flow with minimal resistance.
Why it matters: This silicon-compatible material could enable future chips that run faster while consuming less energy, addressing current limitations as devices shrink and generate more heat. The technology is compatible with existing silicon manufacturing infrastructure, potentially enabling practical applications in quantum computing, AI workloads, data centres with reduced cooling demands, and energy-efficient electronics within several years.
100% of sources are Original Reporting