1. FOLLOW BACK

On the day after Trump’s inauguration, many Instagram and Facebook users found themselves following Trump, Melania Trump, and VP JD Vance, even if they hadn’t chosen to. This happened because Meta (the company that owns these platforms) automatically transfers followers of the official presidential accounts (like POTUS) to the new administration when power changes. So, if you followed Biden’s presidential account, it switched to Trump’s when he took office. However, some users claimed they never followed any presidential accounts before. Meta said it didn’t force anyone to follow Trump and suggested people might’ve forgotten they followed these accounts years ago. If you’re trying to unfollow and it’s not working, Meta says it’s likely due to a glitch from the high volume of changes. Additionally, Meta recently changed its policy and started showing more political content again, which might explain why Trump’s posts are being recommended. Some users also noticed a glitch that temporarily made it impossible to search hashtags like “#democrats,” leading to accusations of bias, but Meta said it was just a technical error affecting various topics. Write an article that focuses on the significant role that social media plays in shaping public opinion and political discourse, as well as how algorithms might influence what users see and how they interact with content. Use these recent examples to give context to your article.

2. PROTECTION ENDED

President Trump ended Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government-paid security detail, which had been protecting him due to death threats he received during the coronavirus pandemic. This decision came after Senator Rand Paul called for Fauci’s security to be removed. Dr. Fauci, who retired in 2022, now hires his own private security. Trump defended his action, stating that former government officials eventually lose security protection and that Fauci could hire private security. Dr. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 30 years, had a tense relationship with Trump, and both public and private threats had been made against him. In your opinion, should the government provide security for public figures at risk even after they retire or leave office? Write an opinion article about your stance, using research about the case with Dr. Fauci and other similar cases to support your position.

3. RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL

The Supreme Court is going to decide if Oklahoma can open the U.S.’s first publicly funded religious charter school. The school, run by the Catholic Church, was approved by a state board but later blocked by Oklahoma’s Supreme Court. The issue is whether public schools, which are supposed to be non-religious, can use taxpayer money to fund a school that teaches Catholic beliefs. Supporters of the school say blocking it would violate religious freedom. Opponents argue that public schools must stay secular (non-religious) and open to all students. The case will be argued in April, with a decision expected by summer. It could set a big precedent for religion and public schools in the U.S. Look up the “separation of church and state” and how it’s been applied in legal situations in the past. Write an article that explains what you’ve learned and how you think the law will be applied by the Supreme Court in this situation.

4. PARDON DECLINED

Pamela Hemphill, a 71-year-old woman from Idaho known as the “MAGA Granny,” is rejecting a pardon from Donald Trump for her role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. She pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and served 60 days in prison. Hemphill says she doesn’t want to “rewrite history” or disrespect Capitol Police, adding that she broke the law and wants to take responsibility for her actions. Before the riot, she believed in Trump as a “savior” figure, influenced by her family and political beliefs. Now, she’s changed her views and speaks out against the events of January 6, encouraging others to leave what she calls the “MAGA cult.” Her decision to turn down the pardon is extremely rare and has been praised as an example of accountability. Would you turn down a pardon if you were in prison, even if you had committed the crime you were there for? As a class or in small groups, discuss your different perspectives on this issue.

5. NEW STEPS IN A.I.

OpenAI has created a new A.I. tool called Operator, which can browse websites and perform tasks like grocery shopping or booking a restaurant reservation. It’s like ChatGPT but more advanced because it can take actions online, not just answer questions. Operator still needs some human help, like providing usernames, passwords, or fixing mistakes. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting better and can even correct some of its own errors. For now, it’s only available to U.S. users who subscribe to OpenAI’s $200-a-month ChatGPT Pro plan, with plans to expand it to free users in the future. The tool learns by analyzing how people use websites and services, and OpenAI uses this data to improve it. While similar tools exist from companies like Google, Operator is one of the most promising A.I. agents available right now. How do you see A.I. tools impacting society over the next ten years? Write an article describing your predictions, using research about recent innovations to support your claims.