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South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Why US exceptionalism and the export of crassness are finally losing their shallow appeal
In early May, as Roman Catholic cardinals convened for their conclave , US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as the pope . Shortly afterwards, he declared that he would like to become a pontiff. Reactions from around the globe were swift, though not everyone was shocked. After all, this was American crassness at its finest – a spectacle the world has grown accustomed to. Trump is neither the first nor the only US figure to inure the world to such behaviour; there is a long list. When Trump announced sweeping tariffs on global trading partners in April , with China bearing the brunt, financial markets plunged into their worst turmoil since the early days of the pandemic. Ignorance, arrogance, exceptionalism, and fear of 'the other' converged in a display of American crassness on steroids. Trillions of dollars evaporated from stock valuations. Only when the fallout became too severe did Trump pause tariffs for most countries, eventually negotiating with China in mid-May. Yet much of the American public missed the larger picture: these tariffs weren't about sparking a trade war or addressing claims of the world 'ripping off' America. They were a desperate gambit to prop up the American brand – a brand that was sustained for decades by economic hegemony and the 'exorbitant privilege' of the dollar, but is now facing its moment of decline. Donald Trump holds a chart outlining 'reciprocal' tariffs at the White House on April 2. Photo: AFP Desperate to project strength, Trump boasted that world leaders were queuing up to make deals and even 'kiss his a**'. To call such behaviour crass would be an understatement, but the world barely blinked. This crude bravado has long been central to the American way, manifesting in entertainment, politics, media, finance and even sports. To much of the world, it reflects the immature culture of a brash young settler nation. Wealth accumulated through the colonisation of Native American lands bred an unfettered arrogance that normalised such behaviour. The world once playfully dubbed this the 'Ugly American', but that playful tolerance only emboldened the American psyche. Today, this has culminated in a rogue state run by supremacists, supported by a large majority. The US trade deficit, often cited as justification for protectionist tariffs, is merely a symptom of a deeper malaise. The real issue is that American goods – and the culture that sells them – are losing their appeal. Nations like China South Korea , and before them Japan , now produce superior goods. Meanwhile America, high on its own rhetoric about globalisation, shifted its economy towards services dominated by the financial sector, hollowing out its manufacturing base. Yet Americans continued to borrow and consume at unparalleled levels, encouraged by the state. Living beyond their means, they amassed crippling debt. All the while, they were led to believe that their consumerism was the engine of global growth, a myth perpetuated by American business media like Bloomberg and CNBC. For decades, this propaganda painted American life as the global standard. What was once irresistible now feels unsustainable, replaceable and, to the rest of the world, deeply crass. The world has finally woken up to the unsustainable mechanisms of the US-led 'rules-based order' and the hollowness of the so-called American dream. So why did it take so long for the world to realise that this dream is, in truth, a paper tiger? The myth of American superiority
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Why US exceptionalism and the export of crassness is finally losing its shallow appeal
In early May, as Roman Catholic cardinals convened for their conclave , US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as the pope . Shortly afterwards, he declared that he would like to become a pontiff. Reactions from around the globe were swift, though not everyone was shocked. After all, this was American crassness at its finest – a spectacle the world has grown accustomed to. Trump is neither the first nor the only US figure to inure the world to such behaviour; there is a long list. Advertisement When Trump announced sweeping tariffs on global trading partners in April , with China bearing the brunt, financial markets plunged into their worst turmoil since the early days of the pandemic. Ignorance, arrogance, exceptionalism, and fear of 'the other' converged in a display of American crassness on steroids. Trillions of dollars evaporated from stock valuations. Only when the fallout became too severe did Trump pause tariffs for most countries, eventually negotiating with China in mid-May. Yet much of the American public missed the larger picture: these tariffs weren't about sparking a trade war or addressing claims of the world 'ripping off' America. They were a desperate gambit to prop up the American brand – a brand that was sustained for decades by economic hegemony and the 'exorbitant privilege' of the dollar, but is now facing its moment of decline. Donald Trump holds a chart outlining 'reciprocal' tariffs at the White House on April 2. Photo: AFP Desperate to project strength, Trump boasted that world leaders were queuing up to make deals and even 'kiss his a**'. To call such behaviour crass would be an understatement, but the world barely blinked. This crude bravado has long been central to the American way, manifesting in entertainment, politics, media, finance and even sports. To much of the world, it reflects the immature culture of a brash young settler nation. Wealth accumulated through the colonisation of Native American lands bred an unfettered arrogance that normalised such behaviour. The world once playfully dubbed this the 'Ugly American', but that playful tolerance only emboldened the American psyche. Today, this has culminated in a rogue state run by supremacists, supported by a large majority. The US trade deficit, often cited as justification for protectionist tariffs, is merely a symptom of a deeper malaise. The real issue is that American goods – and the culture that sells them – are losing their appeal. Nations like China South Korea , and before them Japan , now produce superior goods. Meanwhile America, high on its own rhetoric about globalisation, shifted its economy towards services dominated by the financial sector, hollowing out its manufacturing base. Yet Americans continued to borrow and consume at unparalleled levels, encouraged by the state. Living beyond their means, they amassed crippling debt. All the while, they were led to believe that their consumerism was the engine of global growth, a myth perpetuated by American business media like Bloomberg and CNBC. For decades, this propaganda painted American life as the global standard. What was once irresistible now feels unsustainable, replaceable and, to the rest of the world, deeply crass. The world has finally woken up to the unsustainable mechanisms of the US-led 'rules-based order' and the hollowness of the so-called American dream. So why did it take so long for the world to realise that this dream is, in truth, a paper tiger? The myth of American superiority
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ABC's David Muir Pulls Back the Curtain on His Life Off Camera and How He Feels About His 'Daddy' Status (Exclusive)
David Muir helms the news desk of ABC's World News Tonight and has been the show's lead anchor since 2014 Though he's been on television for years, Muir is opening up to PEOPLE about the other side of his life that fans don't get to see on screen He shares details about how he spends his days and what he really thinks about his devoted online fan baseDavid Muir is more than what meets the eye. Yes, he's the most-watched news anchor in America, helming the news desk of ABC's World News Tonight since 2014. He's covered dozens of worldly events, from the killing of Osama bin Laden to reporting live from Vatican City as Cardinal Robert Prevost became the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He's also helped set an all-time record of $9 million in donations raised for the World Food Program through his reporting on climate change from South Sudan and Madagascar. And most recently, he was named to the 2025 Time 100 list, honored with a tribute by his friend and mentor Diane Sawyer. But despite all of his accomplishments and lengthy tenure in journalism, Muir, 51, says he's still most himself in a setting far from the newsroom. "I'd say my most comfortable element is being outside, covered in mud like this weekend," he tells PEOPLE in an interview on May 27, following his Memorial Day weekend trip to his hometown in upstate New York. "It was pouring rain and I loved every second of it." It's a side that Muir doesn't always get to show off when he's reporting the news — but one that continuously makes him feel whole and reconnected to his roots. "I have a German short-haired pointer, and for him, the biggest event of the weekend was discovering there was a beaver who had begun to build a dam inside the little boathouse," he says. "So I spent more time at nightfall standing on the dock with the dog who was waiting for a glimpse of this beaver coming out of the boathouse than I did doing anything else." "When you're out there on the lake, smelling the same air that you smelled when you were on your BMX bike back when you were a kid, there's something really fueling about that and connected about it. You just feel like you're home again," he adds. "I couldn't have been happier." Looking back on his roots, it's no surprise that Muir was destined to be where he is today, especially since he grew up idolizing anchors that came before him. "I was a nerd who felt this gravitational pull to the news, starting back when I was 12 years old," he says. "I remember being outside, playing with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood and being the only kid who would go inside when the local news came on, and then watching Peter Jennings, who I thought was sort of the James Bond of the evening news, the globetrotter." To Muir, Jennings represented an "opportunity to get out there beyond your backyard and see the world." It was an idea that Muir found enticing. "There was always this incredible pull," he says. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! After realizing he wanted to pursue journalism, Muir says he started "writing letters to the local reporters in my town." When they responded with offers for internships, he leapt at the opportunity. "I began interning, carrying all the equipment — and back then the equipment was huge and heavy — and I'd jump into the back of the cruiser and I was honestly the happiest kid," he recalls. "Most kids were looking forward to summer vacation and I couldn't wait to get into the back seat of that cruiser all over again." "All these years later, I look back on that as a defining moment in my life," he adds. "I dove headfirst and I was just lucky enough to have people around me who weren't turned off by the kid intern." After graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in journalism, Muir's career took off as he started working at local news stations in Syracuse and Boston. In 2003, he joined ABC News as an anchor of World News Now and has remained there ever since, working his way up the ranks before succeeding Sawyer on World News Tonight in September 2014. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Still, Muir can't believe his fate. "It's funny because [Sawyer] would tell you, and has told me, 'I'm not your mentor. I'm your friend. I'm your colleague. We're both reporters.' And I still remember the first morning I reported to that studio in Times Square, sitting next to Diane Sawyer. And I remember looking at her and I couldn't believe she was sitting in the chair next to me." Now going on his eleventh year at World News Tonight, Muir believes audiences truly know who he is at his core — but he does have one (or two!) secrets to divulge. "I generally have jeans on from the waist down," he admits of his attire for newscasts. "So the first thing that we try to do is make sure my jeans aren't showing... I really don't try to take myself too seriously but I always just joke, 'Don't tell anyone about the jeans and the boots!'" He also admits to double-checking the date with his floor director Michelle before going on the air. "Because the news is hitting us at lightning speed, I literally will say just before we come on, 'It's great to have you Shelly on a Tuesday night?' And she says, 'Yes, David, it's Tuesday,'" he says with a laugh. When asked about his devoted fanbase — particularly those who share thirst edits on TikTok (there's even a Tumblr Page called "Gimme Gimme Muir") — Muir can't help but laugh and take it in stride. "People will forward TikTok videos, but only because they are laughing out loud at them and making fun of me and saying, 'When did you become Daddy?' So I don't know whether that happens when you hit 50 or what, but I'll take it as a compliment, I think," he jokes. "Anyone who works with me knows that I am so uncomfortable even having to put on the tux. So the fact that I survive those events is still a surprise to me without looking like a total nerd." "So maybe it's lost on me, but I guess Daddy's better than the alternative," he adds with a laugh. Despite the online interest, he says it's actually his dog, Axel, that his fans may love more than him. "I love when people come up to me and interact because I feel like if they're going to be with me every night on the news, they do know me and they have every right to come up and sort of check in with me," he says. "But I have a dog walker who has been with me for six years now. And so I love the stories of even when the dog walker is out in public, people will say, 'Is that David Muir's dog?' It kind of puts it all in perspective. The dog is always the most important." "I think [he's] more [famous]," he says of his pup's fame. "He deserves to be. And he has no idea which makes it even more special." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. With so many boxes checked off in his life, what's next for Muir? He has one simple answer. "I think it's really important to continue to try being better," he says. "The moment you stop learning, the moment you're no longer curious, the moment you don't believe you can be better than you were a night ago or a week ago, is probably a time to sort of check yourself." "I still feel like I'm that kid racing into that local newsroom all those years ago," he continues. "I love this job. I love the people that I interview and get to meet, and I think that journalism is more important than ever." World News Tonight with David Muir airs weeknights at 6:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Read the original article on People
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Worship news: Mother-daughter high tea and speaker series
Bethel Church: 10202 Broadway — Bethel Church will begin a women's summer bible study on June 10. Bethel women are invited to join at the Crown Point campus every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to explore accounts of Jesus and watch videos filmed on location in Israel. Register here: The church will have 'Steps' beginning at 6:30 p.m. June 2. Steps is a 12-step care and recovery ministry that offers practical steps, care, encouragement, accountability and community to anyone struggling with life hurts. There are groups designed to tackle and overcome addiction, anxiety, trauma, family issues and a host of distress. There will also be a limited online option. Register online St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W. Burrell Drive — St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church will have a 'Growing in Grace' mother-daughter high tea from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 1. For more details or to register, visit St. Matthias will have a 'Pick 7' food distribution event on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Parish Hall. Those interested will be able to pick seven items from available options, and the shopping order will be determined by a random draw. For more information, call 219-663-2201. Faith Church: 100 W. 81st Ave. — There will be a 'Men of Faith' event from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on June 7 to provide an opportunity for men to grow in their relationship with Jesus and each other. For more information, visit Cathedral of the Holy Angels: 640 Tyler St. — Cathedral of the Holy Angels will have a 'Hope Does Not Disappoint: Understanding the Jubilee Year' mass at 10 a.m. on June 1. The Jubilee will feature mass and be followed by light food and refreshments, and a powerful message from speaker Paul Jarzembowski, Associate Director for the Laity USCCB and Co-Coordinator of Jubilee Resources for the U.S. For more information, visit: The cathedral will have a day of service and 'Neighborhood Cookout with Christ in the City' from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31. There will be volunteer training at 11 a.m., prep for lunch at 12 p.m., lunch from 1-3 p.m. and cleanup from 3-4 p.m. Those interested can register here: Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Bethel Church: 704 W. County Road 700 North — Bethel Church Hobart-Portage campus will have a women's morning Bible study from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings beginning on June 5. The Bible study will go for eight weeks and will be reading through 'When You Pray' to explore different types of prayers modeled in Scripture. Childcare is available for $25 per child. To register, visit: River Pointe Country Club: 6700 Country Club Rd. — Bethel Church will have a Men's Golf Scramble beginning at 12 p.m. May 31 at the River Pointe Country Club. All levels of golf are welcome to attend for fun, food and fellowship. The cost is $60 per person and includes greens fee, a cart, prizes and dinner. Register here: The Gathering Church: 360 E. Lincoln Hwy. — The Gathering Church will have its Worship Night, held on the first Friday of every month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 6. The event is a night of worship and prayer. For more information, call 219-765-2124. St. John Evangelist: 11301 W 93rd Ave — Young adults aged 18 to 39 are invited to the 2025 Young Adult Summer Speakers Series, held each Wednesday evening from May 28 to June 25. The next session will begin at 7 p.m. on June 4 with speaker Sister M. Josetta Rose O.S.F. who will discuss 'hope and ceaseless adoration.' Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for food and fellowship, with a bonfire to follow, pending weather.
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First Post
3 days ago
- General
- First Post
History Today: Why French heroine Joan of Arc was burned at the stake
On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc, the young peasant girl who helped lead France to victory, was burned at the stake after being convicted of heresy. Her bravery and leadership were key in shifting the course of the Hundred Years' War in France's favour and preventing the English from taking full control. Also on this day in 1826, the first Hindi newspaper, 'Udant Martand', was launched in India. May 30 is now celebrated annually as Hindi Journalism Day read more On May 30, 1431, Joan was burned at the stake for heresy in Rouen. Image: Hermitage Museum On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl who helped lead France to victory, was burned at the stake after being found guilty of heresy. Years later, in 1920, the Roman Catholic Church declared Joan of Arc a saint, honouring her as one of France's most respected figures. Also on this day in 1826, the first Hindi newspaper, 'Udant Martand', was published. It became a voice for people who spoke Hindi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today , is your one-stop destination to explore key events. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who rose to become a national symbol of France, believed she was carrying out God's will when she led French forces to a key victory at Orleans during the Hundred Years' War. Her leadership helped stop the English from taking full control of France. On May 30, 1431, Joan was burned at the stake for heresy in Rouen, which was under English rule at the time. "Joan of Arc" by John Everett Millais (1865). — Academia Aesthetics (@AcademiaAesthe1) November 19, 2022 The conflict between England and France took a major turn in 1415 when King Henry V of England invaded France and defeated the forces of King Charles VI in several major battles. By the time Henry died in August 1422, the English, along with their French-Burgundian allies, controlled Aquitaine and most of northern France, including Paris. Reims, where French kings were traditionally crowned, remained under Anglo-Burgundian control. Meanwhile, the French heir to the throne, known as the Dauphin, had not yet been crowned. Joan's home village of Domremy lay close to the border between lands held by the Dauphin and those under Anglo-Burgundian rule. In February 1429, dressed in men's clothing and travelling with six soldiers, Joan made her way to Chinon to meet the Dauphin. He was hiding among his courtiers, but Joan recognised him at once and told him she had been sent by God. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Dauphin gave her command of a small army, and on April 27, 1429, she began the march to Orleans, which had been under English siege since October the previous year. Joan led from the front in several attacks. On May 7, she was wounded by an arrow but returned to the battle after treating the injury herself. The French broke the siege, and on May 8, the English withdrew from Orleans. In May 1430, the Burgundians surrounded Compiegne. Joan entered the town secretly to help defend it. On May 23, while leading an attack, she was captured by the Burgundians. They later handed her over to the English. Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who rose to become a national symbol of France. Image: Hermitage Museum In March 1431, she was put on trial in Rouen by church officials on charges of heresy. She was found guilty of relapsing into heresy and on May 29 was passed to the secular court. The next day, at just nineteen years old, Joan was burned at the stake in Rouen's Place du Vieux-Marche. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Before the fire was lit, she asked a priest to hold up a crucifix so she could see it and to say prayers loudly enough for her to hear them through the flames. Joan's courage and leadership played a major part in turning the Hundred Years' War in France's favour. In 1920, the Roman Catholic Church declared her a saint. Her feast day is May 30. Later that same year, on June 24, the French parliament announced a national festival in her honour, to be observed every year on the second Sunday of May. First Hindi newspaper was launched On May 30, 1826, the first Hindi newspaper, 'Udant Martand', was launched. This was an important step in Indian journalism and gave Hindi speakers a platform to access news in their own language. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The paper was published weekly and became a voice for those who spoke Hindi, allowing them to read news and opinions in their mother tongue. It was founded by Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla and printed by Manna Thakur. It would take another 28 years before the first Hindi daily, 'Samachar Sudha Varshan', began publication in Calcutta in 1854. The launch of 'Udant Martand' reflected a growing sense of cultural identity and pride in the Hindi language. The newspaper featured local and international news, helping to inform and engage its readers. To mark the beginning of Hindi journalism in India, May 30 is now observed every year as Hindi Journalism Day. This Day, That Year 1987: Goa was officially granted statehood. The day is now marked every year as 'Goa Statehood Day'. 2012: Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone's civil war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 2015: Beau Biden, son of Joe Biden, died of brain cancer at the age of 46. 2019: Narendra Modi began his second term as Prime Minister of India after a decisive win in the general elections. 2020: Protests over the death of George Floyd and other police killings of Black people spread across the United States. 2024: Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of felony crimes. A New York jury found him guilty of 34 charges related to a hush money scheme during the 2016 election.
