Culture Wars/Current Controversies

Influencers for hire are ruining democracy

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Monday, 27 May 2024

“Winter collapsed on us that year. It knelt, exhausted, and stayed.”

Emily Fridlund

STORY OF THE DAY

Influence-for-hire trend is distorting public discourse, poses threat to foundations of democracy

By Tabelo Timse, Kyle Findlay and Aldu Cornelissen
As election day approaches, a Daily Maverick investigation monitoring trends in political discourse has revealed that the buying and selling of influence on the social media platform X is becoming a significant trend that requires scrutiny. This article is the first in a series that will delve deeper into the commodification of influence in South Africa.
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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
🇿🇦💨 Cyril Ramaphosa took up your Sunday viewing time to urge you to vote. The national address also included a last-minute list of things his government promised to do, including creating jobs and attracting foreign investment.
🇮🇱🇵🇸 Dozens were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent city for displaced people in Rafah. The attack in the northwest part of the city happened two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its operations.
🇺🇸🌪️ At least 14 people have died across the US, as a series of powerful storms raged across parts of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky. Officials predicted that, unfortunately, this death toll would likely increase.
🍊🇺🇸 Donald Trump was met with boos and general heckling at the Libertarian National Convention on Saturday night. The American Libertarians blamed Trump for rushing a Covid-19 vaccine and for his public health restriction stance during the pandemic. The radicals in America are not entirely aligned on planet Trump, it seems.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

📷 Marisa Smalberger

“For all that has been, thanks. And for all that is to come, yes.”
Simon’s Town.
Have a picture for us? Send it our way.
Click here for last week’s pictures.

IN NUMBERS

17 million

… the number of actual, old-school telegrams still sent annually. Most commonly to meet legal requirements, or to express congratulations or condolences.
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FACTS OF THE DAY

Today in 1937, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the longest suspension bridge at the time, was officially opened to the public.

Madonna turned down a role in The Matrix.

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
🏏 Kolkata Knight Riders lifted their third Indian Premier League title with an eight-wicket thrashing of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a lop-sided final in Chennai on Sunday.

🚴 Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar emphatically won the Giro d’Italia on debut, winning by the biggest overall margin since 1965. Pogačar was nine minutes 56 seconds ahead of second-placed Daniel Martinez from Colombia.

🏉 South Africa’s integration into European rugby enjoyed a boost with the Sharks’ 36-22 Challenge Cup win over Gloucester.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Sponsored Content: Which political parties are top of SA voters’ minds? – The latest eNCA election poll.

By eNCA

DAILY MAVERICK TODAY

How a court finding involving Jacob Zuma may change our tax laws for the better

By Rob Rose

Clarens — the town that knows it won’t have load shedding after the polls

By Ferial Haffajee

Grand corruption — David Mabuza, Fred Daniel and the new trial judge

By Kevin Bloom

Electoral Commission of SA quashes MK party’s vote-rigging allegations

By Queenin Masuabi

When AI takes all of the jobs, who will pay our taxes?

By Steven Boykey Sidley

OPINIONISTAS

Tough questions for political parties (Part One) — the DA and the National Minimum Wage

By Neil Coleman

What happens if a government can’t be formed after SA’s May 29 election?

By Melanie Verwoerd
 
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John Stupart

Newsletters Editor
 
 

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Categories: Culture Wars/Current Controversies, Electoralism/Democratism, News Updates

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