Armed Men Urge Voting, Starship Lost, Biden Robocall Lawsuit

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Centrist Chronicle
March 18, 2024

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As Russia embarks on its three-day presidential election starting today, President Vladimir Putin is poised to secure a fifth term in office. This election also controversially includes votes from territories in Ukraine annexed by Russia in 2022, covering an area of approximately 46,000 square miles. This pivotal election follows one month after the demise of the incarcerated opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.

Since 1999, Putin has been at the helm of Russia, alternating roles between the president and prime minister. Despite the introduction of term limits by Russia's 1993 constitution, subsequent referendums and constitutional changes have paved the way for Putin's continued leadership. At 71, Putin enjoys robust approval ratings, and despite facing extensive international sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's economy remains resilient.

Critics argue that the Russian government's tight grip on the electoral candidates and the suppression of independent media have stifled any genuine competition against Putin. The existing opposition candidates, although critical of the regime to varying extents, unanimously back the conflict in Ukraine. Moreover, Boris Nadezhdin, an outspoken antiwar contender, was disqualified from the race last month.


Yesterday, SpaceX's Starship rocket embarked on its third test flight from Boca Chica, Texas, marking its initial successful entry into orbit. However, the vehicle disintegrated during its return to Earth's atmosphere.

The event captivated over 1.5 million live viewers as the 400-foot spacecraft, the most potent rocket designed to date aimed at lunar and interstellar human missions, ascended successfully. Post-launch, SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed that Starship achieved orbital velocity within 15 minutes. Subsequently, the spacecraft demonstrated potential satellite deployment by opening its payload bay and conducting an in-flight liquid oxygen transfer between its tanks.

SpaceX representatives highlighted that this trial furnished valuable data on the rocket's reentry dynamics at velocities exceeding Mach 5. This aspect is pivotal for the envisioned reusability of Starship, a cornerstone in its design for future missions.


Yesterday, a prominent voting rights group initiated legal action against a political strategist affiliated with the Democratic Party, accusing him of deploying AI-generated robocalls that falsely represented President Joe Biden. This legal action, spearheaded by the League of Women Voters, demands significant fines against the political consultant, Steve Kramer, on behalf of five individual complainants.

The controversial robocalls advised New Hampshire voters to abstain from participating in the Democratic primary, suggesting they reserve their votes for the November election. Kramer confessed to spending $150 to craft the imitation, utilizing technology from ElevenLabs, which synthesized the voice in less than twenty minutes. Although Congressman Dean Phillips (MN-3), whom Biden significantly defeated in the primary, paid Kramer over $250,000 for consulting services, he disavowed any foreknowledge of the robocall campaign. Kramer defended his actions, stating his goal was to highlight AI's potential risks.

This incident is marked as the inaugural attempt at voter suppression employing AI to replicate the voice of a sitting U.S. president, leading to regulatory changes that now strictly prohibit such AI-generated robocall tactics.