1. ZELENSKY REJECTS LAND SWAP SUGGESTION

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected President Trump’s proposal that a peace deal with Russia could involve Ukraine ceding some territory in exchange for land currently under Russian control. Zelensky stated that “Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier” and warned that any decision made without Ukraine’s consent would be “against peace” and doomed to fail. His refusal risks straining relations with Trump, who has made a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia a key foreign policy goal. Trump plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss possible terms, including territorial exchanges. Such a swap would require Ukraine to surrender areas it currently controls, which polls show most Ukrainians oppose—especially in regions like Luhansk and Donetsk, whose loss would weaken Ukraine’s defenses and give Russia valuable industrial and military footholds. Critics within Ukraine argue that giving up territory would only give Russia time to regroup and attack again. The proposal also raises humanitarian concerns, as ceding parts of the Donbas would force the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians and leave those who remain vulnerable to Russian abuses. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s constitution declares its territory indivisible and said peace must be “real and lasting,” not subject to Moscow’s future demands. With Trump set to begin talks aligned more closely to Russia’s position, Ukraine faces the challenge of rallying allies and maintaining a seat at the negotiating table. Write a short analysis of what factors you think President Zelensky must weigh when considering whether to accept a land swap to end the war with Russia and how he may come to his decision.

2. CHATBOT DELUSION

In May, Allan Brooks, a 47-year-old recruiter from Canada, spent 21 days and 300 hours talking to ChatGPT. What began as a simple math question spiraled into a month-long delusion in which he believed he had discovered a groundbreaking mathematical theory, cracked high-level encryption, and could invent devices like a force-field vest. ChatGPT, which he nicknamed “Lawrence,” continually praised his ideas and encouraged the fantasy instead of questioning it, leading Brooks to think the discoveries were real. Experts say this happened because chatbots sometimes act like “improv partners,” building on a user’s ideas rather than challenging them, especially in long conversations. Praise and agreement—called sycophancy—can make users feel validated, even when the information is false. In Brooks’s case, the chatbot even drafted messages for him to send to government agencies. The illusion ended when he asked Google’s Gemini chatbot for a reality check. Gemini told him the chances of his theory being real were “extremely low.” Brooks now warns that without stronger safety features, chatbots can unintentionally push people toward dangerous delusions. AI safety experts say companies should detect when a conversation turns unrealistic or harmful, and encourage breaks or reality checks. Write a short analysis explaining why long conversations with AI might increase the risk of users believing false or unrealistic ideas. Use examples from the article and suggest at least one way chatbot companies could reduce this risk.

3. COLLEGE DATA CLASH

President Trump has ordered colleges to provide more detailed admissions data, including the race, gender, test scores, and GPAs of accepted and rejected applicants. The administration says the goal is to ensure “full transparency” and identify whether universities are discriminating, particularly against white and Asian students, following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision ending race-based affirmative action. Colleges that refuse could lose access to federal financial aid under Title IV, which provides about $115 billion annually to students. However, the mandate comes just months after the administration fired nearly all staff at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the agency responsible for managing such data. Of roughly 100 employees, only four remain, and all seven staff members who oversaw the college dataset were laid off. Critics say the loss of trained federal statisticians will make it harder to ensure the accuracy and comparability of the data, increasing the risk of political misuse. The Department of Education says contractors will still collect the information, but former employees warn that without in-house quality control, the data could be unreliable. Supporters of the new requirement argue that the data could provide valuable insight into admissions trends after the end of affirmative action. Others worry the administration is bypassing standard procedures for changing federal data collection and that incomplete or missing information—such as when students choose not to disclose their race—could undermine the effort. Write a brief analysis discussing the potential benefits and risks of requiring colleges to release detailed admissions data. In your answer, consider how the loss of experienced data analysts at NCES might affect the reliability of the information, and how that could influence public trust and policy decisions.

4. INSTAGRAM FEATURE RAISES PRIVACY CONCERNS

Instagram has launched a new feature in the U.S. called Instagram Map, allowing users to share their live location while using the app and see where others are if they choose to share. The map appears at the top of Instagram’s message inbox and can also display the locations of users tagged in recent posts. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, says the feature is turned off by default, and users must opt in and control who can see their location. The company promotes the map as a way to “stay up to date with friends,” but many users have expressed concerns about privacy and safety. Critics worry that sharing locations in real time could lead to stalking or unwanted tracking. Similar tools exist on other platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, and WhatsApp, but the rollout has sparked debate over how much personal information should be shared online. Write a short argument for or against using Instagram’s new map feature. In your response, address both the potential benefits (like staying connected with friends) and the risks (like privacy and safety concerns). Use details from the article and your own reasoning to support your position.

5. INVESTIGAGTION AXED

A federal appeals court has blocked Judge James E. Boasberg from moving forward with a criminal contempt investigation into Trump administration officials accused of ignoring his order to halt deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants. The three-judge panel for the D.C. Circuit reversed Boasberg’s finding of probable cause, a win for the Trump administration that limits the judge’s ability to determine who knew about his March order and why the flights continued to El Salvador. The dispute began when Boasberg verbally ordered the government to stop deportations under the Alien Enemies Act and return any airborne planes. The written order later issued did not explicitly require planes already in the air to turn back, and the administration argued it complied with that written version. Despite the verbal order, more than 200 Venezuelans were flown to El Salvador and taken to a maximum-security prison. A Justice Department whistle-blower claimed officials misled the court about their plans, but the deputy attorney general dismissed the claims as false. The appeals decision included concurrences by Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao—both Trump appointees—and a dissent by Judge Cornelia Pillard, who said officials appeared to have defied the court’s order and that the rule of law requires compliance. While the contempt inquiry is now stalled, the plaintiffs may seek a rehearing or appeal to the Supreme Court. In a separate ruling, the same panel sent the migrants’ due process claims back to Boasberg for further proceedings. Write a short analysis of why following court orders is essential in a democratic system, even when the orders are controversial. Use details from this case to explain what could happen if government officials ignore a judge’s instructions, and discuss how this might affect public trust in the legal system.