Blitzkrieg Masculine Energy
17 January 2025
🎉 Welcome to 2025’s first Chief Brief! 🎉
Here’s the scoop: We’re kicking off the year with something BIG—The Chief Brief Late Edition! And it’s happening during the Munich Security Conference and Munich Cybersecurity Conference.
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The biggest show of all that we have to look forward to in every aspect of our lives will take place on January 20th with the Trump inauguration. But, make no mistake, the whole world’s a tad bit messy right now.
Baerbock Goes Full Blitzkrieg on Scholz’s Ukraine Stance
It’s getting messy in Germany. The country’s most prominent female politician, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is done playing nice. In a sharp rebuke aimed squarely at Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she’s accusing him of jeopardizing European peace to score cheap election points. The drama? Scholz has blocked €3 billion in extra military aid for Ukraine, just weeks before Germany’s federal election on February 23.
Baerbock, repping the Greens and vying to be Kyiv’s loudest cheerleader, didn’t drop Scholz’s name but made her frustrations crystal clear. “It really pains me,” she told Politico, “that some politicians care more about quick votes than Europe’s peace and freedom.” Translation: Scholz is putting polls over principles.
Scholz, naturally, brushed it off, claiming Trump’s return to the White House won’t shake U.S. support for Ukraine. Sure, Olaf—because betting on Trump’s consistency has always worked out well.
With the Ukraine debate heating up as a campaign flashpoint, Baerbock is doubling down on calling out spineless politics. She’s saying the quiet part out loud: Europe’s security isn’t a prop for election theatrics.
This isn’t just another campaign squabble—it’s a power play with real stakes. And Baerbock? She’s not pulling punches. Buckle up, Germany - the combination of an Elon Musk backed AfD and a coalition inflighting tinderbox, these elections are going to be fun!
See you all at the Munich Security Conference - bring your own popcorn!
Zuckerberg’s DEI Detox: Daddy Issues or Midlife Crisis?
Mark Zuckerberg wants more “masculine energy” in the workplace. Yes, really. In an eyebrow-raising comment on podcast ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, the Meta CEO (wearing the Alpha male uniform of a fancy (an almost million dollars) watch and an oversized black T-shirt) mused about the need for less kumbaya and more caveman vibes at work. Cue the memes: Is Zuck getting divorced? Is this a midlife crisis? Or is he just angling to out-bro Elon Musk in the battle for Donald Trump’s affection?
Whatever’s fueling this macho rebrand, Meta has gone full throttle into dismantling its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. In a Friday memo dripping with corporate doublespeak, Janelle Gale, Meta’s VP of HR, announced the death of DEI at the company. The memo, first reported by Axios, confirmed that equity programs, supplier diversity efforts, and hiring practices aimed at underrepresented groups are all getting the axe. Because nothing says “fairness” like scrapping fairness initiatives.
Gale’s rationale? A “changing legal and policy landscape” (read: the Supreme Court rolling back anything with the word “equity” in it) and the return of President-elect Donald Trump, who’s already sharpening his metaphorical axe with his Dismantle DEI Act. She even threw in a line about how DEI has become “charged” because some folks think it’s just code for “preferential treatment.” Translation: we don’t want the MAGA mob calling us woke.
In the new Meta universe, DEI is out, and “fair and consistent practices” are in. Sounds noble, right? Except it boils down to pretending that systemic inequities vanish if you just stop acknowledging them. Even Maxine Williams, Meta’s former Chief Diversity Officer, has been demoted—I mean reassigned—to focus on “accessibility and engagement.” Sure, Jan.
This pivot doesn’t stop at HR. Meta’s also waving goodbye to third-party fact-checking and loosening its policies on hateful content. Zuckerberg’s new vision seems to be less about connecting the world and more about creating a digital Wild West where dudes named Chad can roam free. But thankfully, Chad lives only in the United States. Zuckerberg has had to clarify to the world (Brazil, EU etc) that the fact check removal is only for Americans (for now). My Meta feed should get even more interesting whenever I fly across the pond! Goodluck getting no-fact checking past the regulators in other parts of the world.
Meanwhile, companies like Microsoft and Apple are holding onto their DEI programs for dear life (the shreds that remain) —at least for now. But if Meta’s throwing in the towel, I wonder who’s next? Will men like Sundar Pichai or Dara Khosrowshahi resist the siren call of “masculine energy,” considering the “headache” that DEI has been for them? (Uber has had its share of issues with its DEI boss back in 2023, Google’s had some flak for the way it handled its WoC AI ethics team among others) Or are these folks next in line for a Rogan appearance to prove they too are down with the bros?
Stay tuned—it’s Big Tech’s bro era, and the memes are writing themselves.
🚨 Power Play in Syria: Women Take the Spotlight 🚨
It’s a wild ride in Syria right now. The Islamist group HTS, which led the charge to end Assad’s rule, is suddenly borrowing from ideas it used to bash—like those championed by activists who despite pressure supported and gave technical skills to displaced women during Syria’s civil war.
The big question? How this new government will handle women’s rights. While some of Syria’s women’s rights activists argue that HTS’s broader control limits its ability to repress women like before, others are seizing the moment to push back hard against any new restrictions.
Not helping HTS’s case: Obaida Arnout, a government spokesperson, claiming women aren’t suited for certain jobs because of “biological and physiological” reasons. (Cue collective eye-roll 🙄). Then there’s Aisha al-Dibs, the new minister for women, slamming civil society groups and blaming divorce rates on past “catastrophic” programs. Naturally, these comments have unleashed fury in a country long repressed by an unforgiving regime.
The backlash from everyday Syrians seems to have rattled the powers-that-be: enter Maysaa Sabrine, the first woman ever to head the Syrian central bank. While critics and activists are calling her appointment a familiar HTS move to calm troubled water —i.e repressive actions followed by performative concessions—they also see this as a critical opening to demand more. Will this push-pull dynamic pave the way for real change, or are we in for more of the same? Only time will tell.
🚨 Malala and the Taliban’s War on Women 🚨
Malala Yousafzai is calling on Muslim leaders to confront the Taliban’s ongoing assault on women’s rights in Afghanistan. Speaking at a global summit on girls’ education in Islamic countries, she didn’t hold back:
“Simply put, the Taliban in Afghanistan do not see women as human beings.”
Her message comes as the Taliban escalates its crackdown, ordering all national and foreign NGOs to stop employing women. The latest edict (there are now so many, its hard to keep track), delivered via a letter from the Economy Ministry, threatens to revoke licenses for any organization that doesn’t comply. This follows their 2021 ban on Afghan women working for NGOs, citing improper use of the Islamic headscarf.
Malala minced no words: there is “nothing Islamic” about barring women from education and work.
And she’s absolutely right. These policies are rooted in control, not faith.
It’s time for leaders across the world, whatever their faith to act. The lives, futures, and basic dignity of Afghan women hang in the balance. Economic levers never had a better use.
India Shifts Approach to Taliban, Signs of New Regional Strategy
As global power dynamics shift from being West-dominated to increasingly defined by regional influences, India’s recent outreach to Afghanistan’s Taliban signals a significant recalibration of its strategy. Since the fall of Kabul three years ago—marking the loss of India’s extensive two-decade investment in Afghanistan’s democracy and security—the country has seen its influence eroded by rivals like Pakistan and China. Yet, in January, India’s top diplomat Vikram Misri met with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai, signaling the highest-level engagement since the 2021 collapse. The Taliban, recognizing India as a “significant regional and economic power,” is eager to strengthen ties. Is this the beginning of a new chapter in India’s relationship with Afghanistan? Given the Modi government’s handling of women’s issues, it seems unlikely that the desperate situation facing Afghan women will pose a barrier to future talks.
Science News
A Woman’s World: The Surprising Matrilineal Society of Ancient Britain
The next time an Englishman is a misogynist - use this very scientific fact!
When the Romans first stumbled upon Celtic tribes in the 1st century B.C.E., they were shocked. The roles of men and women were totally flipped from what the Romans knew. One historian even wrote that tasks were “exchanged in a manner opposite to what obtains among us.”
Fast forward to today, and new discoveries from Celtic graves confirm that parts of ancient Britain were definitely a woman’s world—long before and after the Romans arrived. The Durotriges tribe, for example, had a family structure based on mothers and daughters, with men moving in with their wives’ families—a practice called matrilocality. (Definitely not your typical European prehistory!)
The findings, published in Nature, also shed light on why women from this era are often buried with high-status items like mirrors and even chariots. According to archaeologist Carola Metzner-Nebelsick, the work helps explain the unusual finds and is “a fantastic result” for understanding the archaeological record.
Science Spotlight: 🚀 Canada’s Own Space Pioneer: Madison Feehan 🌟
At just 21, Madison Feehan is already making waves at NASA—and that’s just the start! She’s been part of NASA for five years and is currently reviewing tech for future space missions. But here’s the kicker: she’s also the CEO of Space Copy, a company creating 3D printers that can build infrastructure in space (and on Earth!).
Feehan’s company has developed a way to turn lunar soil into usable resources, cutting NASA’s costs by 70%—talk about out-of-this-world innovation! Her passion for space started in 9th grade, and now she’s turning her dreams into reality. The sky’s definitely not the limit for this rising star.
Sports News
Morocco to Host 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup! ⚽🇲🇦
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, just dropped the exciting news: Morocco will host the 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup—and it’s the first edition to feature 24 teams!
Mark your calendars: the tournament runs from October 17 to November 8, and it’s a game-changer for women’s football in Morocco. The country, packed with football lovers, is ready to put on a show. As Infantino put it on Instagram, this is an incredible opportunity for young players to shine on the global stage. This announcement comes after FIFA’s March 2024 decision to hand Morocco the next five editions of the U17 Women’s World Cup. Game on!
Tokyo to Host 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship! 🥍🇯🇵
World Lacrosse just revealed that Tokyo will be the host city for the 2026 Women’s Championship, set to take place from July 24 to August 2. While Japan had already been named the host country, the details are now locked in.
This marks a major moment as it’s the first time Japan will host the world championship since 1997, when the U.S. women edged out Australia to claim the title in the Edogawa ward of Tokyo. Get ready for some serious lacrosse action in 2026!
What to Watch This Weekend: The Six Triple Eight
In 1944, Charity Adams Earley led the Six Triple Eight battalion—Black women tasked with getting millions of pieces of mail to soldiers. They completed the job in half the time expected, but their story was lost to history. Now, thanks to a new movie airing on Netflix, Earley is finally getting her due, over 20 years after her death.
After the war, Earley became the highest-ranking woman in the Army and a fixture in Ohio. While the Six Triple Eight received medals later, their recognition was long overdue. Since 2018, their story has been honored with a monument, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a Congressional Gold Medal. In 2023, Fort Lee was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams, the first Army fort named after a Black woman, honoring Earley and Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg.
I watched Tyler Perry’s version of her story, and you must excuse the little stilted direction, a slightly overacting Kerry Washington, a definitely awkward Oprah to get to the story of Charity and her Six Triple Eight’s heroics. It is worth the watch, to know just a fraction of what they went through — till someone makes a darn good documentary about them.
We salute you ladies! Breaking barriers before anyone thought they could be broken!
(you hear that, Pete Hegseth? don’t even get me started on the man Trump’s nominated for Defense Secretary. Read it here)
WTH Headline of the fortnight
RACHEL REEVES: The Iron Chancellor (or So She Says)
“Some people don’t want me to succeed” & “I’m happy to be the Iron Chancellor.”
Rachel Reeves is really leaning into the whole “don’t let them get me down” vibe as she faces a tiny bit of criticism for the slight economic mess she’s stewing in. Rising borrowing costs, sluggish growth, and a £22 billion “black hole”? No biggie, apparently. In her grandest interview to date, she has assured the BBC that she’s in it for the long haul and totally has the “ideas” to turn this all around.
And just in case anyone missed the memo, she’s embracing the Iron Chancellor title, channeling Margaret Thatcher. Because, who doesn’t want to be compared to a former Tory PM when things are going so smoothly, right? (Spoiler: Things aren’t.)
The economy grew a whopping 0.1% last quarter, and despite being blamed for dragging us into stagnation with her £40 billion tax hikes, she’s standing firm. Critics? Just politics. Succeeding? Totally doable. And, of course, she’s “happy” to be the Iron Chancellor if that’s what people want to call her.
In a twist of personal charm, she also shared her upbringing story: how her mother kept every receipt. But don’t worry, she doesn’t just talk about fiscal discipline—she lives it, bringing Tupperware lunches and occasionally snatching leftover pastries for later. (Because, who needs fancy lunches when you’re saving the economy?) Remind anyone of a certain “Lettuce” lady?