What a (likely) Ukraine Eurovision victory means

+ diving into research about power poses ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Soon after being posted to New York in 2009, I found myself in a packed gay bar cheering on one-half of Norwegian pop duo Bobbysocks while she danced on the table singing her 1985 Eurovision-winning hit in celebration of that year’s winner – a fellow Norwegian.

Back then the only way to see the annual event – a song contest that’s been a mainstay on European TV since the 1950s – was via a dodgy stream that went down far too often. Not anymore. The much more legit U.S. streaming service Peacock will ensure that Americans are among the global audience of around 200 million people tonight.

What they are likely to see is a rousing Ukrainian victory. But it won’t be just a sympathy vote. For starters, the Ukrainian entry is actually pretty good. And, as Clark University’s resident Eurovision know-it-all Robert Deam Tobin explains, the competition has long struck a political note. “Despite the popular and ephemeral nature of its songs, the event has, since its inception, reflected the political culture and geopolitical realities of Europe,” he writes.

This week we also liked articles about Ukraine’s savvy public relations, why the personhood debate is fraught and evidence that Twitter isn’t biased against conservatives.

Matt Williams

Breaking News Editor

Could Ukraine’s entry be heading for Eurovision success? Maxim Fesenko/eurovision.tv

‘Walking through Europe’s door, singing’ – How Eurovision helps define Europe’s boundaries (and why Ukraine will likely win)

Robert Deam Tobin, Clark University

Politics have never been that far away from the Eurovision Song Contest. Since its inception, the annual event has reflected the political culture and geopolitical realities of Europe.

Debate about abortion is often a debate about rights – but whose? AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

What is ‘personhood’? The ethics question that needs a closer look in abortion debates

Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington

The definition of personhood is a key and contested philosophical issue that has made legalized abortion such a longstanding controversy.

Elon Musk claims to champion free speech, but his plans for Twitter could stifle the free exchange of ideas. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images

Elon Musk is wrong: research shows content rules on Twitter help preserve free speech from bots and other manipulation

Filippo Menczer, Indiana University

Elon Musk said he wants to make Twitter a platform for free speech. Here is what research shows about claims of political bias and excessive moderation.

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