At 4:30 a.m., while most people are still asleep, Brian Steel is out of bed and preparing for his two mile morning run. After his run, Steel doesn’t go home. He goes to the gym to lift weights and swim. 

Steel is a criminal defense attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a partner at Steel Law Firm with his wife, Colette Resnik Steel, who is also a practicing criminal defense attorney.

Steel is one of the most famous criminal defense attorneys in the media right now. He became popular in 2024 due to his trial win while representing Jeffery Williams, also known as rapper Young Thug.

 After Steel’s success with winning William’s case, Williams had Steel model his clothing brand, boosting the lawyer’s  popularity. 

In addition, Steel has a memorable reputation among legal personnel.

Chadha Jimenez, a criminal defense attorney in Georgia, said, “Everybody loves him (Steel). He will destroy you in court, always like a gentleman.”

Steel is known for his politeness and professionalism in and outside of the courtroom. He is also known to avoid curse words, even when reading from a transcript in court. 

Now, Steel is defending Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy, in his ongoing criminal defense trial which has sparked many mixed opinions on the internet.  

Steel and the other defense attorneys on Comb’s legal team have received a lot of backlash for representing Combs after his heinous, alleged crimes. 

Combs has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. 

Along with these charges, videos of Comb’s abuse of Casandra Ventura, also known as the singer Cassie, have circulated the internet and further villainized him in the media. 

Due to the popularity of this case and the shock value that has come along with it, many people see Combs’ in an awful light. The people who believe Combs is guilty have also criticized Combs’ criminal defense attorneys such as Steel. 

UO sophomore and pre-law student Makaia Kessinger explained her mixed feelings of Steel’s role in Comb’s trial. 

“ I’m so conflicted with any defense attorney or anyone that’s defending Diddy especially since there is so much evidence against him,” Kessinger said. “ It just feels unethical, especially when the case has to do with the abuse of women.”

I have followed Williams’ RICO case and Combs’ ongoing trial, and despite the criticism, I have grown to respect Steel. The hate he is receiving is unwarranted because Combs is innocent until proven guilty and he has the Constitutional right to be represented in court. 

From what I have seen, I don’t believe Combs is innocent, but I trust that the court system will rightfully serve justice to the victims of this case. 

The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee due process which protects the right of an individual to have a fair trial. Although Combs has some intense allegations, he along with any other alleged criminal in the U.S. has the right to a fair trial. 

Steel is known for taking on difficult cases such as Combs’ because of his faith in the U.S. Constitution.  

“I’ve defended people who cut out eyes and ate them. The system only works when the accused have real representation,” Steel said. 

UO sophomore Liam Windhamsmith shared his opinion about criminal legal representation, as a member of the general public.

“ I think it’s a huge blessing that we live in a country where we are free and we’re allowed to have legal representation, no matter the circumstance,” Windhamsmith said. “Regardless of the situation, I think it’s important and morally sound to have defense.” 

Although it might seem unethical, Steel is protecting Combs’ constitutional right by representing him and allowing the court to decide his fate.

The post Smith: Criminal defense attorney Brian Steel continues to defend due process appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Ever feel like you are on the verge of tears because you forgot about that assignment due an hour ago, or your boss just asked you to pick up an extra shift after putting in a ton of hours? That, my friend, would warrant a crash out. 

“Crash out” is a term being popularized by TikTok and Gen Z.  The definition of the phrase varies, and when used, it could mean a mental breakdown, being upset or feeling like you are going insane. 

University of Oregon sophomore Ash Dunteman said that they define crash out as “when all your emotions and everything you have been putting off finally surface to become a bit of a catastrophe.”

The term crash out is part of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). AAVE describes phrases and words created and used by Black communities. 

“Crash out,” for instance, originated in Louisiana and was popularized by rappers such as NBA Youngboy.

The phrase crash out has become very popular among young people and is used frequently. 

As I have heard the phrase more and more, I have realized that crash outs allow people to become more honest about their mental state. 

Mutual friends might exchange “How are you doing?” and one person might say, “I’m crashing out right now.” In this instance, the term crash out, was used as a conversation starter and allows this person to show vulnerability in a casual way. 

Crash outs can also bring people together. Sharing crash out stories and bonding over weekly mishaps can be therapeutic for people and is a great way to become closer to someone. 

Dunteman explained how the term crash out brought her and her guy friends closer together. 

“Especially my male friends, I think I feel more comfortable using verbiage that is funny to them to talk about their emotions,” Dunteman said. “I feel like I get to know them better when they tell me about their crash outs, rather than me asking about their feelings.” 

Crash outs have become a therapeutic way of bonding with people, due to the term’s humorous element. 

Many people who typically suppress their feelings feel more comfortable discussing their crash outs, since the term is perceived in a funny way. 

TikTok and Gen Z slang have evolved to normalize discourse about serious topics disguised in humorous terms. 

The term crash out has allowed people to become vulnerable about their breakdowns in a casual manner, which brings awareness to mental health struggles among peers. 

The post Smith: The popularization of crash-out culture appeared first on Daily Emerald.

On Feb. 27, Hulu released a documentary series called “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke,” which shocked many viewers all over the country. This series highlighted the abuse that occurred while Ruby Franke filmed YouTube videos of her six children. 

This documentary featured testimonies from Franke’s two oldest, adult children: Shari and Chad. Her children explained that they are forever traumatized from the abuse they endured from Ruby and from constantly having a camera recording them.

Ruby Franke’s abuse escalated to an extreme level, and she is now serving up to 15 years in prison on four counts of child abuse. 

Shari, Chad and their siblings endured much abuse, but they are living proof that family vlogging is damaging to the developmental growth and the well-being of a child.

UO sophomore and media studies major Emily Hall explained her reaction to this documentary. She explained that she watched family YouTube channels as a kid, and the Ruby Franke documentary changed her outlook towards these types of families. 

“ Whenever I would watch those videos or consume that media, I would always think ‘they look like they’re having so much fun,’ or ‘they look so happy,’” Hall said. “I think a lot of people now are kind of opening their eyes and reflecting on those old videos and thinking that maybe there were signs and we just weren’t looking out for them.”

Other documentaries of child influencers who were exploited are now emerging, such as Netflix’s “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing.” This series documents the story of Piper Rockelle and a group of children who were exploited online by Rockelle’s mother.

Furthermore, Chad and Shari also shared the details of the verbal abuse from their mother and were forced to perform for her videos. 

Unreleased footage of Ruby yelling at her children in her videos was released in the documentary. 

One of the clips showed Chad, who was visually uninterested in the performative conversation with his mother. Ruby became frustrated with his lack of enthusiasm and she told Chad, “Be excited … even if you have to fake it. Fake being happy.”

The part of this documentary that stuck with me the most, though, was when Chad explained that they would go on trips and see other family vloggers treating their children the same way. 

I asked UO sophomore and psychology student Sarah Starkey about her thoughts on the mental health of children in vlogging families. 

“ I think there’s a lot of pressure starting from an early age, and they (the kids) have to perform and act like everything’s okay,” Starkey said. “That just puts a lot of pressure on a child that should not be there in the first place.”

The abuse portrayed in this documentary was extreme, but not limited to the Franke family. 

Along with abuse and child maltreatment, the guardians of these children seek financial profit from their uploaded content.

Family YouTube channels such as “The LaBrant Fam” and “The ACE Family” are additional family vloggers who have been critiqued online for their parenting techniques and the exploitation of their children. 

Ruby Franke explained that at one point, her YouTube channel with 2.5 million subscribers was earning her over $100,000 a month.

The same type of exploitation occurs for child stars who are abused by their guardian for profit. 

In 1939, the Coogan Law was passed under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This bill required the guardian of a child entertainer to create a trust fund for 15% of the gross income earned by the child. 

This law benefited child stars, but is flawed due to its loopholes and its limits when protecting child influencers. 

On Sept. 26, 2024, Gavin Newsom signed bills SB 764 and AB 1880 to extend Coogan Law in California. These newly passed laws now require guardians to create a trust fund for child influencers, including those featured on YouTube. 

These bills are the start to more protections for child influencers; however, for the sake of the child’s mental health and well-being, child vlogging and profiting from child vlogging should be illegal. 

The post Smith: No child should ever have to “fake being happy.” appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Four years, 141 days, 14 hours, 8 minutes, and 30 seconds. On March 2, at the time of writing this article, that is the current Climate Clock countdown time. The Climate Clock refers to the remaining time available for humans to significantly lower their carbon emissions before irreversible damage is caused to the Earth. 

Climate change is one of the most pressing global issues today, and the Trump administration’s dismissal of this scientifically supported concept is damaging for the future of our planet. 

Damaged ecosystems such as national parks can affect the essential resources that all living organisms need to survive like clean air and water. As humans, our well-being and the way our society functions is at risk due to climate change. This risk will continue to grow with each harmful decision President Trump makes. 

On Feb. 14, the Trump administration laid off thousands of Park Service and Forest Service employees which has left many Americans, including myself, fearful of what will happen to our national parks. 

University of Oregon junior and environmental science student Alice Tabor explained the importance of national park employees.

“Even though National Parks look like wilderness, they are still contained and run by humans,” Tabor said. “There is risk involved, for humans specifically, if people are hiking in dangerous conditions. There are a lot of threats and if the national parks are going to be understaffed, then there are going to be a lot less people available to help.”

National park employees help manage our parks and their wildlife. Without these essential personnel, fewer people will be able to visit the parks, and the other staff will have to work harder to manage the land. 

These effects have already occurred in national parks such as Zion, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Visitors have reported waiting for hours to enter parks since the entry points only have one to two working staff members. 

In addition to long wait times, many visitor’s centers have reduced their hours which will affect the educational distribution about each specific park. 

Following these changes, protesters are appearing at various national parks such as Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to voice their concerns about how these personnel cuts will negatively impact the environment and park conditions. 

For instance, on Feb. 22 protesters in Yosemite flew an American Flag upside down to symbolize their distress. 

Lake Clark National Park workers Eileen and James Kramer were terminated in February by the United States Office of Personnel Management. This couple pursued legal action claiming they were fired under the false pretense that they were underperforming. 

The judge ruled that the Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management overextended its power; the Kramers’ terminations were not based on job performance. 

UO sophomore and outdoor enthusiast Marco Montemore explained his ideas for why the Trump administration has made job cuts to national park employees.

 ”They’re (the Trump administration) trying to thin staff management and make it seem as though the parks are underused and that the public spaces need to be optimized in terms of their usefulness through new programs of harvesting resources,” Montemore said. “For specificity, certain places in Oregon are going to be opened up to the timber and logging industry.” 

The administration’s decisions, such as the executive order President Trump signed on March 1, will increase timber production. This presidential order directly counters environmental policies to protect certain species and forests in the Pacific Northwest.  

In order to prevent the president’s overreach of power, we the people need to voice our opinions though protesting, lawsuits, petitions and by reaching out to our government representatives. The natural world is at risk now more than ever, and it is our duty as civilians to protect our forests, National Parks, and other ecosystems in the United States. 

The post Smith: Make America sustainable again appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Kendrick Lamar’s Superbowl performance was the most watched halftime show in history with 133.5 million viewers, and for a good reason. Lamar’s halftime production incorporated themes including current cultural issues and critiques of hip-pop culture. 

Lamar used his platform in a meaningful way and deviated from the norm of musical entertainment. He used the superbowl stage to portray his lived experience as a Black, rap artist in America.

After his opening song, Lamar said “The revolution about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.” 

When Lamar mentioned “The revolution,” I immediately knew this performance would relate to topics outside of music. The significance of this performance was amplified since many prominent figures would be watching. 

Throughout the show, Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of Uncle Sam would chime in to criticize Lamar, satirizing white America with his characterization of a historically white character. 

For instance, after the first two songs, Uncle Sam told Lamar that his performance was “too loud, too reckless, too … ghetto.” 

Uncle Sam represented white people in the U.S. who dislike hip-pop culture and criticize Black artists like Lamar. 

UO sophomore, Caleigh Tompkins said, “ It was cool to see the representation of Black culture, and I picked up on some of the political messages, which I thought were important.”

In addition to Uncle Sam’s commentary, Lamar would pause between every few songs to make his own comments about the performance in a rhythmic tone. This aspect of the show allowed Lamar to directly speak to the audience which added a personal element between Lamar and the viewer. 

For instance, in between songs, Lamar said, “It’s a cultural divide, I’ma get it on the floor. 40 acres and a mule, this is bigger than the music.”

Before the show, Lamar explained that his goal was to tell a story to the audience and his commentary enhanced the overall messages he was trying to portray about the experience as a Black American. 

Lamar’s reference to “40 acres and a mule” shocked a lot of people and many non-Black Americans, like myself rushed to the internet to look up the meaning of the unfamiliar phrase. 

“40 acres and a mule” refers to the Special Fields Order given during the Civil War which promised freed, Black Americans 40 acres of land for farming. This promise, however, was never fulfilled and contributed to the generational struggle for Black Americans to break out of poverty. 

Lamar’s mention of a promise to Black Americans that was never fulfilled added a serious element to his show. He disrupted the typical excitement of the halftime performance to address generational issues that  affect Black Americans to this day.

To build off of his mention of failed promises, Lamar also mentioned the cultural divide in the U.S. 

UO sophomore Trevor Robbins said, “It’s incredibly important that he (Lamar) made such a powerful statement about Black culture and the division in this country, especially with Donald Trump attending the Super Bowl.” 

Although fans like Robbins were “jumping for joy” while watching the halftime show, others disliked Lamar’s performance since the general theme and message wasn’t catered for everyone to relate to. 

Despite this, Lamar’s performance carried a strong message for the audience about the oppression of Black Americans. Lamar used his platform in a powerful way by mirroring cultural, political and racial issues in America during one of the most viewed live television performances of the year. 

The post Smith: Kendrick Lamar’s Superbowl Performance: ‘This is bigger than the music’ appeared first on Daily Emerald.

I routinely watch a Netflix comedy special while doing cardio at the gym. Typically, I choose one of John Mulaney’s specials, which I know by heart. However, while scrolling through the comedy section, I noticed some other comedians who seemed a bit out of place. 

I saw that Joe Rogan, who is known for spreading misinformation on his right-wing podcast, has not one, but three comedy specials on Netflix. 

“Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats” was his most recent Netflix comedy special released in 2o24. 

A viewer and fan of Rogan, user, bergy-97063 wrote, “I feel like Joe Rogan doesn’t actually do stand up, he just yells at the top of his lungs about all the subjects he discusses on his podcasts.” 

Rogan’s 14.5 million podcast subscribers were the target audience for his comedy special and Netflix most likely saw this as a fast cash grab due to his loyal fans. However, even fans of Rogan explained that his comedy is not as entertaining as his podcast and his specials haven’t been received well by the public. 

In addition to Rogan, Ellen DeGeneres was also awarded a comedy special. 

“Ellen Degeneres: For Your Approval” was released in 2024 after her cancellation when she was exposed for promoting a hostile work environment on the set of her talk show.

 Throughout the comedy special, DeGeneres plays the victim and makes remarks such as “I got kicked out of show business” and “You can’t be mean in show business.” 

These comments are avoidant since DeGeneres constantly preached “to be kind to one another,” which was why the news of the mistreatment of her staff shocked the world. 

Regardless of her previous behavior, Netflix released a one hour and 24-minute special consisting of DeGeneres mildly addressing her cancellation while attempting to gain sympathy from the audience. 

Many viewers expected DeGeneres to address her recent cancellation and were curious as to what she had to say about the allegations of her hostile work environment.

However, DeGeneres carried an unapologetic tone throughout the special and never directly spoke about the rumors of inhospitality on set.

Netflix producers knew that this special would get a lot of views due to DeGeneres’s large following from her previous talk show. This special, however, provided a platform for DeGeneres to avoid any responsibility while undermining her previous workers. 

In addition, Matt Rife also currently has two comedy specials on Netflix despite his controversial behavior. 

The comedy special, “Matt Rife: Natural Selection,” features an opening joke about domestic violence.

“I feel like if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye,” Rife said.

Hearing Rife say this joke was shocking and I was surprised that Netflix would include a controversial joke like this to be in the final cut of Rife’s comedy special.

To make matters worse, Rife posted an “apology” on his Instagram story. His story read “If you’ve ever been offended by a joke I’ve told — here’s a link to my official apology.” The link led to a website that sold special needs helmets for children.

Despite the backlash Rife received, he was given another special, “Matt Rife: Lucid.” This comedy special received a rating of  6.4/10 by over 1500 users. 

Comedians like Rife should not experience the benefits from having a Netflix comedy special since he is profiting off of jokes about domestic abuse. 

Netflix needs to highlight less mainstream comedians that don’t have controversial pasts. Platforming celebrities with problematic personalities might get more views, however, it allows these comedians to undermine marginalized groups while promoting their mediocre jokes.

The post Smith: Netflix is Lowering Comedic Standards for Profit appeared first on Daily Emerald.

A TikTok ban on hypothetical grounds of a national security threat directly undermines the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech. 

So far, the United States government has not made effective efforts to “limit no more speech than necessary” to protect national security. This violation will forever impact social media platforms and the American public’s right to freedom of speech. 

For those who are unaware, TikTok “is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share short videos.” This app plays a large role in marketing for small businesses, supporting content creators and spreading information globally. 

Rumors of banning TikTok in the U.S. began during Donald Trump’s 2020 presidency when he issued an executive order to prohibit TikTok due to its alleged ties with the Chinese Communist Government. This executive order, however, was blocked due to a preliminary injunction against that ban that was granted by a U.S. district judge, and the executive order was revoked by former President Joe Biden in 2021.

Rumors of a TikTok ban continued to circulate and on Jan. 19, these rumors became reality. American users opened their beloved app and saw a pop-up message saying, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

Less than 24 hours later, the app was miraculously working again with a new message explaining that despite his previous speculations, President Trump made efforts to reinstate TikTok in the U.S.

TikTok’s headquarters are located in California, however, its parent company, ByteDance, is based in China. TikTok’s data collection has raised suspicions within the U.S. government, which prompted this investigation. 

Along with most social media apps, TikTok uses the data from individual users to improve its quality. American-owned social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook also partake in this same practice. These apps collect personal information such as location, user content and behavioral data. 

In April 2024, TikTok was given the ultimatum to sell to a U.S. company or face restrictions in America. TikTok has repeatedly refused to sell, which warranted a ban on Jan. 19. 

During this short prohibition, many TikTok users downloaded the Chinese version of TikTok: RedNote. RedNote was an insult to the U.S. officials who support the TikTok ban since RedNote is directly associated with China. 

Downloading RedNote was also a form of protest and retaliation by the American public since the TikTok ban is arguably unconstitutional and undermines the U.S. First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

“I thought it was hilarious that people were downloading RedNote because the reason TikTok was getting banned in the first place was because it wasn’t U.S. owned,” TikTok user, Maikaya Moeling said. “There was a big social impact from the users of TikTok to be like, ‘OK, well, then we’re just going to go to an officially Chinese-owned platform.’”

The rise of RedNote came to an end less than a day later due to a 75-day TikTok extension signed by President Trump. The order for ByteDance to sell TikTok was signed into law but has not yet been enforced due to Trump’s executive order. 

In addition, the evidence presented to the government against TikTok has not been publicly released, which has a lot of Americans, including myself, questioning if the national security threat even warrants a ban on the platform. 

University of Oregon Communication Law Professor Justin Francese explained that it would be unconstitutional to ban a platform without evidence of direct harm. 

“I don’t presume to know more than our leaders in Congress or our justices in the Supreme Court,” Francese said. “But I think it is safe to say that shutting down the platform without actual evidence of harm being released to the public in specific ways sets a precedent that undermines the First Amendment.”

The standard balance of national security and freedom of speech will not be constitutionally protected if the TikTok ban is officially enforced in the U.S. 

The U.S. government needs to explore less extreme ways to protect national security while respecting the public’s right to freedom of speech. 

As students return to school for the remaining winter months, social scenes typically slow down. The excitement from football season decreases and the winter weather forces students into a sink-or-swim mentality. 

Winter term can become depressing, but forcing yourself to leave the comfort of your bed is important for your education and emotional well-being. Finding things to do can be difficult, but with some effort, the Eugene area has events to look forward to even during the winter.  

For those looking for a weekly fun event, Elks Lodge in Springfield hosts line dancing every Tuesday night. Line dancing and swing dancing lessons take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Then, from 8 to 10 p.m., open social dancing is on the agenda for people of all ages. 

University of Oregon sophomore Connor Jaffe took up line dancing at Elks Lodge last year after a professor recommended it. 

“They [Elks Lodge] have a variety of different kinds of music, so I’d say it’s pretty beginner-friendly. Some of the line dances are easy enough that you can just watch and learn,” Jaffe said. 

Asking friends and Eugene locals about their hobbies and planned events could provide more going-out opportunities throughout the winter months. 

Along with weekly line dancing, some local venues will also host exciting events during the winter months this year. 

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert” will come to Eugene on Jan. 17-18 at the Hult Center. With tickets starting at $55, a live orchestra will perform iconic songs that are sure to be exciting for any Harry Potter fans in the Eugene area.

In addition, Gregory Alan Isakov will perform at the McDonald Center in Eugene on Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices vary from $49-$69 and this event is open to people of all ages who enjoy indie, folk music.

Looking up local concert venues’ websites and upcoming performances is a great way to find events and fill up a quiet weekend. These types of events also give students something to look forward to which helps the depressing demeanor of the winter quarter go by faster. 

For those who enjoy local music, house shows are always fun to attend on weekends. Local bands which typically consist of UO students get together and perform at a house nearby campus.

These events are typically posted on the band’s individual Instagram pages, with the show’s date, time and address. 

House shows are usually outside which isn’t ideal during the winter time, however, entry generally costs less than $10 and the shows are a great place to meet new friends. 

One confirmed house show is the So Much Love Valentine’s Day-themed show. 

SML is a growing brand that highlights local bands through artwork on merchandise. They host at least one house show every term and so far the events have been beyond successful. 

Spencer So, founder of SML and photographer at The Daily Emerald, did not have any editorial contributions to this article but shared the goals of the SML company in an interview. 

“ So Much Love is a multi-platform creative endeavor,” So said. “It’s kind of like a loose fitting statement just so we don’t box ourselves in, but the goal is to spread love through experiences and create a community of people.”

So explained that the next SML show will be held at the Graduate Hotel in Eugene on Feb. 22. The official time of the show and future events will be announced on their Instagram, @somuchlove.design. 

The winter term can be tricky to navigate when finding social events to attend due to the weather conflicts, however, with some effort and preplanning, the winter term can still be fun.

In May 2022, many Young Thug fans, including myself, were shocked to learn that the rapper was indicted under Georgia’s Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Young Thug, also known as Jeffrey Williams, and 27 others associated with the Young Slime Life gang were taken into custody. 

After a bond denial and a re-indictment, Williams spent over a year in jail until his trial. 

While in jail, social media platforms were flooded with #FreeThug, which sparked my curiosity about Williams’ criminal activity.

Williams’ alleged crimes included “participation in criminal street gang activity,” “violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act,” “possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony,” “possession of a machine gun,” “street gang leader” and “conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act.”

Learning that Williams’ was an alleged gang leader was surprising and confusing. I don’t know how an artist would have the time to organize and lead a gang while also managing a music career. 

This trial was extensive with comical moments, specifically when the courtroom listened to Williams’ song, “Lifestyle,” and when Williams’ lawyer argued that “Thug” stands for “Truly Humble Under God.” 

In contrast, this criminal trial had many frustrating moments and setbacks, making it the longest trial in Georgia’s history. I am unfamiliar with analyzing criminal cases. However, Williams’ trial became increasingly complex as I read about it. 

For instance, key prosecution witness Kenneth Copeland, also known as Lil Woody, was arrested due to his refusal to testify against Williams. 

In addition to Copeland’s arrest, Williams’ lawyer, Brian Steel, was also arrested when he accused Judge Ural Glanville of holding secret meetings and refused to tell the judge how he obtained that information.

Judge Glanville was later recused from the case, and Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over the trial.

Judge Whitaker and the defense eventually agreed to a non-negotiable plea deal. 

I asked UC Berkeley pre-law student Lena Ramos her thoughts about the messy details of this case. 

“The lawyer getting arrested was really insane, I just don’t know why he wouldn’t admit to how he found that information,” she said. “And the fact that it’s been going on for over seven months is crazy … it seems like a lack of professionalism.”

On Oct. 31, Williams was released from police custody after spending over two years in the Fulton County Jail. 

 I listen to Young Thug’s music and appreciate him as an artist, but the significance of his crimes should have resulted in at least some time in jail. I was shocked to hear he was only given probation after his gang involvement and crimes.

Without his public standing and the disorganization of the trial, Williams would have likely faced a harsher sentence. 

In addition, fans were quick to forgive Williams’ crimes, as we do for many celebrities. Why do we as a society excuse the behavior of famous people?

Other artists, such as Fetty Wap and Gunna, have also been indicted for violating RICO, yet the public doesn’t hold any of these artists accountable. These rappers are contributing to the drug epidemic by distributing illegal substances and inciting violence in communities all over America. 

We can no longer dismiss the illegal behavior of artists and celebrities because no one is above the law. We must take these cases seriously and educate ourselves about the criminal behaviors of the famous individuals we support.  

When I was younger, I was taught never to discuss politics in social settings. At that time, speaking about politics could even be considered rude, however, in more recent years, I have noticed an increase in political discussions and hostility between party members.

Before the 2016 election, I didn’t really pay attention to policies or elections, but due to the rising polarization, I felt an increasing pressure to educate myself. I also observed that in the U.S., there is now no such thing as “avoiding politics.” I did my own research and formed my own opinions to participate in productive conversations. 

As politics have become more polarized, people, such as myself, who generally avoided public affairs started to form political opinions. In today’s society, the culture of discussing politics has changed and it seems people are consuming more media than ever to inform themselves about policies and candidates. 

In addition, conversing about politics has become more normalized, and with the upcoming 2024 election, it is important to inform ourselves and participate in civil interactions with those of opposing views.

Modern-day political conversations can either leave people feeling validated or hostile after a heated conversation about opposing views. 

Along with more heated conversations, experts also worry about how differing political views could lead to violence. 

Studies performed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Johns Hopkins University showed that “20 percent of Republicans and 13 percent of Democrats said political violence was warranted these days, while 25 percent of Republicans and 17 percent of Democrats said threats to opposing party officials were defensible.”

The polarization of politics has increased hostility between Democrats and Republicans. Political parties nowadays seem to align with character-defining values which contributes to the separation of parties. This extreme separation heavily affects undecided and independent voters.

UO sophomore and undecided voter Connor Jaffe elaborated on what it is like to feel pressured into aligning with a political party. He explained how he redirects political conversations away from his political views and to focus more on the specific topic of discussion. 

“In some cases, if you have a conversation about politics, people kind of ask certain questions to get you to say that you’re more Democratic or more Republican,” Jaffe said. “I like to kind of deconstruct the question and ask them, kind of clarifying questions to see what they really want to know. Because most of the time they are just wondering whether you support a more Democratic approach or a more Republican approach.” 

With the further polarization of political parties, people such as Jaffe will continue to be pressured to take a more solid stance. 

“Choosing an independent is not really a possibility anymore. Representing both sides is not seen as acceptable,” Jaffe explained. 

Hostility between Democrats and Republicans will discourage undecided people from voting since they feel overwhelmed by the violent discourse surrounding the election. 

Policies and laws that are passed affect every single one of us, and we must research to educate ourselves and encourage others to do the same in a positive way.

Attacking people with opposing viewpoints will never solve any issues within the U.S. Elected officials need to stop capitalizing on this violent polarization, and we need more respect and communication between political parties to move forward and improve our country.

The post Smith: Forming a Political View is No Longer Avoidable appeared first on Daily Emerald.