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Secret Mossad bid to crown Ahmadinejad backfires, prompting inquiry
A Reuters-Israel Hayom piece argues Israel’s covert plan to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and rely on Kurdish forces to topple Tehran was detached from reality. It explains the gamble depended on a volatile leader, weak allied forces, and assumptions far from feasible, with the IRGC now dominant and Turkey wary of Kurdish advances. Even if Ahmadinejad had taken power, there would still be no guarantor of control. The article calls for a state commission of inquiry to investigate the intelligence failures and flawed planning that could leave Israel in a more dangerous postwar position.

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MindsEye's AI Voice Feature Draws Fan Backlash
Kotaku reports that MindsEye co-CEOs, with ElevenLabs, vibe-coded an in-game AI voice assistant called Arcadia Voice; the feature, essentially a voice-control and content-creation tool, drew sharp backlash from MindsEye’s Discord community, prompting BARB’s Will Jones to defend it as a supplement to human developers rather than a replacement.

Kingdom Come 2 Director Celebrates Gay Romance While Denying Wokeness
Kotaku’s take on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, where creative director Daniel Vávra celebrates the game’s Gayming Awards nomination for its gay romance but insists the portrayal is non-woke, while admitting he pressured his team to include it—highlighting a notable contradiction between anti-woke rhetoric and the game’s content that critics view as performative.

Capcom's Creative Rebound: Pragmata and RE Requiem Signal a New Era
Capcom is on a winning streak in 2026 with Pragmata and Resident Evil Requiem, marking a rebound from a rough period nicknamed 'Crapcom.' The piece traces Capcom’s shift from missteps like RE5 and RE6 to a horror revival with RE7, a string of strong entries across its franchises, and a push into fresh ideas with Pragmata, Onimusha, and a Mega Man return, signaling a creative renaissance for the publisher.

Debate cancellation highlights racial optics in California’s governor race
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters reports that USC canceled a gubernatorial debate amid accusations of racism over an all-white invite list while Democrats who are Latino, Black, or Asian were excluded; USC defended its polling- and fundraising-based selection method but later backed off amid criticism. The piece notes the controversy comes as polls show two Republicans atop the field (16% and 14%), Democrats mostly in single digits, and about 24% undecided, with mail voting starting in six weeks— underscoring how unsettled and unconventional the race has become.

Baseless Anti-Woke Fury Targets Medieval Game 1348 Ex Voto Over Tax Credits
Kotaku notes that the medieval action-sim 1348 Ex Voto, released March 12 to mixed reviews (low Metacritic, surprisingly high online controversy), became the subject of a baseless anti-woke conspiracy claiming Italian tax credits fund “propaganda.” The piece argues the game’s LGBTQ content is minimal, explains the Italian Video Games Tax Relief program criteria, and contends the grants are about supporting Italy’s game industry rather than influencing game narratives; the broader point is that funding decisions aren’t tied to content like LGBTQ representation.

Resident Evil Requiem Breaks With Its Legacy To Forge A New Future
A Kotaku opinion piece argues Resident Evil Requiem uses its own nostalgia and lore to purge the franchise’s past, pushing Leon Kennedy to confront Raccoon City’s legacy so the series can move in a new direction.

America at 250: The American Dream Fades as Younger Generations Fall Behind
As the United States turns 250, experts argue the American Dream is slipping from reach: median wages have stagnated since the 1970s, costs for housing, health care, and education have surged, and younger generations are expected to earn less than their parents on average. Upward mobility has slowed, and satisfaction with personal freedom has declined, suggesting the dream is losing its hold and may need a renewed public commitment to keep it alive for future generations.

Jennifer Lawrence Shines in a Bold, Edge-of-Your-Seat Role in 'Die My Love'
Jennifer Lawrence delivers a remarkable and vulnerable performance in 'Die My Love,' elevating a slow-burning, tumultuous film about postpartum depression and maternal chaos, despite its narrative flaws. Her portrayal of Grace, a woman on the edge, is a powerful testament to her talent, anchoring the film's emotional intensity amid its excesses.

‘Bugonia’: A Radical Exploration of Humanity and Alienation
The article discusses Yorgos Lanthimos' film 'Bugonia,' emphasizing the importance of genuine listening over militant activism, and explores how radical acts often fail to create real change, highlighting the need for balance between speaking out and truly hearing one another.

Trump's Escalating Latin America Strategy Sparks Regional Tensions
The article discusses the Trump administration's recent military actions in Latin America, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Caribbean and targeted strikes against alleged drug smuggling vessels, which are criticized as illegal and potentially escalatory, with concerns over the use of terminology like 'terrorist' and the legality of extrajudicial killings.