Two Americas, two masculine ideals

+ the Middle East is spiraling US Edition - Today's top story: America’s dad vs. the manosphere: Walz-Vance debate highlights two versions of masculinity [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 October 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Counterterrorism expert on chaos in the Middle East]( - [Child’s gut microbiome can predict risk for autism, ADHD]( - [Hurricane Helene has become a public health crisis]( Lead story By now you probably have heard who won or who lost last night’s vice presidential candidates’ debate: Republican Sen. JD Vance or Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. Or maybe you’ve heard the remarkably civil and substantive debate was a draw. Our two stories this morning don’t dwell on the horse race or who racked up the most points. Instead, we go deeper. Political scientist Patrick Stewart has spent decades studying the nonverbal behavior of politicians. That means he studies their “[gestures, blinks and smiles](” to get insights into their personalities. From Walz’s “affiliative smile” at the outset, a type of smile that is “usually under the control of the individual and is posed to indicate the intent to cooperate,” to his blushing when confronted with a statement he made in the past that wasn’t true, Walz’s face was expressive and conveyed various meanings. But the “very slight movements” of Vance’s face, writes Stewart, “revealed little – and could lead to viewers having a hard time connecting with him emotionally as a potential leader.” Colorado State University political communications scholar Karrin Vasby Anderson, an expert on toxic masculinity, looks at how the debate “showcased two candidates who not only had contrasting debate styles but also [competing views of women’s and men’s autonomy](.” The debate, says Anderson, put Walz’s and Vance’s differing views of masculinity "in direct competition as they made their pitches to swing voters.” Trust, writes Anderson, “was an important theme throughout the debate, one that – perhaps surprisingly – revealed a key distinction between Walz, Vance and their respective political parties.” Walz, she writes, said “women should be free and trusted to make their own reproductive and child care decisions,” while Vance “subtly suggested that authority and autonomy are the purview of men, reinforcing how patriarchy is shaping the Republican strategy.” [ [News about the issues and ideas of the campaign, not the horse race. Subscribe to our Politics Weekly newsletter.]( ] Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy Two guys, shaking hands: Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, ahead of their debate on Oct. 1, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images [America’s dad vs. the manosphere: Walz-Vance debate highlights two versions of masculinity]( Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University Masculinity has become a dominant theme in the race for the White House. In their debate, VP candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz showed just how much they differ on what that means. Politics + Society - [What the facial expressions of Tim Walz and JD Vance said about their nerves, embarrassment and pride]( Patrick Stewart, University of Arkansas The types of smiles that politicians display can give us insights into their personalities and how they’ll lead. - [Iran’s strikes on Israel are the latest sign that the conflict in the Middle East is spiraling, presenting rising global security threats]( Javed Ali, University of Michigan A US counterterrorism expert explains the dynamics between Israel, Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas – and why Hezbollah presents new risks for the US and other places globally. - [Cities are clearing encampments, but this won’t solve homelessness − here’s a better way forward]( Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, Michigan State University The US Supreme Court’s high-profile Grants Pass ruling allows cities to clear homeless encampments, even if they can’t offer shelter. A scholar explains why a Housing First approach is more effective. - [Philly block parties can lead to small boosts in voter turnout, new research suggests]( Tanika Raychaudhuri, Rice University Residents of streets that held a block party in 2012 were slightly more likely to vote in that year’s presidential election compared to residents of streets that didn’t host a block party. - [Why CNN is changing up its polling for 2024]( W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication Polls help set the public’s expectations in a presidential race. In 2020, presidential polls overall were the worst in 40 years. No misfire was more striking than CNN’s. Will CNN do better in 2024? Science + Technology - [Gut microbe imbalances could predict a child’s risk for autism, ADHD and speech disorders years before symptoms appear]( Angelica P. Ahrens, University of Florida; Eric W. Triplett, University of Florida; Johnny Ludvigsson, Linköping University Imbalances in different species of bacteria in a baby’s gut may provide insights into their neurodevelopment. Environment + Energy - [Health risks are rising in mountain areas flooded by Hurricane Helene and cut off from clean water, power and hospitals]( Jennifer Horney, University of Delaware Weather disasters, particularly floods, can create health threats that linger for months, from infected cuts to mold growth to mental stress. - [Why are so many historically rare storms hitting the Carolinas? Geography puts these states at risk, and climate change is loading the dice]( Russ Schumacher, Colorado State University; Kathie Dello, North Carolina State University If your area experiences a 1,000-year rainfall event, don’t assume that you’re off the hook for the next 999 years. International - [Russia’s new ideological battlefield: The militarization of young minds]( Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, Colorado State University Russian President Vladimir Putin has increasingly turned to education and membership groups to promote patriotism and loyalty among the country’s youth. Ethics + Religion - [Accept our king, our god − or else: The senseless ‘requirement’ Spanish colonizers used to justify their bloodshed in the Americas]( Diego Javier Luis, Johns Hopkins University The Requerimiento, a 16th-century document, sheds light on the deeper ideas and laws that the Spanish used to take over the New World. Education - [Studying science fiction films can help students understand the power societies have to shape our lives]( Harry F. Dahms, University of Tennessee Using films like “The Matrix,” a sociology course examines how factors beyond our control shape the world we live in − in fact and in an imagined future. Trending on site - [Yes, calling someone ‘mentally disabled’ causes real harm]( - [Congress is trying to force carmakers to keep AM radio − it should also use this opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past]( - [Why do people still back Trump, after everything? 5 things to understand about MAGA supporters’ thinking]( Today's graphic 📈 [Cumulative global production of plastics, in billions of metric tons. Scholars estimate that roughly 80% of this material has accumulated in landfills or the environment, while some 9% has been recycled and 12% has been incinerated.]( From the story, [Can you trust companies that say their plastic products are recyclable? US regulators may crack down on deceptive claims]( - - More of The Conversation [A graphic with the words Election 2024 coverage to help you understand, Read now]( Like this newsletter? 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