Reed McIntire

Welcome to my Portfolio

Hi, my name is Reed. I'm a journalist early in my career focusing on international politics, social movements with specializations in US domestic and foreign policy, France, and Brazil.

My Latest Work

iGlobenews •

No Reparations for the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Heads of State Summit was held in Samoa on 25-26 October 2024, with an increased emphasis on climate change resolutions and dealing with historical injustices perpetrated by the British Empire. The summit, a conference of heads of state or their representatives from all 56 Commonwealth nations, remained a lackluster affair.
The Commonwealth of Nations, often shortened to the Commonwealth, is an international association of nations, the vast majority of which were former subjects...
iGlobenews •

EU-Mercosur Deal: Dream Come True or Neoliberal Nightmare?

On 6 December 2024, the European Union finalized a trade deal with the South American economic bloc, Mercosur. The deal, which took over 20 years to complete, would allow free trade between the two blocs. However, while the deal is hailed as a milestone by EU leadership, it nonetheless represents another deep division in the already fracturing union.
French president Emmanuel Macron has been one of the most outspoken opponents to the deal. Despite being a centrist who believes in the free market...
iGlobenews •

Who is Lockbit? Cybercrime Gang Adds Major Bank to List of Victims

Cybercrime gang Lockbit claims responsibility for ransomware attack on the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Since 2019, the group has made a name for itself targeting high-profile institutions and raking in hundreds of millions of dollars as a result. With the group still at large, many are wondering what their motivations are and who will be next.

The cybercrime gang Lockbit has claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack on the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), a worl
iGlobenews •

How Long will the US Continue to Accept the Failure of Pentagon Audits?

The US military once again has failed to account for all of its huge budget during an annual audit. As revealed in November 2023, the Pentagon is unable to locate parts of its nearly USD 1 trillion budget for the sixth time since 2018.

The annual audits of the US Department of Defense (DOD) began in 2017, in order to reduce government spending. Typically, this is an in-house process done by the Pentagon Inspector General. Despite these measures, the Pentagon has not passed its audit, which it h
iGlobenews •

International Law Violated Again: Venezuelan Referendum Jeopardizes Guyana

Tensions continue to rise between Venezuela and Guyana after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proclaims victory in the referendum to annex the Guyanese territory of Essequibo. The oil-rich region has been a point of contention between the two countries since 2015 when further reserves were discovered. This latest violation of international law could invite further conflict in Latin America. In a tense meeting on 14 December President Madura and President Ifraan Ali agreed not to use force and
iGlobenews •

Japan’s Ruling Party in Crisis

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is the center of a “once in a generation” political scandal, after the Tokyo Public Prosecutor’s Office announced in December 2023 an investigation into allegations of abuse of fund-raising donations. In the wake of the scandal, the government’s approval rating has dropped to around 20 percent, the lowest since the end of the Second World War. As a result, the LDP has removed four ministers from office and an additional three have tendered their resi
Polemics •

Where Will Brazil Draw the Line on Free Speech?

This October, the Brazilian newspaper O Globo revealed that during the Bolsonaro administration, the country’s intelligence service, Abin (Agência Brasileira de Inteligência), had been illegally spying on Brazilian citizens. As more information has risen to the surface, it has become clear that Abin has spied on an estimated 33 million people’s cell phones and movement data, including journalists, politicians, and other opponents of the regime. In the face of such a scandal, many are wondering w
Polemics •

Deceit, Death, and Schmoozing: the Life and Times of Henry Kissinger

After 100 long years, Henry Kissinger is dead. “Washington’s Kingmaker” thoroughly shaped the modern world of geopolitics and international relations throughout his career, often in favor of the United States. His reputation preceded him, even bringing him to the halls of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, where his face still greets all who enter the foyer (despite only giving a single lecture). However, while he is often portrayed as a master diplomat and dedicated to a realpolitik approach to
Polemics •

La Cinquième République: une Pénurie de Démocratie?

Le 16 mars 2023, la Première Ministre Elisabeth Borne a annoncé l’utilisation de cet article pour mettre en place la réforme de retraites. Le gouvernement a pris cette décision à la suite d’une indication d’une pénurie des votes nécessaires dans l’Assemblée. Parmi les partis présentés, ceux de gauche et de droite s’indignaient à cette annonce alors que les Républicains et Renaissance ont confirmé leur soutien. Certes les gauchistes et les droitistes s’y indignaient pour des raisons différentes,
Polemics •

BRICS v. USA: Fight of the Century

The alliance bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) is emerging as a massive potential competitor to the economic dominance of the United States. The gigantic power bloc represents 3.83 billion people, nearly half of the global population, as well as 50% of all recent economic growth. In contrast, the U.S. and the EU only represent 775.1 million people, not even half of that of BRICS, as well as hosting slowing economies. Could BRICS represent a new challenger to the domi
Polemics •

Unpaid Internships and the Burden of Youth

In a bid to restore social cohesion and reduce inequality, Members of the European Parliament have moved to ban unpaid internships in the European Union. The move now goes to the European Commission for a further verdict but is a potential massive step forward for students’ rights. While university is a taxing period for everyone involved, the consequences of unpaid internships compound the effects negatively. Many claim that unpaid internships are a necessary first-step to enter the professiona
Polemics •

United No Longer? Why Scotland is Reconsidering its Role in the UK

Since Brexit took effect in 2020, the United Kingdom has gone through crisis after crisis. The island nation has notably gone through a recent dramatic crisis of leadership since the departure of Boris Johnson from the position of Prime Minister. A severe financial crisis is pushing many workers to take to the streets and strike against unfair wages. Another potential crisis is on the horizon. The one that might change the political landscape of the UK irrevocably: the possibility of Scottish in
Polemics •

Old Habits Die Hard: The U.S.’ New Forever War

On January 27th, 2017, 160 civilians were killed in an airstrike on a displaced persons’ settlement in Nigeria. The region was and continues to be notorious for the presence of the terrorist organization Boko Haram, which the Nigerian government has been tirelessly working to defeat. However, this attack did not come from the insurgents, but rather a Nigerian military air strike supported by the United States military. While this may have initially seemed like a tragic accident, this strike is o
Polemics •

A Tenuous Optimism: Potential Effects of Lula’s Leadership on Brazil

“I’m here to say that Brazil is ready to come back,” proclaimed new Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, often called Lula, at the COP27 Climate Summit in mid-November. The now three-time president triumphed over far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a run-off election in October. Lula’s triumphant return has inspired many to hope for a better future for Brazil. However, while the victory is a cause for celebration amongst Brazil’s left, the country as a whole still faces a multitude o

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