{"id":144354,"date":"2024-12-18T11:19:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T09:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=144354"},"modified":"2024-12-18T11:29:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T09:29:58","slug":"pay-to-play-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=144354","title":{"rendered":"Pay-to-play Democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Discurso_funebre_pericles.png?resize=719%2C573&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144355\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When Democracy Spoke for All<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was a time when democracy belonged to the people\u2014not to wallets or ad budgets, but to voices and ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was messy. It was passionate. It was imperfect.<br \/>But it was ours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, that promise feels further away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What happens when the voice of a citizen is no longer measured by the strength of their argument but by the size of their wallet? <strong>What happens when democracy becomes a game of pay-to-play\u2014when influence is bought, not earned?<\/strong> Well basically what we see all over our world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Cost of Being Heard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-10.55.23.png?resize=922%2C156&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-10.55.23.png?resize=922%2C156&amp;ssl=1 922w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-10.55.23.png?resize=768%2C130&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-10.55.23.png?resize=920%2C155&amp;ssl=1 920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-10.55.23.png?w=1444&amp;ssl=1 1444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the truth:<br \/>In the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/11\/01\/nx-s1-5173712\/2024-election-ad-spending-trump-harris\"> 2024 U.S. elections, <strong>political ad spending shattered records<\/strong>\u2014$10 billion<\/a> spent to buy clicks, impressions, and algorithmic nudges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And this isn\u2019t just an American story. Between <strong>2020 and 2023<\/strong>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1032238\/political-advertising-spend-in-the-eu\/\"> political ad spending on  Google \/ youtube network surged across Europe.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Germany<\/strong> spent <strong>5.4 million euros<\/strong> on Google platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hungary<\/strong> spent <strong>3 million euros<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Netherlands<\/strong> followed with <strong>2.6 million euros<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In comparison, top political spenders on Meta in the countries with the most campaign ad spending were more diverse.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/europe-election-political-ads-spend-online-meta-google-fidesz\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Three right-wing and far-right parties, like Belgium\u2019s Vlaams Belang, topped the charts alongside Spain, Italy, and Sweden\u2019s socialist and social-democratic parties.\u00a0 <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While digital platforms allow politicians to reach millions, they also create new risks. <strong>Low-cost, high-reach ads<\/strong> enable more voices\u2014but at what cost to democracy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The New Political Battlefield<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Digital technologies have completely transformed political campaigning. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube,  TikTok and Instagram and ads across the Google\/Youtube network offer politicians <strong>massive reach<\/strong> at a fraction of the cost of traditional media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there\u2019s a dark side to this transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Big data<\/strong> and micro-targeting have turned political advertising into a tool for emotional manipulation and voter exploitation. Platforms collect personal data\u2014preferences, interests, fears\u2014and hand it over to campaigns. Malicious actors tailor messages to trigger specific emotions, often using <strong>disinformation<\/strong> to sway public opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the cost isn\u2019t just to political debate. It\u2019s to our <strong>freedom of opinion<\/strong>, our access to <strong>transparent information<\/strong>, and our trust in democracy itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why Transparency Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.04.50.png?resize=922%2C169&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.04.50.png?resize=922%2C169&amp;ssl=1 922w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.04.50.png?resize=768%2C140&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.04.50.png?resize=1536%2C281&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.04.50.png?resize=920%2C168&amp;ssl=1 920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.04.50.png?w=1718&amp;ssl=1 1718w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/news\/en\/press-room\/20240223IPR18071\/parliament-adopts-new-transparency-rules-for-political-advertising\">The European Union has taken steps to address this<\/a> and hopefully change things for the better. In February 2024, the European Parliament adopted new <strong>transparency rules<\/strong> for political advertising. These rules aim to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure political ads are <strong>clearly labelled<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reveal who sponsored the ad, how much they paid, and why a user was targeted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ban micro-targeting based on sensitive personal data\u2014such as ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first time, sponsoring ads from outside the EU will also be <strong>banned<\/strong> in the three months leading up to elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/pdfs\/news\/expert\/2024\/2\/press_release\/20240223IPR18071\/20240223IPR18071_en.pdf\">Sandro Gozi, the MEP leading the effort, put it simply:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cDigital technologies make citizens more vulnerable<br \/>to disinformation and foreign interference. Now more than ever, it is crucial to safeguard our democratic and electoral processes. The rules adopted today play a pivotal role in helping citizens discern who is behind a political message and make an informed choice when they head to the polls. With the European elections approaching, we urge all major online platforms to start applying the new rules as soon as possible and ensure the digital space remains a safe place to exchange political ideas and opinions&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Transparency is a start\u2014but it doesn\u2019t erase the deeper problem: <strong>money still determines who gets heard and this will continue to apply<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Divide Widens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The U.S. has yet to adopt similar measures, leaving its political advertising landscape wide open to <strong>manipulation and exploitation<\/strong>. While the EU attempts to protect voter trust,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brennancenter.org\/our-work\/analysis-opinion\/online-political-spending-2024\"> the U.S. continues to favor <strong>unregulated ad spending<\/strong>, allowing disinformation and algorithmic dominance to flourish unchecked.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This imbalance is growing, and with it, the gap between those who can afford to play\u2014and those left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When the Margins Rise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet, there\u2019s hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2020\/02\/21\/806103885\/stacey-abrams-spearheads-fair-fight-a-campaign-against-voter-suppression\">In 2020, <strong>Stacey Abrams<\/strong><\/a> and her grassroots organization Fair Fight Action transformed voter turnout in Georgia. Through community organizing, digital outreach, and relentless advocacy, her team overcame systemic barriers to reach voters who had long been excluded from the political process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her success wasn\u2019t powered by the biggest ad budget. It was fueled by <strong>purpose<\/strong> and the belief that democracy works best when everyone participates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This story reminds us: <strong>Money matters, but passion and persistence can still punch through.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Real Cost of Silence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If democracy becomes something you can buy, what happens to those who can\u2019t afford it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"922\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design.jpg?resize=922%2C922&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design.jpg?resize=922%2C922&amp;ssl=1 922w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design.jpg?resize=920%2C920&amp;ssl=1 920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Untitled-design.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens to voters when they can\u2019t trust the information they see?<\/strong><br \/><strong>What happens to elections when money doesn\u2019t just buy ads\u2014it buys influence?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The European Union\u2019s steps toward <strong>transparency<\/strong> are progress. But the real question remains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who gets heard? Who gets silenced? And what future are we building when the price of political influence keeps rising?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In the end, it is all about what kind of democracy  we want<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> One where the <strong>wealthiest voices dominate<\/strong>\u2014or one where every citizen has a seat at the table?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What happens when the algorithms we trust to inform us are rigged to reward <strong>dollars\/euros etc  over discourse?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Democracy isn\u2019t a product. It\u2019s not a brand. It\u2019s a <strong>promise<\/strong>. <strong>A promise that belongs to all of us\u2014not just those who can afford to buy in.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The question is: <strong>Will we fight for that promise?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Democracy Spoke for All There was a time when democracy belonged to the people\u2014not to wallets or ad budgets, but to voices and ideas. It was messy. It was passionate. It was imperfect.But it was ours. Today, that promise feels further away. What happens when the voice of a citizen is no longer measured [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[1584,3958,3959,755,360],"class_list":["post-144354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-other-stuff","tag-democracy","tag-pay-to-play-democracy","tag-political-spending","tag-politics","tag-social-media"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":148280,"url":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=148280","url_meta":{"origin":144354,"position":0},"title":"Is Democracy Safe from AI\u2014Or Just on Borrowed Time?","author":"thebrainbehind","date":"15\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The end of democracy rarely arrives with sirens and flames. More often, it fades quietly\u2014choice by choice, habit by habit, until the rituals remain but the substance has gone. In their timely paper, Don\u2019t Panic (Yet), Felix Simon and Sacha Altay remind us that the AI apocalypse never arrived in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;all other stuff&quot;","block_context":{"text":"all other stuff","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-09-15-at-14.32.39.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-09-15-at-14.32.39.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-09-15-at-14.32.39.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-09-15-at-14.32.39.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-09-15-at-14.32.39.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":148117,"url":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=148117","url_meta":{"origin":144354,"position":1},"title":"Democracy Is Becoming the Weak Brand","author":"thebrainbehind","date":"04\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/enyLIVOkDqI?si=5MvXD6qJRy3GSeaM India, the \u201cworld\u2019s biggest democracy,\u201d doesn\u2019t hesitate to flirt with Beijing. Because democracy no longer sells. It is messy. It is slow. It is hypocritical. Autocracy is the upgrade. It is packaged as efficiency and growth. Sleek. Dangerous. Seductive. Democracy was Coca-Cola. Sweet, global, everywhere. Now it is flat.Autocracy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;all other stuff&quot;","block_context":{"text":"all other stuff","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/democracy-is-becoming-the-weak-b.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/democracy-is-becoming-the-weak-b.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/democracy-is-becoming-the-weak-b.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/democracy-is-becoming-the-weak-b.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/democracy-is-becoming-the-weak-b.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":149113,"url":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=149113","url_meta":{"origin":144354,"position":2},"title":"When Presidents Shit on Protesters: Welcome to Post-Democracy","author":"thebrainbehind","date":"20\/10\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ugrn6DNAYEU?si=wRjDETizuLx25j7L It starts like a meme.A jet. A crowd. Trump grinning from the cockpit as a brown torrent rains over \u201cNo Kings\u201d protesters.AI made it .... but Trump\u2019s spirit made it believable. Look closer.The people below aren\u2019t avatars. They\u2019re students, nurses, parents. They\u2019re holding cardboard signs that say No Kings,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;all other stuff&quot;","block_context":{"text":"all other stuff","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/when-presidents-shit-on-proteste.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/when-presidents-shit-on-proteste.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/when-presidents-shit-on-proteste.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/when-presidents-shit-on-proteste.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/when-presidents-shit-on-proteste.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":145262,"url":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=145262","url_meta":{"origin":144354,"position":3},"title":"The Eternal Cycle: How Ancient Greece Predicted the Rise and Fall of Modern Democracies","author":"thebrainbehind","date":"30\/01\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Warning from History On the morning of January 6, 2021, the world watched as a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. It was a moment of reckoning\u2014chaos unleashed in the heart of the world's most celebrated democracy. https:\/\/youtu.be\/RnzQXD2_d38?si=OJAmi7UhUmFhPCfG Some called it a rebellion, others an insurrection. But to an ancient\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;all other stuff&quot;","block_context":{"text":"all other stuff","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/the-eternal-cycle-how-ancient-gr.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/the-eternal-cycle-how-ancient-gr.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/the-eternal-cycle-how-ancient-gr.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/the-eternal-cycle-how-ancient-gr.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/the-eternal-cycle-how-ancient-gr.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":149117,"url":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=149117","url_meta":{"origin":144354,"position":4},"title":"The Cradle of Democracy Is Now a Factory","author":"thebrainbehind","date":"20\/10\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Athens once gave birth to democracy.Now it gives birth to shifts. This month, Greece passed a law allowing people to work up to 13 hours a day.They call it flexibility.They call it modernization.But let\u2019s be honest\u2014this isn\u2019t reform.It\u2019s regression, dressed as progress. It\u2019s a country that once gave the world\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;all other stuff&quot;","block_context":{"text":"all other stuff","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-12_31_00-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-12_31_00-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-12_31_00-PM.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-12_31_00-PM.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-12_31_00-PM.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChatGPT-Image-Oct-20-2025-12_31_00-PM.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":148665,"url":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?p=148665","url_meta":{"origin":144354,"position":5},"title":"Democracy Won\u2019t Survive Unless Its Thieves Go to Jail","author":"thebrainbehind","date":"26\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A former French president may soon be sleeping on a thin prison mattress. Nicolas Sarkozy\u2014once the most powerful man in France\u2014has been sentenced to five years for criminal conspiracy. For once, appeals may not save him. That single fact matters. Because for decades, the world has watched the same story\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;all other stuff&quot;","block_context":{"text":"all other stuff","link":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/%CE%A3%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B9%CF%8C%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF-%CE%BF%CE%B8%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82-2025-09-26-085608.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/%CE%A3%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B9%CF%8C%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF-%CE%BF%CE%B8%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82-2025-09-26-085608.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/%CE%A3%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B9%CF%8C%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF-%CE%BF%CE%B8%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82-2025-09-26-085608.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thecuriousbrain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/%CE%A3%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B9%CF%8C%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF-%CE%BF%CE%B8%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82-2025-09-26-085608.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=144354"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144362,"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144354\/revisions\/144362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=144354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=144354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecuriousbrain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=144354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}