The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints

<g id=”cross”>
<line class=”cls-1″ x1=”7″ x2=”25″ y1=”7″ y2=”25″ />
<line class=”cls-1″ x1=”7″ x2=”25″ y1=”25″ y2=”7″ />
</g>
</svg></div><form role=”search” method=”get” class=”search-form” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/search”>
<input type=”text” id=”search” class=”search-field” placeholder=”Enter your search term here…”
value=”” name=”keyword” autocomplete=”off”>
<button type=”submit” id=”search_submit” class=”search-submit”>
<svg fill=”none” height=”20″ stroke=”#fff” stroke-linecap=”round” stroke-linejoin=”round”
stroke-width=”2″ viewBox=”0 0 24 24″ width=”24″ xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”10.5″ cy=”10.5″ r=”7.5″ />
<line x1=”21″ x2=”15.8″ y1=”21″ y2=”15.8″ />
</svg>
</button><div class=”search-suggestions”><ul id=”suggestions-list”></ul></div></form></div><nav class=”fo-navigation pos-r” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/SiteNavigationElement”><div class=”fo-HeaderNavigation-Menu”><div class=”container”><div class=”fo-login-link ttp”> <a href=”#”>
<span>Login</span> </a></div><div class=”nav-first-col col-n”><h4>Sections<div class=”fo-search-row d-flex”><svg fill=”none” height=”20″ stroke=”#000″ stroke-linecap=”round”
stroke-linejoin=”round” stroke-width=”2″ viewBox=”0 0 24 24″ width=”24″
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”10.5″ cy=”10.5″ r=”7.5″ />
<line x1=”21″ x2=”15.8″ y1=”21″ y2=”15.8″ />
</svg>
<span> Search</span></div></h4><div class=”first-n-col”><div class=”first-menu-col”><ul class=”list-style-none”><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/politics/”>Politics</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/economics/”>Economics & Finance</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/business/”>Business &
Entrepreneurship</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/culture/”>Art & Culture</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/more/science/”>Science & Technology</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/more/environment/”>Environment & Climate
Change</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-news”>World</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-leaders-news”>World Leaders</a></li></ul><ul class=”list-style-none”><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/american-news/”>The Americas</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/europe/”>Europe</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/middle_east_north_africa/”>Middle
East & North Africa</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/africa/”>Africa</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/asia_pacific/”>Asia</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/united-states”>United States</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-news/india-news”>India</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-news/china-news”>China</a></li></ul><ul class=”list-style-none desktop-m”><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/russian-newsrussia-news”>Russia</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/about”>About</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/authors”>Authors</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/publications”>Publications</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/events”>Events</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/multimedia”>Multimedia</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/video”>Videos </a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/podcasts”>Podcasts</a></li></ul><ul class=”list-style-none mobile-m”><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/events”>Events</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/russian-newsrussia-news”>Russia</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/publications”>Publications</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/authors”>Authors</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/about”>About</a></li></ul></div><div class=”nav-2n-col col-n”><div class=”nav-post”><article><div class=”fo-post-img”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/interactive/the-indian-subcontinents-hindu-muslim-divide/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hindu-muslim-divide-1-80×80.jpg” alt=”Fair Observer” title=””
width=”80″ height=”80″ /></a></div><div class=”fo-post-content”><h3><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/multimedia/” rel=”bookmark”
title=””>MULTIMEDIA</a></h3><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/interactive/the-indian-subcontinents-hindu-muslim-divide/”
rel=”bookmark”
title=”Permanent Link to The Indian Subcontinent’s Hindu-Muslim Divide”>
The Indian Subcontinent’s Hindu-Muslim Divide </a></h2></div></article></div><div class=”nav-post”><article><div class=”fo-post-img”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/middle-east-news/fo-talks-israel-recognizing-somaliland-is-about-turkey-iran-and-the-future-of-middle-east/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Israel-Recognizing-Somaliland-Is-About-Turkey-Iran-and-the-Future-of-Middle-East-Fair-Observer-80×80.jpeg” alt=”Fair Observer” title=””
width=”80″ height=”80″ /></a></div><div class=”fo-post-content”><h3><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/video/” rel=”bookmark”
title=””>VIDEOS</a></h3><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/middle-east-news/fo-talks-israel-recognizing-somaliland-is-about-turkey-iran-and-the-future-of-middle-east/”
rel=”bookmark”
title=”Permanent Link to FO° Talks: Israel Recognizing Somaliland Is About Turkey, Iran and the Future of Middle East”>
FO° Talks: Israel Recognizing Somaliland Is About Turkey, Iran and the Future of Middle East </a></h2></div></article></div><div class=”nav-post”><article><div class=”fo-post-img”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/politics/the-quads-evolution-from-providing-public-goods-to-security-cooperation/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Satu-Limaye-and-Haruko-Satoh-80×80.jpg” alt=”Fair Observer” title=””
width=”80″ height=”80″ /></a></div><div class=”fo-post-content”><h3><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/podcasts/” rel=”bookmark”
title=””>PODCASTS</a></h3><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/politics/the-quads-evolution-from-providing-public-goods-to-security-cooperation/”
rel=”bookmark”
title=”Permanent Link to The Quad’s Evolution From Providing Public Goods to Security Cooperation”>
The Quad’s Evolution From Providing Public Goods to Security Cooperation </a></h2></div></article></div></div></div></div><div class=”nav-3rd-col col-n”><h4>PUBLICATION</h4><article><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/publications/fair-observer-monthly-november-2025/”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nove-book-covar-225×290.jpg” alt=”Fair Observer Monthly: November 2025″
width=”225″ height=”290″ />
</a></div></article></div><div class=”menu-donate”><div class=”menu-donate-content”><h2>Support Fair Observer</h2><p>We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.</p></div><div class=”menu-donate-btn”>
<a class=”site-btn” href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/donate/”>Donate</a></div></div></div></div><div class=”fo-HeaderNavigation-Overlay”></div></nav><div class=”container d-flex flex-wrap align-item-center justify-space-between pos-r”><div class=”menu-logo d-flex align-item-center”>
<button class=”fo-header-whitcher”><div class=”hamburger-box”><div class=”hamburger-inner”></div></div>
</button><div class=”fo-search-row d-flex”><svg fill=”none” height=”20″ stroke=”#000″ stroke-linecap=”round” stroke-linejoin=”round”
stroke-width=”2″ viewBox=”0 0 24 24″ width=”24″ xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”10.5″ cy=”10.5″ r=”7.5″ />
<line x1=”21″ x2=”15.8″ y1=”21″ y2=”15.8″ />
</svg>
<span>Search</span></div></div><div class=”fo-logo” itemscope itemtype=”https://schema.org/Organization”>
<a class=”off_scroll” href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/”>
<picture>
<source
srcset=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fairovserver-logo-red-250.webp”
type=”image/webp”>
<img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fairovserver-logo-red.png”
alt=”Fair Observer Logo”
width=”250″
height=”56″
loading=”eager”
decoding=”async”>
</picture>
</a></div><div class=”fo-search-button-row d-flex flex-wrap justify-space-between align-item-center pos-r”><div class=”fo-top-btn”><ul class=”d-flex flex-wrap justify-space-between align-item-center list-style-none”><li class=”fo-donatebtn”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/crowd-funding”><span>Donate</span> </a></li></ul></div></div></div></header> <script>jQuery(document).ready(function () {
var site_url = “https://www.fairobserver.com”;
jQuery(‘.search-field’).on(‘input’, function () {
var keyword = jQuery(this).val();
if (keyword.length > 0) {
jQuery(‘.search-suggestions’).show();
jQuery(‘#suggestions-list’).html(
“<li><a href='” + site_url + “/search?keyword=” + keyword +
“‘>Just search for: ” + keyword + “</a></li><li><a href='” + site_url +
“/search?keyword=” + keyword + “&search_in=authors’>In Authors: ” + keyword +
“</a></li><li><a href='” + site_url + “/search?keyword=” + keyword +
“&search_in=categories’>In Categories: ” + keyword + “</a></li>”
);
} else {
jQuery(‘.search-suggestions’).hide();
}
});
});</script> <div class=”print_logo”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fairovserver-logo-red.png”
alt=”Fair Observer Logo” width=”276″ height=”68″ title=”Fair Observer Logo” /></a></div><div class=”wrap”><div id=”primary” class=”content-area”><main id=”main” class=”site-main” role=”main”><article id=”post-160253″ class=”post-160253 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-politics category-devils-advocate category-us-news tag-bernie-sanders-marginalization tag-canonization tag-catholic-sainthood tag-cia-and-political-power tag-devils-advocate tag-erosion-of-democratic-virtue tag-hollywood-political-mythology tag-house-of-cards tag-jfk-martyrdom-myth tag-lost-virtues tag-mr-smith-goes-to-washington tag-political-narcissism tag-pope-francis-canonizations tag-pope-john-paul-ii-reforms tag-populist-leadership tag-post-presidential-enrichment tag-poverty-and-moral-judgment tag-sainthood-versus-celebrity tag-sanctity-and-modern-media tag-secular-sainthood tag-truman-and-eisenhower-public-service tag-us-moral-decline tag-us-presidents-wealth tag-wealth-as-moral-success tag-west-wing pmpro-has-access entry”><div class=”fo-wednseday sep-newsletter”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fo-wednesday1.png” alt=””><div class=”posted-on-single-post newsletter-date”>
Friday, January 16, 2026</div></div><header class=”entry-header”><div class=”si-post logo-devil-description”><img class=”devils-badge”
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/the-devil-advocate.jpg”
alt=”Devil’s Advocate”><p><em>The office of Devil’s Advocate is a historical reality. Created in 1587, the jurist’s task was to
poke holes in dossiers proposing the canonization of a new saint. Our easier task is to poke
holes in the dominant narratives.
</em></p></div><h1 class=”entry-title”>The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints</h1><div class=’post-summary’>Modern society has abandoned its search for saints, both religious and political. Since the Vatican eliminated the Devil’s Advocate role in 1983, canonizations skyrocketed but public interest vanished. Meanwhile, naked cynicism has defeated America’s political idealism. Ambition and wealth have replaced humility and public service as our defining virtues.</div><div class=”single-authors”>By <span id=”authorname”></span></div><div class=”posted-on-single-post” style=”display:none”>
Friday, January 16, 2026</div></header><div class=”post-thumbnail”>
<img width=”980″ height=”653″ src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/buildings-.jpg” class=”attachment-twentyseventeen-featured-image size-twentyseventeen-featured-image wp-post-image” alt=”The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints” decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high” srcset=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/buildings-.jpg 980w, https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/buildings–300×200.jpg 300w, https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/buildings–150×100.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px” style=”width:100%;height:66.63%;max-width:980px;” loading=”eager” /><p class=”caption”>
Via Shutterstock.</p></div><div class=”content-row”><div class=”entry-meta”><div style=”flex-direction: column;” class=”author-img “><div class=”d-flex align-item-center” style=”flex-direction: column;”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Peter-Isackson-100×100.jpg” width=”40″ height=”40″ /></a>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/login/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairobserver.com%2Fworld-news%2Fus-news%2Fthe-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints%2F” class=”follow-btn-login ” style=””><i class=”bi bi-plus”></i> Follow</a></div></div><div class=”date-author-single-post list-date-author-single-post”><div style=”display:none” class=”byline-single-post multiauthor”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson”>Peter Isackson</a></div><div class=”author-twitter-src”><a href=”https://twitter.com/@pisackson” rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>@pisackson</a></div><div class=”social_medai_share”><h5>SHARE</h5><div class=”social_medai_share”><div class=”vid-page top-social-icon”><div id=”crestashareiconincontent” class=”cresta-share-icon first_style”><div class=”sbutton crestaShadow facebook-cresta-share” id=”facebook-cresta-c”>
<a rel=”nofollow” href=”https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/”
title=”Share to Facebook” onclick=”window.open(this.href, ‘targetWindow’, ‘toolbars=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=640,height=320,left=200,top=200’);
return false;”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”facebook-f”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-facebook-f fa-w-10″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”
viewBox=”0 0 320 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z”>
</path>
</svg>
</a></div><div class=”sbutton crestaShadow twitter-cresta-share” id=”twitter-cresta-c”>
<a rel=”nofollow”
href=”https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The+Devil%E2%80%99s+Advocate+in+a+World+Without+Saints @pisackson&url=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/&via=myfairobserver”
title=”Share to Twitter” onclick=”window.open(this.href, ‘targetWindow’, ‘toolbars=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=640,height=320,left=200,top=200’);
return false;”>
<svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” height=”1em” viewBox=”0 0 512 512″>
<path
d=”M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z”>
</path>
</svg>
</a></div><div class=”sbutton crestaShadow linkedin-cresta-share” id=”linkedin-cresta-c”>
<a rel=”nofollow”
href=”https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/&title=The+Devil%E2%80%99s+Advocate+in+a+World+Without+Saints&source=https://www.fairobserver.com”
title=”Share to LinkedIn” onclick=”window.open(this.href, ‘targetWindow’, ‘toolbars=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=640,height=320,left=200,top=200’);
return false;”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”linkedin-in”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-linkedin-in fa-w-14″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”
viewBox=”0 0 448 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M100.28 448H7.4V148.9h92.88zM53.79 108.1C24.09 108.1 0 83.5 0 53.8a53.79 53.79 0 0 1 107.58 0c0 29.7-24.1 54.3-53.79 54.3zM447.9 448h-92.68V302.4c0-34.7-.7-79.2-48.29-79.2-48.29 0-55.69 37.7-55.69 76.7V448h-92.78V148.9h89.08v40.8h1.3c12.4-23.5 42.69-48.3 87.88-48.3 94 0 111.28 61.9 111.28 142.3V448z”>
</path>
</svg>
</a></div><div class=”sbutton crestaShadow whatsapp-cresta-share” id=”whatsapp-cresta-c”>
<a href=”https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=The+Devil%E2%80%99s+Advocate+in+a+World+Without+Saints – https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/” target=”_blank”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”whatsapp”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-whatsapp fa-w-14″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”
viewBox=”0 0 448 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M380.9 97.1C339 55.1 283.2 32 223.9 32c-122.4 0-222 99.6-222 222 0 39.1 10.2 77.3 29.6 111L0 480l117.7-30.9c32.4 17.7 68.9 27 106.1 27h.1c122.3 0 224.1-99.6 224.1-222 0-59.3-25.2-115-67.1-157zm-157 341.6c-33.2 0-65.7-8.9-94-25.7l-6.7-4-69.8 18.3L72 359.2l-4.4-7c-18.5-29.4-28.2-63.3-28.2-98.2 0-101.7 82.8-184.5 184.6-184.5 49.3 0 95.6 19.2 130.4 54.1 34.8 34.9 56.2 81.2 56.1 130.5 0 101.8-84.9 184.6-186.6 184.6zm101.2-138.2c-5.5-2.8-32.8-16.2-37.9-18-5.1-1.9-8.8-2.8-12.5 2.8-3.7 5.6-14.3 18-17.6 21.8-3.2 3.7-6.5 4.2-12 1.4-32.6-16.3-54-29.1-75.5-66-5.7-9.8 5.7-9.1 16.3-30.3 1.8-3.7.9-6.9-.5-9.7-1.4-2.8-12.5-30.1-17.1-41.2-4.5-10.8-9.1-9.3-12.5-9.5-3.2-.2-6.9-.2-10.6-.2-3.7 0-9.7 1.4-14.8 6.9-5.1 5.6-19.4 19-19.4 46.3 0 27.3 19.9 53.7 22.6 57.4 2.8 3.7 39.1 59.7 94.8 83.8 35.2 15.2 49 16.5 66.6 13.9 10.7-1.6 32.8-13.4 37.4-26.4 4.6-13 4.6-24.1 3.2-26.4-1.3-2.5-5-3.9-10.5-6.6z”>
</path>
</svg>
</a></div><div class=”sbutton crestaShadow email-cresta-share” id=”email-cresta-c”>
<a
href=”mailto:?Subject=The+Devil%E2%80%99s+Advocate+in+a+World+Without+Saints&Body=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/ https://www.fairobserver.com”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fas” data-icon=”envelope”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-envelope fa-w-16″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”
viewBox=”0 0 512 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z”>
</path>
</svg>
</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=”entry-content-right”><div class=”date-time-bookmark d-flex flex-wrap justify-space-between border-bottom”><div class=”posted-on-single-post”>
January 16, 2026 07:22 EDT</div><div class=”new_icons_wrap”><div class=”article_comment_icon”>
<a href=”javascript:void(0);” id=”scrollToComments”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/comment-badge.svg”
width=”24″ height=”24″ alt=” user comment feature”>
</a><div class=”tooltip”>Check out our comment feature!</div></div><div class=”bookmark”><div class=”sbutton crestaShadow bookmark-cresta-share” id=”bookmark-cresta-c”><div class=”nonmember-bookmark-tag”>
<span id=”trigger-modal” class=”bookmarkspan” title=”Click to bookmark “>
<a><img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/bookmark-off.svg”
width=”24″ height=”25″ alt=”visitor can bookmark”></a>
</span></div></div><div class=”view-bookmark-list-button” style=”display: none”><h2>Saved Successfully.</h2><p>This article saved into your bookmarks. Click here to view your bookmarks.</p>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/cbxbookmark/” target=”_blank” class=””>
<span> My Bookmarks</span>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/external-link-icon-white.png”
alt=”” style=”width: 20px”></a></div></div><div id=”printButton” title=”Print this article”>
<a href=”javascript:void(0);”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/foicon-v1_print.svg”
width=”24″ height=”25″ alt=”print article page”>
</a></div></div> <script>// Smooth scroll to comment section
document.getElementById(‘scrollToComments’).addEventListener(‘click’, function () {
const commentsWrapper = document.querySelector(‘.comments-wrapper’);
if (commentsWrapper) {
commentsWrapper.scrollIntoView({ behavior: ‘smooth’ });
}
});

// Print functionality
document.getElementById(‘printButton’).addEventListener(‘click’, function () {
window.print(); // Trigger the browser’s print functionality
});</script> </div><div class=”entry-content full_post abcd”><p>Readers of this column should by now have an idea of what I should honestly call the <em>dramatis persona</em> from whose script I am reading: the Devil’s Advocate, a historical function required for every canonization process submitted to the Vatican. Like every other professional role, it depends for its prosperity on the existence of a marketplace.</p><p>The job entails finding weaknesses and identifying serious reasons that could serve to invalidate a dossier for the canonization of a candidate for sainthood. Every generation has produced at least a few human beings who during the span of their lifetime demonstrated manifestly virtuous behavior reflecting what Catholic doctrine refers to as a “state of grace.” The numbers of candidates vary from generation to  generation, producing what some might call marketplace variations. The simple truth is that the Devil’s Advocate can find gainful work only if there is a steady supply of potential saints.</p><p>A quick glance at statistics might convince you that this should be a good moment in history for the Devil’s Advocate. Pope Francis, who died last year, canonized 942 saints, breaking all previous records. Until the reign of John Paul II in 1978, the modern church — since the creation of the office of Devil’s Advocate in 1583 — had only canonized 300 new saints. But the figures are deceptive. Not only because Francis canonized those known as the 813 Martyrs of Otranto as a single group. Far more significant, from my  humble point of view, is the fact that in 1983 my office was abolished. Pope John Paul II overhauled the canonization laws (the <em>Codex Juris Canonici</em>), removing the “Devil’s Advocate” role to make the process faster and less expensive.</p><p>In other words, well before AI became poised to wipe out most jobs connected with administrative and legal matters, the first Polish pope, undoubtedly schooled by his firsthand experience of the inefficiency of Soviet bureaucracy, chose to apply modern Western managerial streamlining practices, accelerating outcomes and improving productivity. Those like myself who claim (symbolically) to inherit the function are condemned to rely on literary fiction to keep the office present in the public’s mind.</p><p>I do so for a reason. Despite the increase in the numbers of recently canonized saints (see the <a href=”https://exaudi.org/the-saints-of-our-time-beatifications-and-canonizations-in-the-last-seven-pontificates/#:~:text=Canonizations%3A%20He%20canonized%2045%20people,than%20all%20his%20predecessors%20combined.” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>table</a> below), very few people these days are even vaguely aware of the identities of the latest successful candidates. Even fewer have any sense of the inspiring stories their saintly lives represent. In the not-so-distant past, Catholic households possessed a book called, <em>The Lives of the Saints</em>. It reminded generation after generation of a diversity of examples of moral and spiritual heroism that might at some point influence their behavior.</p><figure class=”wp-block-table”><table class=”has-fixed-layout”><tbody><tr><td><strong>Pope</strong></td><td><strong>Years</strong></td><td><strong>Number of Saints Canonized</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Leo XIV</strong></td><td>2025–Present</td><td><strong>9+</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Francis</strong></td><td>2013–2025</td><td><strong>942</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Benedict XVI</strong></td><td>2005–2013</td><td><strong>45</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>John Paul II</strong></td><td>1978–2005</td><td><strong>482</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Paul VI</strong></td><td>1963–1978</td><td><strong>84</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2 class=”wp-block-heading”>The real reasons sanctity has disappeared from our media landscape</h2><p>It may be a coincidence, but at least since the moment John Paul II abolished the office of Devil’s Advocate, our society has tended to focus on other virtues than the ones we associate with traditional sainthood. Humility, for example, went out of fashion long ago, as did patience. That change of moral focus happened when an entire culture, reflecting on theoretical physicist Albert Einstein’s fourth dimension, decided on the metaphysical principle that “time is money.” This bold equation led to other interesting equivalences such as “money is <a href=”https://www.freedomforum.org/money-speech-political-campaign-spending/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>speech</a>” and “corporations are <a href=”https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/03/corporations-people-adam-winkler/554852/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>people</a>” (the updated basis for understanding what the expression “We the people” means in the preamble to the United States Constitution).</p><p>Given such an obvious and brazen shift in the scale of values, I needn’t even comment on the standard expectation that saints would see the love of lucre as a path to be avoided, preferring poverty to wealth. Today’s culture has taught us to consider the poor as unworthy of respect, as the sign that they lack moral fiber. Anyone who fails to focus on becoming wealthy today risks being labeled a “loser.” </p><p>If you are not rich to begin with by choosing the right parents, enterprising Americans understand that their aim in life should be to create a brand, to be an influencer in their community or, even better, in the media. Everyone’s aim is to command the attention of those who have money to spend on them, whether it’s their employer who perceives them as contributing to the organization’s profitability or the public of a social media channel they manage to set up to sell their podcast. Being devoid not only of ambition but especially a visible dedication to the pursuit of wealth has come to be classified as a cardinal sin, a sign of moral weakness.</p><p>With such a set of values, how likely is it that today’s media and its audiences might even be curious about sainthood? Who today even retains a modicum of respect for what was traditionally understood to be saintly behavior? </p><p>To illustrate what has changed in the public’s notion of what constitutes even purely secular sainthood, Hollywood provides some crucial evidence. The mythology surrounding newly-elected Congressman Jefferson Smith, the hero of Frank Capra’s <a href=”https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mr-Smith-Goes-to-Washington” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>movie</a>, <em>Mr. Smith Goes to Washington</em>, had by the end of the  20th century faded into the mists of history. Until the new millennium, Americans tended to see Capra’s “innocent everyman” as an ideal, an implicit model for all politicians in working inside the nation’s democratic institutions. Smith stands as a kind of modern American St. George who appears to slay the dragon of endemic corruption. Capra’s film stages a struggle between a nefarious, invisible political machine and a disorganized but virtuous populace, who in its democratic humility would have no voice were it not for saintly figures such as Mr. Smith.</p><p>Hollywood’s entertainment industry brought the 20th century to an end with one last but subtly transformed glance at the morality promoted by Capra’s Mr. Smith. The television series, <em>West Wing</em>, ran from 1999 to 2006. Actor Aaron Sorkin’s rapid-fire “walk-and-talk” dialogue contained a heavy dose of Capra-like idealism intended to offer Americans the hope of something that might surpass the deteriorating image of Washington, DC, politics provoked by US President Bill Clinton’s Monica Lewinsky scandal, followed by the insensitive militaristic cynicism of the George W. Bush–Dick Cheney administration. <em>West Wing</em> prolonged the ideal of a politician responsive to the real needs of the nation.</p><p>In 2013, seven years after <em>West Wing</em>’s final episode aired, a new series, <em>House of Cards</em>, offered a revised vision of Washington politics. Anti-hero Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey — who, much like playwright William Shakespeare’s Richard III, shared his devious thoughts with the audience through the series’ innovative use of “the <a href=”https://www.britannica.com/art/fourth-wall” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>fourth wall</a>” — allowed the audience to discover a more realistic perception of political reality upending Capra’s and Sorkin’s established mythology. Smith looks at the Lincoln Memorial and finds inspiration; Underwood looks at it and sees a man who was smart enough to get a statue.</p><iframe width=”800″ height=”400″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/zPv0S1-ETdI?si=wbB8QG707O7eJ7d6″ title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe><h2 class=”wp-block-heading”>Can US presidents be saints?</h2><p>That shift in moral bearings is not the only thing that has changed. It’s been accompanied by a serious life-style change. Just think about the profiles of recent US presidents, all men who purported to be dedicated to the notion of public service. The certified narcissist Donald Trump may be an extreme example, but he only deviates from the pattern in the intensity of his egoism. Democrats Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden all came from modest backgrounds and referred to those modest origins to get elected. They all subsequently found clever ways to join the social stratum of the super-rich in their status, personal image and lifestyle. Republicans Bush (H.W. and W.) and Trump, conversely, were born into it and like skilled surfers simply rolled with the waves.</p><p>In contrast, US Presidents Harry Truman (1945–1953) and Dwight Eisenhower (1953–1961), a former general, retired to their modest homes and generally avoided any obvious form of media attention. While they never sought total seclusion, they deliberately avoided the worlds of Wall Street and Hollywood in an effort to preserve the dignity of the office. Truman returned to his modest family home in Independence, Missouri, far from anyone’s limelight. Eisenhower retired to a working farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Neither of them sought to “cash in.” Both viewed themselves as servants of the nation, not consultants for hire.</p><p>While Bush, having retired to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, could be seen as manifesting a throwback to the Capraesque pattern exemplified by Truman and Eisenhower, most Americans perceived his relative self-effacement as a reflection of the man’s severely limited capacity for serious analysis and compelling discourse. No one doubted that the Texas cowboy — who achieved electoral success as a “compassionate conservative” and man of the people, claiming to be allergic to nation-building — had the inflated ego and overweening ambition required to get elected. Moreover, he demonstrated his underlying, un-Capraesque cynicism once in office through his ill-thought-out and ineptly executed foreign policy, conducted at the service of the very military-industrial complex Eisenhower famously denounced days before leaving the White House.</p><p>In summary, in my (imagined) role as Devil’s Advocate, I have for some time noted with amusement the desire that has been instilled at the core of the secular US republic to seek the equivalent of sainthood among political figures, real or fictional. Hollywood didn’t create it, but transformed it into an artform. Actors in general performed more credibly than real politicians. But there was one potential exception: US President John F. Kennedy managed to partially achieve the status, but at the price of martyrdom. It seems that James Angleton’s CIA rather than Hollywood played the principal role in producing that unforgettable tragedy.</p><p>Serious candidates today see no value in cultivating Smith’s style of sanctity that would require them to stand up exclusively for the people’s interests. The American public appears to have given up searching for new Mr. Smiths. Instead, they understand, perhaps with some regret, that Underwood is closer to the now standardized model. Some observers might object that Democrat Bernie Sanders’s campaigns in 2016 and 2020 prove Capra’s mythology may still be alive in the world of actual politics. But the ease with which Bernie was marginalized by his own party helps to explain why a faux populist like Trump, totally dedicated to his own ego and indifferent to anything else (besides money), could be elected not once (an acceptable fluke) but twice… and three times by his own reckoning!</p><p>So, in my assumed role as Devil’s Advocate, I must draw a regretful conclusion: There is no returning to the past. It’s been clear for some time that no one today, and certainly not the media, is interested in the modern Catholic saints, who in any case no longer have to face the scrutiny of the official Devil’s Advocate. But the prospects are no better for any potential secular saints who may be seeking to climb the ranks in our political class. The hope Capra created and Sorkin prolonged, that we might one day be governed by such secular saints, has clearly disappeared from everyone’s radar.</p><p>Does that mean there are no candidates left, even outside politics? In my next column, I’ll propose a surprising one… before going on to uncover its seriously disqualifying weaknesses.</p><div class=”signup-popup square-email-box n-email-popup light-pink”><div class=”modal-content modal-content-email-box”><div class=”display-flex”><div class=”mobile-view-content”><h2>We are a rare nonprofit in the world news space. Most other organizations are owned by billionaires or governments. We are bottom-up, not top-down and bring you perspectives from around the world. So, sign up now for our free newsletters to hear from our <strong>3,000+ voices</strong> from <strong>90+ countries</strong>.</h2></div><div class=”signup-popup”><div class=”signup-innersection”><form method=”post” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”nlang” value=””><div class=”tnp-field tnp-field-email”><div class=”newsletter-block”>
<input type=”email” name=”user_email” id=”email” required=”” placeholder=”Enter your email address” onfocus=”this.placeholder=”” onblur=”this.placeholder=’Enter your email address'”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”amp” value=”1″>
<input type=”submit” value=”SUBSCRIBE”><div class=”cpf-checkbox”>
<input type=”checkbox” name=”ms-Your_email_will_be_shared_with_fairobserver_and_subject_to_it’s_Privacy_Policy” id=”privacy-policy” value=”true” onchange=”document.getElementById(‘privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ” : this.name)” required=””><label for=”Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to its Privacy Policy”>I agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand that I may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy/”>Privacy Policy</a> and <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/”>Terms of Use</a> for further information…</label></div></div></div></form></div></div></div></div></div><p><em>*[</em>The Devil’s Advocate<em>pursues the tradition Fair Observer began in 2017 with the launch of our “Devil’s Dictionary.” It does so with a slight change of focus, moving from language itself — political and journalistic rhetoric — to the substantial issues in the news. Read more of</em><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson”><em>t</em></a><em>he </em><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”><em>Fair Observer Devil’s Dictionary</em></a><em>. The news we consume deserves to be seen from an outsider’s point of view. And who could be more outside official discourse than Old Nick himself?]</em></p><p><em>[</em><a href=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/leethompsonkolar/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”><em>Lee Thompson-Kolar</em></a><em> edited this piece.]</em></p><p><strong>The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.</strong></p></div><div class=”comments-wrapper” id=”comments-wrapper”><div class=”headline hide-on-print border-bottom marb30″><h2>Comment</h2></div><div class=”wpdiscuz_top_clearing”></div><div id=’comments’ class=’comments-area’><div id=’respond’ style=’width: 0;height: 0;clear: both;margin: 0;padding: 0;’></div><div id=”wpdcom” class=”wpdiscuz_unauth wpd-default wpd-layout-1 wpd-comments-open”><div class=”wc_social_plugin_wrapper”></div><div class=”wpd-form-wrap”><div class=”wpd-form-head”><div class=”wpd-auth”><div class=”wpd-login”>
<a rel = “nofollow” href = “https://www.fairobserver.com/login/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairobserver.com%2Fworld-news%2Fus-news%2Fthe-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints%2F%23comments-wrapper”><i class=”fas fa-sign-in-alt”></i> Login</a></div></div></div><div
class=”wpd-form wpd-form-wrapper wpd-main-form-wrapper” id=’wpd-main-form-wrapper-0_0′></div><div id=”wpdiscuz_hidden_secondary_form” style=”display: none;”><div
class=”wpd-form wpd-form-wrapper wpd-secondary-form-wrapper” id=’wpd-secondary-form-wrapper-wpdiscuzuniqueid’ style=’display: none;’><div class=”wpd-secondary-forms-social-content”></div><div class=”clearfix”></div></div></div><div class=”wpd-login-to-comment”>Please login to comment</div></div><div id=”wpd-threads” class=”wpd-thread-wrapper”><div class=”wpd-thread-head”><div class=”wpd-thread-info ”
data-comments-count=”0″>
<span class=’wpdtc’ title=’0′>0</span> Comments</div><div class=”wpd-space”></div><div class=”wpd-thread-filter”><div class=”wpd-filter wpdf-sorting wpdiscuz-hidden”>
<span class=”wpdiscuz-sort-button wpdiscuz-date-sort-desc wpdiscuz-sort-button-active”
data-sorting=”newest”>Newest</span>
<i class=”fas fa-sort-down”></i><div class=”wpdiscuz-sort-buttons”>
<span class=”wpdiscuz-sort-button wpdiscuz-date-sort-asc”
data-sorting=”oldest”>Oldest</span>
<span class=”wpdiscuz-sort-button wpdiscuz-vote-sort-up”
data-sorting=”by_vote”>Most Voted</span></div></div></div></div><div class=”wpd-comment-info-bar”><div class=”wpd-current-view”><i
class=”fas fa-quote-left”></i> Inline Feedbacks</div><div class=”wpd-filter-view-all”>View all comments</div></div><div class=”wpd-thread-list”><div class=”wpdiscuz-comment-pagination”></div></div></div></div></div><div id=”wpdiscuz-loading-bar”
class=”wpdiscuz-loading-bar-unauth”></div><div id=”wpdiscuz-comment-message”
class=”wpdiscuz-comment-message-unauth”></div></div><div id=”comment-guidelines-modal” style=”display:none; position:fixed; top:5%; left:50%; transform:translateX(-50%);
background:#fff; padding:20px; border:2px solid #1d2a99; z-index:9999; max-width:900px; width: 100%”><h3 style=”font-size: 28px”>Commenting Guidelines</h3><p style=”font-size: 18px”>Please read our commenting guidelines</a> before commenting.</p><hr><div style=”margin-top:15px; text-align:left; font-size: 19px; max-height: 60vh; overflow: auto”><p><strong>1. Be Respectful</strong>: Please be polite to the author. Avoid hostility. The whole point of Fair Observer is openness to different perspectives from perspectives from around the world.</p><p><strong>2. Comment Thoughtfully</strong>: Please be relevant and constructive. We do not allow personal attacks, disinformation or trolling. We will remove hate speech or incitement.</p><p><strong>3. Contribute Usefully</strong>: Add something of value — a point of view, an argument, a personal experience or a relevant link if you are citing statistics and key facts.</p></div><div style=”margin: 20px 0;”>
<label style=”font-size: 18px;”>
<input type=”checkbox” id=”guideline-agree-checkbox” style=”transform: scale(1.2); margin-right: 8px;” />
I have read and agree to the above commenting guidelines.
</label></div><p id=”guideline-warning” style=”display: none; color: red; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 10px;”>
Please agree to the guidelines before proceeding.</p><button class=”wpuf-submit-button” id=”proceed-to-login” style=”margin-right:10px; display: inline-block”>I
Agree, Proceed to Login</button>
<button
style=”padding: 8px 18px; background: var(–blue-color); font-family: var(–second-font); border-radius: 36px; font-size: 20px; gap: 5px; color: white; border: none ”
id=”cancel-login-modal”>Cancel</button></div><div id=”guideline-modal-overlay”
style=”display:none; position:fixed; top:0; left:0; width:100%; height:100%; background:#00000066; z-index:9998;”></div> <script>document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, function () {
const loginTrigger = document.querySelector(‘.comment-login-trigger’);
const guidelineModal = document.getElementById(‘comment-guidelines-modal’);
const guidelineOverlay = document.getElementById(‘guideline-modal-overlay’);
const proceedBtn = document.getElementById(‘proceed-to-login’);
const cancelBtn = document.getElementById(‘cancel-login-modal’);
const guidelineCheckbox = document.getElementById(‘guideline-agree-checkbox’);
let loginUrl = ”;

// Show modal on login click
if (loginTrigger) {
loginTrigger.addEventListener(‘click’, function (e) {
e.preventDefault();
loginUrl = this.getAttribute(‘data-login-url’);
guidelineModal.style.display = ‘block’;
guidelineOverlay.style.display = ‘block’;
});
}

const warningText = document.getElementById(‘guideline-warning’);

// Enable/disable the proceed button based on checkbox
guidelineCheckbox.addEventListener(‘change’, function () {
warningText.style.display = ‘none’; // Hide warning on change
});

// Proceed to login
proceedBtn.addEventListener(‘click’, function () {
if (guidelineCheckbox.checked) {
warningText.style.display = ‘none’;
guidelineModal.style.display = ‘none’;
guidelineOverlay.style.display = ‘none’;
window.location.href = loginUrl;
} else {
warningText.style.display = ‘block’;
// Optional: shake animation or scroll to warning
guidelineModal.scrollTo({ top: modal.scrollHeight, behavior: ‘smooth’ });
}
});

// Close modal on cancel button
cancelBtn.addEventListener(‘click’, function () {
guidelineModal.style.display = ‘none’;
guidelineOverlay.style.display = ‘none’;
guidelineCheckbox.checked = false;
// proceedBtn.disabled = true;
});

// Close modal when clicking outside
guidelineOverlay.addEventListener(‘click’, function () {
guidelineModal.style.display = ‘none’;
guidelineOverlay.style.display = ‘none’;
guidelineCheckbox.checked = false;
// proceedBtn.disabled = true;
});
});</script> <div class=”most-popular mart50″><div class=”related_post_data” loading=”lazy”><div class=”headline hide-on-print border-bottom marb30″><h2>Related Reading</h2></div><article class=”border-bottom”><div class=”fo-post-content”><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/devils-advocate/in-the-marketplace-for-saints-the-pickings-are-slim/”>
In the Marketplace for Saints, the Pickings are Slim </a></h2><p class=”mart5 marb0″ itemprop=”description”>
Today’s culture has replaced traditional virtue with success-worship. Where saints and civic heroes once embodied shared ideals, today’s leaders proudly…</p>
<span itemprop=”author” class=”fo-author fo-author-light d-in-block”>by
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson”>Peter Isackson</a>,
<span class=”post-date” itemprop=”datePublished”
content=”December 5, 2025″>
December 5, 2025 </span>
</span></div><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/devils-advocate/in-the-marketplace-for-saints-the-pickings-are-slim/”><img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Saint-Peter-statue-500×281.jpg”
alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”500″ height=”281″/></a></div></article><article class=”border-bottom”><div class=”fo-post-content”><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/cheney-trump-and-billionaires-define-our-post-ethics-era/”>
Cheney, Trump and Billionaires Define Our Post-Ethics Era </a></h2><p class=”mart5 marb0″ itemprop=”description”>
The US political elite now inhabits a “post conflict-of-interest world.” The ultra-wealthy openly shape policies. From Lyndon B. Johnson to…</p>
<span itemprop=”author” class=”fo-author fo-author-light d-in-block”>by
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson”>Peter Isackson</a>,
<span class=”post-date” itemprop=”datePublished”
content=”November 7, 2025″>
November 7, 2025 </span>
</span></div><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/cheney-trump-and-billionaires-define-our-post-ethics-era/”><img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/trump-4-500×281.jpg”
alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”500″ height=”281″/></a></div></article><article class=”border-bottom”><div class=”fo-post-content”><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/a-saint-charlie-kirk-and-a-devil-tony-blair-in-the-headlines/”>
A Saint (Charlie Kirk) and a Devil (Tony Blair) in the Headlines </a></h2><p class=”mart5 marb0″ itemprop=”description”>
Who today isn’t curious to learn about the diabolical processes at play around an assassination in Utah and a genocide…</p>
<span itemprop=”author” class=”fo-author fo-author-light d-in-block”>by
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson”>Peter Isackson</a>,
<span class=”post-date” itemprop=”datePublished”
content=”October 2, 2025″>
October 2, 2025 </span>
</span></div><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/a-saint-charlie-kirk-and-a-devil-tony-blair-in-the-headlines/”><img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Evil-500×281.jpg”
alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”500″ height=”281″/></a></div></article><article class=”border-bottom”><div class=”fo-post-content”><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/devils-advocate/no-bones-about-it-the-canonization-of-charlie-kirk/”>
No Bones About It: The Canonization of Charlie Kirk </a></h2><p class=”mart5 marb0″ itemprop=”description”>
In our age of mass media, no event has more power to spontaneously produce a dominant narrative than the murder…</p>
<span itemprop=”author” class=”fo-author fo-author-light d-in-block”>by
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/peter-isackson”>Peter Isackson</a>,
<span class=”post-date” itemprop=”datePublished”
content=”September 25, 2025″>
September 25, 2025 </span>
</span></div><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/devils-advocate/no-bones-about-it-the-canonization-of-charlie-kirk/”><img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/charlie-kirk-g-500×281.jpg”
alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”500″ height=”281″/></a></div></article><article class=”border-bottom”><div class=”fo-post-content”><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/culture/pope-francis-was-a-misunderstood-visionary/”>
Pope Francis Was a Misunderstood Visionary </a></h2><p class=”mart5 marb0″ itemprop=”description”>
Early on in his papacy, both supporters and detractors called Pope Francis a liberal or even a socialist. Later, commentators…</p>
<span itemprop=”author” class=”fo-author fo-author-light d-in-block”>by
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/author/anton-schauble”>Anton Schauble</a>,
<span class=”post-date” itemprop=”datePublished”
content=”April 22, 2025″>
April 22, 2025 </span>
</span></div><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/culture/pope-francis-was-a-misunderstood-visionary/”><img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Pop-500×281.jpg”
alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”500″ height=”281″/></a></div></article></div></div><div class=”response_section”><div class=”response_content single-support”><h3>Support Fair Observer</h3><p>We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.</p><p>For more than 10 years, Fair Observer has been free, fair and independent. No billionaire
owns us, no advertisers control us. We are a reader-supported nonprofit. Unlike many other
publications, we keep our content free for readers regardless of where they live or whether
they can afford to pay. We have no paywalls and no ads.</p><p>In the post-truth era of fake news, echo chambers and filter bubbles, we publish a plurality
of perspectives from around the world. Anyone can publish with us, but everyone goes through
a rigorous editorial process. So, you get fact-checked, well-reasoned content instead of
noise.</p><p>We publish 3,000+ voices from 90+ countries. We also conduct education and training programs
on subjects ranging from digital media and journalism to writing and critical thinking. This
doesn’t come cheap. Servers, editors, trainers and web developers cost
money.<br><span>Please consider supporting us on a regular basis as a recurring donor or a
sustaining member.</span></p> <script src=”/wp-content/plugins/donation-form-single-page/js/donation-script.js”></script> <div class=”donation-anywhere-form”><div class=”donation_section”><div class=”donations-content-section”><h3>Will you support FO’s journalism?</h3><p>We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.</p></div><div class=”donation-form-section”><form class=”donation-form” id=”anywhere_donation_form”><div class=”donation_cycle”><h4>Donation Cycle</h4>
<input id=”donation_cycle_one_time” type=”radio” name=”donation_cycle” value=”one-time”>
<label for=”donation_cycle_one_time”><span>One Time</span></label>
<input id=”donation_cycle_monthly” type=”radio” name=”donation_cycle” value=”month”>
<label for=”donation_cycle_monthly”><span>Monthly</span></label>
<input id=”donation_cycle_yearly” type=”radio” checked name=”donation_cycle” value=”year”>
<label for=”donation_cycle_yearly”><span>Yearly</span></label></div><div class=”grid-box-twocolumn”><div class=”donation_amount_section”><h4>Donation Amount</h4>
<input id=”amount_11″ class=”amount” type=”radio” name=”amount” value=”11″>
<label for=”amount_11″><span>$11</span></label>
<input id=”amount_111″ class=”amount” type=”radio” name=”amount” value=”111″ checked>
<label for=”amount_111″><span>$111</span></label>
<input id=”other_pay” class=”amount” type=”radio” name=”amount” value=”other”>
<label for=”other”>Other</label></div><div class=”other_donation_amount_section” style=”display: none;”>
<span class=”input-icon”>$</span>
<input type=”text” id=”other_amount_pay”
onfocus=”this.placeholder=””
onblur=”this.placeholder=’Other Amount'”
oninput=”this.value = this.value.replace(/D/g, ”).replace(/^0+/, ”)”
class=”other_donation_amount”
value=””
placeholder=”Other Amount”></div></div>
<input type=”submit” value=”$111 / Year” id=”open-donation-popup-btn” name=”anywhere-donation-submit”></form></div></div>
<span>
The IRS recognizes Fair Observer as a section 501(c)(3) registered public charity
(EIN: 46-4070943), enabling you to claim a tax deduction.</span></div></div></div><div class=”most-popular mart50″><div class=”related_post_data” loading=”lazy”></div></div></div></div><div class=”si-emailnewsletetr-support”><div class=”emailnewsletter”><div class=”fo-right-col”><div class=”fo-mobile-view-content padb20″><h2>Make Sense of the World</h2><p>Unique Insights from 3,000+ Contributors in 90+ Countries</p></div><div class=”fp-signup-popup”><div class=”fo-signup-innersection”><form method=”post” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription”> <input
type=”hidden” name=”nlang” value=””><div class=”tnp-field tnp-field-email”><div class=”fo-newsletter-block d-flex justify-space-between flex-wrap”>
<input type=”email” name=”user_email” id=”email” required=””
placeholder=”Enter your email address” onfocus=”this.placeholder=””
onblur=”this.placeholder=’Enter your email address'”>
<input type=”submit” value=”SUBSCRIBE”></div><div class=”fo-cpf-checkbox d-flex”> <input type=”checkbox”
name=”ms-Your_email_will_be_shared_with_fairobserver_and_subject_to_it’s_Privacy_Policy”
id=”privacy-policy” value=”true”
onchange=”document.getElementById(‘privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ” : this.name)”
required=””><label
for=”Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to its Privacy Policy”>I
agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand
that I
may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a
href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy”>Privacy Policy</a>
and <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/”>Terms of Use</a>
for further
information .</label></div></div></form></div></div></div></div></div></article><div class=”em-popup-single-post” style=”display: none;”><div class=”signup-popup square-email-box n-email-popup light-pink em-popup-block”><div class=”modal-content modal-content-email-box”><div class=”close-em-popup”><img src=”https://fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/close-em.png” alt=”FO”/></div><div class=”display-flex”><div class=”mobile-view-content”><h2>Read more, think deeper and become smarter, perhaps even wiser, one article at a time. Sign up for our free newsletters now.</h2></div><div class=”signup-popup”><div class=”signup-innersection”><form method=”post” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”nlang” value=””><div class=”tnp-field tnp-field-email”><div class=”newsletter-block”>
<input type=”email” name=”user_email” id=”email” required=”” placeholder=”Enter your email address” onfocus=”this.placeholder=”” onblur=”this.placeholder=’Enter your email address'”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”amp” value=”1″>
<input type=”submit” value=”SUBSCRIBE”><div class=”cpf-checkbox”>
<input type=”checkbox” name=”ms-Your_email_will_be_shared_with_fairobserver_and_subject_to_it’s_Privacy_Policy” id=”privacy-policy” value=”true” onchange=”document.getElementById(‘privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ” : this.name)” required=””><label for=”Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to its Privacy Policy”>I agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand that I may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy/”>Privacy Policy</a> and <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/”>Terms of Use</a> for further information…</label></div></div></div></form></div></div></div></div></div></div> <script type=”text/javascript”>jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(‘#trigger-modal ,#trigger-modal2’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#modal’).show();
});

jQuery(‘.x’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#screen, #modal’).hide();
});

var authorname = jQuery(‘.multiauthor’).html();
jQuery(‘#authorname’).html(authorname);

});

document.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”, function () {
let shown = sessionStorage.getItem(“newsletter_popup_shown”);
let popupTriggered = false;

// Function to show the popup
function scrollTriggerNewsletter() {
let scrollPercent = window.scrollY / (document.body.scrollHeight – window.innerHeight);
if (scrollPercent > 0.3 && !popupTriggered && !shown) {
popupTriggered = true;
sessionStorage.setItem(“newsletter_popup_shown”, “1”);

const popup = document.querySelector(‘.em-popup-single-post’);
if (popup) {
popup.style.display = ‘flex’; // or ‘block’ depending on CSS
}
}
}

// Attach scroll listener
window.addEventListener(“scroll”, scrollTriggerNewsletter);

// Close button logic
document.addEventListener(“click”, function (e) {
if (e.target.closest(‘.close-em-popup’)) {
const popup = document.querySelector(‘.em-popup-single-post’);
if (popup) {
popup.style.display = ‘none’;
}
}
});
});</script> </main></div></div><div class=”address_for_inovice”><p> </p>
Fair Observer, 461 Harbor Blvd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA</div><footer class=”mart70 fo-black-bg padt50 padb30″><div class=”container”><div class=”d-flex flex-wrap justify-space-between fo-menu-block”><div class=”nav-first-col col-n”><h4>Sections</h4><div class=”first-n-col”><div class=”first-menu-col”><ul class=”list-style-none”><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/politics/”>Politics</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/economics/”>Economics & Finance</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/business/”>Business &
Entrepreneurship</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/culture/”>Art & Culture</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/more/science/”>Science & Technology</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/more/environment/”>Environment & Climate
Change</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-leaders-news”>World Leaders</a></li><li><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-news”>World</a></li></ul><ul class=”list-style-none”><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/american-news/”>The Americas</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/europe/”>Europe</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/middle_east_north_africa/”>Middle
East & North Africa</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/africa/”>Africa</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/region/asia_pacific/”>Asia</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/united-states”>United States</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-news/india-news”>India</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/world-news/china-news”>China</a></li></ul><ul class=”list-style-none”><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/russian-newsrussia-news”>Russia</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/events”>Events</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/publications”>Publications</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/authors”>Authors</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/about”>About</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/publish”>Publish</a></li><li> <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/contact”>Contact</a></li><li class=”fo-login-link ttp”> <a href=”#”>
<span>Login</span> </a></li></ul></div><div class=”nav-2n-col col-n”><div class=”nav-post”><article><div class=”fo-post-img”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/interactive/the-indian-subcontinents-hindu-muslim-divide/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hindu-muslim-divide-1-80×80.jpg” alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”80″
height=”80″ /></a></div><div class=”fo-post-content”><h3><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/multimedia/” rel=”bookmark”
title=””>MULTIMEDIA</a></h3><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/interactive/the-indian-subcontinents-hindu-muslim-divide/”
rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent Link to The Indian Subcontinent’s Hindu-Muslim Divide”>
The Indian Subcontinent’s Hindu-Muslim Divide </a></h2></div></article></div><div class=”nav-post”><article><div class=”fo-post-img”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/middle-east-news/fo-talks-israel-recognizing-somaliland-is-about-turkey-iran-and-the-future-of-middle-east/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Israel-Recognizing-Somaliland-Is-About-Turkey-Iran-and-the-Future-of-Middle-East-Fair-Observer-80×80.jpeg” alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”80″
height=”80″ /></a></div><div class=”fo-post-content”><h3><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/video/” rel=”bookmark”
title=””>VIDEOS</a></h3><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/middle-east-news/fo-talks-israel-recognizing-somaliland-is-about-turkey-iran-and-the-future-of-middle-east/”
rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent Link to FO° Talks: Israel Recognizing Somaliland Is About Turkey, Iran and the Future of Middle East”>
FO° Talks: Israel Recognizing Somaliland Is About Turkey, Iran and the Future of Middle East </a></h2></div></article></div><div class=”nav-post”><article><div class=”fo-post-img”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/politics/the-quads-evolution-from-providing-public-goods-to-security-cooperation/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Satu-Limaye-and-Haruko-Satoh-80×80.jpg” alt=”Fair Observer” title=”” width=”80″
height=”80″ /></a></div><div class=”fo-post-content”><h3><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/category/podcasts/” rel=”bookmark”
title=””>PODCASTS</a></h3><h2 itemprop=”name” class=”fo-post-title”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/politics/the-quads-evolution-from-providing-public-goods-to-security-cooperation/”
rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent Link to The Quad’s Evolution From Providing Public Goods to Security Cooperation”>
The Quad’s Evolution From Providing Public Goods to Security Cooperation </a></h2></div></article></div></div></div></div><div class=”nav-3rd-col col-n”><h4>PUBLICATION</h4><article><div class=”fo-post-img”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/publications/fair-observer-monthly-november-2025/”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nove-book-covar-225×290.jpg” alt=”Fair Observer Monthly: November 2025″
width=”225″ height=”290″ />
</a></div></article></div><div class=”menu-donate”><div class=”menu-donate-content”><h2>Support Fair Observer</h2><p>We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.</p></div><div class=”menu-donate-btn”>
<a class=”site-btn” href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/donate/”>Donate </a></div></div></div><div class=”border-bottom mart40 marb40″></div><div class=”fo-footer-bottom d-flex flex-wrap justify-space-between align-item-center”><div class=”fo-footer-social” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/SiteNavigationElement”><ul class=”d-flex list-style-none”><li><a itemprop=”url” href=”https://www.linkedin.com/company/fair-observer/” target=”_blank”><svg
aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”linkedin-in”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-linkedin-in fa-w-14″ role=”img”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 448 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M100.28 448H7.4V148.9h92.88zM53.79 108.1C24.09 108.1 0 83.5 0 53.8a53.79 53.79 0 0 1 107.58 0c0 29.7-24.1 54.3-53.79 54.3zM447.9 448h-92.68V302.4c0-34.7-.7-79.2-48.29-79.2-48.29 0-55.69 37.7-55.69 76.7V448h-92.78V148.9h89.08v40.8h1.3c12.4-23.5 42.69-48.3 87.88-48.3 94 0 111.28 61.9 111.28 142.3V448z”>
</path>
</svg></a></li><li><a itemprop=”url” href=”https://www.youtube.com/c/FairObserver/videos” target=”_blank”><svg
aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”youtube”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-youtube fa-w-18″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”
viewBox=”0 0 576 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M549.655 124.083c-6.281-23.65-24.787-42.276-48.284-48.597C458.781 64 288 64 288 64S117.22 64 74.629 75.486c-23.497 6.322-42.003 24.947-48.284 48.597-11.412 42.867-11.412 132.305-11.412 132.305s0 89.438 11.412 132.305c6.281 23.65 24.787 41.5 48.284 47.821C117.22 448 288 448 288 448s170.78 0 213.371-11.486c23.497-6.321 42.003-24.171 48.284-47.821 11.412-42.867 11.412-132.305 11.412-132.305s0-89.438-11.412-132.305zm-317.51 213.508V175.185l142.739 81.205-142.739 81.201z”>
</path>
</svg></a></li><li>
<a itemprop=”url” target=”_blank” href=”https://bsky.app/profile/myfairobserver.bsky.social”>
<svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 512 512″>
<path
d=”M111.8 62.2C170.2 105.9 233 194.7 256 242.4c23-47.6 85.8-136.4 144.2-180.2c42.1-31.6 110.3-56 110.3 21.8c0 15.5-8.9 130.5-14.1 149.2C478.2 298 412 314.6 353.1 304.5c102.9 17.5 129.1 75.5 72.5 133.5c-107.4 110.2-154.3-27.6-166.3-62.9l0 0c-1.7-4.9-2.6-7.8-3.3-7.8s-1.6 3-3.3 7.8l0 0c-12 35.3-59 173.1-166.3 62.9c-56.5-58-30.4-116 72.5-133.5C100 314.6 33.8 298 15.7 233.1C10.4 214.4 1.5 99.4 1.5 83.9c0-77.8 68.2-53.4 110.3-21.8z” />
</svg>
</a></li><li><a itemprop=”url” href=”https://twitter.com/myfairobserver” target=”_blank”><svg
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” height=”1em”
viewBox=”0 0 512 512″>
<path
d=”M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z”>
</path>
</svg></a></li><li><a itemprop=”url” href=”https://www.instagram.com/fairobserver/” target=”_blank”><svg
aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”instagram”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-instagram fa-w-14″ role=”img”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 448 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M224.1 141c-63.6 0-114.9 51.3-114.9 114.9s51.3 114.9 114.9 114.9S339 319.5 339 255.9 287.7 141 224.1 141zm0 189.6c-41.1 0-74.7-33.5-74.7-74.7s33.5-74.7 74.7-74.7 74.7 33.5 74.7 74.7-33.6 74.7-74.7 74.7zm146.4-194.3c0 14.9-12 26.8-26.8 26.8-14.9 0-26.8-12-26.8-26.8s12-26.8 26.8-26.8 26.8 12 26.8 26.8zm76.1 27.2c-1.7-35.9-9.9-67.7-36.2-93.9-26.2-26.2-58-34.4-93.9-36.2-37-2.1-147.9-2.1-184.9 0-35.8 1.7-67.6 9.9-93.9 36.1s-34.4 58-36.2 93.9c-2.1 37-2.1 147.9 0 184.9 1.7 35.9 9.9 67.7 36.2 93.9s58 34.4 93.9 36.2c37 2.1 147.9 2.1 184.9 0 35.9-1.7 67.7-9.9 93.9-36.2 26.2-26.2 34.4-58 36.2-93.9 2.1-37 2.1-147.8 0-184.8zM398.8 388c-7.8 19.6-22.9 34.7-42.6 42.6-29.5 11.7-99.5 9-132.1 9s-102.7 2.6-132.1-9c-19.6-7.8-34.7-22.9-42.6-42.6-11.7-29.5-9-99.5-9-132.1s-2.6-102.7 9-132.1c7.8-19.6 22.9-34.7 42.6-42.6 29.5-11.7 99.5-9 132.1-9s102.7-2.6 132.1 9c19.6 7.8 34.7 22.9 42.6 42.6 11.7 29.5 9 99.5 9 132.1s2.7 102.7-9 132.1z”>
</path>
</svg></a></li><li><a itemprop=”url” href=”https://www.facebook.com/fairobserver” target=”_blank”><svg
aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”facebook-f”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-facebook-f fa-w-10″ role=”img”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 320 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z”>
</path>
</svg></a></li><li>
<a itemprop=”url” target=”_blank” href=”https://t.me/myfairobserver”>
<svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 496 512″>
<path
d=”M248 8C111 8 0 119 0 256S111 504 248 504 496 393 496 256 385 8 248 8zM363 176.7c-3.7 39.2-19.9 134.4-28.1 178.3-3.5 18.6-10.3 24.8-16.9 25.4-14.4 1.3-25.3-9.5-39.3-18.7-21.8-14.3-34.2-23.2-55.3-37.2-24.5-16.1-8.6-25 5.3-39.5 3.7-3.8 67.1-61.5 68.3-66.7 .2-.7 .3-3.1-1.2-4.4s-3.6-.8-5.1-.5q-3.3 .7-104.6 69.1-14.8 10.2-26.9 9.9c-8.9-.2-25.9-5-38.6-9.1-15.5-5-27.9-7.7-26.8-16.3q.8-6.7 18.5-13.7 108.4-47.2 144.6-62.3c68.9-28.6 83.2-33.6 92.5-33.8 2.1 0 6.6 .5 9.6 2.9a10.5 10.5 0 0 1 3.5 6.7A43.8 43.8 0 0 1 363 176.7z” />
</svg>
</a></li><li>
<a itemprop=”url” target=”_blank” href=”https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6JJmp7T8bYHRMmSs2D”>
<svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 448 512″>
<path
d=”M380.9 97.1C339 55.1 283.2 32 223.9 32c-122.4 0-222 99.6-222 222 0 39.1 10.2 77.3 29.6 111L0 480l117.7-30.9c32.4 17.7 68.9 27 106.1 27h.1c122.3 0 224.1-99.6 224.1-222 0-59.3-25.2-115-67.1-157zm-157 341.6c-33.2 0-65.7-8.9-94-25.7l-6.7-4-69.8 18.3L72 359.2l-4.4-7c-18.5-29.4-28.2-63.3-28.2-98.2 0-101.7 82.8-184.5 184.6-184.5 49.3 0 95.6 19.2 130.4 54.1 34.8 34.9 56.2 81.2 56.1 130.5 0 101.8-84.9 184.6-186.6 184.6zm101.2-138.2c-5.5-2.8-32.8-16.2-37.9-18-5.1-1.9-8.8-2.8-12.5 2.8-3.7 5.6-14.3 18-17.6 21.8-3.2 3.7-6.5 4.2-12 1.4-32.6-16.3-54-29.1-75.5-66-5.7-9.8 5.7-9.1 16.3-30.3 1.8-3.7 .9-6.9-.5-9.7-1.4-2.8-12.5-30.1-17.1-41.2-4.5-10.8-9.1-9.3-12.5-9.5-3.2-.2-6.9-.2-10.6-.2-3.7 0-9.7 1.4-14.8 6.9-5.1 5.6-19.4 19-19.4 46.3 0 27.3 19.9 53.7 22.6 57.4 2.8 3.7 39.1 59.7 94.8 83.8 35.2 15.2 49 16.5 66.6 13.9 10.7-1.6 32.8-13.4 37.4-26.4 4.6-13 4.6-24.1 3.2-26.4-1.3-2.5-5-3.9-10.5-6.6z” />
</svg>
</a></li><li><a itemprop=”url” href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/feed/” target=”_blank”><svg
aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fas” data-icon=”rss”
class=”svg-inline–fa fa-rss fa-w-14″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”
viewBox=”0 0 448 512″>
<path fill=”currentColor”
d=”M128.081 415.959c0 35.369-28.672 64.041-64.041 64.041S0 451.328 0 415.959s28.672-64.041 64.041-64.041 64.04 28.673 64.04 64.041zm175.66 47.25c-8.354-154.6-132.185-278.587-286.95-286.95C7.656 175.765 0 183.105 0 192.253v48.069c0 8.415 6.49 15.472 14.887 16.018 111.832 7.284 201.473 96.702 208.772 208.772.547 8.397 7.604 14.887 16.018 14.887h48.069c9.149.001 16.489-7.655 15.995-16.79zm144.249.288C439.596 229.677 251.465 40.445 16.503 32.01 7.473 31.686 0 38.981 0 48.016v48.068c0 8.625 6.835 15.645 15.453 15.999 191.179 7.839 344.627 161.316 352.465 352.465.353 8.618 7.373 15.453 15.999 15.453h48.068c9.034-.001 16.329-7.474 16.005-16.504z”>
</path>
</svg></a></li></ul></div><div class=”fo-copyright”>
© Fair Observer All rights reserved<div class=”cre”>
Designed, Developed and Maintained by <a href=”https://www.netleon.com” rel=”dofollow”
target=”_blank”>Netleon IT Solutions</a></div></div><div class=”fo-sb-website-logo d-flex justify-space-between align-items-bottom”>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/education/” target=”_blank”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fo-education-logo.png”
alt=”Fair Observer Education Logo” width=”120″ height=”30″ /></a>
<a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/leadership-academy/” target=”_blank”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fo-leadership-logo.png”
alt=”Fair Observer Leadership Academy Logo” width=”108″ height=”40″ /></a></div></div></div></footer><div id=”modal” class=”popup_loginmodel bookmark-full-cover” style=”display: none;”><div class=”popup_container dm-fo-login-box”><div class=”subscribe-popup-content”><h3>BOOKMARK</h3></div><div class=”bookmarking_text”><div class=”headingTitle”>Want to save this post?</div></div><div class=”button_subscribe registrbtn”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/login/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairobserver.com%2Fworld-news%2Fus-news%2Fthe-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints%2F”>Click to
Login</a></div><div class=”close close-popup-btn-signup” id=”closebtnsignup”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fairobserver/assets/images/close-icon-n.png” alt=””
width=”24″ height=”24″></div></div></div> <script src=”https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery-cookie/1.4.1/jquery.cookie.min.js”></script> <footer id=”fixed-footer” class=”support-footer”><div class=”container justify-right”><div class=”icons-wrap”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fo-round-logo.png”
class=”logo-footer-img” width=”40″ height=”40″ />
<a href=”javascript:void(0);” class=”close-footer-btn”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/close-footer-icon.png” width=”15″ height=”15″ /></a></div></div><div class=”container”><div class=”center-column”><h2>Support
<span> independent,</span> crowdsourced, nonprofit
<span>journalism. </span></h2><p>Fair Observer is a 501(c)(3) independent nonprofit. We are not owned by billionaires or controlled by
advertisers. We publish nearly 3,000 authors from over 90 countries after fact-checking and editing each
piece. We do not have a paywall and anyone can read us for free. With your vital donations, we can
continue
to do our work. </p><p>Please make a recurring (or even one-time) donation today. <span> Even $1 goes a long way</span> because
a
million donors
like you mean one million dollars. Thank you for keeping us independent, free and fair.</p><div class=”form-wrap” id=”footer-donation-form-popup”><form method=”get” class=”form-wrap” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/crowd-funding-donation”>
<input type=”hidden” value=”yearly” name=”selected-contribution-type” id=”cycle”>
<input type=”hidden” value=”111″ name=”selected-amount” id=”amount”><div class=”d-flex”>
<span class=”cycle-btn” data-value=”one-time”>One Time</span>
<span class=”cycle-btn ” data-value=”monthly”> Monthly</span>
<span class=”cycle-btn active” data-value=”yearly”>Yearly</span></div><div class=”d-flex amount-buttons”></div>
<input type=”text” class=”custom_amount” placeholder=”Other”><div class=”button-wrap”>
<button type=”submit” class=”btn-continue”>Continue <img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/arrow-footer.png” width=”27″ height=”20″ /></button>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/payment-card.jpg” width=”202″ height=”28″ /></div></form></div></div></div></footer><div id=”loginmodal” class=”popup_loginmodel new_loginModal” style=”display: none;”><div class=”dm-fo-login-box”><div class=”popup-block-wrp” id=”popup-block-wrp-signup”><div class=”new_loginHeader”>
<span class=”close close-popup-btn-signup” id=”closebtnlogin”>
<i class=”bi bi-x-lg”></i>
</span></div><div class=”dm-fo-login-logo marb25 mart25″>
<a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/”><img
src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/new_fairovserver-logo-red.png” /></a></div><div id=”popup-content”><div id=”login-form” class=”popup-form”><h3>Sign into your Fair Observer Account</h3><div class=”tml tml-login”><div class=”tml-alerts”></div><form name=”login” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/login/” method=”post” data-ajax=”1″><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-log-wrap”>
<label class=”tml-label” for=”user_login”>Username or Email Address</label>
<input name=”log” type=”text” value=”” id=”user_login” autocapitalize=”off” class=”tml-field”></div><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-pwd-wrap”>
<label class=”tml-label” for=”user_pass”>Password</label>
<input name=”pwd” type=”password” value=”” id=”user_pass” class=”tml-field”></div><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-rememberme-wrap”>
<input name=”rememberme” type=”checkbox” value=”forever” id=”rememberme” class=”tml-checkbox”>
<label class=”tml-label” for=”rememberme”>Remember Me</label></div><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-submit-wrap”>
<button name=”submit” type=”submit” class=”tml-button”>Log In</button></div><input name=”redirect_to” type=”hidden” value=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-admin/”></form><ul class=”tml-links”><li class=”tml-lostpassword-link”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/forgot-the-password/”>Lost your password?</a></li></ul></div><div>
<a href=”#” class=”text_label switch-form” data-target=”forgot-password-form”>Forgot
Password</a></div></div><div id=”forgot-password-form” class=”popup-form” style=”display: none;”><div class=”forget-password-before”><h3>Forgot Password</h3><p>Enter your registered email address or username. You will receive a
link to create a new password via email.</p><div class=”tml tml-lostpassword”><div class=”tml-alerts”></div><form name=”lostpassword” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/forgot-the-password/” method=”post” data-ajax=”1″><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-message-wrap”><p class=”tml-message”>Please enter your username or email address. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.</p></div><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-user_login-wrap”>
<label class=”tml-label” for=”user_login”>Username or Email Address</label>
<input name=”user_login” type=”text” value=”” id=”user_login” autocapitalize=”off” class=”tml-field”></div><div class=”tml-field-wrap tml-submit-wrap”>
<button name=”submit” type=”submit” class=”tml-button”>Get New Password</button></div><input name=”redirect_to” type=”hidden” value=””></form><ul class=”tml-links”><li class=”tml-login-link”><a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/login/”>Log in</a></li></ul></div><div class=”not-a-member”><div class=”d-flex align-center gap-1″><hr class=”w-100″><span class=”text-16 weight-600″>Or</span><hr class=”w-100″></div>
<a href=”#” class=”switch-form” data-target=”login-form”>Return to
Login</a></div></div><div class=”forget-password-after” style=”display: none;”><h3>Forgot Password</h3><p>We have sent a link to your registered email address to reset your password.</p>
<i>
<svg viewBox=”0 0 25 24″ fill=”none” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”12.5″ cy=”12″ r=”12″ fill=”#414141″ />
<path fill-rule=”evenodd” clip-rule=”evenodd”
d=”M9.77728 17.0866L10.1044 17.4393C10.1987 17.5238 10.3405 17.5196 10.4295 17.4231L19.9018 7.21008C19.9903 7.11356 19.9952 6.96069 19.9168 6.85947L19.191 6.07582C19.0966 5.97408 18.9442 5.97408 18.8499 6.07582L10.4295 15.1546C10.3405 15.2511 10.1987 15.2553 10.1044 15.1708L6.12211 10.8779C6.02776 10.7756 5.87582 10.7756 5.78099 10.8779L5.05615 11.6616C4.97679 11.7633 4.98163 11.9162 5.07018 12.0116L9.77534 17.0845L9.77728 17.0866Z”
fill=”white” />
</svg></i>
<a href=”#” class=”primary_action_btn switch-form” data-target=”login-form”>Back to
Login</a></div></div><div id=”membership-form” class=”popup-form” style=”display: none;”><div class=”member-container”><h3 class=”large”>Become a Member & Enjoy Exclusive Benefits!</h3><ul><li>
<svg width=”16″ height=”16″ viewBox=”0 0 25 24″ fill=”none”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”12.5″ cy=”12″ r=”12″ fill=”#414141″ />
<path fill-rule=”evenodd” clip-rule=”evenodd”
d=”M9.77728 17.0866L10.1044 17.4393C10.1987 17.5238 10.3405 17.5196 10.4295 17.4231L19.9018 7.21008C19.9903 7.11356 19.9952 6.96069 19.9168 6.85947L19.191 6.07582C19.0966 5.97408 18.9442 5.97408 18.8499 6.07582L10.4295 15.1546C10.3405 15.2511 10.1987 15.2553 10.1044 15.1708L6.12211 10.8779C6.02776 10.7756 5.87582 10.7756 5.78099 10.8779L5.05615 11.6616C4.97679 11.7633 4.98163 11.9162 5.07018 12.0116L9.77534 17.0845L9.77728 17.0866Z”
fill=”white” />
</svg>Access to comments feature</li><li>
<svg width=”16″ height=”16″ viewBox=”0 0 25 24″ fill=”none”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”12.5″ cy=”12″ r=”12″ fill=”#414141″ />
<path fill-rule=”evenodd” clip-rule=”evenodd”
d=”M9.77728 17.0866L10.1044 17.4393C10.1987 17.5238 10.3405 17.5196 10.4295 17.4231L19.9018 7.21008C19.9903 7.11356 19.9952 6.96069 19.9168 6.85947L19.191 6.07582C19.0966 5.97408 18.9442 5.97408 18.8499 6.07582L10.4295 15.1546C10.3405 15.2511 10.1987 15.2553 10.1044 15.1708L6.12211 10.8779C6.02776 10.7756 5.87582 10.7756 5.78099 10.8779L5.05615 11.6616C4.97679 11.7633 4.98163 11.9162 5.07018 12.0116L9.77534 17.0845L9.77728 17.0866Z”
fill=”white” />
</svg>Bookmark your favorite articles</li><li>
<svg width=”16″ height=”16″ viewBox=”0 0 25 24″ fill=”none”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”12.5″ cy=”12″ r=”12″ fill=”#414141″ />
<path fill-rule=”evenodd” clip-rule=”evenodd”
d=”M9.77728 17.0866L10.1044 17.4393C10.1987 17.5238 10.3405 17.5196 10.4295 17.4231L19.9018 7.21008C19.9903 7.11356 19.9952 6.96069 19.9168 6.85947L19.191 6.07582C19.0966 5.97408 18.9442 5.97408 18.8499 6.07582L10.4295 15.1546C10.3405 15.2511 10.1987 15.2553 10.1044 15.1708L6.12211 10.8779C6.02776 10.7756 5.87582 10.7756 5.78099 10.8779L5.05615 11.6616C4.97679 11.7633 4.98163 11.9162 5.07018 12.0116L9.77534 17.0845L9.77728 17.0866Z”
fill=”white” />
</svg>Exclusive invitations to FO° Talks & FO° Live</li><li>
<svg width=”16″ height=”16″ viewBox=”0 0 25 24″ fill=”none”
xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg”>
<circle cx=”12.5″ cy=”12″ r=”12″ fill=”#414141″ />
<path fill-rule=”evenodd” clip-rule=”evenodd”
d=”M9.77728 17.0866L10.1044 17.4393C10.1987 17.5238 10.3405 17.5196 10.4295 17.4231L19.9018 7.21008C19.9903 7.11356 19.9952 6.96069 19.9168 6.85947L19.191 6.07582C19.0966 5.97408 18.9442 5.97408 18.8499 6.07582L10.4295 15.1546C10.3405 15.2511 10.1987 15.2553 10.1044 15.1708L6.12211 10.8779C6.02776 10.7756 5.87582 10.7756 5.78099 10.8779L5.05615 11.6616C4.97679 11.7633 4.98163 11.9162 5.07018 12.0116L9.77534 17.0845L9.77728 17.0866Z”
fill=”white” />
</svg>Access to all of our e-publications</li></ul></div>
<a class=”primary_action_btn”
href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/membership-account/membership-levels/”>Explore Membership</a><div class=”not-a-member”>
<a href=”#” class=”switch-form” data-target=”login-form”>Return to
Login</a></div></div></div></div></div></div> <script>var amounts = {
“one-time”: [16, 33],
“monthly”: [5, 9],
“yearly”: [11, 111]
};

jQuery(function ($) {
function updateFooterAmounts(cycle) {
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .custom_amount”).val(”);
var amountContainer = $(“#footer-donation-form-popup .amount-buttons”);
amountContainer.empty();

amounts[cycle].forEach(function (amount, index) {
var activeClass = index === 1 ? ‘active’ : ”;
amountContainer.append(‘<span class=”amount-btn ‘ + activeClass + ‘” data-value=”‘ + amount + ‘”>$’ + amount + ‘</span>’);
});

// Set the default selected amount to the second in the list
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup #amount”).val(amounts[cycle][1]);

// Reattach event listeners to new amount buttons
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .amount-btn”).on(“click”, function (e) {
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .amount-btn”).removeClass(“active”);
$(this).addClass(“active”);
var amount = $(this).data(“value”);
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup #amount”).val(amount);
});
}

$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .cycle-btn”).on(“click”, function (e) {
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .cycle-btn”).removeClass(“active”);
$(this).addClass(“active”);
var cycle = $(this).data(“value”);
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup #cycle”).val(cycle);
updateFooterAmounts(cycle);
});

$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .custom_amount”).on(“input”, function (e) {
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup .amount-btn”).removeClass(“active”);
var amount = $(this).val();
$(“#footer-donation-form-popup #amount”).val(amount);
});

// Initialize the amounts for the default selected cycle
$(document).ready(function () {
var defaultCycle = $(“#footer-donation-form-popup #cycle”).val();
if (amounts[defaultCycle]) {
updateFooterAmounts(defaultCycle);
} else {
console.log(`Invalid default cycle: ${defaultCycle}`);
}
});

});

jQuery(‘.close-footer-btn’).on(‘click’, function (e) {
e.stopImmediatePropagation();
jQuery(“#fixed-footer”).hide();

jQuery.cookie(“isFooterDonationBannerShow”, new Date().toUTCString(), {
path: ‘/’,
domain: ‘www.fairobserver.com’,
secure: true
});
});</script> <script id=”hello-world” type=”text/plain” target=”amp-script” runat=server>async function demo(){
var initial_position = await document.getElementById(‘amp-textarea’).getBoundingClientRectAsync();
let timer = setInterval( async ()=> {
var current_position = await document.getElementById(‘amp-textarea’).getBoundingClientRectAsync();
if ((Math.ceil(initial_position.top) – Math.ceil(current_position.top)) > 1200){
document.getElementById(‘divToHide’).classList.remove(‘d-none’);
document.getElementById(‘closebtn’).addEventListener(‘click’, ()=>{
document.getElementById(‘divToHide’).classList.add(‘d-none’);
});
clearInterval(timer);
}
},2000);
}
demo();</script> <div id=”myModalPopUpsignup” class=”modal signup-wrapper n-email-popup” style=”display: none;”><div class=”modal-content” id=”modal-content-signup”><div class=”signup-cover”><div class=”popup-block-wrp” id=”popup-block-wrp-signup”><div class=”subscribe-popup-content”><h3>NEWSLETTER</h3></div><div class=””><div class=”headingTitle”>Make Sense of the World</div><h2>Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries</h2></div><div class=”close close-popup-btn-signup” id=”closebtnsignup”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/close-icon-n.png” alt=”” width=”24″
height=”24″ /></div><div class=”signup-popup”><div class=”signup-innersection”><form method=”post” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription” method=”post”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”nlang” value=””><div class=”tnp-field tnp-field-email”><div class=”newsletter-block”>
<input type=”email” name=”user_email” id=”email” required=””
placeholder=”Enter your email address”><div class=”cpf-checkbox-new”>
<input type=”checkbox”
name=”ms-Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to it’s Privacy Policy”
id=”privacy-policy” value=”true”
onchange=”document.getElementById(‘privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ” : this.name)”
required=””><label
for=”Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to it’s Privacy Policy”>I
agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand
that I may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a
href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy”>Privacy Policy</a>
and <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/”>Terms of Use</a>
for further information.</label></div>
<input type=”submit” value=”REGISTER”></div></div></form></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id=”myModalPopUp” class=”modal signup-wrapper n-email-popup” style=”display: none;”><div class=”modal-content” id=”modal-content-scroll”><div class=”modal-cover”><div class=”popup-block-wrp”><div class=”subscribe-popup-content”><h3>NEWSLETTER</h3></div><div class=””><h1>Make Sense of the World</h1><h2>Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries</h2></div><div class=”close close-popup-btn” id=”closebtn”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/close-icon-n.png” alt=”” width=”24″
height=”24″ /></div><div class=”signup-popup”><div class=”signup-innersection”><form method=”post” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription” method=”post”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”nlang” value=””><div class=”tnp-field tnp-field-email”><div class=”newsletter-block”>
<input type=”email” name=”user_email” id=”email” required=””
placeholder=”Enter your email address”><div class=”cpf-checkbox-new”>
<input type=”checkbox”
name=”ms-Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to it’s Privacy Policy”
id=”privacy-policy” value=”true”
onchange=”document.getElementById(‘privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ” : this.name)”
required=””><label
for=”Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to it’s Privacy Policy”>I
agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand
that I may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a
href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy”>Privacy Policy</a>
and <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/”>Terms of Use</a>
for further information.</label></div>
<input type=”submit” value=”REGISTER”></div></div></form></div></div></div></div></div></div> <script>jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(‘body .comment-reply-link’).click(function () {
var data_commentid = jQuery(this).attr(‘data-commentid’);
jQuery(‘body #comment_parent’).val(data_commentid);
});
});

document.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”, function () {
function share() {
this.classList.toggle(“active”);
document.querySelector(“.social”).classList.toggle(“active”);
}
const shareButton = document.querySelector(“.share”);
if (shareButton) {
shareButton.addEventListener(“click”, share);
}
});</script> <div id=”myDiv” class=”fixed-footer-newsletter fixed-f”><div class=”fixed-toggle”><div class=”container”><div class=”up-down-toggle-btn”>
<svg xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 384 512″>
<path
d=”M169.4 342.6c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0l160-160c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0L192 274.7 54.6 137.4c-12.5-12.5-32.8-12.5-45.3 0s-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l160 160z” />
</svg></div></div></div><div class=”container”><div class=”fixed-f-left”><div class=”logo-newsletter”>
<img src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/fo-icon-logo.png” alt=”Fair observer”></div><div class=”fixed-f-text”><h2>Make Sense of the World</h2><p>Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries</p></div></div><div class=”footer-fixed-form”><form method=”post” action=”https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription”> <input type=”hidden”
name=”nlang” value=””><div class=”tnp-field tnp-field-email”><div class=”fo-newsletter-block d-flex justify-space-between”>
<input type=”email” name=”user_email” id=”email” required=””
placeholder=”Enter your email address”>
<input type=”submit” value=”SUBSCRIBE”></div><div class=”fo-cpf-checkbox d-flex”> <input type=”checkbox”
name=”ms-Your_email_will_be_shared_with_fairobserver_and_subject_to_it’s_Privacy_Policy”
id=”privacy-policy” value=”true”
onchange=”document.getElementById(‘privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ” : this.name)”
required=””><label
for=”Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to its Privacy Policy”>I
agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand that I
may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a
href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy”>Privacy Policy</a> and <a
href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/”>Terms of Use</a> for further
information .</label></div></div></form></div></div></div> <script>// Function to load a script
function loadScript(url, callback) {
var script = document.createElement(‘script’);
script.src = url;
script.async = true;
script.onload = callback;
document.body.appendChild(script);
}

// Load scripts on user interaction
document.addEventListener(‘scroll’, function () {
loadScript(‘https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-CR9LKERGW0’, function () {
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag() { dataLayer.push(arguments); }
gtag(‘js’, new Date());
gtag(‘config’, ‘G-CR9LKERGW0’);
});

// Remove the event listener after loading
document.removeEventListener(‘scroll’, arguments.callee);
});</script> <script>(function (w, d, s, l, i) {
w[l] = w[l] || [];
w[l].push({
‘gtm.start’: new Date().getTime(),
event: ‘gtm.js’
});
var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],
j = d.createElement(s),
dl = l != ‘dataLayer’ ? ‘&l=’ + l : ”;
j.async = true;
j.src =
‘https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=’ + i + dl;
f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f);
})(window, document, ‘script’, ‘dataLayer’, ‘GTM-PLZSZQV’);</script>
<noscript><iframe src=”https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-PLZSZQV” height=”0″ width=”0″
style=”display:none;visibility:hidden”></iframe></noscript>
<script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/js/custom.js”></script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/js/jquery.cookie.min.js”
type=”sortdDeferScript”></script> <link href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/css/print.css?v=2.3″ rel=”stylesheet” media=”print” /> <script type=”speculationrules”>{“prefetch”:[{“source”:”document”,”where”:{“and”:[{“href_matches”:”/*”},{“not”:{“href_matches”:[“/wp-*.php”,”/wp-admin/*”,”/wp-content/uploads/*”,”/wp-content/*”,”/wp-content/plugins/*”,”/wp-content/themes/fo2023/*”,”/*\?(.+)”]}},{“not”:{“selector_matches”:”a[rel~=”nofollow”]”}},{“not”:{“selector_matches”:”.no-prefetch, .no-prefetch a”}}]},”eagerness”:”conservative”}]}</script> <div id=”cookie-law-info-bar” data-nosnippet=”true”><h5 class=”cli_messagebar_head”>We Need Your Consent</h5><span><div style=”width:100%;font-size:13px”> We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Learn more about how we use cookies or edit your cookie preferences. <a href=”https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy” id=”CONSTANT_OPEN_URL” target=”_blank” class=”cli-plugin-main-link”>Privacy Policy</a>. <span><a role=’button’ class=”medium cli-plugin-button cli-plugin-main-button cli_settings_button”>My Options</a> <a role=’button’ data-cli_action=”accept” id=”cookie_action_close_header” class=”medium cli-plugin-button cli-plugin-main-button cookie_action_close_header cli_action_button wt-cli-accept-btn”>I Accept</a></span></div></span></div><div id=”cookie-law-info-again” data-nosnippet=”true”><span id=”cookie_hdr_showagain”>Privacy & Cookies Policy</span></div><div class=”cli-modal” data-nosnippet=”true” id=”cliSettingsPopup” tabindex=”-1″ role=”dialog” aria-labelledby=”cliSettingsPopup” aria-hidden=”true”><div class=”cli-modal-dialog” role=”document”><div class=”cli-modal-content cli-bar-popup”>
<button type=”button” class=”cli-modal-close” id=”cliModalClose”>
<svg class=”” viewBox=”0 0 24 24″><path d=”M19 6.41l-1.41-1.41-5.59 5.59-5.59-5.59-1.41 1.41 5.59 5.59-5.59 5.59 1.41 1.41 5.59-5.59 5.59 5.59 1.41-1.41-5.59-5.59z”></path><path d=”M0 0h24v24h-24z” fill=”none”></path></svg>
<span class=”wt-cli-sr-only”>Close</span>
</button><div class=”cli-modal-body”><div class=”cli-container-fluid cli-tab-container”><div class=”cli-row”><div class=”cli-col-12 cli-align-items-stretch cli-px-0″><div class=”cli-privacy-overview”><h4>Edit Cookie Preferences</h4><div class=”cli-privacy-content”><div class=”cli-privacy-content-text”>The Fair Observer website uses digital cookies so it can collect statistics on how many visitors come to the site, what content is viewed and for how long, and the general location of the computer network of the visitor. These statistics are collected and processed using the Google Analytics service. Fair Observer uses these aggregate statistics from website visits to help improve the content of the website and to provide regular reports to our current and future donors and funding organizations. The type of digital cookie information collected during your visit and any derived data cannot be used or combined with other information to personally identify you. Fair Observer does not use personal data collected from its website for advertising purposes or to market to you.</p><p>As a convenience to you, Fair Observer provides buttons that link to popular social media sites, called social sharing buttons, to help you share Fair Observer content and your comments and opinions about it on these social media sites. These social sharing buttons are provided by and are part of these social media sites. They may collect and use personal data as described in their respective policies. Fair Observer does not receive personal data from your use of these social sharing buttons. It is not necessary that you use these buttons to read Fair Observer content or to share on social media.</p><p> </div></div>
<a class=”cli-privacy-readmore” aria-label=”Show more” role=”button” data-readmore-text=”Show more” data-readless-text=”Show less”></a></div></div><div class=”cli-col-12 cli-align-items-stretch cli-px-0 cli-tab-section-container”><div class=”cli-tab-section”><div class=”cli-tab-header”>
<a role=”button” tabindex=”0″ class=”cli-nav-link cli-settings-mobile” data-target=”necessary” data-toggle=”cli-toggle-tab”>
Necessary </a><div class=”wt-cli-necessary-checkbox”>
<input type=”checkbox” class=”cli-user-preference-checkbox” id=”wt-cli-checkbox-necessary” data-id=”checkbox-necessary” checked=”checked” />
<label class=”form-check-label” for=”wt-cli-checkbox-necessary”>Necessary</label></div>
<span class=”cli-necessary-caption”>Always Enabled</span></div><div class=”cli-tab-content”><div class=”cli-tab-pane cli-fade” data-id=”necessary”><div class=”wt-cli-cookie-description”>
These cookies essential for the website to function.</div></div></div></div><div class=”cli-tab-section”><div class=”cli-tab-header”>
<a role=”button” tabindex=”0″ class=”cli-nav-link cli-settings-mobile” data-target=”social_media” data-toggle=”cli-toggle-tab”>
Social Media </a><div class=”cli-switch”>
<input type=”checkbox” id=”wt-cli-checkbox-social_media” class=”cli-user-preference-checkbox” data-id=”checkbox-social_media” checked=’checked’ />
<label for=”wt-cli-checkbox-social_media” class=”cli-slider” data-cli-enable=”Enabled” data-cli-disable=”Disabled”><span class=”wt-cli-sr-only”>Social Media</span></label></div></div><div class=”cli-tab-content”><div class=”cli-tab-pane cli-fade” data-id=”social_media”><div class=”wt-cli-cookie-description”>
These cookies are used to enable sharing or following of content that you find interesting on our website. These settings apply to third-party social networking and other websites.</div></div></div></div><div class=”cli-tab-section”><div class=”cli-tab-header”>
<a role=”button” tabindex=”0″ class=”cli-nav-link cli-settings-mobile” data-target=”performance” data-toggle=”cli-toggle-tab”>
Performance & Functionality </a><div class=”cli-switch”>
<input type=”checkbox” id=”wt-cli-checkbox-performance” class=”cli-user-preference-checkbox” data-id=”checkbox-performance” checked=’checked’ />
<label for=”wt-cli-checkbox-performance” class=”cli-slider” data-cli-enable=”Enabled” data-cli-disable=”Disabled”><span class=”wt-cli-sr-only”>Performance & Functionality</span></label></div></div><div class=”cli-tab-content”><div class=”cli-tab-pane cli-fade” data-id=”performance”><div class=”wt-cli-cookie-description”>
These cookies are used to enhance the performance and functionality of our website. They provide statistics on how our website is used and help us improve by measuring errors. Certain functionalities on our website may become unavailable without these cookies.</div></div></div></div><div class=”cli-tab-section”><div class=”cli-tab-header”>
<a role=”button” tabindex=”0″ class=”cli-nav-link cli-settings-mobile” data-target=”analytics” data-toggle=”cli-toggle-tab”>
Analytics </a><div class=”cli-switch”>
<input type=”checkbox” id=”wt-cli-checkbox-analytics” class=”cli-user-preference-checkbox” data-id=”checkbox-analytics” checked=’checked’ />
<label for=”wt-cli-checkbox-analytics” class=”cli-slider” data-cli-enable=”Enabled” data-cli-disable=”Disabled”><span class=”wt-cli-sr-only”>Analytics</span></label></div></div><div class=”cli-tab-content”><div class=”cli-tab-pane cli-fade” data-id=”analytics”><div class=”wt-cli-cookie-description”></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=”cli-modal-footer”><div class=”wt-cli-element cli-container-fluid cli-tab-container”><div class=”cli-row”><div class=”cli-col-12 cli-align-items-stretch cli-px-0″><div class=”cli-tab-footer wt-cli-privacy-overview-actions”>
<a id=”wt-cli-privacy-save-btn” role=”button” tabindex=”0″ data-cli-action=”accept” class=”wt-cli-privacy-btn cli_setting_save_button wt-cli-privacy-accept-btn cli-btn”>SAVE & ACCEPT</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=”cli-modal-backdrop cli-fade cli-settings-overlay”></div><div class=”cli-modal-backdrop cli-fade cli-popupbar-overlay”></div>
<script>document.body.classList.remove(“no-js”);</script> <script>document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, function() {
// Select all image elements
const allImages = document.querySelectorAll(‘img’);

// Iterate through each image and add alt if missing
allImages.forEach((img, index) => {
if (!img.hasAttribute(‘alt’) || img.alt.trim() === ”) {
// Add a default alt tag (you can customize the logic)
img.alt = img.src.split(‘/’).pop().split(‘.’)[0].replace(/[-_]/g, ‘ ‘);
}
});
});</script> <script type=”text/javascript”>jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
// Function to update the tooltip text for notification checkboxes
function updateTooltip(checkbox) {
// Select the closest label for the specific notification checkbox
const tooltipLabel = $(checkbox).closest(‘.wpd_label’);

// Update the tooltip based on the checkbox state
if ($(checkbox).is(‘:checked’)) {
tooltipLabel.attr(‘wpd-tooltip’, “Don’t notify me about replies”);
} else {
tooltipLabel.attr(‘wpd-tooltip’, “Notify me about replies”);
}
}

// Initial tooltip update for relevant notification checkboxes on page load
$(‘.wpd_label__checkbox[name=”wpdiscuz_notification_type”]’).each(function () {
updateTooltip(this);
});

// Update tooltip when any notification checkbox is toggled
$(document).on(‘change’, ‘.wpd_label__checkbox[name=”wpdiscuz_notification_type”]’, function () {
updateTooltip(this);
});
});</script> <style type=”text/css”>.wpd-comment-share.wpd-hidden .wpd-tooltip-content {
min-width: 165px !important;
}</style> <script type=”text/javascript”>jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
// Target only .wpd-tooltip-content inside .wpd-comment-share.wpd-hidden
$(‘.wpd-comment-share.wpd-hidden .wpd-tooltip-content’).each(function () {
// Extract the comment URL from the existing WhatsApp or Twitter link
var twitterUrl = $(this).find(‘a.wc_tw’).attr(‘href’);
var commentUrl = ”;

// Check if the Twitter URL exists and extract the actual URL part
if (twitterUrl) {
var urlParams = new URLSearchParams(twitterUrl.split(‘?’)[1]);
commentUrl = urlParams.get(‘url’);
}

// Fallback to WhatsApp URL if Twitter URL is not found
if (!commentUrl) {
var whatsappUrl = $(this).find(‘a.wc_whatsapp’).attr(‘href’);
if (whatsappUrl) {
commentUrl = decodeURIComponent(whatsappUrl.split(‘URL: ‘)[1]);
}
}

// Ensure the commentUrl is extracted, then append new share buttons
if (commentUrl) {
$(this).append(
‘<a class=”wc_facebook” rel=”noreferrer” href=”https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=’ + encodeURIComponent(commentUrl) + ‘” target=”_blank” title=”Share On Facebook”>’ +
‘<i class=”fab fa-facebook wpf-cta” aria-hidden=”true”></i></a>’ +
‘<a class=”wc_telegram” rel=”noreferrer” href=”https://t.me/share/url?url=’ + encodeURIComponent(commentUrl) + ‘” target=”_blank” title=”Share On Telegram”>’ +
‘<i class=”fab fa-telegram wpf-cta” aria-hidden=”true”></i></a>’ +
‘<a class=”wc_linkedin” rel=”noreferrer” href=”https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=’ + encodeURIComponent(commentUrl) + ‘” target=”_blank” title=”Share On LinkedIn”>’ +
‘<i class=”fab fa-linkedin wpf-cta” aria-hidden=”true”></i></a>’ +
‘<a class=”wc_email” rel=”noreferrer” href=”mailto:?subject=Check out this comment on Fair Observer&body=’ + encodeURIComponent(commentUrl) + ‘” target=”_blank” title=”Share via Email”>’ +
‘<i class=”fas fa-envelope wpf-cta” aria-hidden=”true”></i></a>’
);
}
});
});</script> <div id=’wpd-editor-source-code-wrapper-bg’></div><div id=’wpd-editor-source-code-wrapper’><textarea id=’wpd-editor-source-code’></textarea><button id=’wpd-insert-source-code’>Insert</button><input type=’hidden’ id=’wpd-editor-uid’ /></div> <script>/(trident|msie)/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && document.getElementById && window.addEventListener && window.addEventListener(“hashchange”, (function() {
var t, e = location.hash.substring(1);
/^[A-z0-9_-]+$/.test(e) && (t = document.getElementById(e)) && (/^(?:a|select|input|button|textarea)$/i.test(t.tagName) || (t.tabIndex = -1), t.focus())
}), !1);</script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cbxwpbookmark/assets/js/cbxwpbookmark-events.js” id=”cbxwpbookmark-events-js”></script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cbxwpbookmark/assets/vendors/awesome-notifications/script.js” id=”awesome-notifications-js”></script> <script id=”cbxwpbookmarkpublicjs-js-extra”>var cbxwpbookmark = {“ajaxurl”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php”,”nonce”:”d82337fbb8″,”cat_template”:””””,”category_delete_success”:”Category deleted successfully”,”category_delete_error”:”Unable to delete the category”,”are_you_sure_global”:”Are you sure?”,”are_you_sure_delete_desc”:”Once you delete, it’s gone forever. You can not revert it back.”,”areyousuretodeletecat”:”Are you sure you want to delete this Bookmark Category?”,”areyousuretodeletebookmark”:”Are you sure you want to delete this Bookmark?”,”bookmark_failed”:”Failed to Bookmark”,”bookmark_removed”:”Bookmark Removed”,”bookmark_removed_empty”:”All Bookmarks Removed”,”bookmark_removed_failed”:”Bookmark Removed Failed”,”error_msg”:”Error loading data. Response code = “,”category_name_empty”:”Category name can not be empty”,”add_to_head_default”:”Click Category to Bookmark”,”add_to_head_cat_list”:”Click to Edit Category”,”add_to_head_cat_edit”:”Edit Category”,”add_to_head_cat_create”:”Create Category”,”no_cats_found”:”No category found”,”add_to_head_max_cat”:”Maximum category limit reached”,”max_cat_limit”:”0″,”max_cat_limit_error”:”Sorry, you reached the maximum category limit and to create one one, please delete unnecessary categories first”,”user_current_cat_count”:”0″,”user_current_cats”:””,”user_can_create_cat”:”1″,”bookmark_mode”:”no_cat”,”bookmark_not_found”:”No bookmarks found”,”load_more”:”Load More …”,”category_default_status”:”1″,”delete_all_bookmarks_by_user_confirm”:”Are you sure to delete all of your bookmarks? This process can not be undone.”,”awn_options”:{“tip”:”Tip”,”info”:”Info”,”success”:”Success”,”warning”:”Attention”,”alert”:”Error”,”async”:”Loading”,”confirm”:”Confirmation”,”confirmOk”:”OK”,”confirmCancel”:”Cancel”},”shareurl_html”:”u003Cdiv class=”shareurl_modal”u003Eu003Ch3u003ECopy and Share Urlu003C/h3u003Eu003Cdiv class=”shareurl_copy”u003Eu003Cinput readonly class=”shareurl_copy_input” name=”shareurl_copy_input” type=”text” value=”##share_url##” /u003Eu003Cbutton data-url=”##share_url##” class=”shareurl_copy_btn”u003ECopyu003C/buttonu003Eu003C/divu003Eu003C/divu003E”,”shareurl_trans”:{“copy”:”Copy”,”copied”:”Copied”}};
//# sourceURL=cbxwpbookmarkpublicjs-js-extra</script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cbxwpbookmark/assets/js/cbxwpbookmark-public.js” id=”cbxwpbookmarkpublicjs-js”></script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-includes/js/comment-reply.min.js” id=”comment-reply-js” async data-wp-strategy=”async” fetchpriority=”low”></script> <script id=”theme-my-login-js-extra”>var themeMyLogin = {“action”:””,”errors”:[]};
//# sourceURL=theme-my-login-js-extra</script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/theme-my-login/assets/scripts/theme-my-login.min.js” id=”theme-my-login-js”></script> <script id=”custom-scripts-js-extra”>var ajax_object = {“ajax_url”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php”};
//# sourceURL=custom-scripts-js-extra</script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/js/custom-scripts.js” id=”custom-scripts-js”></script> <script id=”wpdiscuz-combo-js-js-extra”>var wpdiscuzAjaxObj = {“wc_hide_replies_text”:”Hide Replies”,”wc_show_replies_text”:”View Replies”,”wc_msg_required_fields”:”Please fill out required fields”,”wc_invalid_field”:”Some of field value is invalid”,”wc_error_empty_text”:”please fill out this field to comment”,”wc_error_url_text”:”url is invalid”,”wc_error_email_text”:”email address is invalid”,”wc_invalid_captcha”:”Invalid Captcha Code”,”wc_login_to_vote”:”You Must Be Logged In To Vote”,”wc_deny_voting_from_same_ip”:”You are not allowed to vote for this comment”,”wc_self_vote”:”You cannot vote for your comment”,”wc_vote_only_one_time”:”You’ve already voted for this comment”,”wc_voting_error”:”Voting Error”,”wc_banned_user”:”You are banned”,”wc_comment_edit_not_possible”:”Sorry, this comment is no longer possible to edit”,”wc_comment_not_updated”:”Sorry, the comment was not updated”,”wc_comment_not_edited”:”You’ve not made any changes”,”wc_msg_input_min_length”:”Input is too short”,”wc_msg_input_max_length”:”Input is too long”,”wc_spoiler_title”:”Spoiler Title”,”wc_cannot_rate_again”:”You cannot rate again”,”wc_not_allowed_to_rate”:”You’re not allowed to rate here”,”wc_confirm_rate_edit”:”Are you sure you want to edit your rate?”,”wc_follow_user”:”Follow this user”,”wc_unfollow_user”:”Unfollow this user”,”wc_follow_success”:”You started following this comment author”,”wc_follow_canceled”:”You stopped following this comment author.”,”wc_follow_email_confirm”:”Please check your email and confirm the user following request.”,”wc_follow_email_confirm_fail”:”Sorry, we couldn’t send confirmation email.”,”wc_follow_login_to_follow”:”Please login to follow users.”,”wc_follow_impossible”:”We are sorry, but you can’t follow this user.”,”wc_follow_not_added”:”Following failed. Please try again later.”,”is_user_logged_in”:””,”commentListLoadType”:”0″,”commentListUpdateType”:”0″,”commentListUpdateTimer”:”60″,”liveUpdateGuests”:”0″,”wordpressThreadCommentsDepth”:”10″,”wordpressIsPaginate”:””,”commentTextMaxLength”:”1500″,”replyTextMaxLength”:”1500″,”commentTextMinLength”:”1″,”replyTextMinLength”:”1″,”storeCommenterData”:”100000″,”socialLoginAgreementCheckbox”:”1″,”enableFbLogin”:”0″,”fbUseOAuth2″:”0″,”enableFbShare”:”1″,”facebookAppID”:””,”facebookUseOAuth2″:”0″,”enableGoogleLogin”:”0″,”googleClientID”:””,”googleClientSecret”:””,”cookiehash”:”e66860338f17370cef9df4542f61dc2c”,”isLoadOnlyParentComments”:”0″,”scrollToComment”:”1″,”commentFormView”:”collapsed”,”enableDropAnimation”:”1″,”isNativeAjaxEnabled”:”1″,”userInteractionCheck”:”1″,”enableBubble”:”0″,”bubbleLiveUpdate”:”0″,”bubbleHintTimeout”:”45″,”bubbleHintHideTimeout”:”10″,”cookieHideBubbleHint”:”wpdiscuz_hide_bubble_hint”,”bubbleHintShowOnce”:”1″,”bubbleHintCookieExpires”:”7″,”bubbleShowNewCommentMessage”:”1″,”bubbleLocation”:”content_left”,”firstLoadWithAjax”:”0″,”wc_copied_to_clipboard”:”Copied to clipboard!”,”inlineFeedbackAttractionType”:”blink”,”loadRichEditor”:”1″,”wpDiscuzReCaptchaSK”:”6Lcv4t0rAAAAADxN4Z8xk9FLg7__TNK_1uYYIDUe”,”wpDiscuzReCaptchaTheme”:”light”,”wpDiscuzReCaptchaVersion”:”2.0″,”wc_captcha_show_for_guest”:”0″,”wc_captcha_show_for_members”:”0″,”wpDiscuzIsShowOnSubscribeForm”:”0″,”wmuEnabled”:”0″,”wmuInput”:”wmu_files”,”wmuMaxFileCount”:”1″,”wmuMaxFileSize”:”2097152″,”wmuPostMaxSize”:”3221225472″,”wmuIsLightbox”:”1″,”wmuMimeTypes”:{“jpg”:”image/jpeg”,”jpeg”:”image/jpeg”,”jpe”:”image/jpeg”,”gif”:”image/gif”,”png”:”image/png”,”bmp”:”image/bmp”,”tiff”:”image/tiff”,”tif”:”image/tiff”,”ico”:”image/x-icon”},”wmuPhraseConfirmDelete”:”Are you sure you want to delete this attachment?”,”wmuPhraseNotAllowedFile”:”Not allowed file type”,”wmuPhraseMaxFileCount”:”Maximum number of uploaded files is 1″,”wmuPhraseMaxFileSize”:”Maximum upload file size is 2MB”,”wmuPhrasePostMaxSize”:”Maximum post size is 3072MB”,”wmuPhraseDoingUpload”:”Uploading in progress! Please wait.”,”msgEmptyFile”:”File is empty. Please upload something more substantial. This error could also be caused by uploads being disabled in your php.ini or by post_max_size being defined as smaller than upload_max_filesize in php.ini.”,”msgPostIdNotExists”:”Post ID not exists”,”msgUploadingNotAllowed”:”Sorry, uploading not allowed for this post”,”msgPermissionDenied”:”You do not have sufficient permissions to perform this action”,”wmuKeyImages”:”images”,”wmuSingleImageWidth”:”auto”,”wmuSingleImageHeight”:”200″,”previewTemplate”:”u003Cdiv class=”wmu-preview [PREVIEW_TYPE_CLASS]” title=”[PREVIEW_TITLE]” data-wmu-type=”[PREVIEW_TYPE]” data-wmu-attachment=”[PREVIEW_ID]”u003Ern u003Cdiv class=”wmu-preview-remove”u003Ern u003Cimg class=”wmu-preview-img” src=”[PREVIEW_ICON]”u003Ern u003Cdiv class=”wmu-file-name”u003E[PREVIEW_FILENAME]u003C/divu003Ern u003C!– u003Cdiv class=”wmu-delete”u003Eu00a0u003C/divu003E–u003Ern u003C/divu003Ernu003C/divu003Ern”,”isUserRated”:”0″,”version”:”7.6.42″,”wc_post_id”:”160253″,”isCookiesEnabled”:”1″,”loadLastCommentId”:”0″,”dataFilterCallbacks”:[],”phraseFilters”:[],”scrollSize”:”32″,”url”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php”,”customAjaxUrl”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/utils/ajax/wpdiscuz-ajax.php”,”bubbleUpdateUrl”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-json/wpdiscuz/v1/update”,”restNonce”:”e47ab5fc2c”,”is_rate_editable”:”0″,”menu_icon”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/assets/img/plugin-icon/wpdiscuz-svg.svg”,”menu_icon_hover”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/assets/img/plugin-icon/wpdiscuz-svg_hover.svg”,”is_email_field_required”:”1″};
var wpdiscuzUCObj = {“msgConfirmDeleteComment”:”Are you sure you want to delete this comment?”,”msgConfirmCancelSubscription”:”Are you sure you want to cancel this subscription?”,”msgConfirmCancelFollow”:”Are you sure you want to cancel this follow?”,”additionalTab”:”0″};
//# sourceURL=wpdiscuz-combo-js-js-extra</script> <script id=”wpdiscuz-combo-js-js-before”>var wpdiscuzEditorOptions = {
modules: {
toolbar: “”,
counter: {
uniqueID: “”,
commentmaxcount : 1500,
replymaxcount : 1500,
commentmincount : 1,
replymincount : 1,
},
},
wc_be_the_first_text: “Be the First to Comment!”,
wc_comment_join_text: “Join the discussion”,
theme: ‘snow’,
debug: ‘error’
};

//# sourceURL=wpdiscuz-combo-js-js-before</script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/assets/js/wpdiscuz-combo.min.js” id=”wpdiscuz-combo-js-js”></script> <script src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/featured-video-plus/js/jquery.fitvids.min.js” id=”featured-video-plus-js”></script> <script id=”cookie-law-info-js-extra”>var Cli_Data = {“nn_cookie_ids”:[“__utma”,”__utmc”,”__utmz”,”__utmt”,”__utmb”,”_exposure_session”,”_gat_gtag_UA_64856472_1″,”timezone”,”test_cookie”,”em_cdn_uid”,”__cfduid”,”idsync-ttd-uid”,”idsync-ttd-profile”,”idsync-dbm-uid”,”idsync-dbm-profile”,”idsync-dyn-uid”,”idsync-dyn-profile”,”idsync-mm-uid”,”idsync-mm-profile”,”idsync-cto-uid”,”idsync-cto-profile”,”idsync-acu-uid”,”idsync-acu-profile”,”YTC”,”vuid”,”tsUserData”,”tuuid”,”c”,”tuuid_lu”,”TapAd_TS”,”TapAd_DID”,”stn”,”auid”,”wfivefivec”,”TDCPM”,”rmuid”,”icts”,”SERVERID”,”OAID”,”did”,”didts”,”nnls”,”rlas3″,”TDID”,”adtheorent[cuid]”,”pxrc”,”bkdc”,”bkpa”,”bku”,”ssi”,”_ssum”,”uuidc”,”idsync-uuid”,”idsync-ts”,”idsync-qs”,”gu-uuid”,”gu-ts”,”gu-qs”,”lang”,”sc_anonymous_id”,”wp_woocommerce_session_73e816ca578746b9d2140fca098c8954″,”EE”,”ud”,”uuid”,”language”,”m”,”S”,”NID”,”VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE”,”GPS”,”YSC”,”IDE”,”PHPSESSID”,”vis”,”session-set”,”amazon-pay-abtesting-new-widgets”,”amazon-pay-abtesting-apa-migration”,”pmpro_visit”,”_ga”,”_gid”,”_gat”,”__stripe_mid”,”__stripe_sid”,”apay-status-v2″,”ubid-main”,”session-token”,”session-id”,”session-id-time”,”viewed_cookie_policy”],”cookielist”:[],”non_necessary_cookies”:{“necessary”:[“__cfduid”,”PHPSESSID”,”pmpro_visit”,”session-id”],”performance”:[“__utma”,”__utmc”,”__utmz”,”__utmt”,”__utmb”,”YSC”,”_gat”]},”ccpaEnabled”:””,”ccpaRegionBased”:””,”ccpaBarEnabled”:””,”strictlyEnabled”:[“necessary”,”obligatoire”],”ccpaType”:”gdpr”,”js_blocking”:””,”custom_integration”:””,”triggerDomRefresh”:””,”secure_cookies”:””};
var cli_cookiebar_settings = {“animate_speed_hide”:”500″,”animate_speed_show”:”500″,”background”:”#ffffff”,”border”:”#b1a6a6c2″,”border_on”:””,”button_1_button_colour”:”#000″,”button_1_button_hover”:”#000000″,”button_1_link_colour”:”#ffffff”,”button_1_as_button”:”1″,”button_1_new_win”:””,”button_2_button_colour”:”#000″,”button_2_button_hover”:”#000000″,”button_2_link_colour”:”#000″,”button_2_as_button”:””,”button_2_hidebar”:””,”button_3_button_colour”:”#000″,”button_3_button_hover”:”#000000″,”button_3_link_colour”:”#fff”,”button_3_as_button”:”1″,”button_3_new_win”:””,”button_4_button_colour”:”#e8e8e8″,”button_4_button_hover”:”#bababa”,”button_4_link_colour”:”#0a0a0a”,”button_4_as_button”:”1″,”button_7_button_colour”:”#61a229″,”button_7_button_hover”:”#4e8221″,”button_7_link_colour”:”#fff”,”button_7_as_button”:”1″,”button_7_new_win”:””,”font_family”:”inherit”,”header_fix”:””,”notify_animate_hide”:”1″,”notify_animate_show”:”1″,”notify_div_id”:”#cookie-law-info-bar”,”notify_position_horizontal”:”left”,”notify_position_vertical”:”bottom”,”scroll_close”:””,”scroll_close_reload”:”1″,”accept_close_reload”:””,”reject_close_reload”:””,”showagain_tab”:”1″,”showagain_background”:”#fff”,”showagain_border”:”#000″,”showagain_div_id”:”#cookie-law-info-again”,”showagain_x_position”:”100px”,”text”:”#000″,”show_once_yn”:””,”show_once”:”10000″,”logging_on”:”1″,”as_popup”:””,”popup_overlay”:”1″,”bar_heading_text”:”We Need Your Consent “,”cookie_bar_as”:”banner”,”popup_showagain_position”:”bottom-right”,”widget_position”:”left”};
var log_object = {“ajax_url”:”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php”};
//# sourceURL=cookie-law-info-js-extra</script> <script defer src=”https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cookie-law-info/legacy/public/js/cookie-law-info-public.js” id=”cookie-law-info-js”></script> <script></script> <script>document.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”, function() {
var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/themes/default/style.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l);var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/assets/css/wpdiscuz-combo.min.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l);var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpdiscuz/assets/third-party/font-awesome-5.13.0/css/fa.min.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l);var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/gutenberg_Image_align_addon/css/gia-style.min.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l);var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cbxwpbookmark/assets/vendors/awesome-notifications/style.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l);var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cookie-law-info/legacy/public/css/cookie-law-info-public.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l);var l=document.createElement(‘link’);
l.rel=’stylesheet’;
l.href=’https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/cookie-law-info/legacy/public/css/cookie-law-info-gdpr.css’;
document.head.appendChild(l); });</script> <style>.download_product_popup_content,
.popup_container {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
flex-wrap: wrap;
text-align: center
}

/* .popup_loginmodel .dm-fo-login-box {
max-width: 420px !important
} */</style> <script>jQuery(document).ready(function () {

jQuery(‘.close-popup-btn-signup’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#myModalPopUpsignup’).hide();

});

jQuery(‘#myBtn , .sign_up_heaer’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#myModalPopUpsignup’).show();
});

var path = location.pathname;
var popup_not_allowed_in_paths = [“/fo/donate/”, “/fo/support-fo/”, “/fo/membership-account/membership-levels/”,
“/fo/membership-account/membership-checkout/?level=2”, “/fo/membership-account/membership-checkout/?level=1”,
“/fo/contact/”, “payment-success”
];
var isPopupOnPathAllowed = true;
if (popup_not_allowed_in_paths.includes(path)) {
isPopupOnPathAllowed = false;
}

if (jQuery.cookie(‘whenToShowDialog’) != “yesss” && isPopupOnPathAllowed) {
jQuery(window).scroll(function () {
var available, percentage_of_page, half_screen, height;
available = jQuery(document).height();
percentage_of_page = 0.25;
half_screen = available * percentage_of_page;
height = jQuery(window).scrollTop();
if (height > half_screen) {

if (jQuery.cookie(‘whenToShowDialog’) != “yesss”) {
jQuery(“#myModalPopUp”).css(‘display’, ‘flex’);
jQuery.cookie(“whenToShowDialog”, “yesss”);
}
}
});
} else {
jQuery(‘#myModalPopUp’).hide();
}

var dwnldbtn = jQuery(“#download_product_popup_open”);
dwnldbtn.click(() => {
console.log(‘be’);
jQuery(‘#download_product_popup’).show();
});

jQuery(‘#download_product_popup_open’).click(function () {
console.log(‘hellof’);
jQuery(‘#download_product_popup’).fadeIn();
});
jQuery(‘.download_product_popup_close’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#download_product_popup’).fadeOut();
});
jQuery(‘.download_product_popup_close’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#download_product_popup’).fadeOut();
});

var container = jQuery(“#download_product_popup”);
container.click((e) => {
if (e.target.id == ‘download_product_popup’) {
jQuery(‘#download_product_popup’).hide();
}
});

jQuery(‘.close-popup-btn’).click(function () {
// $.cookie(‘whenToShowDialog’, “yesss”);
display(“whenToShowDialog”, “yesss”);
jQuery(‘#myModalPopUp’).hide();
});

jQuery(‘.other_donation_amount’).keyup(function (e) {
var $otherRadio = jQuery(‘#other’);
var $otherAmountSection = jQuery(‘.other_donation_amount_section’);

$otherAmountSection.show();
$otherRadio.prop(‘checked’, true);

var value = jQuery(this).val();
jQuery(‘#donation_amount’).html(‘$’ + value);
$otherRadio.val(value);
jQuery(‘#amount’).val(value);
});

jQuery(‘#other’).change(function () {
if (jQuery(this).is(‘:checked’)) {
jQuery(‘.other_donation_amount_section’).show();
} else {
jQuery(‘.other_donation_amount_section’).hide();
}
});
});

<!– –>
jQuery(document).click(function () {

/* login popup */
jQuery(‘#closebtnlogin’).click(function () {
jQuery(“#loginmodal”).hide();
});
var logincontainer = jQuery(“.dm-fo-login-box”);
if (!logincontainer.is(event.target) && !logincontainer.has(event.target).length) {
jQuery(“#loginmodal”).hide();
}
var loginbtn = jQuery(“.fo-login-link”);
if (!loginbtn.is(event.target) && !loginbtn.has(event.target).length) {

} else {
var loginModal = jQuery(“#loginmodal”);
loginModal.find(‘.popup-form input’).val(”); // Clear all input values (optional)
loginModal.find(‘.popup-form’).hide(); // Hide all forms within #loginmodal
loginModal.find(‘.error-message’).remove(); // Remove all error messages within #loginmodal
loginModal.find(‘.input-error’).removeClass(‘input-error’); // Remove error class within #loginmodal
loginModal.find(‘#login-form’).show(); // Show the target form within #loginmodal

loginModal.show(); // Show the login modal
}

/* signupbutton popup */
var signupcontainer = jQuery(“#modal-content-signup”);
if (!signupcontainer.is(event.target) && !signupcontainer.has(event.target).length) {
jQuery(“#myModalPopUpsignup”).hide();
}
var signupcontainerbtn = jQuery(“#myBtn”);
if (!signupcontainerbtn.is(event.target) && !signupcontainerbtn.has(event.target).length) {

} else {
jQuery(“#myModalPopUpsignup”).css(‘display’, ‘flex’);
}

/* signupbutton onscroll popup */
var container = jQuery(“#modal-content-scroll”);
if (!container.is(event.target) && !container.has(event.target).length) {
var displayval = jQuery(‘#myModalPopUp’).css(‘display’);
if (displayval == ‘flex’) {
jQuery(“#myModalPopUp”).hide();
display(“whenToShowDialog”, “yesss”);
}
}

jQuery(‘#other’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘.other_donation_amount_section’).show();
});

jQuery(‘.other_donation_amount’).keyup(function (e) {
var activeElement = document.getElementsByClassName(“donation-amount-box”)[0].getElementsByClassName(“active”)[0];
if (activeElement) {
activeElement.classList.remove(‘active’);
}

var value = $(‘.other_donation_amount’).val();
jQuery(‘#other’).val(value);
jQuery(‘#donation_amount’).html(‘$’ + value);
jQuery(‘#amount’).val(value);
jQuery(‘#paypalamount’).val(value);
jQuery(‘#monthly’).val(value);
})
});

jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(‘.fo-login-link.btn-popup-footer a’).on(‘click’, function (e) {
e.preventDefault(); // Prevent the default behavior of the link

jQuery(‘.btn-popup-footer-login’).addClass(‘pop-active’); // Add the custom class
});
});

jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(‘.btn-popup-footer-login-close’).on(‘click’, function () {
jQuery(‘.popup_loginmodel.btn-popup-footer-login’).removeClass(‘pop-active’);
});
});

jQuery(document).ready(function ($) {
jQuery(“.total_counts h1”).click(function () {
jQuery(“.fo-search-popup”).addClass(“active”);
});
});

jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(‘.tml-pwd-wrap’).append(‘<div id=”show_hide_div” class=”togglepwd” onclick=”showPassword(event)”><i class=”bi bi-eye-slash-fill”></i></div>’);
jQuery(‘meta[property=”og:image:height”]’).attr(“content”, 400);
jQuery(‘meta[property=”og:image:width”]’).attr(“content”, 400);

//Open Bookmark Model
jQuery(‘#screen, #modal’).hide();
jQuery(‘#trigger-modal ,#trigger-modal2’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#modal’).show();
});
jQuery(‘.x’).click(function () {
jQuery(‘#screen, #modal’).hide();
});

window.addEventListener(‘click’, function (e) {
if (document.getElementById(‘modal’).contains(e.target)) {
jQuery(“#modal”).hide();
} else { }
});

});

function showPassword(event) {
event.stopPropagation();
var pass = document.getElementById(“user_pass”);
if (pass.type === “password”) {
pass.type = “text”;
document.getElementById(“show_hide_div”).innerHTML = “<i class=’bi bi-eye-fill’></i>”;
} else {
pass.type = “password”;
document.getElementById(“show_hide_div”).innerHTML = “<i class=’bi bi-eye-slash-fill’></i>”;
}
}

function showPassword1() {

var pass = document.getElementById(“upassword”);
if (pass.type === “password”) {
pass.type = “text”;
document.getElementById(“show_hide_div_reg1”).innerHTML = “Hide”;
} else {
pass.type = “password”;
document.getElementById(“show_hide_div_reg1”).innerHTML = “Show”;
}
}

function showPassword2() {

var pass = document.getElementById(“upasswordconfirm”);
if (pass.type === “password”) {
pass.type = “text”;
document.getElementById(“show_hide_div_reg2”).innerHTML = “Hide”;
} else {
pass.type = “password”;
document.getElementById(“show_hide_div_reg2”).innerHTML = “Show”;
}
}

jQuery(“.emaillink”).click(function (e) {
e.preventDefault();
jQuery(“#contact_us_form”).css(‘display’, ‘flex’);
});

jQuery(‘#contact_us_form’).click((e) => {
if (e.target.id === “contact_us_form”) {
jQuery(“#contact_us_form”).css(‘display’, ‘none’);
}
});</script> <script>document.addEventListener(“DOMContentLoaded”, function () {
// Wait for 1 minute (60000 milliseconds) after the page loads
setTimeout(function () {
// Get the fixed-footer div
var fixedFooter = document.getElementById(“fixed-footer”);
if (fixedFooter) {
// Make the div visible by setting its display to block
fixedFooter.style.display = “block”;
}
}, 5000); // 60000 ms = 1 minute
});

jQuery(function ($) {
$(window).scroll(function () {
var scrollOffset = $(window).scrollTop();
if (scrollOffset > 400) { // change 100 to the desired scroll offset
$(‘.fixed-footer-newsletter’).addClass(‘active’);
} else {
$(‘fixed-footer-newsletter’).removeClass(‘none’);
}
});
$(document).ready(function () {
$(“.up-down-toggle-btn svg”).click(function () {
$(“.fixed-footer-newsletter”).toggleClass(“hide”);
if ($(“.fixed-footer-newsletter”).hasClass(‘hide’)) {
localStorage.setItem(‘hideClass’, ‘true’);
} else {
localStorage.removeItem(‘hideClass’);
}
});

var hideClass = localStorage.getItem(‘hideClass’);
if (hideClass === ‘true’) {
$(‘.fixed-footer-newsletter’).addClass(‘hide’);
}

});
});</script> <script>jQuery(function ($) {
$(“.hamburger-box”).click(function () {
$(“.hamburger-box”).toggleClass(“is-active”);
});
});</script> <script type=”sortdDeferScript2″>/* — FO Newsletter add or remove class */

jQuery(function($){
$(“.newsletters-click”).on(“click”, function (e) {
$(this).addClass(‘active’);
});

$(‘#amount_50’).click(function () {
$(‘.amount’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#other_pay’).val(0);
$(‘#other_amount_pay’).val(0);
$(this).attr(‘checked’, ‘checked’)
});

$(‘#amount_100’).click(function () {
$(‘.amount’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#other_pay’).val(0);
$(‘#other_amount_pay’).val(0);
$(this).attr(‘checked’, ‘checked’)
});

$(‘#amount_500’).click(function () {
$(‘.amount’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#other_pay’).val(0);
$(‘#other_amount_pay’).val(0);
$(this).attr(‘checked’, ‘checked’)
});

$(‘#amount_1000’).click(function () {
$(‘.amount’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#other_pay’).val(0);
$(‘#other_amount_pay’).val(0);
$(this).attr(‘checked’, ‘checked’)
});

$(‘#other_pay’).change(function () {
$(‘.amount’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(this).attr(‘checked’, ‘checked’)
});

$(“#other_amount_pay”).on(“input”, function () {
var inputValue = $(this).val();
if (inputValue !== “”) {
$(‘#amount_50’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#amount_100’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#amount_500’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#amount_1000’).removeAttr(‘checked’);
$(‘#other_pay’).val(inputValue);

$(“#other_pay”).prop(“checked”, true);
}
});

});

/* input type number validation */

const numericInput = document.getElementById(‘other_donation_amount’);

if (numericInput) {
numericInput.addEventListener(‘input’, function (e) {
// Get the current input value
const inputValue = e.target.value;

// Remove any non-numeric characters
const numericValue = inputValue.replace(/[^0-9]/g, ”);

// Update the input value with the numeric value
e.target.value = numericValue;
});

}</script> <script type=”sortdDeferScript”>jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(“.share-btn”).click(function () {
jQuery(“.m-share-events”).toggleClass(“active”);
});
});

jQuery(function($){
// For Login Form
if ($(‘form[name=”login”]’).length) {
const loginForm = $(‘form[name=”login”]’);
// Dynamically remove labels and add placeholders for Login Form
$(‘form[name=”login”] label[for=”user_login”]’).remove();
$(‘form[name=”login”] #user_login’).attr(‘placeholder’, ‘Email or Username’);

$(‘form[name=”login”] label[for=”user_pass”]’).remove();
$(‘form[name=”login”] #user_pass’).attr(‘placeholder’, ‘Password’);

// Form validation and error handling for Login Form
$(‘form[name=”login”]’).on(‘submit’, function (e) {
e.preventDefault(); // Prevent form submission for validation

let isValid = true;

$(this).find(‘input[type=”text”], input[type=”password”]’).each(function () {
const input = $(this);
const value = input.val().trim();

// Remove previous error message and red border
input.closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).prev(‘.error-message’).remove();
input.removeClass(‘input-error’);

// Determine field name for the error message
const fieldName = input.attr(‘id’) === ‘user_login’ ? ‘Email or Username’ :
input.attr(‘id’) === ‘user_pass’ ? ‘Password’ :
‘This field’;

// Add error if the field is empty
if (!value) {
isValid = false;
input.closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).before(`<div class=”error-message”>${fieldName} is required.</div>`);
input.addClass(‘input-error’);
}
});

// Submit the form if valid
return isValid;
});

// Remove error message and red border on input for Login Form
$(document).on(‘input’, ‘.input-error’, function () {
$(this).removeClass(‘input-error’);
$(this).closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).prev(‘.error-message’).remove();
});
}

// For Lost Password Form
if ($(‘form[name=”lostpassword”]’).length) {
// Dynamically remove labels and add placeholders for Lost Password Form
$(‘form[name=”lostpassword”] label[for=”user_login”]’).remove();
$(‘form[name=”lostpassword”] #user_login’).attr(‘placeholder’, ‘Email or Username’);

// Change the submit button text for Lost Password form
$(‘form[name=”lostpassword”] button[type=”submit”]’).text(‘Reset Password’);

// Form validation and error handling for Lost Password Form
$(‘form[name=”lostpassword”]’).on(‘submit’, function (e) {
e.preventDefault(); // Prevent form submission for validation

let isValid = true;

$(this).find(‘input[type=”text”]’).each(function () {
const input = $(this);
const value = input.val().trim();

// Remove previous error message and red border
input.closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).prev(‘.error-message’).remove();
input.removeClass(‘input-error’);

// Determine field name for the error message
const fieldName = input.attr(‘id’) === ‘user_login’ ? ‘Email or Username’ : ‘This field’;

// Add error if the field is empty
if (!value) {
isValid = false;
input.closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).before(`<div class=”error-message”>${fieldName} is required.</div>`);
input.addClass(‘input-error’);
}
});

// Submit the form if valid
return isValid;
});

// Remove error message and red border on input for Lost Password Form
$(document).on(‘input’, ‘.input-error’, function () {
$(this).removeClass(‘input-error’);
$(this).closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).prev(‘.error-message’).remove();
});
}

$(document).ajaxSuccess(function (event, xhr, settings) {
// Check if the request URL is the one from the lostpassword form (or another condition based on your URL)
if (settings.url.indexOf(‘forgot-the-password’) !== -1) {
var response = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);

if (response.success) {
// const successMessage = response.data.notice;
const successMessage = “we have sent a link to your email to reset your password.”;
// Toggle visibility of the before and after sections
$(‘#forgot-password-form .forget-password-before’).hide();
$(‘#forgot-password-form .forget-password-after’).fadeIn();

} else {
// const errorMessage = response.data.errors;
// Clear previous error messages
$(‘form[name=”lostpassword”] .error-message’).remove();
$(‘form[name=”lostpassword”] .input-error’).removeClass(‘input-error’);

const errorMessage = ‘Email address or username is not registered’;
// Find the input fields for user_login and user_pass
const userLoginInput = $(‘form[name=”lostpassword”] #user_login’);

userLoginInput.closest(‘.tml-field-wrap’).before(`<div class=”error-message”>${errorMessage}</div>`);
userLoginInput.addClass(‘input-error’);

}
}

if (settings.url.indexOf(‘login’) !== -1) {
var response = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText);

if (response.success) {
// $(‘form[name=”login”]’).after(‘<div class=”success-message”>Login successful! Redirecting…</div>’);
} else {
// Clear previous error messages
$(‘form[name=”login”] .error-message’).remove();
$(‘form[name=”login”] .input-error’).removeClass(‘input-error’);

const errorMessage = response.data.errors; // Assuming this is an HTML string
// Extract plain text error messages from the response
const extractedErrorMessage = $(errorMessage).text().trim();

// Determine where to display the error based on keywords in the message
const userLoginInput = $(‘form[name=”login”] #user_login’);
const userPassInput = $(‘form[name=”login”] #user_pass’);

$(‘form[name=”login”]’).prepend(`<div class=”error-message”>Email address or password is incorrect.</div>`);
userLoginInput.addClass(‘input-error’);
userPassInput.addClass(‘input-error’);
}
}

});

// Switch Between Forms (Login and Forgot Password)
$(‘.switch-form’).on(‘click’, function (e) {
e.preventDefault();
const target = $(this).data(‘target’);
$(‘.popup-form’).hide(); // Hide all forms
$(‘.error-message’).remove(); // Remove all error messages
$(‘.input-error’).removeClass(‘input-error’); // Remove input error classes
$(‘.popup-form input’).val(”); // Clear all input values (optional)

// Show the target form
if (target === ‘forgot-password-form’) {
// Always show forget-password-before when switching to forgot-password-form
$(‘#forgot-password-form .forget-password-after’).hide();
$(‘#forgot-password-form .forget-password-before’).show();
}

$(‘#’ + target).fadeIn(); // Show the target form
});
});</script> <script id=”sortd_nodefer”>let isTriggered = false;
const interactionEvents = [“keydown”, “mousemove”, “touchmove”, “touchstart”, “touchend”, “wheel”];
function loadDeferredScripts(deferType) {
const scripts = document.querySelectorAll(`script[type=”${deferType}”]`);
scripts.forEach((script) => {
const newScript = document.createElement(“script”);
if (script.defer) {
newScript.defer = true;
}
if (script.src) {
newScript.src = script.src;
if (script.src.includes(‘/dyn/’)) {
newScript.async = true;
}
} else {
if (script.getAttribute(“sortd_type”)) {
newScript.type = script.getAttribute(“sortd_type”);
} else {
newScript.type = “text/javascript”;
}
newScript.text = script.innerHTML;
}
script.parentNode.replaceChild(newScript, script);
});
}
interactionEvents.forEach((event) => {
window.addEventListener(event, function () {
if (!isTriggered) {
isTriggered = true;
loadDeferredScripts(“sortdDeferScript”);
setTimeout(function () {
loadDeferredScripts(“sortdDeferScript2″);
}, 500);
}
});
});</script> <script>jQuery(function($){
// Prevent numbers while typing & enforce maxlength for Name
$(document).on(‘input’, ‘#contactFormCustom input[name=”your-name”]’, function(){
// allow letters, spaces, hyphen, apostrophe, limit to 50 chars
this.value = this.value.replace(/[^A-Za-zs’-]/g, ”).slice(0,50);
});

// Email field: limit to 100 characters and block spaces
$(document).on(‘input’, ‘#contactFormCustom input[name=”your-email”]’, function() {
this.value = this.value.replace(/s/g, ”).slice(0, 100);
});

});</script> <style>/* .postid-157691 .cate-name.si-post{font-weight: 700;color: #fe6b0c;font-family: var(–second-font);} */
.logo-devil-description p {
font-size: 20px;
margin-top: 0;
}</style></body></html><style>/* Hide the view count by default */
.hidden {
display: none;
}</style><p class=”hidden”>Total Views:</p><div class=”bottom-social-menu”><ul><li class=”facebook”><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1830882597555871&href=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/” target=”_blank”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”facebook-f” class=”svg-inline–fa fa-facebook-f fa-w-10″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 320 512″><path fill=”currentColor” d=”M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z”></path></svg>
</a></li><li class=”twitter”>
<a href=”https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&text=The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints @pisackson&tw_p=tweetbutton&url=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/&via=myfairobserver”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”twitter” class=”svg-inline–fa fa-twitter fa-w-16″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 512 512″><path fill=”currentColor” d=”M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z”></path></svg>
</a></li><li class=”linkedin”><a href=”https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/&title=The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints&summery=The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints&source=LinkedIn”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”linkedin-in” class=”svg-inline–fa fa-linkedin-in fa-w-14″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 448 512″><path fill=”currentColor” d=”M100.28 448H7.4V148.9h92.88zM53.79 108.1C24.09 108.1 0 83.5 0 53.8a53.79 53.79 0 0 1 107.58 0c0 29.7-24.1 54.3-53.79 54.3zM447.9 448h-92.68V302.4c0-34.7-.7-79.2-48.29-79.2-48.29 0-55.69 37.7-55.69 76.7V448h-92.78V148.9h89.08v40.8h1.3c12.4-23.5 42.69-48.3 87.88-48.3 94 0 111.28 61.9 111.28 142.3V448z”></path></svg>
</a></li><li class=”whatsup”><a href=”whatsapp://send?text=The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints – https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fab” data-icon=”whatsapp” class=”svg-inline–fa fa-whatsapp fa-w-14″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 448 512″><path fill=”currentColor” d=”M380.9 97.1C339 55.1 283.2 32 223.9 32c-122.4 0-222 99.6-222 222 0 39.1 10.2 77.3 29.6 111L0 480l117.7-30.9c32.4 17.7 68.9 27 106.1 27h.1c122.3 0 224.1-99.6 224.1-222 0-59.3-25.2-115-67.1-157zm-157 341.6c-33.2 0-65.7-8.9-94-25.7l-6.7-4-69.8 18.3L72 359.2l-4.4-7c-18.5-29.4-28.2-63.3-28.2-98.2 0-101.7 82.8-184.5 184.6-184.5 49.3 0 95.6 19.2 130.4 54.1 34.8 34.9 56.2 81.2 56.1 130.5 0 101.8-84.9 184.6-186.6 184.6zm101.2-138.2c-5.5-2.8-32.8-16.2-37.9-18-5.1-1.9-8.8-2.8-12.5 2.8-3.7 5.6-14.3 18-17.6 21.8-3.2 3.7-6.5 4.2-12 1.4-32.6-16.3-54-29.1-75.5-66-5.7-9.8 5.7-9.1 16.3-30.3 1.8-3.7.9-6.9-.5-9.7-1.4-2.8-12.5-30.1-17.1-41.2-4.5-10.8-9.1-9.3-12.5-9.5-3.2-.2-6.9-.2-10.6-.2-3.7 0-9.7 1.4-14.8 6.9-5.1 5.6-19.4 19-19.4 46.3 0 27.3 19.9 53.7 22.6 57.4 2.8 3.7 39.1 59.7 94.8 83.8 35.2 15.2 49 16.5 66.6 13.9 10.7-1.6 32.8-13.4 37.4-26.4 4.6-13 4.6-24.1 3.2-26.4-1.3-2.5-5-3.9-10.5-6.6z”></path></svg>
</a></li><li class=”email”><a href=”mailto:?subject=The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints&body=The Devil’s Advocate in a World Without Saints – https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/us-news/the-devils-advocate-in-a-world-without-saints/”>
<svg aria-hidden=”true” focusable=”false” data-prefix=”fas” data-icon=”envelope” class=”svg-inline–fa fa-envelope fa-w-16″ role=”img” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” viewBox=”0 0 512 512″><path fill=”currentColor” d=”M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z”></path></svg>
</a></li></ul></div>
<!– Page optimized by LiteSpeed Cache @2026-01-17 01:05:19 –>

<!– Page cached by LiteSpeed Cache 7.7 on 2026-01-17 01:05:19 –>