🎤 Is Shakira’s statue too much?

It’s Friday, December 29 — people are talking about Nikki Haley’s comment on the Civil War, the new Shakira statue in Colombia, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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🏛️ Nikki Haley’s Civil War answer

Nikki Haley's Civil War comment sparked debate — her fans back her, but many call for historical accuracy.

🏛️ During a town hall, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley didn't cite slavery as the cause of the Civil War, sparking backlash. WaPo says her omission reflects a broader debate on race and history.

🏛️ Fox News says that Haley's answer earned her backlash from both sides: Both Biden and DeSantis called Haley out (and she then backtracked on CNN).

🏛️ MSNBC explained the gaffe: Haley dodged the slavery issue to avoid Republican backlash. Her past comments suggest she knows the truth, but feared her base's reaction to blaming slavery.

🏛️ National Review argued that Haley's blunder shows her contempt for her voters' intelligence: She chose to pander over speaking the truth.

🏛️ Haley herself blamed the Civil War stumble on a “Democratic plant” in the audience, suggesting that the town hall questioner was deliberately trying to trip her up.

🎤 Is Shakira’s statue too much?

Shakira's hometown statue attracted a lot of attention. Her fans are thrilled, but some question whether celeb idolatry has gone too far.

🎤 Shakira, global pop icon and philanthropist, was honored with a 21-foot statue in her Colombian hometown of Barranquilla. The NYT says the tribute is a symbol of local pride.

🎤 And Buzzfeed agreed: The statue is a celebration of Shakira's impact. Fans are jokingly comparing it to the Statue of Liberty, and it’s a must-visit for Shakira enthusiasts.

🎤 But @danbostonboy questions the need for the statue: Celebrity worship has gone too far.

🎤 The mayor of Barranquilla sees it differently. He says the statue encourages young girls to follow their dreams.

Quick hits

🏫 The chancellor of the The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse was fired after it was discovered that he and his wife made porn videos. (AP News)

🚀 SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (CNN)

🇷🇺 Kyiv says that Russia unleashed one of the largest airstrikes of the Ukraine war — 158 missile and drone strikes that killed at least 18 people. (Reuters)

🎤 Cher filed for a conservatorship for her son Elijah, citing substance abuse issues and mental health. (BBC)