South Korea Chaos: President Declares Martial Law, Then Reverses It
Plus, Supreme Court set to hear arguments on banning puberty blockers, hormones for trans minors
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Good morning,
Queen Bey is holding a new crown: Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century.
How they decided: Billboard said Beyoncé’s “25 years of timeless albums and singles, to her incalculable industry impact and influence on other artists, to her peerless raw talents as a singer and performer” led to her snag the top spot ahead of 25 other artists.
She’s the most-decorated Grammy artist in history with a total of 32 wins and has had nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
“There are no flop eras for Bey, no periods where she disappeared for a half-decade, no clear missteps that were not immediately and emphatically course-corrected,” the music magazine continued.
Runners-up: Taylor Swift was selected as runner-up, followed by Rihanna, Drake, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears.
Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z was ranked No. 16 on the list (it’s also his 55th birthday today!).
We love Beyoncé, but… aren’t there 75 years left in this century?
Mosheh, Jill, Sari, & Lauren
PS: Don’t forget to refer friends & family to subscribe to the Mo Newsletter… you could get free Mo News merch — DETAILS at the bottom of this newsletter!
🇰🇷 SOUTH KOREA’S YOUNG DEMOCRACY FACES MAJOR CHALLENGE
South Korean politicians had a wild Tuesday night after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unscheduled televised address. He called for military rule as he vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces he claimed were paralyzing the government, as opposition leaders control the country’s parliament.
A martial law decree prohibits all political activities, demonstrations, and free media, among other limits.
After the announcement, protesters gathered outside the Assembly building chanting “end martial law,” while some clashed with police.
Less than three hours later, parliamentary leaders (including members of Yoon’s own party) voted unanimously to lift the decree. Before 6 a.m. local time Wednesday, the president finally agreed to end martial law.
INSIDE THE FIGHT
Yoon’s party has been in a stalemate with the opposition liberal Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill. Since the general election in April, when the opposition won by a landslide, Yoon’s government hasn’t been able to pass bills they want and have instead resorted to vetoing those that the opposition puts forward.
The martial law order was immediately denounced by both the opposition party and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party.
During the parliamentary vote to lift it, South Korean forces were seen breaking windows in an attempt to enter the National Assembly building.
It is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared. Before that, South Korea was led by a string of authoritarian leaders.
Michelle Ye Hee Lee, the Washington Post’s Tokyo/Seoul bureau chief, analyzed the move as a “stunning, risky and short-lived power play … that evokes so much trauma in a nation where so many died for democracy.” The opposition party is now planning to move ahead with impeaching Yoon after the stunt. He has 2.5 years left in his presidential term.
South Korea has already impeached two other presidents in the last 20 years.
South Korea is one of the U.S.’s closest allies, and there are around 28,500 American troops stationed in the country. The White House said it was “monitoring the situation closely,” but did not provide any more details.
A DESPERATE MOVE BY AN UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT
Yoon is seen as a deeply unpopular and divisive leader, who has accused the opposition of plotting an “insurgency” and sympathizing with communist North Korea. Half-way through his five-year term, Yoon’s approval rating dropped to a low of 17% last month.
📌 SUPREME COURT HEARING CONTROVERSIAL TRANS YOUTH MEDICAL CASE
The Supreme Court will hear arguments today on what promises to be one of the most heated cases of the court’s 2024-2025 term: whether states can prevent doctors from prescribing gender-affirming care — such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy — to transgender minors.
The case stems from a 2023 Tennessee law that enacts civil penalties for doctors who provide such care, even with parental consent.
INSIDE THE CASE
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti argued that the law ensures "minors do not receive these treatments until they can fully understand the lifelong consequences or until the science is developed to the point that Tennessee might take a different view of their efficacy." Three transgender minors from Tennessee, along with their parents, a Memphis doctor, and the Biden administration, sued to block the law, saying it violates their constitutional rights.
Arguments: The court will decide if blocking care for transgender youth violates the 14th Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on sex.
The plaintiffs argue that some of the healthcare options and medications under attack are used to treat other medical issues in minors, so banning such care specifically for transgender people is discriminatory.
Attorneys defending the Tennessee law argue that states have long had power to regulate medicine, and it is constitutional to restrict drugs for certain reasons. Additionally, because both trans males and females would be denied such care, they say that there is no sex discrimination.
Representing the families at the Supreme Court is an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, Chase Strangio, who will be the first openly transgender man to argue before the nation’s highest court.
Tracking trans health laws. Via: Movement Advancement Project.
TRACKING THE NUMBERS
In 2021, about 42,000 minors in the U.S. were diagnosed with gender dysphoria — nearly triple the number in 2017 — according to data compiled by technology company Komodo Health Inc. for Reuters.
The data shows the vast majority of these minors were not prescribed hormones or puberty blockers.
TRACKING THE POLITICS
Republicans have made the issue of transgender care a priority. Roughly half of the states have passed regulations that limit or prohibit gender-affirming care in the past five years.
President-elect Trump made it a key component of his 2024 campaign, spending nearly $40 million on ads attacking Vice President Harris’ support for transgender rights – the most memorable slogan being “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you.”
The Supreme Court’s decision on the Tennessee case is expected in late June/early July 2025. The opinion could determine the outcome of dozens of other lawsuits centered around the rights of transgender youth, such as what sports teams they can play on or what bathrooms they can use.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Pete Hegseth Defense Secretary nomination on the rocks; Trump team considering Ron DeSantis, others as possible replacements (ABC NEWS) Trump DEA nominee withdraws after being nominee for three days (AP)
📌 Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees (AP)
📌 NYC Mayor Adams looking to cooperate with Trump administration on deporting criminal illegal migrants (NY POST)
📌 Incoming Senate Majority Leader plans sweeping bill on the border, defense and energy in Trump’s first 30 days (POLITICO)
📌 Missing Hawaiian woman crossed freely into Mexico, Los Angeles police say (ABC)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Chinese hack of global telecom providers is ‘ongoing,’ U.S. officials warn and recommend using encrypted apps (NBC)
📌 The Princess of Wales returns to official duties in first state visit after cancer treatment (YAHOO)
📌 Why protests in the country of Georgia matter (VOX)
📌 US jets attack Iranian militias in Syria (TELEGRAPH)
📌 Putin's planes took Ukrainian kids into 'coerced' Russian adoption, a Yale report says (NPR)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Frontier Airlines introducing ‘first class-style’ seats (CNBC)
📌 Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs (AP)
📌 Cucumber recall: Two more brands included as feds investigate salmonella outbreak (USA TODAY)
📌 Cyber Monday was the biggest US online shopping day ever (CNN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 Last 2 defendants in Atlanta’s Young Thug trial are acquitted of murder and gang charges (AP)
📌 Eminem's mother, Debbie Nelson, dies at 69 (NBC)
📌 Kendrick Lamar and SZA taking 'GNX' collaborations on the road for Grand National Tour (USA TODAY)
📌 Mattel sued over ‘Wicked’ dolls that included link to porn website on packaging (VARIETY)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: DECEMBER 4
1791: The world’s first Sunday newspaper, The Observer, was published in Britain by W.S. Bourne.
1954: The first Burger King opened in Miami, FL, selling 18-cent hamburgers and milkshakes. Today, Burger King has nearly 20,000 locations in 100 countries.
Burger King is celebrating its 70th birthday with special deals and a "birthday pie" dessert.
1956: Dubbed the “Million Dollar Quartet,” Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins gathered for the first and only time for a jam session at Sun Records in Memphis.