The Week Evening Review
The chip war heats up, Trump's lost rights, and the G7 summit

 
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION

Who is winning the US-China chip war?

The battle for global supremacy between the United States and China comes down to semiconductor chips. That contest is "entering a new phase," Bloomberg said, as the American government pumps $100 billion into subsidies for tech firms and China builds dozens of new facilities. China is the "largest global supplier" of older "legacy chips," but the Biden administration aims to control nearly 30% of the chip market by 2032. 

Beijing has authorized its own "massive barrage" in the chip war, Forbes said. It created a $47.5 billion fund to make China "self-sufficient in producing and advancing semiconductor technology" and "assume a dominant role" that will sideline Taiwan, a chip-manufacturing powerhouse. Maneuvers in the chip war will "reverberate in every high-tech boardroom and war room worldwide."

What did the commentators say?
The electronics industry depends on a "fragile semiconductor supply chain" that stretches from Europe to Asia, said The Economist. "The chip war threatens to bludgeon it." The divide is frustrating to tech executives around the world. "Many in the industry understand America's desire to thwart China" but aren't sure the aim is noble. It looks more like America is acting on a "selfish desire to preserve its economic dominance."

Chinese leader Xi Jinping "needs the smallest and fastest chips to fulfill his dream of transforming China into a technology powerhouse," Michael Schuman said at The Atlantic. Despite its lead in legacy chips, the country needs America and its allies to share technology to make progress. That "tells us a lot about the true balance of power," Schuman said. His verdict: "China is losing the chip war."

What next?
"Now comes the hard part" for U.S. manufacturers, said The Wall Street Journal. Money from the government is giving the sector a "big boost" and putting the American chip industry "back on a more stable path." But other countries are also increasing their investments, underscoring the "expanding and accelerating" nature of the global chip race. 

That race has produced a worldwide total of  $1.2 trillion in commitments to semiconductor manufacturing outside of China, said Quartz. No matter where that manufacturing takes place, there will be benefits. "The more capacity we build outside of China and, frankly, outside of Taiwan, the better off we'll be in reducing China's ability to threaten us and reduc[ing] our dependence on China."

 
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QUOTE OF THE DAY

'To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you'll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!'

Joey Chestnut, the 16-time winner of Nathan’s annual hot dog eating contest, responding to news that he would not be allowed to compete this year at Coney Island because he made a deal to rep rival hot dog brand Impossible Foods' new vegan hot dog

 
 
In the SPotlight

What rights does Donald Trump lose as a felon?

Donald Trump was found guilty last month on 34 charges related to his efforts to hide a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. This makes Trump the first former U.S. president ever convicted of a felony, and his felonious status means that some things he takes for granted may now be off the table. 

Travel restrictions
If Trump is reelected president, he may have some problems with international relations. At least 37 countries, including major American allies, prohibit people convicted of a felony from entering their borders. However, foreign leaders might "make exceptions for Trump, especially if he's elected president," said Axios. Other nations could stop him from entering, but "I don't think that those countries would dare not allow a sitting U.S. president to visit on a diplomatic basis," said attorney Keith B. Johnson. 

Gun ownership
Trump was licensed to carry three guns, but that's likely about to change. Anyone convicted of a "crime punishable by more than one year in prison is barred from possessing firearms under federal law," said The Trace. Trump's crimes carry a maximum sentence of four years, meaning the former president is "outlawed from owning guns even if he is ultimately sentenced to probation." The NYPD is reportedly preparing to revoke Trump's firearm license.

Voting rights
Contrary to popular belief, convicted felons "do not automatically lose their right to vote in the U.S.; different states have different policies," said Time. So the question falls to Florida, where Trump is registered to vote. Florida defers to the laws of the state where a felon was convicted, and New York is one of 23 states where people convicted of a felony can vote as long as they aren't currently incarcerated, said The Guardian. As a result, Trump "will likely still be able to cast a vote for himself in November" unless he's behind bars. 

Can he still be president?
There's no law in the American legal system that "bars a felon from running for president," said BU Today. Unless a law is passed to change this, Trump is free to run for the White House and potentially be reelected.

 
 

Statistic of the day

90%: The percentage of new cars that performed better than the Ford Expedition SUV in recent crash tests. While SUVs are often highlighted for their perceived safety features, the Expedition results show this isn't always the case. Two other SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Jeep Wagoneer, performed slightly better in crash tests. 
Quartz

 
 
the explainer

What to expect from the 50th G7 summit

The leaders of the world's seven largest economies will meet in Italy this week hoping to hash out an agreement to give further support to Ukraine and end the war in Gaza. Coming "amid a resurgence of authoritarianism worldwide, renewed geopolitical tension and existential climate crisis," this G7 represents a "critical opportunity to reinforce democratic values and restore trust in international institutions," said American Progress. And the two conflicts will dominate the agenda. 

Ukraine 
This is a crucial G7 for "charting a course for the West's approach to the war in Ukraine," said The Telegraph. The summit is the first major international forum hosted by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has surprised many with her tough stance toward Russia. The election of the far-right Eurosceptic initially "sent shivers throughout the European establishment," said The New York Times. But in the 18 months since Meloni came to power, she has become a "critical player" in the push to support Ukraine. 

Ministers could use the summit to sign off on a planned "centerpiece of support for Ukraine," said the Financial Times — a mechanism to loan interest generated by the estimated $300 billion of Russian assets currently frozen in G7 territories to Ukraine. 

Gaza 
All of the G7 leaders last week issued a joint statement calling for a cease-fire, the release of Israeli hostages, an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and an "enduring end" to the conflict with the aim of a "two-state solution." But "other disagreements" among the G7, including the possibility of the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, "may mean the world's leading economies fail to reach a consensus on a long-term path to peace," said CBC News. 

Also on the agenda 
Meloni also wants to focus on "Africa and migration, economic security, and international cooperation on artificial intelligence," said the BBC. Attendees at the summit may look to build on the Hiroshima AI Process, intended to promote "safe, secure and trustworthy AI worldwide," which was agreed on at the G7 summit in Japan last year.

 
 

Good day ?‍?

… for female astronauts. A recent study on the impact of spaceflight on the human immune system suggests women may be more resilient than men to the stresses of being in space and recover more quickly when they return to Earth. Men appeared to be "more affected by spaceflight for almost all cell types and metrics," scientists said in a Nature Communications paper.

 
 

Bad day ?

… for sexually active people. A new report warns of a "highly contagious" sexually transmitted form of ringworm after the first case was reported in an American man who had recently returned to New York City from vacationing in the U.K., Greece and California. While this has not been found before in the U.S., the skin condition has been increasingly diagnosed throughout Europe, according to the report.

 
 
Picture of the day

Panda-ing to the public

Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in the Republic of Korea, met the public Wednesday morning after returning to Chengdu, the hometown of pandas in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Xinhua / Shutterstock

 
 
Puzzles

Test your general knowledge with The Week's daily crossword, part of our puzzles section, which also includes sudoku and codewords

 
 
The Week recommends

For a day hike, you want to pack light and with intention. Maybe those streamlined options include stabilizing aluminum trekking poles, an ever-handy tick remover, and a compass designed to lead you down the right path.

Bug Bite Thing tick remover
Should a tick land on your skin during a hike, you want to get it off immediately. The stainless steel Bug Bite Thing tick remover fits perfectly in any pocket and is double-sided, so you can use the fine-tipped tweezers for small ticks and slotted scoops for larger ones. The tool works on pets, too. ($12, Amazon)

LEKI Makalu Cork Lite aluminum trekking poles
Trekking poles are invaluable. They provide stability while going across rugged and uneven terrain, help you power up steep hills and keep you balanced during the eventual descent.  For year-round trekking, the aluminum Makalu Lite Cork poles are a "solid pick," Popular Mechanics said, with locks that are "easy to adjust and lock on the fly." ($150, Amazon)

Suunto MC-2 compass
On a long hike, avoid relying on a smartphone for directions — if you lose service or the battery dies, you're on your own. Always bring a map and compass, like the Suunto MC-2. This device packs a punch, with a "wide range of tools and uses" that work for "any need and any level of navigational skill," Outdoor Life said. For a less comprehensive but more economical option, consider the Suunto A-30 compass. ($70, Amazon)

 
 

Poll watch

More than 6 out of 10 users of X say that following the news is a "major or minor reason" they use the platform, according to a new Pew Research Center poll. The poll found that 65% of X users rely on the platform for their news, compared to less than half of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok users who say the same.

 
 
INSTANT OPINION

Today's best commentary

'People hate traffic. They also hate this great idea to clear it.'
Megan McArdle at The Washington Post 
New York City recently paused its congestion pricing program, and if it "can't be done in Manhattan, it seems safe to say it can't be done anywhere else in America, either," says Megan McArdle. "This is a pity" because "when roads are 'free,' we are forced to fall back on a more costly and inefficient strategy: sitting in traffic." It's "far better to charge a modest price … until supply and demand are balanced and traffic flows easily."

'This trial was too sad for the right to properly politicize' 
Molly Olmstead at Slate 
Hunter Biden's conviction has been "met with a surprisingly muted response from the right," says Molly Olmstead. This is because Republicans "won't want to risk looking opposed to gun access" but also because Hunter Biden's "struggle with addiction may have proved too sad and, for so many Americans, too relatable to be politically useful." So despite a "felony conviction for one of their party's greatest villains, Republicans could not figure out a way to celebrate the victory."

'Population decline isn't the problem. Hungry kids are.'
F.D. Flam at Bloomberg
There's a population boom, but "maybe instead of focusing on the number of children people are having, policymakers should focus on the fact that too many children worldwide aren't getting adequate nutrition, education or medical care," says F.D. Flam. It's "impossible to know all the unintended consequences of trying to engineer the population to grow, or shrink, but there's no downside to taking better care of the children we already have."

 
 
WORD OF THE DAY

freikorperkultur

German for "free body culture," a naturist movement that has been around since the 19th century but is now struggling to survive. Germany's leading naturist association has canceled planned anniversary celebrations in August due to a lack of interest, with the group's president blaming social media's "cult of the perfect body" for making younger people shy about undressing.

 
 

Evening Review was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Harold Maass, Joel Mathis, Summer Meza, Devika Rao, Rafi Schwartz, Anahi Valenzuela and Peter Weber, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images; Justin Lane-Pool / Getty Images; Francesca Volpi / Bloomberg via Getty Images; Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images