text: U.S. WANTS TAIWAN TO JOIN STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM: The recently approved National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) tasks the Pentagon with integrating training Taiwan’s military with National Guard units. Taiwan’s most likely partner will be the Hawaiian Guard, but units from Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington are up for consideration. The Pentagon’s assessment is due no later than 15 February and will determine the viability of training Taiwan’s reserve and active forces. Taiwan’s newly formed All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency is likely to be a key training partner, which will include civilian mobilization against Chinese invasion. (AC: Taiwan and Ukraine enacted new laws to establish domestic resistance forces, augmented by civilians. The Chinese are highly likely to view Taiwan’s membership in the training program as an escalation. While the report is due during the Beijing Olympics, it is unlikely any additional U.S. forces will begin training with Taiwan before 2023 due to budgeting and training calendar development. – D.M.)PODCAST CENSORSHIP: Podcasting platforms have come under more scrutiny since claims of falsehoods regarding the 2020 election were purported to be spread. According to Google, social media platforms have made efforts to moderate content on their platforms, while long-form audio content is claimed to be more difficult to limit. (AC: Tech censorship advocates are looking for ways to limit opposing views on platforms that have been more welcoming to alternative views. With election season drawing closer, expect increased effort to moderate and censor platforms not favorable to the mainstream view. Facebook and Alphabet spend millions lobbying Congress to update the Communications and Decency Act. Their efforts could lead to a licensing requirement, similar to terrestrial radio broadcasting.