The shortest distance between two points on a globe isn’t a straight line, but rather a curve.

If a plane travelled in a straight line (as projected on the map) it would actually be going a longer distance.

You can actually see this for yourself if you hold a piece of string around a ball. If you move the string to be slightly curved it will be able to stretch further on the ball.

I assume the highlighted region is meant to call out the fact that they’re claiming a metaphorical expression isn’t being used metaphorically.

Yes, that’s incredibly stupid, and yes the entire letter is pro-hate propaganda.

However, I think it’s important to also call out something else about the phrase “wiped of the map”…

It’s an English language idiomatic expression.

Idiomatic expressions are language specific.

When you see a quote attributed to someone speaking Farsi, and it includes English idiomatic expressions, you can be fairly certain the translation is complete bullshit, and whoever created the translation is trying to manipulate you.

100% this.

Don’t just ignore it because they can sue and if you ignore that then you’ll get a default judgment against you which you actually will have to pay even if the original claim was complete bullshit.

On the other hand, if you demand they provide actual proof of the debt they will usually not have it and will just go away.

My take is that if you are a young and inexperienced employee of DOGE that is being asked to do questionable things with highly sensitive government information, then odds are pretty good that you are the fall guy.

Not to mention the CCTV Spring Festival Gala (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMG_New_Year's_Gala).

This isn’t even remotely close to the biggest.