On the way back to the train station, I ran into Spike who was off walking with Starlight Glimmer, an ex-villain that Twilight Sparkle and her friends had convinced to change. She (very reluctantly) agreed to a brief interview.

“So, Starlight Glimmer, what are your political views?”

“Well, you know my past. I was so fanatically in favor of forced social equality that I brainwashed an entire town of ponies and almost destroyed space-time in an act of blind revenge.”

“I uh…didn’t quite know all of that.”

Starlight Glimmer let out a very disappointed sigh.

“Of course you didn’t.”

“Do you still believe in social equality, but to a lesser extent?”

“No. Well, I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve stopped putting any faith in ideology. After becoming a tyrant, I recognized that nopony is good enough to lead anypony else. We’re all terrible. Why even vote? We should be making the world a better place with kindness and friendship, not policies.”

“So will you be voting next month?”

Starlight shook her head.

“Not a chance. It wouldn’t change a thing, anyway.”

At that moment, a train whistle cut through the air, and I bid a hasty farewell, retreating to the station.

I had been given a lot to think about on the train ride back to Canterlot and the CNN headquarters.

Equestrian Unity

My interviews with our national heroes were very telling. I learned at least three different things from my interviews with Twilight Sparkle and her friends. All three will deeply impact the way that I view politics in Equestria.

First, there are a great deal of various political views held in our great country. Some are steeped in tradition, while others radically embrace democracy. Others have great faith in government, while others have no faith at all. Some want to keep their money; others think it would do better in the hooves of the government.

Second, there is a deep-seated dissatisfaction with things as they are in Equestria. Everypony I spoke to wanted to radically change the way politics works. Ultimately, we need to always be pressing forward in politics, and never staying stagnant.

Finally, politics is not everything. Twilight Sparkle and her friends may all have opposing views on how things should be run, who should hold power, and whether voting is even worth it. However, at the end of the day, they are still just that: friends. These titans of history would bicker if we put them in the same room, but they would even sooner unite for the good of Equestria.

The real politics of Equestria is friendship. If that conclusion doesn’t get me a Pulitzer, I don’t know what will.

NOTE: As of Press Time on Saturday the 20th, Breaking Scoop is unable to respond to inquiries or make corrections due to being detained in Ponyville Castle on unknown charges. When asked about his status, Princess Twilight Sparkle replied, “His status is none of your beeswax, but I have plenty of dungeon space.” When asked if that was a threat, Princess Twilight responded by claiming that she was merely boasting about the great size of the castle’s dungeon.

Princess Celestia returned no comment to our questions, but later released a statement saying, in part, that “The matter is being handled internally.”