Autoantibodies disable interferons: https://khn.org/news/breakthrough-finding-reveals-why-certain-covid-patients-die/ . In “breakthrough research”, some patients have autoantibodies which are somehow activated by COVID-19. These autoantibodies then disable interferons, which are the body’s first line of defense against newly acquired viruses. The result can be severe COVID-19.
Among study participants with this result, 94% were men. This is particularly surprising as autoimmune diseases predominantly affect women. However, this squares with the increased mortality of COVID-19 in men.
On the other hand, COVID-19 long-haulers are predominantly women. Recent research has identified autoantibodies as having a key role in long-haulers.
WSJ: IT important in pandemic research and treatment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-pandemic-underscored-importance-of-it-in-medical-research-11605263401 .
WSJ: Corning’s new vaccine vials: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-could-depend-on-the-strength-of-this-vial-11605306378 .
WSJ: Vaccine makers hit by foreign cyberattacks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-makers-face-russian-north-korean-cyberattacks-microsoft-says-11605276003 .
WSJ: Updated vaccine status report: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-whats-coming-and-when-11598882964 .
WSJ: Vaccine stocks may show undue optimism: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-vaccine-stocks-may-cause-excess-optimism-losses-11605286146 . This article ignores the traditional red flag recently raised: the drug CEO’s are selling big portions of their stock.
WSJ: More on BioNTech: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-coronavirus-vaccine-makers-stock-went-from-dud-to-star-11605268808 .
Others see US pandemic toll reaching WWII levels this winter: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/researchers-covid-19-death-toll-could-double-winter-world-war-n1247726 .
WSJ: Q&A on COVID-19 testing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-tests-answers-on-cost-accuracy-and-turnaround-time-11599134378 .
The silent killer: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-pandemics-public-health-cbb825088323711214fb5df8c6842949 . Trump rewrites Three Musketeers: “All for one, and that’s me alone”.
At least 90 Secret Service officers off duty due to virus: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-secretservic/u-s-secret-service-officers-sidelined-by-covid-19-idUSKBN27T2NZ . The only thing Trump is truly super at – spreading the virus. The Washington Post pegs the number of officers off duty due to the virus as at least 130.
WSJ: Biden’s pandemic plans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-are-joe-bidens-plans-for-covid-19-11605291824 . Will Trump cooperate as the death toll soars? Probably not.
West Coast governors promote quarantine for those entering their states: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/west-coast-governors-urge-covid-quarantine-after-travel . A flat restriction cannot be imposed due to the right of free travel within the United States. As Professor Noymer notes, “Nobody wants to be North Dakota”.
North Dakota allows asymptomatic nurses to continue working in hospitals: https://news.yahoo.com/covi-dpositive-hospital-employees-can-work-amid-staff-shortages-north-dakota-governor-says-234325339.html . North Dakota, where the state motto is Go to Hell.
WSJ: Administration looks to end Medicare drug rebates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administrations-rule-ending-drug-rebates-in-medicare-submitted-for-budget-agency-approval-11605296564 . This is a weak measure to reduce drug prices. The real prize would be to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
WSJ: Will schools stay open?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-covid-19-cases-surge-school-districts-ponder-closing-doors-11605263402 . More on NYC schools: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-is-new-york-city-preparing-to-close-schools-11605307312 .
WSJ: Grocery purchase limits return: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-grocers-bring-back-purchase-limits-as-covid-19-cases-rise-11605263401 .
TikTok: The White House is “asleep at the wheel”: https://www.npr.org/2020/11/13/933916944/trump-ordered-tiktok-to-be-sold-off-but-then-ignored-the-deadline . Government to comply with court order blocking Trump’s executive order banning TikTok from US: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/12/tiktok-trump-administration-justice-department . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/commerce-department-announces-stay-of-tiktok-shutdown-order-11605213481 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-gains-extension-of-divestiture-deadline-11605290579 .
WSJ: Stimulus talks remain stalled: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-aid-talks-remain-stuck-amid-surge-in-cases-11605305610 . So, cases are surging and McConnell is focused on the Judy Shelton nomination? This is just a complete dereliction of duty to the American people.
WSJ: Delay of PPP transparency: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sba-wins-temporary-delay-of-order-to-provide-details-on-ppp-borrowers-11605304678 .
WSJ: Brickman leaves Freddie Mac: https://www.wsj.com/articles/freddie-mac-ceo-quits-as-prospects-dim-for-exit-from-government-control-11605292952 .
WHO praises Thai COVID-19 effort: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-head-has-singled-out-one-developing-country-for-its-success-in-managing-the-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-11-13 .
WSJ: UK’s Dominic Cummings resigns: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boris-johnsons-top-aide-quits-suggesting-a-political-shift-in-london-11605281814 . How does WSJ write this article without mentioning the considerable political wounds Cummings has self-inflicted?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Cummings_scandal , for example.
WSJ: Japan working to save regional banks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-world-should-watch-japans-attempts-to-save-its-struggling-banks-11605261886 .
Election the “most secure” in history: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/2020-election-most-secure-dhs_n_5fadd55cc5b6370e7e3158ca . And the agency head who said this also said he expects to be fired for speaking. It’s Masters Week, and this is par for the course.
The future of gerrymandering: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrats-gear-fight-gerrymandering-after-state-house-losses-n1247585 . The term “gerrymander” traces to Elbridge Gerry, who as governor of Massachusetts approved a district shaped like a salamander in order to favor Republicans. He died in 1814 while US Vice President: https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/06/21/the-gerry-in-gerrymandering/ .
Latest US presidential vote total as of noon Eastern Standard Time, November 13, 2020, is 152.4 million. Votes are still being counted. As best I can tell, there are under 1 million left to count. The early vote total [as a percent of the current total] was 101.4 million [66.5%] (65.5 million mail-in [43.0%] plus 35.9 million in person [23.5%]). So early vote was about 2/3 of total vote.
Election bellwether counties lose Trump bet: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bellwether-counties-nearly-wiped-out-by-2020-election-11605272400 . Clallam County, the lone survivor, is just south of Vancouver, BC. It has picked every presidential winner since 1980: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clallam_County,_Washington .
WSJ: Election litigation losses pile up for Trump: https://www.wsj.com/articles/michigan-judge-denies-conservative-group-s-request-to-delay-detroit-election-certification-11605295879 . Apparently this nonsense continues in order to raise money to pay off campaign debt, and to maintain the false narrative that the election results are in question.
A “prediction” about Trump: Trump will announce soon that he’s running in 2024. Why? Not only does it help his planned media presence, but it also gives him the ongoing opportunity to go on the road and draw the crowds he so much wants. Remember, the only thing he did the first day in the White House was announce his re-election committee.
Here is the problem. Republicans at the federal level will for sure publicly recognize Biden as president (they all do now, privately). They must return to an issues focus in order to be re-elected (even if it’s anti-Biden). Some parts of the Trump mob will drift away. That will drive Trump nuts (correction, even more nuts). At least we don’t have to pay attention to the STBEP after January 20.
Update on Georgia Senate races: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/trump-defeated-georgia-democrats-aim-keep-voters-fired-senate-control-n1247619 . This article suggests Democrats were heavily motivated by voting against Trump. That is certainly true. However, with two Senate runoffs and control of the US Senate on the line, I don’t see lack of motivation as much of a problem.
Turnout will again be critical. Note that voter registration closes December 7, so both sides will be working hard to sign people up in the next 3 weeks. Also, both races featured third party or independent candidates no longer on the ballot who garnered 2.3% in each race. How those folks break and turnout will be an important factor.
WSJ: Wife of Joint Chiefs chairman saves veteran on Veterans Day: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hollyanne-milley-wife-of-joint-chiefs-chairman-saved-mans-life-on-veterans-day-11605285598 . Great stuff.
WSJ: Tiger in contention at quiet Masters: https://www.wsj.com/articles/augusta-national-members-masters-tiger-woods-11605268800 . Tiger was 3 back at 4 under after Thursday’s round. When Friday’s round was suspended (darkness), Tiger was 5 back, still at 4 under, and on the 10th hole.
NFL legend Paul Hornung passes: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/paul-hornung-notre-dame-heisman-winner-and-star-of-lombardis-packers-dynasty-dies-at-age-84-181350017.html . More: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/paul-hornung-dies-heisman-trophy-223957405.html . It’s interesting that the first article gives a cause of death but the second, later article does not.