UK variant Category 5 COVID event coming, says Osterholm: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michael-osterholm-category-5-hurricane-coronavirus_n_60178a0fc5b63b0fb2823174 . This article reflects Osterholm’s comments Sunday on “Meet the Press”, and contains a link to the full comments. Keep in mind that the South African variant and others are also moving through the US by community spread.
South Africa receives first vaccine doses: https://abcnews.go.com/International/1st-vaccine-doses-arrive-south-africa-amid-variant/story?id=75611629 . The world is too late to stop the South African variant. This story illustrates why global vaccination is necessary to protect us all from the pandemic.
US buys 8.5 million at-home COVID tests: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-02-01/biden-white-house-strikes-230m-deal-for-at-home-coronavirus-testing-kits . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-reaches-deal-with-australian-company-ellume-for-at-home-covid-19-tests-11612198271 .
The argument over the second dose: https://bestlifeonline.com/white-house-vaccine-mistake/ . If the White House can establish reliable three-week projections of vaccine delivery, this argument will go away.
US seniors face second dose appointment scramble: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-doses/americans-scramble-for-appointments-for-second-covid-19-vaccine-dose-idUSKBN2A125G . One would hope that a month from now, this problem has gone away.
WHO says declining cases prove variants can be controlled: https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-02-01/who-decline-in-global-coronavirus-cases-shows-variants-can-be-controlled . We all hope the variants will be controlled. The recent decline in cases does not prove that we can control the variants.
Manaus second wave raises fears of variants: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/02/coronavirus-pandemic-brazil-variant/617891/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fast-spreading-covid-19-variant-surges-in-brazil-worrying-scientists-11612187591 .
The variant risk: https://www.thecut.com/2021/02/coronavirus-variants-how-worried-should-we-be.html .
WSJ: Who is a COVID long-hauler?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19s-effects-may-linger-in-your-body-even-after-asymptomatic-cases-11612213201 . It may take years to unravel COVID’s effects.
Vaccine hesitancy among LA firefighters: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-dont-appeal-to-some-firefighters-even-with-prizes-11612188230 .
WSJ: Vaccinations during pregnancy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-leave-pregnant-women-in-a-quandary-11612186383 .
COVID’s “Black Tax”: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-02-01/black-doctors-covid-burden-patients-social-ills-and-workplace-bigotry .
CDC data shows significant racial disparities in vaccine shot distribution: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/01/cdc-coronavirus-vaccine-disparities-464452 .
WSJ: Front-line workers wearing down: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pandemic-wears-on-essential-workers-everybody-forgets-that-youre-still-on-the-front-line-11612197832 .
WSJ: Post-vaccine, people look forward to the new normal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-the-covid-vaccine-people-find-joy-in-little-things-11612198522 .
Two House representatives from Massachusetts test positive for COVID after vaccination: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stephen-lynch-covid-vaccine_n_60178b80c5b6aa4bad3554f6 . This is important for the public to understand. The vaccines do not contain virus, live or dead. These are infections occurring before the body has been able to build an immune response from the vaccines.
Captain Tom hospitalized with COVID: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/01/cdc-coronavirus-vaccine-disparities-464452 .
Israel to give 5,000 vaccine doses to Palestinian doctors to immunize front-line healthcare workers: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-give-5-000-coronavirus-vaccines-palestinian-doctors-n1256317 . Not much, but a start. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-sends-2-000-doses-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-to-palestinians-11612201397 .
WSJ: In Israel, ultraorthodox vaccine hesitancy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-leaders-clash-with-ultraorthodox-over-lockdowns-vaccines-11612199623 .
Cuomo and health experts: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/02/10287538/andrew-cuomo-new-york-covid-health-experts-resigning-reason . Déjà vu all over again.
WSJ: Storm disrupts vaccinations in Northeast: https://www.wsj.com/articles/snow-storm-halts-new-york-citys-covid-19-vaccinations-11612183362 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/noreaster-threatens-up-to-2-feet-of-snow-11612187730 .
WSJ: Biden backs away from Orange Julius’ legal battles: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-cancel-arguments-on-border-wall-asylum-policy-11612216933 . There is no need to battle over policies that have been discarded.
The “10 Senators” $600 billion relief plan: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-whats-in-the-600-billion-relief-plan-from-10-republican-senators-11612196941 . This is a non-starter for Democrats without state and local government relief. If that hurdle can be overcome, a deal can be made. This puts Biden and staff to the test of their deal-making abilities with the other side of the aisle. More: https://www.vox.com/22260255/senate-republicans-stimulus-plan . The Vox view is more pessimistic about a deal. They believe Biden cannot reduce the spending level in his initial proposal. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stimulus-debate-tests-limits-of-democrats-election-mandate-11612191893 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-propose-618-billion-covid-relief-plan-11612188851 .
Cold water on a potential deal?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-plays-down-prospects-for-biden-gop-meeting-on-relief-bill/ar-BB1dieLr?li=BBnb7Kz . These comments strongly suggest the $1.9 trillion figure cannot be downsized, in which case a deal is almost impossible. Biden will have given the moderate Republicans a hearing, but that’s about it.
Redirection of federal funds: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/31/usda-agriculture-tug-of-war-463843 . There are problems with Congressional oversight of the executive branch, no matter which side of the aisle you’re on.
WSJ: More on the Myanmar coup: https://www.wsj.com/articles/myanmars-coup-derails-fragile-democracy-posing-test-for-biden-11612183781 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi-11612169495 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-slams-myanmar-militarys-seizure-of-power-11612201288 .
Some of the nominees for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nobel-prize-peace-usa/u-s-voting-rights-activist-stacey-abrams-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-idUSKBN2A12HY . Besides Abrams, Navalny and Thunberg are worthy nominees. The nomination of Jared Kushner is appalling (it was Alan Dershowitz). Whoever nominated Orange Julius should have their right to nominate removed: https://people.com/politics/trump-attorney-nominates-jared-kushner-nobel-peace-prize/ .
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Dozens of former Bush officials quit the Orange Julius cult: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-republicans-exclusive-idUSKBN2A1275 . The radicalization of what’s left of the Republican Party continues. More: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/02/10287538/andrew-cuomo-new-york-covid-health-experts-resigning-reason .
GOP Senator speaks out against Greene: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rob-portman-marjorie-taylor-greene_n_601725d6c5b63b0fb281fd4b . Portman’s decision not to run in 2022 has freed him to speak up. Will this affect any of the Republican sheep in Congress?
Another GOP Senator speaks out against Greene: Mitch McConnell: https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-conspiracy-theories-shootings-las-vegas-mass-shooting-steny-hoyer-d0622c86db9d67dff60a5d9511801795 . This is quite unusual. One hopes Kevin McCarthy gets the message, but there may well be House action against Greene with or without McCarthy. McConnell also defended Liz Cheney: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/as-house-gop-faces-decision-on-its-future-mcconnell-defends-cheney-rebukes-greene-in-rare-set-of-statements/ar-BB1diPh6?li=BBnb7Kz .
The Greene lunacy is coming to a head: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/01/democrats-marjorie-taylor-greene-ultimatum-464382 . She is in the process of becoming the new Steve King, now a former GOP congressman from Iowa. And she’s way nuttier than King, which is saying quite a bit.
Opposition to Hawley continues: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/over-16000-christians-demand-cancellation-of-josh-hawleys-new-book-deal/ar-BB1dijGH?li=BBnbfcL . There are strong signs that Orange Julius’ coalition cannot be sustained by another politician. The warning to the Senate GOP that impeachment is their best off-ramp appears quite sensible.
The Republican Party has allowed lies to be fed to its base. Their leadership is now unable to persuade the base because facts don’t matter. Meanwhile liars like Hawley and Cruz are strongly disliked. The road to a new Republican majority is not at all obvious right now. A permanent opposition party with no platform and no leader has no future. Trump really has burned the party to the ground on his way out. July 3 is the 50th anniversary of Jim Morrison’s death.
RNC distances itself from former Trump attorneys: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/536750-rnc-chairwoman-expresses-regret-over-giuliani-presser . This is an attempt to make the Republican rank and file realize the consequences of Trump’s lies. Good luck with that.