Details of global vaccine donations: https://theweek.com/joe-biden/1001116/biden-reportedly-lowers-gop-infrastructure-offer-to-1-trillion-in-new-spending . This follows the general US structure reported previously, but with considerably more specificity. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-share-bulk-of-donated-covid-19-vaccine-doses-through-covax-program-11622734211 .
US and Japan sending vaccine doses to Taiwan: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/04/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/ . Once again, we see deft handling of foreign relations by the Biden administration. More: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-provide-12-mln-doses-coronavirus-vaccine-taiwan-2021-06-04/ .
Official US COVID death count passes 600,000: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covid-has-claimed-more-600-000-lives-united-states-n1269580 . Pretty much everyone believes this count is considerably understated. As reported here last month, when excess deaths are analyzed, the estimate already exceeds 900,000. Since another 26,000 official deaths are reported here, a conservative revision of the estimated total is now 930,000.
What we know about long COVID: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-covid-long-haulers . Note that one study found that 32% of those having long COVID initially had asymptomatic infections.
College students encouraged to get vaccine: https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2021-06-03/bidens-covid-19-college-vaccine-challenge-targets-students-for-inoculation . As high school and younger students will be vaccinated according to their parents’ decisions, college students are a logical next target.
Toledo Amazon delivery driver wins Vax-a-Million: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/winner-of-ohio-vaccine-lottery-says-1-million-prize-pushed-me-over-the-edge-to-get-a-covid-shot-11622751806 . WSJ: Lottery economics: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-straightforward-economics-of-vaccine-lotteries-11622717590 .
Circumstantial evidence accumulates for the lab accident theory of the coronavirus origin: https://news.yahoo.com/scientist-adventurer-chinas-bat-woman-104920076.html . When protective equipment is considered optional in various circumstances, the risk of an accident multiplies. By “accident”, I mean unintentional exposure to the virus.
WSJ: US drug price debate, round 350: https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-strain-to-unify-on-proposal-to-reduce-drug-prices-11622722106 . This debate seems to have strayed from the points everyone agrees on. The central idea for years has been to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices because we pay so much for drugs in relation to other countries in the world.
Drug development is not the issue, and is a red herring in this discussion. If it’s somehow an issue, pass legislation allowing negotiation only on drugs on the market for more than 5 years. The repeated failures by both parties suggest collusion between the legislators and the pharmaceutical industry, a major political contributor.
Weekly jobless claims drop to 385,000: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/weekly-jobless-claims-week-ended-may-29-2021-183006441.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-06-03-2021-11622668694 . As terrific as this is, we remain well above historic levels. Why? As one example, the restaurant industry has not yet returned. Small businesses are operating with skeleton crews. In my view, we are witnessing an historic dislocation of employment patterns. Many lower-paid workers have realized that their marginal income from part-time or full-time employment is not worth the time and stress. So, many two-wage earner households have dropped an income as one partner fully engages in home and/or child care functions.
With the alleged worker shortage in many places, we are seeing very little wage inflation so far. The early termination of federal supplemental unemployment benefits by Republican governors is an unhelpful mistake: https://money.yahoo.com/states-canceling-unemployment-benefits-will-cost-local-economies-175056421.html . Even though our workforce is increasingly educated, long-term employment at one employer will be increasingly rare. Automation will continue to outmode many current jobs – for example, truck drivers. My guess is that it will be at least the end of 2022 before we have a meaningful handle on how this dislocation translates into the post-pandemic economy.
WSJ: EU pushes back on US vaccine patent waiver proposal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-pushes-alternative-to-u-s-backed-covid-19-vaccine-patent-waiver-plan-11622732952 . Three million dead, and on we bicker.
WHO warns of COVID wave in Africa: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/556810-who-warns-of-continent-wide-third-wave-in-africa .
WHO does not regard Vietnam COVID as a new variant: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/556810-who-warns-of-continent-wide-third-wave-in-africa . Again, this new Greek letter naming system’s only advantage is elimination of the geographic reference. Otherwise, it provides no information. Same for the “Nepal variant”: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/03/nepal-covid-variant-does-it-exist-should-concerned . More: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01483-0 .
WSJ: Mathematicians can be actuaries: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-calculus-of-herd-immunity-11622748230 . Good grief. In the first place, calculus and partial differential equations are not necessary to understand or model herd immunity. In the second place, this approach assumes the disease is static. We know our largest current problem with COVID is the emergence of variants. All actuaries are mathematicians. Mathematicians who are not actuaries should stay away from matters on which they have no experience. And the Journal should know better.
The new infrastructure offer: https://theweek.com/joe-biden/1001116/biden-reportedly-lowers-gop-infrastructure-offer-to-1-trillion-in-new-spending . This appears to be a dance where nobody wants a partner. Biden has also offered to change the supporting tax structure: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-has-reportedly-offered-to-ditch-his-rollback-of-trump-era-tax-cuts-in-a-major-infrastructure-concession-to-gop/ar-AAKFJo9?li=BBnb7Kz . This then puts considerable pressure on the GOP to make a more viable offer.
The new Israeli coalition: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/06/02/israel-netanyahu-naftali-bennett-biden-491621 . This is most likely the calm before the storm. The new coalition won’t do much to reduce tensions with Israel’s neighbors. It also appears to be a step backward from the two-state solution.
Bush strategist Matthew Dowd: Go all in with the Democratic Party: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/former-bush-chief-strategist-says-us-needs-to-go-all-in-with-the-democratic-party-to-guard-our-republic/ar-AAKGYjR?li=BBnb7Kz . Translation: Dowd is telling traditional Republicans to abandon the OJ version. He does not support formation of a third party by that group.
There is no DeJoy in OJ’s Muddville: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fbi-investigating-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy-in-connection-with-his-political-fundraising/ar-AAKFUWC?li=BBnb7Kz . Unfortunately, DeJoy is still in charge of the Post Office. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/dejoy-is-investigated-by-fbi-over-fundraising-11622746212 .
Meanwhile, Rudy’s stock continues to decline: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/prosecutors-propose-ex-federal-judge-to-review-giulianis-mobile-devices-computers-for-privilege-issues/ar-AAKH0Oa?li=BBnb7Kz . Translation: We’re dotting all the i’s in this high-profile prosecution.
Gaetz now under investigation for obstruction of justice: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/03/matt-gaetz-under-investigation-for-potential-obstruction-of-justice-in-sex-probe.html . “FBI expands investigation” and “the story keeps changing” are two really different ideas. The first is a fact, the second is spin. Really, we are just waiting for the government to unravel the OJ mafia. The question is at whom they will cast the first stone (indictment). More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/reporter-explains-why-feds-expanded-gaetz-probe-to-include-obstruction/vi-AAKFE89 .
WSJ: When war becomes a video game: https://www.wsj.com/articles/armed-low-cost-drones-made-by-turkey-reshape-battlefields-and-geopolitics-11622727370 . Effective kill strikes by remote operators with low-cost drones will revolutionize the risks of field operations. This further dehumanizes killing.
WSJ: Fixing the Texas grid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-power-grid-operator-should-enhance-emergency-units-former-regulators-say-11622758661 . Excuse me. The rational solution here is to integrate the Texas grid into the national grid. These cowboys have mismanaged this vital resource, and people died as a result. So this is a public safety and national security issue which should not be subject to Texas politics.