Unvaccinated fuel Utah COVID surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-07-27/in-utah-hospitals-swell-with-unvaccinated-covid-19-patients . So this feels like the 200th chorus of this song …
CDC to recommend masking indoors for vaccinated people: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/27/cdc-to-reverse-indoor-mask-policy-to-recommend-them-for-fully-vaccinated-people-in-covid-hot-spots.html . The re-open/retreat yo-yo continues to spin. More: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cdc-expected-to-reverse-policy-on-face-masks-later-tuesday-amid-reports-of-breakthrough-infections-with-delta-variant-of-covid-19-11627399505 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-to-urge-vaccinated-people-to-resume-wearing-masks-in-public-indoor-spaces-11627399286 .
House resumes mask mandate: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/565185-house-to-resume-mask-mandate-after-new-cdc-guidance .
Anti-mask protesters force one-day delay in school board meeting: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/us/florida-anti-mask-protesters-school-board-meeting/index.html . So the delay was to secure additional security. Note also that Governor DeMentis met with “a panel of experts” who reinforced his anti-mask viewpoint. What was this exactly? A Zoom call with Dr. Atlas and Rand Paul?
WSJ: Update on the Delta variant and COVID vaccines: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-delta-variant-and-covid-19-vaccines-what-to-know-11627079604 .
Severe COVID cases surge in Tokyo: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/severe-covid-19-cases-surge-tokyo-during-olympics-n1275109 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tokyo-sets-new-daily-record-for-covid-19-cases-with-olympics-under-way-11627374142 .
Is this becoming the Emotional Stress Olympics?: https://sports.yahoo.com/simone-biles-out-of-olympic-all-around-womens-gymnastics-team-final-114226281.html . More: https://sports.yahoo.com/naomi-osaka-face-of-the-tokyo-olympics-knocked-out-in-third-round-054019523.html . This is more than the glare of the spotlight. The pressure on stars is now a pressure cooker of destructive intensity. So would any parent want their child to step in? WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biles-and-osaka-lay-bare-the-strains-of-tokyos-pandemic-olympics-11627406724 .
The Olympics is becoming an unwanted guest: https://sports.yahoo.com/nobody-really-wants-to-host-the-olympics-anymore-and-tokyo-demonstrates-the-danger-122511995.html . We discussed problems with the Olympics business model yesterday. But as this article correctly points out, that model has included a lot of corruption. Between these guys and FIFA, international sports will hopefully face a reckoning sooner rather than later.
WSJ: IMF resets countries’ growth prospects based on vaccination rates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/imf-sees-countries-economic-prospects-split-based-on-covid-19-vaccination-rates-11627390800 .
Partial resolution in the Atlanta massage parlor shooting: https://apnews.com/article/shootings-georgia-massage-business-shootings-4c9d611102b25b49b8bfee276278c472 . So, the plea agreement does not appear to be centered on sound psychiatric theory. However, between the judge’s comments and Biden’s step away from the federal death penalty, it’s unclear what is served by further federal prosecution.
GOP: A few stress cracks in BigLieLand: https://apnews.com/article/ap-poll-trump-republicans-future-ba85f8d2a572c553b621f86e991ee197 . This feels like Jonestown to me. 76% of the party not only drank the Kool-Aid, but wants another glass.
January 6 hearings open: https://news.yahoo.com/daniel-hodges-testimony-january-6-capitol-hearing-terrorists-cult-154904678.html. Pelosi’s emphasis on a nonpartisan approach is the right tone for this investigation. Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy completes his traditional daily routine: sucking an egg. More: https://news.yahoo.com/cheney-says-every-minute-of-trumps-actions-on-jan-6-will-be-investigated-145526230.html . There seems to be no possibility of Liz Cheney being re-elected in Wyoming. However, she is certainly doing the right thing, which is admirable outside of OJ Fantasyland. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/capitol-police-officer-describes-fighting-hand-to-hand-inch-by-inch-in-jan-6-testimony-11627398536 .
DOJ refuses to defend Mo Brooks’ lunacy: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/27/justice-department-declines-mo-brooks-lawsuit-501103 . My preference has always been for less Brooks. WSJ: Mo (or less): https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-wont-defend-gop-lawmaker-mo-brooks-in-lawsuit-over-jan-6-riot-11627439234 .
Trump endorsement takes Republican front-runner to second place: https://www.politico.com/election-results/2021/texas/special-election-july-27/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-special-election-tests-trumps-influence-in-gop-11627390823 .