US states manipulate COVID data: https://about.bgov.com/news/health-care-briefing-faulty-incomplete-data-harms-covid-fight/ . In essence, Massachusetts changed its count of those hospitalized “with COVID” to “for COVID”. This cut the number of reported cases in half. So a major part of why surges look smaller now are (a) we only report 1/7 to 1/8 of new cases due to at-home testing or asymptomatic infections, and (b) we’ve narrowed hospital reporting, for no sensible reason. The end of the pandemic should not look like a marketing campaign.
COVID rebound after Paxlovid treatment: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/us-seeks-urgent-data-on-covid-relapses-after-using-pfizers-drug/ar-AAWJIrJ?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: Paxlovid ineffective as COVID preventative: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizers-covid-19-pill-failed-study-testing-its-preventative-use-11651276069 .
More on the Colorado bird flu case: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/u-reports-first-human-case-045109699-092954162.html . Direct human contact with live poultry in China is the main source of new global influenza strains. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/contagious-bird-flu-presents-low-risk-to-people-after-colorado-case-11651259607 .
Climate changes increases pandemic risk: https://www.aol.com/news/climate-change-pushing-animals-migrate-193615143.html . So the reason is that viruses can jump from species to species, with deadly effect. Climate change causes animal migration, increasing the opportunity for viruses to find new animal populations to inhabit.
How COVID changed the US workplace: https://news.yahoo.com/five-enduring-workplaces-changes-driven-by-the-pandemic-163712035.html . Most of these changes were trends prior to COVID. But COVID has accelerated some of these changes.
Russia has had 800,000 COVID deaths: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-29/russias-total-number-of-covid-related-deaths-surpasses-800-000 . This calculation is based on excess deaths, which in my view is the most accurate way to estimate COVID deaths.
The pandemic in China: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-29/shanghai-hits-key-milestone-in-covid-battle-as-china-cases-fall . WSJ: China fails to vaccinate elderly: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-covid-19-defenses-have-a-missing-piece-vaccinating-the-elderly-11651226400 .
DOJ sues Paul Manafort over Ukraine corruption: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-sues-former-trump-campaign-chair-paul-manafort-offshore-accounts-rcna26578 . Note that DOJ notified Manafort of these charges while Orange Julius was still in office. OJ pardoned Manafort 6 months later, but that did not apply to this case. The pardon covered other corruption, of course.
Former US Marine killed fighting in Ukraine: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/american-killed-fighting-ukrainian-forces-family-says-rcna26592 .
Ukraine prosecutors unveil first war crimes charges: https://www.aol.com/news/youre-not-going-away-ukraine-080011460.html .
Ukraine trains keep running: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-war-russia-trains-rail-network-strikes-military-supply-rcna26023 . This is really impressive. Now explain Amtrak to me, again …
Do the Russians believe NATO is waging war against them?: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/04/ukraine-nato-russia-proxy-war.html . They should, because as we noted here, Putin has gotten stuck in a proxy war with the US. However, NATO is increasingly joining in, recognizing the threat Putin represents. And Putin has no graceful exit plan.
NATO could wipe out the Russian forces in Ukraine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/f-35-pilot-nato-could-completely-destroy-the-russian-forces/ar-AAWJMom?li=BBnb7Kz . Here’s another problem, Vlad.
WSJ: Poland sends tanks to Poland: https://www.wsj.com/articles/poland-supplies-ukraine-with-hundreds-of-soviet-style-tanks-11651240293 .
Russian offensive stalls version 2.0: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/amid-hardening-western-resolve-signs-of-russias-stalling-in-eastern-ukraine/ar-AAWKYBF?li=BBnb7Kz . It’s not working, Vlad. Now what? WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-making-slow-progress-in-bid-to-cut-off-ukrainian-forces-11651143367 .
WSJ: Inflation entrenching itself in the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-employers-labor-costs-inflation-q1-2022-11651186023 .
The GOP plan to steal the 2024 election: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/27/opinions/gop-blueprint-to-steal-the-2024-election-luttig/index.html . Read this carefully and be very, very scared. Luttig is a retired federal judge and had direct involvement in the 2020 steal attempt, advising Mike Pence not to vote for the electoral challenge. Luttig’s point is to encourage passage of electoral reform now. However, he makes the quite reasonable point that the ongoing promotion of the ridiculous Big Lie is a distraction from something more devious. Luttig argues there are now 5 votes on the Supreme Court to accept the “independent state legislature” doctrine, and his evidence is strong: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/podcast/what-is-the-independent-state-legislature-doctrine .
We cannot forget that the mental Lilliputians who current hold power in the GOP are focused on their personal power and not American democracy. Remember that Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, among many others, privately promoted and openly supported the insane challenge to the vote on January 6.
WSJ: Another January 6 insurrectionist pleads guilty to seditious conspiracy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/second-jan-6-defendant-pleads-guilty-to-seditious-conspiracy-11651256027 .
Judge keeps contempt ruling in force against Orange Julius: https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-subpoenas-nyc-state-wire-61cc1cdb2a1ca3629f6e408edcad7aa4 . The concept that business property appraisals have completely disappeared is a highly questionable defense. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-denies-donald-trumps-bid-to-end-contempt-finding-11651264022 .
Marjorie Taylor Greene is a liar: https://news.yahoo.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-dancing-around-the-truth-regarding-martial-law-text-lawyer-says-234519755.html .
Boris Becker receives 2½ year prison sentence for bankruptcy fraud: https://www.aol.com/sports/former-tennis-champion-becker-gets-145050914-162515020.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boris-becker-faces-prison-time-for-concealing-assets-after-bankruptcy-11651237096 .
James Corden to leave The Late, Late Show in one year: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/james-corden-gets-emotional-while-addressing-leaving-the-late-late-show-065926737.html . As newsletter postings often occur near to my self-imposed 1 am deadline, I did see this announcement last night. Colbert and Corden are my regular weekday companions, and Corden will be remembered for the creation of Carpool Karaoke.