First polio case since 2013: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/21/polio-new-york-first-in-decade-00047176 . More: https://www.aol.com/news/polio-found-york-first-case-181825814.html . Still more, from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/polio/what-is-polio/polio-us.html .WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-gives-healthcare-ambitions-a-booster-shot-11658427599 . Polio was declared eliminated in the US in 1979. Occasionally a case develops in a recent foreign traveler. This occurred in 2013 in a 7-month-old infant who had recently come to the US from India. The new case, in New York state just north of the city, involves a young adult who had not recently traveled. By definition, the virus was transmitted within the US. The last time this happened was 1993.
President Biden has COVID: https://news.yahoo.com/it-is-not-a-fever-white-house-reassures-that-bidens-covid-19-is-mild-212144614.html .
Hypertension raises risk of serious illness from Omicron: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-07-21/oral-vaccine-shows-promise-hypertension-ups-covid-hospitalization-risk .
China COVID surge continues: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-21/china-reports-1-011-new-covid-cases-for-july-21-vs-943-day-earlier . So will China EVER get away from Zero COVID? How can our economy be losing ground to these dimwits? More on Shanghai: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-21/shanghai-reports-15-new-local-asymptomatic-covid-cases-3-symptomatic-for-july-21 .
Tokyo sets daily COVID case record: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-21/tokyos-daily-covid-cases-cross-30-000-for-first-time-in-pandemic . So who thinks the global pandemic is over?
First malaria vaccine rolls out in Africa: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-philanthropy-united-nations-world-organization-1699b39fbd70c43a741ddc01608212ec .
Will monkeypox become an entrenched STD?: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-07-22/monkeypox-virus-could-become-entrenched-as-new-std-in-the-us . This virus is not particularly contagious. As such, contact tracing would be the perfect solution to halting entrenchment. But if our response to COVID is any indication, monkeypox is well on its way to becoming entrenched.
Amazon to buy OneMedical: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/21/tech/amazon-one-medical/index.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-gives-healthcare-ambitions-a-booster-shot-11658427599 . Amazon increases its footprint in healthcare. I would guess that they will offer this benefit to their employees. There are limited antitrust concerns here. The comments about Amazon controlling data would apply to any acquirer of One Medical, as anyone who knows anything about data knows. There are also privacy protections for health information. The media really does need to learn how to find a real expert when they hold someone up as an expert.
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims hit 251,000, 2022 high: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-claims-rise-to-new-high-for-year-11658409095 .
The recession “debate”: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-07-21/gdp-may-fall-again-in-q2-does-it-mean-recession . Our economics knowledge is apparently going downhill. The technical definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. As we have said here for some time, there is widespread expectation that Q2 data will show contraction. End of discussion.
The article makes the bizarre argument that Q1 involved unusual factors while Q2 will show real slowing. First, to my knowledge no one has ever argued that unusual factors allow you to skirt the technical definition. But second and more important, if Q2 shows real slowing, we are in meaningful trouble. Time will tell us the depth of this (soon expected to be confirmed) recession. However, if the established definition is met, the 2022 recession counts. Also, we are now seeing more layoffs. If Q3 also shows contraction, this fake debate will be forgotten.
January 6 committee hearing documents Orange Julius’ dereliction of duty: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/live-blog/january-6-committee-hearings-live-updates-day-8-rcna36739 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/jan-6-hearing-today-trump . The central point made was that the presidential oath (which is in the Constitution) requires OJ to defend the Constitution. His failure to protect the Capitol and its elected representatives and staff constitutes direct violation of that oath.
Liz Cheney chaired the hearing (as the chairman, seen on videotape, has COVID). She announced that the committee will have one or two more hearings in September.
The committee also showed footage of Josh Hawley, who is just a derelict: https://news.yahoo.com/josh-hawley-video-running-capitol-riot-jan-6-hearing-013813692.html . I chuckled when the room laughed at Hawley. One hopes the citizens of Missouri will not make this mistake again.
Justice Kagan worries about the Supreme Court’s legitimacy: https://news.yahoo.com/justice-kagan-gives-pointed-warning-003013980.html . I completely agree with her concern. How would you like it if your employer stripped away a right from women? And in her case, it was a Constitutional right …
WSJ: ECB raises interest rates 50 basis points: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ecb-raises-rates-by-half-a-percentage-point-11658406446 . You may remember my outrage at The Guardian’s economics editor for calling the US rate rise “selfish”. What does that bonehead think now that most other developed countries are also raising rates?
Italian government falls as Draghi resigns: https://apnews.com/article/elections-legislature-italy-802d6ab0965feebf4e3f7bda1659df42 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mario-draghi-resigns-as-italy-prime-minister-11658391889 . Um, NATO unity against Russia is not helped by having two governments fall in the past few days.
WSJ: Both sides face weapons shortfall in Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-faces-shortfall-in-weapons-as-it-gears-up-for-first-major-counteroffensive-11658398142 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-donbas-offensive-slows-as-ukraine-takes-advantage-of-western-arms-11658401361 . This currently looks like a long siege. However, more US precision artillery could alter this scenario.
WSJ: A new solution to the chip shortage: Slowing consumer demand: https://www.wsj.com/articles/semiconductor-shares-sink-as-chip-stockpiles-grow-11658395980 . More: Samsung considers $200 billion commitment to Texas chip manufacturing plant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-electronics-floats-nearly-200-billion-spend-on-new-texas-plants-in-next-decades-11658401811 . Chip manufacturing is a delicate process. So, are y’all familiar with the Texas power grid? You’d be better off in 49 other states.
Monarch butterflies listed as endangered species: https://apnews.com/article/science-north-america-insects-butterflies-climate-and-environment-c5e406e2f01c731167393296c19c302b . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservation-group-puts-migratory-monarch-butterfly-on-endangered-list-11658449244 .