CDC approves updated COVID boosters: https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-25d54eac31577dc30f7b2e0c0f11adda . Shots should arrive at pharmacies in a few days. UPDATE: AP has issued a correction that the CDC’s advisers recommended the shots, which now await CDC approval. WSJ: FURTHER UPDATE (I think): https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-boosters-targeting-omicron-to-be-reviewed-by-cdc-advisers-11662024602 . The Journal says the CDC director signed off on the panel’s recommendation, so apparently we’re back to the original AP story.
At-home COVID test demand spikes as free testing ends: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-09-01/deadline-looming-white-house-sees-spike-in-demand-for-at-home-virus-tests . Duh. One hopes someone realized this would happen.
US 9-year-olds’ math and reading skills lagged during pandemic: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-09-01/u-s-study-shows-alarming-dip-in-9-year-olds-reading-and-math-skills-during-pandemic .
Germany starts updated COVID booster shots next week: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-09-01/germany-to-start-omicron-adapted-covid-vaccinations-next-week-minister . But Europe updated to Omicron BA1. The US updated to the current dominant Omicron strain, BA5.
Europe approves use of Novavax vaccine as booster: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-09-01/eu-regulator-backs-use-of-novavax-covid-shot-as-a-booster .
COVID lockdowns drive China train travel to 8-year low: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-09-02/china-railway-travel-hits-8-year-low-in-summer-months-on-virus-flare-ups . More on COVID restrictions: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-09-01/chinas-shenzhen-extends-covid-curbs-but-stops-short-of-full-lockdown .
Weekly jobless claims drift lower to 232,000: https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-health-united-states-21a6bb6047f164b505d40731f7629c54 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-claims-dipped-last-week-in-tight-labor-market-11662036934 .
US helps Ukraine turn pick-ups into rocket launchers: https://www.aol.com/news/u-sending-vampire-kits-ukraine-090010019.html .
WSJ: UN nuclear inspectors reach Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-n-inspectors-set-to-cross-front-line-to-reach-russian-held-nuclear-plant-11662022518 .
Russian oil executive exits hospital through window: https://news.yahoo.com/russian-executive-lukoil-ravil-maganov-dead-moscow-window-133254698.html . “Defenestration” is such a chilling word. There are drawbacks to being a Russian oligarch.
Biden to speak to nation on the continuing threat to US democracy: https://www.aol.com/news/extremist-threat-democracy-biden-hopes-090122663.html . With Orange Julius front and center, Biden’s visibility will present an unmistakable contrast. At least, that is what Democrats are counting on as November nears. More: https://news.yahoo.com/maga-republicans-are-a-threat-to-democracy-white-house-says-213522484.html . UPDATE: Biden punches back at the MAGA Republicans as anti-democracy: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-punches-back-and-punches-hard-at-trump-and-extremist-maga-republicans-012230637.html . The fundamental problem for the GOP is that after January 6, you can’t really dispute Biden’s view, and the GOP can’t move past Orange Julius because he won’t get off the stage (at least until convicted). That’s not happening before November. Meanwhile, WSJ tries to defend the GOP “position”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-say-in-prime-time-address-democracy-is-at-stake-in-midterm-elections-11662048825 . Facts matter, you dimwits.
Some conservatives agree with Biden that the MAGA movement is fascist: https://www.alternet.org/2022/09/maga-cult-dictionary-definition-fascism/ . Again, you cannot really dispute Biden’s viewpoint. The sacred indicator of a democracy is free and fair elections. OJ lost, big time .
Meanwhile, Rick Scott tattoos an L on his own forehead: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rick-scott-lashes-out-at-mitch-mcconnell-in-sign-of-dimming-republican-hopes-for-senate/ar-AA11mHRA?cvid=38a86c56fe674602a016b7f7d99379a7 . Scott has proven himself totally incompetent at directing the GOP Senatorial campaign. Lashing out at McConnell is hardly going to raise his influence in the Senate.
The smoking gun in OJ’s desk drawer: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trumps-seized-passports-problem-legal-experts-say-rcna45726 . Facts matter. Now we know why the FBI seized the passports. The presence of classified material in OJ’s office was already a devastating indication that OJ had personally moved those documents, either from the White House or from the storage room, as previously discussed. However, finding classified material in a drawer with his passports is a clinching piece of information.
Unless the defense can develop a compelling alternate explanation supported by other evidence, OJ is indeed screwed. And the likelihood of OJ’s indictment has moved up another notch. OJ and his lawyers lied to the government about the classified material. They continue to fail to confront the facts. Therefore, a political decision by DOJ to place OJ above the law becomes more and more difficult. We’ll see what comes out of today’s hearing. Right now there is no reasonable explanation for the facts except ongoing behavior to refuse to return classified material to the government promptly.
Why Chris Kise was brought in: https://www.aol.com/news/trump-lawyer-ex-oan-host-090122876.html . Basically, OJ’s existing legal team needs to lawyer up. As we learn here, OJ’s previous lead counsel in this matter, Christina Bobb, signed the false certification of the location of classified material. Did she just take OJ’s word without actually performing a search beyond the storage room? Enquiring minds, now led by the DOJ, want to know.
Judge will issue more detailed list of materials seized from Mar-a-Lago: https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-trump-team-square-off-over-seized-records-11662045491 . Note that OJ lawyer James Trusty compared the failure to return the classified documents to “an overdue library book”. That is certainly one of the stupidest analogies ever uttered. So, as a lawyer, James is not to be Trusted.
Ginni Thomas wrote Wisconsin legislators to advocate fake electors: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-2022-midterm-elections-biden-us-supreme-court-technology-c01dc9baeb939d78772aca14d601c794 . Swell. This is doing wonders for the Supreme Court’s reputation. And this sure looks like treason.
Oath Keepers’ lawyer arrested in connection with January 6: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-texas-arrests-donald-trump-conspiracy-7aaff89385aeda4b4037605f0ff152c8 . Lying to the FBI is pretty much the road to hell. Ms. SoRelle told investigators that she had no knowledge of or involvement with the January 6 assault on the Capitol. However, just the facts mentioned in the article call that assertion into question. Also, given the charges against various Oath Keepers, her presence at the January 5 meeting between the leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers suggest she is heading down the wrong road.
January 6 insurrectionist convicted of assaulting a police officer, sentenced to 10 years in prison: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-prisons-new-york-donald-trump-presidential-elections-62ca153f4ecf3b7e2f3605c5b799582f .
Investment banker gives employees sales pitch/order to return to the office: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-09-01/dont-work-in-lonely-home-silos-jefferies-ceo-tells-staff . Right. Who would want to stay home in their “lonely home silo” when they can restart their commute to Manhattan? Yes, leave your spouse and kids at the silo so you can come in to office and discuss your expense report line by line with Ramona from Accounting in person. Someone might mention to the boss that he’s such a fool he made national news. So wouldn’t you want to be there to see that? No?
Serena wins again at the US Open: https://www.aol.com/sports/serena-williams-stuns-u-open-014752724.html . Really, how the hell did an about-to-be-41-year-old retiring star (and mom) beat the Number 2 player in the world? This strikes me as one of the most phenomenal results of Serena’s long career. I absolutely thought she had no chance.
Earnie Shavers passes at 78: https://sports.yahoo.com/earnie-shavers-regarded-as-one-of-the-hardest-punchers-in-boxing-history-dies-at-78-215017529.html .