New Omicron variants escape vaccines: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-12-15/study-bq-xbb-are-most-resistant-coronavirus-variants-to-date . Importantly, the vaccines still prevent severe illness and hospitalization.
White House reauthorizes free COVID test kits: https://apnews.com/article/white-house-reveals-winter-covid-plans-test-kits-2b015ef4e3c97520a3981c47d00467c3 . This is reasonable in light of the current surge.
Fauci responds to DeMentis threat: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3775812-fauci-responds-to-desantis-call-for-covid-19-vaccine-investigation/ .
China’s messy end of Zero COVID: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-15/china-urges-vaccines-for-vulnerable-as-zero-covid-exit-turns-messy . However, as we know, this mess was completely foreseeable. China’s policy here is mass murder. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijings-parcel-pileup-shows-strain-of-zero-covid-exit-11671099775 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-economy-struggled-in-zero-covids-final-month-11671083136 . Also: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-leaders-plot-pivot-back-toward-boosting-economy-11671103324 . The COVID tsunami underway will wash away these growth projections.
WSJ: US unprepared for next global health crisis: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-intelligence-agencies-unprepared-for-next-global-health-crisis-house-panel-says-11671121416 .
WSJ: UK nurses strike: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-nurses-stage-biggest-ever-strike-as-health-system-strains-11671121289 .
Strep A killing UK children: https://www.yahoo.com/news/what-you-should-know-about-strep-a-the-usually-mild-infection-killing-kids-in-the-uk-155527889.html .
WSJ: Wall Street refuses to believe the Fed: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-markets-dont-believe-the-fed-11671112067 . Essentially, the markets believe the party will never end. However, at its core, that encourages inflation and will make the recession worse. Guys, economic cycles are not boom. They are boom and bust.
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims fall by 20,000 to 211,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jobless-claims-fell-by-20-000-last-week-11671111939 .
Senate passes defense authorization: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3777271-senate-sends-858-billion-defense-bill-to-bidens-desk/ . We move closer to defusing the politically created government funding crisis. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-to-vote-on-858-billion-defense-policy-bill-11671122461 .
WSJ: Ukraine increases attacks on Russian-occupied territory in the east: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-steps-up-attacks-on-russian-targets-in-occupied-territory-11671105323 . As winter sets in, more of the war will turn to artillery and rocket attacks.
WSJ: Texas would rather freeze its citizens to death than encourage energy conservation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-has-an-obvious-affordable-fix-for-its-electricity-problem-11671067175 . The Texas GOP has won the first team bronze in the Idiot Olympics. Remember, we only give out bronzes because … well, they’re idiots.
Biden allies plan to focus on Orange Julius for 2024: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/biden-allies-plot-2024-strategy-focused-trump-even-fades-away-rcna61069 . So if OJ is not on the ballot, this copies OJ’s 2020 strategy of running against Hillary. By the way, that didn’t work. DeMentis is a threat to democracy in his own right. Biden needs a brain trust that contains actual brains.
Giuliani DC disbarment recommended by DC Bar counsel: https://www.aol.com/news/giuliani-disciplined-over-2020-election-192247396.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rudy-giuliani-violated-ethics-says-tentative-finding-by-d-c-bar-11671127129 .
Biden releases most but not all JFK documents: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-releases-jfk-assassination-records-rcna61286 . Obviously, there is something in the remaining records that government does not want seen. This only increases suspicion from a recent report that a reporter claims strong evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald worked for the CIA. WSJ: More (or less): https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-archives-releases-more-than-13-000-documents-on-kennedy-assassination-11671145042 .
Musk becomes increasingly volatile: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/twitter-suspends-journalists-covering-elon-musk-company-rcna62032 . These Twitter suspensions do nothing to protect his family. If anything, they increase his risk by publicizing the availability of this data. However, they do demonstrate no commitment to a free press or free speech. That would seem obvious to any rational individual. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-twitter-flame-throwing-has-new-magnitude-11671100283 .
WSJ: EY may have missed window to split off its consulting business: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ey-looks-at-backup-plans-on-split-amid-higher-costs-slower-growth-11671060047 . So it looks like they needed a better business consultant … oh, whoops …
Prison terms for Whitmer kidnapping plotters: https://apnews.com/article/crime-michigan-government-and-politics-f6ed3d5b2546dbe9c60bb34b9ee8ddb4 .
MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropy website: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mackenzie-scott-launches-website-to-detail-her-philanthropic-efforts-11671122995 .
WSJ: Watch the World Cup, not football this weekend: https://www.wsj.com/articles/football-world-cup-nfl-messi-mbappe-mahomes-brady-11671107402 . This only works if you want to be informed. However, that’s not really a priority for most of the Journal’s readership.