Oklahoma fights shot misinformation: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/child-vaccine-rates-slip-local-health-officials-fight-misinformation-rcna62861 . Government’s job should indeed be correcting misinformation to advance societal purposes.
Chinese hospitals strained by COVID: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-27/chinese-hospitals-extremely-busy-as-covid-spreads-unchecked . Everyone realizes their death reports remain absurdly low. They also do not fit the facts on the ground.
Chinese turn to traditional medicines: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/27/china-covid-lemons-peaches-and-tcm-bought-as-protection-from-virus.html . COVID fear grips the population. The best course would be isolation and mask use, but of course the Omicron varieties battering China are highly contagious.
As China reopens, other countries close to China: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/china-reopening-borders-leads-other-countries-to-restrict-entry/ar-AA15J8Sd?cvid=448bfaadc53449b4876b520a8952874a . This response makes sense given Omicron’s contagiousness. China can hardly complain as it closed itself to foreigners for almost 3 years. The US also has this matter under consideration: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-27/u-s-weighs-covid-prevention-measures-for-travelers-from-china-bloomberg-news . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-rush-for-exit-as-beijing-ends-zero-covid-and-opens-its-doors-11672143869 .
Two American children die of strep A: https://www.yahoo.com/now/least-2-us-kids-died-230622199.html .
WSJ: The darker side of telehealth: https://www.wsj.com/articles/telehealth-cerebral-done-ads-mental-health-adhd-11672161087 .
Quinapril pulled over cancer concerns: https://www.aol.com/blood-pressure-tablets-recalled-over-180822538.html .
WSJ: US healthcare deal-making looks strong for 2023: https://www.wsj.com/articles/healthcare-deal-making-set-to-surge-in-2023-11672101417 .
Blizzard death toll now 65: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/deadly-blizzard-killed-57-still-wreaking-havoc-us-rcna63301 . WSJ: Over 30 have died around Buffalo: https://www.wsj.com/articles/death-toll-from-buffalo-storm-rises-to-at-least-28-11672154099 .
Southwest CEO apologizes for mass cancellations: https://abcnews.go.com/US/airlines-cancel-thousands-flights-amid-winter-storm-chaos/story?id=95834221 . This mess does long-term damage to an airline’s reputation.
WSJ: US pension funds have low level of cash: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cash-cushions-dwindle-at-u-s-pension-funds-11672059775 . Pension plan outflows are quite predictable. However, the markets have every possibility of an extended bear market. If that happens, pension fund asset sales could further depress the market.
Supreme Court allows Title 42 to stand for now: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-keeps-place-trump-era-immigration-policy-allowing-asylum-rcna62560 . The pandemic is not over. However, these immigrants do not represent a particular health threat to US citizens. Chinese citizens appear the greater threat right now given the massive COVID wave sweeping that country at this time. Overall, though, I agree with Gorsuch’s dissent that the health emergency has passed. WSJ: We agree on Gorsuch (WHAT?): https://www.wsj.com/articles/title-42-survives-for-now-supreme-court-neil-gorsuch-dissent-border-11672183511 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-leaves-pandemic-border-controls-in-place-11672178053 .
Kevin McCarthy’s Speakership bid may have peaked: https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-2659014826/ . Couldn’t happen to a more deserving loser.
Calls increase for congressman-elect to resign: https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/congressman-elect-george-santos-faces-increasing-calls-resign-rcna63331 . Presumably most everyone is baffled as to how this guy could lend his campaign $700,000. Follow the money. More: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3789899-incoming-gop-congressman-from-ny-calls-for-full-house-ethics-investigation-into-santos/ . More on potential legal consequences: https://news.yahoo.com/with-campaign-lies-exposed-santos-could-face-legal-consequences-204951195.html .
Russian defenestration continues: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64101437 . Clearly, Russians risk their lives when criticizing the government.
Putin moves to seize assets of oligarchs who have fled: https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2022-12-27/putin-turns-on-oligarchs-to-shore-up-russian-economic-battlefield-woes . The oligarchs have more power than just assets, especially as a group. Putin is living dangerously. However, defenestration seems likely to continue and perhaps gain pace.
Tesla shares tank over China COVID concerns: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-stock-elon-musk-twitter-china-covid/ . True, but that’s hardly Tesla’s only problem. Tesla has meaningful EV competitors in China. So there is every possibility they will take increasing market share from Tesla.
Twitter ‘s path may be a dead end: https://www.cnet.com/news/social-media/elon-musk-took-twitter-from-troubled-to-tanking/ .