Lunar New Year “Great Migration” begins: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-01-07/chinas-great-migration-kicks-off-under-shadow-of-covid . This Lunar New Year we will witness the “Great COVID Migration” from urban to rural China.
Medicare won’t pay for Leqembi: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-alzheimers-drug-leqembi-will-be-out-of-reach-for-most-patients-11673055252 .
China population decline: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/12/05/key-facts-about-chinas-declining-population/ . This analysis apparently does not consider the effects of COVID or abandoning Zero COVID. Granted, my estimate of coming deaths is at least 2.5 million, a small 0.2% of China’s population. Most of the deceased will be past child bearing age. However, my expectation is still that China will lose population more rapidly than this estimate. Further, I expect net outward population migration from China as more people seek opportunity and freedom outside the country.
WSJ: Recouping FTX’s charitable contributions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ftx-seeks-to-recoup-sam-bankman-frieds-charitable-donations-11673049354 .
Russia’s unilateral 36-hour Christmas truce wobbles along to conclusion: https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-ukraine-russia-war-moscow-9b3a132b330c90a10e8f031113be241b . More: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-01-07/moscow-ends-self-proclaimed-ceasefire-vows-to-press-ahead-in-ukraine . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-thanks-church-for-supporting-ukraine-invasion-in-christmas-message-11673110042 .
GOP nearly comes to blows after Matt Gaetz thwarted Kevin McCarthy on the penultimate Speaker’s ballot: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article270885762.html . This “stuff” generally goes on only in third world countries. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-tense-late-night-push-finally-won-kevin-mccarthy-the-speakers-gavel-11673135053 .
McCarthy wins institutional chaos: https://news.yahoo.com/kevin-mccarthy-wins-house-speaker-concessions-congress-054001805.html . The extraordinary dysfunction of the GOP, on full display last week, appears likely to stain the next 2 years of House behavior. The commentary I heard on Friday put the blame on the GOP tolerance of lies and “alternative facts” over the past 7 years. I would add, as a result people have been elected to Congress who are unable to understand or accept responsibility, in general or as it relates to public office.
More on first-grader shooting Virginia teacher: https://apnews.com/article/education-teaching-newport-news-virginia-38beb789647975e2f8f0d7c7447eb777 . The shooting did occur in a classroom. As the article details, our legal system in general and criminal justice system in particular are not equipped to deal with this sort of situation. The details of how the child got the gun determine whether the parents retain custody. Still more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-school-district-6-year-old-allegedly-shot-teacher-three-schoo-rcna64638 .
Proud Boys sedition trial to open Tuesday: https://www.wsj.com/articles/proud-boys-face-seditious-conspiracy-trial-over-jan-6-capitol-attack-11673057266 . Expect convictions and long prison terms.
Alex Jones’ lawyer has license to practice law suspended for 6 months: https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-fraud-crime-connecticut-texas-2c5bca5300b2bda02b60f6181632be6d . Unfortunately, the mishandling of sensitive documents is fairly frequent in legal proceedings. Here, however, the sending of the hard drive to Texas specifically violates the judge’s order in the case. I expect the appellate courts will uphold the trial judge. Otherwise, chaos will ensue in trial courts with no consequences for the misbehaving lawyers.
This unbelievably egregious behavior sealed the case against Jones, because this evidence could then be introduced against him. However, Jones would be unlikely to prevail in a malpractice action against the lawyer because Jones would have to prove this case would have had a different outcome without this error.
Musk tries to move shareholder lawsuit out of California: https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-austin-san-francisco-business-91117a5a281927b4e3511e6244b78372 . This motion is baseless, and Musk’s lawyers know it. That’s why they suggested delaying the trial, which also strikes me as unlikely. The lawsuit relates to 2018 acts by Musk. The motion is based on actions by Musk (buying Twitter) over the past year. Musk can’t move a lawsuit based on problems caused by his own later actions. My view is that the court should consider sanctioning Musk’s attorneys for frivolous motions. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-seeks-to-move-trial-over-tesla-tweets-saying-san-francisco-jurors-are-biased-11673130952 . The Journal misses the issues here.
Utah’s Great Salt Lake could disappear within 5 years: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/great-salt-lake-drying-up_n_63b99485e4b0b2e15067fe41 . This eventuality has been known for some time. The article’s correctly describes water diversion for agricultural usage. However, Utah has encouraged extensive population growth not supportable by the available water. This will all come to a head in the fight over water rights to the Colorado River. The feds will impose water allocation if the states cannot agree.
WSJ: Damar Hamlin thanks fans: https://www.wsj.com/articles/damar-hamlin-update-nfl-bills-instagram-post-11673136524 .