China’s Zero COVID relics: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64536236 . Since China under-disclosed its COVID deaths by a factor of 10, will they report a second wave when it occurs?
Australia expands COVID booster rollout: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-02-07/australia-to-expand-rollout-of-fifth-covid-vaccine-shot .
WSJ: CVS looks to buy Oak Street Health: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cvs-nearing-10-5-billion-deal-for-primary-care-provider-oak-street-health-11675727217 .
WSJ: The superbug problem: https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-fight-superbugs-farming-and-medicine-must-change-u-n-says-11675779444 .
Stocks rise after Powell remarks: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stocks-markets-dow-update-02-07-2023-11675771019 . As readers know, I agree with the writer that Powell’s comments have been shockingly consistent throughout the Fed tightening. The writer quotes Mr. David Bahnsen, who indicates that this may represent covering by people who tried to front-run the market. In the stocks I cover, most days recently volume has been below average, as it was today. Therefore, there is evidence that Mr. Bahnsen is correct. More evidence: https://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-jerome-powell-to-address-economic-outlook-with-hiring-surge-in-spotlight-11675781503 .
WSJ: Turkey-Syria earthquake death toll now 7,900 and rising: https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/turkey-syria-earthquake-updates-2-7-23-intl/index.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-syria-deal-with-earthquakes-devastationi-buried-my-kids-today-11675813760 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-syria-deal-with-earthquakes-devastationi-buried-my-kids-today-11675813760 . Technical details of the earthquakes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/earthquakes-in-turkey-and-syria-a-guide-in-maps-and-graphics-11675710154 .
Ukraine says Russia endures deadliest day of war as Eastern front heats up: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-08/ukraine-says-russians-endure-deadliest-day/101945078 . Russia apparently lacks the ability to replenish their weaponry. Their response, to throw more troops at Ukrainian trenches, seems cruel and ineffective. More structural problems in the Russian military: https://news.yahoo.com/bloody-failures-ukraine-russians-reconsidering-230900592.html . In other words, the manpower response didn’t work at the start of the invasion, with their elite troops, when Russian firepower was intact. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-fight-superbugs-farming-and-medicine-must-change-u-n-says-11675779444 . Bottom line, expect the meat grinder to crank up.
Biden “wins” the State of the Union address: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-played-state-union-perfectly-045737816.html . As I have said for many months, the GOP has no concept of governance. Indeed, it is no longer even a consideration in their public remarks and (mis)behavior. WSJ: Full text of the SOTU: https://www.wsj.com/articles/full-text-of-president-bidens-state-of-the-union-address-11675831198 .
The most constructive portion of the GOP’s involvement should be their formal response to Biden. If you watched Sarah Huckabee Sanders, you heard disjointed non sequiturs which focused on a culture war. Sanders said the GOP did not want this war but were forced into it by the “crazy” Democrats. Huh? Several of her points were refuted by Biden’s speech, disappointing since the GOP had an advance copy. If you didn’t watch, congratulations, you avoided some pretty toxic lunacy. Oh, and experienced opinion writers agree: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/dark-brandon-shows-up-at-state-of-the-union-mops-the-floor-with-lost-republicans/ar-AA17evaH?cvid=8dd8815fb1804887a90c25750259f537 . And the fact check on Sanders: https://www.rawstory.com/sarah-sanders-2659382534/ .
WSJ: Meanwhile, we try to defend the GOP’s behavior: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-tout-economic-gains-in-state-of-the-union-11675788712 . Sorry, but this manure only works with those who don’t care about facts. The last election demonstrated the GOP argues to a shrinking base, which unfortunately for the Journal continues to contract as COVID continues to terminate anti-science older people. More shoveling from the Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/takeaways-from-bidens-state-of-the-union-address-11675827264 . This really is not an article, but more fact-challenged opinion. At least they admit that Biden’s references to GOP proposals to cut Medicare and Social Security were accurate.
In other fact-checking, the GOP fails to recognize California: https://www.mediaite.com/news/gop-blasts-coastal-elites-by-using-photo-of-california-democratic-congressman-says-this-is-my-district/ . Just when you think the GOP can’t do anything stupider, they underperform …
Another GOP problem: George Santos: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3848663-romney-on-santos-hes-a-sick-puppy-he-shouldnt-have-been-there/ . When Mitt Romney calls out a sitting (sort of) House GOP member as an embarrassment, he said what everyone is thinking. Does the House GOP lack the character to expel this jerk?
The meaning of the 1870 pins worn at the State of the Union: https://www.aol.com/news/black-1870-pins-worn-congress-223538118.html . When we are all forced to listen to Marjorie Taylor Greene yell “Liar” at the President of the United States during the State of the Union, we are reminded that small minds continue to dwell among us, and even use misbehavior to raise campaign funds.
More crypto world trouble as largest exchange suspends dollar transfers: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/06/binance-will-suspend-us-dollar-transfers.html . There is growing data that the exchanges are undercapitalized to deal with the large swings in crypto values.
WSJ: Another danger in the crypto world: Tether: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tether-ownership-and-company-weaknesses-revealed-in-documents-11675363340 . FTX is the largest crypto bankruptcy – so far. However, considerable concern has been raised over the past year about Tether. Tether promised a dollar-to-tether link which has now failed. This WSJ article raises additional areas where Tether has made public disclosures about its assets which are not true. Be forewarned.
WSJ: Manchester City looks to litigate its way out of trouble: https://www.wsj.com/articles/manchester-city-premier-league-spending-11675734725 . This assumes the league does not have bigger fish to fry than Manchester City. The fans of all of the other teams are not going to feel that way. Famously, the club is owned by senior people in the UAE, and many of the fans resent that …
Texas lawyer shot by Dick Cheney in 2006 passes at 95: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/07/texas-lawyer-dick-cheney-shot-hunting-harry-whittington . Um, lead poisoning?