Long COVID mechanism debated: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-04-14/long-covid-19-is-sticking-around-whats-causing-it . The bottom line is, we don’t know, and there be multiple causes.
XBB.1.16 increases percent of COVID infections: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-04-14/cdc-adds-new-xbb-1-16-omicron-subvariant-to-variant-tracker . The near-doubling in one week (from 4% to 7%) reflects the past pattern of strains which have later become dominant.
No evidence of which species transmitted COVID to humans: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-04-14/no-evidence-that-covid-came-from-animals-says-former-head-of-china-cdc . As we regularly report, China has not provided useful evidence on COVID’s origin for quite some time.
Supreme Court stays Mifepristone restrictions: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/doj-asks-supreme-court-emergency-stay-abortion-pill/story?id=98585391 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-faces-swift-new-abortion-test-with-mifepristone-case-b79b2a7e . This procedural move preserves the status quo until the Supreme Court can rule on the matter. Alito required the groups challenging the FDA approval to file their briefs by noon Tuesday. As the stay is set to expire on Wednesday at midnight, the court is likely to act before the stay expires. The stay was granted by Alito because he supervises the Fifth Circuit; it is not an indicator of how the court will rule.
WSJ: Current status of state abortion regulations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-abortion-is-legal-and-where-it-loses-protections-without-roe-v-wade-11656080346 .
WSJ: We choose to depict DeMentis as a fighter on abortion: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gov-ron-desantis-signs-florida-six-week-abortion-ban-b18029cc . In contrast to many other issues where DeMentis publically signs bills in the afternoon and follows them with speeches about his issue “leadership”, this bill was signed late at night and followed by a statement, not a speech. Draw your own conclusions. The Journal may have soured on OJ, but that does not make DeMentis a prize.
The link between gum disease and arthritis: https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis-periodontal-disease . After reading a brief note on this potential link, a little research located this article. Taking care of your teeth and gums has been an important part of heart health for some time. Here is another very good reason for dental care.
WSJ: VA pauses its health records contract: https://www.wsj.com/articles/va-pauses-rollout-of-16-billion-health-record-system-b67069f8 . Five years into the contract, the contractor has installed the system at 5 of VA’s more than 170 locations. That’s poor turnaround on a $16 billion contract.
A bird flu vaccine for domesticated birds: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bird-avian-flu-vaccine-outbreak-309cb3f9 .
WSJ: India now world’s most populous country: https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-china-population-economy-9dd7bf27 .
Retirement age in France increases from 62 to 64: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/frances-macron-wins-approval-to-raise-retirement-age-f3122e5d .
WSJ: Fed governor backs further rate hikes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-official-backs-higher-interest-rates-as-banking-stresses-fade-873b37fc . Bottom line, we are still far from 2% inflation. The Fed has said it will not give up until substantial progress toward its target occurs. So watch the data, but currently another 25 basis point rate hike in May remains the most logical response to current conditions.
Russia intensifies Bakhmut assault: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wagner-and-russian-army-cooperate-in-fresh-push-to-take-bakhmut-114fe886 .
Orange Julius deposed for 7 hours in fraud case: https://apnews.com/article/trump-james-deposition-new-york-lawsuit-b1c54ef7a73142dc6379cc23e66ba2bb . As noted previously, inflation of asset values is straightforward to prove if the evidence is there. OJ Inc.’s CFO, Allan Weisselberg, received a sentence of 5 months in prison for these crimes in January: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/politics/allen-weisselberg-sentencing-trump-organization/index.html . The relative lightness of the sentence was allegedly in exchange for Weisselberg’s cooperation (read “testimony”) against higher-ups, meaning Orange Julius and family.
The defenses offered by OJ and his attorneys are irrelevant, which is a very bad sign. Ultimate profitability of any deal is irrelevant to fraud. OJ’s business “successes” include multiple bankruptcies in which he stiffed creditors. One glaring problem is the OJ residence, valued at 3 times the sale price of any residence in Manhattan at the time. The square footage claimed was 3 times the actual footage.
While almost no prosecution can be described as certain of conviction, this one looks very strong. Remember, however, that it takes jury unanimity to convict, so one MAGA maniac could hang the jury.
WSJ: Alvin Bragg’s Manhattan team prosecuting Orange Julius: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-veteran-lawyers-who-will-lead-the-prosecution-of-donald-trump-26e214ab .
WSJ: The intelligence leaker: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-looking-into-how-accused-leaker-accessed-top-secret-documents-6c6b0972 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/airman-arrested-for-leaks-chatted-in-groups-fascinated-by-weapons-and-war-68a9503a .
Marjorie Taylor Greene defends leaker as “white, male, Christian and antiwar”: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/marjorie-taylor-greene-defends-suspect-leaked-classified-docs-probe-rcna79675 . David Axelrod called the tweet “truly nuts” (agreed), while Eric Swalwell, who sits with Greene on the House Homeland Security Committee, criticized her for siding with “one of America’s biggest traitors”. I also agree with Swalwell. Teixeira received elevated security clearance for his job, and betrayed the trust that security entailed apparently because of his need to look important. You do have to ask if her behavior would be the same if the Orange Fraud still occupied the White House.
Liz Cheney says Greene should lose her security clearance for defending the leaker: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/liz-cheney-says-greene-lose-security-clearance-defending-suspect-penta-rcna79734 . Liz Cheney has a point. Greene is a nut, and her attitude here suggests she could leak information.
WSJ: Orange Julius targets primary foes on Social Security, Medicare: https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-targets-ron-desantis-other-gop-foes-on-social-security-medicare-28a25f3 .
All major GOP candidates speak in person or by video at NRA Convention, pledging their loyalty to gun rights: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/nra-convention-draws-top-gop-2024-hopefuls-in-the-wake-of-mass-shootings . The only way to defeat the mental illness gripping the Republican Party is to defeat them at the polls. So we will have to listen to this outrageous crap until November, 2024.
January 6 insurrectionist receives 7-year sentence: https://www.wsj.com/articles/capitol-rioter-sentenced-to-more-than-7-years-for-assaulting-police-officer-565a2018 .
The disreputable owner of the sports team formerly known as the Washington Redskins may sell for a record-breaking $6 billion: https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-disputes-report-josh-harris-191045433.html . Nice guys may or may not finish last. However, some real pigs finish first.
Bob Lee murder appears to be targeted killing: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cash-app-founder-bob-lee-was-stabbed-death-argument-suspects-sister-co-rcna79741 . New evidence indicates the suspect and Lee knew each other and had argued about the suspect’s sister. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/man-arrested-in-cash-app-founder-bob-lees-fatal-stabbing-set-to-appear-in-court-5d205776 .