Early testing for lung cancer: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/deadly-lung-cancer-test-b3dec341 . Many cancers are seeing rapid progress in diagnostics and treatment. As lung cancer is a major killer, the public needs to be updated on available tools to save lives.
WSJ: FDA warns about Ozempic compounding: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-warns-about-safety-of-custom-made-ozempic-32cb1357 .
Safeway can be sued for drug overcharges: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chains-overcharging-medicare-for-drugs-can-be-sued-for-fraud-supreme-court-rules-1c549661 .
WSJ: Mom’s stress makes babies more verbal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/prenatal-stress-may-make-children-more-verbal-3b468a0f .
WSJ: GenesisCare files for bankruptcy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kkr-backed-cancer-treatment-provider-genesiscare-files-for-bankruptcy-953132cf . We reported on this expected outcome a week ago.
Senate passes debt ceiling deal, it goes to Biden’s desk: https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-biden-mccarthy-senate-house-default-b8c3566b0c9cb168d9706aa256e327f7 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senators-seek-to-fast-track-debt-ceiling-vote-62dfeac4 . Congratulations? We have now avoided a massive self-inflicted wound. However, in a coherent governing structure, any debt ceiling would have an automatic, inflation-based escalator, as almost every other developed country has. Now we can careen on to some of our other self-inflicted wounds – anyone interested in helping the Dreamers become US citizens?
As once again, AP and WSJ did not give us vote totals, I ran the numbers down. The Democrats voted 44 to 4 in favor of the bill. Their caucusing independents voted 2 in favor, 1 (Bernie Sanders) opposed, for a total of 46 for, 5 against. The GOP voted 17 for, 31 against, and 1 did not vote (Bill Hagerty), for an overall count of 63 for, 36 against.
Here’s Bill Hagerty on Fox 2 days ago saying he was hurrying back to Washington to participate in the vote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEDuflI9Oxo . My assumption is that Bill was in the john at the time of the vote, spewing the same stuff he spews on Fox.
WSJ: Kevin McCarthy is a star!: https://www.wsj.com/articles/debt-ceiling-deal-makes-it-kevin-mccarthy-3-detractors-0-ae08837 . Good grief! So apparently members of the Journal staff have now graduated to hard drugs. Even the article itself notes that AOC said (quite correctly) the GOP’s inability to even pass a rule to discuss the debt ceiling bill shows the weakness of McCarthy’s leadership. What in the world is the Journal babbling about?
Can we ever fix the tax system?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-us-debt-ceiling-deal-dooms-biden-s-revolutionary-tax-plans/ar-AA1bZkjn?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=24b9d9360ffd46c8861b70a15774a78e&ei=11 . This analysis is spot on. We all know the wealthy do not pay their fair share of taxes. Most people (including many of the wealthy) want this fixed. The Orange Julius tax cuts expire in 2025 for lower and middle income earners, but not the rich (seriously, what did OJ “do” that wasn’t a disaster?). The only way out is Democratic control of the presidency and both houses of Congress.
As readers know, I think that last result is indeed possible. The Democrats can flip the House and keep the Senate. But under long-time Senate rules, you need 60 votes to pass substantive legislation. Neither party is going to achieve a 60 vote majority. So in my view, this badly needed tax reform will occur only if Democrats ditch the 60 vote rule, which they can do with a simple majority in the Senate.
This raises the question of why this wasn’t done in Biden’s first two years. So the answer, as far as I know, is that the Democrats just screwed up. This problem has been known ever since the absurd OJ tax cuts were passed.
On the bright side, contemplate what would have happened if Putin had moved on Ukraine when Orange Julius was president. Dasvidaniya, Ukraine … (which, by the way, is more properly “do svidaniya”). Also, the Western world would be screwed, arguing and disorganized; Putin would have also taken Moldava; and China would have gone after Taiwan while OJ pursued his “love affair” with Kim Jong Un …
WSJ: Russia continues Kyiv missile attacks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/missiles-kill-3-in-kyiv-as-russia-claims-to-thwart-new-border-incursion-b3692dc9 .
Scathing criticism of Russia’s use of “disposable troops”: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/after-a-year-of-fighting-in-ukraine-the-brutal-logic-behind-russia-s-human-wave-attacks-is-becoming-clear/ar-AA1bYKdw?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=d2dd8b09655f49a6a724bc3f18520601&ei=32 . One can hardly imagine more inhuman behavior.
Ukraine says Russia is interfering with the grain shipment deal again: https://www.aol.com/news/ukraine-says-russia-blocked-black-143947801.html . Meanwhile, tens of thousands are dying of starvation. Is all of this drama necessary?
WSJ: NATO considers advancing Ukraine membership: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-faces-pressure-on-clear-membership-path-for-ukraine-809d257c .
WSJ: Pentagon will pay SpaceX for Starlink service in Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-agrees-to-pay-spacex-for-satellite-internet-in-ukraine-2bdf3bf4 .
Two more Oath Keeper insurrectionists sentenced to prison: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/oath-keeper-defendants-sentenced-jan-6-seditious-conspiracy/story?id=99762282# .
WSJ: Judge in Disney-DeMentis case recuses himself: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-in-disney-desantis-case-recuses-himself-5b1b1aba .
Larry Ellison to spend up to $60 million on Tim Scott’s presidential campaign: https://news.yahoo.com/who-is-larry-ellison-the-billionaire-backing-sen-tim-scotts-presidential-run-172203060.html . Why? Ellison could spend $600 million on Scott. Still, Scott won’t be competitive, let alone electable.
Denver crushes Miami in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 104 – 93: Denver outscored Miami in each of the first three quarters to lead by 17 at halftime and 21 at the end of 3. Many predicted the Finals would be no contest, and that’s the story of Game 1.