No evidence COVID created in Wuhan: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3225246/no-evidence-covid-created-chinas-wuhan-lab-us-intelligence .
Y chromosome helps fight cancer: https://www.aol.com/news/males-lose-sex-chromosome-age-211624860.html . This study does not seem as conclusive as the scientists here present. Is this Y chromosome loss the cause, or it is the effect of some other mechanism?
WSJ: Pill versions of weight loss drugs: https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-more-shots-pill-versions-of-ozempic-like-drugs-are-coming-ca286ca2 .
WSJ: Another crypto domino about to fall: https://www.wsj.com/articles/georgia-gop-fights-bitter-warwith-itself-6ecf35e1 .
Insurrection against Putin continues: https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/24/europe/russia-putin-wagner-prigozhin-analysis-intl/index.html . These remarkable events could completely transform the Ukraine war. They certainly appear to create the opportunity for Ukraine to take advantage of the chaos. More: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/24/mercenary-boss-seizes-southern-city-in-russias-first-insurrection-for-decades.html . Bottom line: The Russian military will have to choose sides, and quickly. Multiple reports indicate Putin has fled Moscow: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12229511/Soon-new-president-Prigozhins-Wagnear-group-says-Russian-leader-toppled.html .
Prigozhin orders his troops to halt advance, return to Ukraine: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-wagner-prigozhin-9acbdf1eda849692ca0423a4116058d1 . One can hardly imagine what concessions were made in this deal to pull Prigozhin off. Lukashenko’s involvement also seems like an odd story. I would suspect details will leak out over time, but this is a strange end. UPDATE: We quickly have details. Wagner will be disbanded. Prigozhin will move to Belarus. Troops who supported him will not be prosecuted, those who did not can join the Russian Army (um, no thank you). More from CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/24/europe/russia-putin-wagner-uprising-saturday-intl/index.html .
As an end result, the Russian Army has lost a major portion of its offensive punch. They already appeared to be fighting a defensive war in Ukraine (blowing up dams, for example), and that is likely to remain their focus. As to winners and losers here, Lukashenko is an obvious winner. This event weakened Putin, even though he retains power for now. The Russian Army is also a major loser. If I was Prigozhin, I’d stay away from windows.
Also, note from the CNN article that Ukraine claims advances throughout the fronts in its counteroffensive. Can the Russian Army stabilize its defensive positions quickly? A breakthrough anywhere would further destabilize the situation. I would expect that the Western powers are looking at accelerating their promised arms deliveries. The F-16’s in particular would really help right now.
Is the end near for Putin?: https://nypost.com/2023/06/24/wagner-groups-coup-was-short-lived-but-the-end-is-near-for-putin/ . This article makes the logical point that the weakness of Putin’s response to the coup indicates his end time has drawn nearer. However, the author’s leap that this increases the chances of a free and independent Belarus makes no sense, so we should not rely too heavily on the author’s analytic abilities.
NY Times: US intelligence knew Prigozhin was preparing to act: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/u-s-knew-prigozhin-was-preparing-to-take-military-action-against-russia/ar-AA1cZpFl?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=c4e139db345e46e6b8b6579497beb1df&ei=10 . The Times makes a convincing case.
WSJ on Wagner’s revolt: Worry increases in Beijing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-disarray-means-a-moment-of-uncertainty-in-beijing-52882208 . The Chinese are getting a lesson on internal instability which may make them back off Taiwan for now. More on the Wagner advance: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-wagner-fighters-take-rostov-in-russian-south-some-residents-offer-support-393ac561 . The map shows how far Wagner advanced toward Moscow. The Belarus deal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-shoots-down-russian-cruise-missile-barrage-9d9da03a . Western states avoid direct involvement: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-allies-warily-watch-chaos-in-russia-32a813c0 . Ukrainians watch, and advance: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-sees-upside-in-russian-military-chaos-2568aab3 . A later summary: https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-happening-with-wagner-in-russia-d6f6ce7a . And many of these articles are subject to further update
Meanwhile, Fox-Not-the-News returns to completely irresponsible claims with no evidence: https://www.mediaite.com/news/just-in-fox-news-host-wildly-accuses-us-government-of-orchestrating-attempted-coup-in-russia/ . The US government is exceedingly unlikely to do something like this, because exposure of such an incident would create deep distrust of the US worldwide. So someone should have incontrovertible evidence to make such an unlikely claim. Or you can be Fox-Not-the-News.
Speaking of completely irresponsible, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-sen-marsha-blackburn-floats-conspiracy-theory-on-titanic-sub-and-hunter-biden_n_6496ff86e4b08f753c2c5720 . Blackburn’s behavior seems to contradict other reporting about Tennessee: https://www.wate.com/news/wild-hogs-used-to-be-a-problem-in-tennessee-heres-why-they-arent-anymore/ ..
The inconvenient truths about India’s democracy: https://news.yahoo.com/news-analysis-inconvenient-truth-haunted-120017099.html . Sadly, autocrats the world over now challenge democracies. But this story adds some context to Biden’s characterization of China’s Xi as a dictator, which is of course true.
Fixing the Supreme Court: https://www.rawstory.com/faith-in-the-supreme-court/ . Reich has 3 suggestions, each of which has been under discussion for a long time. First, adopt a Code of Ethics for the Supreme Court. As readers know, I have previously advocated for this fix. The argument that this somehow violates the independence of the judiciary is demonstrably false, as all federal judges except the Supreme Court are subject to the Judicial Code of Conduct, and it has not affected their independence.
Second, adopt term limits of 18 years. Additionally, create staggered terms so that one expires every two years. Then each President would be able to nominate a minimum of 2 justices in a 4-year term, plus filling any partial terms for deaths or retirements. Justices appointed in the “plus” category could then be nominated for a future full 18-year term. This makes sense because of the significant increase in life expectancies from the 1788 adoption of the Constitution.
Third, pack the Court. Although the most controversial suggestion, I reluctantly agree because re-establishing the Court’s integrity should happen quickly. The GOP-controlled Senate basically stole 2 seats, refusing to even consider Merrick Garland’s nomination by Obama, and then ramming through OJ’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett.
WSJ: Demand for commercial passenger jets soars: https://www.wsj.com/articles/demand-for-airliners-soars-we-cannot-make-planes-fast-enough-5758d02e . Note that Airbus is increasing its lead over troubled Boeing, which made a big mistake in moving some production to South Carolina in an attempt to weaken its unions. Also note that the 500-plane order from IndiGo doesn’t start delivery until 2030. There is every possibility that order will be modified or cancelled before the first plane is delivered.
Was the Titanic-bound submersible made from discarded Boeing fiber stock?: https://news.yahoo.com/oceangate-ceo-once-said-titan-180022594.html . This sounds terrible, but the effect on tensile strength is unknown. It is no surprise this was not previously widely known, as it would have discouraged would-be travelers.
WSJ: Auto insurance rates soar: https://www.wsj.com/articles/car-insurance-rates-are-soaring-with-little-relief-in-sight-66138e2a . Interesting timing here. My renewal just arrived. My rate doubled, even though I have been accident-free for many years. Shopping may be problematic.
Warren Buffett is largest philanthropist in history, giving over $50 billion: https://apnews.com/article/warren-buffett-donations-gates-foundation-c2f6981e46c6211b16ada2704433d3c0 . Actually, his impact has been greater still, since over $40 billion of the $50.7 billion he has given was donated in 2006. That money has likely generated tens of billions in earnings in the last 17 years. However, other reports indicate Bill Gates (and his ex-wife) has now given over $70 billion to charity: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/15/bill-gates-plans-to-give-away-virtually-all-his-113-billion-fortune.html . Apparently Gates and Buffett will continue racing for the title.
Jamie Raskin refocuses the House on Orange Julius: https://www.mediaite.com/news/raskin-torches-trump-in-epic-id-on-house-floor-inciter-of-insurrection-sexual-abuser-defamer-indicted-pilferer-and-more/ . The most focused torching of the House GOP and their Liar-in-Chief we’ve heard in a while.
Infowars host Owen Shroyer pleads guilty in January 6 insurrection: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/infowars-host-owen-shroyer-pleads-guilty-jan-6-case-rcna90825 . Shroyer’s sentencing will be in September, when he faces up to 6 months in prison. Shroyer was in the Capitol with Alex Jones, the genius who owes massive damages for contending that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax. So is Jones going to jail as well? The article provides an indirect answer. Shroyer was under a plea agreement from a previous case not to engage in disorderly conduct at the Capitol. As he faces only 6 months in the slammer, the suggestion is that Jones would face little or no prison time unless he engaged in other disruptive activity.
AG Garland tells GOP conspiracy theorists to stuff it on Hunter Biden: https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-merrick-garland-irs-whistleblower-c1493bb29f98055d3d538d661f756c15 . Garland says, in essence, you’re lying and you know it. Garland said he would allow the prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case to testify, as that prosecutor had complete authority to make the prosecutorial decisions without interference.
WSJ: Georgia GOP loses its way: https://www.wsj.com/articles/georgia-gop-fights-bitter-warwith-itself-6ecf35e1 . The most important sentence in the article is near the end, from a GOP pro-OJ elector: “There are not enough crazy people in Georgia to win [a presidential] election.” Fortunately, these people have no idea about demographics, as more out-of-state educated and black people move to the growing Atlanta area. While all of Georgia’s statewide officials are Republicans, their two Senators are now Democrats. I look forward to Georgia’s ongoing transition from red to blue.
Montana train derailment pollutes Yellowstone River: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/montana-train-derailment-sends-freight-cars-into-yellowstone-river/ar-AA1cZEe3?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=7f3fa05e31004fe4a7bfc5bd1c163915&ei=16 .
WSJ: English estate rethinks its garden: https://www.wsj.com/articles/knepp-estate-walled-garden-sussex-england-23cfa043 . Okay. I’ve gardened for many years. I understand about water usage in a conventional garden, but around here we do things like xeriscaping, and letting the lawn go dormant in the summer. Our climate is very similar to England’s. With respect, the garden style I see in this article is “abandoned”.