New COVID variant BA.2.86 spreads: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-covid-variant-ba-2-86-more-states/ . However, EG.5 is the most common US variant currently, involved in 25% of cases.
WSJ: The COVID subvariant name game: https://www.wsj.com/health/covid-variant-namer-gregory-6e8e9d3d . The media has promoted these names because some people glaze over seeing numbers. The names really have nothing to do with anything. However, I’ve referenced them in the newsletter as they arose in order to keep straight which variant the media is reporting on.
Inverse vaccine shows promise treating MS, other autoimmune diseases: https://news.yahoo.com/inverse-vaccine-shows-promise-treating-095933766.html . In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks its own cells. By attaching a sugar to the molecule under attack, the idea is to get the liver to tolerate the molecule and halt the attack.
WSJ: Has the Fed overachieved?: https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/the-fed-isnt-getting-the-economy-it-expected-3635b291 . Mr. Lahart is entitled to his opinions, even though they rarely involve thoughtful analysis. Here, Mr. Lahart is accepting the big banks’ projections over those of the Fed. That has been a poor bet over the last 18 months. Sooner or later, he will accidentally be right – but the UAW strike and energy prices suggest that time has not yet arrived.
WSJ: Europe moves energy supply chain away from Russia: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/global-energy-europe-russia-africa-gas-ab98af2f . In many dimensions, the “two axes” realignment continues.
Chinese property market problems worsen: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-economy-housing-country-garden-ea0db13f . We already knew that huge residential overbuilding was a problem. China’s long-term declining population further exacerbates the problem. However, the fact of substantial overbuilding in rural areas further deepens the economic dislocation. Those homes are unsalable, depriving the builders of critical cash flow. The entire population will suffer from the decline in property values.
WSJ: Senior Chinese official removed over extramarital affair: https://www.wsj.com/world/china/chinas-ex-foreign-minister-ousted-after-alleged-affair-senior-officials-told-fdff4672 . This investigation explains the current Chinese hit song, “That’s the Sound of the Men Working on the Qin Gang”.
WSJ: China schedules US, Russian meetings: https://www.wsj.com/world/china/chinas-top-diplomat-due-in-moscow-after-surprise-u-s-talks-69ab9b9f . China is trying to position itself between the US and Russia. No one believes this nonsense.
Marines find debris field for F-35 lost over South Carolina: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/military-searches-south-carolina-lakes-fighter-jet-pilot-103279477 . Do the Marines need to put luggage tags in these things? The F-35 costs $100 million per plane – you really don’t want to lose one. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/search-under-way-for-f-35-jet-fighter-missing-in-south-carolina-7a82329b .
Dissension grows in House GOP: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4210307-republican-victoria-spartz-blasts-another-worthless-congress-calls-mccarthy-weak-speaker/ . Victoria Spartz was born in Ukraine. Spartz is now reconsidering her decision not to run again: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4210949-rep-spartz-on-mccarthy-quitting-his-wishes-might-come-true/ .
Racist superintendent insists on enforcing racist, illegal policy: https://apnews.com/article/hairstyles-dreadlocks-racial-discrimination-crown-act-034a59b9f2652881470dc606b39e5243 . According to the article, the CROWN Act protects dreadlocks. So the first suspension was illegal under state law. Still, the teenager tried to comply and the district suspended him again. The superintendent says it’s important to teach children sacrifice. Does that sound like a legal principle to anyone? How about Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? I hope the family sues for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the district fires everyone associated with this illegal behavior.
Orange Julius wrote to-do lists for assistant on back of classified documents: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-wrote-lists-assistant-white-house-documents-marked/story?id=103226113 . Nothing surprises about OJ’s disrespect for everyone and every thing.
Jeffrey Clark proves he knows nothing about criminal law: https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-indictment-jeffrey-clark-4c7a2dfaa096033940d617bd2b7f1c88 . I’m not sure Clark has any good defenses, but this is a ridiculous one. Receiving a call from the president does not change your authority within the DOJ. As we all know, Clark violated the chain of command. He’s an environmental lawyer who tried to assert authority over criminal law at DOJ. And now he’s going down.
Kenneth Chesebro is more ridiculous than Jeffrey Clark: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/09/18/ex-trump-attorney-chesebro-defends-fake-electors-in-georgia-claims-they-were-duly-elected/?sh=57b449424958 . How could the fake electors be “duly elected”? There’s only one valid slate of electors, period. You are looking at powerful admissions that these people have no meaningful defenses to the charges.
The Rude Dude sued by ex-lawyers for $1.4 million in unpaid legal fees: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4211100-giulianis-ex-lawyers-file-suit-over-alleged-1-4-million-in-outstanding-legal-fees/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/rudy-giuliani-sued-by-his-lawyer-for-unpaid-legal-fees-b7d7f663 . Oh, how the not-so-mighty have fallen.
WSJ: Hunter Biden sues the IRS, but we “solve” the case: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/hunter-biden-sues-irs-for-alleged-breach-of-his-privacy-a195a9ba . So the Journal identifies the “critical flaw” that Congress can make private tax records public. But by the article’s own admission, that’s not what the lawsuit is about. It is about these whistleblowers going to the press at a very early stage in this process – way before Congress made any tax info public. Is it too much to ask that the Journal accept the consequences of the facts it reports?
Just another day in Buffalo: Inebriated Bills fan found in stadium construction site hole, 30 feet down and covered in human excrement: https://www.aol.com/buffalo-bills-fan-found-naked-214752221.html . Hey, he’s the only Bills fan to make the news this weekend, so congratulations on that …
Jason Gay is thrilled over Coach Sanders: https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/coach-prime-colorado-deion-sanders-75bde0cd . So is most of the college football world. However, I mostly agree with Gay here – Deion Sanders has set this institution on its ear. The Buffaloes are likely coming back to ground in the next two weeks. But Colorado football has taken a big step up.
Roger Whittaker passes at 87: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/folk-singer-roger-whittaker-dies-221805104.html . I thought Whittaker was best known for his whistling skills …