June is COVID Month of Action: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/556457-biden-to-declare-june-as-covid-vaccine-month-of-action . Note that the goal is 70% of adults vaccinated. The article gives state statistics based on the entire population. A majority of states will likely reach the goal by July 4, but a number of red states, particularly those in the South, will not.
Month of Action starts with a free beer: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-health-8168ae1c68ca955b620082d862c911ad . What happened to doing your civic duty? Apparently beer is a bigger motivator.
Weekly US COVID cases drop below 20,000: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-health-8168ae1c68ca955b620082d862c911ad . WSJ: How will Memorial Day affect case numbers?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/memorial-day-covid-19-data-will-likely-mark-pandemic-milestone-11622660779 .
COVID finds the unvaccinated: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-may-hit-july-4-vaccine-goal-but-millions-of-unvaccinated-americans-will-keep-covid-alive-this-summer-150253295.html . There is no surprise with these projections. Even the 70% of adults goal is well short of herd immunity requirements of 85% to 90%. And the unvaccinated are not evenly spread among the population – Republicans, rural residents and children remain at significant risk when they congregate.
WSJ: Global vaccine supplies cornered by developed nations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/developed-countries-lock-up-covid-19-vaccines-through-2023-11622665655 . So the Journal seems to be missing the point here. The total of 9 million doses vaccinates at least 55% of the global population (more if we adjust for one-dose vaccines). Vaccine production capabilities will continue to increase. Developed countries will donate doses to COVAX, political allies and former colonies. And they will sell them to incoming travelers. Therefore, broad-based global vaccination is likely to occur before the end of 2022.
WSJ: Booster shots in Bahrain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bahrain-facing-a-covid-surge-starts-giving-pfizer-boosters-to-recipients-of-chinese-vaccine-11622648737 . This raises the issue of the effectiveness of the Chinese and Soviet vaccines. Booster shots also compete for production facilities with the initial vaccines. And we do not know how long vaccination protection lasts.
AstraZeneca negotiating to move Maryland vaccine production: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/556611-astrazeneca-in-talks-to-shift-vaccine-production-to-maryland-factory . This makes sense after Emergent’s quality control problems. It still appears that most of the AstraZeneca production will be sent abroad.
WSJ: COVID rages in Venezuela: https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-venezuela-covid-19-data-is-a-state-secret-but-citizens-see-many-deaths-11622638800 .
WSJ: US recovery is not following traditional economic measures: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-economic-recovery-is-here-rebound-jobs-stock-market-unemployment-biden-aid-package-11622642152 . This is an important indicator that economists currently cannot effectively predict the short-term or long-term trajectory of the economy. In particular, the labor market is not well-understood right now. More on US inflation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-economic-activity-picked-up-in-spring-fed-beige-book-says-11622658387 .
WSJ: Global inflation appears temporary: https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-in-rich-countries-hit-a-12-year-high-in-april-11622637522 .
Bye-bye, Bibi, bye-bye: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/netanyahu-opponents-seal-deal-new-government-israel-oust-longtime-prime-n1269210 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-netanyahu-government-11622666936 . Netanyahu will lobby to change this result. However, it appears Israelis generally are relieved at the new coalition after 4 indecisive elections.
Pelosi nixes presidential commission for January 6 inquiry: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-government-and-politics-4f0a11d1ff3713e2c98075322beb3100 . She could give the investigation to the Homeland Security Committee: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-details-next-steps-jan-6-investigation-after-senate-filibusters-n1269313 .
Is a police reform deal coming?: https://news.yahoo.com/senate-closes-in-on-bipartisan-police-reform-deal-214155579.html .
Pecker hammered: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/national-enquirer-publisher-fined-dollar187500-for-helping-trump-campaign/ar-AAKDzgc?li=BBnb7Kz . The publisher’s former CEO, David Pecker, received immunity in the underlying case. But the paper has to pay up. And of course Pecker was pushed out of his job. More: https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-donald-trump-campaign-2016-election-2020-campaigns-ee63877891155395375ab72428697d41 .
The OJ blog shuts down a month after launch: https://australiannewsreview.com/freedomroo-trump-shuts-down-his-blog-frustrated-by-its-low-readership/ (link replaced 6/12/21). Apparently, lazy has overcome losing. There will be plenty of press when the indictments come. More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-shuts-down-his-blog-frustrated-by-its-low-readership/ar-AAKDNW1?li=BBnb7Kz .
Another insurrectionist takes a plea deal: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-06-02/florida-man-accused-of-storming-us-capitol-pleads-guilty . The wheels of justice continue to grind. Given the videotapes, a lot of these defendants should seek such a deal now. They will be treated less harshly than those who go to trial.
Amazon Prime Day in June this year: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-prime-day-set-for-june-21-22-11622635891 .
More major cyberattacks in the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ransomware-scourge-continues-as-essential-services-are-hit-11622672685 . Once again, we lack adequate protection of our data “infrastructure”.
The funky cold Medina Spirit: https://sports.yahoo.com/medina-spirits-second-post-race-drug-test-reportedly-came-back-positive-151515845.html . The horse should have just said Neigh. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kentucky-derby-winner-medina-spirit-positive-drug-test-confirmed-11622647647 .