COVID superantibodies: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/he-unknowingly-had-covid-19-now-his-blood-contains-rare-n1254232 .
A plea for US genomic sequencing: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/22225012/us-sequencing-covid-19-variants . Something this newsletter has been pounding on for quite some time.
Joint tech effort on vaccination credentialing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-companies-join-effort-focused-on-covid-19-vaccine-records-11610637373 .
Persons with immunity can still spread virus: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-immunity/covid-19-infection-gives-some-immunity-for-at-least-five-months-uk-study-finds-idUSKBN29J004 . The question of sterilizing immunity: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/01/14/can-vaccinated-people/ .
COVID can cause severe lung scarring: https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-survivors-lungs-worse-than-smokers-surgeon .
Depression, stress reduce COVID vaccine effectiveness: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/conditions-covid-vaccine-may-less-171356636.html .
Problems with expanded vaccine roll-out: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/conditions-covid-vaccine-may-less-171356636.html .
WSJ: Florida allows vaccination of nonresidents: https://www.wsj.com/articles/floridas-covid-19-vaccines-draw-foreigners-snowbirds-11610620200 . Together with the chaos elderly residents face, this makes no sense.
WSJ: Global COVID death toll at 2.8 million: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-19-death-toll-is-even-worse-than-it-looks-11610636840 .
WSJ: UK to ban South American travelers due to new COVID variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-to-ban-travelers-from-south-america-because-of-new-virus-strain-11610647826 .
Two WHO researchers blocked from Wuhan entry again: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/asia/who-team-china-coronavirus-intl-hnk/index.html . This is beginning to feel like the TikTok story. WSJ: More on WHO team: https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-mission-to-look-for-answers-to-covid-19s-origin-in-wuhan-11610566665 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-denies-entry-to-two-members-of-who-covid-19-mission-after-failing-screenings-11610609342 .
China surge collides with vaccine efficacy questions: https://www.barrons.com/articles/chinas-coronavirus-outbreak-collides-with-confusion-over-vaccine-efficacy-51610636794 .
WSJ: Israel has vaccinated 25% of its population: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-covid-19-vaccinations-hold-lessons-for-u-s-11610307240 .
Flint poison water results in criminal prosecution of former Michigan governor: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/us/michigan-flint-water-former-governor-charges-thursday/index.html . The charge is willful neglect of duty. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-unveil-more-criminal-charges-over-flint-water-crisis-11610652142 .
Census poisoning withdrawn: https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/956352495/census-bureau-stops-work-on-trumps-request-for-unauthorized-immigrant-count . This attempt to suppress votes and direct funds away from immigrant communities comes to an end.
Trump wants funds cut from global vaccine distribution: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/14/trump-billions-cut-covid-vaccine-distributor-459496 .
Biden’s stimulus plan: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-pandemic-stimulus-plan-222717126.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-propose-1-9-trillion-covid-19-package-11610661977 .
Fed’s Powell optimistic on US economic recovery: https://thehill.com/policy/finance/534271-powell-us-economy-may-rebound-from-pandemic-much-sooner-than-we-had-feared . It’s easier to predict this when you’re outgoing and Biden has proposed a stimulus plan. WSJ: Economists predict 4.3% GDP increase for 2021: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wsj-survey-u-s-economic-growth-will-exceed-4-in-2021-11610636401 . A different slant on Powell’s comments: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-01-14-2021-11610573648 .
Weekly jobless claims soar to 965,000: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/initial-jobless-claims-week-ended-jan-9-2021-coronavirus-pandemic-191640522.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-01-14-2021-11610573648 .
How hollowed-out is the executive branch?: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/14/gutted-unnerving-agencies-keep-us-safe-459156 . Biden appears ready to hit the ground running, so the upper levels positions will soon be more fully staffed than at any time in the past 4 years. The question is whether top quality worker bees will be available to replenish the ranks. A federal job has become less desirable in recent years.
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WSJ: Sedition law explained: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sedition-laws-give-prosecutors-powerful-tool-for-pro-trump-capitol-riot-11610633494 .
WSJ: Senate Democrats to balance impeachment, Biden agenda: https://www.wsj.com/articles/busy-senate-to-juggle-trump-impeachment-trial-biden-agenda-11610645139 .
Getting out of Dodge: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/trump-white-house-begins-packing-up-211724935.html . And may Marshal Dillon arrest you when you land.
Trump focuses on pardons in final days: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-immunity/covid-19-infection-gives-some-immunity-for-at-least-five-months-uk-study-finds-idUSKBN29J004 . A self-pardon increases the chances of a Senate vote to convict, and to bar Trump from future office.
McConnell ready to sink Trump: https://www.wtrf.com/news/national-news/mcconnell-racing-away-from-trump-as-impeachment-vote-nears/ . This to me is the biggest opportunity for a Trump conviction. If McConnell flips, 17 Republican votes become a real possibility.
WSJ: Why Republican Tom Rice voted to impeach Trump: https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservative-republican-tom-rice-explains-why-he-voted-to-impeach-trump-11610659618 .
Republican Party leaking members: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-supporters-insight/republican-party-faces-rage-from-both-pro-and-anti-trump-voters-idUSKBN29J08S .
WSJ: Stripe is indirectly processing Trump contributions despite ban: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stripes-ban-on-trump-campaign-isnt-absolute-11610632728 .
Franklin Graham apparently reading an alternate Bible: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/franklin-graham-compares-10-republicans-who-voted-to-impeach-trump-to-betrayal-of-christ/ar-BB1cLFJk?li=BBnb7Kz . How nuts is this? I would take this as an encouragement of violence against these Republicans.
Trump melting down: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/donald-trump-presidency-ending/index.html . Rudy is visibly melting.
Trump stiffs Giuliani: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-wont-pay-rudy-giuliani-election-legal-work_n_5fffa763c5b6c77d85ecbe46. This story shows the appeal of “fake news”. Even if it was not true, it so perfectly fits the karma of these two losers that it would be an immediate viral sensation. Jimmy Kimmel piles on: https://news.yahoo.com/jimmy-kimmel-roasts-rudy-giuliani-050716904.html .
Trump’s “healthiest president ever” physician dies: https://deadline.com/2021/01/harold-bornstein-dead-obituary-donald-trump-physician-healthiest-president-ever-1234674122/ . This feels like a karma storm.
Mar-a-Lago warned over mask violations: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-taylor-dayne-mike-love-dance-fort-lauderdale-10c9e9cb8f0fc9c23a5debca84976691 . Not a surprise.
WSJ: Insurrectionists have histories of threatening rhetoric: https://www.wsj.com/articles/extremists-in-capitol-riots-had-histories-of-violent-rhetoric-and-threats-11610639781 .
Insurrectionists: Kill the cop with his own gun: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/police-officers-capitol-riot-hodges-fanone/index.html . The ugliness and organization of this event is just beginning to emerge.
Cops arrest retired firefighter who threw fire extinguisher at police: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-capitol-arrests/man-suspected-of-throwing-fire-extinguisher-at-police-in-u-s-capitol-is-arrested-idUSKBN29J24S . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/charges-leveled-at-men-accused-of-assaulting-police-with-flag-fire-extinguisher-in-capitol-riot-11610666476 .
Bitcoin transfers to fund right-wing groups triggers federal investigation: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/exclusive-large-bitcoin-payments-to-rightwing-activists-a-month-before-capitol-riot-linked-to-foreign-account-181954668.html .
Baseball owners supported QAnon fruitcake: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-giants-diamondbacks-owners-donated-to-controversial-rep-lauren-boebert-160807561.html . This just in: Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsome call for Giants to relocate to Alcatraz.
Hominid subspecies interbred: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/08/news-denisovan-neanderthal-hominin-hybrid-ancient-human/ . Does this explain Ivanka? Honey, Daddy’s a Neanderthal but he was kicked out of the tribe.
WSJ: 2020 ties for hottest year on record: https://www.wsj.com/articles/2020-ties-for-hottest-year-on-record-nasa-says-11610640022 . This gives you some idea that global warming is currently on a runaway feedback loop.
Isolated Trump may be scrubbed from Home Alone 2: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/donald-trump-home-alone-2-cameo-removal-fans-225303977.html . Talk about being erased.