COVID winter surge coming: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covids-winter-surge-already-experts-warn-pandemic-isnt-rcna4976 . The theory that COVID moves in two-month cycles because we consistently let our guard down too early deserves wider recognition. And we may be importing cases from Europe: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-europe-cases-surge-deaths-vaccination-vaccine-hesitancy/ .
About 900,000 children under 12 got COVID shots in the first week: https://theweek.com/coronavirus/1006999/white-house-estimates-900000-kids-have-already-gotten-their-first-dose-of-the . This is excellent progress over the estimate of 360,000 yesterday. More: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-reno-nevada-health-8e51c4098c34a1cf076a8feb17ac3661 . And another 700,000 shots are scheduled (most of these are likely second shots): https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/11/10/covid-cases-vaccination-mandates-misinformation/6361805001/ .
WSJ: The staggering cost of family health insurance: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-familys-health-insurance-cost-more-than-22-000-in-2021-survey-finds-11636567200 . So if you’re making even $20 per hour, how does this work?
The problem with asking unvaccinated employees to pay for their testing: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/09/biden-unvaccinated-workers-covid-testing-520344 .
Nebraska sees 25% surge in weekly COVID case numbers: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-nebraska-health-2ca90d9e2fd9eab08fb773f69c80d65d .
France steps up booster campaign among older citizens as COVID cases surge: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-emmanuel-macron-europe-france-pandemics-03c47e1f3854ee7d6b621d44516088d2 . Because COVID deaths are so age-related, this approach makes enormous sense. That may be the first time I’ve said that about the French (in any context).
Meanwhile, Italy offers boosters to those over 40: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-europe-italy-covid-19-pandemic-health-5bdf6596cd9aab2f1f626dfc61f19520 .
Germany sets daily record for new COVID cases: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-europe-germany-berlin-2cf79b6c58cef88924ad269c707a6b19 .
COVID surges to near-record levels in Czech Republic, Slovakia: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-european-union-andrej-babis-czech-republic-europe-7ab204e4248b5d5390be7c94f9b33b70 . Once again, low vaccination rates are leading to tragedy in Eastern Europe. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/another-covid-winter-threatens-europes-more-vulnerable-nations-11636555455 .
Federal judge voids Greg Abbott’s mask mandate ban: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/10/texas-schools-mask-mandate-ban-overturned/ . Abbott becomes the first turkey to get stuffed over 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-rules-against-texas-ban-on-mask-mandates-in-schools-11636605570 .
Inflation rises to 6.2%: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/10/consumer-price-index-october.html . There are plenty of indications that the stock market is overdue for a correction. The salary progress that employees have made in the Great Resignation is being wiped out by these price increases. I still believe this surge is temporary, but supply chain issues are going to take some time to unwind. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brace-for-even-more-inflation-11636560408 . Here’s the problem for the economy and bond values: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-inflation-cpi-rates-11636552015 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-data-sparks-fuels-climb-in-short-term-treasury-yields-11636560098 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/broad-selloff-signals-inflation-fears-are-warming-11636585869 . Yet more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-consumer-price-index-october-2021-11636491959 . The Journal has gone berserk: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stock-markets-dow-update-11-10-2021-11636533178 . The Suez Canal staff is apparently still out there.
WSJ: Zillow dumps 2,000 homes in exiting house-flipping biz: https://www.wsj.com/articles/zillow-sells-2-000-homes-in-dismantling-its-house-flipping-business-11636545601 . Yes, the flip has flopped.
DOJ indicts 3 over scam PAC that raised $3.5 million and spent $19 on political campaign: https://news.yahoo.com/doj-indicts-3-people-behind-222714543.html . Apparently, one of these crooks is a repeat offender, and it’s taken 5 years to prosecute him. More: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/581082-three-men-indicted-for-fraud-in-35-million-scam-pac-scheme .
Gerrymandering surges in advance of 2022 elections: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-46ceaf3fb90a4ce3b2fc026c7c18e747 . We know this is antidemocratic. The Supreme Court has limited federal courts’ ability to intervene in these stacked decks, and the GOP presses forward with the chance to cheat.
Republicans struggle to recruit Senate candidates: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/gop-recruitment-struggles-give-democrats-hope-2022-senate-fight-n1283621 . My view is that a moderate Republican does not want to subject his political career to OJ World. At some point the country will get past OJ. It’s appalling that the date wasn’t January 6, 2021.
As reported here previously, the Democrats had an excellent chance to retain control of the Senate. But can Biden overcome supply chain and inflationary pressures? Will the infrastructure and reconciliation bills show voters that Democrats can move the country forward? We don’t really know yet, except that failure to pass the reconciliation package this year is political suicide for the Democrats: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/11/politics/president-joe-biden-inflation-politics/index.html .
Will Biden dump Kamala Harris if he runs in 2024?: https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/580857-at-28-percent-approval-say-goodbye-to-kamala-harris-being-plan-b-to-an . This opinion piece is sad but true. Harris is more invisible than Mike Pence, and both are less visible than the fly …
Democrats move to censure Paul Gosar over AOC video: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrats-move-censure-gop-rep-paul-gosar-over-violent-anime-n1283699 . Weak … weak … weak … WSJ: Meanwhile, our coverage is completely clueless: https://www.wsj.com/articles/another-covid-winter-threatens-europes-more-vulnerable-nations-11636555455 . The Journal’s pandering to its OJ fans is disgusting.
Judge rejects another OJ attempt to delay document release: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/10/politics/trump-documents-january-6-committee-executive-privilege-case/index.html . The judge is clearly fed up with the delay tactics. The judge sits in the DC Circuit, so appeals (sure to come) will go to the DC Court of Appeals and then the Supreme Court. The ridiculousness of the OJ argument (executive privilege for a former president) makes it unlikely that either court will intervene to enjoin the Friday release.
Crying Kyle Rittenhouse says his actions were self-defense: https://apnews.com/article/kyle-rittenhouse-george-floyd-racial-injustice-kenosha-shootings-f92074af4f2668313e258aa2faf74b1c . Um, he crossed state lines with an automatic rifle and shot 3 people, 2 of whom died. The absolute last thing this country needs is 18-year-old vigilantes.
Crying January 6 insurrectionist sentenced to 41 months in the slammer: https://www.npr.org/2021/11/10/1054395264/capitol-rioter-hit-police-officer-3-years-prison-scott-fairlamb (link replaced 11/11/21). More: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/10/scott-fairlamb-jan-6-sentencing-520592 . Just FYI, he will likely be out in less than 2 years. Still, this is a meaningful penalty. Another notorious insurrectionist heads for sentencing: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/qanon-shaman-stormed-capitol-horns-spend-51-months-prison-prosecutors-rcna5063 . My bet is that the judge will not find the defense’s approach appealing. Shaman his attorney. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-recommend-qanon-shaman-jacob-chansley-be-sentenced-to-more-than-four-years-in-prison-11636566356 .
China’s real estate contagion, Chapter 20: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-developer-fantasia-says-lenders-seek-repayment-11636517328 . I still see this as a global economic threat. However, the Chinese government may now be taking some action: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-china-crisis-real-estate-developers-11636552507 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-weighs-moderating-property-curbs-to-help-troubled-developers-unload-assets-11636572669 . This will not help shareholders, so considerable pain awaits this market sector. And the effect on Chinese property values will not be good. Will the government support that market?