Influenza can create long-term symptoms: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/long-flu-long-covid-influenza-can-also-lead-lingering-symptoms-rcna129787 . So other viruses besides COVID can leave the patient with long-term illness.
Americans’ physical health declines: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-14/gallup-survey-americans-physical-health-worsened-after-covid-19-pandemic .
Moderna cancer vaccine shows promise: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/health/moderna-merck-melanoma-vaccine-immunotherapy/index.html . There is a lot more to this franchise than the COVID vaccine.
Medicare B drug price cap kicks in: https://apnews.com/article/drug-prices-biden-inflation-pharmaceuticals-efc99d020d53c48449c4725ae943c4df .
WSJ: The shrinking opioid settlement: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-opioid-victims-arent-getting-billions-of-dollars-they-were-promised-5b3c6d96 .
EU to start membership talks with Ukraine: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/snubbed-by-the-u-s-on-aid-ukraine-turns-to-bickering-europe-ce133b53 .
WSJ: Weakness remains in China’s economy: https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-economic-data-shows-some-renewed-signs-of-weakness-69cdc6db .
Supreme Court allows Illinois ban on assault weapons: https://www.aol.com/news/us-supreme-court-declines-block-190844526.html . Of course, the Brady Bill banned assault weapons nationally. Gun deaths dropped. Congress then allowed the Brady Bill to expire. Then gun deaths rose. There is no sense in allowing assault weapons in private hands.
Rights to some Disney characters revert to public domain next year: https://apnews.com/article/mickey-mouse-public-domain-disney-minnie-tigger-1dbfa3982a172334503bc8cf87302b6f .
House passes defense spending bill: https://www.aol.com/house-passes-annual-defense-policy-154759320.html . So this is something of a surprise, as Ukraine aid has faced significant opposition among House GOP conservatives. However, passage was partly driven by the need to leave town for Christmas break. The bill passed 310-118.
House GOP slides deeper into Nut World: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-republicans-whole-milk-santa_n_657a3d94e4b061b3c92df896 . Note the North Carolina congresswoman who argued, “Amateurs built the Arc.” Presumably she meant the Ark. Experts are aware that the Ark is an impossible tale of biological salvation written by Jewish priests millennia ago, but who listens to experts, right? The vote of 330-99 means half of the Democrats also voted for this silliness. There were also fewer defenders of experts than opponents of the defense bill.
Democrats are not immune from deplorable behavior: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/us/illinois-naacp-backlash-migrants-reaj/index.html . This level of ignorance is not beneficial to the NAACP.
Earning a one-way ticket to Siberia: https://www.aol.com/news/don-t-run-president-text-122627634.html . Whoever did this is literally taking his life in his hands …
January 6 rioter with “Foxmania” pleads guilty: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jan-6-rioter-foxmania-pleads-guilty-felony-capitol-attack-charge-rcna129621 . If you have friends who listen only to Fox, you know this happens to their listeners. It’s still a crime.
Alina Habba’s dim bulb flickers on: https://www.rawstory.com/alina-habba-cut-short-second-circuit/ . Habba’s argument showed she was almost completely unfamiliar with the law in this area. This is unacceptable in court. So Habba was appropriately cut short by the judge.
The Rude Dude decides to shut the hell up: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4359985-giuliani-to-no-longer-testify-in-georgia-election-worker-defamation-trial/ . This is the right decision. Rudy has nothing to say that would help. Also, he would face brutal cross examination, especially as he shot off his mouth and defamed the plaintiffs again during the trial.
George McGinnis, former NBA and ABA all-star, passes at 73: https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2023-12-14/two-time-aba-champion-and-indiana-mr-basketball-winner-george-mcginnis-dies-at-73 . McGinnis was an important player in advancing minority participation in professional sports. The article also contains the very rare reference to Portland’s lone NBA championship, in 1977.