Latest news on Omicron BA.2.12.1: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-new-york-united-states-05a6c872b4f3fcb1dc52125962bce604 . This variant is now outcompeting BA2, which we updated yesterday.
CDC estimates 75% of US kids have had COVID: https://apnews.com/article/cdc-covid-infections-kids-baefa22555970245f0ff939e7bbc7c80 . This startling result shows once again how little we know about this disease. And also, many of our rate calculations around the disease are suspect. Apparently, there was a significant surge in infection rates between December and February. Also, almost 60% of all Americans have been infected at least once. More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/over-half-of-americans-have-been-infected-with-coronavirus-at-least-once-cdc-says/ar-AAWCwGS?li=BBnb7Kz . Still more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/after-omicron-winter-surge-cdc-finds-nearly-60percent-of-all-americans-and-75percent-of-kids-have-been-infected-by-the-coronavirus/ar-AAWClqL?li=BBnb7Kz .
Pfizer seeks FDA approval for COVID booster for kids: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-asks-fda-to-authorize-covid-19-booster-for-5-to-11-year-olds-11651010392 .
Is natural immunity to COVID possible?: https://news.yahoo.com/can-people-be-naturally-immune-or-resistant-to-covid-19-185050422.html . The article explains two theories being looked at: (1) rapid T-cell response that clears the virus; or (2) innate immunity, perhaps based on genetic factors.
VP Kamala Harris has COVID: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-kamala-harris-dadf170fbacfd57922cdf51d59e87cdb . So far she is asymptomatic. Apparently Harris has not recently been in close contact with President Biden. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kamala-harris-tests-positive-for-covid-19-11650990962 .
Senator Ron Wyden has COVID: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-oregon-kamala-harris-ron-wyden-4635e36e760f07ca2451d9937ca38005 . So does Senator Chris Murphy: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-connecticut-ned-lamont-chris-murphy-f3db77e1abcc1f2817c4fba81be4a90c .
Other non-COVID respiratory viruses surging: https://www.wcvb.com/article/non-covid-viruses-running-rampant-massachusetts/39831443# .
“An aspirin a day” is going away: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/aspirin-longer-recommended-prevent-1st-heart-attack-stroke/story?id=84300242 . Aspirin presents a variety of health risks. This change does not surprise me, given the bleeding risks.
Using sound technology to destroy cancerous tumors: https://talker.news/2022/04/26/scientists-reveal-new-technique-that-destroys-cancer-using-sound-waves/ .
J&J sues over HIV drug counterfeiting: https://www.wsj.com/articles/johnson-johnson-files-suit-against-alleged-hiv-drug-counterfeiters-11651004553 .
Federal judge temporarily blocks Kentucky’s new anti-abortion law: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-judge-temporarily-blocks-enforcement-of-kentuckys-new-abortion-law/ar-AAWsyJK?li=BBnb7Kz .
Beijing enforces mass testing by barricading in neighborhoods: https://news.yahoo.com/beijing-barricades-neighborhoods-enforces-mass-112428662.html . More: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-27/beijing-presses-on-with-mass-covid-testing-as-locked-down-shanghai-seethes . Still more: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-26/beijing-enforces-mass-covid-testing-closes-neighborhoods . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-sticks-to-covid-19-blitz-as-chinas-cases-drop-to-three-week-low-11650982545 .
Senate confirms Lael Brainard as Fed vice-chairperson: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-expected-to-confirm-brainard-as-federal-reserves-vice-chairwoman-11650983320 .
Russia admits its desire to break up Ukraine: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-26/putin-ally-says-ukraine-heading-for-collapse-into-several-states . Once again, the US release of sensitive intelligence has paid off by foreshadowing Russia’s intentions. You may recall past reporting indicating Russia’s Plan B, to split Ukraine into a North and South Korea. This Russian’s comment that Ukrainians are united only in fear of their internal Nazis is completely detached from reality.
Germany to send anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/in-embarrassing-reversal-germanys-freshman-chancellor-agrees-to-supply-tanks-to-ukraine/ar-AAWCtwS?li=BBnb7Kz . This should be significant in eastern front action. Here is a ton of information on the tank’s capabilities: https://www.kmweg.com/systems-products/tracked-vehicles/air-defence-systems/gepard-1-a2/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-to-send-heavy-weapons-to-ukraine-following-allied-pressure-11650965385 .
US intelligence has been helping Ukraine with targeting: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-intel-helped-ukraine-protect-air-defenses-shoot-russian-plane-carry-rcna26015 .
The dangers of reporting from Ukraine: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cnn-crew-member-injured-narrowly-escape-russian-bombing-065126133.html . We must always keep in mind that reporting from war zones is a dangerous business.
More speculation on Putin’s poor health: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/opinion-whats-wrong-with-sickly-vladimir-putin/ar-AAWC47i?li=BBnb7Kz . This fits with the earlier speculation about thyroid cancer. More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/resurfaced-clip-shows-putins-hand-shaking-before-gripping-chair-arm/ss-AAWCFPG?li=BBnbfcL .
More on the GOP efforts to coordinate the January 6 insurrection: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-allies-secret-work-overturn-2020-election-detailed-new-text-mess-rcna25880 . These clowns look more and more like The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight (originally a book by Jimmy Breslin about the Mafia).
DeMentis signs bill creating police voter fraud unit: https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-health-crime-florida-5fad57fac85e0944b6e8eeb423b195b7 . So this really is completely demented. Seems like a pretty cushy job – police benefits looking for something that doesn’t exist.
And speaking of fraud, Marjorie Taylor Greene certainly is one: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/text-messages-greene-put-new-focus-martial-law-testimony-rcna25973 . The bar is high to ban someone from the ballot. Regardless of the outcome, the attorneys pressing the case make compelling arguments here. Not only is Greene a liar, she claims not to recall some gravely serious, insurrectionist behavior.
And Greene also proves she’s a complete idiot. In her text, she urges Meadows to advise Orange Julius to invoke “Marshall law”. Clearly, she has no idea of what martial law is, and she admits in the text, “I don’t know on these things”. So here is today’s GOP, with this cadre of know-nothing fools advising the Idiot-in-Chief.
Another GOP idiot in Congress just keeps proving it: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rep-madison-cawthorn-cited-gun-charlotte-airport-rcna26102 . Clearly, it is unbelievably stupid to bring a loaded firearm to the airport. But how do you explain doing it twice?
Fast food becomes more dangerous to your health: https://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2022-04-26/restaurant-worker-arrested-after-grease-thrown-on-customer . We all know fast food has a dangerous grease content. But we didn’t know that included having it thrown on the customer. The customer suffered second degree burns.
Living on the dogleg: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/massachusetts-family-wins-5-million-verdict-country-club-property-hit-rcna25857 . Hits by 651 golf balls in 4 2/3 years works out to about 11 golf balls per month. Still, the jury award of $5 million seems excessive.
No to Marjorie Taylor Greene, but yes to space lasers: https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/telescopes/a39744794/most-powerful-megamaser-discovered/ . Note that this “megamaser” is older than Earth.