Moderna CEO sees pandemic end in 2022: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/09/23/moderna-ceo-says-pandemic-could-be-over-next-year-as-vaccine-production-ramps-up/?sh=148818b437b9 . This may be true in the developed world, although anti-vaxxers will represent an ongoing problem in the US. However, this seems less likely in the poorer countries, where vaccination currently is almost nonexistent. But the developed world may end up viewing this as a “regional” problem, even if the regions are the size of Africa or Southeast Asia. And new variants remain an unknown.
WSJ: Adapting mRNA vaccines to the Delta variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-can-be-updated-for-the-delta-variant-heres-how-11632399254 . The article provides details and graphics on how the mRNA vaccines will be adapted to Delta.
WSJ: Progress on oral antiviral treatments for COVID: https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-pharma-isnt-done-rolling-out-covid-treatments-11632394801 .
VA extends benefits to veterans discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell”: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/21/1039337461/lgbtq-vets-discharged-under-dont-ask-dont-tell-have-new-chance-for-full-benefits . Biden administration announces yet another change that would not have occurred under the prior regime.
WSJ: FDA further narrows the booster approval: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cdc-panel-recommends-pfizer-covid-19-boosters-for-seniors-certain-adults-with-underlying-medical-conditions-11632432478 . Q&A on booster shots: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-booster-what-to-know-11623421703 .
Israel’s COVID spike suggests new restrictions: https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-covid-experts-push-strategy-rethink-as-infections-spread/ . Remember, Israeli adults are more vaccinated that we are. Expect more problems in the US as the schools stay open with unvaccinated children.
Penn State suspends students who missed their weekly COVID test: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/573637-penn-state-suspends-117-students-for-missing-required . Mom and Dad must be so proud.
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims continue to drift upwards: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-09-23-2021-11632343592 .
WSJ: China is not throwing a lifeline to Evergrande: https://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-to-adopt-new-rules-to-cut-emissions-from-coolants-11632387600 . A huge shareholder is cashing out: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-evergrande-loses-support-of-hong-kong-tycoon-amid-debt-crisis-11632392210 . Recent history of China’s debt crises: https://www.wsj.com/articles/evergrande-is-only-the-latest-in-a-chain-of-chinese-debt-crises-11632411818 . The Evergrande worries have some interesting ripple effects: https://www.wsj.com/articles/iron-ore-prices-buckle-as-evergrande-adds-to-china-concerns-11632382224 .
DeMentis is caught in Jim Crow 2.0: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/23/florida-republicans-2022-election-law-513880 . The GOP apparently does not understand how motivating this type of dishonesty is to Democratic voters.
WSJ: Deep background on the South Carolina murder mystery: https://www.wsj.com/articles/alex-murdaugh-murders-family-update-11632403729 . Note that it’s growing less mysterious. This article does confirm that the lawyer/suspect has had an opioid addiction for 20 years.
WSJ: Democrats expect to fund federal government before we hit debt ceiling: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-preparing-for-possible-government-shutdown-11632418070 .
January 6 select committee zeroes in on the zeroes around Orange Julius: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-capitol-siege-subpoenas-mark-meadows-be38e7464ffaa293e4adf1815d25bfed . These four lack any reason for avoiding the subpoenas (except delay). And the GOP would likely prefer that this not drag on into the upcoming election year. Bannon’s prize for his traitorous behavior is a subpoena: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/573617-bannon-says-he-discussed-how-to-kill-this-administration-in-the-crib . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jan-6-committee-issues-subpoenas-to-four-former-trump-officials-11632441177 . Executive privilege will not apply here. That argument essentially bans Congress from examining the Executive Branch’s role in mounting an insurrection against the Congress. So this would completely neuter the checks and balances required by the Constitution. The sharks circle and are closing, OJ.
Latest news on January 6 prosecutions: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-09-23/us-judge-allows-accused-capitol-rioter-to-act-as-own-attorney . The insurrectionists as a group quite obviously do not constitute a brain trust.
WSJ: White House examines chip supply chain: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supply-chain-crunch-chip-shortage-focus-of-white-house-meeting-11632387600 .
WSJ: FERC analyzes how Texas froze 200 of its citizens to death: https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-regulator-calls-for-tougher-power-plant-standards-following-texas-freeze-11632424969 . When we upgrade the US power grid, we should move to a uniform national grid and limit Texas’ ability to screw up utilities.
The Big Lie lives and is growing: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/24/politics/donald-trump-elections-texas-arizona-president-joe-biden/index.html . So what is the endgame of this BS? Ha, suppose Texas finds that Joe Biden actually won their state … Think about all the taxpayer money that is being flushed down the toilet for no reason.
However, this Big Lie just died: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/23/sri-lanka-shaman-dies-covid-blessed-water-cure . Karma lives.
WSJ: Cutting coolant emissions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-to-adopt-new-rules-to-cut-emissions-from-coolants-11632387600 . Remember the hole in the ozone layer? This revisits the coolant problem.
WSJ: We really are mindlessly stupid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-change-world-doomed-gdp-warming-earth-11632338084 . So our expert on the future of climate change is … an economist. And his bank of experts is … other economists. Just to be clear, economists know absolutely nothing about climate change. They also know next to nothing about predicting the future. For proof, just note that these guys are writing stupid books, not making a fortune in the stock market based on their economic knowledge.