More countries loosen COVID restrictions: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-pandemics-united-nations-ca046d38f7e78ad7150a0a8d95d81433 . The key fact is stated in the third paragraph: Omicron has infected more people globally in the last 10 weeks than all COVID infections during 2020. Once again, we are re-opening too soon. However, the hope would be that sufficient natural immunity would develop from the Omicron infections to ward off future variants. At best, that is a gamble that will cost additional lives over the next few months.
Initial results of first human challenge COVID study: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-deliberately-gave-volunteers-coronavirus-to-learn-how-easy-it-is-to-catch . More: https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-deliberately-infected-people-coronavirus-here-s-what-happened .
Fraudulent COVID tests across the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fraudulent-covid-19-test-sites-proliferate-triggering-consumer-warnings-11643810401 .
Leukemia cured by gene therapy: https://apnews.com/article/science-health-cancer-leukemia-gene-therapy-7bb38e71a15c83c84f201a0fa19b0a3d . So the question now is how broadly these fantastic results will apply. More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-cancer-treatment-makes-leukemia-vanish-but-creates-more-mysteries/ar-AATpelW?ocid=hponeservicefeed .
Biden reauthorizes Cancer Moonshot: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/02/1077620199/cancer-moonshot-biden .
Elderly depression rates soar during pandemic: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/miss-everything-miss-everybody-depression-102207472.html . No surprise here.
Democrats lose a Senate vote for at least 4 weeks: https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-health-618b25ed7ac76d07fa3a2a1c37b6f161 . So remember how Ted Kennedy’s death nearly sunk the ACA? Biden should, as he was President of the Senate at the time. This risk has been out there since Day 1, and now it has struck.
Biden deploys 2,000 more US troops to Europe amid Ukraine tensions: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-united-states-moscow-e3336e8a1e04e35d29e687575b5258a9 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-orders-3-000-troops-to-bolster-european-allies-in-russia-ukraine-crisis-11643810404 . Biden sent 1,700 troops to Poland and 300 to Romania. Our main national security interest in Poland is … um, pierogi? However, the only thing Romania exports to the US that comes to mind is orphans …
WSJ: Facebook/Meta misses expectations, may lose 20% of market value at tomorrow’s open: https://www.wsj.com/articles/meta-platforms-facebook-fb-q4-earnings-report-2021-11643762900 .
McConnell opposes leniency for insurrectionists: https://www.aol.com/news/top-senate-republican-opposes-leniency-213234837-095613623.html . What he should have said is that Orange Julius should never be allowed near elective office. But then, how many turtles do you know that can participate in the high jump? Not this one, for sure.
Orange Julius considered blanket pardons for insurrectionists while he was still in office: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/02/trump-considered-blanket-pardons-for-jan-6-rioters-before-he-left-office-00004738 . But suppose he had done this. Would that have been enough for the GOP to walk away from OJ?
Washington’s football team now named the Commanders: https://apnews.com/article/washington-commanders-nfl-ae58a5d454501417d66b207259486b14 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/washington-football-team-commanders-new-name-11643809010 .
Crosby, Stills & Nash join Spotify boycott over Joe Rogan misinformation: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/spotify-s-problems-grow-as-more-artists-join-boycott/ar-AATpLkJ?ocid=hponeservicefeed . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/david-crosby-stephen-stills-join-former-bandmate-neil-youngs-protest-of-spotify-joe-rogan-11643834803 .
The secrets behind the movie “Groundhog Day”: https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/groundhog-day-director-revealed-how-long-bill-murray-s-character-was-stuck-in-time/ar-AATpBYa?ocid=hponeservicefeed . This may change your view of the movie.
Gronkowski video tribute to Tom Brady: https://sports.yahoo.com/rob-gronkowski-hilarious-heartfelt-video-tom-brady-patriots-buccaneers-181341698.html . Nice job, Rob … WSJ: Tom who?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tom-who-brady-is-famous-in-brazilas-husband-of-brazilian-supermodel-11643836857 .