Nancy Pelosi tests positive for COVID: https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-tests-positive-covid-8443e72bb5258fc5b79918f726eb635a . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-tests-positive-for-covid-19-11649344781 . While Pelosi is so far asymptomatic, this is a dangerous development for the 82-year-old Speaker of the House. Ditto for 69-year-old Senator Susan Collins: https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-covid-health-susan-collins-angus-king-faf8b0b5d47fc6f43d7a1e69bf72b28f . Ditto for DC Mayor Muriel Bowser: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-muriel-bowser-4a0565fdd4861928a42fdf71462df19e . While the mayor is only 49, her 64-year-old sister died from COVID complications. Apparently, the recent spate of DC political socializing is not a good thing: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/06/commerce-secretary-positive-covid-19-00023348 . Also, ditto for Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-ned-lamont-connecticut-6c6e7a33c0f61f6d0d0068e9c6c800b0 .
Omicron BA2 ramps up in the US: https://bestlifeonline.com/news-covid-variant-surge-states/ . Dr. Gottlieb is a respected authority, but his prediction track record has been poor. Key to my concern is that the uptake of the first booster is still around 50%. The pandemic has every opportunity to become national again, especially in GOP communities. Discounting medical advice is never a good approach.
COVID vaccines reduce children’s hospitalizations by 2/3: https://www.audacy.com/news/covid-vax-for-kids-reduces-hospitalizations-by-two-thirds .
Up to 65% of Africans have had COVID-19: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-world-health-organization-united-nations-matshidiso-moeti-92d8d2206341c9d15a6d6a35d62302f5 . Note that this estimate means the case reports from Africa are perhaps 1% of actual cases on the continent. More proof that COVID cases are underreported globally. Also, given that up to 40% of cases are asymptomatic, that Africa’s population is young, and that many are poor with little or no access to medical care, the results discussed here seem quite possible.
Fifth Circuit (surprisingly) allows Biden’s federal employee COVID vaccine mandate to proceed: https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-donald-trump-new-orleans-5dfec69e95363b4bc4e94228c2de5729 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/appeals-court-reinstates-bidens-vaccine-mandate-for-federal-workers-11649380165 . The Fifth Circuit is perhaps the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. As it turned out, the administration was smart to argue the procedural issues. More: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-04-07/u-s-court-reinstates-biden-federal-employee-covid-vaccine-mandate .
WSJ: Medicare to limit funding of Biogen Alzheimer’s drug: https://www.wsj.com/articles/medicare-limits-payments-for-biogens-alzheimers-drug-11649365397 . This drug was prematurely approved. So now the government corrects that mistake by turning desperate older people into guinea pigs. Ugh.
WSJ: Pfizer to buy ReViral: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-to-buy-reviral-for-up-to-525-million-in-push-against-rsv-11649349053 . Note that even the maximum purchase price is about 1/3 of estimated annual revenue. This indicates that the expectation of success is less than 50%. Also, the privately held company may be in serious need of capital infusion to move the vaccine toward production.
Bill Gates says another pandemic is coming: https://houstonherald.com/2022/04/bill-gates-says-another-pandemic-is-coming/ . Gates is certainly right, but the timeframe is unknown. It’s been 100 years since the last pandemic. It will likely be less than 100 years until the next one, because global warming is significantly affecting our ecology. But a finer prediction is highly speculative. If it’s 70 years out, it’s not Gates’ or my problem, kids.
Shanghai COVID surge rages on: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-residents-seek-help-online-as-daily-covid-count-nears-20-000-11649296811 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-in-lockdown-struggles-to-feed-itself-11649353336 . Xi needs to kiss Zero COVID goodbye. This is also hammering their economy.
COVID relief fraud prosecutions ramp up: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oklahoma-woman-pleads-guilty-32-million-covid-relief-fraud-rcna23345 .
Weekly jobless claims fall to 166,000, a 53 year low: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-04-07/u-s-weekly-jobless-claims-fall-seasonal-factors-revised . However, note that there was a methodology change this week, so the figure may be understated. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-jobless-claims-fall-to-166-000-lowest-level-since-1968-11649335677 .
Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed to US Supreme Court: https://news.yahoo.com/black-americans-celebrate-ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-confirmation-205914495.html . Meanwhile, Yahoo publishes list of “noteworthy GOP objections” to Justice Jackson’s confirmation: https://news.yahoo.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-republican-objections-supreme-court-195309426.html . Translation: Here’s the latest Republican a**hole list. Reading these absurd positions shows that none of these people are responsible CITIZENS. Yes, they should not have any association with the governance of this country. But more importantly, this “me uber alles” mentality demonstrates their basic anti-social behavior. Throw these bums out.
WSJ: Russians and Belarusians join Ukraine military: https://www.wsj.com/articles/belarusians-russians-join-ukraines-military-hoping-for-freedom-at-home-11649325276 . This is a very dark sign for the governments in Moscow and Minsk. However, aspects of this article read like planted information from the CIA.
US sends more anti-tank Javelins to Ukraine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-to-send-dollar100-million-in-javelin-missiles-to-ukraine/ar-AAVVeRm?li=BBnb7Kz . Russia will try to control Donbas with tanks. Remember that there are established trenches on both sides since conflict started in 2014. I would expect Russia is going to lose a lot more tanks. To protect them, Russia will try to establish air superiority. But the Ukrainians also now have extensive supplies of anti-craft weaponry. Again, Ukraine has a real chance to win this war.
Putin is treating his troops like so much sausage. At some point, his support in Russia will likely collapse as Western news creeps in.
Also, we are giving a similar level of aid to Taiwan: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-up-to-95-million-equipment-training-taiwans-patriot-missile-system/ . Defense contractors are certainly getting a boost from the Ukraine war and increased tensions around the world.
WSJ: Both sides prepare for an escalation of the war in Donbas: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-calls-for-tougher-sanctions-more-arms-to-fend-off-russia-in-donbas-11649326575 .
US Senate votes 100-0 to strip Russia of normal trade status and to ban the import of Russian oil: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/senate-votes-100-end-russia-trade-status-enact-83935687 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-set-to-pass-bills-to-strip-russia-of-favored-trade-status-ban-oil-imports-11649338449 .
Europe works to divorce itself from Russian energy resources: https://news.yahoo.com/take-that-putin-europe-looks-to-wean-itself-quickly-from-russian-energy-090053460.html . Russia will be pummeled until Putin no longer runs the country. It really is that simple.
WSJ: The risks of a Russian default: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-russia-doesnt-want-to-defaulteven-in-a-time-of-war-11649336269 . Russia may not want to default, but given the growth of international measures against their assets, default strikes me as inevitable. And again, I don’t see them being readmitted to the global economy until Putin is gone. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-to-know-about-russias-possible-debt-default-11647423003 .
Amnesty International report declares Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine: https://news.yahoo.com/russian-military-has-committed-war-crimes-in-ukraine-amnesty-international-report-claims-215256951.html . This is hardly surprising to those of us who follow the news, but it is important that a respected and involved international organization has made these findings.
Meanwhile, Orange Julius has lost all sense of reality: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-wanted-to-march-to-capitol-on-jan-6-but-secret-service-stopped-him-145819129.html . This narrative is so full of holes no competent liar would try it. How fortunate we are to have survived 4 years of Lunatic-in-Chief.
WSJ: Gloom increases over Chinese real estate developers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-property-downturn-drags-on-chinese-developers-see-an-uncertain-future-11649323802 . The key point here is that the developers themselves are unanimous that the boom is over. That of course does not solve the existing overbuilding or the partially completed projects. So a contraction phase is coming. China has been regularly growing at 7% to 8% annually, and 20% to 30% of that growth came from real estate. It seems certain that Chinese growth will fall below 5% annually for the next 18 months on this factor alone. And then there’s the foolishness of the continued Zero COVID lockdown strategy.
Tiger Woods sensational on Day 1 of The Masters: https://sports.yahoo.com/tiger-woods-claims-victory-at-the-masters-232017601.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiger-woods-masters-2022-first-round-11649363545 . Look, 90 of the best golfers in the world faced the Augusta course today. Only 18 (20%) finished under par, and one of those was 5 time former champion Tiger Woods at age 46. Anyone who has undergone rehabilitation has real appreciation for what Woods has accomplished since shattering his leg 14 months ago.
I’ll admit, my view was that Tiger could not be competitive today. And after walking 6 miles today, tomorrow seems even more challenging. But today, on its own, was a huge victory for Tiger and golf.