No booster? Little COVID protection: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-25/cdc-study-suggests-adults-without-an-updated-covid-19-booster-shot-have-relatively-little-protection-against-hospitalization . So there’s a free vaccine that can save you from this dread disease. Only 20% of US adults have taken it. 80% of US adults are idiots. Have you fools heard of long COVID?
FDA grants full Paxlovid approval: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-05-25/u-s-fda-approves-pfizers-covid-antiviral-pill . Those who get COVID should keep this in mind.
SIDS brain receptor abnormality: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-clues-possible-factors-rcna85986 . New research suggests some infants who die of SIDS have a brain abnormality in their serotonin system. This raises the question of the identification of vulnerable infants, and what a preventative treatment might look like.
Same-sex couples 1% of US households in 2020: https://www.wsj.com/articles/same-sex-couples-accounted-for-1-of-households-in-2020-census-shows-6bc23e58 . The actual percentage was very likely higher then, and certainly higher than 1% now.
WSJ: GenesisCare, another KKR-backed health company, heads toward bankruptcy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kkr-backed-healthcare-provider-genesiscare-preps-for-bankruptcy-filing-within-days-e838a82e .
Indiana doctor faces discipline for talking about abortion performed on 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/indiana-doctor-gave-10-year-old-girl-abortion-disciplinary-hearing-rcna86214 . UPDATE (from the Washington Post): The doctor received a letter of reprimand and a $3,000 fine for discussing the case with a reporter. My sense is that the doctor did not disclose HIPAA-protected information. However, given the publicity in Ohio about the girl’s need to leave the state to get an abortion elsewhere, the question was whether the doctor gave enough information that could have led to the girl’s identification based on the publicity already out there.
The debt ceiling: No news is … no news: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/25/house-conservatives-mccarthy-biden-debt-talks-00098821 . Of course, no real news occurs until the announcement of an actual deal. It sounds like that some number of House Republicans and Democrats will vote “No” on any compromise. Biden and McCarthy must now count enough noses in the middle for passage. Biden is undoubtedly better at this than McCarthy. WSJ: More “no news”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/negotiators-race-to-reach-debt-ceiling-deal-ahead-of-deadline-next-week-9812d03c .
Biden vetoes GOP effort to prevent DC police reform: https://apnews.com/article/george-floyd-police-reform-dc-statehood-dfa7318cb2ca58a6363e82874e435a72 . This comes on the third anniversary of George Floyd’s death.
WSJ: Germany enters recession: https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-enters-recession-in-blow-to-europes-economy-d252dad3 .
UK immigration: WSJ: The law of unintended consequences: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brexit-was-expected-to-slash-immigration-instead-it-hit-a-record-82a7d37b .
WSJ: Japan may finally escape deflation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-bank-of-japan-governor-sees-signs-of-sustainable-inflation-3ad9f3b9 .
Wagner says Bakhmut withdrawal has begun: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65705733 . So Wagner declares full submission of Bakhmut but Ukraine disagrees. Now Wagner says it is withdrawing and turning the (former) town over to the Russian military. One possible explanation is that Wagner sees an opportunity both to limit its future losses and embarrass the Russian military. WSJ: More on Bakhmut: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wagner-begins-handoff-of-ukraines-bakhmut-to-russias-military-3c765d97 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/36-hours-in-bakhmut-one-units-desperate-battle-to-hold-back-the-russians-72e30f01 .
Department of Juice nears a squeeze of OJ: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-workers-moved-mar-a-lago-boxes-a-day-before-fbi-came-for-documents/ar-AA1bGWPz?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=927298fb1d3542beab3abfdda5d5fdb0&ei=11 . Assuming we have an indictment, we will learn the details of what DOJ has found. This looks really bad for Orange Julius, but the DOJ will require a near-airtight case to indict. The final decision will rest with AG Merrick Garland. More: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/neal-katyal-donald-trump-nightmare_n_646ef848e4b0047ed7797a76 . Here, Neal Katyal predicts Garland will leave the decision to Smith.
My sense is, that’s fine if Smith chooses to indict, but Garland will have a lot of questions if the decision is to not indict, because Garland will have to defend it. I still expect an indictment, and soon. The presidential campaign nears, and therefore the indictment cannot wait. More: https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32588677/trumps-lawyers-reportedly-gave-him-an-ominous-warning-brace-yourself-another-indictment-is-on-its-wa .
WSJ: Security concerns in Atlanta over possible August OJ indictment: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-potential-summer-indictment-in-georgia-raises-security-concerns-89efef20 . Second verse, same as the first.
Texas House issues 20 articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton: https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-1eaccf00ce80d26c4fc94eab1672e1bd . The GOP-led committee’s unanimous recommendation suggests Paxton’s goose has finally been fricasseed. The House could vote as early as tomorrow (Friday, the day you’re reading this). The Texas Senate would then hold a trial. If impeached and convicted, Paxton must leave office immediately. Gee, a successful impeachment – what a novel idea … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-attorney-general-faces-impeachment-6e964f52 .
Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years in prison: https://apnews.com/article/stewart-rhodes-oath-keepers-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-b3ed4556a3dec577539c4181639f666c . This conviction properly recognized “terrorism enhancement”. However, the 18-year sentence should have been at least 20. Note that the judge commented, “The moment you are released … you will be ready to take up arms against your government”. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oath-keepers-founder-to-be-sentenced-for-seditious-conspiracy-in-jan-6-attack-ca63206a . Note that Oath Keeper Kelly Meggs received a sentence of 12 years in the slammer.
GOP legislators seek to increase child labor: https://apnews.com/article/child-labor-laws-alabama-ohio-c1123a80970518676be44088619c6205 . These concepts should be fundamentally repulsive to thinking individuals. By definition, children will not be given safer, more desirable thought jobs. They will be asked to do physical labor for low pay, in environments that typically pose some level of physical danger to them. Having children as young as 14 serving alcohol has “dangerous environment” written all over it. While we know stupidity has no limits, the GOP is now trending into truly offensive exploitation.
WSJ: Scientists find 5,000 new species in deep-sea survey: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pacific-ocean-mining-new-species-e4a74e4e .