Omicron symptoms differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/are-omicron-symptoms-different-for-vaccinated-and-unvaccinated-people/ar-AAT4fkW?li=BBnb7Kz .
WSJ: More on Omicron BA2: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-we-know-about-the-ba-2-omicron-variant-11643300997 . You should compare this with other outlets’ coverage yesterday.
WSJ: Merck’s Molnupiravir shows activity against Omicron in lab: https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-tests-macrons-push-to-keep-french-schools-open-11643374158 .
Mitt Romney tests positive for COVID: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/591914-romney-tests-positive-for-coronavirus .
WSJ: Home test kit review: https://www.wsj.com/articles/which-at-home-covid-test-is-best-for-you-pcr-like-gadgets-vs-rapid-antigen-kits-11643292002 . This is a useful review by someone who recently had COVID and used various tests.
WSJ: CDC rethinks its pandemic advice performance: https://www.wsj.com/articles/embattled-cdc-rethinks-pandemic-response-after-criticism-of-guidelines-11643371202 .
Public confidence in Fauci eroded by conservative media’s “fake news” attacks: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/anthony-fauci-loses-trust-with-americans-as-confidence-in-cdc-plummets%e2%80%94poll/ar-AATfuRe?li=BBnb7Kz . For the professionals reading this, please ask yourself: How would you feel if your reputation was damaged by fake news?
WHO director praises Neil Young for standing up to pandemic misinformation on Spotify: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/neil-young-spotify-world-health-organization/ . But also, Sirius XM is restarting its Neil Young channel: https://investor.siriusxm.com/investor-overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2022/Neil-Young-Radio-Returns-Exclusively-to-SiriusXM/default.aspx .
Joni Mitchell also pulls her music from Spotify: https://www.wsj.com/articles/joni-mitchell-removes-music-from-spotify-in-support-of-neil-young-against-joe-rogan-11643430456 .
Russian population dropped by 1 million in 2021: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220128-russia-loses-a-million-people-in-historic-population-fall .
WSJ: US labor costs rise: https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-employers-labor-costs-inflation-11643331612 . Here’s another head scratcher from the Journal. Employer compensation rose 4% last year, highest in 20 years. Okay, what is the context? The commonly used measure of inflation, the CPI, rose 7% last year. But the Journal turns to the “Fed’s preferred measure”, core personal expenditures, which rose 4.9%.
The Journal completely misses the key point, which is that on either measure, workers are losing ground to inflation. And that increases wealth inequity, which already places the US near the top of the list. Historically, this is the stuff of revolutions, and I expect that the Great Resignation is one. The Journal should at least consider talking to a competent economist, although in conservative circles it has always been virtually impossible to find one.
Gretchen Carlson blasts Fox News for non-fact-based conspiracy theories: https://www.yahoo.com/now/gretchen-carlson-fox-news-devolved-non-fact-based-conspiracy-theories-081406027.html . Carlson makes an important point. Fox is driven by profits, and hence sells sensationalism to the GOP herd. More terrifying is that Senate Republicans, lacking any coherent policy, are following along with this crap. However, the people who listen to and repeat this manure are not without blame.
Milley says Russian invasion of Ukraine could be “horrific”: https://news.yahoo.com/top-us-general-a-russian-attack-on-ukraine-would-be-horrific-204346969.html . But it will not be without significant Russian casualties. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-says-u-s-ignored-his-ukraine-demands-11643388212 . Ukraine’s position is reminiscent of the Polish cavalry in World War II. Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-ukraine-putin-nato-11643121821 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-putin-targets-ukraines-growing-sense-of-national-identity-11643382476 .
WSJ: 2021 airline rankings: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-best-and-worst-u-s-airlines-of-2021-11643374802 . Ranking below Spirit Airlines would make any Jet Blue. WSJ: European economy falling behind US, China: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-economy-falls-behind-u-s-china-as-supply-chains-and-omicron-bite-11643375396 . As the Journal accurately points out, this is because Europe’s robust manufacturing sector makes it more dependent on global supply chains. I can’t recall ever putting “the Journal” and “accurately” in the same sentence. And previously in this newsletter I described their test kit article as “useful”. Is it possible the Journal is improving? But there’s also that labor cost misanalysis. We will see.