Paxlovid rebound hits Jill Biden: https://news.yahoo.com/jill-biden-tests-positive-again-190513501.html . We continue to have high-profile evidence that Paxlovid rebound is a relatively common experience.
Paxlovid shows no benefit in adults under 65: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/pfizer-covid-pill-showed-no-benefit-in-adults-under-65-study-finds/ar-AA114dt8?cvid=30bd1bd839b54550830b91a91aa6c572 . Study is the appropriate basis for medical advance, not political pressure.
Long COVID keeps 2 million from work: https://www.wsj.com/articles/over-2-million-americans-arent-working-due-to-long-covid-says-brookings-11661364528 . That’s more than 1% of the US workforce of 163 million.
FDA allowed booster applications without clinical trial data: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fda-change-vaccine-authorization-allowed-120859927.html . There is a logical basis for this, which is not clearly explained in the article. The mRNA technology designs a vaccine to be updated by using a new piece of RNA when the virus mutates. Once the original vaccine has passed clinical trials, this substitution does not raise safety concerns because a piece of RNA on its own is not biologically active. The trials will be completed out of an abundance of caution, but it would be absolutely shocking if the new vaccine did not have the same safety profile as the original vaccine.
There is a parallel expectation in flu vaccines, but the article should have been clear that flu vaccines don’t use mRNA technology currently. There are greater risks with vaccines using live or dead viruses.
FDA approves blood disorder treatment: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-17/bluebird-s-blue-game-changing-therapy-for-rare-blood-disorder-cleared-by-fda?cmpid=BBD082422_prognosis&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=220824&utm_campaign=prognosis . The gene treatment addresses beta thalassemia, a condition where the body cannot manufacture enough of a protein which transports oxygen through the body. The one-time treatment cures 90% of sufferers but costs $2.8 million. There are roughly 1,500 sufferers in the US.
Magic mushrooms treat alcohol addiction: https://www.wsj.com/articles/psychedelic-compound-in-magic-mushrooms-shows-new-promise-as-alcohol-addiction-treatment-11661354909 .
Amazon to shut down Amazon Care: https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-seattle-23deb95626df3894769ade8622dd06da . One of America’s deepest corporate pockets finds out that healthcare is complicated. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-to-shut-down-amazon-care-health-unit-11661379538 .
OJ’s White House pressured FDA to approve hydroxychloroquine: https://apnews.com/article/hydroxychloroquine-covid-treatment-campaign-8f136d7e9dc52fd2d8da8854680d6004 . This fills in a couple of blanks. Let’s fill in a couple more. The White House was pressuring FDA on this because OJ had taken hydroxychloroquine and named it a miracle drug. Again, the White House put OJ’s vanity over science. And what quack doctor would participate in this? Why, Dr. Oz, of course. And that’s how Pennsylvania got this quack from New Jersey as their GOP Senate nominee. Disgusting all around.
Government revises jobs upward by 462,000 for year ending March 31: https://www.wsj.com/articles/job-market-stronger-than-previously-reported-data-show-11661364957 .
Biden cancels student loan debt: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/biden-cancel-10k-federal-student-loan-debt-certain-borrowers-20k-pell-rcna42422 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-announce-student-loan-forgiveness-plan-11661331600 . Generally speaking, I do not care for cancellation of debt which favors one group over another. At least, the earnings test limiting cancellation to those earning less than $125,000 is appropriate. This cancellation is most powerful for those who have the least debt, which also strikes me as appropriate. Biden is fulfilling a campaign promise, and is receiving criticism both from the GOP, who oppose everything, and advocates who wanted much more. So this is a middle ground.
Student loan forgiveness could help 40 million: https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728 . So there is a major political component to this particular executive action.
WSJ: Global recession draws nearer: https://www.wsj.com/articles/emerging-markets-burn-through-currency-reserves-as-crisis-risks-grow-11661296279 . The dollar’s strength increase the rate of burn-down.
WSJ: The permanence of inflation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-jackson-hole-fed-powell-11661288446 . While permanence is debatable, there are some clearer messages out there. The low inflation of recent years reflects job exports to poorer countries. In other words, globalization has reduced costs and thus held down inflation. The shift to “two axes” therefore involves increased expense. I don’t believe this shift involves permanent inflation, as the system will again rationalize. However, it will take time to work through the supply chain issues.
Uvalde school board fires police chief: https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-police-shootings-texas-6c5ba12b382b5cc42a6e5816dc418383 . Sadly, like everything else in Uvalde, this took way too long. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/uvalde-school-board-to-consider-firing-police-chief-11661349600 .
OJ planning employment in prison: https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/21/10/23642580/trump-spac-merger-has-provisions-for-presidential-run-prison-time-1 . This deal looks unlikely to receive regulatory approval: https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/22/08/28539560/donald-trumps-spac-deal-could-face-new-hurdle-in-vote-extension-could-the-merger-fall-apart .
Ethics problems mount for OJ’s interior secretary, Ryan Zinke: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ex-interior-secretary-zinke-lied-to-investigators-in-casino-case-watchdog-finds/ar-AA113K0O?cvid=53dea254ba76463793b5fc283d3bb17c . Zinke resigned over his various scandals. Why has it taken so long to sink this guy’s boat? More: https://www.rawstory.com/ryan-zinke-lied-to-investigators/ .
DOJ releases Barr memo on decision not to prosecute Orange Julius for obstruction of justice: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-donald-trump-obstruction-of-justice-899cb4d9cb921e21440451f942608500 . Bad things happen when the Attorney General is not true to his oath to uphold the Constitution. More: https://www.rawstory.com/bill-barr-lied-russia-memo/ . Meanwhile, WSJ does not see a story here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-releases-2019-memo-recommending-trump-not-be-prosecuted-11661371874 .
GOP Rep. Scott Perry sues to prevent DOJ from searching his cellphone: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-ally-perry-sues-to-block-u-s-from-searching-seized-cellphone/ar-AA112TdM?cvid=580674e828f74633a2aedd2235c8501f . This kerfuffle represents a delaying tactic. DOJ offered a joint review process, whereas Perry wants the judge to review his proposed split of information on the phone. Either way, only a small portion of what’s on the phone is protected. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-ally-scott-perry-sues-to-block-justice-department-from-reviewing-cellphone-contents-11661356027 .
Jury awards Kobe Bryant widow $16 million for emotional distress: https://apnews.com/article/kobe-bryant-nba-entertainment-sports-los-angeles-f27ec0b1302807531ab05d089acb2981 . Today, 8/24, is Kobe Bryant Day every year in LA, chosen because he wore jersey numbers 8 and 24.
There is sound in space. Here’s the sound of a black hole: https://www.aol.com/news/heres-black-hole-sounds-according-194957359.html .
Len Dawson passes at 87: https://www.wsj.com/articles/len-dawson-kansas-city-chiefs-hall-of-fame-quarterback-broadcaster-dies-at-87-11661348759 .