Sleep apnea COVID risk: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-12-08/sleep-apnea-an-overlooked-covid-19-risk-factor . Obstructive sleep apnea appears in 54 million adult Americans, which is about 22% of the adult population.
US passes 15 million cases: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa/with-vaccine-drawing-closer-u-s-tops-15-million-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN28I1WD . It took 100 days for the first million cases. We are currently adding a million new cases every 5 days: https://khn.org/morning-breakout/us-suffers-deadliest-week-since-april-and-thanksgiving-spike-isnt-even-here-yet/ .
WSJ: UK begins Pfizer vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-begins-rollout-of-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-in-a-first-for-the-west-11607419672 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/uk-vaccine-covid-news-update-11606905307 .
FDA scientists like Pfizer vaccine performance: https://apnews.com/article/us-regulators-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-594e55efc2b927d85aae3c54da8f463f . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-set-to-release-analyses-of-the-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-11607423403 .
Gottlieb confirms reporting on White House decline of Pfizer options for more vaccines: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/08/covid-vaccine-us-declined-pfizer-offer-for-more-doses-says-scott-gottlieb-.html . Another White House alternative fact extravaganza sinks in the swamp: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-agreement-us-government-600 . Of the thousands of clients (private and public, large and small, corporations, unions and all the others) I’ve had over my career, I can’t think of one where jerks like these wouldn’t be fired on the spot.
WSJ: AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine moves toward UK authorization: https://www.wsj.com/articles/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-trial-data-underscore-safety-range-of-efficacy-11607443250 .
WSJ: Fauci on vaccines and the path forward: https://www.wsj.com/articles/deborah-birx-and-anthony-fauci-to-discuss-coronavirus-response-11607432098 .
Why don’t Americans quarantine?: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/12/states-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-quarantine-hawaii/617321/ . The answer is simple: Quarantining protects others. And it is inconvenient. The pandemic has demonstrated that we have a huge number of selfish jerks who just don’t care.
The relief/stimulus struggle continues: https://news.yahoo.com/white-house-proposes-916-billion-002148567.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcconnell-calls-for-covid-19-aid-bill-excluding-liability-shield-state-aid-11607457672 . Surprise medical billing reform effort collapses: https://theintercept.com/2020/12/08/surprise-medical-billing-neal-covid/ .
And today’s White House alternative fact extravaganza: https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-vaccine-rollout-marred-by-confusion-false-claims-233349756.html . Under the Big Top, when the elephant takes a dump in the main ring nobody dies. Not so under the Big Flop.
WSJ: Colleges adjust COVID strategies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lessons-from-fall-reopenings-change-colleges-future-plans-11607433781 .
WSJ: 5G auction nears: https://www.wsj.com/articles/long-awaited-5g-auction-expected-to-stretch-carriers-balance-sheets-11607436055 .
Stephanie Ruhle speaks out on her family’s bout with COVID-19: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/msnbc-anchor-stephanie-ruhle-covid-19-003045854.html .
More on the mystery illness in India: https://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-hospitalised-mystery-illness-andhra-104512555.html . Sounds more like Bhopal (or Flint) than Wuhan. I’m pleased not to live in a place known as Mosquito City.
Army takes action on Fort Hood tragedies: https://apnews.com/article/fort-hood-14-soldiers-fired-violence-86c09bd3d40a7d6cc062beabb6012357 . Please rename the base ASAP.
Fudge for HUD, Vilsack for Agriculture: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-cabinets-marcia-fudge-south-carolina-cleveland-12aff285e2cc7a90f91d5de1e0ad3275 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-expected-to-nominate-tom-vilsack-to-lead-agriculture-dept-11607471628 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-elect-joe-biden-to-nominate-marcia-fudge-to-lead-department-of-housing-and-urban-development-11607468752 .
Biden’s AG search focuses on Jones, Garland: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-alabama-cabinets-merrick-garland-russia-1ab03e0eb23e3f1b7f304a9e1a9bce27 . Jones is the likely pick based on his long relationship with Biden.
Trump appoints cronies: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/08/trump-appoints-kellyanne-conway-chao-443674 . This is really ridiculous. And Chao is Mitch McConnell’s wife.
Ken Paxton running for US Attorney General for Trump 2024: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-lawsuit-texas/texas-asks-u-s-supreme-court-to-help-trump-upend-election-idUSKBN28I27I . Or perhaps he is looking for a pardon: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/11/texas-ag-ken-paxton-criminal-allegations/ [link replaced 12/23/20] (that would have to be Greg Abbott; these are state charges). And: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/ken-paxton-criminal-case-timeline-texas-attorney-general-fraud/ . Yesterday I talked about speaking up loudly for the return of the rule of law. Within 24 hours we are hit with evidence of how dangerous a bunch of corrupt sore losers can be. The CNN take: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/08/opinions/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-election-lawsuit-moore/index.html .
Flynn lucks out: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/flynn-judge-makes-parting-shot-in-tossing-case-after-pardon/ar-BB1bK8Vq?li=BBnb7Kz . This swamp story may be overwhelmed by upcoming pardons. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-dismisses-flynn-case-but-denounces-governments-role-11607463395 .
NY AG predicts Pence will pardon Trump: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/529339-new-york-attorney-general-predicts-trump-will-step-down-allow-pence . While this possibility was discussed here a month ago, I don’t agree with this prediction. It is the smart legal thing to do. But it doesn’t avoid state prosecution. As Trump has raised $200 million for his election fraud fantasy, he is well-funded to fight criminal charges. And his narcissism is a huge hurdle to doing the smart thing.
WSJ: Mount Everest goes up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mount-everest-just-got-taller-11607417239 . Without plate tectonics, we never would have understood this.
UK vaccination of William Shakespeare sets off pun cascade: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55233021 . My favorite was a graphic on the BBC broadcast: Online poll: “What was the first vaccine William Shakespeare received?” Answer: “TB – 75%; Not TB – 25%” (in other words, TB or Not TB).