Slow updated COVID shot uptake: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-10-12/over-7-million-americans-have-gotten-updated-covid-vaccines . Note that we have a lower vaccination total than at the same time in the last campaign.
Kaiser strike talks resume: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-10-12/kaiser-permanente-resumes-talks-with-healthcare-workers-union-week-after-strike .
RSV shots for infants in short supply: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rsv-antibody-shot-babies-beyfortus-supply-cost/ .
Feds charge 17 Florida sheriff’s office employees with COVID fraud: https://abcnews.go.com/US/17-florida-sheriffs-office-employees-charged-covid-relief/story?id=103939451 .
WSJ: 2024 Social Security COLA increase will be 3.2%: https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/social-security-cola-increase-2024-5b0cd62 .
WSJ: Justin Lahart has no grasp of current reality: https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/inflation-bump-wont-be-enough-to-unsettle-fed-86890361 . As readers know, I find the Journal’s economic analysis as not worthy of the title of analysis. Lahart is probably the weakest of the writers, and he continues to get weaker. We already know that a majority of Fed members favor one more rate increase. The inflation report came in hotter than expected. So what evidence is there for the proposition that the Feds will not increase? More data could emerge that increases that possibility, but there has been none since the last meeting.
Steve Scalise withdraws as candidate for House Speaker, returning House GOP to chaos: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/steve-scalise-withdraws-speakers-race-sending-house-turmoil-rcna120230 . So this caucus has utterly no sense of the need for governance. They are all focused on their personal situation. That’s strong language, but show me one who is constructively acting on behalf of the country. Each must know how bad this looks, and is, but their expected solution has collapsed in less than 24 hours. What a bunch of losers … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/steve-scalise-struggles-to-build-support-for-house-speaker-post-99be48e6 .
Israel tells 1.1 million in Gaza to evacuate in 24 hours: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-cabinet-beb1fa2b9e4ede6cf4568dd6c86ff11a . But they have nowhere to go … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/for-palestinians-trapped-in-gaza-there-is-no-way-out-52ec0f62 .
US State Department plans to evacuate Americans from Israel: https://people.com/phyllis-coates-first-tv-lois-lane-dead-8353013 .
Hamas’ primary military benefactor is Iran: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/11/middleeast/hamas-weaponry-gaza-israel-palestine-unrest-intl-hnk-ml/index.html . As a result, there have been political accusations in the US that the deal to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets helped fund the Hamas attack, even though controls are in place to assure the money is spent only on humanitarian aid, and so far Iran has spent none of those assets. Even so, the US and Qatar have agree to refreeze those assets: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-halting-release-6-billion-iranian-oil-assets/story?id=103928072 .
WSJ: The reset of the balance of power in the Middle East: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/hamas-invasion-rewrites-rules-in-middle-east-1aeabbd4 . The potential for a second front on Israel’s northern border: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-israel-lebanon-border-fears-grow-of-a-second-battlefront-cda25139 .
Israelis condemn OJ’s “shameful” comments: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/israeli-official-shameful-trump-comments-netanyahu-wound-spirit-those-fighting-hamas . Given the OJ administration’s very strong support of Israel, these comments make absolutely no sense. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/donald-trump-criticizes-benjamin-netanyahu-as-israel-wages-war-with-hamas-3ef4ec7a .
Orange Julius Inc. former CFO Allen Weisselberg testimony ends abruptly after perjury claim: https://themessenger.com/politics/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-cfo-testimony-forbes-perjury . Crooks to the left of OJ, crooks to the right of OJ … and stuck in the middle, the lead crook, OJ. More: https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-justice-department-40ded79fea04c90f96414fa41dbae6cd .
Meanwhile, Judge Cannon halts hearing on conflicts of interest among the defendants and their former attorney: https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-classified-docs-case-hear-arguments-potential-conflicts/story?id=103908411 .Once again, Judge Cannon appears either incompetent or intentionally delaying this case. She could have required the prosecutors to argue only matters contained in their brief, and completed this hearing. More: https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-justice-department-40ded79fea04c90f96414fa41dbae6cd . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-lawyers-and-prosecutors-jockey-for-advantage-at-hearing-in-florida-courtroom-51eb0fe4 .
Actors strike talks break off: https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-talks-suspended-hollywood-writers-06c035134a1f3b8b8d0531ed247557cb . It may a long time indeed before Hollywood produces new content … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/business/media/hollywood-studios-suspend-talks-with-actors-5fdda1d6 .
Phyllis Coates, TV’s original Lois Lane, passes at 96: https://people.com/phyllis-coates-first-tv-lois-lane-dead-8353013 .
Rudolph Isley passes at 84: https://people.com/rudolph-isley-of-the-isley-brothers-dead-at-84-8356278 . The Isley Brothers had a number of hits later recorded by other artists, including “Shout” in 1959, “Twist and Shout” in 1962, “This Old Heart of Mine” in 1966, and “It’s Your Thing” in 1969.