Stopping viral infection of cells: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/sea-sponges-could-hold-key-to-stopping-covid-infections-in-human-cells/ar-AA16b4V9?ocid=Peregrine . This research seems promising but appears rather preliminary based on this reporting.
Pentagon ends troop vaccine mandate: https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-immunizations-lloyd-austin-covid-64752e91abbc3d707ee46373a3ce757e. This represents the triumph of conservative ignorance over science. It also will damage troop readiness over time.
Another US COVID wave: https://www.axios.com/2023/01/09/health-experts-another-covid-omicron-variant-wave-kraken .
COVID vaccine misinformation grows: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/covid-vaccines-sudden-death-231015854.html . People who understand science should know enough not to attribute deaths to the COVID vaccine with no information. The problem is, there is a significant portion of the American population which does not understand science.
3,700,000 China COVID cases daily: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinese-covid-cases-expected-to-peak-at-3-7-a-day-by-jan-13-with-daily-deaths-reaching-25-000-health-data-company-forecast-11673375259 . These modelers expect China’s COVID tsunami to peak in 3 days, at 3.7 million cases daily. They also expect a peak of 25,000 deaths per day about January 23.
This model in my view has a variety of issues. But my overriding comment is, there will be more COVID waves after this initial tsunami. Whenever XBB.1.5 hits China, their population will be less protected than ours, and we still expect another COVID wave in the US.
WSJ: We don’t understand COVID in China, either: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-covid-19-infections-hit-peak-in-populous-regions-officials-say-11673271254 . Note that this article points out that travel for Lunar New Year presents a major challenge for China’s rural areas, as we have said earlier. But if this is true (and it is), why would China’s daily infection rate be peaking in 3 days?
WSJ: FDA halts riskier human drug trials: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-increasingly-halting-human-trials-as-companies-pursue-risky-cutting-edge-drugs-11673322324 .
988 suicide prevention call volume grows rapidly: https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-washington-suicide-313c20b2098469f04ccadcccdfd46b1b .
WSJ: FTX’s financial backers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/list-of-ftx-backers-expands-to-include-kraft-group-other-family-offices-11673399690 .
Russia continues assault on Bakhmut: https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-war-donetsk-moscow-1643b607f7424aa58637514c59e22b35 . One suspects the Ukrainians may have to retreat from Bakhmut, but the Russians are suffering heavy losses with their siege tactics.
Ukrainians will get Patriot missile training in US: https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-politics-6bb6e815e77b0d6b83590d344eb884bb . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-train-ukrainian-troops-on-patriot-missile-at-oklahoma-base-11673378048 .
WSJ: Crowd-funding technology for Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/crowdfunded-technology-gives-ukraine-an-edge-on-front-lines-11673362520 .
Biden document “controversy”: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3806250-differences-in-the-trump-biden-classified-document-discoveries/ . Biden’s retention of classified material from his time as vice president is certainly a problem. But there is no way this situation is comparable to Orange Julius’ determined retention of over 300 such documents. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bipartisan-scrutiny-grows-on-classified-documents-found-at-joe-bidens-office-11673380349 .
McCarthy’s deal with the devils, in detail: https://www.aol.com/news/4-deals-kevin-mccarthy-made-065220497.html . As noted here previously, my main fear is that this “deal” will lead to a failure to fund the government, jeopardizing the US credit rating. If there are at least 6 sane Republicans in the House, they could join with Democrats to fund the government. Are there 6 sane Republicans in the House? At the moment, chances look poor. But the larger point is that the GOP’s need to actually govern may split their House caucus into warring factions.
WSJ: Katie Porter declares for Dianne Feinstein’s seat: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-rep-katie-porter-jumps-into-senate-race-11673373099 . Katie Porter, 49, is 40 years younger than Feinstein. It’s time to step away, Dianne.
OJ Inc. CFO Allen Weisselberg gets 5 months at Rikers Island: https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-legal-proceedings-new-york-city-business-ad4cfbc71bb696b9a3fa6343de393613 . Oh, how the sleazy have fallen … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-trump-organization-cfo-allen-weisselberg-to-be-sentenced-for-tax-crimes-11673326342 .
WSJ: US-Canada border workaround: https://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-u-s-agree-to-workaround-on-border-security-dispute-11673401901 . The focus is on clearing a paperwork backlog on the “trusted traveler” program for frequent crossers.
Bolsonaro may return to Brazil voluntarily: https://apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-politics-united-states-government-brazil-5d5f0fb703ddc7de29fdad93a0149435 . Expulsion from the US is a bad look for any leader.