The pandemic is not over: US cases continue to rise: https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-infectious-diseases-4b298e5339d399572e8f70bec118bde0 . Experts are coalescing around the view that we are experiencing a wave, not a bump, and we will vastly undercount the wave. Ahem, again. Readers recall that this result was predicted here a week ago, when many experts were saying the opposite.
Also, cases are quite likely already in the hundreds of thousands, as described here by Scott Gottlieb last Sunday. As we are batting a thousand so far, that leaves two predictions from a week ago – first, that the spread would be national, not regional as Dr. Gottlieb said. This article agrees with national spread. Second, many Americans will face serious consequences from this wave because of low levels of vaccination and current boosters. This article discusses a limited increase in hospitalizations. We shall see.
Here come the new subvariants of BA2: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-highly-transmissible-forms-of-omicron-may-pose-latest-covid-threat/ar-AAWgAUb?li=BBnb7Kz . Again, the Northeast is highly vaccinated, and yet new variants continue to gain a foothold there.
Is US COVID herd immunity still possible?: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/health/covid-19-herd-immunity/index.html . Oh. My. God. That grinding sound you hear is not your garbage disposal. It’s my teeth. We trashed this idea a long time ago. Now, on top of everything else that’s wrong about this idea, we know that US booster uptake is only about 50% and wanes after 4 months. So we need a really effective booster and we need 95% of the population to take it. Fuggedaboutit!
WSJ: Respiratory virus RSV next target for vaccine-makers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-moderna-j-j-see-respiratory-virus-rsv-as-next-vaccine-target-11650015001 .
State Department to cut over 100 countries from COVID “do not travel” list: https://www.aol.com/news/u-state-department-cut-back-140445662-091608232.html . This represents politics, not medical science. Essentially, we have decided that pandemic fatigue means that we will now live with the virus even though there will be an increase in the number of vulnerable people who will die as a result of the increased exposure. In other words, “live with the virus” will mean “die with the virus” for some Americans.
COVID surge continues in Shanghai: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-04-16/shanghai-reports-more-symptomatic-covid-cases-as-more-lockdowns-imposed . Again, this attempt to save face has failed. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/anger-over-covid-lockdowns-mounts-in-shanghai-11650039314 .
China cuts reserve ratio requirements (RRR) for banks: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-04-15/china-cuts-reserve-requirements-for-banks-as-economy-slows . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-central-bank-takes-small-steps-to-support-economy-11650024179 .
Abbott tries to undo his latest foray into border security: https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-business-health-greg-abbott-4d61da6f03c438b96319b4b51ae7165e . What a dimwit. The consequences of this stupidity were so predictable to everyone, except Greg Abbott. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/industries-report-continued-fallout-from-texas-mexico-bridge-slowdowns-11650064220 .
WSJ: Globalization is not unraveling but changing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/globalization-isnt-unraveling-its-changing-11650015032 . How does this pass for analysis? Germany’s economy in 1913 has absolutely nothing to do with today’s global economy. In 1913, much of each country’s economy was agriculture. With the massive changes in technology in the last 110 years, there is an entirely different level of global integration now than then. As we have been arguing, the world will have two axes of supply going forward: US/Western Europe and China/Russia. I like our chances.
The GOP plot to overthrow the 2020 election: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-mike-lee-chip-roy/index.html . Here’s the evidence, folks. The clowns at the top spent 2 months (November 7 to January 6) trying to overthrow the election with NO EVIDENCE – none at all – regarding election fraud or miscounts. These people should have been locked up at that time, either in prison or a mental hospital. These a**holes are the exact opposite of honest, patriotic Americans. This is not rhetoric. It’s a fact, Jack.
The case against the Oath Keepers: https://news.yahoo.com/case-against-oath-keepers-hinges-on-rare-use-of-seditious-conspiracy-charges-090001227.html . This article contains a load of questionable legal analysis. Just from what is public so far, there is plenty of evidence to charge the Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy. This case bears no resemblance to the Hutaree case.
The fact that the Oath Keepers alone so far have been charged with seditious conspiracy strongly indicates that DOJ believes this non-government group to be the one most likely to be convicted under the statute. If conviction occurs, DOJ could then pursue the charge against persons in the government with whom they coordinated.
In the last paragraph, the article presents evidence that an Oath Keepers lawyer advised his clients to destroy evidence. That’s a crime, and I can’t imagine DOJ would not pursue charges against the lawyer.
US confirms Ukrainian missiles sunk the Moskva: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/15/1093026912/russian-moskva-warship-sunk-ukraine . The missile is called Neptune. Last night Stephen Colbert commented on Putin, the Neptune and Uranus – you can complete the joke. “It’s interesting the missile is called Neptune, Vlad, because the Ukrainians just put it up _____”. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-navy-ship-moskva-sunk-by-ukrainian-missiles-u-s-confirms-11650043527 .
Russia threatens increased attacks on Kyiv, alleging Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-kyiv-business-black-sea-22d7279f32c15d4a7037a2195113fb57 . So let’s unpack Russia’s apparent disinformation here. Russia alleges attacks on Russian territory, but the only allegation out there is the unproven allegation that Ukrainians targeted a fuel depot resupplying the redeploying Russian troops. This article implies that Russia is trying to save face after the loss of the Moskva. That seems more likely, although more likely still is that Russia is trying (a) to downplay its war crimes and (b) demonstrate that they still have offensive capability against Kyiv.
CIA responds to Russia’s nuclear threats: https://news.yahoo.com/zelensky-world-should-be-worried-about-potential-of-russian-nuclear-strike-164338019.html . There aren’t many people in the world who can order a nuclear strike. However, Putin is one.
Twitter board responds to Musk’s offer by adopting poison pill: https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-elon-musk-shareholder-rights-board-of-directors-35b7210a6c847d055ba690167a9092fb . So this is the corporate equivalent of the Snake Island three-word response to the Moskva: Go f— yourself. When you think about it, it’s even more appropriate for Musk. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitter-moves-to-block-elon-musk-from-increasing-stake-11650040204 .