WSJ: Vaccine production ramps up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-biontech-race-to-meet-global-covid-19-vaccine-needs-11602792206 .
WSJ: Vaccination reluctance continues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ahead-of-covid-19-vaccine-half-of-americans-indicate-reluctance-wsj-nbc-poll-finds-11602734460 .
WSJ: Communist vaccinators: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-china-rush-to-fill-covid-19-vaccine-void-left-by-the-wests-cautious-approach-11602761396 .
China is now the leading country participating in the WHO’s COVAX global initiative, the only significant holdouts being the US and Russia: https://www.axios.com/covax-initiative-vaccines-china-joins-trump-russia-26dce1f3-1b81-47af-8b7d-199900a928f3.html .
US warned Nevada not to use virus tests from China donated by UAE: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-technology-dubai-nevada-united-arab-emirates-0755b0ed4a9a750bcac432300ca69275 . How crazy is this story? A US state is so desperate for tests that it receives 250,000 kits donated by UAE. This reminds me of Maryland receiving kits from South Korea and protecting them from federal seizure by Maryland National Guard and State Police escort.
WSJ: Cancer diagnoses delayed by COVID-19: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-outbreaks-led-to-dangerous-delay-in-cancer-diagnoses-11602756013 . This article quantifies the expected problem. Are these “excess deaths” attributable to COVID-19? Probably yes as a practical matter, no on the death certificate.
WSJ: CDC demoralized over White House interference: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-demoralized-cdc-grapples-with-white-house-meddling-and-its-own-mistakes-11602776561 .
White House installs “politicals” at CDC: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-pandemics-public-health-new-york-e321f4c9098b4db4dd6b1eda76a5179e .
COVID-19 long-haulers may suffer cyclical symptoms: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-long-covid/long-covid-may-affect-multiple-parts-of-body-and-mind-doctors-say-idUSKBN26Z3AB .
WSJ: Compliance fatigue as US COVID-19 cases rise: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-covid-19-is-spreading-again-fatigue-colder-weather-eased-restrictions-11602759601 .
Update on Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-arizona-7d65b12e74395afc908b3609fc05d99d .
WSJ: Biotech Vertex halts drug trial, stock slides over 20%: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vertex-shares-plunge-after-biotech-drops-closely-watched-drug-prospect-11602783978 .
More evidence that blood type is an indicator of COVID-19 risk: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/blood-type-may-predict-your-covid-19-risk-study-shows-191309994.html .
WSJ: Global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-updates-10-15-2020-11602749198 . The US had just under 60,000 new cases Wednesday.
IMF World Economic Outlook: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2020/09/30/world-economic-outlook-october-2020 . The three-page executive summary provides a prescription for global economic recovery. In short, it provides an opposite direction to all of the US policies on trade, stimulus and climate change over the past 4 years.
The link given provides a chart of expected economic growth by country for 2020 and 2021. Why do the emerging and developing countries show a 2% per year growth advantage over advanced nations? First, they held the same advantage in 2019. Second, they controlled COVID-19 more rapidly and continue to do so. Third, an export-based economy needs to return to physical production. A service-based economy must control the virus to reinstitute personal interaction.
Overall, in comparison to pre-pandemic projections, total world output declines $28 trillion through 2025.
WSJ: IMF: Household debt grows in China and emerging markets: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-households-are-shouldering-the-burden-of-its-recovery-11602751411 .
WSJ: Europe’s new lockdowns create global economic jitters: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-covid-19-lockdowns-hit-oil-prices-regions-stocks-11602780226 .
Russia sees COVID-19 cases and deaths surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2020-10-15/russia-sees-record-daily-death-toll-as-new-coronavirus-infections-surge .
WSJ: Weekly jobless claims rise to 898,000: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-10-15-2020-11602714104 . Yet another indicator that the US recovery is losing steam.
WSJ: Hopes for a relief package return: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-agrees-to-national-coronavirus-testing-strategy-11602767703 . Inch by inch …
WSJ: College first-year enrollment fell by 16.1%: https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-enrollment-slid-this-fall-with-first-year-populations-down-16-11602734726 .
WSJ: US identifies sensitive technology for protection: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-moves-to-protect-technologies-considered-critical-to-national-security-11602752400 .
WSJ: We tested Facebook content rules: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-has-made-lots-of-new-rules-this-year-it-doesnt-always-enforce-them-11602775676 . There are over 100 billion new posts on Facebook every day.
WSJ: FCC considers limiting liability protection for social media platforms: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-to-review-liability-shield-for-internet-platforms-11602794817 .
WSJ: Airlines juice rewards offers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/airlines-pitch-frequent-flier-mile-deals-to-travelers-wary-of-covid-11602680964 .
WSJ: AMC rent-a-screen: https://www.wsj.com/articles/theater-chains-bold-plan-to-stay-solvent-keep-parents-sane-11602769491 . This does seem desperate. It costs something to disinfect the theater after each use.
Another well-known scientific journal endorses Biden: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02852-x . “We cannot stand by and let science be undermined. Joe Biden’s trust in truth, evidence, science and democracy make him the only choice in the US election.”
Early voting wave at historic proportions: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-politics-voting-elections-efd6eefbd3d140bdc8909360de0bff62 . My Oregon ballot just arrived in the mail today (all voting here is by mail). Every indication is that voting here will be huge and early, given all of the press around postal delivery issues.
NBC criticized for Trump counter-programming: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-10-14/nbc-facing-backlash-over-scheduling-its-trump-town-hall-against-abcs-biden-event . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nbc-actors-producers-protest-networks-decision-to-host-trump-town-hall-at-same-time-as-bidens-abc-town-hall-11602772346 .
WSJ: Summary from the competing town halls: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kamala-harris-cancels-campaign-travel-after-aide-flight-crew-member-test-positive-for-coronavirus-11602770915 . Something odd has occurred with the link headline here, but it is the accurate link at the time of newsletter publication.
Trump’s march stopped at Savannah: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-clashes-with-savanah-guthrie-on-covid-q-anon-and-white-supremacy-set-tone-for-nbc-town-hall-014056081.html . Not-so-Civil War humor. Actually, he is Mary Trump’s crazy uncle, so there’s that.
WSJ: The Twitter to-do: https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-to-subpoena-twitter-ceo-over-blocking-of-new-york-post-articles-on-bidens-11602777128 . Other reporting on this “story” indicates that there are serious inconsistencies in the Post article. There is also speculation that the Trump campaign, unable to pin an attack on Mr. Biden so far, has created this incident to suggest to supporters that the truth is being censored by the left-wing media. In other words, it’s an attempt to recreate the winning confusion around Hillary Clinton’s e-mails. https://www.npr.org/2020/10/14/923766097/facebook-and-twitter-limit-sharing-new-york-post-story-about-joe-biden . The calling of Dorsey before the Senate 6 days before the election is looking like another October surprise. Update (from NY Post): https://nypost.com/2020/10/15/twitter-changes-hacked-materials-guidelines-after-post-controversy/ .
This all seems like the collision of the truth and conspiracy theories. Let’s hope the truth wins.