US launches new pandemic office: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/white-house-launches-new-pandemic-office-to-be-led-by-retired-general/ar-AA1eb305?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=aa6d6f3e010f4d2594a3cd8b27c1513d&ei=18 .
WSJ: Pandemic’s effect on hospitality industry: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pro-take-how-the-pandemic-and-inflation-altered-hospitality-economics-in-six-charts-316092b .
Syphilis cases near 200,000 annually: https://www.yahoo.com/news/syphilis-cases-surging-worried-132943047.html . We continue to lose control of controllable diseases. This follows a penicillin shortage.
WSJ: Coming food price inflation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-heat-waves-lead-food-inflation-will-follow-ee6a32c . Note that we are talking permanent and ongoing cost increases, not temporary, reversible blips.
DOJ to sue Texas over Rio Grande floating barrier: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-border-barriers-rio-grande-justice-department-lawsuit/. My understanding of the law is that Texas has no case whatsoever here. States have very limited enforcement powers over their borders, whether internal to the US or international. The international borders are exclusively the jurisdiction of the federal government. Further, as the article notes, interference with navigation of the Rio Grande must first receive permits from the federal government. The feds are presumably entitled to summary judgment on this one. WSJ: Gee, maybe this was a bad idea: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-billion-dollar-border-security-migration-isn-t-paying-off-16ed598d . The Journal fails to confront federal supremacy in these matters.
White House, tech companies work on new AI protection: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-white-house-tech-companies-launch-new-safeguards/story?id=101555314 . We desperately need to figure out protections and regulation here. This is so much more important than some orange fool stealing stuff that does not belong to him. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-says-amazon-google-meta-microsoft-agree-to-ai-safeguards-eabe3680 .
WSJ: More trouble for China’s economy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-rushes-to-shore-up-battered-private-economy-skepticism-abounds-80c1a23c . The US stock market continues to move upward, as if our problems are over. A global recession remains very much in the cards.
WSJ: The “two axes” conversion is tough: https://www.wsj.com/articles/untangling-the-u-s-from-chinas-economy-is-messy-8a658f2e . Of course it will take time to reorganize the global economy. But as we have regularly pointed out, China loses relative to the West in this unwinding. We involved China in the global economy to bring them into the brotherhood of nations, such as it is. But as they are unwilling to fully and honestly participate, we must cut them off. It’s just that simple, even if the mechanics are messy.
Ms. Harris goes to Florida: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/politics/kamala-harris-florida-education/index.html . This is a perfect role for the Vice President. She can be very effective and visible calling out DeMentis on his insane wars on Mickey Mouse and education while raising her own profile. This also contrasts with the actual work of governance being completed by President Biden. WSJ: Really? We haven’t heard about that: https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-is-kamala-harris-3ba86408 . The Journal is pathetic …
WSJ: Russians attack in northeastern Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-seeks-to-divert-ukrainian-forces-away-from-counteroffensive-80580e89 . However, they do not appear to making much progress.
UN Security Council pressures Russia to resume Ukraine food export deal: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-black-sea-grain-united-nations-880cb99ffadf23b8a148c36abaea74a5 . Note that China participated in applying pressure to Russia.
WSJ: Russian economy stumbles as ruble drops, sanctions bite: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-raises-rates-as-ukraine-war-costs-mount-a41bfa23 .
WSJ: Ukraine nationalizing Russian-controlled banks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-to-seize-russian-controlled-bank-in-bid-to-curb-moscows-influence-871ce321 .
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in yet more trouble: https://apnews.com/article/bankmanfried-ftx-crypto-charges-ellison-71271793119998ccc8ddc67d084b8f5f . Apparently he is now aiming to be the Orange Julius of crypto … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sam-bankman-fried-accused-of-trying-to-discredit-witness-in-ftx-fraud-case-715b243a . Meanwhile FTX sues SBF: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bankrupt-ftx-sues-bankman-fried-others-to-recoup-more-than-1-billion-b63ea88c .
Judge Cannon sets May 20, 2024 for Orange Julius documents trial: https://www.salon.com/2023/07/21/experts-cannon-just-set-the-worst-possible-trial-date-for-the-party/ . The prosecution wanted December 2023; the defense wanted a date after November 2024. In essence, Judge Cannon split the difference. This is based on her view that this is a complex case, which it is not. The question now is whether she will maintain sufficient scheduling control to keep the trial on track. I for one am skeptical. A summary of OJ’s trial dates which have been set so far: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-s-trial-date-conjures-gop-s-nightmare-scenario/ar-AA1eblSF?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=24e5e0a196d949678a5fd7e96dae1da3&ei=12 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-aileen-cannon-sets-may-2024-trial-date-for-trumps-documents-trial-ee
Two more January 6 insurrectionists convicted: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trial-federico-klein-steven-cappuccio-a5393867e51072c059cf6390bb03892c .
WSJ: Meta’s Threads app sees continuing decline in user engagement: https://www.wsj.com/articles/threads-user-engagement-continues-to-drop-adding-urgency-for-new-features-8ed2f384 . Threads can solve its reverses by adding new features users desire, but they need to do this fairly quickly.
Vanna White has a new deal, sort of: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-vanna-white-reaches-new-deal-celebrity-edition-003810313.html . But this deal relates to the celebrity version of the show, not the syndicated program.
A new theme park in … Oklahoma?: https://people.com/a-new-usd2b-americana-theme-park-is-opening-in-oklahoma-7563609 . This seems utterly nuts. The park is “just off Route 66”, which is great if they were opening in the 1960’s. They expect to draw 4.9 million visitors per year. From where? You can’t really fly into northeastern Oklahoma, so folks will be driving hundreds of miles to vacation in Oklahoma?
WSJ: Engineering yeast for flavors: https://www.wsj.com/articles/food-drink-flavoring-fungus-bf45fc96 . While hops have long provided flavor highlights in beer, now yeasts are being genetically engineered to provide even broader flavor profiles.
The two-faced star: https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/two-faced-star.html . The star rotates once every 4 seconds, according to the scientists. But given the mass involved, that seems unbelievable.
Just Stop Oil protestors disrupt British Open: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/sport/just-stop-oil-open-championship-protest-spt-intl/index.html . Meanwhile, American Brian Harman is the surprise leader after two rounds: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/pga/2023/07/21/british-open-leaderboard-highlights-round-2-live-upates/70441595007/ . At 10 under par, Harman is five strokes ahead of #2 Tommy Fleetwood.
Tony Bennett passes at 96: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/entertainment/tony-bennett-dead-at-96/index.html . As the article notes, Tony Bennett had an amazing 8 decade career. So a kid from Queens will now be forever associated with San Francisco. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tony-bennett-crooner-who-bridged-genres-and-generations-dies-c532562 .