US proposes drug patent seizures: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-12-07/us-sets-policy-to-seize-government-funded-drug-patents-if-price-deemed-too-high . The idea is simple. If government money funded the patent development, the drug company should price the drug “reasonably”. Enforcement may prove difficult.
WSJ: Texas judge allows medical abortion request: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/texas-judge-grants-pregnant-womans-request-for-abortion-3d1af51f .
WSJ: Merck scraps lung cancer study: https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/merck-scraps-phase-3-keytruda-lynparza-lung-cancer-study-ecad6bb4 .
The future of US inflation: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/the-most-important-debate-on-wall-street-is-inflation-licked-3662e2ff . Note that in the case for pessimism, the article points out that current wage growth is consistent with inflation of 3% to 4%, and that wage pressures persist. We have been arguing for some time that we face classic wage push inflation.
WSJ: US-Israeli differences over Gaza strategy: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/fight-for-gazas-khan-younis-puts-israel-u-s-on-collision-course-75f54f31 . Meanwhile, the humanitarian problems mount: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/looting-other-crimes-break-out-in-southern-gaza-as-israel-presses-assault-b81496d0 .
WSJ: Ukraine looks to make more of its own weapons: https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-goes-to-washington-with-a-new-ask-help-us-make-our-own-weapons-664c97b9 . As there are issues with corruption within Ukraine, shipping them weapons is the safest way for the US to know its investment is used in the war.
GOP debate: The also-rans demonstrate their smallness: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/12/07/israel-hamas-gaza-vegas-shooting-mccarthy-taylor-swift/71835873007/ . There’s nothing here that represents presidential material. There’s not a backbone on the stage that will stand up against the criminality of Orange Julius, except perhaps Chris Christie, and the GOP does not want to hear it. OJ should lose his New York fraud trial in the next 45 days, but I doubt that will matter to GOP voters. After all, the courts are rigged, just like the elections, right?
Self-absorbed Chinese tourists capsize their gondola: https://www.foxnews.com/world/venice-gondola-filled-tourists-capsizes-selfie-snapping-passengers-refuse-sit-down . Happily, it wasn’t the Americans or the Germans this time. Too bad their phones were probably waterproof. Here’s a video of these 5 in the drink.
UNLV shooter sought employment, then targeted faculty and staff, killing 3: https://abcnews.go.com/US/unlv-suspected-shooter-identified-sources/story?id=105448262 . Evidence has changed this from a campus shooting to a workplace shooting. Persons who attach their identity to their job can become dangerous when that job does not work out. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/unlv-shooter-identified-as-67-year-old-who-had-sought-position-at-school-906dd024 .
Today’s GOP: Is stupidity really a qualification?: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/candidate-george-santos-old-seat-convicted-jan-6-charges-testifying-no-rcna128442 .
Not only is stupidity a qualification, you can get your supporters to pay for it: https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-9528a29b2dbebb6ee4a4ebd26780f98c . The bedrock principle of our legal system is that no one is above the law. The lawyers filing this motion know that. But this crap keeps the donations flowing for the nation’s most dangerous insurrectionist.
The clear and present danger of MAGA Maniacs: https://apnews.com/article/firearms-training-center-slate-ridge-vermont-banyai-d3c5b375fc6380be6e4330915f7eb67c . Is this guy a MAGA Maniac? I don’t know. However, January 6 did provide a roadmap for insurrectionists who want to be better prepared if 2024 does not go their way. But if it does go their way, heaven help the rest of us.
January 6 sentence: Ex-California police chief who brought hatchet into Capitol gets 11 years: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alan-hostetter-sentenced-january-6-capitol-attack-11-years/ .
A deluge of threats against public officials: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/07/politics/threats-us-public-officials-democracy-invs/index.html . While the article does not explicitly say so, the evidence not surprisingly points to the MAGA Maniacs as the source of these threats. Note that 40% of the threats examined were politically motivated. This includes 9,600 against members of Congress and over 4,500 against judges, attorneys, jurors and other (presumably court staff). Finally, note that the number ideologically driven threats “exploded” under Orange Julius. When a leader preaches hate, his followers follow along, as we saw on January 6, 2021, with predictable and tragic consequences.
A liberal’s fantasy: Orange Julius permanently crushes the current GOP: https://www.newsweek.com/ultimate-nightmare-scenario-trump-supporters-opinion-1850543 . This guy is an associate professor at Roosevelt University. Where? In US News’ ranking of 439 US universities, Roosevelt is #390. I hope this guy is right, but polling data has been a lousy predictor of political behavior. Believing OJ supporters will abandon him en masse is a big stretch, as is the assumption that OJ will be convicted in Georgia before Election Day.
NY appeals court refuses to stay Judge Engoron’s partial summary judgment ruling in OJ fraud case: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-organization-fraud-2666475449/ .
George Santos makes more on Cameo in 48 hours than his annual Congressional salary: https://www.businessinsider.com/george-santos-made-more-2-days-cameo-than-congress-salary-2023-12?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_campaign=Insider_Today . Sigh.
New York Democrats put up a powerful candidate to replace Santos: https://apnews.com/article/santos-election-former-us-rep-tom-suozzi-99d4f1f43c226a7c54992875fc79aa6d . Remember, the special election will occur within 90 days, and the House GOP majority will shrink further.
Kevin McCarthy: Hog at the trough: https://www.aol.com/news/kevin-mccarthy-uses-pac-lavish-110024846.html . As I said yesterday, Kevin cares about no one but himself. But I had no idea he was this much of a pig.
Yankees trade for power: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/07/sport/juan-soto-trade-new-york-yankees-padres-spt-intl/index.html . So in these two deals, the Yankees traded away 7 pitchers and a catcher. So much for player development … WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/juan-soto-newyork-yankees-evil-empire-6dd1d437 . So the New York based Journal refers to the Yankees as the Evil Empire. Is this supposed to be a compliment?
DeMentis sets up yet another losing fight: https://fansided.com/posts/entire-state-of-florida-takes-fsu-college-football-playoff-snub-to-ridiculous-new-extremes-01hh2v877kd1 . There is no known legal basis for a lawsuit. Also, should Georgia beat FSU in the Orange Bowl (highly likely unless FSU pulls out, a truly insane suggestion), this argument is over.
PGA’s worst nightmare: Jon Rahm signs with LIV: https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-good-for-jon-rahm-is-terrible-for-the-game-of-golf-232442010.html . Various reports state the deal is worth $600 million: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/jon-rahm-liv-golf-signs-pga-tour-2023 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/sports/golf/jon-rahm-liv-pga-tour-2341016e .