Biden: Vaccinate 70% of adults by July 4: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-d6ee06383f123a4ef0941847200757df . This goal appears achievable, but it will be a stretch. To get there, the administration is changing tactics, moving from mass vaccination sites to physicians’ offices. This seems like a wise way to take advantage of people’s personal trust in their doctor.
WSJ: CVS sees vaccinations drop off 30%: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cvs-posts-higher-quarterly-profit-11620127736 .
mRNA vaccines generate both antibodies and helper T-cells: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-05-04/not-just-about-antibodies-why-mrna-covid-vaccines-may-shield-from-variants . The more we can learn about the mechanisms of the mRNA vaccines, the more quickly we will be able to expand this technology to other vaccines and to cancer therapy.
More on the Indian variant B.1.617: https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/what-scientists-know-about-the-b-1-617-coronavirus-variant-68733 .
WSJ: Global pandemic to last until mid-2022: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biontech-founders-expect-covid-19-pandemic-to-last-until-mid-2022-11620137233 . Again, the emergence and behavior of variants is the major uncertainty. US entry into global vaccine supply will be a very positive development.
Pfizer expects durable revenue from COVID vaccine: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/pfizer-expects-covid-vaccine-demand-for-years/ar-BB1glMrD?li=BBnb7Kz . The reason is that the mRNA technology achieves superior results to the traditional viral vector technology. This is in all areas: vaccine efficacy, flexibility in booster development, and safety. I expect that research will explode around using mRNA technologies for other vaccines and for fighting cancer. Moderna is likely to become a very valuable company. More: https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/05/02/moderna-just-made-the-pfizer-vaccines-biggest-weak/ .
US redirects vaccine allotments: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-government-and-politics-d6ee06383f123a4ef0941847200757df . Essentially, if you believe Republican politicians and Fox News, you gamble your life. At some point, there’s a lawsuit in here somewhere. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-to-reallocate-unordered-vaccine-doses-to-states-in-need-11620145860 .
US begins vaccine turn to the world: https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-05-04/biden-us-to-send-10-of-coronavirus-vaccines-to-other-countries-by-july-4 . The measured, professional behavior of the administration in handling this crisis has been praiseworthy.
New Lilly monoclonal antibody drug moves to tests: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/05/04/baylor-to-test-new-drug-against-coronavirus-variants/ .
Does green space promote COVID equity?: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-05-04/green-spaces-tied-to-smaller-racial-gap-in-coronavirus-infections . Maybe. This is a very complex area in which to suggest cause and effect. The article indicates researchers adjusted for a variety of factors. This tells you how complex this analysis is, not whether the adjustments were successful. I would guess that more green space means lower population density, which should have a positive effect on COVID transmission. That factor is not mentioned in the article. So, maybe.
The mess in India will continue for several weeks: https://apnews.com/article/india-coronavirus-health-41a6a064b0d22b0ed4d2d1753e4ff31c .
WSJ: EU vaccine rollout improves: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-troubled-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-turns-the-corner-11620142959 .
The YOLO economy: https://news.yahoo.com/burned-out-millennials-quitting-their-jobs-eye-private-money-flowing-around-200553228.html. YOLO is “you only live once”. It is logical that people who have been locked into their jobs during the pandemic will look for a change.
WSJ: Record US imports in March: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-trade-deficit-widened-to-74-4-billion-in-march-11620132526 . The US stimulus will be stimulative to the global economy.
WSJ: Netanyahu fails to form new government – again: https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-netanyahu-expected-to-fall-short-in-race-to-form-new-government-11620132792 . Israel is becoming the new Italy – but with nuclear capabilities and an aggressive military.
Congressional strategies on Biden’s $4 trillion proposals: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-dollar4-trillion-plan-pivots-on-pelosi-schumer-gop-moderates/ar-BB1gl106?li=BBnb7Kz . The discussion of breaking the bill into pieces means some Republicans are willing to sign onto some pieces. Most of those pieces will already have near-unanimous Democratic support. The question for both sides is what a deal looks like. Earmarks were expected to be some part of the horse-trading. However, the latest Ted Cruz outburst (next item) may have some impact on that part of the process. Oh, and everyone in Congress hates Ted more than they already did.
Ted Cruz announces he’s corrupt: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ted-cruzs-threat-to-woke-ceos-was-the-most-openly-corrupt-thing-any-senator-has-said-ethics-expert-says/ar-BB1glrw7?li=BBnbfcL . It is remarkable to have an ethics expert call out a sitting senator in this matter. However, this was not an off-hand comment from Cruz – he wrote a column for the Wall Street Journal. The only conclusion is that Republicans (and Democrats) in Congress knowingly sell special treatment in return for political contributions. Frackin’ Ted is a major and open offender.
Josh Hawley’s political career and Generalissimo Franco are both still dead: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/551683-hawley-defends-jan-6-fist-pump . (For the whippersnappers, Franco is an SNL reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalissimo_Francisco_Franco_is_still_dead .)
McCarthy steps up attacks on Liz Cheney: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kevin-mccarthy-says-other-republicans-are-concerned-liz-cheney-cant-carry-out-the-job/ar-BB1glPSP?li=BBnb7Kz . More: https://news.yahoo.com/kevin-mccarthy-seems-suggest-liz-152651031.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cvs-posts-higher-quarterly-profit-11620127736 . The problem with this is that McCarthy is driving the bus into a brick wall. This may work for 2022, although Election Day is a political eternity (19 months) away. It is not an effective long-term strategy because it is not built around anything approaching the truth.
Nancy Pelosi gives Kevin the needle, right in the butt cheek: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/551698-pelosi-mocks-house-gop-looking-for-non-threatening-female . This is really the most effective way Pelosi can provide support for Liz Cheney, and the truth.
Update: McCarthy blurts out his true intent on a hot mike: https://news.yahoo.com/kevin-mccarthy-liz-cheney-hot-mic-gop-leadership-trump-183832402.html . You have house plants brighter than this cow pie.
Update: NBC News analysis is a steaming cow pie: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-liz-cheney-pain-won-t-go-away-n1266172 . The pain is the truth. Falling in line behind a lying ex-president is a stupid plan. Liz Cheney is the messenger, and she will retain her seat until the next election regardless of what the “leadership” does. Kevin McCarthy is a fool, he has always been a fool, and he may just help Democrats retain the House in 2022. But it is a big lift for Democrats even with Kevin’s help.
WSJ: DOJ seeks special master for Giuliani document review: https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-seek-outside-review-of-materials-seized-from-rudy-giuliani-11620171370 . DOJ is apparently trying to avoid seeing confidential materials which could hinder its pursuit of Orange Julius.
Fox sticks with outrage broadcasting: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/tucker-carlson-calls-barack-obama-a-creepy-old-guy-and-attacks-him-for-urging-americans-to-get-the-covid-19-vaccine/ar-BB1glHtM?li=BBnb7Kz . Obviously there is no factual basis for this, and it’s racist to boot. Question: Is Tucker Carlson vaccinated? Tucker’s now in “clarification mode”: https://www.thewrap.com/tucker-carlson-denies-doubting-the-vaccine-a-day-after-doing-just-that-video/ . This last article contains this excellent link: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/09/judge-rules-fox-news-tucker-carlson-not-source-of-news-defamation-suit-mcdougal-trump.html . Does democracy really need a Wall Street remake of the Nazi propaganda machine? Again, “Fox” and “News” don’t belong in the same sentence.
Amy Bockerstette breaks another record: https://sports.yahoo.com/barrier-breaking-golfer-to-become-1st-with-down-syndrome-to-compete-in-a-college-championship-000142094.html . If you saw her play at TPC Scottsdale, it was a terrific par. It was amazing to see such measured play in front of the enormous crowd. Congratulations and best wishes at the national championship.