Vaccine conspiracy theory: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8931911/Donald-Trump-accuses-FDA-holding-Pfizer-vaccine-election.html . The soon-to-be-ex-president (STBEP) has been nuts and getting nuttier for a long time. The Deep State Crusade will be coming to a cable channel near you soon.
Vaccine conspiracy theory debunked: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-09/pfizer-s-covid-vaccine-prevents-90-of-infections-in-large-study . So the reason Pfizer got results now is that when they resumed testing, there were way more infections than needed to meet the new higher testing threshold. THAT’S BECAUSE STBEP HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE PANDEMIC – AGAIN! (no, not sorry to shout). And I’ll be ignoring his goddamn cable BS as well. Lock him up, and no broadcasts from prison! (yes! – the old way of shouting!)
COVID-19 vaccine side effects: discuss them now: https://khn.org/news/article/time-to-discuss-potentially-unpleasant-side-effects-of-covid-shots-scientists-say-yes/ .
Why Pfizer’s “genetic” vaccine is a big deal: https://www.theverge.com/21562309/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-gene-based . This article verifies that the extension of this idea to other diseases has taken a giant step forward. It would seem that this technique is potentially applicable to every viral disease.
US jails have faster spread than cruise ships: https://news.stanford.edu/2020/09/24/covid-19-spread-american-prisons/#:~:text=Stanford%20researchers%20find%20COVID%2D19,hotspots%20for%20novel%20coronavirus%20infections. . Terrible. And not exactly an advertisement for the cruise industry, either. “Depopulation” in this context means early release, but its use in conjunction with a fatal pandemic is tone-deaf.
Airlines have key role in vaccine distribution: https://money.yahoo.com/airlines-will-play-key-role-in-the-distribution-of-covid-19-vaccines-analyst-130045733.html .
WSJ: New restrictions across the US: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-covid-surges-to-new-levels-across-u-s-states-impose-flurry-of-measures-11605199815 .
The White House superspreader hits Corey Lewandowski: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/lewandowski-latest-white-house-election-night-guest-test-positive-coronavirus-n1247575 . And Corey, I feel great for you.
The scientist couple that founded BioNTech are now billionaires: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/coornavirus-vaccine-biontech-pfizer/2020/11/12/37acb78c-2467-11eb-9c4a-0dc6242c4814_story.html . An update in perspective from yesterday’s CNN article.
India holds the vaccine key for the developing world: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/coronavirus-vaccine-india-serum-institute/2020/11/10/bbd7509c-0fb0-11eb-bfcf-b1893e2c51b4_story.html . As much as has been written about China’s geopolitical gains during the pandemic, India may also emerge as a major geopolitical beneficiary. More: India makes Oxford vaccine: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/produced-40-million-doses-of-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-serum-institute-of-india-2324173 .
WSJ: Employer health plan enrollment during the pandemic: https://www.wsj.com/articles/employers-craft-health-benefits-to-cushion-covid-shock-11605193200. There’s very little consistent advice between these advisers. An employer would do well to tailor their plan options to cover the range of financial circumstances among their specific workforce. Most employees do not have financial advisers (or read WSJ), so plan communications should emphasize simplicity and appropriate choices for a variety of worker circumstances.
WSJ: FSA calculus: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-makes-fsa-contribution-decisions-trickier-11605193201 . “Use it or lose it” is not built for uncertainty. And there is an actuarial double-entendre here …
Chinese spend $74 billion during 11-day “Singles Day”: https://www.reuters.com/article/singles-day-alibaba/alibaba-boasts-56-billion-sales-as-post-virus-singles-day-gets-into-full-swing-idUSKBN27Q2HM . The amount is 21 times the spend during Amazon’s 2 day Prime Day. First, control the virus …
Taiwan excluded from WHO meetings: https://www.wsj.com/articles/taiwan-stopped-covid-19s-spread-but-cant-talk-about-it-at-who-meeting-11605182401 . US withdrawal from WHO has emboldened China.
India adds stimulus measures: https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-unveils-yet-more-stimulus-as-coronavirus-hobbles-economy-11605184924 .
Brazil: “Little Trump” and his philosophy: Don’t be sissies about the virus: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/brazil-coronavirus-cases-jair-bolsonaro-president-b1721337.html . While Trump has spawned a new class of would-be dictators abroad, the greater worry is that he has also spawned them in the US. Personally, I don’t see Ted Cruz, Jim Jordan and compatriots as having much of a future. They don’t even have much of a present.
WSJ: Latest jobless claims: https://www.wsj.com/articles/weekly-jobless-claims-coronavirus-11-12-2020-11605125188 . Inching down, weekly claims are still above prior historic levels. What economist sees a stronger recovery given the current COVID-19 surge? The ones that matter don’t: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-chair-powell-says-rising-virus-cases-could-challenge-economic-recovery-11605201548 . However, Judy Shelton advances: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judy-shelton-moves-closer-to-senate-approval-for-federal-reserve-board-11605218923 . I still think this is poor strategy by the Republicans.
WSJ: Stock rotations occurring with increasing speed: https://www.wsj.com/articles/blink-and-you-might-miss-the-vaccine-trade-11605180571 . This looks like a symptom of too much money chasing too little value. Reports are that trading has increased substantially as more people work remotely. On Monday, various platforms reported slowdowns or technical issues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/popular-trading-platforms-sideline-users-with-technical-difficulties-as-stocks-surge-11604952545 . Some view healthcare stocks as a safe harbor: https://www.wsj.com/articles/health-care-has-immunity-to-second-wave-of-covid-19-politics-11605182401 .
Opening salvos in Georgia Senate race: https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-georgia-coronavirus-pandemic-campaigns-jon-ossoff-13be5a7acd7dd4c7b9095628c8f2b1a6 . It’s all about turn-out. There will be cash, but the 2020 election showed that’s not as valuable as previously thought: https://www.wsj.com/articles/runoffs-in-georgia-draw-flood-of-gop-cash-11605222035 . There’s only so much you can spend on ads in two months, which is why ongoing voter registration will be critical in these runoffs.
Trump swamps his supporters: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27R309 . So, Trump has been running the full court press on supporters to donate $60 million for an election defense fund to prevent the left from stealing the election from him. This article shows that if you contribute less than $8,000, precisely none of your contribution goes to the election defense fund.
Loser lawsuits: https://news.yahoo.com/a-closer-look-at-the-trump-campaigns-election-lawsuits-and-why-theyve-mostly-failed-213410452.html . Every detail you hate to have to know. It’s kind of like a crash at NASCAR. So, check it out, but have a drink, too. And in Tales from the Darkside: https://www.wsj.com/articles/election-2020-trump-campaign-lawsuits-explained-11605205969 . Oh, and that’s about-to-be former Representative Doug Collins, by the way. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-campaign-presses-election-claims-in-pennsylvania-arizona-11605215095 .
Will lawsuits swap Trump?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-faces-legal-cases-after-white-house-departure-11605189609 . Yes. And criminal prosecution here is more likely than any past president, particularly as it relates to tax evasion in New York. The Florida relocation amused me for several reasons. One is New York litigation. Another is that wealthy people often relocate there in advance of bankruptcy and buy very expensive residences. The full equity in the primary residence is protected in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. And then, of course, Mar-A-Lago will be Water-Logged-O soon enough, thanks to climate change and hurricanes.
WSJ: Republican spine hunt continues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-senators-say-biden-should-get-intelligence-briefings-11605206279 . Wait, was that a vertebrae? Schumer says they’re auditioning for “profiles in cowardice”.
WSJ: The “very stable genius” forgets he’s president: https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-trump-focuses-on-2024-aides-mull-agenda-for-final-days-11605206862 . Will Trump’s talk of 2024 force Biden to run again? We will see how Orange Menace stock performs over the next year.
Jeopardy: LeVar Burton candidacy advances: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/alex-trebek-jeopardy-replacement-levar-burton-thousands-petition-214812665.html . Will he go where no black man has gone before?
WSJ: Fly eyes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fogged-up-glasses-and-dry-fly-eyes-11605196062 . Interesting physics.