The White House hot spot: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elanagross/2020/10/05/white-house-outbreak-grows-2-housekeeping-staffers-test-positive-told-to-use-discretion-discussing-it/#5bde930d1c9a . The evidence mounts that Trump is the super-spreader. So he’s finally super at something. Not so super for the staff: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-unusually-quiet-as-many-aides-work-from-home-11602008842 . When was the last time a White House communications person said something that was actually true? No, I don’t know either. And: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stephen-miller-tests-positivefor-covid-19-11602027426 .
So what is going on with Trump?: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-coronavirus-treatments-prognosis-puzzle-doctors-remdesivir-dexamethasone-2020-10 . The most reasonable conclusions seem to be (1) he’s sicker than the doctors have said publicly and (2) to view the return to the White House as a transfer to another medical facility.
Infected Trump reshoots White Hose entrance: https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/10/05/trump-no-mask-white-house-camera-crew-balcony-collins-lklv-ebof-vpx.cnn . Is the camera crew the next hot spot?
Trump’s COVID-19 message criticized by medical community: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-donald-trump-infectious-diseases-michael-pence-a037f5cf6d6f14f90313a3aa7cd58043 .
WSJ: Facebook deletes Trump’s COVID-19 message: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-removes-trumps-post-about-covid-19-citing-misinformation-rules-11602003910 . In other news, Mark Zuckerberg is still looking for a backbone transplant in Facing misinformation. It better come soon: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebooks-status-the-easiest-target-11602008795 .
WSJ: Joint Chiefs in quarantine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/joint-chiefs-of-staff-in-quarantine-after-coast-guard-official-tests-positive-for-covid-19-11602004374 . How is this not a national security risk?
WSJ: White House backs off challenge to FDA COVID-19 vaccine approval rules: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-agrees-to-fdas-guidelines-for-vetting-covid-19-vaccines-11602011953 .
WSJ: Glaxo/Vir antibody drug advances to Phase 3 trials: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-companies-balk-at-amazons-call-for-covid-19-disclosures-11601997368 .
WSJ: Monoclonal antibodies could significantly reduce COVID-19 mortality rates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-gates-says-antibody-drugs-could-sharply-reduce-covid-19-death-rate-11602016762 . Another treatment expense which actuaries should consider.
WSJ: Amazon pushes other companies for more COVID-19 transparency, but no takers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-companies-balk-at-amazons-call-for-covid-19-disclosures-11601997368 .
WSJ: 101 COVID-19 deaths in New Jersey veterans’ home: https://www.wsj.com/graphics/covid-nursing-home-death-veterans-menlo-park/ . This is another article in the WSJ “COVID Storm” series. This horrific story feels like mass murder of the most vulnerable among us.
WSJ: The feds’ COVID-19 data mess continues: https://www.wsj.com/articles/stephen-miller-tests-positivefor-covid-19-11602027426 .
WSJ: Global round-up: https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-10-06-2020-11601974019 .
WSJ: Europe’s second COVID wave moving into older population: https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-second-covid-wave-starts-to-spill-over-from-young-to-old-11601982003 .
WSJ: Sweden tries isolation to combat COVID-19 surge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-tries-to-isolate-covid-19-cases-without-a-lockdown-as-infections-surge-11602004646 . Herd immunity has now been understood as “not a plan”. Isolation seems like a better fit for the cold Swedes.
WSJ: US, China considered worst pandemic responders: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-global-image-dips-to-new-lows-over-its-coronavirus-response-11601992802 .
WSJ: Pandemic meltdown: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-art-of-the-meltdown-11602015018 . So, I don’t really relate to this article. However, Trump meltdown is a different story.
WSJ: MyoKardia deal helps Bristol-Myers diversify: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bristol-myers-squibb-cuts-its-cancer-risk-11602001696 .
DeBlasio presses his non-advantage: https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/10/05/it-is-not-acceptable-cuomo-de-blasio-at-odds-as-covid-surges-in-new-york-1321450 . Bill, you need to call the governor … : https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-yorks-mayor-prods-state-to-approve-business-closures-in-covid-19-hot-spots-11602005344 .
WSJ: COVID-19 spread upending Senate races: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tight-senate-races-take-new-turn-after-trumps-covid-diagnosis-11602004110 . The chickens are coming home to roost. Or maybe the chickens are going home because they got voted out.
USDA mandates millions of food boxes contain Trump letter: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/01/trump-letter-food-aid-boxes-424230 . Unless the food boxes contain cranberries, none of the food was raised in the swamp. Everything is not politics.
WSJ: US demand for workers lagging: https://www.wsj.com/articles/employer-demand-for-workers-weakens-as-pandemic-passes-half-year-mark-11601997455 . Every sign we have is of an increasing gap between rich and poor.
WSJ: Pandemic accelerated retail’s move from stores to online: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-coronavirus-changed-the-retail-landscape-11601976600 .
WSJ: The economic second wave: Commercial foreclosures coming: https://www.wsj.com/articles/commercial-property-foreclosures-are-poised-to-rise-as-covid-19-lingers-11601985600 .
WSJ: Small and minority businesses last in line for PPP money: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ppp-money-aboundedbut-some-got-it-faster-than-others-11601976601 .
WSJ: St. Louis Fed president not sold on additional stimulus by Fed: https://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-bullard-likely-robust-recovery-wont-call-for-change-in-fed-policy-11601976600 .
WSJ: Fed chairman pleads for more stimulus from Treasury: https://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-powell-says-u-s-faces-tragic-risks-from-doing-too-little-to-support-economy-11601995201 .
WSJ: Trump ends stimulus discussions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-tells-negotiators-to-stop-covid-relief-talks-until-after-the-election-11602011258 . Mitch McConnell’s spin is not credible. Alternate explanations are: (A) Trump wants no more focus on the virus; (B) Trump is saying to those suffering, if you want help, vote for me; (C) Let them eat cake.
WSJ: ECB prepared to give additional stimulus: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ecbs-christine-lagarde-is-prepared-to-inject-fresh-stimulus-cut-rates-11601973358 .
WSJ: Global economy forecast less dire: https://www.wsj.com/articles/imf-managing-director-georgieva-says-economic-outlook-less-dire-than-in-june-11601985901 . But is this because the US is buying more abroad?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-trade-gap-in-august-was-largest-since-2006-11601988513 . So Trump’s focus on narrowing trade deficits (a stupid goal) has now led to the largest trade gap since 2006. Super job, super-spreader!
WSJ: Boeing expects big dent in plane demand: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-expects-pandemic-to-put-big-dent-in-jet-demand-11602010445 . This will widen our trade deficits. And short-term financial help for the airlines looks like a band-aid.
WSJ: GE receives Wells notice: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ge-says-it-has-received-wells-notice-from-sec-relating-to-accounting-investigation-11602008493 . GE’s spectacular fall comes from a multi-billion dollar mistake it made in reinsuring long-term care policies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ge-expects-6-2-billion-charge-after-reviewing-insurance-reserve-1516104171 .
WSJ: St. Louis gun couple indicted: https://www.wsj.com/articles/st-louis-couple-indicted-for-waving-guns-at-protesters-11602025825 . But they got speaking roles at the Republican National Convention.
WSJ: Pandemic accelerates global food crisis: https://www.wsj.com/articles/food-crisis-grows-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-11601991326 .
The plastic pandemic: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-plastic-recycling/ . COVID-19 has set back recycling while leading oil companies to make more materials for new plastic production. More: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/06/more-than-14m-tonnes-of-plastic-believed-to-be-at-the-bottom-of-the-ocean .
California now has a “gigafire”: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/06/california-wildfires-gigafire-first . It’s the second gigafire this year: https://wildfiretoday.com/tag/gigafire/ . So we have more than one type of hot spot this year.
US Forest Service moves to gut Roadless Rule for Tongass National Forest: https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2020/us-forest-service-pushes-ahead-to-gut-protections-for-americas-climate-forest . This would be the US equivalent of burning the Amazon rainforest. Tongass is incredibly important for carbon capture and oxygen production.
WSJ: Nobel Prize in Physics for black hole discoveries: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nobel-prize-in-physics-is-awarded-to-three-scientists-for-discoveries-about-black-holes-11601979287 . WSJ: 5G iPhone in a week?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-to-host-oct-13-event-5g-iphone-expected-11602007202 . Ten years ago, the preceding question would have been a nonsensical typo.