Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:
Vermont becomes first state to reach 80% vaccine threshold
U.S. COVID-19 deaths cross painful 600,000 milestone as country reopens. We’ll probably never know the true number because, at least in the early- and mid-stages, autopsies fell by the wayside as the medical community was overwhelmed. Misdiagnoses might suggest that the true number is lower; “excess deaths” models suggest it might be higher. Either way though, a toll that did not need to happen.
Maybe We’re Asking Vaccine Skeptics the Wrong Question
Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, and Debt:
Just to confirm: both my S2F(X) model and on-chain signal point towards a second run of this bull market🚀 pic.twitter.com/d8NB4jNoTL
— PlanB (@100trillionUSD) June 15, 2021
How 'Chaos' In The Shipping Industry Is Choking The Economy
Web founder Berners-Lee to auction source code as NFT
Fighting Inflation Less Important to Voters
A new Data for Progress poll shows voters prioritize the economy in general (25%), jobs and unemployment (17%), and the national debt (13%) over fighting inflation (9%).
California’s Mammoth Economic Recovery
No one anticipated the latest data readout showing the Golden State has no peers among developed economies for expanding GDP, creating jobs, raising household income, manufacturing growth, investment in innovation, producing clean energy and unprecedented wealth through its stocks and bonds. All of which underlines Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement last month of the biggest state tax rebate in American history.
By adding 1.3 million people to its non-farm payrolls since April last year — equal to the entire workforce of Nevada — California easily surpassed also-rans Texas and New York. At the same time, California household income increased $164 billion, almost as much as Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania combined.
Politics:
“It’s the single most consequential thing I’ve done in my time as majority leader of the Senate.”
— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, on blocking Barack Obama from appointing a new Supreme Court Justice to fill the late Antonin Scalia’s seat.
“McConnell is taunting Democrats with this statement — and betting they won’t do anything to retaliate.”
— Taegan Goddard
McConnell’s New SCOTUS Threat: Maybe We Won’t Confirm Any Justices For 18 Months!
Mitch McConnell Telegraphs New Principle
It’s easy to get caught up in the calendar implications of McConnell’s statement. It’s understandable to panic about the fact that Justice Stephen Breyer seems so naive about the state of American politics yet is likely to stay on the court past the 2022 election.
But we should be crystal clear that McConnell is elucidating an entirely new principle — a Republican Senate will never confirm a Democratic president’s nominee to the Supreme Court. It doesn’t matter when the vacancy occurs or who the president nominates to fill it. If a Republican can prevent that appointment, it is their duty to do so. The blocking of Garland is not the exception; it’s the rule.
House Republicans Spend Oversight Hearing Expressing Concern For Insurrectionists
Saudi assassins picked up illicit drugs in Cairo to kill Khashoggi
’Nothing short of horrified’: Jewish groups alarmed by Arizona’s potential gas executions
Pride Flag-Waving Firms Donate to Anti-LGBT Candidates
This month, corporations are plastering their social media avatars with rainbows, sponsoring Pride parades, and declaring their unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ community. Many of these companies, however, are spending millions supporting the campaigns of anti-gay politicians at the federal and state level.
A Popular Information investigation found that 25 major corporations have spent more than $10 million since 2019 supporting members of Congress with a zero rating on the latest Congressional scorecard produced by the Human Rights Campaign, the most prominent LGBTQ rights organization in the United States. These same corporations have also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to state legislators who have sponsored anti-trans legislation this year.
1 Woman Is Dead, Others Injured In Minneapolis After A Driver Plows Into Protesters. Looks like a random idiot. The driver has 5 prior DUI convictions.
The Price of No Consequences for Trump
Sometime soon the results of the Arizona audit will be brought forth. It seems quite likely, given the participants, that the auditor ninjas will claim that Donald Trump won Arizona. Or probably won Arizona—who can say! Or would have won Arizona, if not for those meddling kids.
And if this happens, the former president and his MAGA media echo chamber will once again stoke the flames of insurrection. Q-adherents will convince themselves that one of the seven seals has been revealed. Millions (tens of millions) of Republicans throughout the country will believe it. And some of them will demand action.
So when the Arizona audit bell tolls, what exactly is McConnell and McCarthy’s plan?
'Pure insanity': Justice Department rebuffed Trump bid to overturn election
Former Harvard psychiatrist Lance Dodes: Trump’s psychosis is still an “enormous danger”
Retired Harvard professor warns that Trump is untreatable — and could create a police state if he returns to power.
New Alzheimer's drug could be 'devastating' for Medicare
Serendipity:
U.S. Farmers Of Color Were About To Get Loan Forgiveness. Now The Program Is On Hold
U.S. Assessing Possible Leak at Chinese Nuclear Plant
The US government has spent the past week assessing a report of a leak at a Chinese nuclear power plant, after a French company that part owns and helps operate it warned of an ‘imminent radiological threat.’
Meme credit: WilliamBishop2 (source)