2:00PM Water Cooler 10/19/2023 | bare capitalism

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Chook Track of the Day

Tree Swallow, Pilgrim Scorching Springs Rd, off Kougarok Rd. Nome Census Space, Alaska, United States.

Financial institution Swallow, Willow Island, Cameron, Louisiana, United States.

Politics

“So lots of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are actually a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

Capitol Seizure

“Greene requests Capitol Police protect footage, police reviews from Home protest demanding Israel-Hamas cease-fire” [The Hill]. “The Georgia Republican referred to as on the Home Administration Committee to analyze the incident and overview all footage and proof from Capitol Police, writing that the ‘insurrectionists concerned should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the regulation.’” • When MTG is correct, she’s proper…

I demand @CapitolPolice protect all video footage inside and out of doors the Cannon Home workplace constructing as we speak.

There should be an investigation into the organized breach and occupation that stopped Congress from holding a Speaker election and persevering with legislative enterprise as we speak. https://t.co/QBWVF1XjT9

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 18, 2023

Sounds to me like these protesters had been interfering with an official continuing, and probably even parading with no allow. And aren’t these operational defintions of “rebellion,” not less than in keeping with Democrats?

* * *

“Justice Division appeals sentences for Proud Boys already to serve decade plus over Jan. 6 Capitol riot” [FOX]. “The Justice Division on Monday appealed the sentences for 5 Proud Boys leaders, together with chief Enrique Tarrio, who had been hit with the Civil Struggle-era cost of seditious conspiracy in connection to the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol, arguing the jail occasions given are considerably shorter than what prosecutors requested for…. Prosecutors, who made their courtroom filings on Monday, additionally had really helpful sentences of 33 years for former Proud Boys organizer Joseph Biggs, of Ormond Seashore, Florida; 30 years for Proud Boys chapter chief Zachary Rehl, of Philadelphia; and 27 years in jail for chapter chief Ethan Nordean, of Auburn, Washington. Kelly sentenced Nordean to 18 years, Biggs to 17 years and Rehl to fifteen years.”

“Ex-Michigan gubernatorial candidate sentenced to 2 months behind bars for Capitol riot function” [Associated Press]. “A federal decide on Tuesday sentenced a former Republican candidate for Michigan governor [Ryan Kelley] to 2 months behind bars for becoming a member of a mob’s Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, the place he riled up different rioters and ripped a tarp exterior the constructing…. A number of months earlier than his responsible plea, Kelley posted on social media that the Capitol riot was an FBI ‘arrange.’ His marketing campaign posted the phrases “political prisoner” on Fb after his June 2022 arrest. U.S. District Choose Christopher Cooper advised Kelley that he misused his platform as a candidate for public workplace by selling lies about election fraud, together with the baseless declare that Jan. 6 was one way or the other a part of an FBI plot.” • Cooper was nominated by Obama. Due diligence would demand I verify his sneakers….

2024

Time for the Countdown Clock!

* * *

“The Trump gag order ought to be struck down” [The Hill]. “The imposition of a gag order on former President Donald Trump was overwhelmingly applauded by pundits and press alike…. Nevertheless, this order ought to concern everybody who values freedom of speech. Whereas the chances could favor Chutkan on attraction, this order ought to be overturned as overbroad and harmful… These orders come at an incredible value — limiting each events and counsels in elevating objections to alleged abuses of the federal government. The First Modification was written within the aftermath of such abuses, together with the notorious prosecution of writer John Peter Zenger 290 years in the past in 1733…. Some polls present {that a} majority now imagine the Trump prosecutions are “politically motivated.” Tens of thousands and thousands oppose the prosecutions, and this would be the single most-discussed difficulty of the marketing campaign. But, one candidate could be each the topic of this nationwide debate and a gagged order barring participation in it…. If Chutkan had merely barred statements concentrating on courtroom workers or jurors, there could be no controversy. However she has imposed a vaguely worded courtroom order that might flip marketing campaign speeches into felony contempt.”

“Lady arrested after attempting to talk to Donald Trump throughout his NY civil fraud trial” [Insider]. “A feminine courtroom worker was arrested on a contempt of courtroom cost on Wednesday after approaching Donald Trump from the viewers of his civil fraud trial in New York and attempting to talk to him throughout testimony… The lady, whose courtroom credentials had been seen, stood about 20 toes from Trump’s seat on the protection desk, and may very well be heard asking a courtroom officer if she may ‘assist’ the previous president.” • Odd. “Assist” how?

“Trump’s frustration builds at New York civil fraud trial as lawyer asks witness if he lied” [NBC]. “Shaking his head, throwing his palms within the air, whispering, former President Donald Trump appeared annoyed Wednesday in a New York Metropolis courtroom throughout his ongoing civil trial. Trump has already been discovered answerable for fraud, however the trial is continuing on a number of different accusations, together with falsification of enterprise data and conspiracy. The state is demanding $250 million and extreme restrictions on the Trump companies. He and his co-defendants have denied all wrongdoing within the case. On the stand was an actual property government and appraiser who expressed shock Tuesday that he was cited in Trump Group datasets as having suggested the corporate on valuation strategies. Lawyer Lazaro Fields repeatedly requested throughout his cross-examination of the chief, Doug Larson, if he incorrectly appraised a constructing that finally introduced in additional earnings than predicted. Larson, who years in the past appraised the constructing for a financial institution, repeatedly mentioned no. Trump’s crew has argued that valuations and value determinations are subjective opinions, various from one individual to the subsequent – giving a property proprietor leeway to craft their very own numbers far afield of what even an professional would possibly say. As Larson insisted he accurately appraised Trump’s constructing, Trump’s head bobbed rapidly backward and forward, his whispers rising to loud rasps. Kevin Wallace, a lawyer for New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James, implied Trump’s habits was tantamount to witness intimidation, and requested the decide to instruct Trump to chorus from commenting. Choose Arthur Engoron appeared unconcerned, however obliged. ‘OK, I’ll ask everybody to be quiet whereas the witness is testifying,’ Engoron mentioned.” • Not fairly the WWF, however nonetheless!

“Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell pleads responsible in Georgia election interference case” [NPR]. “On Thursday morning — in the future earlier than the scheduled begin of jury choice for her joint trial with lawyer Kenneth Chesebro — Powell appeared in Fulton County Superior Court docket to plead responsible to 6 misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the efficiency of election duties. Underneath the plea deal, Powell will serve six years of probation, pay a $6,000 effective, pay restitution of $2,700 to the state that covers the price of changing election tools, write an apology letter and testify honestly in future hearings and trials, in addition to present ‘any requested paperwork or proof topic to any lawful privileges asserted in good religion previous to coming into this plea.’” • Hmm.

* * *

“What The Heck? Joe Biden Simply Joined Donald Trump’s Reality Social” [1945]. “The Biden-Harris 2024 marketing campaign unveiled its presence on the platform underneath the deal with @BidenHQ, emphasizing humor and outreach as motives…. The marketing campaign’s profile on Reality Social sports activities a banner picture declaring, ‘the malarkey ends right here,’ a nod to Biden’s iconic catchphrase. In a Tweet from their Twitter account, the marketing campaign admitted their choice to hitch Reality Social was pushed by a humorousness. They highlighted this by selecting a profile picture generally known as ‘Darkish Brandon,’ a meme portraying Biden with laser eyes, derived from the ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ chant standard in right-wing circles. The Biden camp, with a contact of wit, inspired a various viewers, stating, ‘Properly. Let’s see how this goes. Converts welcome!” • Cheeky!

* * *

“DeSantis retains up evacuation flights, provide runs to Israel” [Orlando Sentinel]. “Florida officers continued to carry dwelling U.S. residents and ship donated provides to Israel on Wednesday, with Gov. Ron DeSantis and his presidential marketing campaign crew touting the missions on social media. However the DeSantis administration remained tight-lipped concerning the particulars of the flight prices, apart from a remark that one value about $4 million in taxpayer {dollars}. In addition they haven’t disclosed a lot concerning the passengers or preparations with the volunteer rescue group that helped set up the flights regardless of repeated requests for extra data.” • Gotta give the extremely unlikeable DeSantis props for honey-badger tendencies right here.

* * *

“Cornel West attracts max donation from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow” [NBC]. “Progressive activist and impartial presidential candidate Cornel West obtained a most marketing campaign donation from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, West’s newest fundraising report exhibits. Crow made the $3,300 donation in August, weeks earlier than West deserted his bid for the Inexperienced Social gathering nomination to run as an impartial. Crow has referred to as West, a self-proclaimed ‘non-Marxist socialist’ and longtime professor at Princeton College, ‘a superb buddy.’…. Crow’s shut ties to Supreme Court docket Justice Clarence Thomas have come underneath scrutiny in latest months after a ProPublica report in April detailed presents, journey, and different gadgets of worth offered by the Texas billionaire to Thomas and his household.” • Not the identical, however sheesh.

* * *

“Youngkin occasion planner helped set up Jan. 6 rally at US Capitol” [VPM]. “An occasion planner who has executed in depth work for Gov. Glenn Youngkin helped set up the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that ended with a lethal assault on the U.S. Capitol. There’s no indication Hannah Salem Stone, a marketing consultant who beforehand labored for former President Donald Trump, participated within the violence that adopted the rally. Her identify appeared on allow paperwork for the occasion, which described Stone as an ‘operations supervisor for logistics and communications,’ in keeping with a subpoena issued by the U.S. Home Choose Committee on the Jan. 6 assault. She held a number of roles within the Trump administration throughout a three-year interval that led to February 2020. Stone went on to assist plan Youngkin’s January 2022 inauguration, in keeping with screenshots of social media posts — captured by the Substack e-newsletter South Arkansas Reckoning — in addition to Virginia marketing campaign finance data. She continued to supply consulting and provides for occasions all through Youngkin’s time period. In all, her firm, Salem Methods, has obtained greater than $785,000 from the governor’s inaugural committee and Spirit of Virginia PAC.” • I believe “that ended with” is doing plenty of work, there. The rally is one factor, the riot one other IMNSHO.

“Gov. Glenn Youngkin courts donors forward of high-stakes Va. elections” [ABC]. “Virginia Republicans may see an inflow of money from prime donors following Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s two-day retreat forward of the state’s high-stakes legislative elections subsequent month. The ‘Purple Vest Retreat,’ named after the fleece Youngkin wore throughout his 2021 marketing campaign, was held on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s the most recent instance of how excessive the stakes are seen as for Youngkin, as he eyes whole GOP management of the Normal Meeting. ‘When you think about the timing, it seems to me like Gov. Youngkin is all-in on getting a unified Republican legislature and putting in as a lot of his agenda in as he can within the final two years of this time period,’ mentioned Dr. Chapman Rackaway, a professor and chair of political science at Radford College. Whereas Youngkin has been eyed by some distinguished donors as a possible late entrant within the 2024 presidential race, somebody who attended the retreat advised ABC Information that he stays targeted on Virginia. ‘What’s greatest for him proper now could be to maintain Virginia,’ this donor mentioned. ‘Is there a time for one thing sooner or later? I don’t know. He’s the type of individual I’d like to see on the helm of our nation.’” • Nonetheless ready on the Sherman assertion from Youngkin, and I believe I’ll be ready awhile. For instance–

“Virginia’s odd-year statehouse elections at the moment are lower than three weeks away” [Virginian-Pilot]. “California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his local weather regulators in Sacramento have declared warfare on the internal-combustion engine. By means of their ‘Superior Clear Automotive’ guidelines and ‘Zero-Emission Car”‘mandates, they’ve ordered the auto trade to part out of manufacturing the gas-powered vehicles, SUVs, and pickups that American households choose to purchase and drive. California’s aim is to require that each one new car gross sales will probably be 100% electrical by 2035. Sadly, what started in Sacramento isn’t confined to the Golden State. California’s automobile ban has come to Virginia. As a part of Gov. Ralph Northam’s aggressive local weather agenda, the Virginia Normal Meeting voted in 2021 to use California’s car requirements and EV mandates to the commonwealth. Consequently, Virginians’ selection of latest vehicles and vans will now be dictated by California’s regulatory insurance policies. Though some individuals choose electrical autos, significantly as a second automobile for city commuting, they’re definitely not the correct choice for everybody. Slightly than trying to Sacramento’s radical local weather insurance policies to set the agenda, Richmond ought to reassert itself and protect the liberty that will enable individuals to decide on an EV once they determine it’s the correct choice for his or her households. These are simply a few of the the reason why Gov. Glenn Youngkin is urging the Normal Meeting to repeal the 2021 ‘Clear Automobiles’ regulation that places Virginia underneath the thumb of California’s regulators.” • Organising the Presidential debate query proper now…

* * *

“How huge is Gov. J.B. Pritzker considering with Assume Huge America group?” [Chicago Tribune]. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker moved Wednesday to boost his nationwide profile — and provoked additional hypothesis about his future political plans [something I’ve been muttering about for some time]— by creating a corporation to advertise abortion and LGBTQ+ rights points and struggle “proper wing extremists” on a state-by-state foundation. With the launch of his Assume Huge America, a tax-exempt group that may dedicate limitless funding to lobbying on behalf of its political targets, Pritzker is increasing upon his long-standing assist for his occasion and abortion rights, and growing his progressive political footprint for a doable future bid for the presidency….. The ‘assume huge’ title of the group is a play off the marketing campaign theme efficiently employed twice by the second-term Illinois governor, an entrepreneur and an inheritor of the Hyatt inns fortune who is value an estimated $3.5 billion, making him the nation’s wealthiest elected politician…. Pritzker’s preliminary funding for the brand new group was not disclosed. The group’s focus out of the gate will probably be on deliberate poll initiatives in Ohio, Nevada and Arizona to codify abortion rights underneath state constitutions.” So, GOTV? Extra: “Pritzker has expressed unwavering assist for President Joe Biden’s reelection [of course, of course] and eschewed speak of being a possible ‘Plan B’ if Biden had chosen to not run or took himself out of the working…. Pritzker is also an advisory member to Biden’s reelection marketing campaign and will probably be host governor in August for the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago the place Biden is about to be renominated.” • And if Biden ought to — most sadly — slip a cog between October 2023 and August 2024….

* * *

Republican Funhouse

“Playbook: Why the McHenry bubble would possibly pop” [Politico]. “With Rep. Jim Jordan’s speakership bid on life assist, chatter on Capitol Hill has turned to what some are casting because the inevitable Plan D: quickly empowering appearing Speaker Professional Tempore Patrick McHenry to maneuver crucial laws whereas Republicans seek for a viable new chief. However elevating McHenry is way simpler mentioned than executed. For one, McHenry himself has pooh-poohed the concept. The North Carolina Republican — who appears lower than thrilled to be in his present place — has made clear that he thinks he solely has energy to supervise a brand new speakership election. Might that change? Positive. However for an effort to achieve success, McHenry himself would seemingly must be onboard. A good larger problem: On a sensible stage, many Republicans are opposed. Positive, the world is on fireplace. Hamas’ barbaric assault on Israel and Israel’s response has left the Center East reeling, Ukraine continues to be struggling to carry the road towards Russia, and right here at dwelling, Uncle Sam runs out of cash in lower than a month. However the fact is that almost all Republicans don’t but really feel pressured sufficient to put aside their very own private ambitions to get again to governing. In reality, yesterday Jordan’s inside circle appeared to attempt to use this concept of empowering McHenry to spice up Jordan’s personal candidacy, accusing these flirting with the concept of attempting to show the bulk over to Democrats.” • On the speculation that the one individuals to be trusted with energy are those who don’t need it, perhaps McHenry could be the correct selection….

“The place Is the Republican Lina Khan?” [Matt Stoller, Compact]. “[Khan] represents the precise coverage implementation of populist economics. Youthful GOP politicians like Sens. Josh Hawley and J.D. Vance and Rep. Matt Gaetz disagree with McConnell and are upfront about searching for to show the Republican Social gathering right into a working-class political coalition, together with by constructing new administrative instruments to take action…. In the end, if the Republican Social gathering is to change into a working-class car, it might want to go far past taking part in footsie with wielding authorities energy. To actually govern in a approach that may fulfill their base and the general public at massive, conservatives are going to have to seek out their very own Lina Khan. However till they do, they will begin by working with the one in workplace proper now.” • Properly, perhaps. To my thoughts, a celebration that was really “a working class car” would need employees to have management of the technique of manufacturing. Onerous to see that coverage place coming from both occasion simply now.

Clinton Legacy

No.

I like the best way the mail modulates from “associates and teammates” to “teammate” again to “buddy” after which to “crew of big-hearted individuals” (that’s final is CAN-SPAM-mandated verbiage, the place the mailer explains to recipient why they’re getting the mail, is particularly scrumptious. Of course I’m getting this mail! I’m “big-hearted”!)

Democrats en Déshabillé

Affected person readers, evidently individuals are really studying the back-dated publish! However I’ve not up to date it, and there are a lot of updates. So I should try this. –lambert

I’ve moved my standing remarks on the Democrat Social gathering (“the Democrat Social gathering is a rotting corpse that may’t bury itself”) to a separate, back-dated publish, to which I’ll periodically add materials, summarizing the addition right here in a “dwell” Water Cooler. (Hopefully, some Bourdieu.) It seems that defining the Democrat Social gathering is, actually, a tough drawback. I do assume the paragraph that follows is on level all the best way again to 2016, if not earlier than:

The Democrat Social gathering is the political expression of the category energy of PMC, their base (lucidly defined by Thomas Frank in Pay attention, Liberal!). ; if the Democrat Social gathering didn’t exist, the PMC must invent it. . (“PMC” modulo “class expatriates,” after all.) Second, all of the working elements of the Social gathering reinforce one another. Go away apart characterizing the relationships between components of the Social gathering (ka-ching, however not solely) these components comprise a community — a Flex Web? An iron octagon? — of funders, distributors, apparatchiks, electeds, NGOs, and miscellaneous mercenaries, with belongings within the press and the intelligence group.

Word, after all, that the category energy of the PMC each expresses and is restricted by different courses; oligarchs and American gentry (see ‘industrial mannequin’ of Ferguson, Jorgensen, and Jie) and the working class spring to thoughts. Suck up, kick down.

* * *

“A political group that helped lead Democrats’ takeover of Colorado politics turns 20” [Colorado Sun]. The deck: “ProgressNow Colorado is an irreverent group that doesn’t reveal its donors. It has continued when a few of its peer teams have disbanded.” Oh, it doesn’t? Oh, it has? Extra: “Rich Democratic donors teamed as much as reverse their occasion’s fortune, routing their cash by means of a collection of political nonprofits and political committees to arrange voters to attempt to dominate the airwaves. A kind of dark-money teams was ProgressNow Colorado. The technique labored…. The ProgressNow mannequin has unfold to greater than half the states within the nation…. Michael Huttner put aside his regulation follow to type ProgressNow Colorado in 2003, serving because the group’s first government director. Huttner sought to mobilize Democrats through the web by means of running a blog and personal discussion groups anchored in geography and coverage curiosity. Name it a pre-social media model of ‘speedy response’ — the follow of attacking opponents rapidly and cleverly on social media…. The work of ProgressNow Colorado and its companion teams was paired with infusions of huge cash from Polis, philanthropist and Democratic political donor Pat Stryker, and entrepreneurs Rutt Bridges and Tim Gill…. Dick Wadhams, a former Colorado GOP chairman, mentioned ProgressNow Colorado was born in an period when Democrats began not directly spending on campaigns. As an alternative of giving cash to candidate campaigns, they routed money by means of political spending teams, like tremendous PACs, and nonprofits like ProgressNow to affect voters.” • So, Colorado was Floor Zero for the Non-Revenue Industrial Advanced? Fascinating that Stryker labored by means of blogs; I used to be sust beginning out in 2003, and I bear in mind the “‘Each Methods Bob’” (literal) flip-flops from 2006 (“a part of the group’s mocking of Republican gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez”).

Realignment and Legitimacy

“”Open discourse is the central pillar of a free society” [The Westminster Declaration]:

We write as journalists, artists, authors, activists, technologists, and teachers to warn of accelerating worldwide censorship that threatens to erode centuries-old democratic norms.

Coming from the left, proper, and centre, we’re united by our dedication to common human rights and freedom of speech, and we’re all deeply involved about makes an attempt to label protected speech as ‘misinformation,’ ‘disinformation,’ and different ill-defined phrases.

This abuse of those phrases has resulted within the censorship of unusual individuals, journalists, and dissidents in nations all around the world.

Such interference with the correct to free speech suppresses legitimate dialogue about issues of pressing public curiosity, and undermines the foundational ideas of consultant democracy.

Throughout the globe, authorities actors, social media firms, universities, and NGOs are more and more working to observe residents and rob them of their voices. These large-scale coordinated efforts are typically known as the ‘Censorship-Industrial Advanced.’

This advanced typically operates by means of direct authorities insurance policies. Authorities in India[1] and Turkey[2] have seized the ability to take away political content material from social media. The legislature in Germany[3] and the Supreme Court docket in Brazil[4] are criminalising political speech. In different nations, measures reminiscent of Eire’s ‘Hate Speech’ Invoice[5], Scotland’s Hate Crime Act[6], the UK’s On-line Security Invoice[7], and Australia’s ‘Misinformation’ Invoice[8] threaten to severely limit expression and create a chilling impact.

However the Censorship Industrial Advanced operates by means of extra delicate strategies. These embrace visibility filtering, labelling, and manipulation of search engine outcomes. By means of deplatforming and flagging, social media censors have already silenced lawful opinions on subjects of nationwide and geopolitical significance. They’ve executed so with the total assist of ‘disinformation specialists’ and ‘fact-checkers’ within the mainstream media, who’ve deserted the journalistic values of debate and mental inquiry.

First signatory: Taibbi, adopted by Shellenberger. Assange #6. I prefer it that Aaron Maté and Izabella Kaminska are adjoining. Good for them. I’m, nevertheless, noticing a spot within the protection: Liberal Democrats. The place, for instance, is Paul Krugman? James Fallows? Ezra Klein? Matt Yglesias? How about Hendrick Hertzberg? Markos Moulitsas Zuniga? Hey, how about Neera Tanden?

“Lawmakers à la Carte: How ALEC Sells Entry to State Legislators” [Exposed by CMD]. “It’s no secret that the American Legislative Change Council (ALEC) provides its company sponsors quite a lot of choices for getting entry to state lawmakers. Now, new paperwork reveal simply how a lot — or little — it prices. For $50,000, a company or trade government can provide a principal stage presentation to all ALEC members in attendance at its annual assembly. For $35,000, a company or trade group can work with ALEC’s coverage workers to design a workshop for lawmakers. Supplies obtained and reviewed by the Middle for Media and Democracy (CMD) reveal a menu of alternatives for company sponsors all in favour of buying entry to lawmakers at ALEC’s annual conferences. The paperwork had been ready upfront of final yr’s three-day annual coverage assembly in Atlanta, which targeted on efforts to fight ‘woke capitalism,’ reproductive healthcare, voting rights, and the executive state, as CMD beforehand reported.”• “Woke capitalism.” Not such an inaccurate description for liberal Democrats!

“DSA’s existential disaster” [Politico]. “Simply because the Democratic Socialists of America lastly bought a toehold in electoral politics, the group is susceptible to shedding it. Israel’s warfare with Hamas has fractured the group, threatening its latest good points and its standing as a mainstream political voice…. Infighting inside the DSA — which now has practically 100,000 members — has been widespread because the group grew into a drive in Democratic Social gathering politics within the wake of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential marketing campaign. Now, nevertheless, the divisions are particularly acute as DSA’s elected members distance themselves from the vocal grassroots minority that’s much more radical and fewer prepared to compromise than the officeholders, who perceive the necessity to construct coalitions to be able to have affect… In fact, the divide doesn’t fall neatly alongside grassroots vs. officeholder fault strains — members of the progressive Squad in Congress have taken totally different tacks on the difficulty as effectively. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), specifically, have taken flak from Republicans in Washington for his or her responses calling out Israeli occupation of Palestine within the wake of the Hamas assaults, whereas Ocasio-Cortez caught to a extra measured response. It’s value noting that Sanders, maybe the nation’s most distinguished democratic socialist, instantly condemned the Hamas assaults together with most congressional lawmakers.” • No less than on my timeline, Cori Bush was first out of the field, and good for her.

#COVID19

“I’m in earnest — I can’t equivocate — I can’t excuse — I can’t retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison

Assets, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; contains many counties; Wastewater Scan, contains drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, however nationwide information). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Normal Ideas” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).

Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be at liberty to contact me on the deal with given with the crops. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!

Assets, United States (Native): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater reviews); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur d’Alene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard); NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard); PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (dashboard); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).

Assets, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Authorities of Canada).

Assets, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

Hat tricks to useful readers: anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Utah, Bob White (3).

Keep secure on the market!

Search for the Helpers

What it takes:

How did we get right here?

For the previous 3 years we’ve got been gathering information (CO2 readings) in our church buildings the world over. We collected lots of of samples and gathered all the info in a large spreadsheet. @citlanx has been the brains and muscle behind this undertaking.

— Liesl McConchie (@LieslMcconchie) October 18, 2023

Within the thread: “They need to be aligned with ASHRAE 241.” Requirements are essential! “To not choose nits, however I want to know extra about why open home windows and HVAC had been the one air flow options. No HEPA filters or Corsi-Rosenthal containers? Or masks? I assume Higher-Room UV is seen as substituting for these. In any case, could all megachurches additionally determine to guard their parishioners.

Therapy

“Pfizer greater than doubles worth of lifesaving Covid-19 medicine Paxlovid as US transitions out of pandemic part” [CNN]. • Thanks, Ashish!

“Azvudine versus Paxlovid for oral therapy of COVID-19 in Chinese language sufferers with pre-existing comorbidities” (letter)[Journal of Infection]. “On this retrospective cohort research, we discovered that Azvudine was related to a considerably diminished threat of composite illness development final result* in contrast with Paxlovid within the COVID-19 sufferers with pre-existing comorbidities. Notably, Azvudine confirmed substantial medical profit than Paxlovid amongst males, sufferers underneath the age of 65 years, these receiving the hospitalization past 5 days since onset, these with extreme COVID-19 on admission and people obtained antibiotic therapy on admission. Paxlovid has been reported to considerably cut back the hospitalization and demise charges in sufferers over 65 years of age however not these underneath 65 years of age, in contrast with matched controls.10 Our outcomes assist the usage of Azvudine in these underneath 65 years of age. To our information, that is the primary research to guage the medical effectiveness of Azvudine versus Paxlovid in COVID-19 sufferers with pre-existing comorbidities on admission.” NOTE * “The first endpoint was a composite illness development final result which was outlined as any of the next occasions: 1) non-invasive respiratory assist; 2) initiation of endotracheal intubation; 3) intensive care unit admission; 4) all-cause demise. The secondary endpoints had been every of those particular person illness development outcomes. Sufferers had been noticed from the date of admission till discharge, prevalence of final result occasion or demise, whichever got here first.”

“One thing Terrible”

Lambert right here: I’m getting the sensation that the “One thing Terrible” is likely to be a sawtooth sample — variant after variant — that averages out to a completely excessive plateau. A lot of exceptionally nasty sequelae, almost certainly deriving from immune dysregulation (says this layperson). To which we’d add mind injury, together with character modifications therefrom.

* * *

Elite Maleficence

WHO retains mendacity that handwashing prevents Covid transmission:

Hand hygiene is among the most essential measures to forestall the unfold of infectious illnesses, together with bacterial, diarrhoeal and respiratory illnesses reminiscent of #COVID19.https://t.co/7hnwycc1PP#GlobalHandwashingDay pic.twitter.com/N0NnxRTknw

— World Well being Group (WHO) Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) October 15, 2023

You’ve gotta admire their dedication to the bit!

Case Knowledge

NEVER TO BE UPDATED From BioBot wastewater information, October 2:

Lambert right here: Leveling out to a excessive plateau wasn’t on my Bingo card! Maybe FL.1.5.1, excessive within the Northeast, has one thing going for it that different variants don’t have?

Regional information:

Apparently, the upswing begins earlier than July 4, which neither accelerates nor retards it.

Variants

NOT UPDATED From CDC, October 14:

Lambert right here: September 30 is tomorrow, however by no means thoughts that. Prime of the leaderboard: EG.5 (“Eris“), with HV.1 a powerful second, and XBB.1.1.16.6 and FL.1.15.1 trailing. No BA.2.86. Nonetheless a Bouillabaisse…

From CDC, September 16:

Lambert right here: I positive hope the volunteers doing Pangolin, on which this chart relies upon, don’t all transfer on the inexperienced fields and pastures new (or have their entry to services minimize by directors of ailing intent).

CDC: “As of Could 11, genomic surveillance information will probably be reported biweekly, primarily based on the supply of constructive check specimens.” “Biweeekly: 1. occurring each two weeks. 2. occurring twice per week; semiweekly.” Seems like CDC has chosen sense #1. In essence, they’re telling us variants are nothing to fret about. Time will inform.

Covid Emergency Room Visits

From CDC NCIRD Surveillance, October 14:

Lambert right here: Solely per week’s lag, so this can be our greatest present nationwide, present indicator till Verily will get its home so as (and dealing class-centric, since I’d doubt the higher crust goes to the ER).

NOTE “Charts and information offered by CDC, updates Wednesday by 8am. For the previous yr, utilizing a rolling 52-week interval.” So not your entire pandemic, FFS (the implicit message right here being that Covid is “similar to the flu,” which is why the seasonal “rolling 52-week interval” is acceptable for each_{MR SUBLIMINAL I hate these individuals a lot}. Discover additionally that this chart exhibits, not less than for its time interval, that Covid is not seasonal, although CDC is attempting to get us to imagine that it’s, presumably to allow them to piggyback on the prevailing institutional equipment for injections.

Hospitalization

Bellwether New York Metropolis, information as of October 19:

Nonetheless reducing. (New York State is now falling, too.) I hate this metric as a result of the lag makes it misleading (though the hospital-centric public well being institution loves it, hospitalization and deaths being the one metrics that matter).

NOT UPDATED Right here’s a unique CDC visualization on hospitalization, nationwide, not by state, however with a date, not less than. October 7:

Lambert right here: “Maps, charts, and information offered by CDC, updates weekly for the earlier MMWR week (Sunday-Saturday) on Thursdays (Deaths, Emergency Division Visits, Check Positivity) and weekly the next Mondays (Hospitalizations) by 8 pm ET†”. So the place the heck is the replace, CDC?

Positivity

NOT UPDATED From Walgreens, October 16:

-0.3%. Nonetheless dropping, although lower than earlier than. (It will be attention-grabbing to survey this inhabitants typically; these are individuals who, regardless of a tsunami of official propaganda and massive peer stress, went and bought examined anyhow.)

NOT UPDATED From Cleveland Clinic, October 14:

Lambert right here: I do know that is simply Ohio, however the Cleveland Clinic is sweet*, and we’re starved for information, so…. NOTE * Even when hospital an infection management is attempting to kill sufferers by eliminating common masking with N95s.

NOT UPDATED From CDC, traveler’s information, September 25:

Again up once more, albeit within the rear view mirror. And listed below are the variants for vacationers:

BA.2.86 shrinks. Flash within the pan?

Deaths

NOT UPDATED Iowa COVID-19 Tracker, September 27:

Lambert right here: The WHO information is nugatory, so I changed it with the Iowa Covid Knowledge Tracker. Their methodology: “These information have been sourced, through the API from the CDC: https://information.cdc.gov/NCHS/Circumstances-Contributing-to-COVID-19-Deaths-by-Stat/hk9y-quqm. This visualization updates on Wednesday evenings. Knowledge are provisional and are adjusted weekly by the CDC.” I can’t appear to get a pop-up that exhibits a complete of the three causes (prime proper). Readers?

Whole: 1,179,587 – 1,179,385 = 202 (202 * 365 = 73,730 deaths per yr, as we speak’s YouGenicist™ quantity for “residing with” Covid (fairly a bit greater than the minimizers would really like, although they will speak themselves into something. If the YouGenicist™ metric retains chugging alongside like this, I may should determine that is what the powers-that-be contemplate “mission achieved” for this explicit tranche of demise and illness). 

Extra Deaths

The Economist, October 19:

Lambert right here: Primarily based on a machine-learning mannequin.

Stats Watch

Employment Scenario: “United States Preliminary Jobless Claims” [Trading Economics]. “The variety of Individuals submitting for unemployment advantages fell by 13,000 from the prior week to 198,000 on the week ending October 14th, the least since January of 2023 and effectively beneath market estimates of 212,000. The consequence added to proof that the labor market stays at traditionally tight ranges, pointing to additional resilience to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening cycle and prolonging the interval by which the central financial institution is predicted to go away borrowing prices at restrictive ranges.”

Manufacturing: “United States Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index” [Trading Economics]. “The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index within the US elevated [to] -9 in October 2023 from -13.5 in September, in contrast with market forecasts of -6.4.”

The Bezzle: “New York sues crypto companies for shedding over $1 billion” [The Verge]. “New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James is suing three cryptocurrency firms — Gemini, Genesis, and Digital Foreign money Group (DCG) — over claims they misled buyers, resulting in the lack of over $1 billion. In a lawsuit filed on Thursday, James says their alleged fraudulent schemes affected over 230,000 buyers. The lawsuit targets Gemini, the crypto trade owned by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and its Earn program…. Moreover, James is suing Genesis and its DCG dad or mum firm for allegedly attempting to cowl up over $1 billion in losses. James is searching for to ban Gemini, Genesis, and DCG from the funding trade in New York. She additionally needs the companies to ‘pay damages, restitution, and disgorgement of all funds and cryptocurrencies’ that they earned as a part of their alleged schemes.” • Prosecution futures.

The Bezzle: “Google-hosted malvertising results in faux Keepass website that appears real” [Ars Technica]. “Google has been caught internet hosting a malicious advert so convincing that there’s a good likelihood it has managed to trick a few of the extra security-savvy customers who encountered it…. Trying on the advert, which masquerades as a pitch for the open supply password supervisor Keepass, there’s no solution to know that it’s faux. It’s on Google, in any case, which claims to vet the adverts it carries. Making the ruse all of the extra convincing, clicking on it results in ķeepass[.]information, which, when seen in an deal with bar, seems to be the real Keepass website.” Word that “ķ” is a unique character from “ok,” which is how the advert tips you (and on a cellphone, the distinction will probably be extraordinarily laborious to identify). Extra: “Info from Google’s Advert Transparency Middle exhibits that the adverts have been working since Saturday and final appeared on Wednesday. The adverts had been paid for by an outfit referred to as Digital Eagle, which the transparency web page says is an advertiser whose id has been verified by Google.”

Tech:

Lol.

Manufacturing: “Rolls-Royce is slicing as much as 2,500 jobs in an overhaul of the U.Ok. jet engine maker” [NPR]. “Jet engine maker Rolls-Royce mentioned Tuesday it’s slicing as much as 2,500 jobs globally as a part of a company overhaul that its new CEO is finishing up. The aerospace firm was hit laborious by the COVID-19 pandemic that decimated demand for air journey.” • A ginormous faux elements scandal primarily based within the UK, Boeing’s countless troubles, the persevering with F-35 debacle (achieiving a monopoly for a faulty product is a reasonably neat trick!)…. Ought to somebody verify in on the West’s plane trade? As alert reader Paul J-H factors out, “Airbus, Dassault and Saab are doing fairly okay, I believe? In different phrases – the European companies.” European? Or with important state involvement?

NOT UPDATED! As we speak’s Concern & Greed Index: 35 Concern (earlier shut: 35 Concern) [CNN]. One week in the past: 31 (Concern). (0 is Excessive Concern; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Oct 16 at 8:00:00 PM ET. Breaking in a brand new intern?

Guillotine Watch

“Unique: Tech billionaire Peter Thiel was an FBI informant” [Insider]. “In the summertime of 2021, Insider has realized, Thiel started offering data as a “confidential human supply,” or CHS, to Johnathan Buma, a Los Angeles-based FBI agent who focuses on investigating political corruption and foreign-influence campaigns. Charles Johnson, a longtime affiliate of Thiel’s and a infamous determine within the far-right motion that Thiel has sponsored for a decade, advised Insider in an announcement that he helped recruit the billionaire as an informant by introducing him to Buma. The supply mentioned that any help Thiel might need offered to the FBI ought to be understood as a part of Thiel’s gradual distancing of himself from Trump and the broader MAGA motion, which has vigorously criticized the FBI and different federal law-enforcement businesses…. The FBI maintains an enormous community of informants to maintain tabs on organized crime, terrorist threats, extremist teams, and different felony and intelligence targets. These sources, in keeping with the bureau’s Confidential Human Supply Coverage Information, are greater than informal tipsters. Confidential human sources enter ‘right into a relationship with the FBI, and that relationship will ceaselessly have an effect on the lifetime of that particular person,’ the information says. ‘[They] will probably be both an ‘FBI supply’ or a ‘former FBI supply’ and, in flip, his or her conduct or misconduct will replicate upon the FBI.’” • That Information feels like fascinating studying. Good premise for a novel!

Class Warfare

“UAW members aren’t all assembling vehicles. Increasingly are unionized grad college students” [NPR]. “On a latest Saturday, a crowd marched within the rain exterior a Stellantis elements distribution heart in Tappan, N.Y. Becoming a member of the hanging autoworkers had been others members of the United Auto Staff union, together with some hailing from utterly totally different strains of labor. ‘,’ says Andrea Joseph, a postdoctoral fellow from the Icahn Faculty of Medication at Mount Sinai who research being pregnant. Lately, the ‘A’ in UAW would possibly as effectively embrace academia, as roughly 100,000 of the union’s 383,000 members work in greater training. They embrace graduate college students who work as educating and analysis assistants, clerical and technical employees, adjunct professors and postdocs.”

“The Annoyance Economic system” [Annie Lowry, The Atlantic]. “The hole between how the economic system is and the way individuals really feel issues are going is gigantic, and arguably has by no means been larger…. [N]ostalgia, true or false, is driving up the Annoyance Index. Even when issues are fairly good for the time being, many Individuals bear in mind them feeling higher within the latest previous. Households had far more money readily available throughout the pandemic. Rates of interest had been a lot decrease. Wage progress was sooner a yr in the past. Costs had been decrease—so much decrease—earlier than the pandemic. And plenty of staff have been pressured again to the workplace, once they had been pleased working at dwelling. Issues are nice, however people are mad. All we want is for costs to come back down, rates of interest to stabilize, housing markets to normalize, polarization to lower, and the information media’s incentives to vary. Till then, the Financial Annoyance Index will simply hold getting greater.” • Piece of cake!

“Self-Checkout Is a Failed Experiment” [The Atlantic]. “You understand how this course of really goes by now: You continue to have to attend in line. The checkout kiosks bleat and flash once you fail to set a purchase order down in the correct spot. Scanning these gadgets is typically a crapshoot—wave a barcode too vigorously in entrance of an uncooperative machine, and all of a sudden you’ve scanned it two or thrice. Then you must find the normally lone worker charged with supervising all the finicky kiosks, who will radiate exasperation at you whereas scanning her ID badge and tapping the kiosk’s contact display from pure muscle reminiscence. If you wish to purchase one thing that even would possibly carry some type of arbitrary buy restriction—not simply apparent issues reminiscent of alcohol, but additionally merchandise as seemingly innocuous as a generic antihistamine—effectively, perhaps don’t try this. All will not be rosy on the planet of self-checkout.” • The identical will probably be true of AI customer support, when that turns into ubiquitous.

“‘Déjà vu’: A practice derailment 40 years in the past holds clues for East Palestine’s future” [NBC]. “Livingston [Louisiana]’s derailment provides one of many closest parallels to the catastrophe unfolding in East Palestine. Each had been main practice crashes. Each concerned a few of the identical chemical substances, together with vinyl chloride. Each communities noticed practice vehicles catch fireplace and chemical fires pollute the air. And each communities have grappled with deep considerations concerning the security of the air they breathe and the water they drink. Few have been as impactful because the one in Livingston, the place cleanup efforts, well being monitoring and water testing continued for not less than three a long time. It’s a state of affairs that gives some sense of the longer term for residents in Ohio and likewise serves as a reminder that U.S. rail cities for many years have confronted risks as chemical substances go by means of.” • Makes me marvel about pipelines….

Information of the Wired

“Early Europeans Ate Seaweed for Hundreds of Years” [Smithsonian]. “[R]esearchers analyzed samples of preserved dental plaque from the stays of 74 early people unearthed at 28 European archaeological websites. Among the tooth had been round 2,000 years outdated, whereas others had been greater than 8,000 years outdated… They discovered the chemical biomarkers of seaweed and aquatic crops in 26 samples, which means that early people had been consuming—or, on the very least, chewing—these bounties from the ocean. Extra particularly, they detected pink, inexperienced and brown seaweed, in addition to pondweed and a relative of the water lily…. The researchers hope their findings will encourage extra individuals to begin including seaweed and aquatic crops to their diets.”

“The Concept That Males Advanced to Hunt and Ladies Advanced to Collect Is Improper” [Scientific American]. “Even for those who’re not an anthropologist, you’ve most likely encountered certainly one of this area’s most influential notions, often known as Man the Hunter. The idea proposes that searching was a significant driver of human evolution and that males carried this exercise out to the exclusion of ladies. It holds that human ancestors had a division of labor, rooted in organic variations between men and women, by which males advanced to hunt and supply, and females tended to youngsters and home duties. It assumes that males are bodily superior to females and that being pregnant and child-rearing cut back or get rid of a feminine’s skill to hunt…. Mounting proof from train science signifies that ladies are physiologically higher suited than males to endurance efforts reminiscent of working marathons. This benefit bears on questions on searching as a result of a distinguished speculation contends that early people are thought to have pursued prey on foot over lengthy distances till the animals had been exhausted. Moreover, the fossil and archaeological data, in addition to ethnographic research of modern-day hunter-gatherers, point out that ladies have an extended historical past of searching sport…. Total, females are metabolically higher suited to endurance actions, whereas males excel at quick, highly effective burst-type actions. You possibly can consider it as marathoners (females) versus powerlifters (males). A lot of this distinction appears to be pushed by the powers of the hormone estrogen.”

Contact data for crops: Readers, be at liberty to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) learn the way to ship me a verify in case you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to learn the way to ship me photos of crops. Greens are effective! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary crops! In order for you your deal with to look as a credit score, please place it at the beginning of your mail in parentheses: (thus). In any other case, I’ll anonymize through the use of your initials. See the earlier Water Cooler (with plant) right here. From Desert Canine:

Desert Canine writes: “It’s attending to be that point of yr to reap the French Juicing Carrots that are the best for each consuming and juicing.” I needed to fiddle with this a bit, and I didn’t have time to enter LightRoom to avoid wasting the sky. However spectacular! That’s plenty of carrots!

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