\n<\/p>\n
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nBird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, United States. \u201cI love how it\u2019s \u2018song\u2019 includes sirens. The reason why became obvious as I listened to sirens coming from the Turnpike.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#gaetz\">Gaetz: Exit, stage right<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Ortberg<\/a>: \u201cThe beatings will continue until morale improves.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#democrats\">How the Democrats<\/a> abandoned the working class.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital.\u201d \u2013Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Trump Transition<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"150.38767973599\">\n<p><a name=\"gaetz\"\/>\u201cGaetz withdraws as Trump\u2019s pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/nation-world\/nation\/gaetz-withdraws-as-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cThe Florida Republican\u2019s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. \u2018While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump\/Vance Transition,\u2019 Gaetz said in a statement announcing his decision. \u2018There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I\u2019ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump\u2019s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.\u2019 Trump, in a social media post, said: \u2018I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!’\u201d \u2022 Gracefully done \u2014 probably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/documents-matt-gaetz-10-000-030908214.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">those Venmo transactions<\/a>* did it \u2014 but I hate this play in the Democrat Playbook so much because it\u2019s one more way for the Democrat Party \u2014 which has a (white) (male) workplace abuser as an honored and much-loved party elder \u2014 to avoid talking about policy (i.e. universal concrete material benefits (i.e. the working class)). And of course the moral preening is offensive. On the bright side, it looks like we won\u2019t have a populist anti-truster at Justice (unless Trump does the unexpected). NOTE * One of the many advantages of our cash-free future!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRepublicans Must Defend Matt Gaetz To End The Use Of Salacious Lies As A Political Weapon\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/11\/20\/republicans-must-defend-matt-gaetz-to-end-the-use-of-salacious-lies-as-a-political-weapon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Federalist<\/a>]. \u201cThe claims against Gaetz are but another information operation, however, mirroring the ones that previously targeted Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. And this pattern will continue unabated unless Americans unflinchingly condemn the tactic \u2014 no matter the target. We should have learned this lesson from Donald Trump\u2019s first presidential run and time in office. From Crossfire Hurricane, to the pee-tape dossier, to Special Counsel Robert Mueller\u2019s investigation, unsupported and unbelievable accusations leaked to the public hampered Trump\u2019s ability to advance his agenda. Time and again the charges proved unfounded, and yet in advance of the 2024 election, the lawfare continued. The country, however, had wised up by then and recognized the various criminal and civil charges leveled against Trump for what they were: an effort to interfere in the election. Why then is anyone giving credence to the accusations against Gaetz, especially given the FBI \u2014 after thoroughly investigating the matter for two years \u2014 decided not to charge Gaetz?\u201d \u2022 Strange bedfellows, Lambert and The Federalist, though here we are. (My position, however, is that even salacious <em>truths<\/em> should be deweaponized (adult to adult, consensual being the standard. I\u2019m sure Roger Stone would agree with me\u2026.). <\/p>\n<p>\u201c4 Trump administration picks have sexual misconduct allegations in their past\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/4-trump-administration-picks-sexual-misconduct-allegations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cMatt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Elon Musk are all in line to serve as top government leaders. All have faced varying degrees of sexual misconduct allegations. The president\u2019s picks to carry out his agenda reflect an incoming administration hostile to the norms of the \u2018Me Too\u2019 movement.\u201d Ah yes. #MeToo. Remember <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Time%27s_Up_(organization)#:~:text=The%20Time's%20Up%20Foundation%20raised,harassment%20allegations%20came%20to%20light.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Time\u2019s Up<\/a>? Good times. Anyhow: \u201cBehavior that might have gotten a person fired or canceled (or not nominated to a cabinet position) over the last several years, appears to be less problematic in the Trump 2.0 era. Machismo was often a centerpiece of Trump\u2019s appeal to voters during the 2024 campaign. He regularly spoke about toughness \u2014 whether that trait applied to his immigration policy, combating illicit drug trade or surviving two assassination attempts. Wrestler Hulk Hogan delivered a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention, ripping off his shirt while lavishing praise on the nominee. And Trump also spent time on right-leaning podcasts with largely male audiences. His entreaties to male culture paid off in November.\u201d \u2022 \u201cMale culture.\u201d Huh? Is that a thing now?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDonald Trump gets a brutal reality check\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/11\/21\/donald-trump-attorney-general-matt-gaetz-00190953\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cDonald Trump is not a monarch. That\u2019s the unmistakable lesson of the ill-fated nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Rather than showcasing Trump\u2019s absolute power over his GOP allies, it revealed his limits. The doomed nomination lasted just eight days \u2014 and its failure is an unwelcome lesson for the president-elect, who has been projecting invincibility and claiming a historic mandate despite his reed-thin popular vote victory. Though Republicans will control both chambers of Congress, the resistance from Senate Republicans to Gaetz\u2019s nomination proved that there are still some checks on Trump \u2014 no matter how limited \u2014 that can hold, despite fear on the left that he will squeeze Congress into submission, get carte blanche from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court and enact his agenda at will. \u2018I think it shows that Donald Trump cannot get anything [that is, everything] he wants,\u2019 said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California-Berkeley School of Law. But Chemerinsky and others cautioned against extrapolating too much from the Gaetz debacle \u2014 he was so uniquely despised and compromised by legal and political scandal. \u2018But the facts here are so egregious, and Gaetz so unqualified, that I would be cautious in generalizing too much from it.’\u201d \u2022 By \u201cunqualified\u201d we mean \u201cpopulist,\u201d of course\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump taps Russ Vought, one of the authors of Project 2025, to lead budget office again\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-russ-vought-office-of-management-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Russ Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget, according to two sources close to the transition. If confirmed, this will be Vought\u2019s second time in the role. He served as OMB director during Trump\u2019s first term, too. Earlier in the Trump administration, Vought was deputy OMB director and acting director. Before he joined the first Trump White House Vought was vice president of Heritage Action for America, which leads a grassroots effort to implement conservative policies across the U.S. It produces a conservative scorecard that grades members of Congress on their votes on conservative bills. Vought wrote a chapter of The Heritage Foundation\u2019s Project 2025 blueprint \u2014 his chapter covers the \u2018Executive Office of the President.\u2019 The OMB director\u2019s office develops the president\u2019s proposed budget, and it\u2019s responsible for executing the president\u2019s agenda across the federal government.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Oz\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/daringfireball.net\/2024\/11\/dr_oz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daring Fireball<\/a>]. \u201cI met Dr. Oz ten years ago. It was after the Apple event on Tuesday, 9 September 2014, at the Flint Center in Cupertino\u2026. I had a one-on-one off-the-record briefing with Jony Ive\u2026. While I was waiting for my briefing with Ive, the only other person from the media waiting with me was Oz. It\u2019s a weird thing to be alone, effectively, with someone of Oz\u2019s celebrity. It\u2019s like being in a room with a million dollars in $100 bills stacked in a perfectly-arranged pyramid. No matter how you to try to direct your attention, your mind keeps popping back to Holy shit, there\u2019s a million dollars in cash right there. His hair was perfect\u2026. We spent an unceasingly awkward 10 minutes\u2026. He never shut up. He chattered, nonstop, with inane observations, like \u2018Hey, look at that one, it\u2019s orange! What\u2019s that one, leather?\u201d He was not talking to me, nor was he, really, talking to himself. It was like he was talking to a TV camera, as though we were being filmed for B-roll footage for his show\u2009\u2014\u2009but there was no camera. It was just me and him, standing around that table exhibiting dozens of Apple Watch prototypes that we were unable to touch\u2026. I came away with the impression that Mehmet Oz was, despite his well-deserved medical renown, preternaturally vapid and preening, and, thus, to me, an incongruous figure. Simultaneously a brilliant mind in the field of thoracic surgery, and yet dumb as a rock in everyday human interaction. I spent the first few minutes with him wondering if I should introduce myself. I spent the last few glad I hadn\u2019t, because he was so obviously a staggeringly uninteresting and uninterested man.\u201d \u2022 Not the only one\u2026. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: The DOGE Plan to Reform Government\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241120200952\/https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/opinion\/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cMost legal edicts aren\u2019t laws enacted by Congress but \u201crules and regulations\u201d promulgated by unelected bureaucrats\u2014tens of thousands of them each year. Most government enforcement decisions and discretionary expenditures aren\u2019t made by the democratically elected president or even his political appointees but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil-service protections. This is antidemocratic and antithetical to the Founders\u2019 vision. It imposes massive direct and indirect costs on taxpayers. Thankfully, we have a historic opportunity to solve the problem.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-in\/news\/world\/time-for-bold-reforms-highlights-from-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-s-doge-plan\/ar-AA1usXSt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Highlights from MSN<\/a>: \u201cAccording to Musk and Ramaswamy, . \u2018We will focus particularly on driving change through executive action based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws,\u2019 they wrote, describing the US Constitution as their \u2018North Star.’\u201d Hilariously, they steal a liberal Democrat trope (which I\u2019ve always hated because it doesn\u2019t mean anything). More: \u201cOne of their first initiatives involves identifying regulations that Trump could nullify immediately through executive action. These, they argued, would free businesses and individuals from the constraints of \u2018illicit regulations\u2019 and stimulate the economy. \u2018When the president nullifies thousands of such regulations, critics will allege executive overreach. In fact, it will be correcting the executive overreach of thousands of regulations promulgated by administrative fiat,\u2019 they noted. Acknowledging the likelihood of political and legal pushback, Musk and Ramaswamy expressed confidence in their mandate. \u2018With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government,\u2019 they declared. The authors set an ambitious deadline of July 4, 2026, to finalise their reforms, framing their mission as a transformative effort to restore governance to its constitutional roots. \u2018We expect to prevail,\u2019 they concluded, signalling their readiness to confront entrenched interests in Washington.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019d like it if DOGE would unleash Lina Khan and the NLRB, and stop protecting the crypto bros, but none of that seems likely to happen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Trump actually get rid of the Department of Education?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/education\/384779\/department-of-education-trump-musk-betsy-devos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Vox<\/a>]. \u201cEven without literally shutting the doors to the federal agency, there could be ways a Trump administration could hollow the DOE and do significant damage, Valant and Kettl said. The administration could require the agency to cut the roles of agency employees, particularly those who ideologically disagree with the administration. It could also appoint officials with limited (or no) education expertise, hampering the department\u2019s day-to-day work. Trump officials could also attempt changes to the department\u2019s higher education practices. The department is one of several state and nongovernmental institutions involved in college accreditation, for example \u2014 and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has threatened to weaponize the accreditation process against universities he believes to be too \u2018woke.\u2019 Finally, Trump could use the department\u2019s leadership role to affect policy indirectly: \u2018There\u2019s power that comes from just communicating to states what you would like to see\u2019 being taught in schools, Valant said. \u2018And there are a lot of state leaders around the country who seem ready to follow that lead.\u2019 Trump\u2019s plans for the department will likely become clearer during [Linda] McMahon\u2019s confirmation hearings. She has been an advocate for the school choice movement, and posted praise for the hands-on education gained through apprenticeships shortly before her nomination was made public.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024 Post Mortem<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"86.295676172953\">\n<p><a name=\"blame\"\/><strong>Deploy the Blame Cannons!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Time-Honored Tradition of Blaming the Left for Democratic Defeats\u201d [Kate Aronoff, <a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/article\/188597\/democrats-left-election-interest-groups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The New Republic<\/a>]. \u201cIn the lead-up to this election, Harris and other leading Democrats decried Trump and MAGA Republicans as an existential threat to American democracy; now, newly elected House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has pledged to find \u201ccommon ground\u201d with them. That waffling and incoherence is less of a comms issue than a structural one. . Even if Democrats did have more institutional integrity, they would still find it challenging to simultaneously be a party of big business and organized labor, as they\u2019ve long aspired to be. They would still struggle to turn out Arab voters in key swing states while sending Israel weapons to bomb their families in the Middle East. More often than not, these constituencies\u2019 interests are fundamentally opposed to one another; no amount of smart messaging, or berating voters, can fully solve that. On some level, then, Jentleson is right to point to coalition management as a problem for the Democrats. But the solution isn\u2019t to box out left-leaning constituency groups and leave politics up to supposedly more sober-minded pollsters and consultants, who have an obvious material interest in this argument. Debates over Democratic Party messaging obscure a thornier, more substantive one over who it is that party ought to represent.\u201d The PMC, as it does now. Next question: \u201cCampaigning on economic populism to appeal to the voters feeling the pain of high rents and insurance rates would piss off big donors in the finance and real estate sectors; actually enacting that agenda would require electoral majorities big enough to withstand the wrath of the country\u2019s most powerful industries, which might be difficult to attain without those big donors. There\u2019s no easy way out of this bind.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.2371134020619\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.298969072165\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">At a post-election DSCC briefing with winning Dem candidates. <\/p>\n<p>Elissa Slotkin: \u201cI personally think that identity politics needs to go the way of the dodo.\u201d Dems should take language \u201cnot from the faculty lounge, but the assembly line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Weigel (@daveweigel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/daveweigel\/status\/1858926010806251801\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">November 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Slotkin is a CIA Democrat, and this is in fact how a spook would think. You want to win the moustache vote? Put on a fake moustache (and take it off when your tour of duty is done).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the Democratic Party\u2019s Cult of Powerlessness\u201d [Matt Stoller, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebignewsletter.com\/p\/on-the-democratic-partys-cult-of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BIG<\/a>]. \u201cAnti-monopoly policy is immensely popular, and there hasn\u2019t been an administration as aggressive on antitrust in our lifetimes as there was under Joe Biden. Yet, voters soundly rejected his successor, Kamala Harris, and thrashed the party in power. And while anti-monopoly politics sits uneasily in the Democratic Party, that is where it sits. Lina Khan, Rohit Chopra and Jonathan Kanter will be out of power soon. So what happened? And why did Democrats lose so badly? I don\u2019t think the answer is simple, nor is it right to characterize the problem as solely one involving the Democratic Party. In 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, voters have voted against the incumbent party. If you look at the recriminations among Democrats, they reveal, unwittingly, a broad theme that I\u2019ve noticed with roots that go back to the middle of the 20th century. And while these observations are focused on Democrats, people on the right will recognize in their institutions a similar set of challenges\u2026. [A]s I watch the angry back and forth, and more broadly the institutional actors who were rejected by voters, I find a curious dynamic that explains far more than any tactical mistake. .\u201d I would argue that\u2019s because the PMC, as a class, functions and has the strength to govern, but not to rule. And with respect to the ruling class, the governing class <em>is<\/em> helpless, especially with the Gini co-efficient where it is. More: \u201cthe Democratic Party in 2024, with its associated law firms, think tanks, elected officials, donors, and media outlets, was rejected by voters precisely because the core value on the left, center, and right is about embracing powerlessness. This pervasive belief has an intellectual and political origin, and it conflicts directly with the anti-monopoly framework.\u201d \u2022 \u201cTo govern is to choose\u201d (apparently Pierre Mend\u00e8s France said this). I\u2019m not sure I agree that the choice to do nothing is the same as \u201cpowerlessness,\u201d as Stoller would have it. That said, it is true that I among others need to give an account of why the Biden Administration allowed Khan to, in Stoller\u2019s framing, reject powerlessness as she did. (My theory was that all the big cases had a long way to run, and when settlement time came, Biden would step in, cut a deal, and cash in. Looks like that\u2019s not happening with the Google case, though.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHarris is Democrats\u2019 preferred choice for 2028: Poll\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/5001537-poll-finds-most-dems-want-harris-for-next-presidential-nominee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u2022 That\u2019s only because the leadership hasn\u2019t told them yet who their \u201cpreferred choice\u201d should be.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The #Resistance<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"64.080295566502\">\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s Cabinet Blitz Is Straight From Orban\u2019s Playbook\u201d (interview) [Kim Lane Scheppele, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024.html#comment-4135847\">Bloomberg<\/a> (VerifyFirst)]. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Lane_Scheppele\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scheppele bio<\/a>. On resistance:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"35\">\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re civil society in the US, or the Democratic Party, how do you put the brakes on this rush to authoritarianism?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] The first thing you have to do is call it out. You can\u2019t accept any of it as normal. You have to object every single time. It\u2019s tedious and it\u2019s time-consuming and it\u2019s nerve-wracking. But you have to call it out. The second thing is to realize that just because something is legal doesn\u2019t make it right. And you have to start thinking that way. I\u2019m a long-time legalist who always thought that you follow the law because it\u2019s the law and because it is the right thing to do. But if the law is written by people who are trying to conquer you, who are trying to take away your freedom, then are you really as obligated to follow that law? I\u2019m certainly not advocating violence, but you need a different attitude toward this kind of instrumental legality that they use to lock themselves in power. At the very least you resist. And then you try to use whatever democratic means you have left to change it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are there extra-legal ways to address it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] We still have federalism. I\u2019ve been reading about blue-state attorneys general getting together, the way the red-state attorneys general have already done, to think about how to resist these attacks, to beef up state governments to provide a face of resistance, to shore up the civil sector with private donations or whatever. It\u2019s going to require a lot of mobilization.<\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t just mobilize for an election cycle and then demobilize. In Poland, once the autocratic takeover occurred, masses of people went to the streets every time there was a new law. And they were much more successful than the Hungarians. Here in the US, all the groups that worked together in the last election can\u2019t stand down. They need to stand up for the mass pushback that\u2019s required to prevent autocracy from being imposed in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let me pause here to quote <a href=\"https:\/\/constitutioncenter.org\/media\/files\/WTP_Russia_and_Ukraine_Transcript.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scheppele on Maidan<\/a>: \u201cSo fast forward to 2014, there\u2019s a kind of revolution. Many people may remember the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians that showed up in Maidan Square in Kiev, and basically toppled the corrupt Russian-backed government.\u201d Naive at best (though to be fair to Scheppele, a reasonable search turned up a lot of academic connections, but nothing explicitly spook-related, like an Atlantic Council fellowship or something). In any case, all this sounds very color-revolution-ish (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/10\/democrat_war_games_could_they_try_for_a_color_revolution_after_a_trump_victory.html\">a state capacity I speculated on here<\/a>). And from the same interview, here is Scheppele on NGOs, since NGOs have played, and are playing, such a large role in Color Revolutions worldwide:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"32\">\n<p><strong>The phrase \u201cDefund the Left\u201d has been around for quite some time in right-wing US circles. As the GOP grows overtly authoritarian, there are lots of institutions whose funding they can attack.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] That\u2019s right. And that\u2019s probably how it would happen if they\u2019re copying Orban. The way Orban did it, there were lots of things that were state-funded, and he defunded everything that wasn\u2019t supportive of him. There are a lot of places where that\u2019s going to be true in the US. I\u2019m sitting here in a university, and universities, even private universities, get huge amounts of funding from the federal government \u2014 through research grants, Pell Grants for students. Imagine if the Trump administration says, \u2018If we catch you caving in to \u2018woke gender\u2019 anything, you will lose all your federal funding.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>I was thinking of foundations also because they\u2019re a conduit of funds to various types of NGOs, including those doing pro-democracy work in the US.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] There are so many ways in which the tax code, complex as it is, creates incentives and disincentives for different kinds of activities\u2026. . Suppose that they just pass a law that says if you are a 501c-3, you may not have a 501c-4. They can make technical changes to the tax code and suddenly make certain kinds of activities non-viable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>FWIW, I think defunding \u201cwoke\u201d academics would be good clean fun and a vote-getter, but if you want to go for political power, you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.city-journal.org\/article\/charleroi-pennsylvania-grapples-with-surge-of-haitian-migrants?skip=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">uncover the publicly funded NGOs<\/a> that the Biden Administration has been using to \u201cplace\u201d migrants in places like Springfield, OH, given that this entirely sub rosa effort has the potential to affect the composition of the electorate for years to come (presumbly still implementing Tiexiera\u2019s \u201ccoalition of the ascendant,\u201d even though Tiexiera himself was repudiated his own theory). All this said, I insist that the same class of people who are paid to think about and incite color revolutions abroad are thinking about the same topics here at home; you can\u2019t put Trump and Orban in the same box and <em>not<\/em> think that way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Spook Country<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.806246016571\">\n<p>\u201cThe Technology the Trump Administration Could Use to Hack Your Phone\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/r434K\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The New Yorker<\/a>]. \u201cIn September, the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) signed a two-million-dollar contract with Paragon, an Israeli firm whose spyware product Graphite focusses on breaching encrypted-messaging applications such as Telegram and Signal. <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/o\/r434K\/https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/ice-paragon-solutions-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wired<\/a> first reported that the technology was acquired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)\u2014an agency within D.H.S. that will soon be involved in executing the Trump Administration\u2019s promises of mass deportations and crackdowns on border crossings. A source at Paragon told me that the deal followed a vetting process, during which the company was able to demonstrate that it had robust tools to prevent other countries that purchase its spyware from hacking Americans\u2014but that wouldn\u2019t limit the U.S. government\u2019s ability to target its own citizens.\u201d And the Israelis would never lie to us! More: \u201cThe technology is part of a booming multibillion-dollar market for intrusive phone-hacking software that is making government surveillance increasingly cheap and accessible. In recent years, a number of Western democracies have been roiled by controversies in which spyware has been used, apparently by defense and intelligence agencies, to target opposition politicians, journalists, and apolitical civilians caught up in Orwellian surveillance dragnets. Now Donald Trump and incoming members of his Administration will decide whether to curtail or expand the U.S. government\u2019s use of this kind of technology.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"47.084557804269\">\n<p><a name=\"democrats\"\/>\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 Long Goodbye to the Working Class\u201d [Michael Baharaeen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/the-democrats-long-goodbye-to-the\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. Worth reading in full, but here are some highlights: \u201c[B]y the 1990s, the country was growing more diverse and better educated. Bill Clinton was a beneficiary of this new reality, as he made sweeping gains with women, young people, voters of color (especially Hispanics), and college-educated voters. Importantly, he also retained significant support from white Americans and lower-educated voters, who made up the vast majority of the electorate. As Clinton rode this coalition to victory twice\u2014marking the first time since FDR that a Democrat had won two full terms as president\u2014some political observers, including my colleague, Ruy Teixeira, saw the emergence of a new majority, one that could consistently win elections using the formula Clinton had used\u2026. Obama\u2019s two wins confirmed for many Democrats and Republicans the validity of the \u2019emerging Democratic majority\u2019 thesis. Gone were the days when Democrats needed to win a majority of white voters, a feat they had found nearly impossible to achieve since the 1960s. Now, the party that represented America\u2019s demographic future stood to lead it as well.\u201d But: \u201cThe Obama coalition is not a coalition, but rather a moment,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2016\/02\/is-the-obama-coalition-even-a-thing-was-it-ever.html\">Is \u201cThe Obama Coalition\u201d Even a Thing? Was It Ever<\/a>? (2016). And indeed: \u201cBut no sooner had that consensus come into focus than Donald Trump arrived on the scene. Trump disrupted the Democrats\u2019 plans for building a dominant coalition and, in the process, helped precipitate a dramatic realignment between the two parties\u2014one rooted in economic and social class. This change has tipped the demographic advantage in favor of Republicans and left Democrats at very real risk of losing many of the voters who not long ago were expected to deliver them an enduring majority.\u201d And here we are: \u201c. Harris retained higher levels of support among college-educated voters, winning them by 14 points. But perhaps just as telling: she carried high-income earners (those earning at least $100,000) by seven points\u2014by far the largest margin for a Democratic nominee in the modern era. On the other side, Trump became the first Republican nominee on record to win low-income voters, narrowly carrying them by three points. He also continued growing his advantage with non-college voters, winning them by 13 points\u2014the largest margin for the GOP since at least 1988. And his 44 percent support from union households marked the greatest share for a Republican since Ronald Reagan. Looking at this picture, it\u2019s hard not to see that the Democrats are becoming the very thing they have long fought against: the party of the elites. This stands in sharp contrast to their longtime image as the champions of the working class.\u201d \u2022 Not \u201care becoming,\u201d \u201chave become,\u201d especially if you substitute \u201cPMC\u201d for \u201celites,\u201d which, after all, could include billionaires. And the Democrats certainly didn\u2019t \u201cfight\u201d very hard! In fact, you could argue that the transformation was fully in place by 2008, given Obama\u2019s disparate response in the financial crisis to the banksters and the working class, even if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2020\/11\/what-it-took-the-price-of-democrat-victory-2020.html\">the PMC only achieved class consciousness in 2016-2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s dictatorship is a fait accompli\u201d [John Q, <a href=\"https:\/\/crookedtimber.org\/2024\/11\/19\/trumps-dictatorship-is-a-fait-accompli\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Crooked Timber<\/a>]. Handy flowchart:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"721\" height=\"859\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised.png 721w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised-252x300.png 252w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised-624x743.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>With Gaetz flaming out, I\u2019d say we\u2019re on the way to \u201cGoverns Constitutionally\u201d (granted, for some definition of \u201cConstitutionally\u201d).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Syndemics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am in earnest \u2014 I will not equivocate \u2014 I will not excuse \u2014 I will not retreat a single inch \u2014 AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u201d \u2013William Lloyd Garrison<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=Risk&null=Risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>); Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>, <del><a href=\"https:\/\/biobot.io\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Biobot<\/a><\/del>; includes many counties; <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wastewater Scan<\/a>, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/businesssolutions\/covid-19-index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a>); \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/iowacovid19tracker.org\/hospitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Iowa COVID-19 Tracker<\/a>\u201d (in IA, but national data). \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/icemsg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts<\/a>\u201d (especially on hospitalization by city).<\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put \u201cCOVID\u201d in the subject line. Thank you!<\/p>\n<p>Resources, United States (Local): AK (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/af2efc8bffbf4cdc83c2d1a134354074\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AR (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/633006d0782b4544bd5113a314f6268a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AZ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/covid19\/data\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); CA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CID\/DCDC\/Pages\/COVID-19\/CalSuWers-Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.marinhhs.org\/surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marin, dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalerts.stanford.edu\/covid-19\/wastewater-dashboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stanford, wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/?v=SC2_N&l=Oakland%2C+CA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oakland, wastewater<\/a>); CO (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.colorado.gov\/data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/cdphe.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/d79cf93c3938470ca4bcc4823328946b#utility=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); CT (<a href=\"https:\/\/data.ct.gov\/stories\/s\/COVID-19-data\/wa3g-tfvc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); DE (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.delaware.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); FL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/5b9d75ba683849928dc1a49c39ab0b1c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); GA (<a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/ga-nwss-wastewater-surveillance-reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); HI (<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); IA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmmwra.org\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater reports<\/a>); ID (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Boise; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/?plantId=1056f05c-0e46-4e3d-b007-c0453ba7dc0d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Central Idaho; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/#:SARS-CoV-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Coeur d\u2019Alene; dashboard, <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.srhd.org\/topics\/spokane-county-case-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Spokane County<\/a>); IL (<a href=\"https:\/\/iwss.uillinois.edu\/wastewater-treatment-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); IN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.in.gov\/indiana-covid-19-dashboard-and-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); KS (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov\/160\/COVID-19-in-Kansas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/4456bae8a38f4b6180e008477382fff9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Lawrence); KY (<a href=\"https:\/\/louisville.edu\/envirome\/thecoimmunityproject\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Louisville); LA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldh.la.gov\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/covid-19-wastewater-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MD (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.maryland.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); ME (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dhhs\/mecdc\/infectious-disease\/epi\/airborne\/coronavirus\/data.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/coronavirus\/stats\/wastewater-surveillance\/dashboard\/sentinel-wastewater-epidemiology-evaluation-project-sweep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/gisportal.state.mi.us\/portal\/apps\/insights\/index.html#\/view\/52bbb104ed574887918f990af9f3debe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.state.mn.us\/diseases\/coronavirus\/stats\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MO (<a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f7f5492486114da6b5d6fdc07f81aacf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MS (<a href=\"https:\/\/msdh.ms.gov\/page\/14,0,420.html#Mississippi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>MT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=7c34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; NC (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.ncdhhs.gov\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard)<\/a>; ND (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NE (<a href=\"https:\/\/atlas-dhhs.ne.gov\/Atlas\/Respiratory_Illness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NH (<a href=\"https:\/\/wisdom.dhhs.nh.gov\/wisdom\/dashboard.html?topic=covid-19&subtopic=recurring-updates&indicator=covid-19-wastewater#tabnavbarid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NJ (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.nj.gov\/forms\/datadashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NM (<a href=\"https:\/\/cvprovider.nmhealth.org\/public-dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NV (<a href=\"https:\/\/nvhealthresponse.nv.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/empower.unlv.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Southern NV); NY (<a href=\"https:\/\/mbcolli.shinyapps.io\/SARS2EWSP\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OH (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.ohio.gov\/dashboards\/other-resources\/wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OK (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>OR (<a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/oregon.health.authority.covid.19\/viz\/OregonsCOVID-19DataDashboards-TableofContents\/TableofContentsStatewide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; PA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.pa.gov\/topics\/disease\/coronavirus\/pages\/Cases.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); RI (<a href=\"https:\/\/ri-department-of-health-covid-19-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SC (<a href=\"https:\/\/scdhec.gov\/index.php\/covid19\/covid-19-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SD (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.sd.gov\/COVID\/Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/health\/cedep\/ncov\/data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TX (<a href=\"https:\/\/txdshsea.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/4ae43eefd0f641d59d35c3df82ee59cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); UT (<a href=\"https:\/\/avrpublic.dhhs.utah.gov\/uwss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/coronavirus\/sars-cov-2-in-wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthvermont.gov\/disease-control\/covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WA (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/emergencies\/covid-19\/data-dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.bfhd.wa.gov\/cases-and-roadmap-to-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.wisconsin.gov\/covid-19\/wastewater.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); WV (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/oehs.wvdhhr.org\/news\/oehs-coivd-19-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>); WY (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/covidwastewatermonitor.wyo.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/health-infobase.canada.ca\/covid-19\/wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Government of Canada<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthontario.ca\/en\/Data-and-Analysis\/Infectious-Disease\/COVID-19-Data-Surveillance\/Wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); QC (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inspq.qc.ca\/covid-19\/donnees\/eaux-usees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>les eaux us\u00e9es<\/em><\/a>); BC (<a href=\"https:\/\/bccdc.shinyapps.io\/respiratory_wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); BC, Vancouver (<a href=\"https:\/\/metrovancouver.org\/services\/liquid-waste\/testing-for-the-covid-19-virus-in-wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, 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, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p>Elite Maleficence<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"10.423387096774\">\n<p>\u201cGrief can be \u2018really overwhelming\u2019 for teenagers and young people\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cd7np0ree92o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC<\/a>]. \u2022 As of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldometers.info\/coronavirus\/country\/uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">April 2024<\/a>, there were 230,000 deaths from Covid in the UK. I was 100% certain Covid wouldn\u2019t be mentioned in this article, and sure enough, it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.866336633663\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.625\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 11<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Last Week[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> (until next week):<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3-300x193.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"align: left; margin-left: 0px !important; padding: 9px 0 9px 0;\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282039\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6417910447761\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong> Variants<\/strong> [3] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 9<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> <strong>Emergency Room Visits<\/strong>[4] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_select_7dayeddiagnosed_00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1-300x238.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Hospitalization<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9240506329114\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> New York[5] <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.health.ny.gov\/daily-hospitalization-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York State<\/a>, data November 20:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 14:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl-292x300.png 292w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Positivity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"2.6111111111111\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> November 18:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> November 16:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Travelers Data<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5862068965517\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> October 28:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> October 28:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2-300x213.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Deaths<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.76\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronadisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl-300x175.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl-300x178.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"136.31305454295\">\n<p><strong>LEGEND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1) <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> for charts new today; all others are not updated.<\/p>\n<p>2) For a full-size\/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and \u201copen image in new tab.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[1] (CDC) Good news!<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Steadily down.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it\u2019s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Now XEC.<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, positivity down.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no official statistics of interest today.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\"\/>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing CEO to Employees: We Can\u2019t Afford Another Mistake\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/eSthS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cThe company, Ortberg said, is burning through billions of dollars and can\u2019t tap investors for another rescue. The company recently sold $24 billion worth of new shares to bolster its cash reserves. Some research and development spending could be delayed, the CEO said. He said Boeing won\u2019t turn cash-flow positive until it ramps up 737 production to the 38-per-month target it initially aimed to hit by the end of 2023. And he said the company simply lacks the money to launch a new plane program but it doesn\u2019t imminently need one.\u201d No, but it needs development to start imminently. More: \u201cOrtberg also told employees that he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump recently and that the two discussed the impact of potential tariffs on Boeing, one of the country\u2019s biggest exporters. The Boeing chief warned employees that any trade war with China would weigh on the company, given that Boeing sells jets to Chinese airlines while the U.S. doesn\u2019t import any aircraft from the country.\u201d And: \u201c\u2018,\u2019 he said. \u2018Let\u2019s focus on the task at hand.’\u201d \u2022 The beatings will continue until morale improves. Also, doesn\u2019t one <em>stand around<\/em> a water cooler, not \u201csit at\u201d one? Anyhow, if I were a Boeing machinist, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d \u201cbitch\u201d about \u201cpeople.\u201d I might share my considered views about Boeing management and union management combining their efforts to eliminate defined benefit pensions forever.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing CEO Calls on Employees to Take Ownership of Turnaround\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/hgzRg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cOrtberg bluntly told employees during a companywide address on Wednesday that they control the company\u2019s destiny, according to people familiar with the matter. The CEO, who took the helm a little more than 100 days ago, said it\u2019s up to all workers to turn the company around, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren\u2019t authorized to speak publicly. The comments mark Ortberg\u2019s most impassioned plea yet to rally workers behind his turnaround plan since he took over as CEO in August.\u201d \u2022 \u201cTake ownership\u201d seems to be a fanciful invention by a Bloomberg editor, since Ortberg is not quoted to that effect in the text. Anyhow, if workers \u201ctaking ownership\u201d of Boeing was the goal, they would at least have a seat on the Board, no?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing\u2019s CEO tells staff to stop \u2018bitching by the water cooler\u2019 and focus on beating Airbus\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2024\/11\/21\/boeing-ceo-kelly-ortberg-stop-bitching-focus-on-beating-airbus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cIn an all-hands meeting this week, Ortberg gave his staff some brutal feedback, telling them to cut back on complaining and focus on beating competitor Airbus. \u2018Don\u2019t sit at the water cooler and bitch about people,\u2019 Ortberg told his colleagues, according to a meeting recording obtained by the Wall Street Journal. \u2018Let\u2019s focus on the task at hand.\u2019 \u2018We spend more time arguing amongst ourselves than thinking about how we\u2019re going to beat Airbus. Everybody is tired of the drumbeat of what\u2019s wrong with Boeing. ,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 It may be this was all well-received on the shop floor; presumably there will be reporting to come on that (oddly, as of this writing, there\u2019s nothing from Dominic Gates at the Seattle Times on this story). But to me\u2026 Ortberg? A snowflake? Suck it up, buttercup!<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cFAA administrator plans to meet with Boeing CEO in Seattle\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/faa-administrator-plans-meet-with-boeing-ceo-seattle-2024-11-21\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said on Thursday he plans to soon visit Boeing\u2019s (BA.N), opens new tab Seattle offices to meet with CEO Kelly Ortberg as the planemaker resumes 737 MAX production. Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would boost its oversight of Boeing as the planemaker prepares to resume production of its 737 MAX jets following a 53-day strike that ended two weeks ago. \u2018We are working closely with Boeing to make sure the safety management system is driving their actions during\u2019 the restart of production, Whitaker said, who spoke to Ortberg earlier this month on the production plan. Boeing did not immediately comment. The FAA noted that it maintained its enhanced on-site presence at Boeing factories throughout the strike \u2018and will further strengthen and target our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan.’\u201d \u2022 While Boeing\u2019s cash flow depends on ramping up production\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 58 Greed (previous close: 50 Neutral) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 58 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Nov 21 at 1:21:24 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe color purple is unlike all others, in a physical sense\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/natural-sciences\/physics-articles\/matter-and-energy\/color-purple-non-spectral-feature\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ZME Science<\/a>]. \u201cBut there is one color we can see that isn\u2019t quite like the rest. This color, purple, is known as a non-spectral color. Unlike all its peers it doesn\u2019t correspond to a single type of electromagnetic radiation, and must always be born out of a mix of two others\u2026 If you look at orange, which is a combination of yellow and red, you can see that its wavelength is roughly the average of those of its constituent colors. It works with pretty much every color combination, such as blue-yellow (for green) or red-green (for more orange). Now, the real kicker with purple, which we know we can get by mixing in red with blue, is that by averaging the wavelengths of its two parent colors, you\u2019d get something in the green-yellow transition area. Which is a decidedly not-purple color. That\u2019s all nice and good, but why are we able to perceive purple, then? Well, the short of it is \u201cbecause brain\u201d. Although purple isn\u2019t a spectral color in the makeup of light, it is a color that can exist naturally and in the visible spectrum, so our brains evolved the ability to perceive it; that\u2019s the \u2018why\u2019.\u201d \u2022 Other non-spectral colors? Black, white, grey. And metallic colors!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Globalization and typography:<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/typo.social\/@typographica\/113510646485127309\/embed\" class=\"mastodon-embed\" style=\"max-width: 100%; border: 0\" width=\"400\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cArchaeologists discover 12,000-year-old pebbles that could provide new insights about the wheel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/archaeologists-discover-12000-year-old-pebbles-could-provide-new-insights-about-wheel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201c12,000-year-old perforated stones found over years of excavations in Israel may \u201crepresent early evidence for the adoption of spinning with the \u2018spindle and whorl\u2019 device,\u201d according to newly published research in PLOS ONE\u2026. \u2018In a cumulative evolutionary trend, they manifest early phases of the development of rotational technologies by laying the mechanical principle of the wheel and axle,\u2019 the researcher wrote in their study. \u201cAll in all, it reflects on the technological innovations that played an important part in the Neolithization processes of the Southern Levant.’\u201d \u2022 It would indeed be interesting if the chariot wheel began as the spindle\u2026. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From converger:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Converger writes: \u201cThis afternoon in the South African section of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kind readers, the stock of plant pictures is still not quite there\u2026 .<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"donate\"\/><strong>Readers<\/strong>: Water Cooler is a standalone entity <em>not<\/em> covered by the annual NC fundraiser. Material here is Lambert\u2019s, and does not express the views of the Naked Capitalism site. If you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldn\u2019t see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! <em>Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know I\u2019m on the right track with coverage<\/em>. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:<\/p>\n<p>Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-226891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"606\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png 606w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-content --><\/p>\n<footer class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\tThis entry was posted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/guest-post\" rel=\"category tag\">Guest Post<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024-2.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-11-21T14:00:11-05:00\">November 21, 2024<\/time><\/a><span class=\"by-author\"> by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/author\/lambert-strether\" title=\"View all posts by Lambert Strether\" rel=\"author\">Lambert Strether<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\" wp_automatic_readability=\"20.197005056398\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-avatar --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-description\" wp_automatic_readability=\"35.467911318553\">\n<h2>About Lambert Strether<\/h2>\n<p>Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (\u201cBecause markets\u201d). I don\u2019t much care about the \u201cism\u201d that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don\u2019t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. <br \/>\n <br \/>\nTo me, the key issue \u2014 and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me \u2014 is the tens of thousands of excess \u201cdeaths from despair,\u201d as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics \u2014 even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton\u2019s wars created \u2014 bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow \u2014 currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press \u2014 a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let\u2019s call such voices \u201cthe left.\u201d Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn\u2019t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I\u2019ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-link\t-->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-description -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-info --><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta --><br \/>\n\t<!-- #post --><\/p>\n<nav class=\"nav-single\">\n<h3 class=\"assistive-text\">Post navigation<\/h3>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-previous list-posts-older\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/international-criminal-court-issues-arrest-warrants-for-israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-and-former-minister-of-defense-yoav-gallant.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024-2.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, United States. \u201cI love how it\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":87474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-spotlight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Bird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, United States. \u201cI love how it\u2019s \u2018song\u2019 includes sirens. The reason why became obvious as I listened to sirens coming from the Turnpike.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#gaetz\">Gaetz: Exit, stage right<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Ortberg<\/a>: \u201cThe beatings will continue until morale improves.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#democrats\">How the Democrats<\/a> abandoned the working class.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital.\u201d \u2013Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Trump Transition<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"150.38767973599\">\n<p><a name=\"gaetz\"\/>\u201cGaetz withdraws as Trump\u2019s pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/nation-world\/nation\/gaetz-withdraws-as-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cThe Florida Republican\u2019s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. \u2018While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump\/Vance Transition,\u2019 Gaetz said in a statement announcing his decision. \u2018There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I\u2019ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump\u2019s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.\u2019 Trump, in a social media post, said: \u2018I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!’\u201d \u2022 Gracefully done \u2014 probably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/documents-matt-gaetz-10-000-030908214.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">those Venmo transactions<\/a>* did it \u2014 but I hate this play in the Democrat Playbook so much because it\u2019s one more way for the Democrat Party \u2014 which has a (white) (male) workplace abuser as an honored and much-loved party elder \u2014 to avoid talking about policy (i.e. universal concrete material benefits (i.e. the working class)). And of course the moral preening is offensive. On the bright side, it looks like we won\u2019t have a populist anti-truster at Justice (unless Trump does the unexpected). NOTE * One of the many advantages of our cash-free future!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRepublicans Must Defend Matt Gaetz To End The Use Of Salacious Lies As A Political Weapon\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/11\/20\/republicans-must-defend-matt-gaetz-to-end-the-use-of-salacious-lies-as-a-political-weapon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Federalist<\/a>]. \u201cThe claims against Gaetz are but another information operation, however, mirroring the ones that previously targeted Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. And this pattern will continue unabated unless Americans unflinchingly condemn the tactic \u2014 no matter the target. We should have learned this lesson from Donald Trump\u2019s first presidential run and time in office. From Crossfire Hurricane, to the pee-tape dossier, to Special Counsel Robert Mueller\u2019s investigation, unsupported and unbelievable accusations leaked to the public hampered Trump\u2019s ability to advance his agenda. Time and again the charges proved unfounded, and yet in advance of the 2024 election, the lawfare continued. The country, however, had wised up by then and recognized the various criminal and civil charges leveled against Trump for what they were: an effort to interfere in the election. Why then is anyone giving credence to the accusations against Gaetz, especially given the FBI \u2014 after thoroughly investigating the matter for two years \u2014 decided not to charge Gaetz?\u201d \u2022 Strange bedfellows, Lambert and The Federalist, though here we are. (My position, however, is that even salacious <em>truths<\/em> should be deweaponized (adult to adult, consensual being the standard. I\u2019m sure Roger Stone would agree with me\u2026.). <\/p>\n<p>\u201c4 Trump administration picks have sexual misconduct allegations in their past\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/4-trump-administration-picks-sexual-misconduct-allegations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cMatt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Elon Musk are all in line to serve as top government leaders. All have faced varying degrees of sexual misconduct allegations. The president\u2019s picks to carry out his agenda reflect an incoming administration hostile to the norms of the \u2018Me Too\u2019 movement.\u201d Ah yes. #MeToo. Remember <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Time%27s_Up_(organization)#:~:text=The%20Time's%20Up%20Foundation%20raised,harassment%20allegations%20came%20to%20light.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Time\u2019s Up<\/a>? Good times. Anyhow: \u201cBehavior that might have gotten a person fired or canceled (or not nominated to a cabinet position) over the last several years, appears to be less problematic in the Trump 2.0 era. Machismo was often a centerpiece of Trump\u2019s appeal to voters during the 2024 campaign. He regularly spoke about toughness \u2014 whether that trait applied to his immigration policy, combating illicit drug trade or surviving two assassination attempts. Wrestler Hulk Hogan delivered a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention, ripping off his shirt while lavishing praise on the nominee. And Trump also spent time on right-leaning podcasts with largely male audiences. His entreaties to male culture paid off in November.\u201d \u2022 \u201cMale culture.\u201d Huh? Is that a thing now?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDonald Trump gets a brutal reality check\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/11\/21\/donald-trump-attorney-general-matt-gaetz-00190953\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cDonald Trump is not a monarch. That\u2019s the unmistakable lesson of the ill-fated nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Rather than showcasing Trump\u2019s absolute power over his GOP allies, it revealed his limits. The doomed nomination lasted just eight days \u2014 and its failure is an unwelcome lesson for the president-elect, who has been projecting invincibility and claiming a historic mandate despite his reed-thin popular vote victory. Though Republicans will control both chambers of Congress, the resistance from Senate Republicans to Gaetz\u2019s nomination proved that there are still some checks on Trump \u2014 no matter how limited \u2014 that can hold, despite fear on the left that he will squeeze Congress into submission, get carte blanche from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court and enact his agenda at will. \u2018I think it shows that Donald Trump cannot get anything [that is, everything] he wants,\u2019 said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California-Berkeley School of Law. But Chemerinsky and others cautioned against extrapolating too much from the Gaetz debacle \u2014 he was so uniquely despised and compromised by legal and political scandal. \u2018But the facts here are so egregious, and Gaetz so unqualified, that I would be cautious in generalizing too much from it.’\u201d \u2022 By \u201cunqualified\u201d we mean \u201cpopulist,\u201d of course\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump taps Russ Vought, one of the authors of Project 2025, to lead budget office again\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-russ-vought-office-of-management-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Russ Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget, according to two sources close to the transition. If confirmed, this will be Vought\u2019s second time in the role. He served as OMB director during Trump\u2019s first term, too. Earlier in the Trump administration, Vought was deputy OMB director and acting director. Before he joined the first Trump White House Vought was vice president of Heritage Action for America, which leads a grassroots effort to implement conservative policies across the U.S. It produces a conservative scorecard that grades members of Congress on their votes on conservative bills. Vought wrote a chapter of The Heritage Foundation\u2019s Project 2025 blueprint \u2014 his chapter covers the \u2018Executive Office of the President.\u2019 The OMB director\u2019s office develops the president\u2019s proposed budget, and it\u2019s responsible for executing the president\u2019s agenda across the federal government.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Oz\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/daringfireball.net\/2024\/11\/dr_oz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daring Fireball<\/a>]. \u201cI met Dr. Oz ten years ago. It was after the Apple event on Tuesday, 9 September 2014, at the Flint Center in Cupertino\u2026. I had a one-on-one off-the-record briefing with Jony Ive\u2026. While I was waiting for my briefing with Ive, the only other person from the media waiting with me was Oz. It\u2019s a weird thing to be alone, effectively, with someone of Oz\u2019s celebrity. It\u2019s like being in a room with a million dollars in $100 bills stacked in a perfectly-arranged pyramid. No matter how you to try to direct your attention, your mind keeps popping back to Holy shit, there\u2019s a million dollars in cash right there. His hair was perfect\u2026. We spent an unceasingly awkward 10 minutes\u2026. He never shut up. He chattered, nonstop, with inane observations, like \u2018Hey, look at that one, it\u2019s orange! What\u2019s that one, leather?\u201d He was not talking to me, nor was he, really, talking to himself. It was like he was talking to a TV camera, as though we were being filmed for B-roll footage for his show\u2009\u2014\u2009but there was no camera. It was just me and him, standing around that table exhibiting dozens of Apple Watch prototypes that we were unable to touch\u2026. I came away with the impression that Mehmet Oz was, despite his well-deserved medical renown, preternaturally vapid and preening, and, thus, to me, an incongruous figure. Simultaneously a brilliant mind in the field of thoracic surgery, and yet dumb as a rock in everyday human interaction. I spent the first few minutes with him wondering if I should introduce myself. I spent the last few glad I hadn\u2019t, because he was so obviously a staggeringly uninteresting and uninterested man.\u201d \u2022 Not the only one\u2026. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: The DOGE Plan to Reform Government\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241120200952\/https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/opinion\/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cMost legal edicts aren\u2019t laws enacted by Congress but \u201crules and regulations\u201d promulgated by unelected bureaucrats\u2014tens of thousands of them each year. Most government enforcement decisions and discretionary expenditures aren\u2019t made by the democratically elected president or even his political appointees but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil-service protections. This is antidemocratic and antithetical to the Founders\u2019 vision. It imposes massive direct and indirect costs on taxpayers. Thankfully, we have a historic opportunity to solve the problem.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-in\/news\/world\/time-for-bold-reforms-highlights-from-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-s-doge-plan\/ar-AA1usXSt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Highlights from MSN<\/a>: \u201cAccording to Musk and Ramaswamy, . \u2018We will focus particularly on driving change through executive action based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws,\u2019 they wrote, describing the US Constitution as their \u2018North Star.’\u201d Hilariously, they steal a liberal Democrat trope (which I\u2019ve always hated because it doesn\u2019t mean anything). More: \u201cOne of their first initiatives involves identifying regulations that Trump could nullify immediately through executive action. These, they argued, would free businesses and individuals from the constraints of \u2018illicit regulations\u2019 and stimulate the economy. \u2018When the president nullifies thousands of such regulations, critics will allege executive overreach. In fact, it will be correcting the executive overreach of thousands of regulations promulgated by administrative fiat,\u2019 they noted. Acknowledging the likelihood of political and legal pushback, Musk and Ramaswamy expressed confidence in their mandate. \u2018With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government,\u2019 they declared. The authors set an ambitious deadline of July 4, 2026, to finalise their reforms, framing their mission as a transformative effort to restore governance to its constitutional roots. \u2018We expect to prevail,\u2019 they concluded, signalling their readiness to confront entrenched interests in Washington.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019d like it if DOGE would unleash Lina Khan and the NLRB, and stop protecting the crypto bros, but none of that seems likely to happen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Trump actually get rid of the Department of Education?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/education\/384779\/department-of-education-trump-musk-betsy-devos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Vox<\/a>]. \u201cEven without literally shutting the doors to the federal agency, there could be ways a Trump administration could hollow the DOE and do significant damage, Valant and Kettl said. The administration could require the agency to cut the roles of agency employees, particularly those who ideologically disagree with the administration. It could also appoint officials with limited (or no) education expertise, hampering the department\u2019s day-to-day work. Trump officials could also attempt changes to the department\u2019s higher education practices. The department is one of several state and nongovernmental institutions involved in college accreditation, for example \u2014 and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has threatened to weaponize the accreditation process against universities he believes to be too \u2018woke.\u2019 Finally, Trump could use the department\u2019s leadership role to affect policy indirectly: \u2018There\u2019s power that comes from just communicating to states what you would like to see\u2019 being taught in schools, Valant said. \u2018And there are a lot of state leaders around the country who seem ready to follow that lead.\u2019 Trump\u2019s plans for the department will likely become clearer during [Linda] McMahon\u2019s confirmation hearings. She has been an advocate for the school choice movement, and posted praise for the hands-on education gained through apprenticeships shortly before her nomination was made public.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024 Post Mortem<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"86.295676172953\">\n<p><a name=\"blame\"\/><strong>Deploy the Blame Cannons!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Time-Honored Tradition of Blaming the Left for Democratic Defeats\u201d [Kate Aronoff, <a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/article\/188597\/democrats-left-election-interest-groups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The New Republic<\/a>]. \u201cIn the lead-up to this election, Harris and other leading Democrats decried Trump and MAGA Republicans as an existential threat to American democracy; now, newly elected House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has pledged to find \u201ccommon ground\u201d with them. That waffling and incoherence is less of a comms issue than a structural one. . Even if Democrats did have more institutional integrity, they would still find it challenging to simultaneously be a party of big business and organized labor, as they\u2019ve long aspired to be. They would still struggle to turn out Arab voters in key swing states while sending Israel weapons to bomb their families in the Middle East. More often than not, these constituencies\u2019 interests are fundamentally opposed to one another; no amount of smart messaging, or berating voters, can fully solve that. On some level, then, Jentleson is right to point to coalition management as a problem for the Democrats. But the solution isn\u2019t to box out left-leaning constituency groups and leave politics up to supposedly more sober-minded pollsters and consultants, who have an obvious material interest in this argument. Debates over Democratic Party messaging obscure a thornier, more substantive one over who it is that party ought to represent.\u201d The PMC, as it does now. Next question: \u201cCampaigning on economic populism to appeal to the voters feeling the pain of high rents and insurance rates would piss off big donors in the finance and real estate sectors; actually enacting that agenda would require electoral majorities big enough to withstand the wrath of the country\u2019s most powerful industries, which might be difficult to attain without those big donors. There\u2019s no easy way out of this bind.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.2371134020619\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.298969072165\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">At a post-election DSCC briefing with winning Dem candidates. <\/p>\n<p>Elissa Slotkin: \u201cI personally think that identity politics needs to go the way of the dodo.\u201d Dems should take language \u201cnot from the faculty lounge, but the assembly line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Weigel (@daveweigel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/daveweigel\/status\/1858926010806251801\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">November 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Slotkin is a CIA Democrat, and this is in fact how a spook would think. You want to win the moustache vote? Put on a fake moustache (and take it off when your tour of duty is done).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the Democratic Party\u2019s Cult of Powerlessness\u201d [Matt Stoller, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebignewsletter.com\/p\/on-the-democratic-partys-cult-of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BIG<\/a>]. \u201cAnti-monopoly policy is immensely popular, and there hasn\u2019t been an administration as aggressive on antitrust in our lifetimes as there was under Joe Biden. Yet, voters soundly rejected his successor, Kamala Harris, and thrashed the party in power. And while anti-monopoly politics sits uneasily in the Democratic Party, that is where it sits. Lina Khan, Rohit Chopra and Jonathan Kanter will be out of power soon. So what happened? And why did Democrats lose so badly? I don\u2019t think the answer is simple, nor is it right to characterize the problem as solely one involving the Democratic Party. In 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, voters have voted against the incumbent party. If you look at the recriminations among Democrats, they reveal, unwittingly, a broad theme that I\u2019ve noticed with roots that go back to the middle of the 20th century. And while these observations are focused on Democrats, people on the right will recognize in their institutions a similar set of challenges\u2026. [A]s I watch the angry back and forth, and more broadly the institutional actors who were rejected by voters, I find a curious dynamic that explains far more than any tactical mistake. .\u201d I would argue that\u2019s because the PMC, as a class, functions and has the strength to govern, but not to rule. And with respect to the ruling class, the governing class <em>is<\/em> helpless, especially with the Gini co-efficient where it is. More: \u201cthe Democratic Party in 2024, with its associated law firms, think tanks, elected officials, donors, and media outlets, was rejected by voters precisely because the core value on the left, center, and right is about embracing powerlessness. This pervasive belief has an intellectual and political origin, and it conflicts directly with the anti-monopoly framework.\u201d \u2022 \u201cTo govern is to choose\u201d (apparently Pierre Mend\u00e8s France said this). I\u2019m not sure I agree that the choice to do nothing is the same as \u201cpowerlessness,\u201d as Stoller would have it. That said, it is true that I among others need to give an account of why the Biden Administration allowed Khan to, in Stoller\u2019s framing, reject powerlessness as she did. (My theory was that all the big cases had a long way to run, and when settlement time came, Biden would step in, cut a deal, and cash in. Looks like that\u2019s not happening with the Google case, though.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHarris is Democrats\u2019 preferred choice for 2028: Poll\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/5001537-poll-finds-most-dems-want-harris-for-next-presidential-nominee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u2022 That\u2019s only because the leadership hasn\u2019t told them yet who their \u201cpreferred choice\u201d should be.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The #Resistance<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"64.080295566502\">\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s Cabinet Blitz Is Straight From Orban\u2019s Playbook\u201d (interview) [Kim Lane Scheppele, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024.html#comment-4135847\">Bloomberg<\/a> (VerifyFirst)]. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Lane_Scheppele\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scheppele bio<\/a>. On resistance:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"35\">\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re civil society in the US, or the Democratic Party, how do you put the brakes on this rush to authoritarianism?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] The first thing you have to do is call it out. You can\u2019t accept any of it as normal. You have to object every single time. It\u2019s tedious and it\u2019s time-consuming and it\u2019s nerve-wracking. But you have to call it out. The second thing is to realize that just because something is legal doesn\u2019t make it right. And you have to start thinking that way. I\u2019m a long-time legalist who always thought that you follow the law because it\u2019s the law and because it is the right thing to do. But if the law is written by people who are trying to conquer you, who are trying to take away your freedom, then are you really as obligated to follow that law? I\u2019m certainly not advocating violence, but you need a different attitude toward this kind of instrumental legality that they use to lock themselves in power. At the very least you resist. And then you try to use whatever democratic means you have left to change it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are there extra-legal ways to address it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] We still have federalism. I\u2019ve been reading about blue-state attorneys general getting together, the way the red-state attorneys general have already done, to think about how to resist these attacks, to beef up state governments to provide a face of resistance, to shore up the civil sector with private donations or whatever. It\u2019s going to require a lot of mobilization.<\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t just mobilize for an election cycle and then demobilize. In Poland, once the autocratic takeover occurred, masses of people went to the streets every time there was a new law. And they were much more successful than the Hungarians. Here in the US, all the groups that worked together in the last election can\u2019t stand down. They need to stand up for the mass pushback that\u2019s required to prevent autocracy from being imposed in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let me pause here to quote <a href=\"https:\/\/constitutioncenter.org\/media\/files\/WTP_Russia_and_Ukraine_Transcript.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scheppele on Maidan<\/a>: \u201cSo fast forward to 2014, there\u2019s a kind of revolution. Many people may remember the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians that showed up in Maidan Square in Kiev, and basically toppled the corrupt Russian-backed government.\u201d Naive at best (though to be fair to Scheppele, a reasonable search turned up a lot of academic connections, but nothing explicitly spook-related, like an Atlantic Council fellowship or something). In any case, all this sounds very color-revolution-ish (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/10\/democrat_war_games_could_they_try_for_a_color_revolution_after_a_trump_victory.html\">a state capacity I speculated on here<\/a>). And from the same interview, here is Scheppele on NGOs, since NGOs have played, and are playing, such a large role in Color Revolutions worldwide:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"32\">\n<p><strong>The phrase \u201cDefund the Left\u201d has been around for quite some time in right-wing US circles. As the GOP grows overtly authoritarian, there are lots of institutions whose funding they can attack.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] That\u2019s right. And that\u2019s probably how it would happen if they\u2019re copying Orban. The way Orban did it, there were lots of things that were state-funded, and he defunded everything that wasn\u2019t supportive of him. There are a lot of places where that\u2019s going to be true in the US. I\u2019m sitting here in a university, and universities, even private universities, get huge amounts of funding from the federal government \u2014 through research grants, Pell Grants for students. Imagine if the Trump administration says, \u2018If we catch you caving in to \u2018woke gender\u2019 anything, you will lose all your federal funding.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>I was thinking of foundations also because they\u2019re a conduit of funds to various types of NGOs, including those doing pro-democracy work in the US.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] There are so many ways in which the tax code, complex as it is, creates incentives and disincentives for different kinds of activities\u2026. . Suppose that they just pass a law that says if you are a 501c-3, you may not have a 501c-4. They can make technical changes to the tax code and suddenly make certain kinds of activities non-viable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>FWIW, I think defunding \u201cwoke\u201d academics would be good clean fun and a vote-getter, but if you want to go for political power, you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.city-journal.org\/article\/charleroi-pennsylvania-grapples-with-surge-of-haitian-migrants?skip=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">uncover the publicly funded NGOs<\/a> that the Biden Administration has been using to \u201cplace\u201d migrants in places like Springfield, OH, given that this entirely sub rosa effort has the potential to affect the composition of the electorate for years to come (presumbly still implementing Tiexiera\u2019s \u201ccoalition of the ascendant,\u201d even though Tiexiera himself was repudiated his own theory). All this said, I insist that the same class of people who are paid to think about and incite color revolutions abroad are thinking about the same topics here at home; you can\u2019t put Trump and Orban in the same box and <em>not<\/em> think that way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Spook Country<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.806246016571\">\n<p>\u201cThe Technology the Trump Administration Could Use to Hack Your Phone\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/r434K\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The New Yorker<\/a>]. \u201cIn September, the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) signed a two-million-dollar contract with Paragon, an Israeli firm whose spyware product Graphite focusses on breaching encrypted-messaging applications such as Telegram and Signal. <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/o\/r434K\/https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/ice-paragon-solutions-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wired<\/a> first reported that the technology was acquired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)\u2014an agency within D.H.S. that will soon be involved in executing the Trump Administration\u2019s promises of mass deportations and crackdowns on border crossings. A source at Paragon told me that the deal followed a vetting process, during which the company was able to demonstrate that it had robust tools to prevent other countries that purchase its spyware from hacking Americans\u2014but that wouldn\u2019t limit the U.S. government\u2019s ability to target its own citizens.\u201d And the Israelis would never lie to us! More: \u201cThe technology is part of a booming multibillion-dollar market for intrusive phone-hacking software that is making government surveillance increasingly cheap and accessible. In recent years, a number of Western democracies have been roiled by controversies in which spyware has been used, apparently by defense and intelligence agencies, to target opposition politicians, journalists, and apolitical civilians caught up in Orwellian surveillance dragnets. Now Donald Trump and incoming members of his Administration will decide whether to curtail or expand the U.S. government\u2019s use of this kind of technology.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"47.084557804269\">\n<p><a name=\"democrats\"\/>\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 Long Goodbye to the Working Class\u201d [Michael Baharaeen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/the-democrats-long-goodbye-to-the\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. Worth reading in full, but here are some highlights: \u201c[B]y the 1990s, the country was growing more diverse and better educated. Bill Clinton was a beneficiary of this new reality, as he made sweeping gains with women, young people, voters of color (especially Hispanics), and college-educated voters. Importantly, he also retained significant support from white Americans and lower-educated voters, who made up the vast majority of the electorate. As Clinton rode this coalition to victory twice\u2014marking the first time since FDR that a Democrat had won two full terms as president\u2014some political observers, including my colleague, Ruy Teixeira, saw the emergence of a new majority, one that could consistently win elections using the formula Clinton had used\u2026. Obama\u2019s two wins confirmed for many Democrats and Republicans the validity of the \u2019emerging Democratic majority\u2019 thesis. Gone were the days when Democrats needed to win a majority of white voters, a feat they had found nearly impossible to achieve since the 1960s. Now, the party that represented America\u2019s demographic future stood to lead it as well.\u201d But: \u201cThe Obama coalition is not a coalition, but rather a moment,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2016\/02\/is-the-obama-coalition-even-a-thing-was-it-ever.html\">Is \u201cThe Obama Coalition\u201d Even a Thing? Was It Ever<\/a>? (2016). And indeed: \u201cBut no sooner had that consensus come into focus than Donald Trump arrived on the scene. Trump disrupted the Democrats\u2019 plans for building a dominant coalition and, in the process, helped precipitate a dramatic realignment between the two parties\u2014one rooted in economic and social class. This change has tipped the demographic advantage in favor of Republicans and left Democrats at very real risk of losing many of the voters who not long ago were expected to deliver them an enduring majority.\u201d And here we are: \u201c. Harris retained higher levels of support among college-educated voters, winning them by 14 points. But perhaps just as telling: she carried high-income earners (those earning at least $100,000) by seven points\u2014by far the largest margin for a Democratic nominee in the modern era. On the other side, Trump became the first Republican nominee on record to win low-income voters, narrowly carrying them by three points. He also continued growing his advantage with non-college voters, winning them by 13 points\u2014the largest margin for the GOP since at least 1988. And his 44 percent support from union households marked the greatest share for a Republican since Ronald Reagan. Looking at this picture, it\u2019s hard not to see that the Democrats are becoming the very thing they have long fought against: the party of the elites. This stands in sharp contrast to their longtime image as the champions of the working class.\u201d \u2022 Not \u201care becoming,\u201d \u201chave become,\u201d especially if you substitute \u201cPMC\u201d for \u201celites,\u201d which, after all, could include billionaires. And the Democrats certainly didn\u2019t \u201cfight\u201d very hard! In fact, you could argue that the transformation was fully in place by 2008, given Obama\u2019s disparate response in the financial crisis to the banksters and the working class, even if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2020\/11\/what-it-took-the-price-of-democrat-victory-2020.html\">the PMC only achieved class consciousness in 2016-2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s dictatorship is a fait accompli\u201d [John Q, <a href=\"https:\/\/crookedtimber.org\/2024\/11\/19\/trumps-dictatorship-is-a-fait-accompli\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Crooked Timber<\/a>]. Handy flowchart:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"721\" height=\"859\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised.png 721w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised-252x300.png 252w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised-624x743.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>With Gaetz flaming out, I\u2019d say we\u2019re on the way to \u201cGoverns Constitutionally\u201d (granted, for some definition of \u201cConstitutionally\u201d).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Syndemics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am in earnest \u2014 I will not equivocate \u2014 I will not excuse \u2014 I will not retreat a single inch \u2014 AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u201d \u2013William Lloyd Garrison<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=Risk&null=Risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>); Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>, <del><a href=\"https:\/\/biobot.io\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Biobot<\/a><\/del>; includes many counties; <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wastewater Scan<\/a>, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/businesssolutions\/covid-19-index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a>); \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/iowacovid19tracker.org\/hospitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Iowa COVID-19 Tracker<\/a>\u201d (in IA, but national data). \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/icemsg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts<\/a>\u201d (especially on hospitalization by city).<\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put \u201cCOVID\u201d in the subject line. Thank you!<\/p>\n<p>Resources, United States (Local): AK (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/af2efc8bffbf4cdc83c2d1a134354074\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AR (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/633006d0782b4544bd5113a314f6268a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AZ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/covid19\/data\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); CA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CID\/DCDC\/Pages\/COVID-19\/CalSuWers-Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.marinhhs.org\/surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marin, dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalerts.stanford.edu\/covid-19\/wastewater-dashboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stanford, wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/?v=SC2_N&l=Oakland%2C+CA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oakland, wastewater<\/a>); CO (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.colorado.gov\/data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/cdphe.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/d79cf93c3938470ca4bcc4823328946b#utility=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); CT (<a href=\"https:\/\/data.ct.gov\/stories\/s\/COVID-19-data\/wa3g-tfvc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); DE (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.delaware.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); FL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/5b9d75ba683849928dc1a49c39ab0b1c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); GA (<a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/ga-nwss-wastewater-surveillance-reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); HI (<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); IA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmmwra.org\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater reports<\/a>); ID (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Boise; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/?plantId=1056f05c-0e46-4e3d-b007-c0453ba7dc0d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Central Idaho; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/#:SARS-CoV-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Coeur d\u2019Alene; dashboard, <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.srhd.org\/topics\/spokane-county-case-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Spokane County<\/a>); IL (<a href=\"https:\/\/iwss.uillinois.edu\/wastewater-treatment-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); IN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.in.gov\/indiana-covid-19-dashboard-and-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); KS (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov\/160\/COVID-19-in-Kansas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/4456bae8a38f4b6180e008477382fff9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Lawrence); KY (<a href=\"https:\/\/louisville.edu\/envirome\/thecoimmunityproject\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Louisville); LA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldh.la.gov\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/covid-19-wastewater-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MD (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.maryland.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); ME (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dhhs\/mecdc\/infectious-disease\/epi\/airborne\/coronavirus\/data.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/coronavirus\/stats\/wastewater-surveillance\/dashboard\/sentinel-wastewater-epidemiology-evaluation-project-sweep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/gisportal.state.mi.us\/portal\/apps\/insights\/index.html#\/view\/52bbb104ed574887918f990af9f3debe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.state.mn.us\/diseases\/coronavirus\/stats\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MO (<a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f7f5492486114da6b5d6fdc07f81aacf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MS (<a href=\"https:\/\/msdh.ms.gov\/page\/14,0,420.html#Mississippi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>MT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=7c34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; NC (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.ncdhhs.gov\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard)<\/a>; ND (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NE (<a href=\"https:\/\/atlas-dhhs.ne.gov\/Atlas\/Respiratory_Illness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NH (<a href=\"https:\/\/wisdom.dhhs.nh.gov\/wisdom\/dashboard.html?topic=covid-19&subtopic=recurring-updates&indicator=covid-19-wastewater#tabnavbarid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NJ (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.nj.gov\/forms\/datadashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NM (<a href=\"https:\/\/cvprovider.nmhealth.org\/public-dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NV (<a href=\"https:\/\/nvhealthresponse.nv.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/empower.unlv.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Southern NV); NY (<a href=\"https:\/\/mbcolli.shinyapps.io\/SARS2EWSP\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OH (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.ohio.gov\/dashboards\/other-resources\/wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OK (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>OR (<a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/oregon.health.authority.covid.19\/viz\/OregonsCOVID-19DataDashboards-TableofContents\/TableofContentsStatewide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; PA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.pa.gov\/topics\/disease\/coronavirus\/pages\/Cases.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); RI (<a href=\"https:\/\/ri-department-of-health-covid-19-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SC (<a href=\"https:\/\/scdhec.gov\/index.php\/covid19\/covid-19-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SD (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.sd.gov\/COVID\/Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/health\/cedep\/ncov\/data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TX (<a href=\"https:\/\/txdshsea.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/4ae43eefd0f641d59d35c3df82ee59cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); UT (<a href=\"https:\/\/avrpublic.dhhs.utah.gov\/uwss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/coronavirus\/sars-cov-2-in-wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthvermont.gov\/disease-control\/covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WA (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/emergencies\/covid-19\/data-dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.bfhd.wa.gov\/cases-and-roadmap-to-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.wisconsin.gov\/covid-19\/wastewater.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); WV (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/oehs.wvdhhr.org\/news\/oehs-coivd-19-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>); WY (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/covidwastewatermonitor.wyo.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/health-infobase.canada.ca\/covid-19\/wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Government of Canada<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthontario.ca\/en\/Data-and-Analysis\/Infectious-Disease\/COVID-19-Data-Surveillance\/Wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); QC (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inspq.qc.ca\/covid-19\/donnees\/eaux-usees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>les eaux us\u00e9es<\/em><\/a>); BC (<a href=\"https:\/\/bccdc.shinyapps.io\/respiratory_wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); BC, Vancouver (<a href=\"https:\/\/metrovancouver.org\/services\/liquid-waste\/testing-for-the-covid-19-virus-in-wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, 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, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p>Elite Maleficence<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"10.423387096774\">\n<p>\u201cGrief can be \u2018really overwhelming\u2019 for teenagers and young people\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cd7np0ree92o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC<\/a>]. \u2022 As of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldometers.info\/coronavirus\/country\/uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">April 2024<\/a>, there were 230,000 deaths from Covid in the UK. I was 100% certain Covid wouldn\u2019t be mentioned in this article, and sure enough, it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.866336633663\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.625\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 11<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Last Week[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> (until next week):<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3-300x193.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"align: left; margin-left: 0px !important; padding: 9px 0 9px 0;\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282039\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6417910447761\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong> Variants<\/strong> [3] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 9<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> <strong>Emergency Room Visits<\/strong>[4] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_select_7dayeddiagnosed_00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1-300x238.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Hospitalization<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9240506329114\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> New York[5] <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.health.ny.gov\/daily-hospitalization-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York State<\/a>, data November 20:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 14:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl-292x300.png 292w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Positivity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"2.6111111111111\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> November 18:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> November 16:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Travelers Data<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5862068965517\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> October 28:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> October 28:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2-300x213.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Deaths<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.76\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronadisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl-300x175.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl-300x178.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"136.31305454295\">\n<p><strong>LEGEND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1) <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> for charts new today; all others are not updated.<\/p>\n<p>2) For a full-size\/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and \u201copen image in new tab.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[1] (CDC) Good news!<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Steadily down.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it\u2019s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Now XEC.<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, positivity down.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no official statistics of interest today.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\"\/>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing CEO to Employees: We Can\u2019t Afford Another Mistake\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/eSthS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cThe company, Ortberg said, is burning through billions of dollars and can\u2019t tap investors for another rescue. The company recently sold $24 billion worth of new shares to bolster its cash reserves. Some research and development spending could be delayed, the CEO said. He said Boeing won\u2019t turn cash-flow positive until it ramps up 737 production to the 38-per-month target it initially aimed to hit by the end of 2023. And he said the company simply lacks the money to launch a new plane program but it doesn\u2019t imminently need one.\u201d No, but it needs development to start imminently. More: \u201cOrtberg also told employees that he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump recently and that the two discussed the impact of potential tariffs on Boeing, one of the country\u2019s biggest exporters. The Boeing chief warned employees that any trade war with China would weigh on the company, given that Boeing sells jets to Chinese airlines while the U.S. doesn\u2019t import any aircraft from the country.\u201d And: \u201c\u2018,\u2019 he said. \u2018Let\u2019s focus on the task at hand.’\u201d \u2022 The beatings will continue until morale improves. Also, doesn\u2019t one <em>stand around<\/em> a water cooler, not \u201csit at\u201d one? Anyhow, if I were a Boeing machinist, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d \u201cbitch\u201d about \u201cpeople.\u201d I might share my considered views about Boeing management and union management combining their efforts to eliminate defined benefit pensions forever.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing CEO Calls on Employees to Take Ownership of Turnaround\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/hgzRg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cOrtberg bluntly told employees during a companywide address on Wednesday that they control the company\u2019s destiny, according to people familiar with the matter. The CEO, who took the helm a little more than 100 days ago, said it\u2019s up to all workers to turn the company around, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren\u2019t authorized to speak publicly. The comments mark Ortberg\u2019s most impassioned plea yet to rally workers behind his turnaround plan since he took over as CEO in August.\u201d \u2022 \u201cTake ownership\u201d seems to be a fanciful invention by a Bloomberg editor, since Ortberg is not quoted to that effect in the text. Anyhow, if workers \u201ctaking ownership\u201d of Boeing was the goal, they would at least have a seat on the Board, no?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing\u2019s CEO tells staff to stop \u2018bitching by the water cooler\u2019 and focus on beating Airbus\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2024\/11\/21\/boeing-ceo-kelly-ortberg-stop-bitching-focus-on-beating-airbus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cIn an all-hands meeting this week, Ortberg gave his staff some brutal feedback, telling them to cut back on complaining and focus on beating competitor Airbus. \u2018Don\u2019t sit at the water cooler and bitch about people,\u2019 Ortberg told his colleagues, according to a meeting recording obtained by the Wall Street Journal. \u2018Let\u2019s focus on the task at hand.\u2019 \u2018We spend more time arguing amongst ourselves than thinking about how we\u2019re going to beat Airbus. Everybody is tired of the drumbeat of what\u2019s wrong with Boeing. ,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 It may be this was all well-received on the shop floor; presumably there will be reporting to come on that (oddly, as of this writing, there\u2019s nothing from Dominic Gates at the Seattle Times on this story). But to me\u2026 Ortberg? A snowflake? Suck it up, buttercup!<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cFAA administrator plans to meet with Boeing CEO in Seattle\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/faa-administrator-plans-meet-with-boeing-ceo-seattle-2024-11-21\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said on Thursday he plans to soon visit Boeing\u2019s (BA.N), opens new tab Seattle offices to meet with CEO Kelly Ortberg as the planemaker resumes 737 MAX production. Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would boost its oversight of Boeing as the planemaker prepares to resume production of its 737 MAX jets following a 53-day strike that ended two weeks ago. \u2018We are working closely with Boeing to make sure the safety management system is driving their actions during\u2019 the restart of production, Whitaker said, who spoke to Ortberg earlier this month on the production plan. Boeing did not immediately comment. The FAA noted that it maintained its enhanced on-site presence at Boeing factories throughout the strike \u2018and will further strengthen and target our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan.’\u201d \u2022 While Boeing\u2019s cash flow depends on ramping up production\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 58 Greed (previous close: 50 Neutral) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 58 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Nov 21 at 1:21:24 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe color purple is unlike all others, in a physical sense\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/natural-sciences\/physics-articles\/matter-and-energy\/color-purple-non-spectral-feature\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ZME Science<\/a>]. \u201cBut there is one color we can see that isn\u2019t quite like the rest. This color, purple, is known as a non-spectral color. Unlike all its peers it doesn\u2019t correspond to a single type of electromagnetic radiation, and must always be born out of a mix of two others\u2026 If you look at orange, which is a combination of yellow and red, you can see that its wavelength is roughly the average of those of its constituent colors. It works with pretty much every color combination, such as blue-yellow (for green) or red-green (for more orange). Now, the real kicker with purple, which we know we can get by mixing in red with blue, is that by averaging the wavelengths of its two parent colors, you\u2019d get something in the green-yellow transition area. Which is a decidedly not-purple color. That\u2019s all nice and good, but why are we able to perceive purple, then? Well, the short of it is \u201cbecause brain\u201d. Although purple isn\u2019t a spectral color in the makeup of light, it is a color that can exist naturally and in the visible spectrum, so our brains evolved the ability to perceive it; that\u2019s the \u2018why\u2019.\u201d \u2022 Other non-spectral colors? Black, white, grey. And metallic colors!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Globalization and typography:<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/typo.social\/@typographica\/113510646485127309\/embed\" class=\"mastodon-embed\" style=\"max-width: 100%; border: 0\" width=\"400\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cArchaeologists discover 12,000-year-old pebbles that could provide new insights about the wheel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/archaeologists-discover-12000-year-old-pebbles-could-provide-new-insights-about-wheel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201c12,000-year-old perforated stones found over years of excavations in Israel may \u201crepresent early evidence for the adoption of spinning with the \u2018spindle and whorl\u2019 device,\u201d according to newly published research in PLOS ONE\u2026. \u2018In a cumulative evolutionary trend, they manifest early phases of the development of rotational technologies by laying the mechanical principle of the wheel and axle,\u2019 the researcher wrote in their study. \u201cAll in all, it reflects on the technological innovations that played an important part in the Neolithization processes of the Southern Levant.’\u201d \u2022 It would indeed be interesting if the chariot wheel began as the spindle\u2026. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From converger:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Converger writes: \u201cThis afternoon in the South African section of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kind readers, the stock of plant pictures is still not quite there\u2026 .<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"donate\"\/><strong>Readers<\/strong>: Water Cooler is a standalone entity <em>not<\/em> covered by the annual NC fundraiser. Material here is Lambert\u2019s, and does not express the views of the Naked Capitalism site. If you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldn\u2019t see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! <em>Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know I\u2019m on the right track with coverage<\/em>. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:<\/p>\n<p>Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-226891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"606\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png 606w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-content --><\/p>\n<footer class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\tThis entry was posted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/guest-post\" rel=\"category tag\">Guest Post<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024-2.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-11-21T14:00:11-05:00\">November 21, 2024<\/time><\/a><span class=\"by-author\"> by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/author\/lambert-strether\" title=\"View all posts by Lambert Strether\" rel=\"author\">Lambert Strether<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\" wp_automatic_readability=\"20.197005056398\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-avatar --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-description\" wp_automatic_readability=\"35.467911318553\">\n<h2>About Lambert Strether<\/h2>\n<p>Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (\u201cBecause markets\u201d). I don\u2019t much care about the \u201cism\u201d that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don\u2019t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. <br \/>\n <br \/>\nTo me, the key issue \u2014 and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me \u2014 is the tens of thousands of excess \u201cdeaths from despair,\u201d as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics \u2014 even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton\u2019s wars created \u2014 bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow \u2014 currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press \u2014 a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let\u2019s call such voices \u201cthe left.\u201d Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn\u2019t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I\u2019ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-link\t-->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-description -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-info --><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta --><br \/>\n\t<!-- #post --><\/p>\n<nav class=\"nav-single\">\n<h3 class=\"assistive-text\">Post navigation<\/h3>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-previous list-posts-older\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/international-criminal-court-issues-arrest-warrants-for-israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-and-former-minister-of-defense-yoav-gallant.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024-2.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, United States. \u201cI love how it\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":87474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-spotlight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, United States. \u201cI love how it\u2019s \u2018song\u2019 includes sirens. The reason why became obvious as I listened to sirens coming from the Turnpike.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#gaetz\">Gaetz: Exit, stage right<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#boeing\">Ortberg<\/a>: \u201cThe beatings will continue until morale improves.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#democrats\">How the Democrats<\/a> abandoned the working class.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital.\u201d \u2013Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Trump Transition<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"150.38767973599\">\n<p><a name=\"gaetz\"\/>\u201cGaetz withdraws as Trump\u2019s pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/nation-world\/nation\/gaetz-withdraws-as-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>]. \u201cThe Florida Republican\u2019s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department. \u2018While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump\/Vance Transition,\u2019 Gaetz said in a statement announcing his decision. \u2018There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I\u2019ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump\u2019s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.\u2019 Trump, in a social media post, said: \u2018I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!’\u201d \u2022 Gracefully done \u2014 probably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/documents-matt-gaetz-10-000-030908214.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">those Venmo transactions<\/a>* did it \u2014 but I hate this play in the Democrat Playbook so much because it\u2019s one more way for the Democrat Party \u2014 which has a (white) (male) workplace abuser as an honored and much-loved party elder \u2014 to avoid talking about policy (i.e. universal concrete material benefits (i.e. the working class)). And of course the moral preening is offensive. On the bright side, it looks like we won\u2019t have a populist anti-truster at Justice (unless Trump does the unexpected). NOTE * One of the many advantages of our cash-free future!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRepublicans Must Defend Matt Gaetz To End The Use Of Salacious Lies As A Political Weapon\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/11\/20\/republicans-must-defend-matt-gaetz-to-end-the-use-of-salacious-lies-as-a-political-weapon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Federalist<\/a>]. \u201cThe claims against Gaetz are but another information operation, however, mirroring the ones that previously targeted Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. And this pattern will continue unabated unless Americans unflinchingly condemn the tactic \u2014 no matter the target. We should have learned this lesson from Donald Trump\u2019s first presidential run and time in office. From Crossfire Hurricane, to the pee-tape dossier, to Special Counsel Robert Mueller\u2019s investigation, unsupported and unbelievable accusations leaked to the public hampered Trump\u2019s ability to advance his agenda. Time and again the charges proved unfounded, and yet in advance of the 2024 election, the lawfare continued. The country, however, had wised up by then and recognized the various criminal and civil charges leveled against Trump for what they were: an effort to interfere in the election. Why then is anyone giving credence to the accusations against Gaetz, especially given the FBI \u2014 after thoroughly investigating the matter for two years \u2014 decided not to charge Gaetz?\u201d \u2022 Strange bedfellows, Lambert and The Federalist, though here we are. (My position, however, is that even salacious <em>truths<\/em> should be deweaponized (adult to adult, consensual being the standard. I\u2019m sure Roger Stone would agree with me\u2026.). <\/p>\n<p>\u201c4 Trump administration picks have sexual misconduct allegations in their past\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/4-trump-administration-picks-sexual-misconduct-allegations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cMatt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Elon Musk are all in line to serve as top government leaders. All have faced varying degrees of sexual misconduct allegations. The president\u2019s picks to carry out his agenda reflect an incoming administration hostile to the norms of the \u2018Me Too\u2019 movement.\u201d Ah yes. #MeToo. Remember <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Time%27s_Up_(organization)#:~:text=The%20Time's%20Up%20Foundation%20raised,harassment%20allegations%20came%20to%20light.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Time\u2019s Up<\/a>? Good times. Anyhow: \u201cBehavior that might have gotten a person fired or canceled (or not nominated to a cabinet position) over the last several years, appears to be less problematic in the Trump 2.0 era. Machismo was often a centerpiece of Trump\u2019s appeal to voters during the 2024 campaign. He regularly spoke about toughness \u2014 whether that trait applied to his immigration policy, combating illicit drug trade or surviving two assassination attempts. Wrestler Hulk Hogan delivered a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention, ripping off his shirt while lavishing praise on the nominee. And Trump also spent time on right-leaning podcasts with largely male audiences. His entreaties to male culture paid off in November.\u201d \u2022 \u201cMale culture.\u201d Huh? Is that a thing now?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDonald Trump gets a brutal reality check\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/11\/21\/donald-trump-attorney-general-matt-gaetz-00190953\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cDonald Trump is not a monarch. That\u2019s the unmistakable lesson of the ill-fated nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Rather than showcasing Trump\u2019s absolute power over his GOP allies, it revealed his limits. The doomed nomination lasted just eight days \u2014 and its failure is an unwelcome lesson for the president-elect, who has been projecting invincibility and claiming a historic mandate despite his reed-thin popular vote victory. Though Republicans will control both chambers of Congress, the resistance from Senate Republicans to Gaetz\u2019s nomination proved that there are still some checks on Trump \u2014 no matter how limited \u2014 that can hold, despite fear on the left that he will squeeze Congress into submission, get carte blanche from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court and enact his agenda at will. \u2018I think it shows that Donald Trump cannot get anything [that is, everything] he wants,\u2019 said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California-Berkeley School of Law. But Chemerinsky and others cautioned against extrapolating too much from the Gaetz debacle \u2014 he was so uniquely despised and compromised by legal and political scandal. \u2018But the facts here are so egregious, and Gaetz so unqualified, that I would be cautious in generalizing too much from it.’\u201d \u2022 By \u201cunqualified\u201d we mean \u201cpopulist,\u201d of course\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump taps Russ Vought, one of the authors of Project 2025, to lead budget office again\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-russ-vought-office-of-management-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CBS<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Russ Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget, according to two sources close to the transition. If confirmed, this will be Vought\u2019s second time in the role. He served as OMB director during Trump\u2019s first term, too. Earlier in the Trump administration, Vought was deputy OMB director and acting director. Before he joined the first Trump White House Vought was vice president of Heritage Action for America, which leads a grassroots effort to implement conservative policies across the U.S. It produces a conservative scorecard that grades members of Congress on their votes on conservative bills. Vought wrote a chapter of The Heritage Foundation\u2019s Project 2025 blueprint \u2014 his chapter covers the \u2018Executive Office of the President.\u2019 The OMB director\u2019s office develops the president\u2019s proposed budget, and it\u2019s responsible for executing the president\u2019s agenda across the federal government.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Oz\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/daringfireball.net\/2024\/11\/dr_oz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daring Fireball<\/a>]. \u201cI met Dr. Oz ten years ago. It was after the Apple event on Tuesday, 9 September 2014, at the Flint Center in Cupertino\u2026. I had a one-on-one off-the-record briefing with Jony Ive\u2026. While I was waiting for my briefing with Ive, the only other person from the media waiting with me was Oz. It\u2019s a weird thing to be alone, effectively, with someone of Oz\u2019s celebrity. It\u2019s like being in a room with a million dollars in $100 bills stacked in a perfectly-arranged pyramid. No matter how you to try to direct your attention, your mind keeps popping back to Holy shit, there\u2019s a million dollars in cash right there. His hair was perfect\u2026. We spent an unceasingly awkward 10 minutes\u2026. He never shut up. He chattered, nonstop, with inane observations, like \u2018Hey, look at that one, it\u2019s orange! What\u2019s that one, leather?\u201d He was not talking to me, nor was he, really, talking to himself. It was like he was talking to a TV camera, as though we were being filmed for B-roll footage for his show\u2009\u2014\u2009but there was no camera. It was just me and him, standing around that table exhibiting dozens of Apple Watch prototypes that we were unable to touch\u2026. I came away with the impression that Mehmet Oz was, despite his well-deserved medical renown, preternaturally vapid and preening, and, thus, to me, an incongruous figure. Simultaneously a brilliant mind in the field of thoracic surgery, and yet dumb as a rock in everyday human interaction. I spent the first few minutes with him wondering if I should introduce myself. I spent the last few glad I hadn\u2019t, because he was so obviously a staggeringly uninteresting and uninterested man.\u201d \u2022 Not the only one\u2026. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: The DOGE Plan to Reform Government\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241120200952\/https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/opinion\/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cMost legal edicts aren\u2019t laws enacted by Congress but \u201crules and regulations\u201d promulgated by unelected bureaucrats\u2014tens of thousands of them each year. Most government enforcement decisions and discretionary expenditures aren\u2019t made by the democratically elected president or even his political appointees but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil-service protections. This is antidemocratic and antithetical to the Founders\u2019 vision. It imposes massive direct and indirect costs on taxpayers. Thankfully, we have a historic opportunity to solve the problem.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-in\/news\/world\/time-for-bold-reforms-highlights-from-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-s-doge-plan\/ar-AA1usXSt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Highlights from MSN<\/a>: \u201cAccording to Musk and Ramaswamy, . \u2018We will focus particularly on driving change through executive action based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws,\u2019 they wrote, describing the US Constitution as their \u2018North Star.’\u201d Hilariously, they steal a liberal Democrat trope (which I\u2019ve always hated because it doesn\u2019t mean anything). More: \u201cOne of their first initiatives involves identifying regulations that Trump could nullify immediately through executive action. These, they argued, would free businesses and individuals from the constraints of \u2018illicit regulations\u2019 and stimulate the economy. \u2018When the president nullifies thousands of such regulations, critics will allege executive overreach. In fact, it will be correcting the executive overreach of thousands of regulations promulgated by administrative fiat,\u2019 they noted. Acknowledging the likelihood of political and legal pushback, Musk and Ramaswamy expressed confidence in their mandate. \u2018With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government,\u2019 they declared. The authors set an ambitious deadline of July 4, 2026, to finalise their reforms, framing their mission as a transformative effort to restore governance to its constitutional roots. \u2018We expect to prevail,\u2019 they concluded, signalling their readiness to confront entrenched interests in Washington.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019d like it if DOGE would unleash Lina Khan and the NLRB, and stop protecting the crypto bros, but none of that seems likely to happen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Trump actually get rid of the Department of Education?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/education\/384779\/department-of-education-trump-musk-betsy-devos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Vox<\/a>]. \u201cEven without literally shutting the doors to the federal agency, there could be ways a Trump administration could hollow the DOE and do significant damage, Valant and Kettl said. The administration could require the agency to cut the roles of agency employees, particularly those who ideologically disagree with the administration. It could also appoint officials with limited (or no) education expertise, hampering the department\u2019s day-to-day work. Trump officials could also attempt changes to the department\u2019s higher education practices. The department is one of several state and nongovernmental institutions involved in college accreditation, for example \u2014 and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has threatened to weaponize the accreditation process against universities he believes to be too \u2018woke.\u2019 Finally, Trump could use the department\u2019s leadership role to affect policy indirectly: \u2018There\u2019s power that comes from just communicating to states what you would like to see\u2019 being taught in schools, Valant said. \u2018And there are a lot of state leaders around the country who seem ready to follow that lead.\u2019 Trump\u2019s plans for the department will likely become clearer during [Linda] McMahon\u2019s confirmation hearings. She has been an advocate for the school choice movement, and posted praise for the hands-on education gained through apprenticeships shortly before her nomination was made public.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024 Post Mortem<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"86.295676172953\">\n<p><a name=\"blame\"\/><strong>Deploy the Blame Cannons!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Time-Honored Tradition of Blaming the Left for Democratic Defeats\u201d [Kate Aronoff, <a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/article\/188597\/democrats-left-election-interest-groups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The New Republic<\/a>]. \u201cIn the lead-up to this election, Harris and other leading Democrats decried Trump and MAGA Republicans as an existential threat to American democracy; now, newly elected House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has pledged to find \u201ccommon ground\u201d with them. That waffling and incoherence is less of a comms issue than a structural one. . Even if Democrats did have more institutional integrity, they would still find it challenging to simultaneously be a party of big business and organized labor, as they\u2019ve long aspired to be. They would still struggle to turn out Arab voters in key swing states while sending Israel weapons to bomb their families in the Middle East. More often than not, these constituencies\u2019 interests are fundamentally opposed to one another; no amount of smart messaging, or berating voters, can fully solve that. On some level, then, Jentleson is right to point to coalition management as a problem for the Democrats. But the solution isn\u2019t to box out left-leaning constituency groups and leave politics up to supposedly more sober-minded pollsters and consultants, who have an obvious material interest in this argument. Debates over Democratic Party messaging obscure a thornier, more substantive one over who it is that party ought to represent.\u201d The PMC, as it does now. Next question: \u201cCampaigning on economic populism to appeal to the voters feeling the pain of high rents and insurance rates would piss off big donors in the finance and real estate sectors; actually enacting that agenda would require electoral majorities big enough to withstand the wrath of the country\u2019s most powerful industries, which might be difficult to attain without those big donors. There\u2019s no easy way out of this bind.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"4.2371134020619\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"11.298969072165\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">At a post-election DSCC briefing with winning Dem candidates. <\/p>\n<p>Elissa Slotkin: \u201cI personally think that identity politics needs to go the way of the dodo.\u201d Dems should take language \u201cnot from the faculty lounge, but the assembly line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Weigel (@daveweigel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/daveweigel\/status\/1858926010806251801\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">November 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Slotkin is a CIA Democrat, and this is in fact how a spook would think. You want to win the moustache vote? Put on a fake moustache (and take it off when your tour of duty is done).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the Democratic Party\u2019s Cult of Powerlessness\u201d [Matt Stoller, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebignewsletter.com\/p\/on-the-democratic-partys-cult-of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BIG<\/a>]. \u201cAnti-monopoly policy is immensely popular, and there hasn\u2019t been an administration as aggressive on antitrust in our lifetimes as there was under Joe Biden. Yet, voters soundly rejected his successor, Kamala Harris, and thrashed the party in power. And while anti-monopoly politics sits uneasily in the Democratic Party, that is where it sits. Lina Khan, Rohit Chopra and Jonathan Kanter will be out of power soon. So what happened? And why did Democrats lose so badly? I don\u2019t think the answer is simple, nor is it right to characterize the problem as solely one involving the Democratic Party. In 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, voters have voted against the incumbent party. If you look at the recriminations among Democrats, they reveal, unwittingly, a broad theme that I\u2019ve noticed with roots that go back to the middle of the 20th century. And while these observations are focused on Democrats, people on the right will recognize in their institutions a similar set of challenges\u2026. [A]s I watch the angry back and forth, and more broadly the institutional actors who were rejected by voters, I find a curious dynamic that explains far more than any tactical mistake. .\u201d I would argue that\u2019s because the PMC, as a class, functions and has the strength to govern, but not to rule. And with respect to the ruling class, the governing class <em>is<\/em> helpless, especially with the Gini co-efficient where it is. More: \u201cthe Democratic Party in 2024, with its associated law firms, think tanks, elected officials, donors, and media outlets, was rejected by voters precisely because the core value on the left, center, and right is about embracing powerlessness. This pervasive belief has an intellectual and political origin, and it conflicts directly with the anti-monopoly framework.\u201d \u2022 \u201cTo govern is to choose\u201d (apparently Pierre Mend\u00e8s France said this). I\u2019m not sure I agree that the choice to do nothing is the same as \u201cpowerlessness,\u201d as Stoller would have it. That said, it is true that I among others need to give an account of why the Biden Administration allowed Khan to, in Stoller\u2019s framing, reject powerlessness as she did. (My theory was that all the big cases had a long way to run, and when settlement time came, Biden would step in, cut a deal, and cash in. Looks like that\u2019s not happening with the Google case, though.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHarris is Democrats\u2019 preferred choice for 2028: Poll\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/5001537-poll-finds-most-dems-want-harris-for-next-presidential-nominee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u2022 That\u2019s only because the leadership hasn\u2019t told them yet who their \u201cpreferred choice\u201d should be.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The #Resistance<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"64.080295566502\">\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s Cabinet Blitz Is Straight From Orban\u2019s Playbook\u201d (interview) [Kim Lane Scheppele, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024.html#comment-4135847\">Bloomberg<\/a> (VerifyFirst)]. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kim_Lane_Scheppele\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scheppele bio<\/a>. On resistance:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"35\">\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re civil society in the US, or the Democratic Party, how do you put the brakes on this rush to authoritarianism?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] The first thing you have to do is call it out. You can\u2019t accept any of it as normal. You have to object every single time. It\u2019s tedious and it\u2019s time-consuming and it\u2019s nerve-wracking. But you have to call it out. The second thing is to realize that just because something is legal doesn\u2019t make it right. And you have to start thinking that way. I\u2019m a long-time legalist who always thought that you follow the law because it\u2019s the law and because it is the right thing to do. But if the law is written by people who are trying to conquer you, who are trying to take away your freedom, then are you really as obligated to follow that law? I\u2019m certainly not advocating violence, but you need a different attitude toward this kind of instrumental legality that they use to lock themselves in power. At the very least you resist. And then you try to use whatever democratic means you have left to change it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are there extra-legal ways to address it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] We still have federalism. I\u2019ve been reading about blue-state attorneys general getting together, the way the red-state attorneys general have already done, to think about how to resist these attacks, to beef up state governments to provide a face of resistance, to shore up the civil sector with private donations or whatever. It\u2019s going to require a lot of mobilization.<\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t just mobilize for an election cycle and then demobilize. In Poland, once the autocratic takeover occurred, masses of people went to the streets every time there was a new law. And they were much more successful than the Hungarians. Here in the US, all the groups that worked together in the last election can\u2019t stand down. They need to stand up for the mass pushback that\u2019s required to prevent autocracy from being imposed in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let me pause here to quote <a href=\"https:\/\/constitutioncenter.org\/media\/files\/WTP_Russia_and_Ukraine_Transcript.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Scheppele on Maidan<\/a>: \u201cSo fast forward to 2014, there\u2019s a kind of revolution. Many people may remember the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians that showed up in Maidan Square in Kiev, and basically toppled the corrupt Russian-backed government.\u201d Naive at best (though to be fair to Scheppele, a reasonable search turned up a lot of academic connections, but nothing explicitly spook-related, like an Atlantic Council fellowship or something). In any case, all this sounds very color-revolution-ish (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/10\/democrat_war_games_could_they_try_for_a_color_revolution_after_a_trump_victory.html\">a state capacity I speculated on here<\/a>). And from the same interview, here is Scheppele on NGOs, since NGOs have played, and are playing, such a large role in Color Revolutions worldwide:<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"32\">\n<p><strong>The phrase \u201cDefund the Left\u201d has been around for quite some time in right-wing US circles. As the GOP grows overtly authoritarian, there are lots of institutions whose funding they can attack.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] That\u2019s right. And that\u2019s probably how it would happen if they\u2019re copying Orban. The way Orban did it, there were lots of things that were state-funded, and he defunded everything that wasn\u2019t supportive of him. There are a lot of places where that\u2019s going to be true in the US. I\u2019m sitting here in a university, and universities, even private universities, get huge amounts of funding from the federal government \u2014 through research grants, Pell Grants for students. Imagine if the Trump administration says, \u2018If we catch you caving in to \u2018woke gender\u2019 anything, you will lose all your federal funding.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>I was thinking of foundations also because they\u2019re a conduit of funds to various types of NGOs, including those doing pro-democracy work in the US.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[SCHEPPELE:] There are so many ways in which the tax code, complex as it is, creates incentives and disincentives for different kinds of activities\u2026. . Suppose that they just pass a law that says if you are a 501c-3, you may not have a 501c-4. They can make technical changes to the tax code and suddenly make certain kinds of activities non-viable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>FWIW, I think defunding \u201cwoke\u201d academics would be good clean fun and a vote-getter, but if you want to go for political power, you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.city-journal.org\/article\/charleroi-pennsylvania-grapples-with-surge-of-haitian-migrants?skip=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">uncover the publicly funded NGOs<\/a> that the Biden Administration has been using to \u201cplace\u201d migrants in places like Springfield, OH, given that this entirely sub rosa effort has the potential to affect the composition of the electorate for years to come (presumbly still implementing Tiexiera\u2019s \u201ccoalition of the ascendant,\u201d even though Tiexiera himself was repudiated his own theory). All this said, I insist that the same class of people who are paid to think about and incite color revolutions abroad are thinking about the same topics here at home; you can\u2019t put Trump and Orban in the same box and <em>not<\/em> think that way.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Spook Country<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.806246016571\">\n<p>\u201cThe Technology the Trump Administration Could Use to Hack Your Phone\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/r434K\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The New Yorker<\/a>]. \u201cIn September, the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) signed a two-million-dollar contract with Paragon, an Israeli firm whose spyware product Graphite focusses on breaching encrypted-messaging applications such as Telegram and Signal. <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/o\/r434K\/https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/ice-paragon-solutions-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wired<\/a> first reported that the technology was acquired by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)\u2014an agency within D.H.S. that will soon be involved in executing the Trump Administration\u2019s promises of mass deportations and crackdowns on border crossings. A source at Paragon told me that the deal followed a vetting process, during which the company was able to demonstrate that it had robust tools to prevent other countries that purchase its spyware from hacking Americans\u2014but that wouldn\u2019t limit the U.S. government\u2019s ability to target its own citizens.\u201d And the Israelis would never lie to us! More: \u201cThe technology is part of a booming multibillion-dollar market for intrusive phone-hacking software that is making government surveillance increasingly cheap and accessible. In recent years, a number of Western democracies have been roiled by controversies in which spyware has been used, apparently by defense and intelligence agencies, to target opposition politicians, journalists, and apolitical civilians caught up in Orwellian surveillance dragnets. Now Donald Trump and incoming members of his Administration will decide whether to curtail or expand the U.S. government\u2019s use of this kind of technology.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"47.084557804269\">\n<p><a name=\"democrats\"\/>\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 Long Goodbye to the Working Class\u201d [Michael Baharaeen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liberalpatriot.com\/p\/the-democrats-long-goodbye-to-the\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Liberal Patriot<\/a>]. Worth reading in full, but here are some highlights: \u201c[B]y the 1990s, the country was growing more diverse and better educated. Bill Clinton was a beneficiary of this new reality, as he made sweeping gains with women, young people, voters of color (especially Hispanics), and college-educated voters. Importantly, he also retained significant support from white Americans and lower-educated voters, who made up the vast majority of the electorate. As Clinton rode this coalition to victory twice\u2014marking the first time since FDR that a Democrat had won two full terms as president\u2014some political observers, including my colleague, Ruy Teixeira, saw the emergence of a new majority, one that could consistently win elections using the formula Clinton had used\u2026. Obama\u2019s two wins confirmed for many Democrats and Republicans the validity of the \u2019emerging Democratic majority\u2019 thesis. Gone were the days when Democrats needed to win a majority of white voters, a feat they had found nearly impossible to achieve since the 1960s. Now, the party that represented America\u2019s demographic future stood to lead it as well.\u201d But: \u201cThe Obama coalition is not a coalition, but rather a moment,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2016\/02\/is-the-obama-coalition-even-a-thing-was-it-ever.html\">Is \u201cThe Obama Coalition\u201d Even a Thing? Was It Ever<\/a>? (2016). And indeed: \u201cBut no sooner had that consensus come into focus than Donald Trump arrived on the scene. Trump disrupted the Democrats\u2019 plans for building a dominant coalition and, in the process, helped precipitate a dramatic realignment between the two parties\u2014one rooted in economic and social class. This change has tipped the demographic advantage in favor of Republicans and left Democrats at very real risk of losing many of the voters who not long ago were expected to deliver them an enduring majority.\u201d And here we are: \u201c. Harris retained higher levels of support among college-educated voters, winning them by 14 points. But perhaps just as telling: she carried high-income earners (those earning at least $100,000) by seven points\u2014by far the largest margin for a Democratic nominee in the modern era. On the other side, Trump became the first Republican nominee on record to win low-income voters, narrowly carrying them by three points. He also continued growing his advantage with non-college voters, winning them by 13 points\u2014the largest margin for the GOP since at least 1988. And his 44 percent support from union households marked the greatest share for a Republican since Ronald Reagan. Looking at this picture, it\u2019s hard not to see that the Democrats are becoming the very thing they have long fought against: the party of the elites. This stands in sharp contrast to their longtime image as the champions of the working class.\u201d \u2022 Not \u201care becoming,\u201d \u201chave become,\u201d especially if you substitute \u201cPMC\u201d for \u201celites,\u201d which, after all, could include billionaires. And the Democrats certainly didn\u2019t \u201cfight\u201d very hard! In fact, you could argue that the transformation was fully in place by 2008, given Obama\u2019s disparate response in the financial crisis to the banksters and the working class, even if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2020\/11\/what-it-took-the-price-of-democrat-victory-2020.html\">the PMC only achieved class consciousness in 2016-2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s dictatorship is a fait accompli\u201d [John Q, <a href=\"https:\/\/crookedtimber.org\/2024\/11\/19\/trumps-dictatorship-is-a-fait-accompli\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Crooked Timber<\/a>]. Handy flowchart:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"721\" height=\"859\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised.png 721w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised-252x300.png 252w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USDemocracyRevised-624x743.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>With Gaetz flaming out, I\u2019d say we\u2019re on the way to \u201cGoverns Constitutionally\u201d (granted, for some definition of \u201cConstitutionally\u201d).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Syndemics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am in earnest \u2014 I will not equivocate \u2014 I will not excuse \u2014 I will not retreat a single inch \u2014 AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u201d \u2013William Lloyd Garrison<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=Risk&null=Risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>); Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>, <del><a href=\"https:\/\/biobot.io\/data\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Biobot<\/a><\/del>; includes many counties; <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wastewater Scan<\/a>, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/businesssolutions\/covid-19-index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a>); \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/iowacovid19tracker.org\/hospitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Iowa COVID-19 Tracker<\/a>\u201d (in IA, but national data). \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/icemsg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts<\/a>\u201d (especially on hospitalization by city).<\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put \u201cCOVID\u201d in the subject line. Thank you!<\/p>\n<p>Resources, United States (Local): AK (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/af2efc8bffbf4cdc83c2d1a134354074\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AR (<a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/633006d0782b4544bd5113a314f6268a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); AZ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/covid19\/data\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); CA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CID\/DCDC\/Pages\/COVID-19\/CalSuWers-Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.marinhhs.org\/surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marin, dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalerts.stanford.edu\/covid-19\/wastewater-dashboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Stanford, wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/?v=SC2_N&l=Oakland%2C+CA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oakland, wastewater<\/a>); CO (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.colorado.gov\/data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/cdphe.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/d79cf93c3938470ca4bcc4823328946b#utility=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); CT (<a href=\"https:\/\/data.ct.gov\/stories\/s\/COVID-19-data\/wa3g-tfvc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); DE (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.delaware.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); FL (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/5b9d75ba683849928dc1a49c39ab0b1c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); GA (<a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/ga-nwss-wastewater-surveillance-reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); HI (<a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); IA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmmwra.org\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater reports<\/a>); ID (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Boise; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahopublichealth.com\/district-2\/novel-coronavirus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/data.wastewaterscan.org\/?plantId=1056f05c-0e46-4e3d-b007-c0453ba7dc0d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Central Idaho; <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.verily.com\/#:SARS-CoV-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Coeur d\u2019Alene; dashboard, <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.srhd.org\/topics\/spokane-county-case-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Spokane County<\/a>); IL (<a href=\"https:\/\/iwss.uillinois.edu\/wastewater-treatment-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); IN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.in.gov\/indiana-covid-19-dashboard-and-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); KS (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov\/160\/COVID-19-in-Kansas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/4456bae8a38f4b6180e008477382fff9\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Lawrence); KY (<a href=\"https:\/\/louisville.edu\/envirome\/thecoimmunityproject\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>, Louisville); LA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ldh.la.gov\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/covid-19-wastewater-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MD (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.maryland.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); ME (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dhhs\/mecdc\/infectious-disease\/epi\/airborne\/coronavirus\/data.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/coronavirus\/stats\/wastewater-surveillance\/dashboard\/sentinel-wastewater-epidemiology-evaluation-project-sweep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/gisportal.state.mi.us\/portal\/apps\/insights\/index.html#\/view\/52bbb104ed574887918f990af9f3debe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.state.mn.us\/diseases\/coronavirus\/stats\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); MO (<a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/f7f5492486114da6b5d6fdc07f81aacf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); MS (<a href=\"https:\/\/msdh.ms.gov\/page\/14,0,420.html#Mississippi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>MT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=7c34f3412536439491adcc2103421d4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; NC (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.ncdhhs.gov\/dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard)<\/a>; ND (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.nd.gov\/health\/coronavirus\/cases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NE (<a href=\"https:\/\/atlas-dhhs.ne.gov\/Atlas\/Respiratory_Illness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NH (<a href=\"https:\/\/wisdom.dhhs.nh.gov\/wisdom\/dashboard.html?topic=covid-19&subtopic=recurring-updates&indicator=covid-19-wastewater#tabnavbarid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); NJ (<a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.nj.gov\/forms\/datadashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NM (<a href=\"https:\/\/cvprovider.nmhealth.org\/public-dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); NV (<a href=\"https:\/\/nvhealthresponse.nv.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/empower.unlv.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>, Southern NV); NY (<a href=\"https:\/\/mbcolli.shinyapps.io\/SARS2EWSP\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OH (<a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.ohio.gov\/dashboards\/other-resources\/wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); OK (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); <del>OR (<a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/oregon.health.authority.covid.19\/viz\/OregonsCOVID-19DataDashboards-TableofContents\/TableofContentsStatewide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>)<\/del>; PA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.pa.gov\/topics\/disease\/coronavirus\/pages\/Cases.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); RI (<a href=\"https:\/\/ri-department-of-health-covid-19-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SC (<a href=\"https:\/\/scdhec.gov\/index.php\/covid19\/covid-19-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); SD (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.sd.gov\/COVID\/Dashboard.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TN (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/health\/cedep\/ncov\/data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); TX (<a href=\"https:\/\/txdshsea.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/4ae43eefd0f641d59d35c3df82ee59cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); UT (<a href=\"https:\/\/avrpublic.dhhs.utah.gov\/uwss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VA (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/coronavirus\/sars-cov-2-in-wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); VT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthvermont.gov\/disease-control\/covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WA (<a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/emergencies\/covid-19\/data-dashboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/covid19.bfhd.wa.gov\/cases-and-roadmap-to-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">dashboard<\/a>); WI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.wisconsin.gov\/covid-19\/wastewater.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); WV (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/oehs.wvdhhr.org\/news\/oehs-coivd-19-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>); WY (<del><a href=\"https:\/\/covidwastewatermonitor.wyo.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a><\/del>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (<a href=\"https:\/\/health-infobase.canada.ca\/covid-19\/wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Government of Canada<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealthontario.ca\/en\/Data-and-Analysis\/Infectious-Disease\/COVID-19-Data-Surveillance\/Wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); QC (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inspq.qc.ca\/covid-19\/donnees\/eaux-usees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>les eaux us\u00e9es<\/em><\/a>); BC (<a href=\"https:\/\/bccdc.shinyapps.io\/respiratory_wastewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>); BC, Vancouver (<a href=\"https:\/\/metrovancouver.org\/services\/liquid-waste\/testing-for-the-covid-19-virus-in-wastewater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wastewater<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, 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, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p>Elite Maleficence<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"10.423387096774\">\n<p>\u201cGrief can be \u2018really overwhelming\u2019 for teenagers and young people\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cd7np0ree92o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BBC<\/a>]. \u2022 As of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldometers.info\/coronavirus\/country\/uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">April 2024<\/a>, there were 230,000 deaths from Covid in the UK. I was 100% certain Covid wouldn\u2019t be mentioned in this article, and sure enough, it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.866336633663\">\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Wastewater<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.625\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> This week[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 11<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Last Week[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#wastewater-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> (until next week):<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-3-300x193.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" style=\"align: left; margin-left: 0px !important; padding: 9px 0 9px 0;\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282039\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-2-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6417910447761\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong> Variants<\/strong> [3] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#variant-proportions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 9<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> <strong>Emergency Room Visits<\/strong>[4] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_select_7dayeddiagnosed_00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1-300x238.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Hospitalization<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9240506329114\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> New York[5] <a href=\"https:\/\/coronavirus.health.ny.gov\/daily-hospitalization-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York State<\/a>, data November 20:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> National [6] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/covidnetdashboard\/de\/powerbi\/dashboard.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 14:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-8-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitaliztion-natl-292x300.png 292w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Positivity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"2.6111111111111\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> November 18:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> November 16:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-2-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Travelers Data<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5862068965517\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> October 28:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Variants[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> October 28:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-2-300x213.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><strong>Deaths<\/strong><\/td>\n<td\/>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.76\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronavirusdisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 2:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"> Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] <a href=\"https:\/\/health.hawaii.gov\/coronadisease2019\/what-you-should-know\/current-situation-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 2:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-positivity-natl-300x175.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-death-ed-natl-300x178.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"136.31305454295\">\n<p><strong>LEGEND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1) <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> for charts new today; all others are not updated.<\/p>\n<p>2) For a full-size\/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and \u201copen image in new tab.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[1] (CDC) Good news!<\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Steadily down.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it\u2019s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Down.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Now XEC.<\/p>\n<p>[11] Deaths low, positivity down.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no official statistics of interest today.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"boeing\"\/>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing CEO to Employees: We Can\u2019t Afford Another Mistake\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/eSthS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cThe company, Ortberg said, is burning through billions of dollars and can\u2019t tap investors for another rescue. The company recently sold $24 billion worth of new shares to bolster its cash reserves. Some research and development spending could be delayed, the CEO said. He said Boeing won\u2019t turn cash-flow positive until it ramps up 737 production to the 38-per-month target it initially aimed to hit by the end of 2023. And he said the company simply lacks the money to launch a new plane program but it doesn\u2019t imminently need one.\u201d No, but it needs development to start imminently. More: \u201cOrtberg also told employees that he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump recently and that the two discussed the impact of potential tariffs on Boeing, one of the country\u2019s biggest exporters. The Boeing chief warned employees that any trade war with China would weigh on the company, given that Boeing sells jets to Chinese airlines while the U.S. doesn\u2019t import any aircraft from the country.\u201d And: \u201c\u2018,\u2019 he said. \u2018Let\u2019s focus on the task at hand.’\u201d \u2022 The beatings will continue until morale improves. Also, doesn\u2019t one <em>stand around<\/em> a water cooler, not \u201csit at\u201d one? Anyhow, if I were a Boeing machinist, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d \u201cbitch\u201d about \u201cpeople.\u201d I might share my considered views about Boeing management and union management combining their efforts to eliminate defined benefit pensions forever.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing CEO Calls on Employees to Take Ownership of Turnaround\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/hgzRg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bloomberg<\/a>]. \u201cOrtberg bluntly told employees during a companywide address on Wednesday that they control the company\u2019s destiny, according to people familiar with the matter. The CEO, who took the helm a little more than 100 days ago, said it\u2019s up to all workers to turn the company around, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren\u2019t authorized to speak publicly. The comments mark Ortberg\u2019s most impassioned plea yet to rally workers behind his turnaround plan since he took over as CEO in August.\u201d \u2022 \u201cTake ownership\u201d seems to be a fanciful invention by a Bloomberg editor, since Ortberg is not quoted to that effect in the text. Anyhow, if workers \u201ctaking ownership\u201d of Boeing was the goal, they would at least have a seat on the Board, no?<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing\u2019s CEO tells staff to stop \u2018bitching by the water cooler\u2019 and focus on beating Airbus\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2024\/11\/21\/boeing-ceo-kelly-ortberg-stop-bitching-focus-on-beating-airbus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cIn an all-hands meeting this week, Ortberg gave his staff some brutal feedback, telling them to cut back on complaining and focus on beating competitor Airbus. \u2018Don\u2019t sit at the water cooler and bitch about people,\u2019 Ortberg told his colleagues, according to a meeting recording obtained by the Wall Street Journal. \u2018Let\u2019s focus on the task at hand.\u2019 \u2018We spend more time arguing amongst ourselves than thinking about how we\u2019re going to beat Airbus. Everybody is tired of the drumbeat of what\u2019s wrong with Boeing. ,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 It may be this was all well-received on the shop floor; presumably there will be reporting to come on that (oddly, as of this writing, there\u2019s nothing from Dominic Gates at the Seattle Times on this story). But to me\u2026 Ortberg? A snowflake? Suck it up, buttercup!<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cFAA administrator plans to meet with Boeing CEO in Seattle\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/faa-administrator-plans-meet-with-boeing-ceo-seattle-2024-11-21\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said on Thursday he plans to soon visit Boeing\u2019s (BA.N), opens new tab Seattle offices to meet with CEO Kelly Ortberg as the planemaker resumes 737 MAX production. Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would boost its oversight of Boeing as the planemaker prepares to resume production of its 737 MAX jets following a 53-day strike that ended two weeks ago. \u2018We are working closely with Boeing to make sure the safety management system is driving their actions during\u2019 the restart of production, Whitaker said, who spoke to Ortberg earlier this month on the production plan. Boeing did not immediately comment. The FAA noted that it maintained its enhanced on-site presence at Boeing factories throughout the strike \u2018and will further strengthen and target our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan.’\u201d \u2022 While Boeing\u2019s cash flow depends on ramping up production\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 58 Greed (previous close: 50 Neutral) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 58 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Nov 21 at 1:21:24 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe color purple is unlike all others, in a physical sense\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zmescience.com\/feature-post\/natural-sciences\/physics-articles\/matter-and-energy\/color-purple-non-spectral-feature\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ZME Science<\/a>]. \u201cBut there is one color we can see that isn\u2019t quite like the rest. This color, purple, is known as a non-spectral color. Unlike all its peers it doesn\u2019t correspond to a single type of electromagnetic radiation, and must always be born out of a mix of two others\u2026 If you look at orange, which is a combination of yellow and red, you can see that its wavelength is roughly the average of those of its constituent colors. It works with pretty much every color combination, such as blue-yellow (for green) or red-green (for more orange). Now, the real kicker with purple, which we know we can get by mixing in red with blue, is that by averaging the wavelengths of its two parent colors, you\u2019d get something in the green-yellow transition area. Which is a decidedly not-purple color. That\u2019s all nice and good, but why are we able to perceive purple, then? Well, the short of it is \u201cbecause brain\u201d. Although purple isn\u2019t a spectral color in the makeup of light, it is a color that can exist naturally and in the visible spectrum, so our brains evolved the ability to perceive it; that\u2019s the \u2018why\u2019.\u201d \u2022 Other non-spectral colors? Black, white, grey. And metallic colors!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Globalization and typography:<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/typo.social\/@typographica\/113510646485127309\/embed\" class=\"mastodon-embed\" style=\"max-width: 100%; border: 0\" width=\"400\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cArchaeologists discover 12,000-year-old pebbles that could provide new insights about the wheel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/archaeologists-discover-12000-year-old-pebbles-could-provide-new-insights-about-wheel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201c12,000-year-old perforated stones found over years of excavations in Israel may \u201crepresent early evidence for the adoption of spinning with the \u2018spindle and whorl\u2019 device,\u201d according to newly published research in PLOS ONE\u2026. \u2018In a cumulative evolutionary trend, they manifest early phases of the development of rotational technologies by laying the mechanical principle of the wheel and axle,\u2019 the researcher wrote in their study. \u201cAll in all, it reflects on the technological innovations that played an important part in the Neolithization processes of the Southern Levant.’\u201d \u2022 It would indeed be interesting if the chariot wheel began as the spindle\u2026. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From converger:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-282595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/south_african-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Converger writes: \u201cThis afternoon in the South African section of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kind readers, the stock of plant pictures is still not quite there\u2026 .<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"donate\"\/><strong>Readers<\/strong>: Water Cooler is a standalone entity <em>not<\/em> covered by the annual NC fundraiser. Material here is Lambert\u2019s, and does not express the views of the Naked Capitalism site. If you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldn\u2019t see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! <em>Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know I\u2019m on the right track with coverage<\/em>. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:<\/p>\n<p>Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-226891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"606\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution.png 606w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/contribution-300x190.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .entry-content --><\/p>\n<footer class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\tThis entry was posted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/guest-post\" rel=\"category tag\">Guest Post<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024-2.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-11-21T14:00:11-05:00\">November 21, 2024<\/time><\/a><span class=\"by-author\"> by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/author\/lambert-strether\" title=\"View all posts by Lambert Strether\" rel=\"author\">Lambert Strether<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info\" wp_automatic_readability=\"20.197005056398\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-avatar --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-description\" wp_automatic_readability=\"35.467911318553\">\n<h2>About Lambert Strether<\/h2>\n<p>Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (\u201cBecause markets\u201d). I don\u2019t much care about the \u201cism\u201d that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don\u2019t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. <br \/>\n <br \/>\nTo me, the key issue \u2014 and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me \u2014 is the tens of thousands of excess \u201cdeaths from despair,\u201d as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics \u2014 even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton\u2019s wars created \u2014 bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow \u2014 currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press \u2014 a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let\u2019s call such voices \u201cthe left.\u201d Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn\u2019t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I\u2019ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- .author-link\t-->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-description -->\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!-- .author-info --><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta --><br \/>\n\t<!-- #post --><\/p>\n<nav class=\"nav-single\">\n<h3 class=\"assistive-text\">Post navigation<\/h3>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-previous list-posts-older\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/international-criminal-court-issues-arrest-warrants-for-israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-and-former-minister-of-defense-yoav-gallant.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/11\/200pm-water-cooler-11-20-2024-2.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, Richard W. 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