\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, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. \u201cThis bird\u2019s song includes mimicry of Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, and possibly Tree Swallow (final phrase at 0:44).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWisdom.\u201d What a lovely name (like \u201cSophia,\u201d which I wonder why the Fish and Wildlife Service didn\u2019t choose):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"6.1352941176471\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"14.9\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Like other Laysan albatross, or m\u014dl\u012b in Hawaiian, Wisdom returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate and if able, lay one egg. <\/p>\n<p>For decades she did this with the same partner, Akeakamai, but that bird has not been seen for several years. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TnWozHdKUH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/TnWozHdKUH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USFWSPacific\/status\/1863990727996563904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#thompson\"> UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead<\/a> in Midtown Manhattan .<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dnc\">DNC race begins <\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#uaw\">UAW cuts off pay<\/a> from striking staffers.<\/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=\"36.779061371841\">\n<p>\u201cTrump Mulls Replacing Pete Hegseth With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/2t9BZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump is considering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement for Pete Hegseth, his pick to run the Pentagon, according to people familiar with the discussions, amid Republican senators\u2019 concerns over mounting allegations about the former Fox News host\u2019s personal life. Picking DeSantis, a 2024 GOP primary rival for the presidency, would amount to a stunning turn for Trump. But he would also find in the governor a well-known conservative with a service record who shares Trump\u2019s\u2014and Hegseth\u2019s\u2014view on culling what they see as \u2018woke\u2019 policies in the military. Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth may not survive further scrutiny, according to people close to the president-elect\u2019s team, which considers the next 48 hours to be crucial to his fate. DeSantis, who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, was on an earlier list of potential defense secretary candidates that transition officials presented to the president.\u201d \u2022\u00a0If conservative Republicans think fixing wokeness will fix the Pentagon, they\u2019re out of their minds.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cKash Patel Is Trump\u2019s Scariest Cabinet Appointment Yet\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/kash-patel-trump-cabinet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Nation<\/a>]. \u201cGina Haspell, Trump\u2019s CIA director, likewise threatened to resign rather than accept Patel as her No. 2.\u201d That \u201cBloody Gina\u201d objects seems to me to be a strong argument on Patel\u2019s favor. More: \u201cPatel has also duly minted his battles over control of the deep state into a book, Government Gangsters, which derides the agency he\u2019s now charged with administering as \u2018one of the most cunning and powerful arms of the Deep State,\u2019 where rampant corruption has become \u2018an existential threat to our republican form of government.\u2019 He has vowed, should he be entrusted with overseeing the agency\u2019s operations, to shut down its Hoover Building headquarters in Washington on day one, and convert it into \u2018a museum of the deep state.\u2019\u2026. There are of course, a battery of sound reasons to attack the investigative overreaches of the FBI, which has long empowered right-wing covert surveillance agendas and has never in its history had a non-Republican director.\u201d \u2022 Sure, but the Democrats never acted on all those \u201csound reasons,\u201d and so now we have Patel. Sheesh. <\/p>\n<p>Blurting it out:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.3513513513514\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9.2162162162162\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEWS <\/p>\n<p>President-elect Trump says that Peter Navarro will serve as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p>Navarro served four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hdRLebVkcr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/hdRLebVkcr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@yashar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yashar\/status\/1864341102700188068\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026 the Deep State, \u2026\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2014\/12\/deep-state-shallow-focus.html\">see from 2014 here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024 Post Mortem<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"55.519313304721\">\n<p>\u201cA Requiem For Postmortems\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/3quarksdaily.com\/3quarksdaily\/2024\/12\/a-requiem-for-postmortems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">3 Quarks Daily<\/a>]. \u201cDonald Trump, regardless of how you feel about him, is an enormous political talent\u2014in a class with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. He has his own kind of eloquence\u2014a mesmeric mass of malaprops, fabrications, threats, jokes, insults, syntaxial flights of lunacy\u2014that all work for him. Trump has been accused of blowing the dog whistle. It\u2019s true in the traditional sense of the phrase, but Trump adds a dimension like no other politician. His fans, his public, are able to hear a melody where the rest of us hear only noise. Kamala Harris just couldn\u2019t play at his level. I\u2019m not in the category of those who say she was a hopelessly bad candidate. She wasn\u2019t. But she was a lot closer to John Kerry than Barack Obama. Presidential power remains the power to persuade, and Harris had trouble closing the sale. The argument that she would have improved if she\u2019d had more time, or more of a challenge in getting the nomination has some superficial appeal, but that\u2019s all it is. Let\u2019s not forget, this is the same Kamala Harris who stalled early in 2020, and, while she got better, it was by degrees, not leaps and bounds. It\u2019s very hard for even the best pitching coach to turn a soft-toss specialist into a strike-out machine. Harris didn\u2019t have the arm for it, and she was facing someone who did.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe End of Democratic Delusions\u201d [George Packer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/magazine\/archive\/2025\/01\/trump-reelection-voter-demographic-change\/680752\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Atlantic<\/a>]. The conclusion: \u201cA few weeks before the election, Representative Chris Deluzio, a first-term Democrat, was campaigning door-to-door in a closely divided district in western Pennsylvania. He\u2019s a Navy veteran, a moderate on cultural issues, and a homegrown economic populist\u2014critical of corporations, deep-pocketed donors, and the ideology that privileges capital over human beings and communities. At one house he spoke with a middle-aged white policeman named Mike, who had a Trump sign in his front yard. Without budging on his choice for president, Mike ended up voting for Deluzio. On Election Night, in a state carried by Trump, Deluzio outperformed Harris in his district, especially in the reddest areas, and won comfortably. What does this prove? Only that \u201d \u2022 It has occurred to me that outlawing all digital political advertising (Internet <em>and<\/em> TV) would have two salutary effects: It would force candidates (and their proxies) to speak directly to voters, Lincoln-Douglas style; and it would give paper-based, local media a guaranteed market. (I\u2019d also outlaw political polling, as IIRC some European countries do, for some period before the election; say two months. Combine all this with handmarked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, and we might have a healthier electoral system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Republican Funhouse<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.910547396529\">\n<p>\u201c\u2018Have the stomach\u2019: Republican claims Dems need to back Social Security and Medicare cuts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawstory.com\/trump-social-security-cuts-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Raw Story<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018We\u2019re gonna have to have some hard decisions,\u2019 claimed [Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA)] during his Fox appearance Tuesday. \u2018We\u2019re gonna have to bring in the Democrats to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare.’\u201d \u2022 Ah, \u201chard decisions.\u201d Hard for whom? More:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.2777777777778\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"6.8333333333333\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It took these alleged men of the people a week or two to zero in on your Social Security check. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XgmRJu40to\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/XgmRJu40to<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ryangrim\/status\/1864097498073055473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I can see the chin-stroking Op-Eds in The New York Times already. Surely, <em>this<\/em> time, we can achieve the Grand Bargain? What an exciting way for Democrats to show they\u2019re really serious!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"68.993227990971\">\n<p><a name=\"dnc\"\/>\u201cWhy Democrats should pick \u2014 or pass over \u2014 potential contenders for DNC chair\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/03\/dnc-chair-potential-contenders-00191945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cBut the race for their leader, scheduled for Feb. 1, and decided by 448 committee members, remains wide open.\u201d \u2022 Ken Martin, Martin O\u2019Malley, Ben Wikler, James Skoufis, Michael Blake, and [drumroll] Rahm Emmanuel (see below). DNC = Democratic National Committee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC hopes to highlight success ahead of post-election meeting\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/dnc-hopes-highlight-success-ahead-post-election-meeting\/story?id=116390240\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ABC<\/a>]. \u201cDNC Chair Jaime Harrison wrote in a grassroots memo obtained first by ABC News that while Democrats fell short in the presidential race, beefy and historic investments in down-ballot contests offer a roadmap to success. The party was able to salvage four Senate races in states President-elect Donald Trump won and gain House seats despite headwinds at the top of the ticket\u2026. \u2018In 2024, the DNC made strategic campaign grants in every state party for the first time in history, and delivered record-breaking investments directly to coordinated campaigns in every state \u2014 totaling over $264 million,\u201d he added. \u201cThese investments yielded results and underscore the importance of continued state party investment\u2026’\u201d \u2022 Meanwhile:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.1868327402135\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.202846975089\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joe Biden is a good & decent man. He is a public servant who has always strived and try to do what he believes is best for all. <\/p>\n<p>Joe Biden is also an amazing father. <\/p>\n<p>Today, he did what was best\u2026 what was right\u2026 what was just.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/harrisonjaime\/status\/1863405120530112925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Dear Hunter!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC chair frontrunner offers \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 advice to Democrats after crushing loss to Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/dnc-chair-front-runner-offers-uncomfortable-advice-democrats-crushing-loss-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair who has led the association of state Democratic Party chairs, on Tuesday unveiled a 10-point memo titled \u2018A New DNC Framework.\u2019 Martin\u2019s memo calls on Democrats to \u201cshow up in nontraditional and uncomfortable media spaces on a regular basis, increase outreach to local messengers and trusted validators, and create our own platforms for authentic engagement.\u201d And: \u201cMartin appears to be the early frontrunner in the race, and his campaign says he has the backing of at least 100 DNC voting members, which is nearly half of what a candidate needs to secure the chair. Also running and considered competitive is Ben Wikler, who\u2019s chaired the state Democratic Party in battleground Wisconsin for five years and is well known by the voting members.\u201d And finally: \u201cA party insider who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely told Fox News that \u2018the DNC insiders\/establishment have significant influence over this membership, so the race will be very close.’\u201d \u2022 You don\u2019t say!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven Centrists Agree: Ben Wikler for DNC Chair\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2024\/12\/04\/jon-cowan-third-way-ben-wikler-dnc-endorsement-00192421\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cThe president of Third Way endorses a MoveOn alum to lead the Democratic Party.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And speaking of the DNC = Democrat National Convention:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.8738532110092\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.2110091743119\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I was a Sanders delegate at that convention, and it was enough for me to never want to have anything to do with the Democrat party ever again <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DEsMznznkF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/DEsMznznkF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mary Anne Cummings (@razorgrrl) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/razorgrrl\/status\/1863849604304761017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, on Rahm Emanuel\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.3709677419355\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.1129032258065\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This clip is genuinely shocking. It\u2019s like George W. Bush angrily demanding accountability for the Iraq War. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uoZ2a3YiHI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/uoZ2a3YiHI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewstoller\/status\/1864289522868945364\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7864077669903\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.9611650485437\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ezra and the New York Times are now touting Rahm Emanuel as an anti-corruption crusader, because literally nothing matters at all. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AYYeNfw6eE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/AYYeNfw6eE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Sirota (@davidsirota) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidsirota\/status\/1864064215071215639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Again?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/SuKm2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. \u201cThere\u2019s a buzz around Rahm Emanuel \u2014 the former Bill Clinton adviser, former Illinois congressman, former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, former mayor of Chicago \u2014 possibly becoming the next head of the Democratic National Committee. The progressive left despises his pragmatism and liberal centrism\u2026. But he also has a gift for constructing winning coalitions with difficult, unexpected partners.\u201d And: \u201c\u2018I think Democrats prefer losing and being morally right to winning,\u2019 he says. \u2018Me, I\u2019m not into moral victory speeches. I\u2019m into winning.’\u201d \u2022 What exactly about Biden\u2019s Democrat Party is \u201cmorally right\u201d? The genocide? (Anti-trust, for sure <em>but Kamala didn\u2019t run on that<\/em>, and Emanuel doesn\u2019t mention it. It\u2019s painfully clear that Emanuel as nothing new to say. But he can always punch left!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRahm Emanuel is \u2018not interested\u2019 in DNC chair but is far from done with politics\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/politics\/2024\/12\/03\/rahm-emanuel-political-future-governor-senator-or-mayor-japan-ambassador\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Chicago Sun-Times<\/a>]. \u201cWith his time as America\u2019s ambassador to Japan ending, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday he has no interest in leading a Democratic comeback as his party\u2019s national chairman, but still loves public service and isn\u2019t done with it. \u2018I\u2019m not interested in the party. I\u2019m interested in what the party can do for people \u2026 My enjoyment [is] in what I\u2019ve done in public service,\u2019 Emanuel told the Sun-Times.\u201d \u2022 Nobody mentions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2015\/feb\/24\/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Homan Square<\/a> when interviewing Rahm, oddly.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I swore I\u2019d give up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/07\/kamalas-campaign-blasts-off-with-an-explosion-of-snark.html\">snark<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.6923076923077\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.0769230769231\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yeah- new name?<\/p>\n<p>THE<br \/>UnD<br \/>\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc<\/p>\n<p>(Pronounced undie\u2014 yes, the old torn pair that should be thrown away)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Farrukh Shamsi (@farrukh_shamsi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/farrukh_shamsi\/status\/1864039239651889488\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u2026 but \u201cUnD\u201d isn\u2019t that bad\u2026.. <\/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 wp_automatic_readability=\"1.9553903345725\"><transmission: h5n1=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.910780669145\">\n<p>\u201cInfluenza A(H5N1) shedding in air corresponds to transmissibility in mammals\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39623068\/#:~:text=Influenza%20A(H5N1)%20shedding%20in%20air%20corresponds%20to%20transmissibility%20in%20mammals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Nature<\/a>]. \u201cAn increase in spillover events of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses to mammals suggests selection of viruses that transmit well in mammals.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/transmission:><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Even though the Covid numbers seem low, please remember that the data is not nearly as good as it once was, that it lags, and that the downside risks of catching Covid are considerable. For those who have developed their own personal protocols, I wouldn\u2019t relax them. Maybe next year.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.882352941176\">\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 25<\/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\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x185.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-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6521739130435\">\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 23<\/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 23<\/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-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2-300x214.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=\"3.9102564102564\">\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 December 3:<\/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 28:<\/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\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1-300x190.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-hospitalization-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3-300x258.png 300w\" 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=\"2.5915492957746\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> December 2:<\/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 23:<\/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\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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=\"3.6190476190476\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 11:<\/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> November 4:<\/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\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-300x184.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-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3-300x187.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\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"192.43433520729\">\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) Leveled out.<\/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) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.<\/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>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States ADP Employment Change\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/adp-employment-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cPrivate businesses in the US added 146K workers to their payrolls in November 2024, the least in three months, following a downwardly revised 184K rise in October, and slightly below forecasts of 150K.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Factory Orders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/factory-orders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cNew orders for manufactured goods in the US increased by 0.2% from the previous month to $586.7 billion in October of 2024, in line with market expectations, after two consecutive monthly decreases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States ISM Services PMI\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/non-manufacturing-pmi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe ISM Services PMI in the US declined to 52.1 in November 2024 from 56 in October and well below forecasts of 55.5. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in the services sector in three months\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The Bezzle: \u201cGodot Isn\u2019t Making it\u201d [Ed Zitron, W<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wheresyoured.at\/godot-isnt-making-it\/?ref=ed-zitrons-wheres-your-ed-at-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here\u2019s Your Ed At?<\/a>]. Grab a cup of coffee, but make sure you have a place to set it down becuase you\u2019ll be laughing so hard. From the peroration: \u201cOnce the AI bubble pops, there are no other hyper-growth markets left, which will in turn lead to a bloodbath in big tech stocks as they realize that they\u2019re out of big ideas to convince the street that they\u2019re going to grow forever. There are some that will boast about \u2018being right\u2019 here, and yes, there is some satisfaction in being so. Nevertheless, knowing that the result of this bubble bursting will be massive layoffs, a dearth in venture capital funding, and a much more fragile tech ecosystem. Generative AI is the perfect monster of the Rot Economy \u2014 a technology that lacks any real purpose sold as if it could do literally anything, one without a real business model or killer app, proliferated because big tech no longer innovates, but rather clones and monopolizes. Yes, this much money can be this stupid\u2026.\u201d \u2022 Hopefully some shorts make money on this thing. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 66 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 64 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 2 at 1:53:27 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not sure about this one. Cubism is about cubes, or I suppose polygons. I suppose the occasional curve (as of a guitar or the edge of a table) fits into the paradigm, but circles? Lots of them?<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.625\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"5.2\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On Brooklyn Bridge by Albert Gleizes <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R179yBYRJg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/R179yBYRJg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Guggenheim Art Bot (@guggenheimbot) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/guggenheimbot\/status\/1864329596792963358\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Then again:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.1228813559322\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5932203389831\">\n<p lang=\"ro\" dir=\"ltr\">Colonial Cubism <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4EMTEzqJMn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/4EMTEzqJMn<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2cdQw8stgO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/2cdQw8stgO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stuart Davis (@StuartDavisArt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/StuartDavisArt\/status\/1863919133865250853\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>So what do I know?<\/p>\n<p><strong>The 420<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow weed won over America\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/the-highlight\/379637\/marijuana-daily-drug-americans-alcohol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">VOX<\/a>]. \u201cIn the last few decades, marijuana\u2019s had a major glow-up. In 1992, less than 1 million people were using it daily or nearly every day \u2014 a low point, according to an analysis of data from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which began surveying Americans in the 1970s. Ten times as many people, meanwhile, reported drinking alcohol daily or almost daily. In the 1990s, weed was illegal nationally and in every state. But marijuana\u2019s since had a major rebrand: Three decades later, it\u2019s legal for recreational adult use in nearly half of the 50 states. Now, it\u2019s even challenging alcohol for its status as America\u2019s favorite daily intoxicant. In 2022, for the first time, more Americans were using marijuana daily, or near daily, than consuming alcohol at the same rate, according to a study by Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The number of daily or near daily marijuana users has grown from less than 1 million in 1992 to 17.7 million in 2022; in terms of per capita rate, that\u2019s a 15-fold increase.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"thompson\"\/>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead in Midtown Manhattan, masked gunman at large\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/man-shot-chest-midtown-manhattan-masked-gunman-large\/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashhudson.com\/abcnews\/library\/media\/479027342&id=116446382\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ABC<\/a>]. Ski mask. \u201cBrian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning before he was set to attend an investor conference, according to police. The masked gunman, who remains on the loose, appeared to be lying in wait and shot Thompson several times from behind, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The shooting, which was reported around 6:40 a.m., appeared to be a \u2018brazen, targeted attack\u2019 that was \u2018premeditated,\u2019 Tisch stressed. But the motive remains unknown, police said.\u201d And: \u201cThe shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson arrived, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at the news conference.\u201d After the shooting: \u201cThe suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, Kenny said. He then fled on an e-bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said. The bikes are equipped with GPS and police are following up, Kenny said.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9549689440994\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.546583850932\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was just 50 years old at the time of his murder, which is a lot more tragic when you know that his life expectancy as a member of the Top 1% was 88, or 15 years longer than the life expectancy of the average American male <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VU5Xoi7cqD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/VU5Xoi7cqD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1864332788087840907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed outside Manhattan Hilton hotel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14157375\/United-Health-Brian-Thompson-Hilton-Manhattan-shot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u201cWitnesses said the suspected gunman was seen waiting outside the hotel before the shooting, and knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from before shooting him at point-blank range.\u201d And: \u201cUnited is the biggest health insurer by market share in America. The company has been the subject of frequent protests by activists for allegedly systematically denying care for patients. One such protest earlier this year led to the arrests of 11 people outside the United Healthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The company made headlines in February after it was subjected to a cyber-attack which cost $872 million.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.2122302158273\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.0791366906475\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">CLAIM DENIED: Anything over .22 caliber does not qualify as a “preexisting condition.”<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Go\/F.\/Yourself (@BestTexanYeah) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BestTexanYeah\/status\/1864313848838115583\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7272727272727\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.1818181818182\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Due to lack of preauthorization and since the ambulance ride didn’t result in admission Brian Thompson’s family faces a high bill<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Watson Ladd (@WatsonLadd) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WatsonLadd\/status\/1864337512896057425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealth uses AI model with 90% error rate to deny care, lawsuit alleges\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/health\/2023\/11\/ai-with-90-error-rate-forces-elderly-out-of-rehab-nursing-homes-suit-claims\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ars Technica<\/a>]. From 2023. \u201cUnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the US, is allegedly using a deeply flawed AI algorithm to override doctors\u2019 judgments and wrongfully deny critical health coverage to elderly patients. This has resulted in patients being kicked out of rehabilitation programs and care facilities far too early, forcing them to drain their life savings to obtain needed care that should be covered under their government-funded Medicare Advantage Plan. That\u2019s all according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.arstechnica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/class-action-v-unitedhealth-and-navihealth-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> filed this week in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit is brought by the estates of two deceased people who were denied health coverage by UnitedHealth. The suit also seeks class-action status for similarly situated people, of which there may be tens of thousands across the country. The lawsuit lands alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2023\/11\/14\/unitedhealth-algorithm-medicare-advantage-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">an investigation by Stat News<\/a> that largely backs the lawsuit\u2019s claims. The investigation\u2019s findings stem from internal documents and communications the outlet obtained, as well as interviews with former employees of NaviHealth, the UnitedHealth subsidiary that developed the AI algorithm called nH Predict.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnthem Insurance issues new edict to cap anesthesia coverage at a time limit\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox61.com\/article\/news\/local\/anthem-insurance-issues-edict-to-cap-anesthesia-coverage-at-a-time-limit\/520-9d4aecee-1bf6-4eab-94c4-cfbd5fcb1141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cOn Nov. 14, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put out a letter that sounded the alarm that Anthem insurance suddenly decided to cap its coverage of anesthesia at an arbitrary time limit. It\u2019s a change that doctors say isn\u2019t based on good medicine\u2026. Doctors won\u2019t be waking patients up to ask them permission to continue medically necessary anesthesia, but that means when they do wake up, they may be whacked with an unexpected out-of-pocket expense. \u2018There are circumstances where they won\u2019t pay for any of the anesthesia even up to the point of where they say it\u2019s justified. It\u2019s just absurd,\u2019 said [Connecticut Anesthesiologist Dr. Kenneth Stone]. \u2026 Doctors cite real-world examples of surgeries taking longer than expected for reasons such as blood loss, difficult anatomy, a complication or comorbidity. Doctors say medicine isn\u2019t one size fits all.\u201d \u2022 Why not just put an automatic cutoff on the gas pumps?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I should have thought to make this joke myself, but so it goes:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3177842565598\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.294460641399\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump has suggested that Canada become the 51st state in our union.<\/p>\n<p>Does that mean that we can adopt the Canadian health care system and guarantee health care to all, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and spend 50% less per capita on health care?<\/p>\n<p>I’m all for it. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nwkk7lykXd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/Nwkk7lykXd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BernieSanders\/status\/1864055131525742733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"uaw\"\/>\u201cUAW Staff Strike Ignored as Labor Influencers Fear Losing UAW\u2019s Social Media Reach\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/paydayreport.com\/uaw-staff-strike-ignored-as-labor-influencers-fear-losing-uaws-social-media-reach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Payday Report<\/a>]. \u201cYesterday, UAW staffers went on strike in the northeast against their international union. Workers say that the union is relying heavily on temporary employees, a practice they have criticized at the Big Three, and attempting to exclude them from the staff union. Some UAW organizers are kept on temporary status for up to three years. \u2026 Today, the UAW announced that they were cutting off pay in a hardball move designed to intimidate staffers.\u201d Solidarity forever! More: \u201cSo, why would so many labor journalists ignore this story of hypocrisy by UAW President Shawn Fain? They need the social media engine of the UAW in order to make their work go viral.\u201d \u2022 This is a must-read. It shows where Payday Reports donation model really shines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy Smartphone Was Ruining My Life. So I Quit.\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/my-smartphone-was-ruining-my-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Free Press<\/a>]. \u201cStill, I learned that my followers\u2019 love was contingent on high engagement levels, and because the algorithm was constantly changing, I had to change with it. I was constantly adapting my visual and verbal style to keep up with trends. One consistently effective strategy was being vulnerable. Regardless of what I drew, regardless of how good it was, I would get more likes and comments on my art when I paired it with an emotional disclosure, ideally of the tragic variety. In 2018, I shared a tiny drawing of a shark: \u2018Crying nonstop & blowing my nose on my shirt,\u2019 the caption read. \u2018Thank you all for being my internet family, I truly need that in my life.\u2019 I sold more when I wrote things like this, presumably because my followers took pity on me and wanted to help. I leaned into this effect, mining my life for pain. By the beginning of 2019, I had passed the 100,000-follower mark. I still wasn\u2019t earning above minimum wage, but I was selling enough prints through my website to call myself an artist. More accurately, though, I was an influencer.\u201d \u2022 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the phone that\u2019s the problem.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am not feeling wired today.<\/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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-3-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From KoG:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"381\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3-300x191.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>K0G writes: \u201cCaught this a bit ago on one of the Finger Lakes.\u201d<\/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\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-4-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-04T14:00:14-05:00\">December 4, 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\/12\/geoengineering-could-alter-global-climate-should-it.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> Geoengineering Could Alter Global Climate. Should It?<\/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. 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Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. \u201cThis bird\u2019s song<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88021,"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-88020","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\/88020","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=88020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88020"}],"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, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. \u201cThis bird\u2019s song includes mimicry of Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, and possibly Tree Swallow (final phrase at 0:44).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWisdom.\u201d What a lovely name (like \u201cSophia,\u201d which I wonder why the Fish and Wildlife Service didn\u2019t choose):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"6.1352941176471\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"14.9\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Like other Laysan albatross, or m\u014dl\u012b in Hawaiian, Wisdom returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate and if able, lay one egg. <\/p>\n<p>For decades she did this with the same partner, Akeakamai, but that bird has not been seen for several years. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TnWozHdKUH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/TnWozHdKUH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USFWSPacific\/status\/1863990727996563904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#thompson\"> UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead<\/a> in Midtown Manhattan .<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dnc\">DNC race begins <\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#uaw\">UAW cuts off pay<\/a> from striking staffers.<\/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=\"36.779061371841\">\n<p>\u201cTrump Mulls Replacing Pete Hegseth With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/2t9BZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump is considering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement for Pete Hegseth, his pick to run the Pentagon, according to people familiar with the discussions, amid Republican senators\u2019 concerns over mounting allegations about the former Fox News host\u2019s personal life. Picking DeSantis, a 2024 GOP primary rival for the presidency, would amount to a stunning turn for Trump. But he would also find in the governor a well-known conservative with a service record who shares Trump\u2019s\u2014and Hegseth\u2019s\u2014view on culling what they see as \u2018woke\u2019 policies in the military. Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth may not survive further scrutiny, according to people close to the president-elect\u2019s team, which considers the next 48 hours to be crucial to his fate. DeSantis, who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, was on an earlier list of potential defense secretary candidates that transition officials presented to the president.\u201d \u2022\u00a0If conservative Republicans think fixing wokeness will fix the Pentagon, they\u2019re out of their minds.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cKash Patel Is Trump\u2019s Scariest Cabinet Appointment Yet\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/kash-patel-trump-cabinet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Nation<\/a>]. \u201cGina Haspell, Trump\u2019s CIA director, likewise threatened to resign rather than accept Patel as her No. 2.\u201d That \u201cBloody Gina\u201d objects seems to me to be a strong argument on Patel\u2019s favor. More: \u201cPatel has also duly minted his battles over control of the deep state into a book, Government Gangsters, which derides the agency he\u2019s now charged with administering as \u2018one of the most cunning and powerful arms of the Deep State,\u2019 where rampant corruption has become \u2018an existential threat to our republican form of government.\u2019 He has vowed, should he be entrusted with overseeing the agency\u2019s operations, to shut down its Hoover Building headquarters in Washington on day one, and convert it into \u2018a museum of the deep state.\u2019\u2026. There are of course, a battery of sound reasons to attack the investigative overreaches of the FBI, which has long empowered right-wing covert surveillance agendas and has never in its history had a non-Republican director.\u201d \u2022 Sure, but the Democrats never acted on all those \u201csound reasons,\u201d and so now we have Patel. Sheesh. <\/p>\n<p>Blurting it out:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.3513513513514\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9.2162162162162\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEWS <\/p>\n<p>President-elect Trump says that Peter Navarro will serve as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p>Navarro served four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hdRLebVkcr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/hdRLebVkcr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@yashar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yashar\/status\/1864341102700188068\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026 the Deep State, \u2026\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2014\/12\/deep-state-shallow-focus.html\">see from 2014 here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024 Post Mortem<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"55.519313304721\">\n<p>\u201cA Requiem For Postmortems\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/3quarksdaily.com\/3quarksdaily\/2024\/12\/a-requiem-for-postmortems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">3 Quarks Daily<\/a>]. \u201cDonald Trump, regardless of how you feel about him, is an enormous political talent\u2014in a class with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. He has his own kind of eloquence\u2014a mesmeric mass of malaprops, fabrications, threats, jokes, insults, syntaxial flights of lunacy\u2014that all work for him. Trump has been accused of blowing the dog whistle. It\u2019s true in the traditional sense of the phrase, but Trump adds a dimension like no other politician. His fans, his public, are able to hear a melody where the rest of us hear only noise. Kamala Harris just couldn\u2019t play at his level. I\u2019m not in the category of those who say she was a hopelessly bad candidate. She wasn\u2019t. But she was a lot closer to John Kerry than Barack Obama. Presidential power remains the power to persuade, and Harris had trouble closing the sale. The argument that she would have improved if she\u2019d had more time, or more of a challenge in getting the nomination has some superficial appeal, but that\u2019s all it is. Let\u2019s not forget, this is the same Kamala Harris who stalled early in 2020, and, while she got better, it was by degrees, not leaps and bounds. It\u2019s very hard for even the best pitching coach to turn a soft-toss specialist into a strike-out machine. Harris didn\u2019t have the arm for it, and she was facing someone who did.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe End of Democratic Delusions\u201d [George Packer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/magazine\/archive\/2025\/01\/trump-reelection-voter-demographic-change\/680752\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Atlantic<\/a>]. The conclusion: \u201cA few weeks before the election, Representative Chris Deluzio, a first-term Democrat, was campaigning door-to-door in a closely divided district in western Pennsylvania. He\u2019s a Navy veteran, a moderate on cultural issues, and a homegrown economic populist\u2014critical of corporations, deep-pocketed donors, and the ideology that privileges capital over human beings and communities. At one house he spoke with a middle-aged white policeman named Mike, who had a Trump sign in his front yard. Without budging on his choice for president, Mike ended up voting for Deluzio. On Election Night, in a state carried by Trump, Deluzio outperformed Harris in his district, especially in the reddest areas, and won comfortably. What does this prove? Only that \u201d \u2022 It has occurred to me that outlawing all digital political advertising (Internet <em>and<\/em> TV) would have two salutary effects: It would force candidates (and their proxies) to speak directly to voters, Lincoln-Douglas style; and it would give paper-based, local media a guaranteed market. (I\u2019d also outlaw political polling, as IIRC some European countries do, for some period before the election; say two months. Combine all this with handmarked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, and we might have a healthier electoral system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Republican Funhouse<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.910547396529\">\n<p>\u201c\u2018Have the stomach\u2019: Republican claims Dems need to back Social Security and Medicare cuts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawstory.com\/trump-social-security-cuts-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Raw Story<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018We\u2019re gonna have to have some hard decisions,\u2019 claimed [Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA)] during his Fox appearance Tuesday. \u2018We\u2019re gonna have to bring in the Democrats to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare.’\u201d \u2022 Ah, \u201chard decisions.\u201d Hard for whom? More:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.2777777777778\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"6.8333333333333\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It took these alleged men of the people a week or two to zero in on your Social Security check. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XgmRJu40to\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/XgmRJu40to<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ryangrim\/status\/1864097498073055473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I can see the chin-stroking Op-Eds in The New York Times already. Surely, <em>this<\/em> time, we can achieve the Grand Bargain? What an exciting way for Democrats to show they\u2019re really serious!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"68.993227990971\">\n<p><a name=\"dnc\"\/>\u201cWhy Democrats should pick \u2014 or pass over \u2014 potential contenders for DNC chair\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/03\/dnc-chair-potential-contenders-00191945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cBut the race for their leader, scheduled for Feb. 1, and decided by 448 committee members, remains wide open.\u201d \u2022 Ken Martin, Martin O\u2019Malley, Ben Wikler, James Skoufis, Michael Blake, and [drumroll] Rahm Emmanuel (see below). DNC = Democratic National Committee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC hopes to highlight success ahead of post-election meeting\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/dnc-hopes-highlight-success-ahead-post-election-meeting\/story?id=116390240\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ABC<\/a>]. \u201cDNC Chair Jaime Harrison wrote in a grassroots memo obtained first by ABC News that while Democrats fell short in the presidential race, beefy and historic investments in down-ballot contests offer a roadmap to success. The party was able to salvage four Senate races in states President-elect Donald Trump won and gain House seats despite headwinds at the top of the ticket\u2026. \u2018In 2024, the DNC made strategic campaign grants in every state party for the first time in history, and delivered record-breaking investments directly to coordinated campaigns in every state \u2014 totaling over $264 million,\u201d he added. \u201cThese investments yielded results and underscore the importance of continued state party investment\u2026’\u201d \u2022 Meanwhile:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.1868327402135\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.202846975089\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joe Biden is a good & decent man. He is a public servant who has always strived and try to do what he believes is best for all. <\/p>\n<p>Joe Biden is also an amazing father. <\/p>\n<p>Today, he did what was best\u2026 what was right\u2026 what was just.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/harrisonjaime\/status\/1863405120530112925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Dear Hunter!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC chair frontrunner offers \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 advice to Democrats after crushing loss to Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/dnc-chair-front-runner-offers-uncomfortable-advice-democrats-crushing-loss-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair who has led the association of state Democratic Party chairs, on Tuesday unveiled a 10-point memo titled \u2018A New DNC Framework.\u2019 Martin\u2019s memo calls on Democrats to \u201cshow up in nontraditional and uncomfortable media spaces on a regular basis, increase outreach to local messengers and trusted validators, and create our own platforms for authentic engagement.\u201d And: \u201cMartin appears to be the early frontrunner in the race, and his campaign says he has the backing of at least 100 DNC voting members, which is nearly half of what a candidate needs to secure the chair. Also running and considered competitive is Ben Wikler, who\u2019s chaired the state Democratic Party in battleground Wisconsin for five years and is well known by the voting members.\u201d And finally: \u201cA party insider who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely told Fox News that \u2018the DNC insiders\/establishment have significant influence over this membership, so the race will be very close.’\u201d \u2022 You don\u2019t say!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven Centrists Agree: Ben Wikler for DNC Chair\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2024\/12\/04\/jon-cowan-third-way-ben-wikler-dnc-endorsement-00192421\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cThe president of Third Way endorses a MoveOn alum to lead the Democratic Party.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And speaking of the DNC = Democrat National Convention:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.8738532110092\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.2110091743119\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I was a Sanders delegate at that convention, and it was enough for me to never want to have anything to do with the Democrat party ever again <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DEsMznznkF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/DEsMznznkF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mary Anne Cummings (@razorgrrl) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/razorgrrl\/status\/1863849604304761017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, on Rahm Emanuel\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.3709677419355\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.1129032258065\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This clip is genuinely shocking. It\u2019s like George W. Bush angrily demanding accountability for the Iraq War. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uoZ2a3YiHI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/uoZ2a3YiHI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewstoller\/status\/1864289522868945364\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7864077669903\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.9611650485437\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ezra and the New York Times are now touting Rahm Emanuel as an anti-corruption crusader, because literally nothing matters at all. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AYYeNfw6eE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/AYYeNfw6eE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Sirota (@davidsirota) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidsirota\/status\/1864064215071215639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Again?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/SuKm2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. \u201cThere\u2019s a buzz around Rahm Emanuel \u2014 the former Bill Clinton adviser, former Illinois congressman, former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, former mayor of Chicago \u2014 possibly becoming the next head of the Democratic National Committee. The progressive left despises his pragmatism and liberal centrism\u2026. But he also has a gift for constructing winning coalitions with difficult, unexpected partners.\u201d And: \u201c\u2018I think Democrats prefer losing and being morally right to winning,\u2019 he says. \u2018Me, I\u2019m not into moral victory speeches. I\u2019m into winning.’\u201d \u2022 What exactly about Biden\u2019s Democrat Party is \u201cmorally right\u201d? The genocide? (Anti-trust, for sure <em>but Kamala didn\u2019t run on that<\/em>, and Emanuel doesn\u2019t mention it. It\u2019s painfully clear that Emanuel as nothing new to say. But he can always punch left!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRahm Emanuel is \u2018not interested\u2019 in DNC chair but is far from done with politics\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/politics\/2024\/12\/03\/rahm-emanuel-political-future-governor-senator-or-mayor-japan-ambassador\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Chicago Sun-Times<\/a>]. \u201cWith his time as America\u2019s ambassador to Japan ending, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday he has no interest in leading a Democratic comeback as his party\u2019s national chairman, but still loves public service and isn\u2019t done with it. \u2018I\u2019m not interested in the party. I\u2019m interested in what the party can do for people \u2026 My enjoyment [is] in what I\u2019ve done in public service,\u2019 Emanuel told the Sun-Times.\u201d \u2022 Nobody mentions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2015\/feb\/24\/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Homan Square<\/a> when interviewing Rahm, oddly.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I swore I\u2019d give up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/07\/kamalas-campaign-blasts-off-with-an-explosion-of-snark.html\">snark<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.6923076923077\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.0769230769231\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yeah- new name?<\/p>\n<p>THE<br \/>UnD<br \/>\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc<\/p>\n<p>(Pronounced undie\u2014 yes, the old torn pair that should be thrown away)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Farrukh Shamsi (@farrukh_shamsi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/farrukh_shamsi\/status\/1864039239651889488\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u2026 but \u201cUnD\u201d isn\u2019t that bad\u2026.. <\/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 wp_automatic_readability=\"1.9553903345725\"><transmission: h5n1=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.910780669145\">\n<p>\u201cInfluenza A(H5N1) shedding in air corresponds to transmissibility in mammals\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39623068\/#:~:text=Influenza%20A(H5N1)%20shedding%20in%20air%20corresponds%20to%20transmissibility%20in%20mammals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Nature<\/a>]. \u201cAn increase in spillover events of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses to mammals suggests selection of viruses that transmit well in mammals.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/transmission:><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Even though the Covid numbers seem low, please remember that the data is not nearly as good as it once was, that it lags, and that the downside risks of catching Covid are considerable. For those who have developed their own personal protocols, I wouldn\u2019t relax them. Maybe next year.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.882352941176\">\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 25<\/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\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x185.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-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6521739130435\">\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 23<\/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 23<\/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-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2-300x214.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=\"3.9102564102564\">\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 December 3:<\/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 28:<\/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\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1-300x190.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-hospitalization-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3-300x258.png 300w\" 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=\"2.5915492957746\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> December 2:<\/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 23:<\/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\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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=\"3.6190476190476\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 11:<\/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> November 4:<\/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\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-300x184.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-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3-300x187.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\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"192.43433520729\">\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) Leveled out.<\/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) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.<\/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>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States ADP Employment Change\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/adp-employment-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cPrivate businesses in the US added 146K workers to their payrolls in November 2024, the least in three months, following a downwardly revised 184K rise in October, and slightly below forecasts of 150K.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Factory Orders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/factory-orders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cNew orders for manufactured goods in the US increased by 0.2% from the previous month to $586.7 billion in October of 2024, in line with market expectations, after two consecutive monthly decreases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States ISM Services PMI\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/non-manufacturing-pmi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe ISM Services PMI in the US declined to 52.1 in November 2024 from 56 in October and well below forecasts of 55.5. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in the services sector in three months\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The Bezzle: \u201cGodot Isn\u2019t Making it\u201d [Ed Zitron, W<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wheresyoured.at\/godot-isnt-making-it\/?ref=ed-zitrons-wheres-your-ed-at-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here\u2019s Your Ed At?<\/a>]. Grab a cup of coffee, but make sure you have a place to set it down becuase you\u2019ll be laughing so hard. From the peroration: \u201cOnce the AI bubble pops, there are no other hyper-growth markets left, which will in turn lead to a bloodbath in big tech stocks as they realize that they\u2019re out of big ideas to convince the street that they\u2019re going to grow forever. There are some that will boast about \u2018being right\u2019 here, and yes, there is some satisfaction in being so. Nevertheless, knowing that the result of this bubble bursting will be massive layoffs, a dearth in venture capital funding, and a much more fragile tech ecosystem. Generative AI is the perfect monster of the Rot Economy \u2014 a technology that lacks any real purpose sold as if it could do literally anything, one without a real business model or killer app, proliferated because big tech no longer innovates, but rather clones and monopolizes. Yes, this much money can be this stupid\u2026.\u201d \u2022 Hopefully some shorts make money on this thing. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 66 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 64 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 2 at 1:53:27 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not sure about this one. Cubism is about cubes, or I suppose polygons. I suppose the occasional curve (as of a guitar or the edge of a table) fits into the paradigm, but circles? Lots of them?<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.625\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"5.2\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On Brooklyn Bridge by Albert Gleizes <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R179yBYRJg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/R179yBYRJg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Guggenheim Art Bot (@guggenheimbot) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/guggenheimbot\/status\/1864329596792963358\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Then again:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.1228813559322\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5932203389831\">\n<p lang=\"ro\" dir=\"ltr\">Colonial Cubism <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4EMTEzqJMn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/4EMTEzqJMn<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2cdQw8stgO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/2cdQw8stgO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stuart Davis (@StuartDavisArt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/StuartDavisArt\/status\/1863919133865250853\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>So what do I know?<\/p>\n<p><strong>The 420<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow weed won over America\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/the-highlight\/379637\/marijuana-daily-drug-americans-alcohol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">VOX<\/a>]. \u201cIn the last few decades, marijuana\u2019s had a major glow-up. In 1992, less than 1 million people were using it daily or nearly every day \u2014 a low point, according to an analysis of data from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which began surveying Americans in the 1970s. Ten times as many people, meanwhile, reported drinking alcohol daily or almost daily. In the 1990s, weed was illegal nationally and in every state. But marijuana\u2019s since had a major rebrand: Three decades later, it\u2019s legal for recreational adult use in nearly half of the 50 states. Now, it\u2019s even challenging alcohol for its status as America\u2019s favorite daily intoxicant. In 2022, for the first time, more Americans were using marijuana daily, or near daily, than consuming alcohol at the same rate, according to a study by Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The number of daily or near daily marijuana users has grown from less than 1 million in 1992 to 17.7 million in 2022; in terms of per capita rate, that\u2019s a 15-fold increase.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"thompson\"\/>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead in Midtown Manhattan, masked gunman at large\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/man-shot-chest-midtown-manhattan-masked-gunman-large\/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashhudson.com\/abcnews\/library\/media\/479027342&id=116446382\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ABC<\/a>]. Ski mask. \u201cBrian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning before he was set to attend an investor conference, according to police. The masked gunman, who remains on the loose, appeared to be lying in wait and shot Thompson several times from behind, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The shooting, which was reported around 6:40 a.m., appeared to be a \u2018brazen, targeted attack\u2019 that was \u2018premeditated,\u2019 Tisch stressed. But the motive remains unknown, police said.\u201d And: \u201cThe shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson arrived, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at the news conference.\u201d After the shooting: \u201cThe suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, Kenny said. He then fled on an e-bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said. The bikes are equipped with GPS and police are following up, Kenny said.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9549689440994\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.546583850932\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was just 50 years old at the time of his murder, which is a lot more tragic when you know that his life expectancy as a member of the Top 1% was 88, or 15 years longer than the life expectancy of the average American male <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VU5Xoi7cqD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/VU5Xoi7cqD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1864332788087840907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed outside Manhattan Hilton hotel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14157375\/United-Health-Brian-Thompson-Hilton-Manhattan-shot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u201cWitnesses said the suspected gunman was seen waiting outside the hotel before the shooting, and knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from before shooting him at point-blank range.\u201d And: \u201cUnited is the biggest health insurer by market share in America. The company has been the subject of frequent protests by activists for allegedly systematically denying care for patients. One such protest earlier this year led to the arrests of 11 people outside the United Healthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The company made headlines in February after it was subjected to a cyber-attack which cost $872 million.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.2122302158273\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.0791366906475\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">CLAIM DENIED: Anything over .22 caliber does not qualify as a “preexisting condition.”<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Go\/F.\/Yourself (@BestTexanYeah) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BestTexanYeah\/status\/1864313848838115583\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7272727272727\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.1818181818182\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Due to lack of preauthorization and since the ambulance ride didn’t result in admission Brian Thompson’s family faces a high bill<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Watson Ladd (@WatsonLadd) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WatsonLadd\/status\/1864337512896057425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealth uses AI model with 90% error rate to deny care, lawsuit alleges\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/health\/2023\/11\/ai-with-90-error-rate-forces-elderly-out-of-rehab-nursing-homes-suit-claims\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ars Technica<\/a>]. From 2023. \u201cUnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the US, is allegedly using a deeply flawed AI algorithm to override doctors\u2019 judgments and wrongfully deny critical health coverage to elderly patients. This has resulted in patients being kicked out of rehabilitation programs and care facilities far too early, forcing them to drain their life savings to obtain needed care that should be covered under their government-funded Medicare Advantage Plan. That\u2019s all according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.arstechnica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/class-action-v-unitedhealth-and-navihealth-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> filed this week in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit is brought by the estates of two deceased people who were denied health coverage by UnitedHealth. The suit also seeks class-action status for similarly situated people, of which there may be tens of thousands across the country. The lawsuit lands alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2023\/11\/14\/unitedhealth-algorithm-medicare-advantage-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">an investigation by Stat News<\/a> that largely backs the lawsuit\u2019s claims. The investigation\u2019s findings stem from internal documents and communications the outlet obtained, as well as interviews with former employees of NaviHealth, the UnitedHealth subsidiary that developed the AI algorithm called nH Predict.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnthem Insurance issues new edict to cap anesthesia coverage at a time limit\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox61.com\/article\/news\/local\/anthem-insurance-issues-edict-to-cap-anesthesia-coverage-at-a-time-limit\/520-9d4aecee-1bf6-4eab-94c4-cfbd5fcb1141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cOn Nov. 14, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put out a letter that sounded the alarm that Anthem insurance suddenly decided to cap its coverage of anesthesia at an arbitrary time limit. It\u2019s a change that doctors say isn\u2019t based on good medicine\u2026. Doctors won\u2019t be waking patients up to ask them permission to continue medically necessary anesthesia, but that means when they do wake up, they may be whacked with an unexpected out-of-pocket expense. \u2018There are circumstances where they won\u2019t pay for any of the anesthesia even up to the point of where they say it\u2019s justified. It\u2019s just absurd,\u2019 said [Connecticut Anesthesiologist Dr. Kenneth Stone]. \u2026 Doctors cite real-world examples of surgeries taking longer than expected for reasons such as blood loss, difficult anatomy, a complication or comorbidity. Doctors say medicine isn\u2019t one size fits all.\u201d \u2022 Why not just put an automatic cutoff on the gas pumps?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I should have thought to make this joke myself, but so it goes:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3177842565598\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.294460641399\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump has suggested that Canada become the 51st state in our union.<\/p>\n<p>Does that mean that we can adopt the Canadian health care system and guarantee health care to all, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and spend 50% less per capita on health care?<\/p>\n<p>I’m all for it. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nwkk7lykXd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/Nwkk7lykXd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BernieSanders\/status\/1864055131525742733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"uaw\"\/>\u201cUAW Staff Strike Ignored as Labor Influencers Fear Losing UAW\u2019s Social Media Reach\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/paydayreport.com\/uaw-staff-strike-ignored-as-labor-influencers-fear-losing-uaws-social-media-reach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Payday Report<\/a>]. \u201cYesterday, UAW staffers went on strike in the northeast against their international union. Workers say that the union is relying heavily on temporary employees, a practice they have criticized at the Big Three, and attempting to exclude them from the staff union. Some UAW organizers are kept on temporary status for up to three years. \u2026 Today, the UAW announced that they were cutting off pay in a hardball move designed to intimidate staffers.\u201d Solidarity forever! More: \u201cSo, why would so many labor journalists ignore this story of hypocrisy by UAW President Shawn Fain? They need the social media engine of the UAW in order to make their work go viral.\u201d \u2022 This is a must-read. It shows where Payday Reports donation model really shines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy Smartphone Was Ruining My Life. So I Quit.\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/my-smartphone-was-ruining-my-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Free Press<\/a>]. \u201cStill, I learned that my followers\u2019 love was contingent on high engagement levels, and because the algorithm was constantly changing, I had to change with it. I was constantly adapting my visual and verbal style to keep up with trends. One consistently effective strategy was being vulnerable. Regardless of what I drew, regardless of how good it was, I would get more likes and comments on my art when I paired it with an emotional disclosure, ideally of the tragic variety. In 2018, I shared a tiny drawing of a shark: \u2018Crying nonstop & blowing my nose on my shirt,\u2019 the caption read. \u2018Thank you all for being my internet family, I truly need that in my life.\u2019 I sold more when I wrote things like this, presumably because my followers took pity on me and wanted to help. I leaned into this effect, mining my life for pain. By the beginning of 2019, I had passed the 100,000-follower mark. I still wasn\u2019t earning above minimum wage, but I was selling enough prints through my website to call myself an artist. More accurately, though, I was an influencer.\u201d \u2022 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the phone that\u2019s the problem.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am not feeling wired today.<\/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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-3-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From KoG:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"381\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3-300x191.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>K0G writes: \u201cCaught this a bit ago on one of the Finger Lakes.\u201d<\/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\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-4-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-04T14:00:14-05:00\">December 4, 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\/12\/geoengineering-could-alter-global-climate-should-it.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> Geoengineering Could Alter Global Climate. Should It?<\/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. 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Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. \u201cThis bird\u2019s song<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88021,"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-88020","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\/88020","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=88020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Mockingbird, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. \u201cThis bird\u2019s song includes mimicry of Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, and possibly Tree Swallow (final phrase at 0:44).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWisdom.\u201d What a lovely name (like \u201cSophia,\u201d which I wonder why the Fish and Wildlife Service didn\u2019t choose):<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"6.1352941176471\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"14.9\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Like other Laysan albatross, or m\u014dl\u012b in Hawaiian, Wisdom returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate and if able, lay one egg. <\/p>\n<p>For decades she did this with the same partner, Akeakamai, but that bird has not been seen for several years. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TnWozHdKUH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/TnWozHdKUH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USFWSPacific\/status\/1863990727996563904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#thompson\"> UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead<\/a> in Midtown Manhattan .<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dnc\">DNC race begins <\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#uaw\">UAW cuts off pay<\/a> from striking staffers.<\/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=\"36.779061371841\">\n<p>\u201cTrump Mulls Replacing Pete Hegseth With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/2t9BZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>]. \u201cPresident-elect Donald Trump is considering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement for Pete Hegseth, his pick to run the Pentagon, according to people familiar with the discussions, amid Republican senators\u2019 concerns over mounting allegations about the former Fox News host\u2019s personal life. Picking DeSantis, a 2024 GOP primary rival for the presidency, would amount to a stunning turn for Trump. But he would also find in the governor a well-known conservative with a service record who shares Trump\u2019s\u2014and Hegseth\u2019s\u2014view on culling what they see as \u2018woke\u2019 policies in the military. Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth may not survive further scrutiny, according to people close to the president-elect\u2019s team, which considers the next 48 hours to be crucial to his fate. DeSantis, who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, was on an earlier list of potential defense secretary candidates that transition officials presented to the president.\u201d \u2022\u00a0If conservative Republicans think fixing wokeness will fix the Pentagon, they\u2019re out of their minds.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cKash Patel Is Trump\u2019s Scariest Cabinet Appointment Yet\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/kash-patel-trump-cabinet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Nation<\/a>]. \u201cGina Haspell, Trump\u2019s CIA director, likewise threatened to resign rather than accept Patel as her No. 2.\u201d That \u201cBloody Gina\u201d objects seems to me to be a strong argument on Patel\u2019s favor. More: \u201cPatel has also duly minted his battles over control of the deep state into a book, Government Gangsters, which derides the agency he\u2019s now charged with administering as \u2018one of the most cunning and powerful arms of the Deep State,\u2019 where rampant corruption has become \u2018an existential threat to our republican form of government.\u2019 He has vowed, should he be entrusted with overseeing the agency\u2019s operations, to shut down its Hoover Building headquarters in Washington on day one, and convert it into \u2018a museum of the deep state.\u2019\u2026. There are of course, a battery of sound reasons to attack the investigative overreaches of the FBI, which has long empowered right-wing covert surveillance agendas and has never in its history had a non-Republican director.\u201d \u2022 Sure, but the Democrats never acted on all those \u201csound reasons,\u201d and so now we have Patel. Sheesh. <\/p>\n<p>Blurting it out:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.3513513513514\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"9.2162162162162\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEWS <\/p>\n<p>President-elect Trump says that Peter Navarro will serve as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p>Navarro served four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hdRLebVkcr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/hdRLebVkcr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@yashar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yashar\/status\/1864341102700188068\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026 the Deep State, \u2026\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2014\/12\/deep-state-shallow-focus.html\">see from 2014 here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2024 Post Mortem<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"55.519313304721\">\n<p>\u201cA Requiem For Postmortems\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/3quarksdaily.com\/3quarksdaily\/2024\/12\/a-requiem-for-postmortems.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">3 Quarks Daily<\/a>]. \u201cDonald Trump, regardless of how you feel about him, is an enormous political talent\u2014in a class with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. He has his own kind of eloquence\u2014a mesmeric mass of malaprops, fabrications, threats, jokes, insults, syntaxial flights of lunacy\u2014that all work for him. Trump has been accused of blowing the dog whistle. It\u2019s true in the traditional sense of the phrase, but Trump adds a dimension like no other politician. His fans, his public, are able to hear a melody where the rest of us hear only noise. Kamala Harris just couldn\u2019t play at his level. I\u2019m not in the category of those who say she was a hopelessly bad candidate. She wasn\u2019t. But she was a lot closer to John Kerry than Barack Obama. Presidential power remains the power to persuade, and Harris had trouble closing the sale. The argument that she would have improved if she\u2019d had more time, or more of a challenge in getting the nomination has some superficial appeal, but that\u2019s all it is. Let\u2019s not forget, this is the same Kamala Harris who stalled early in 2020, and, while she got better, it was by degrees, not leaps and bounds. It\u2019s very hard for even the best pitching coach to turn a soft-toss specialist into a strike-out machine. Harris didn\u2019t have the arm for it, and she was facing someone who did.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe End of Democratic Delusions\u201d [George Packer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/magazine\/archive\/2025\/01\/trump-reelection-voter-demographic-change\/680752\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Atlantic<\/a>]. The conclusion: \u201cA few weeks before the election, Representative Chris Deluzio, a first-term Democrat, was campaigning door-to-door in a closely divided district in western Pennsylvania. He\u2019s a Navy veteran, a moderate on cultural issues, and a homegrown economic populist\u2014critical of corporations, deep-pocketed donors, and the ideology that privileges capital over human beings and communities. At one house he spoke with a middle-aged white policeman named Mike, who had a Trump sign in his front yard. Without budging on his choice for president, Mike ended up voting for Deluzio. On Election Night, in a state carried by Trump, Deluzio outperformed Harris in his district, especially in the reddest areas, and won comfortably. What does this prove? Only that \u201d \u2022 It has occurred to me that outlawing all digital political advertising (Internet <em>and<\/em> TV) would have two salutary effects: It would force candidates (and their proxies) to speak directly to voters, Lincoln-Douglas style; and it would give paper-based, local media a guaranteed market. (I\u2019d also outlaw political polling, as IIRC some European countries do, for some period before the election; say two months. Combine all this with handmarked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, and we might have a healthier electoral system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Republican Funhouse<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"15.910547396529\">\n<p>\u201c\u2018Have the stomach\u2019: Republican claims Dems need to back Social Security and Medicare cuts\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawstory.com\/trump-social-security-cuts-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Raw Story<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018We\u2019re gonna have to have some hard decisions,\u2019 claimed [Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA)] during his Fox appearance Tuesday. \u2018We\u2019re gonna have to bring in the Democrats to talk about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare.’\u201d \u2022 Ah, \u201chard decisions.\u201d Hard for whom? More:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.2777777777778\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"6.8333333333333\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It took these alleged men of the people a week or two to zero in on your Social Security check. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XgmRJu40to\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/XgmRJu40to<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ryangrim\/status\/1864097498073055473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I can see the chin-stroking Op-Eds in The New York Times already. Surely, <em>this<\/em> time, we can achieve the Grand Bargain? What an exciting way for Democrats to show they\u2019re really serious!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"68.993227990971\">\n<p><a name=\"dnc\"\/>\u201cWhy Democrats should pick \u2014 or pass over \u2014 potential contenders for DNC chair\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/03\/dnc-chair-potential-contenders-00191945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cBut the race for their leader, scheduled for Feb. 1, and decided by 448 committee members, remains wide open.\u201d \u2022 Ken Martin, Martin O\u2019Malley, Ben Wikler, James Skoufis, Michael Blake, and [drumroll] Rahm Emmanuel (see below). DNC = Democratic National Committee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC hopes to highlight success ahead of post-election meeting\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/dnc-hopes-highlight-success-ahead-post-election-meeting\/story?id=116390240\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ABC<\/a>]. \u201cDNC Chair Jaime Harrison wrote in a grassroots memo obtained first by ABC News that while Democrats fell short in the presidential race, beefy and historic investments in down-ballot contests offer a roadmap to success. The party was able to salvage four Senate races in states President-elect Donald Trump won and gain House seats despite headwinds at the top of the ticket\u2026. \u2018In 2024, the DNC made strategic campaign grants in every state party for the first time in history, and delivered record-breaking investments directly to coordinated campaigns in every state \u2014 totaling over $264 million,\u201d he added. \u201cThese investments yielded results and underscore the importance of continued state party investment\u2026’\u201d \u2022 Meanwhile:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.1868327402135\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.202846975089\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joe Biden is a good & decent man. He is a public servant who has always strived and try to do what he believes is best for all. <\/p>\n<p>Joe Biden is also an amazing father. <\/p>\n<p>Today, he did what was best\u2026 what was right\u2026 what was just.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/harrisonjaime\/status\/1863405120530112925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Dear Hunter!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC chair frontrunner offers \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 advice to Democrats after crushing loss to Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/dnc-chair-front-runner-offers-uncomfortable-advice-democrats-crushing-loss-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair who has led the association of state Democratic Party chairs, on Tuesday unveiled a 10-point memo titled \u2018A New DNC Framework.\u2019 Martin\u2019s memo calls on Democrats to \u201cshow up in nontraditional and uncomfortable media spaces on a regular basis, increase outreach to local messengers and trusted validators, and create our own platforms for authentic engagement.\u201d And: \u201cMartin appears to be the early frontrunner in the race, and his campaign says he has the backing of at least 100 DNC voting members, which is nearly half of what a candidate needs to secure the chair. Also running and considered competitive is Ben Wikler, who\u2019s chaired the state Democratic Party in battleground Wisconsin for five years and is well known by the voting members.\u201d And finally: \u201cA party insider who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely told Fox News that \u2018the DNC insiders\/establishment have significant influence over this membership, so the race will be very close.’\u201d \u2022 You don\u2019t say!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven Centrists Agree: Ben Wikler for DNC Chair\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2024\/12\/04\/jon-cowan-third-way-ben-wikler-dnc-endorsement-00192421\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. The deck: \u201cThe president of Third Way endorses a MoveOn alum to lead the Democratic Party.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And speaking of the DNC = Democrat National Convention:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.8738532110092\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.2110091743119\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I was a Sanders delegate at that convention, and it was enough for me to never want to have anything to do with the Democrat party ever again <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DEsMznznkF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/DEsMznznkF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mary Anne Cummings (@razorgrrl) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/razorgrrl\/status\/1863849604304761017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, on Rahm Emanuel\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.3709677419355\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.1129032258065\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This clip is genuinely shocking. It\u2019s like George W. Bush angrily demanding accountability for the Iraq War. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uoZ2a3YiHI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/uoZ2a3YiHI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewstoller\/status\/1864289522868945364\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7864077669903\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.9611650485437\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ezra and the New York Times are now touting Rahm Emanuel as an anti-corruption crusader, because literally nothing matters at all. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AYYeNfw6eE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/AYYeNfw6eE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Sirota (@davidsirota) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidsirota\/status\/1864064215071215639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Again?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/SuKm2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. \u201cThere\u2019s a buzz around Rahm Emanuel \u2014 the former Bill Clinton adviser, former Illinois congressman, former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, former mayor of Chicago \u2014 possibly becoming the next head of the Democratic National Committee. The progressive left despises his pragmatism and liberal centrism\u2026. But he also has a gift for constructing winning coalitions with difficult, unexpected partners.\u201d And: \u201c\u2018I think Democrats prefer losing and being morally right to winning,\u2019 he says. \u2018Me, I\u2019m not into moral victory speeches. I\u2019m into winning.’\u201d \u2022 What exactly about Biden\u2019s Democrat Party is \u201cmorally right\u201d? The genocide? (Anti-trust, for sure <em>but Kamala didn\u2019t run on that<\/em>, and Emanuel doesn\u2019t mention it. It\u2019s painfully clear that Emanuel as nothing new to say. But he can always punch left!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRahm Emanuel is \u2018not interested\u2019 in DNC chair but is far from done with politics\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/politics\/2024\/12\/03\/rahm-emanuel-political-future-governor-senator-or-mayor-japan-ambassador\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Chicago Sun-Times<\/a>]. \u201cWith his time as America\u2019s ambassador to Japan ending, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday he has no interest in leading a Democratic comeback as his party\u2019s national chairman, but still loves public service and isn\u2019t done with it. \u2018I\u2019m not interested in the party. I\u2019m interested in what the party can do for people \u2026 My enjoyment [is] in what I\u2019ve done in public service,\u2019 Emanuel told the Sun-Times.\u201d \u2022 Nobody mentions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2015\/feb\/24\/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-site\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Homan Square<\/a> when interviewing Rahm, oddly.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I swore I\u2019d give up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/07\/kamalas-campaign-blasts-off-with-an-explosion-of-snark.html\">snark<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.6923076923077\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.0769230769231\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yeah- new name?<\/p>\n<p>THE<br \/>UnD<br \/>\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc<\/p>\n<p>(Pronounced undie\u2014 yes, the old torn pair that should be thrown away)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Farrukh Shamsi (@farrukh_shamsi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/farrukh_shamsi\/status\/1864039239651889488\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u2026 but \u201cUnD\u201d isn\u2019t that bad\u2026.. <\/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 wp_automatic_readability=\"1.9553903345725\"><transmission: h5n1=\"\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.910780669145\">\n<p>\u201cInfluenza A(H5N1) shedding in air corresponds to transmissibility in mammals\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/39623068\/#:~:text=Influenza%20A(H5N1)%20shedding%20in%20air%20corresponds%20to%20transmissibility%20in%20mammals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Nature<\/a>]. \u201cAn increase in spillover events of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses to mammals suggests selection of viruses that transmit well in mammals.\u201d \u2022 Oh.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/transmission:><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert here: Even though the Covid numbers seem low, please remember that the data is not nearly as good as it once was, that it lags, and that the downside risks of catching Covid are considerable. For those who have developed their own personal protocols, I wouldn\u2019t relax them. Maybe next year.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"10.882352941176\">\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 25<\/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\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x185.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-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x202.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr colspan=\"2\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.6521739130435\">\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 23<\/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 23<\/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-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-2-300x214.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=\"3.9102564102564\">\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 December 3:<\/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 28:<\/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\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1-300x190.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-hospitalization-natl-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-3-300x258.png 300w\" 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=\"2.5915492957746\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> December 2:<\/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 23:<\/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\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-walgreens-positivity-natl-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-2-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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=\"3.6190476190476\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> November 11:<\/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> November 4:<\/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\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers-300x184.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-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-282924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-3-300x187.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\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-283190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ed-natl-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"192.43433520729\">\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) Leveled out.<\/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) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.<\/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>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States ADP Employment Change\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/adp-employment-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cPrivate businesses in the US added 146K workers to their payrolls in November 2024, the least in three months, following a downwardly revised 184K rise in October, and slightly below forecasts of 150K.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States Factory Orders\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/factory-orders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cNew orders for manufactured goods in the US increased by 0.2% from the previous month to $586.7 billion in October of 2024, in line with market expectations, after two consecutive monthly decreases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cUnited States ISM Services PMI\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/non-manufacturing-pmi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe ISM Services PMI in the US declined to 52.1 in November 2024 from 56 in October and well below forecasts of 55.5. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in the services sector in three months\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>The Bezzle: \u201cGodot Isn\u2019t Making it\u201d [Ed Zitron, W<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wheresyoured.at\/godot-isnt-making-it\/?ref=ed-zitrons-wheres-your-ed-at-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here\u2019s Your Ed At?<\/a>]. Grab a cup of coffee, but make sure you have a place to set it down becuase you\u2019ll be laughing so hard. From the peroration: \u201cOnce the AI bubble pops, there are no other hyper-growth markets left, which will in turn lead to a bloodbath in big tech stocks as they realize that they\u2019re out of big ideas to convince the street that they\u2019re going to grow forever. There are some that will boast about \u2018being right\u2019 here, and yes, there is some satisfaction in being so. Nevertheless, knowing that the result of this bubble bursting will be massive layoffs, a dearth in venture capital funding, and a much more fragile tech ecosystem. Generative AI is the perfect monster of the Rot Economy \u2014 a technology that lacks any real purpose sold as if it could do literally anything, one without a real business model or killer app, proliferated because big tech no longer innovates, but rather clones and monopolizes. Yes, this much money can be this stupid\u2026.\u201d \u2022 Hopefully some shorts make money on this thing. <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 66 Greed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 64 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 2 at 1:53:27 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not sure about this one. Cubism is about cubes, or I suppose polygons. I suppose the occasional curve (as of a guitar or the edge of a table) fits into the paradigm, but circles? Lots of them?<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.625\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"5.2\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On Brooklyn Bridge by Albert Gleizes <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R179yBYRJg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/R179yBYRJg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Guggenheim Art Bot (@guggenheimbot) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/guggenheimbot\/status\/1864329596792963358\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Then again:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.1228813559322\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"3.5932203389831\">\n<p lang=\"ro\" dir=\"ltr\">Colonial Cubism <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4EMTEzqJMn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/4EMTEzqJMn<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2cdQw8stgO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/2cdQw8stgO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stuart Davis (@StuartDavisArt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/StuartDavisArt\/status\/1863919133865250853\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>So what do I know?<\/p>\n<p><strong>The 420<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow weed won over America\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/the-highlight\/379637\/marijuana-daily-drug-americans-alcohol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">VOX<\/a>]. \u201cIn the last few decades, marijuana\u2019s had a major glow-up. In 1992, less than 1 million people were using it daily or nearly every day \u2014 a low point, according to an analysis of data from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which began surveying Americans in the 1970s. Ten times as many people, meanwhile, reported drinking alcohol daily or almost daily. In the 1990s, weed was illegal nationally and in every state. But marijuana\u2019s since had a major rebrand: Three decades later, it\u2019s legal for recreational adult use in nearly half of the 50 states. Now, it\u2019s even challenging alcohol for its status as America\u2019s favorite daily intoxicant. In 2022, for the first time, more Americans were using marijuana daily, or near daily, than consuming alcohol at the same rate, according to a study by Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The number of daily or near daily marijuana users has grown from less than 1 million in 1992 to 17.7 million in 2022; in terms of per capita rate, that\u2019s a 15-fold increase.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"thompson\"\/>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead in Midtown Manhattan, masked gunman at large\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/man-shot-chest-midtown-manhattan-masked-gunman-large\/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashhudson.com\/abcnews\/library\/media\/479027342&id=116446382\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ABC<\/a>]. Ski mask. \u201cBrian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning before he was set to attend an investor conference, according to police. The masked gunman, who remains on the loose, appeared to be lying in wait and shot Thompson several times from behind, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The shooting, which was reported around 6:40 a.m., appeared to be a \u2018brazen, targeted attack\u2019 that was \u2018premeditated,\u2019 Tisch stressed. But the motive remains unknown, police said.\u201d And: \u201cThe shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson arrived, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at the news conference.\u201d After the shooting: \u201cThe suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, Kenny said. He then fled on an e-bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said. The bikes are equipped with GPS and police are following up, Kenny said.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.9549689440994\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"10.546583850932\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was just 50 years old at the time of his murder, which is a lot more tragic when you know that his life expectancy as a member of the Top 1% was 88, or 15 years longer than the life expectancy of the average American male <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VU5Xoi7cqD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/VU5Xoi7cqD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 moe tkacik (@moetkacik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moetkacik\/status\/1864332788087840907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed outside Manhattan Hilton hotel\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14157375\/United-Health-Brian-Thompson-Hilton-Manhattan-shot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u201cWitnesses said the suspected gunman was seen waiting outside the hotel before the shooting, and knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from before shooting him at point-blank range.\u201d And: \u201cUnited is the biggest health insurer by market share in America. The company has been the subject of frequent protests by activists for allegedly systematically denying care for patients. One such protest earlier this year led to the arrests of 11 people outside the United Healthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The company made headlines in February after it was subjected to a cyber-attack which cost $872 million.\u201d \u2022 Commentary:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.2122302158273\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7.0791366906475\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">CLAIM DENIED: Anything over .22 caliber does not qualify as a “preexisting condition.”<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Go\/F.\/Yourself (@BestTexanYeah) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BestTexanYeah\/status\/1864313848838115583\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>And:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"2.7272727272727\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.1818181818182\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Due to lack of preauthorization and since the ambulance ride didn’t result in admission Brian Thompson’s family faces a high bill<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Watson Ladd (@WatsonLadd) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WatsonLadd\/status\/1864337512896057425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnitedHealth uses AI model with 90% error rate to deny care, lawsuit alleges\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/health\/2023\/11\/ai-with-90-error-rate-forces-elderly-out-of-rehab-nursing-homes-suit-claims\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ars Technica<\/a>]. From 2023. \u201cUnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the US, is allegedly using a deeply flawed AI algorithm to override doctors\u2019 judgments and wrongfully deny critical health coverage to elderly patients. This has resulted in patients being kicked out of rehabilitation programs and care facilities far too early, forcing them to drain their life savings to obtain needed care that should be covered under their government-funded Medicare Advantage Plan. That\u2019s all according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.arstechnica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/class-action-v-unitedhealth-and-navihealth-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> filed this week in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit is brought by the estates of two deceased people who were denied health coverage by UnitedHealth. The suit also seeks class-action status for similarly situated people, of which there may be tens of thousands across the country. The lawsuit lands alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2023\/11\/14\/unitedhealth-algorithm-medicare-advantage-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">an investigation by Stat News<\/a> that largely backs the lawsuit\u2019s claims. The investigation\u2019s findings stem from internal documents and communications the outlet obtained, as well as interviews with former employees of NaviHealth, the UnitedHealth subsidiary that developed the AI algorithm called nH Predict.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnthem Insurance issues new edict to cap anesthesia coverage at a time limit\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox61.com\/article\/news\/local\/anthem-insurance-issues-edict-to-cap-anesthesia-coverage-at-a-time-limit\/520-9d4aecee-1bf6-4eab-94c4-cfbd5fcb1141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u201cOn Nov. 14, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put out a letter that sounded the alarm that Anthem insurance suddenly decided to cap its coverage of anesthesia at an arbitrary time limit. It\u2019s a change that doctors say isn\u2019t based on good medicine\u2026. Doctors won\u2019t be waking patients up to ask them permission to continue medically necessary anesthesia, but that means when they do wake up, they may be whacked with an unexpected out-of-pocket expense. \u2018There are circumstances where they won\u2019t pay for any of the anesthesia even up to the point of where they say it\u2019s justified. It\u2019s just absurd,\u2019 said [Connecticut Anesthesiologist Dr. Kenneth Stone]. \u2026 Doctors cite real-world examples of surgeries taking longer than expected for reasons such as blood loss, difficult anatomy, a complication or comorbidity. Doctors say medicine isn\u2019t one size fits all.\u201d \u2022 Why not just put an automatic cutoff on the gas pumps?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>I should have thought to make this joke myself, but so it goes:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3177842565598\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.294460641399\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Trump has suggested that Canada become the 51st state in our union.<\/p>\n<p>Does that mean that we can adopt the Canadian health care system and guarantee health care to all, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and spend 50% less per capita on health care?<\/p>\n<p>I’m all for it. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nwkk7lykXd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">https:\/\/t.co\/Nwkk7lykXd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BernieSanders\/status\/1864055131525742733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">December 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"class\"\/><strong>Class Warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"uaw\"\/>\u201cUAW Staff Strike Ignored as Labor Influencers Fear Losing UAW\u2019s Social Media Reach\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/paydayreport.com\/uaw-staff-strike-ignored-as-labor-influencers-fear-losing-uaws-social-media-reach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Payday Report<\/a>]. \u201cYesterday, UAW staffers went on strike in the northeast against their international union. Workers say that the union is relying heavily on temporary employees, a practice they have criticized at the Big Three, and attempting to exclude them from the staff union. Some UAW organizers are kept on temporary status for up to three years. \u2026 Today, the UAW announced that they were cutting off pay in a hardball move designed to intimidate staffers.\u201d Solidarity forever! More: \u201cSo, why would so many labor journalists ignore this story of hypocrisy by UAW President Shawn Fain? They need the social media engine of the UAW in order to make their work go viral.\u201d \u2022 This is a must-read. It shows where Payday Reports donation model really shines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy Smartphone Was Ruining My Life. So I Quit.\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/my-smartphone-was-ruining-my-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Free Press<\/a>]. \u201cStill, I learned that my followers\u2019 love was contingent on high engagement levels, and because the algorithm was constantly changing, I had to change with it. I was constantly adapting my visual and verbal style to keep up with trends. One consistently effective strategy was being vulnerable. Regardless of what I drew, regardless of how good it was, I would get more likes and comments on my art when I paired it with an emotional disclosure, ideally of the tragic variety. In 2018, I shared a tiny drawing of a shark: \u2018Crying nonstop & blowing my nose on my shirt,\u2019 the caption read. \u2018Thank you all for being my internet family, I truly need that in my life.\u2019 I sold more when I wrote things like this, presumably because my followers took pity on me and wanted to help. I leaned into this effect, mining my life for pain. By the beginning of 2019, I had passed the 100,000-follower mark. I still wasn\u2019t earning above minimum wage, but I was selling enough prints through my website to call myself an artist. More accurately, though, I was an influencer.\u201d \u2022 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the phone that\u2019s the problem.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am not feeling wired today.<\/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\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-3-2024.html\">here<\/a>. From KoG:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"381\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-283311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/rainbow_3-300x191.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>K0G writes: \u201cCaught this a bit ago on one of the Finger Lakes.\u201d<\/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\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/12\/200pm-water-cooler-12-4-2024.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2024-12-04T14:00:14-05:00\">December 4, 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\/12\/geoengineering-could-alter-global-climate-should-it.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> Geoengineering Could Alter Global Climate. Should It?<\/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. 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Bird Song of the Day Northern Mockingbird, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. \u201cThis bird\u2019s song<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88021,"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-88020","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\/88020","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=88020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}