\n<\/p>\n
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nBird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Brown Thrasher, Hammonasset Beach SP, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#trump\">Trump to change \u201cGulf of Mexico\u201d<\/a> to \u201cGulf of America.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mate\">\u201cFBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate\u201d<\/a>: Aaron Mat\u00e9. <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#hpmv\">HPMV in China<\/a>.<\/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=\"38.217100371747\">\n<p><a name=\"trump\"\/>\u201cComing soon: Gulf of America\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/07\/congress\/gulf-of-america-00196858\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018We\u2019re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory,\u2019 Trump said. \u2018The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it\u2019s appropriate.\u2019 It marked Trump\u2019s latest pledge to expand the United States\u2019 reach throughout the world, following statements about annexing Canada and Greenland.\u201d \u2022 Monroe would be proud. I am not sure how <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Toponymy#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">toponyms<\/a> are standardized in the United States, or internationally, but no doubt there is an entity to which Trump could address his concerns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s Going Places With Energy, but Biden\u2019s the Backseat Driver\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2024\/12\/26\/trumps_going_places_with_energy_but_bidens_the_backseat_driver_1079311.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearInvestigations<\/a>], \u201cTrump has made it clear he wants to realign U.S. energy policy toward cheap, abundant energy and away from expensive, emerging renewable sources, many of which rely on government subsidies. But experts say his options may be limited in cases where Congress approved spending bills, contracts were signed, or even where he encounters pushback from reluctant \u2018green\u2019 enterprises that have relied on government largesse in the push for a \u2018NetZero\u2019 future. \u2018Congress would have to repeal some of that,\u2019 said Travis Fisher, the director of energy and environmental policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, referring to hundreds of billions in climate-relate funding, including in the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation passed during the last four years. \u2018The question in some cases will be, \u2018Do you try to improve what\u2019s been done or repeal it?\u2019 And then, if there are grants that have already gone out the door, those would be hard to claw back. But there are still a lot of targets for quick changes on day one.\u2019 Some Trump supporters think the avenues that are open to a new administration, as well as Trump\u2019s track record, give cause for optimism for those who want to reduce government spending or let the markets determine energy prices and accessibility. \u2018When Trump promises something he usually delivers, and I would expect to see significant changes in energy policy with him,\u2019 said Geoffrey Pohanka, the 2023 chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association.\u201d \u2022 Automobile dealers. Classic American gentry.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m so old I remember when \u201cour democracy\u201d was at stake!<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.2429906542056\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.345794392523\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Is there a single person in DC or media acting as if Literal Adolf Hitler is about to assume power in 2 weeks in order to end American democracy, install fascism, and create a white supremacist dictatorship? <\/p>\n<p>Is it possible those who said this for years never believed it?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ggreenwald\/status\/1876371421951369713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Lawfare<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"26.647959183673\">\n<p><a name=\"mate\"\/>\u201cFBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows\u201d [Aaron Mat\u00e9, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2025\/01\/06\/fbi_is_still_hiding_details_of_russiagate_newly_released_document_shows_1082631.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearInvestigations<\/a>]. \u201cIn response to a Freedom of Information request filed by RealClearInvestigations in August 2022, the FBI on Dec. 31, more than two years later, released a heavily redacted copy of the document that opened an explosive and unprecedented counterintelligence probe of the sitting president as an agent of the Russian government\u2026. The Electronic Communication, dated May 16, 2017, claimed to have an \u2018articulable factual basis\u2019 to suspect that Trump \u2018wittingly or unwittingly\u2019 was illegally acting on behalf of Russia, and accordingly posing \u2018threats to the national security of the United States.’\u201d So Trump could have been \u201cunwittingly\u201d a Russian spy? Isn\u2019t that a little over-broad? \u201cThe investigation of Trump was undertaken at the behest of then-acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, one week after Trump had fired his former boss and mentor, James B. Comey\u2026. According to the declassified document, McCabe\u2019s decision was approved by FBI Assistant Director Bill Priestap, who had also signed off on the opening of Crossfire Hurricane; and Jim Baker, the FBI general counsel. Baker was a longtime friend of Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, and a key figure in the dissemination of Clinton-funded disinformation to the FBI that falsely tied Trump to Russia\u2026 After leaving the FBI, Baker served as deputy general counsel at Twitter, where he backed the company\u2019s censorship of reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden\u2019s laptop, based on yet another conspiracy theory that the laptop files were Russian disinformation.\u201d \u2022 And that\u2019s just the beginning of the story.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2026<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"10.776162790698\">\n<p>\u201cOutgoing US transport chief says Boeing has more to do after 737 MAX\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/outgoing-us-transport-chief-says-boeing-has-more-do-after-737-max-incident-2025-01-06\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cButtigieg, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, has said he has not made any plans for future jobs, but is viewed by some Democrats as a potential candidate for Michigan governor in 2026.\u201d \u2022 Michigan? Buttigieg is going to carpetbag Michigan?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Our Famously Free Press<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"29.563953488372\">\n<p>\u201cElon Musk Cusses Out Student Who Called Him a Fake News Machine\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/elon-musk-cusses-student-called-171002695.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Beast<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018Elon Musk is rapidly becoming the largest spreader of disinformation in human history, hijacking political debates in the process,\u2019 wrote Joni Askola, a Finnish graduate student and activist for defense of Ukraine. \u2018The EU must take action!\u2019 \u2018F u retard,\u2019 came Musk\u2019s response, containing a slur used against people who have mental disabilities. He then replied saying \u2018yes\u2019 to another person who said: \u2018We could have avoided a lot of disasters by simply telling leftist retards to stfu.’\u201d I get a lot of hope from the idea that conservatives don\u2019t \u201cknow their enemies\u201d at all; there\u2019s no way a pro-Ukrainian activist calling for moar EU is on the left. More: \u201cMusk appears to have made a conscious choice to reintroduce the word [\u201cf*ck] into right-wing parlance of late, often using it on his X platform. An analysis of his X posts and replies shows that he has used the term or a variant of it 15 times since Dec. 20, having never used it before that.\u201d Back in the day, we in the blogosphere (\u201cfoul-mouthed bloggers of the left\u201d \u2013Davd Broder) thought of \u201cf*ck\u201d as transgressive, a sign of the birth of a new media, etc. It was just boring, as boring as Musk\u2019s antics are becoming. More: \u201cThis is despite [Musk\u2019s] Dec. 29 plea for more \u2018positivity\u2019 on the platform. \u2018Please post a bit more positive, beautiful or informative content on this platform,\u2019 he said. That post came just days after he used his new favorite slur against Americans during a wild meltdown over H-1B visas.\u201d \u2022 The Twitter firehose gets fed right into xAI\u2019s training sets. Should be amusing to see the outcomes, given that many (a majority?) of Twitter users are proud of surviving the hellscape, don\u2019t want it to change, and are gaming Mush\u2019s requests (and xAI\u2019s training sets) with heavily ironiic positivity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElon Musk \u2018locks reporter from X\u2019 after article sheds light on Tesla owner\u2019s alleged alter ego Adrian Dittman\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14253621\/Elon-Musk-locks-reporter-X-article-sheds-light-Tesla-owners-alleged-alter-ego-Adrian-Dittman.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u201cA bizarre conspiracy claiming Elon Musk uses an alias to praise himself on his own social media network took an unexpected turn when a journalist who debunked the theory was banned from the platform. Jacqueline Sweet appeared to be restricted on X after she published an investigation that proved Adrian Dittmann was an actual person living in Fiji \u2013 and not Musk operating under the pseudonym in order to praise himself. Shortly after Sweet\u2019s article \u2013 outing Dittmann as a German entrepreneur \u2013 was published in <a href=\"https:\/\/thespectator.com\/topic\/real-adrian-dittmann-not-elon-musk-x-account-fiji\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Spectator World<\/a>, Musk responded a predictably cryptic post on X.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019m glad Musk occupying his beautiful mind with nonsense like this. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"58.53270837579\">\n<p>\u201cDNC chair hopeful Martin O\u2019Malley says Dems will continue to lose if party doesn\u2019t connect with working class\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/dnc-chair-hopeful-martin-omalley-dems-continue-lose-party-doesnt-connect-working-class\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u2022 This won\u2019t help:<\/p>\n<p>Learned nothing, forgotten nothing:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3031161473088\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.257790368272\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The NYT proudly says Biden’s award of presidential medals of freedom to people like Hillary, George Soros, The Carlyle Group’s David Rubenstein “signals his support for the establishment Trump wants to tear down.”<\/p>\n<p>In other news, the NYT asks why Dems “lost the working class.” <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VeIQ2hKk0h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/VeIQ2hKk0h<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ggreenwald\/status\/1875906307670360394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Gawd knows I\u2019m all for civilty and against violence\u2026<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.5509259259259\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"4.962962962963\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is why Dems keep losing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y80AZnxg9Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Y80AZnxg9Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Emo Dragon (@midwestem0guy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/midwestem0guy\/status\/1875288790568464778\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>But I wish Sanders had punched her out. Kamala, after her butchery of the 2024 campaign, has no standing to make fun of anybody. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBernie Sanders Plans to Force Vote on H-1B Reforms\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leefang.com\/p\/bernie-sanders-plans-to-force-vote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lee Fang<\/a>]. \u201cSen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., plans to shake things up with a new political fight over the controversial H-1B visa program. What began as a dispute on social media over the last week will soon hit the halls of Congress. A source close to his office told me that the senator is drafting several amendments to improve the program radically \u2013 including raising income levels for foreign workers taking jobs through the H-1B visa and hiking the application fees for corporations utilizing the program. The push is a reprisal of similar 2007 amendments Sanders offered during the debate over the Bush immigration bill. During that period, he worked closely with his Republican colleagues. The new amendments will be attached to major legislation offered over the coming weeks \u2014 essentially forcing lawmakers to go on the record. Sanders is currently in talks with potential cosponsors and expects to bring a unique pro-American labor coalition of Democrats and Republicans together to crack down on H-1B abuse. The Vermont senator, now a ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, may benefit from a reshuffle in committee assignments. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., two Republican opponents of visa programs used by corporations to import foreign workers, have joined the committee this year.\u201d \u2022 A Sanders-Tuberville H-1B reform alliance wasn\u2019t on my Bingo card\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew Dem additions to a plum panel are spurring private angst\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/07\/congress\/dem-committee-assignments-cause-problems-00196852\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cAn under-the-radar decision to add Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and about half a dozen other members to the House Energy and Commerce is causing some angst among House Democrats, according to three people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to detail private discussions. In an unusual move, the Steering and Policy panel filled six out of the seven open slots on the Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday morning and left the last position open for a 10-way race. The spots were highly competitive, and some lawmakers are questioning why certain members like Ocasio-Cortez were selected while others were left to compete for the last open spot\u2026. Since [2020], Ocasio-Cortez has claimed an inside track in the caucus, paying dues to the caucus\u2019 campaign arm and making up with other lawmakers. She also backed away from support for primary challenges when she mounted an unsuccessful bid to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee last month. The committee has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, technology and other policy areas that will be in the spotlight in the new Congress, as the GOP takes full control of Washington. The panel chaired by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) has a long tradition of bipartisanship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NY: \u201cThe Democratic Panic in New York\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonmonthly.com\/2024\/12\/31\/democratic-panic-new-york\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Washington Magazine<\/a>]. \u201cTorres, an outspoken critic of \u2018woke politics,\u2019 has become the most interesting politician in New York. He has positioned himself as a centrist alternative for governor in 2026, lambasting Hochul as \u2018the new Joe Biden\u2019 for being soft on crime and endangering public safety. In a post-election interview with Hanna Rosin of The Atlantic, Torres identified himself as pro-immigration but blamed the Biden administration for letting the border crisis get out of control. \u2018So we can blame the voters. We can claim that the voters are misogynist and white supremacist. We could blame Fox News and the New York Post. But those institutions have always been with us in recent political history,\u2019 he said. When pressed on his vision for Democrats, Torres replied, \u2018Economically populist, right? We have to convey the sense that we\u2019re fighting for working people and that we\u2019re holding powerful interests accountable, right?\u2026 People do care about border security. People do care about public safety. We have to ensure that we\u2019re on the center of those issues while doubling down on economic populism.’\u201d \u2022 Any New Yorkers want to comment on Torres?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"34.045734388742\">\n<p>\u201cState governments by party control, 2025\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/01\/07\/state-laws-control-republicans-democrats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018Republicans notched the two biggest legislative victories’\u201d of Election Day 2024, per Cook\u2019s Matthew Klein: Flipping Michigan\u2019s House of Representatives and splitting the Minnesota House.\u201d \u2022 Handy map:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione Court Case Hit With Delay\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/luigi-mangione-court-case-delay-2010742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Newsweek<\/a>]. \u201cOn Monday, prosecutors and defense attorneys jointly requested additional time to prepare the case for trial, further delaying proceedings. Attorneys for both sides agreed in a letter to the court to extend the deadline for indicting the accused, Luigi Mangione, from January 18 to February 17. Mangione, 26, is currently charged through a criminal complaint, a preliminary document filed against individuals before a formal indictment is issued. Prosecutors stated that they consulted with the defense team and agreed on the need to extend the indictment deadline, citing the importance of allowing \u201cboth parties adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings and the trial itself.\u2019 \u2022 The Federal case, which presumably the incoming administration needs to get a handle on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione visited gun range on Thailand vacation months before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson\u2019s killing: report\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/01\/06\/us-news\/luigi-mangione-went-to-thai-gun-range-before-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompsons-killing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Post<\/a>]. \u201cAccused killer Luigi Mangione hit up an expensive gun range during a trip to Thailand \u2014 just months before he allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the Big Apple, his travel friends have claimed. The 26-year-old accused assassin visited the gun range after leaving the US on a solo Asia trip early last year, two German tourists who met him during his travels told TMZ\u2019s new \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2025\/01\/06\/luigi-mangione-went-to-gun-range-thailand-vacation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Luigi Mangione: The Mind of a Killer<\/a>\u2018 documentary. Mangione opted to skip a beach day and head to the range instead, according to the friends \u2014 who were only identified as Paul and Max\u2026 The pair, who said they traveled extensively with Mangione through Asia, also claimed he was obsessed with Indian author Jash Dholani\u2019s book \u201cHit Reverse: New Ideas From Old Books,\u201d which examines philosophical viewpoints from a range of authors. He even apparently purchased 400 copies of the book and flew to Mumbai to try to give the author his personal feedback, the German travelers said.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/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:\/\/skylab.cdph.ca.gov\/calwws\/\" 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, thump, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p>Transmission: HPMV<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"39.073064770932\">\n<p><a name=\"hpmv\"\/>\u201cChina\u2019s latest virus surge is the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has also seen spikes in the U.S. Here are the symptoms and whether it could be the next pandemic\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/well\/article\/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-symptoms-pandemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cBut HMPV is not new, and the U.S. has also seen spikes, which receded, most recently in spring of 2023. HMPV is \u2018probably much more common than we know,\u2019 Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, previously told Fortune. \u2018We are finding it more often because we are testing people for respiratory diseases post-COVID and RSV,\u2019 he says. Human metapneumovirus is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection, according to the American Lung Association. As with RSV, most humans have been infected with HMPV by age 5. While the vast majority will fare fine at home, as many as 10% of pediatric hospitalizations are due to lower respiratory infections caused by the virus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560910\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to the National Library of Medicine<\/a>. A 2010 study found that it was the one of the most common viruses among 256 children hospitalized with respiratory ailments, second only to RSV. When it comes to elderly adults, about 22 in every 10,000 are hospitalized with the virus each year\u2014particularly seniors with cardiovascular disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3564111\/pdf\/viruses-05-00087.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to a 2013 article in the journal Viruses<\/a>. Symptoms are pretty much identical to other respiratory viruses, and testing is necessary to tell them apart. As with its relative, RSV, HMPV has the potential to hit harder for the young and the elderly, as well as for those with weakened immune systems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCNA Explains: What is HMPV, why are cases rising in China and should you be worried?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/east-asia\/hmpv-symptoms-human-metapneumovirus-china-cna-explains-outbreak-respiratory-infection-4840111\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Channel News Asia<\/a>]. \u201cProfessor Paul Tambyah, a Senior Consultant at the National University Hospital\u2019s (NUH) Division of Infectious Diseases, noted that Chinese health officials have greatly stepped up surveillance of acute respiratory infections with better diagnostics and deployment of technology. \u2018It is not surprising that more HMPV infections are being picked up. This does happen in China every winter on a regular basis, especially in northern China,\u2019 Prof Tambyah said. \u2018The bottom line is that we should not be overly concerned as there are no reports of a major public health impact from the increased detection in Northern China (but) of course, all this could change with more data,\u2019 he added. Public health experts have noted significant differences between both [HMPV and SARS-CoV-2], with HMPV generally less severe with a lower mortality rate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert: New York City hospitalization is one of oldest and most consistent datasets, and it\u2019s going up; approaching \u201cjump\u201d territory after the holidays. I don\u2019t like that at all, and I like the New York state data even less:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"378\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"11.340425531915\">\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> December 30<\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x187.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\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x211.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> December 21<\/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> December 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-cdc-variants-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1-300x177.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-er-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-1-300x172.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=\"4.7560975609756\">\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 January 6:<\/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> Janurary 2, 2005:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"342\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-296x300.png 296w\" 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=\"2.6842105263158\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> January 6:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> January 4:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"428\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (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=\"3.5932203389831\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> December 16:<\/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> December 16<\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284943\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-300x212.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=\"3.7647058823529\">\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 20:<\/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 20:<\/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-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1-300x161.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-deaths-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-1-300x183.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"142.60657053119\">\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) Seeing more red and more orange, but nothing new at major hubs. <\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) XEC takes over. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) A little uptick.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Slow and small but steady increase.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Continued upward trend since, well, Thanksgiving.<\/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 leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Supply Chain: \u201cUnited States LMI Logistics Managers Index\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/lmi-logistics-managers-index-current\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe Logistics Manager\u2019s Index dropped to 57.3 in December 2024 from 58.4 in November, the lowest in four months. This slowdown was largely driven by a seasonal decrease in Inventory Levels, which fell by 6.1 points to 50.0, signaling no overall change. However, this masks the underlying trends: upstream firms like manufacturers and wholesalers saw inventory levels rise to 57.9 due to increased imports, while downstream retailers experienced a significant decline in inventory levels, dropping to 33.9, as expected during the holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Job Openings\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/job-offers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe number of job openings increased by 259,000 to 8,098 million in November 2024, from an upwardly revised 7.839 million in October and above market expectations of 7.70 million. The number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+273,000), finance and insurance (+105,000), and private educational services (+38,000) but decreased in information (-89,000).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Manfacturing: \u201cBoeing needs to start designing a new plane soon to help turn things around, former CEO says\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/8ckhp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Business Insider<\/a>]. \u201cPhil Condit, who led the planemaker from 1996 to 2003, told The Wall Street Journal, \u2018You\u2019ve got to get people excited about what they\u2019re doing. You don\u2019t come to work just for a paycheck. You come to work because you care about what you\u2019re doing.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0Not sure I would give a whole lot of weight to a former Boeing CEO\u2019s views on labor\u2026.. <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing progresses on manufacturing improvement plan\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/boeing-progresses-manufacturing-improvement-plan-091900617.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Manufacturing Dive<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018As the strike ended, I spoke directly with the CEO [Kelly Ortberg] about the importance of adhering to safety-management principles as Boeing resumed production,\u2019 outgoing FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in the agency\u2019s Jan. 3 blog post reflecting on the year since the Alaska Airlines incident. \u2018It\u2019s clear that message hit home, as Boeing spent a full month post-strike making sure the necessary safety steps were taken before restarting production.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0\u201cA whole month\u201d\u2026.. <\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cUber And Lyft Will Roll Out Robotaxis This Year. But There\u2019s A Problem\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/746304\/uber-lyft-deploy-robotaxis-this-year-challenges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">InsideEVs<\/a>]. \u201cThe robotaxis, however, have a mountain to climb in terms of safety, public trust and logistics. Waymo riders are facing a new form of harassment as people have been hostile towards self-driving cars\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/598270\/pedestrians-attack-waymo-self-driving-cars-arizona-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">vandalising<\/a>, threatening passengers and obstructing the vehicles. General Motors\u2019 Cruise robotaxi division suspended operations last year after one of its Chevrolet Bolt EVs dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco.\u201d \u2022 Oh,<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 26 Fear (previous close: 27 Fear) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 33 (Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jan 2 at 1:24:36 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p>Rapture Index: Closes down one on drought. \u201cRain chips away at general drought conditions\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.raptureready.com\/rapture-ready-index\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rapture Ready<\/a>]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 181. (Remember that bringing on the Rapture is good.) \u2022 Hard to believe the Rapture Index isn\u2019t at an all-time high. Doesn\u2019t the collapse of Syria bring the Third Temple closer? Do these people know something we don\u2019t?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Awwwww!<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.0238095238095\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.3154761904762\">\n<p lang=\"fr\" dir=\"ltr\">Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)<br \/>Margot, 1881<br \/>oil on canvas, 76\u00d788 cm<br \/>private collection <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OK7kUjidI9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/OK7kUjidI9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Edward Elderman (@edwereddie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edwereddie\/status\/1875762802234945777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Musical Interlude<\/p>\n<p>Flubs and all, from a live performance:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Bill Wyman \/ Charlie Watts semi isolated bass \/ drum Beast of Burden\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1T8sgKLToHQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p> Quite the rhythm section, Wyman and Watts. Wyman is generally buried so far down in the mix you don\u2019t hear him\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Public Health<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFluoride Exposure and Children\u2019s IQ Scores: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapediatrics\/fullarticle\/2828425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">JAMA<\/a>]. Meta. \u201cThis systematic review and meta-analysis found inverse associations and a dose-response association between fluoride measurements in urine and drinking water and children\u2019s IQ across the large multicountry epidemiological literature. There were limited data and uncertainty in the dose-response association between fluoride exposure and children\u2019s IQ when fluoride exposure was estimated by drinking water alone at concentrations less than 1.5 mg\/L. These findings may inform future comprehensive public health risk-benefit assessments of fluoride exposures.\u201d \u2022 Perhaps some kind reader who\u2019s really expert in methodology will take a look,<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMistletoe\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theava.com\/archives\/258312\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Anderson Valley Advertiser<\/a>]. \u201c[John Lee, MD, a family practitioner in Mill Valley, back in 1967] was then editing the Marin Medical Society Bulletin and on the look-out for topics for his monthly column. He came across an article in a Harvard alumni publication describing the pagan rituals of the Celts who lived in the British Isles in the millennium before Christ. For their winter solstice celebration, the Celtic priests -Druids- would collect berries from trees bearing mistletoe. Coincidentally, Lee had just read an item in the Journal of the American Medical Association stating that mistletoe contains a compound very similar to progesterone. He had an insight: \u2018The berries were life in the middle of that cold European winter, when everything else was bleak and apparently lifeless. The Druids called mistletoe \u2018a gift from the gods.\u2019 They would take these berries and mix them with hot mead [an alcohol drink made from fermented honey] and they would all have a weeklong party where gifts were exchanged and they would celebrate that the sun was going to return and winter would not mean the end of the world. \u2018When a woman takes progesterone and then quits, a period is induced. I realized the mead laced with mistletoe would decrease everyone\u2019s inhibitions and increase everyone\u2019s libido for their four- or five-day party. It was free sex! And after four or five days of celebration they would quit. All the women would have their periods, and no babies would occur. No wonder they called it \u2018a gift from the Gods!\u2019 Lee compares the discovery that mistletoe prevented pregnancy to the discovery that limes prevented scurvy -a major advance in the annals of medicine. \u2018The sailors didn\u2019t know it was Vitamin C. The Celts didn\u2019t know it was progesterone. They just knew it worked.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0And a lot of medicine is still that way, for good or ill\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-2-2025.html\">here<\/a>. From Wukchumni:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wukchimni writes: \u201cDusty the Adventure Dog eyeing the eastern Sierra.\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\/guest-post\" rel=\"category tag\">Guest Post<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-7-2025.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2025-01-07T14:00:10-05:00\">January 7, 2025<\/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\/2025\/01\/what-has-happened-to-our-grand-experiment-the-internet.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> What Has Happened to Our Grand Experiment, the Internet?<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-7-2025.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Brown Thrasher, Hammonasset Beach SP, New Haven, Connecticut, United States. * * * In Case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89400,"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-89399","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\/89399","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=89399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Bird Song of the Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Brown Thrasher, Hammonasset Beach SP, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#trump\">Trump to change \u201cGulf of Mexico\u201d<\/a> to \u201cGulf of America.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mate\">\u201cFBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate\u201d<\/a>: Aaron Mat\u00e9. <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#hpmv\">HPMV in China<\/a>.<\/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=\"38.217100371747\">\n<p><a name=\"trump\"\/>\u201cComing soon: Gulf of America\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/07\/congress\/gulf-of-america-00196858\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018We\u2019re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory,\u2019 Trump said. \u2018The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it\u2019s appropriate.\u2019 It marked Trump\u2019s latest pledge to expand the United States\u2019 reach throughout the world, following statements about annexing Canada and Greenland.\u201d \u2022 Monroe would be proud. I am not sure how <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Toponymy#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">toponyms<\/a> are standardized in the United States, or internationally, but no doubt there is an entity to which Trump could address his concerns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s Going Places With Energy, but Biden\u2019s the Backseat Driver\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2024\/12\/26\/trumps_going_places_with_energy_but_bidens_the_backseat_driver_1079311.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearInvestigations<\/a>], \u201cTrump has made it clear he wants to realign U.S. energy policy toward cheap, abundant energy and away from expensive, emerging renewable sources, many of which rely on government subsidies. But experts say his options may be limited in cases where Congress approved spending bills, contracts were signed, or even where he encounters pushback from reluctant \u2018green\u2019 enterprises that have relied on government largesse in the push for a \u2018NetZero\u2019 future. \u2018Congress would have to repeal some of that,\u2019 said Travis Fisher, the director of energy and environmental policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, referring to hundreds of billions in climate-relate funding, including in the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation passed during the last four years. \u2018The question in some cases will be, \u2018Do you try to improve what\u2019s been done or repeal it?\u2019 And then, if there are grants that have already gone out the door, those would be hard to claw back. But there are still a lot of targets for quick changes on day one.\u2019 Some Trump supporters think the avenues that are open to a new administration, as well as Trump\u2019s track record, give cause for optimism for those who want to reduce government spending or let the markets determine energy prices and accessibility. \u2018When Trump promises something he usually delivers, and I would expect to see significant changes in energy policy with him,\u2019 said Geoffrey Pohanka, the 2023 chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association.\u201d \u2022 Automobile dealers. Classic American gentry.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m so old I remember when \u201cour democracy\u201d was at stake!<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.2429906542056\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.345794392523\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Is there a single person in DC or media acting as if Literal Adolf Hitler is about to assume power in 2 weeks in order to end American democracy, install fascism, and create a white supremacist dictatorship? <\/p>\n<p>Is it possible those who said this for years never believed it?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ggreenwald\/status\/1876371421951369713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Lawfare<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"26.647959183673\">\n<p><a name=\"mate\"\/>\u201cFBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows\u201d [Aaron Mat\u00e9, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2025\/01\/06\/fbi_is_still_hiding_details_of_russiagate_newly_released_document_shows_1082631.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearInvestigations<\/a>]. \u201cIn response to a Freedom of Information request filed by RealClearInvestigations in August 2022, the FBI on Dec. 31, more than two years later, released a heavily redacted copy of the document that opened an explosive and unprecedented counterintelligence probe of the sitting president as an agent of the Russian government\u2026. The Electronic Communication, dated May 16, 2017, claimed to have an \u2018articulable factual basis\u2019 to suspect that Trump \u2018wittingly or unwittingly\u2019 was illegally acting on behalf of Russia, and accordingly posing \u2018threats to the national security of the United States.’\u201d So Trump could have been \u201cunwittingly\u201d a Russian spy? Isn\u2019t that a little over-broad? \u201cThe investigation of Trump was undertaken at the behest of then-acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, one week after Trump had fired his former boss and mentor, James B. Comey\u2026. According to the declassified document, McCabe\u2019s decision was approved by FBI Assistant Director Bill Priestap, who had also signed off on the opening of Crossfire Hurricane; and Jim Baker, the FBI general counsel. Baker was a longtime friend of Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, and a key figure in the dissemination of Clinton-funded disinformation to the FBI that falsely tied Trump to Russia\u2026 After leaving the FBI, Baker served as deputy general counsel at Twitter, where he backed the company\u2019s censorship of reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden\u2019s laptop, based on yet another conspiracy theory that the laptop files were Russian disinformation.\u201d \u2022 And that\u2019s just the beginning of the story.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2026<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"10.776162790698\">\n<p>\u201cOutgoing US transport chief says Boeing has more to do after 737 MAX\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/outgoing-us-transport-chief-says-boeing-has-more-do-after-737-max-incident-2025-01-06\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cButtigieg, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, has said he has not made any plans for future jobs, but is viewed by some Democrats as a potential candidate for Michigan governor in 2026.\u201d \u2022 Michigan? Buttigieg is going to carpetbag Michigan?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Our Famously Free Press<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"29.563953488372\">\n<p>\u201cElon Musk Cusses Out Student Who Called Him a Fake News Machine\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/elon-musk-cusses-student-called-171002695.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Beast<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018Elon Musk is rapidly becoming the largest spreader of disinformation in human history, hijacking political debates in the process,\u2019 wrote Joni Askola, a Finnish graduate student and activist for defense of Ukraine. \u2018The EU must take action!\u2019 \u2018F u retard,\u2019 came Musk\u2019s response, containing a slur used against people who have mental disabilities. He then replied saying \u2018yes\u2019 to another person who said: \u2018We could have avoided a lot of disasters by simply telling leftist retards to stfu.’\u201d I get a lot of hope from the idea that conservatives don\u2019t \u201cknow their enemies\u201d at all; there\u2019s no way a pro-Ukrainian activist calling for moar EU is on the left. More: \u201cMusk appears to have made a conscious choice to reintroduce the word [\u201cf*ck] into right-wing parlance of late, often using it on his X platform. An analysis of his X posts and replies shows that he has used the term or a variant of it 15 times since Dec. 20, having never used it before that.\u201d Back in the day, we in the blogosphere (\u201cfoul-mouthed bloggers of the left\u201d \u2013Davd Broder) thought of \u201cf*ck\u201d as transgressive, a sign of the birth of a new media, etc. It was just boring, as boring as Musk\u2019s antics are becoming. More: \u201cThis is despite [Musk\u2019s] Dec. 29 plea for more \u2018positivity\u2019 on the platform. \u2018Please post a bit more positive, beautiful or informative content on this platform,\u2019 he said. That post came just days after he used his new favorite slur against Americans during a wild meltdown over H-1B visas.\u201d \u2022 The Twitter firehose gets fed right into xAI\u2019s training sets. Should be amusing to see the outcomes, given that many (a majority?) of Twitter users are proud of surviving the hellscape, don\u2019t want it to change, and are gaming Mush\u2019s requests (and xAI\u2019s training sets) with heavily ironiic positivity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElon Musk \u2018locks reporter from X\u2019 after article sheds light on Tesla owner\u2019s alleged alter ego Adrian Dittman\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14253621\/Elon-Musk-locks-reporter-X-article-sheds-light-Tesla-owners-alleged-alter-ego-Adrian-Dittman.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u201cA bizarre conspiracy claiming Elon Musk uses an alias to praise himself on his own social media network took an unexpected turn when a journalist who debunked the theory was banned from the platform. Jacqueline Sweet appeared to be restricted on X after she published an investigation that proved Adrian Dittmann was an actual person living in Fiji \u2013 and not Musk operating under the pseudonym in order to praise himself. Shortly after Sweet\u2019s article \u2013 outing Dittmann as a German entrepreneur \u2013 was published in <a href=\"https:\/\/thespectator.com\/topic\/real-adrian-dittmann-not-elon-musk-x-account-fiji\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Spectator World<\/a>, Musk responded a predictably cryptic post on X.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019m glad Musk occupying his beautiful mind with nonsense like this. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"58.53270837579\">\n<p>\u201cDNC chair hopeful Martin O\u2019Malley says Dems will continue to lose if party doesn\u2019t connect with working class\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/dnc-chair-hopeful-martin-omalley-dems-continue-lose-party-doesnt-connect-working-class\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u2022 This won\u2019t help:<\/p>\n<p>Learned nothing, forgotten nothing:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3031161473088\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.257790368272\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The NYT proudly says Biden’s award of presidential medals of freedom to people like Hillary, George Soros, The Carlyle Group’s David Rubenstein “signals his support for the establishment Trump wants to tear down.”<\/p>\n<p>In other news, the NYT asks why Dems “lost the working class.” <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VeIQ2hKk0h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/VeIQ2hKk0h<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ggreenwald\/status\/1875906307670360394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Gawd knows I\u2019m all for civilty and against violence\u2026<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.5509259259259\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"4.962962962963\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is why Dems keep losing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y80AZnxg9Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Y80AZnxg9Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Emo Dragon (@midwestem0guy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/midwestem0guy\/status\/1875288790568464778\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>But I wish Sanders had punched her out. Kamala, after her butchery of the 2024 campaign, has no standing to make fun of anybody. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBernie Sanders Plans to Force Vote on H-1B Reforms\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leefang.com\/p\/bernie-sanders-plans-to-force-vote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lee Fang<\/a>]. \u201cSen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., plans to shake things up with a new political fight over the controversial H-1B visa program. What began as a dispute on social media over the last week will soon hit the halls of Congress. A source close to his office told me that the senator is drafting several amendments to improve the program radically \u2013 including raising income levels for foreign workers taking jobs through the H-1B visa and hiking the application fees for corporations utilizing the program. The push is a reprisal of similar 2007 amendments Sanders offered during the debate over the Bush immigration bill. During that period, he worked closely with his Republican colleagues. The new amendments will be attached to major legislation offered over the coming weeks \u2014 essentially forcing lawmakers to go on the record. Sanders is currently in talks with potential cosponsors and expects to bring a unique pro-American labor coalition of Democrats and Republicans together to crack down on H-1B abuse. The Vermont senator, now a ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, may benefit from a reshuffle in committee assignments. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., two Republican opponents of visa programs used by corporations to import foreign workers, have joined the committee this year.\u201d \u2022 A Sanders-Tuberville H-1B reform alliance wasn\u2019t on my Bingo card\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew Dem additions to a plum panel are spurring private angst\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/07\/congress\/dem-committee-assignments-cause-problems-00196852\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cAn under-the-radar decision to add Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and about half a dozen other members to the House Energy and Commerce is causing some angst among House Democrats, according to three people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to detail private discussions. In an unusual move, the Steering and Policy panel filled six out of the seven open slots on the Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday morning and left the last position open for a 10-way race. The spots were highly competitive, and some lawmakers are questioning why certain members like Ocasio-Cortez were selected while others were left to compete for the last open spot\u2026. Since [2020], Ocasio-Cortez has claimed an inside track in the caucus, paying dues to the caucus\u2019 campaign arm and making up with other lawmakers. She also backed away from support for primary challenges when she mounted an unsuccessful bid to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee last month. The committee has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, technology and other policy areas that will be in the spotlight in the new Congress, as the GOP takes full control of Washington. The panel chaired by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) has a long tradition of bipartisanship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NY: \u201cThe Democratic Panic in New York\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonmonthly.com\/2024\/12\/31\/democratic-panic-new-york\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Washington Magazine<\/a>]. \u201cTorres, an outspoken critic of \u2018woke politics,\u2019 has become the most interesting politician in New York. He has positioned himself as a centrist alternative for governor in 2026, lambasting Hochul as \u2018the new Joe Biden\u2019 for being soft on crime and endangering public safety. In a post-election interview with Hanna Rosin of The Atlantic, Torres identified himself as pro-immigration but blamed the Biden administration for letting the border crisis get out of control. \u2018So we can blame the voters. We can claim that the voters are misogynist and white supremacist. We could blame Fox News and the New York Post. But those institutions have always been with us in recent political history,\u2019 he said. When pressed on his vision for Democrats, Torres replied, \u2018Economically populist, right? We have to convey the sense that we\u2019re fighting for working people and that we\u2019re holding powerful interests accountable, right?\u2026 People do care about border security. People do care about public safety. We have to ensure that we\u2019re on the center of those issues while doubling down on economic populism.’\u201d \u2022 Any New Yorkers want to comment on Torres?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"34.045734388742\">\n<p>\u201cState governments by party control, 2025\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/01\/07\/state-laws-control-republicans-democrats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018Republicans notched the two biggest legislative victories’\u201d of Election Day 2024, per Cook\u2019s Matthew Klein: Flipping Michigan\u2019s House of Representatives and splitting the Minnesota House.\u201d \u2022 Handy map:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione Court Case Hit With Delay\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/luigi-mangione-court-case-delay-2010742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Newsweek<\/a>]. \u201cOn Monday, prosecutors and defense attorneys jointly requested additional time to prepare the case for trial, further delaying proceedings. Attorneys for both sides agreed in a letter to the court to extend the deadline for indicting the accused, Luigi Mangione, from January 18 to February 17. Mangione, 26, is currently charged through a criminal complaint, a preliminary document filed against individuals before a formal indictment is issued. Prosecutors stated that they consulted with the defense team and agreed on the need to extend the indictment deadline, citing the importance of allowing \u201cboth parties adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings and the trial itself.\u2019 \u2022 The Federal case, which presumably the incoming administration needs to get a handle on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione visited gun range on Thailand vacation months before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson\u2019s killing: report\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/01\/06\/us-news\/luigi-mangione-went-to-thai-gun-range-before-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompsons-killing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Post<\/a>]. \u201cAccused killer Luigi Mangione hit up an expensive gun range during a trip to Thailand \u2014 just months before he allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the Big Apple, his travel friends have claimed. The 26-year-old accused assassin visited the gun range after leaving the US on a solo Asia trip early last year, two German tourists who met him during his travels told TMZ\u2019s new \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2025\/01\/06\/luigi-mangione-went-to-gun-range-thailand-vacation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Luigi Mangione: The Mind of a Killer<\/a>\u2018 documentary. Mangione opted to skip a beach day and head to the range instead, according to the friends \u2014 who were only identified as Paul and Max\u2026 The pair, who said they traveled extensively with Mangione through Asia, also claimed he was obsessed with Indian author Jash Dholani\u2019s book \u201cHit Reverse: New Ideas From Old Books,\u201d which examines philosophical viewpoints from a range of authors. He even apparently purchased 400 copies of the book and flew to Mumbai to try to give the author his personal feedback, the German travelers said.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/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:\/\/skylab.cdph.ca.gov\/calwws\/\" 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, thump, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p>Transmission: HPMV<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"39.073064770932\">\n<p><a name=\"hpmv\"\/>\u201cChina\u2019s latest virus surge is the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has also seen spikes in the U.S. Here are the symptoms and whether it could be the next pandemic\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/well\/article\/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-symptoms-pandemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cBut HMPV is not new, and the U.S. has also seen spikes, which receded, most recently in spring of 2023. HMPV is \u2018probably much more common than we know,\u2019 Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, previously told Fortune. \u2018We are finding it more often because we are testing people for respiratory diseases post-COVID and RSV,\u2019 he says. Human metapneumovirus is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection, according to the American Lung Association. As with RSV, most humans have been infected with HMPV by age 5. While the vast majority will fare fine at home, as many as 10% of pediatric hospitalizations are due to lower respiratory infections caused by the virus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560910\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to the National Library of Medicine<\/a>. A 2010 study found that it was the one of the most common viruses among 256 children hospitalized with respiratory ailments, second only to RSV. When it comes to elderly adults, about 22 in every 10,000 are hospitalized with the virus each year\u2014particularly seniors with cardiovascular disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3564111\/pdf\/viruses-05-00087.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to a 2013 article in the journal Viruses<\/a>. Symptoms are pretty much identical to other respiratory viruses, and testing is necessary to tell them apart. As with its relative, RSV, HMPV has the potential to hit harder for the young and the elderly, as well as for those with weakened immune systems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCNA Explains: What is HMPV, why are cases rising in China and should you be worried?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/east-asia\/hmpv-symptoms-human-metapneumovirus-china-cna-explains-outbreak-respiratory-infection-4840111\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Channel News Asia<\/a>]. \u201cProfessor Paul Tambyah, a Senior Consultant at the National University Hospital\u2019s (NUH) Division of Infectious Diseases, noted that Chinese health officials have greatly stepped up surveillance of acute respiratory infections with better diagnostics and deployment of technology. \u2018It is not surprising that more HMPV infections are being picked up. This does happen in China every winter on a regular basis, especially in northern China,\u2019 Prof Tambyah said. \u2018The bottom line is that we should not be overly concerned as there are no reports of a major public health impact from the increased detection in Northern China (but) of course, all this could change with more data,\u2019 he added. Public health experts have noted significant differences between both [HMPV and SARS-CoV-2], with HMPV generally less severe with a lower mortality rate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert: New York City hospitalization is one of oldest and most consistent datasets, and it\u2019s going up; approaching \u201cjump\u201d territory after the holidays. I don\u2019t like that at all, and I like the New York state data even less:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"378\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"11.340425531915\">\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> December 30<\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x187.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\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x211.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> December 21<\/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> December 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-cdc-variants-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1-300x177.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-er-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-1-300x172.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=\"4.7560975609756\">\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 January 6:<\/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> Janurary 2, 2005:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"342\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-296x300.png 296w\" 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=\"2.6842105263158\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> January 6:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> January 4:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"428\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (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=\"3.5932203389831\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> December 16:<\/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> December 16<\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284943\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-300x212.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=\"3.7647058823529\">\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 20:<\/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 20:<\/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-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1-300x161.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-deaths-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-1-300x183.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"142.60657053119\">\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) Seeing more red and more orange, but nothing new at major hubs. <\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) XEC takes over. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) A little uptick.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Slow and small but steady increase.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Continued upward trend since, well, Thanksgiving.<\/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 leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Supply Chain: \u201cUnited States LMI Logistics Managers Index\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/lmi-logistics-managers-index-current\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe Logistics Manager\u2019s Index dropped to 57.3 in December 2024 from 58.4 in November, the lowest in four months. This slowdown was largely driven by a seasonal decrease in Inventory Levels, which fell by 6.1 points to 50.0, signaling no overall change. However, this masks the underlying trends: upstream firms like manufacturers and wholesalers saw inventory levels rise to 57.9 due to increased imports, while downstream retailers experienced a significant decline in inventory levels, dropping to 33.9, as expected during the holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Job Openings\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/job-offers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe number of job openings increased by 259,000 to 8,098 million in November 2024, from an upwardly revised 7.839 million in October and above market expectations of 7.70 million. The number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+273,000), finance and insurance (+105,000), and private educational services (+38,000) but decreased in information (-89,000).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Manfacturing: \u201cBoeing needs to start designing a new plane soon to help turn things around, former CEO says\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/8ckhp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Business Insider<\/a>]. \u201cPhil Condit, who led the planemaker from 1996 to 2003, told The Wall Street Journal, \u2018You\u2019ve got to get people excited about what they\u2019re doing. You don\u2019t come to work just for a paycheck. You come to work because you care about what you\u2019re doing.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0Not sure I would give a whole lot of weight to a former Boeing CEO\u2019s views on labor\u2026.. <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing progresses on manufacturing improvement plan\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/boeing-progresses-manufacturing-improvement-plan-091900617.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Manufacturing Dive<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018As the strike ended, I spoke directly with the CEO [Kelly Ortberg] about the importance of adhering to safety-management principles as Boeing resumed production,\u2019 outgoing FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in the agency\u2019s Jan. 3 blog post reflecting on the year since the Alaska Airlines incident. \u2018It\u2019s clear that message hit home, as Boeing spent a full month post-strike making sure the necessary safety steps were taken before restarting production.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0\u201cA whole month\u201d\u2026.. <\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cUber And Lyft Will Roll Out Robotaxis This Year. But There\u2019s A Problem\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/746304\/uber-lyft-deploy-robotaxis-this-year-challenges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">InsideEVs<\/a>]. \u201cThe robotaxis, however, have a mountain to climb in terms of safety, public trust and logistics. Waymo riders are facing a new form of harassment as people have been hostile towards self-driving cars\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/598270\/pedestrians-attack-waymo-self-driving-cars-arizona-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">vandalising<\/a>, threatening passengers and obstructing the vehicles. General Motors\u2019 Cruise robotaxi division suspended operations last year after one of its Chevrolet Bolt EVs dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco.\u201d \u2022 Oh,<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 26 Fear (previous close: 27 Fear) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 33 (Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jan 2 at 1:24:36 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p>Rapture Index: Closes down one on drought. \u201cRain chips away at general drought conditions\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.raptureready.com\/rapture-ready-index\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rapture Ready<\/a>]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 181. (Remember that bringing on the Rapture is good.) \u2022 Hard to believe the Rapture Index isn\u2019t at an all-time high. Doesn\u2019t the collapse of Syria bring the Third Temple closer? Do these people know something we don\u2019t?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Awwwww!<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.0238095238095\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.3154761904762\">\n<p lang=\"fr\" dir=\"ltr\">Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)<br \/>Margot, 1881<br \/>oil on canvas, 76\u00d788 cm<br \/>private collection <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OK7kUjidI9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/OK7kUjidI9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Edward Elderman (@edwereddie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edwereddie\/status\/1875762802234945777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Musical Interlude<\/p>\n<p>Flubs and all, from a live performance:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Bill Wyman \/ Charlie Watts semi isolated bass \/ drum Beast of Burden\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1T8sgKLToHQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p> Quite the rhythm section, Wyman and Watts. Wyman is generally buried so far down in the mix you don\u2019t hear him\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Public Health<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFluoride Exposure and Children\u2019s IQ Scores: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapediatrics\/fullarticle\/2828425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">JAMA<\/a>]. Meta. \u201cThis systematic review and meta-analysis found inverse associations and a dose-response association between fluoride measurements in urine and drinking water and children\u2019s IQ across the large multicountry epidemiological literature. There were limited data and uncertainty in the dose-response association between fluoride exposure and children\u2019s IQ when fluoride exposure was estimated by drinking water alone at concentrations less than 1.5 mg\/L. These findings may inform future comprehensive public health risk-benefit assessments of fluoride exposures.\u201d \u2022 Perhaps some kind reader who\u2019s really expert in methodology will take a look,<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMistletoe\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theava.com\/archives\/258312\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Anderson Valley Advertiser<\/a>]. \u201c[John Lee, MD, a family practitioner in Mill Valley, back in 1967] was then editing the Marin Medical Society Bulletin and on the look-out for topics for his monthly column. He came across an article in a Harvard alumni publication describing the pagan rituals of the Celts who lived in the British Isles in the millennium before Christ. For their winter solstice celebration, the Celtic priests -Druids- would collect berries from trees bearing mistletoe. Coincidentally, Lee had just read an item in the Journal of the American Medical Association stating that mistletoe contains a compound very similar to progesterone. He had an insight: \u2018The berries were life in the middle of that cold European winter, when everything else was bleak and apparently lifeless. The Druids called mistletoe \u2018a gift from the gods.\u2019 They would take these berries and mix them with hot mead [an alcohol drink made from fermented honey] and they would all have a weeklong party where gifts were exchanged and they would celebrate that the sun was going to return and winter would not mean the end of the world. \u2018When a woman takes progesterone and then quits, a period is induced. I realized the mead laced with mistletoe would decrease everyone\u2019s inhibitions and increase everyone\u2019s libido for their four- or five-day party. It was free sex! And after four or five days of celebration they would quit. All the women would have their periods, and no babies would occur. No wonder they called it \u2018a gift from the Gods!\u2019 Lee compares the discovery that mistletoe prevented pregnancy to the discovery that limes prevented scurvy -a major advance in the annals of medicine. \u2018The sailors didn\u2019t know it was Vitamin C. The Celts didn\u2019t know it was progesterone. They just knew it worked.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0And a lot of medicine is still that way, for good or ill\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-2-2025.html\">here<\/a>. From Wukchumni:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wukchimni writes: \u201cDusty the Adventure Dog eyeing the eastern Sierra.\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\/guest-post\" rel=\"category tag\">Guest Post<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-7-2025.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2025-01-07T14:00:10-05:00\">January 7, 2025<\/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\/2025\/01\/what-has-happened-to-our-grand-experiment-the-internet.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> What Has Happened to Our Grand Experiment, the Internet?<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"nav-next list-posts-newer\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/nav>\n<p><!-- .nav-single --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #comments .comments-area --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #content --><br \/>\n<!-- #primary --><\/p>\n<p>\t<!-- #secondary --><\/p>\n<footer id=\"colophon\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- .site-info --><br \/>\n\t\t<\/footer>\n<p><!-- #colophon --><br \/>\n\t\t<!-- #main.wrapper --><br \/>\n<!-- #page --><br \/>\n<!-- .mobile-menu-wrap --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Blog Reader Pooling - removed 09\/16\/2015 by M. Lacourse --><br \/>\n<!-- <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"nc-hide\" src=\"http:\/\/t.blogreaderproject.com\/t.gif?c9a0f3c0f2425bc76f3b4c3baf750ea8\" alt=\"\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"> --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp footer --><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-7-2025.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Brown Thrasher, Hammonasset Beach SP, New Haven, Connecticut, United States. * * * In Case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89400,"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-89399","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\/89399","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=89399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Brown Thrasher, Hammonasset Beach SP, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>In Case You Might Miss\u2026 <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#trump\">Trump to change \u201cGulf of Mexico\u201d<\/a> to \u201cGulf of America.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mate\">\u201cFBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate\u201d<\/a>: Aaron Mat\u00e9. <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#hpmv\">HPMV in China<\/a>.<\/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=\"38.217100371747\">\n<p><a name=\"trump\"\/>\u201cComing soon: Gulf of America\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/07\/congress\/gulf-of-america-00196858\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018We\u2019re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory,\u2019 Trump said. \u2018The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it\u2019s appropriate.\u2019 It marked Trump\u2019s latest pledge to expand the United States\u2019 reach throughout the world, following statements about annexing Canada and Greenland.\u201d \u2022 Monroe would be proud. I am not sure how <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Toponymy#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">toponyms<\/a> are standardized in the United States, or internationally, but no doubt there is an entity to which Trump could address his concerns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s Going Places With Energy, but Biden\u2019s the Backseat Driver\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2024\/12\/26\/trumps_going_places_with_energy_but_bidens_the_backseat_driver_1079311.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearInvestigations<\/a>], \u201cTrump has made it clear he wants to realign U.S. energy policy toward cheap, abundant energy and away from expensive, emerging renewable sources, many of which rely on government subsidies. But experts say his options may be limited in cases where Congress approved spending bills, contracts were signed, or even where he encounters pushback from reluctant \u2018green\u2019 enterprises that have relied on government largesse in the push for a \u2018NetZero\u2019 future. \u2018Congress would have to repeal some of that,\u2019 said Travis Fisher, the director of energy and environmental policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, referring to hundreds of billions in climate-relate funding, including in the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation passed during the last four years. \u2018The question in some cases will be, \u2018Do you try to improve what\u2019s been done or repeal it?\u2019 And then, if there are grants that have already gone out the door, those would be hard to claw back. But there are still a lot of targets for quick changes on day one.\u2019 Some Trump supporters think the avenues that are open to a new administration, as well as Trump\u2019s track record, give cause for optimism for those who want to reduce government spending or let the markets determine energy prices and accessibility. \u2018When Trump promises something he usually delivers, and I would expect to see significant changes in energy policy with him,\u2019 said Geoffrey Pohanka, the 2023 chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association.\u201d \u2022 Automobile dealers. Classic American gentry.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m so old I remember when \u201cour democracy\u201d was at stake!<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.2429906542056\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.345794392523\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Is there a single person in DC or media acting as if Literal Adolf Hitler is about to assume power in 2 weeks in order to end American democracy, install fascism, and create a white supremacist dictatorship? <\/p>\n<p>Is it possible those who said this for years never believed it?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ggreenwald\/status\/1876371421951369713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Lawfare<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"26.647959183673\">\n<p><a name=\"mate\"\/>\u201cFBI Is Still Hiding Details of Russiagate, Newly Released Document Shows\u201d [Aaron Mat\u00e9, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearinvestigations.com\/articles\/2025\/01\/06\/fbi_is_still_hiding_details_of_russiagate_newly_released_document_shows_1082631.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RealClearInvestigations<\/a>]. \u201cIn response to a Freedom of Information request filed by RealClearInvestigations in August 2022, the FBI on Dec. 31, more than two years later, released a heavily redacted copy of the document that opened an explosive and unprecedented counterintelligence probe of the sitting president as an agent of the Russian government\u2026. The Electronic Communication, dated May 16, 2017, claimed to have an \u2018articulable factual basis\u2019 to suspect that Trump \u2018wittingly or unwittingly\u2019 was illegally acting on behalf of Russia, and accordingly posing \u2018threats to the national security of the United States.’\u201d So Trump could have been \u201cunwittingly\u201d a Russian spy? Isn\u2019t that a little over-broad? \u201cThe investigation of Trump was undertaken at the behest of then-acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, one week after Trump had fired his former boss and mentor, James B. Comey\u2026. According to the declassified document, McCabe\u2019s decision was approved by FBI Assistant Director Bill Priestap, who had also signed off on the opening of Crossfire Hurricane; and Jim Baker, the FBI general counsel. Baker was a longtime friend of Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, and a key figure in the dissemination of Clinton-funded disinformation to the FBI that falsely tied Trump to Russia\u2026 After leaving the FBI, Baker served as deputy general counsel at Twitter, where he backed the company\u2019s censorship of reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden\u2019s laptop, based on yet another conspiracy theory that the laptop files were Russian disinformation.\u201d \u2022 And that\u2019s just the beginning of the story.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>2026<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"10.776162790698\">\n<p>\u201cOutgoing US transport chief says Boeing has more to do after 737 MAX\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/aerospace-defense\/outgoing-us-transport-chief-says-boeing-has-more-do-after-737-max-incident-2025-01-06\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Reuters<\/a>]. \u201cButtigieg, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, has said he has not made any plans for future jobs, but is viewed by some Democrats as a potential candidate for Michigan governor in 2026.\u201d \u2022 Michigan? Buttigieg is going to carpetbag Michigan?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Our Famously Free Press<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"29.563953488372\">\n<p>\u201cElon Musk Cusses Out Student Who Called Him a Fake News Machine\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/elon-musk-cusses-student-called-171002695.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Beast<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018Elon Musk is rapidly becoming the largest spreader of disinformation in human history, hijacking political debates in the process,\u2019 wrote Joni Askola, a Finnish graduate student and activist for defense of Ukraine. \u2018The EU must take action!\u2019 \u2018F u retard,\u2019 came Musk\u2019s response, containing a slur used against people who have mental disabilities. He then replied saying \u2018yes\u2019 to another person who said: \u2018We could have avoided a lot of disasters by simply telling leftist retards to stfu.’\u201d I get a lot of hope from the idea that conservatives don\u2019t \u201cknow their enemies\u201d at all; there\u2019s no way a pro-Ukrainian activist calling for moar EU is on the left. More: \u201cMusk appears to have made a conscious choice to reintroduce the word [\u201cf*ck] into right-wing parlance of late, often using it on his X platform. An analysis of his X posts and replies shows that he has used the term or a variant of it 15 times since Dec. 20, having never used it before that.\u201d Back in the day, we in the blogosphere (\u201cfoul-mouthed bloggers of the left\u201d \u2013Davd Broder) thought of \u201cf*ck\u201d as transgressive, a sign of the birth of a new media, etc. It was just boring, as boring as Musk\u2019s antics are becoming. More: \u201cThis is despite [Musk\u2019s] Dec. 29 plea for more \u2018positivity\u2019 on the platform. \u2018Please post a bit more positive, beautiful or informative content on this platform,\u2019 he said. That post came just days after he used his new favorite slur against Americans during a wild meltdown over H-1B visas.\u201d \u2022 The Twitter firehose gets fed right into xAI\u2019s training sets. Should be amusing to see the outcomes, given that many (a majority?) of Twitter users are proud of surviving the hellscape, don\u2019t want it to change, and are gaming Mush\u2019s requests (and xAI\u2019s training sets) with heavily ironiic positivity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElon Musk \u2018locks reporter from X\u2019 after article sheds light on Tesla owner\u2019s alleged alter ego Adrian Dittman\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14253621\/Elon-Musk-locks-reporter-X-article-sheds-light-Tesla-owners-alleged-alter-ego-Adrian-Dittman.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>]. \u201cA bizarre conspiracy claiming Elon Musk uses an alias to praise himself on his own social media network took an unexpected turn when a journalist who debunked the theory was banned from the platform. Jacqueline Sweet appeared to be restricted on X after she published an investigation that proved Adrian Dittmann was an actual person living in Fiji \u2013 and not Musk operating under the pseudonym in order to praise himself. Shortly after Sweet\u2019s article \u2013 outing Dittmann as a German entrepreneur \u2013 was published in <a href=\"https:\/\/thespectator.com\/topic\/real-adrian-dittmann-not-elon-musk-x-account-fiji\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Spectator World<\/a>, Musk responded a predictably cryptic post on X.\u201d \u2022 I\u2019m glad Musk occupying his beautiful mind with nonsense like this. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Democrats <em>en d\u00e9shabill\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"58.53270837579\">\n<p>\u201cDNC chair hopeful Martin O\u2019Malley says Dems will continue to lose if party doesn\u2019t connect with working class\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/dnc-chair-hopeful-martin-omalley-dems-continue-lose-party-doesnt-connect-working-class\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FOX<\/a>]. \u2022 This won\u2019t help:<\/p>\n<p>Learned nothing, forgotten nothing:<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"5.3031161473088\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"13.257790368272\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The NYT proudly says Biden’s award of presidential medals of freedom to people like Hillary, George Soros, The Carlyle Group’s David Rubenstein “signals his support for the establishment Trump wants to tear down.”<\/p>\n<p>In other news, the NYT asks why Dems “lost the working class.” <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VeIQ2hKk0h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/VeIQ2hKk0h<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ggreenwald\/status\/1875906307670360394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Gawd knows I\u2019m all for civilty and against violence\u2026<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"1.5509259259259\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"4.962962962963\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is why Dems keep losing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y80AZnxg9Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/Y80AZnxg9Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Emo Dragon (@midwestem0guy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/midwestem0guy\/status\/1875288790568464778\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>But I wish Sanders had punched her out. Kamala, after her butchery of the 2024 campaign, has no standing to make fun of anybody. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBernie Sanders Plans to Force Vote on H-1B Reforms\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leefang.com\/p\/bernie-sanders-plans-to-force-vote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lee Fang<\/a>]. \u201cSen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., plans to shake things up with a new political fight over the controversial H-1B visa program. What began as a dispute on social media over the last week will soon hit the halls of Congress. A source close to his office told me that the senator is drafting several amendments to improve the program radically \u2013 including raising income levels for foreign workers taking jobs through the H-1B visa and hiking the application fees for corporations utilizing the program. The push is a reprisal of similar 2007 amendments Sanders offered during the debate over the Bush immigration bill. During that period, he worked closely with his Republican colleagues. The new amendments will be attached to major legislation offered over the coming weeks \u2014 essentially forcing lawmakers to go on the record. Sanders is currently in talks with potential cosponsors and expects to bring a unique pro-American labor coalition of Democrats and Republicans together to crack down on H-1B abuse. The Vermont senator, now a ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, may benefit from a reshuffle in committee assignments. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., two Republican opponents of visa programs used by corporations to import foreign workers, have joined the committee this year.\u201d \u2022 A Sanders-Tuberville H-1B reform alliance wasn\u2019t on my Bingo card\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew Dem additions to a plum panel are spurring private angst\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/07\/congress\/dem-committee-assignments-cause-problems-00196852\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Politico<\/a>]. \u201cAn under-the-radar decision to add Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and about half a dozen other members to the House Energy and Commerce is causing some angst among House Democrats, according to three people familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to detail private discussions. In an unusual move, the Steering and Policy panel filled six out of the seven open slots on the Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday morning and left the last position open for a 10-way race. The spots were highly competitive, and some lawmakers are questioning why certain members like Ocasio-Cortez were selected while others were left to compete for the last open spot\u2026. Since [2020], Ocasio-Cortez has claimed an inside track in the caucus, paying dues to the caucus\u2019 campaign arm and making up with other lawmakers. She also backed away from support for primary challenges when she mounted an unsuccessful bid to be the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee last month. The committee has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, technology and other policy areas that will be in the spotlight in the new Congress, as the GOP takes full control of Washington. The panel chaired by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) has a long tradition of bipartisanship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NY: \u201cThe Democratic Panic in New York\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonmonthly.com\/2024\/12\/31\/democratic-panic-new-york\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Washington Magazine<\/a>]. \u201cTorres, an outspoken critic of \u2018woke politics,\u2019 has become the most interesting politician in New York. He has positioned himself as a centrist alternative for governor in 2026, lambasting Hochul as \u2018the new Joe Biden\u2019 for being soft on crime and endangering public safety. In a post-election interview with Hanna Rosin of The Atlantic, Torres identified himself as pro-immigration but blamed the Biden administration for letting the border crisis get out of control. \u2018So we can blame the voters. We can claim that the voters are misogynist and white supremacist. We could blame Fox News and the New York Post. But those institutions have always been with us in recent political history,\u2019 he said. When pressed on his vision for Democrats, Torres replied, \u2018Economically populist, right? We have to convey the sense that we\u2019re fighting for working people and that we\u2019re holding powerful interests accountable, right?\u2026 People do care about border security. People do care about public safety. We have to ensure that we\u2019re on the center of those issues while doubling down on economic populism.’\u201d \u2022 Any New Yorkers want to comment on Torres?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Realignment and Legitimacy<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"34.045734388742\">\n<p>\u201cState governments by party control, 2025\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/01\/07\/state-laws-control-republicans-democrats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018Republicans notched the two biggest legislative victories’\u201d of Election Day 2024, per Cook\u2019s Matthew Klein: Flipping Michigan\u2019s House of Representatives and splitting the Minnesota House.\u201d \u2022 Handy map:<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/state_governments-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione Court Case Hit With Delay\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/luigi-mangione-court-case-delay-2010742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Newsweek<\/a>]. \u201cOn Monday, prosecutors and defense attorneys jointly requested additional time to prepare the case for trial, further delaying proceedings. Attorneys for both sides agreed in a letter to the court to extend the deadline for indicting the accused, Luigi Mangione, from January 18 to February 17. Mangione, 26, is currently charged through a criminal complaint, a preliminary document filed against individuals before a formal indictment is issued. Prosecutors stated that they consulted with the defense team and agreed on the need to extend the indictment deadline, citing the importance of allowing \u201cboth parties adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings and the trial itself.\u2019 \u2022 The Federal case, which presumably the incoming administration needs to get a handle on.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuigi Mangione visited gun range on Thailand vacation months before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson\u2019s killing: report\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/01\/06\/us-news\/luigi-mangione-went-to-thai-gun-range-before-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompsons-killing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Post<\/a>]. \u201cAccused killer Luigi Mangione hit up an expensive gun range during a trip to Thailand \u2014 just months before he allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the Big Apple, his travel friends have claimed. The 26-year-old accused assassin visited the gun range after leaving the US on a solo Asia trip early last year, two German tourists who met him during his travels told TMZ\u2019s new \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2025\/01\/06\/luigi-mangione-went-to-gun-range-thailand-vacation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Luigi Mangione: The Mind of a Killer<\/a>\u2018 documentary. Mangione opted to skip a beach day and head to the range instead, according to the friends \u2014 who were only identified as Paul and Max\u2026 The pair, who said they traveled extensively with Mangione through Asia, also claimed he was obsessed with Indian author Jash Dholani\u2019s book \u201cHit Reverse: New Ideas From Old Books,\u201d which examines philosophical viewpoints from a range of authors. He even apparently purchased 400 copies of the book and flew to Mumbai to try to give the author his personal feedback, the German travelers said.\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/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:\/\/skylab.cdph.ca.gov\/calwws\/\" 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, thump, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3). <\/p>\n<p>Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n<p>Transmission: HPMV<\/p>\n<blockquote wp_automatic_readability=\"39.073064770932\">\n<p><a name=\"hpmv\"\/>\u201cChina\u2019s latest virus surge is the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has also seen spikes in the U.S. Here are the symptoms and whether it could be the next pandemic\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/well\/article\/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-symptoms-pandemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Fortune<\/a>]. \u201cBut HMPV is not new, and the U.S. has also seen spikes, which receded, most recently in spring of 2023. HMPV is \u2018probably much more common than we know,\u2019 Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, previously told Fortune. \u2018We are finding it more often because we are testing people for respiratory diseases post-COVID and RSV,\u2019 he says. Human metapneumovirus is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection, according to the American Lung Association. As with RSV, most humans have been infected with HMPV by age 5. While the vast majority will fare fine at home, as many as 10% of pediatric hospitalizations are due to lower respiratory infections caused by the virus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560910\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to the National Library of Medicine<\/a>. A 2010 study found that it was the one of the most common viruses among 256 children hospitalized with respiratory ailments, second only to RSV. When it comes to elderly adults, about 22 in every 10,000 are hospitalized with the virus each year\u2014particularly seniors with cardiovascular disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3564111\/pdf\/viruses-05-00087.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to a 2013 article in the journal Viruses<\/a>. Symptoms are pretty much identical to other respiratory viruses, and testing is necessary to tell them apart. As with its relative, RSV, HMPV has the potential to hit harder for the young and the elderly, as well as for those with weakened immune systems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCNA Explains: What is HMPV, why are cases rising in China and should you be worried?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/east-asia\/hmpv-symptoms-human-metapneumovirus-china-cna-explains-outbreak-respiratory-infection-4840111\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Channel News Asia<\/a>]. \u201cProfessor Paul Tambyah, a Senior Consultant at the National University Hospital\u2019s (NUH) Division of Infectious Diseases, noted that Chinese health officials have greatly stepped up surveillance of acute respiratory infections with better diagnostics and deployment of technology. \u2018It is not surprising that more HMPV infections are being picked up. This does happen in China every winter on a regular basis, especially in northern China,\u2019 Prof Tambyah said. \u2018The bottom line is that we should not be overly concerned as there are no reports of a major public health impact from the increased detection in Northern China (but) of course, all this could change with more data,\u2019 he added. Public health experts have noted significant differences between both [HMPV and SARS-CoV-2], with HMPV generally less severe with a lower mortality rate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table\"\/><strong>TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lambert: New York City hospitalization is one of oldest and most consistent datasets, and it\u2019s going up; approaching \u201cjump\u201d territory after the holidays. I don\u2019t like that at all, and I like the New York state data even less:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"378\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-state-300x189.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody wp_automatic_readability=\"11.340425531915\">\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> December 30<\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-300x187.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\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-ww-natl-4-300x211.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> December 21<\/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> December 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-cdc-variants-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-variants-natl-1-300x177.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-er-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-er-natl-1-300x172.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=\"4.7560975609756\">\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 January 6:<\/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> Janurary 2, 2005:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td valign=\"top\">\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"342\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-ny-hospitalization-nyc-1-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-hospitalization-natl-296x300.png 296w\" 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=\"2.6842105263158\">\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> National[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/healthcare-solutions\/covid-19-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Walgreens<\/a> January 6:<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; color: gold;\">\u2605<\/span> Ohio[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/clevelandcliniclabs.com\/respiratory-virus-surveillance-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> January 4:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-walgreens-positivity-states-1-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-tab-span\">\t<img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"428\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cleveland-positivity-oh-1-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (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=\"3.5932203389831\">\n<td valign=\"top\"> Positivity[9] <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#traveler-genomic-surveillance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC<\/a> December 16:<\/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> December 16<\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284943\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-positivity-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/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\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/covid-cdc-variants-travelers-300x212.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=\"3.7647058823529\">\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 20:<\/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 20:<\/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-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-positivity-natl-1-300x161.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-deaths-ed-natl-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-284303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/covid-cdc-deaths-ed-natl-1-300x183.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<td wp_automatic_readability=\"142.60657053119\">\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) Seeing more red and more orange, but nothing new at major hubs. <\/p>\n<p>[2] (CDC) Last week\u2019s wastewater map.<\/p>\n<p>[3] (CDC Variants) XEC takes over. That WHO label, \u201cOmmicron,\u201d has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.<\/p>\n<p>[4] (ED) A little uptick.<\/p>\n<p>[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Slow and small but steady increase.<\/p>\n<p>[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[8] (Cleveland) Continued upward trend since, well, Thanksgiving.<\/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 leveling out.<\/p>\n<p>[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stats Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Supply Chain: \u201cUnited States LMI Logistics Managers Index\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/lmi-logistics-managers-index-current\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe Logistics Manager\u2019s Index dropped to 57.3 in December 2024 from 58.4 in November, the lowest in four months. This slowdown was largely driven by a seasonal decrease in Inventory Levels, which fell by 6.1 points to 50.0, signaling no overall change. However, this masks the underlying trends: upstream firms like manufacturers and wholesalers saw inventory levels rise to 57.9 due to increased imports, while downstream retailers experienced a significant decline in inventory levels, dropping to 33.9, as expected during the holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Employment Situation: \u201cUnited States Job Openings\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/united-states\/job-offers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trading Economics<\/a>]. \u201cThe number of job openings increased by 259,000 to 8,098 million in November 2024, from an upwardly revised 7.839 million in October and above market expectations of 7.70 million. The number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+273,000), finance and insurance (+105,000), and private educational services (+38,000) but decreased in information (-89,000).\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Manfacturing: \u201cBoeing needs to start designing a new plane soon to help turn things around, former CEO says\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/8ckhp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Business Insider<\/a>]. \u201cPhil Condit, who led the planemaker from 1996 to 2003, told The Wall Street Journal, \u2018You\u2019ve got to get people excited about what they\u2019re doing. You don\u2019t come to work just for a paycheck. You come to work because you care about what you\u2019re doing.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0Not sure I would give a whole lot of weight to a former Boeing CEO\u2019s views on labor\u2026.. <\/p>\n<p>Manufacturing: \u201cBoeing progresses on manufacturing improvement plan\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/boeing-progresses-manufacturing-improvement-plan-091900617.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Manufacturing Dive<\/a>]. \u201c\u2018As the strike ended, I spoke directly with the CEO [Kelly Ortberg] about the importance of adhering to safety-management principles as Boeing resumed production,\u2019 outgoing FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in the agency\u2019s Jan. 3 blog post reflecting on the year since the Alaska Airlines incident. \u2018It\u2019s clear that message hit home, as Boeing spent a full month post-strike making sure the necessary safety steps were taken before restarting production.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0\u201cA whole month\u201d\u2026.. <\/p>\n<p>Tech: \u201cUber And Lyft Will Roll Out Robotaxis This Year. But There\u2019s A Problem\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/746304\/uber-lyft-deploy-robotaxis-this-year-challenges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">InsideEVs<\/a>]. \u201cThe robotaxis, however, have a mountain to climb in terms of safety, public trust and logistics. Waymo riders are facing a new form of harassment as people have been hostile towards self-driving cars\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/insideevs.com\/news\/598270\/pedestrians-attack-waymo-self-driving-cars-arizona-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">vandalising<\/a>, threatening passengers and obstructing the vehicles. General Motors\u2019 Cruise robotaxi division suspended operations last year after one of its Chevrolet Bolt EVs dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco.\u201d \u2022 Oh,<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Fear & Greed Index: 26 Fear (previous close: 27 Fear) [<a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/data\/fear-and-greed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. One week ago: 33 (Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jan 2 at 1:24:36 PM ET.<\/p>\n<p>Rapture Index: Closes down one on drought. \u201cRain chips away at general drought conditions\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.raptureready.com\/rapture-ready-index\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rapture Ready<\/a>]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 181. (Remember that bringing on the Rapture is good.) \u2022 Hard to believe the Rapture Index isn\u2019t at an all-time high. Doesn\u2019t the collapse of Syria bring the Third Temple closer? Do these people know something we don\u2019t?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Awwwww!<\/p>\n<p><center wp_automatic_readability=\"3.0238095238095\"> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" wp_automatic_readability=\"8.3154761904762\">\n<p lang=\"fr\" dir=\"ltr\">Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)<br \/>Margot, 1881<br \/>oil on canvas, 76\u00d788 cm<br \/>private collection <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OK7kUjidI9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/OK7kUjidI9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Edward Elderman (@edwereddie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edwereddie\/status\/1875762802234945777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">January 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center> <\/p>\n<p>Musical Interlude<\/p>\n<p>Flubs and all, from a live performance:<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Bill Wyman \/ Charlie Watts semi isolated bass \/ drum Beast of Burden\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1T8sgKLToHQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p> Quite the rhythm section, Wyman and Watts. Wyman is generally buried so far down in the mix you don\u2019t hear him\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Public Health<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFluoride Exposure and Children\u2019s IQ Scores: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapediatrics\/fullarticle\/2828425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">JAMA<\/a>]. Meta. \u201cThis systematic review and meta-analysis found inverse associations and a dose-response association between fluoride measurements in urine and drinking water and children\u2019s IQ across the large multicountry epidemiological literature. There were limited data and uncertainty in the dose-response association between fluoride exposure and children\u2019s IQ when fluoride exposure was estimated by drinking water alone at concentrations less than 1.5 mg\/L. These findings may inform future comprehensive public health risk-benefit assessments of fluoride exposures.\u201d \u2022 Perhaps some kind reader who\u2019s really expert in methodology will take a look,<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"wired\"\/><strong>News of the Wired<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMistletoe\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/theava.com\/archives\/258312\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Anderson Valley Advertiser<\/a>]. \u201c[John Lee, MD, a family practitioner in Mill Valley, back in 1967] was then editing the Marin Medical Society Bulletin and on the look-out for topics for his monthly column. He came across an article in a Harvard alumni publication describing the pagan rituals of the Celts who lived in the British Isles in the millennium before Christ. For their winter solstice celebration, the Celtic priests -Druids- would collect berries from trees bearing mistletoe. Coincidentally, Lee had just read an item in the Journal of the American Medical Association stating that mistletoe contains a compound very similar to progesterone. He had an insight: \u2018The berries were life in the middle of that cold European winter, when everything else was bleak and apparently lifeless. The Druids called mistletoe \u2018a gift from the gods.\u2019 They would take these berries and mix them with hot mead [an alcohol drink made from fermented honey] and they would all have a weeklong party where gifts were exchanged and they would celebrate that the sun was going to return and winter would not mean the end of the world. \u2018When a woman takes progesterone and then quits, a period is induced. I realized the mead laced with mistletoe would decrease everyone\u2019s inhibitions and increase everyone\u2019s libido for their four- or five-day party. It was free sex! And after four or five days of celebration they would quit. All the women would have their periods, and no babies would occur. No wonder they called it \u2018a gift from the Gods!\u2019 Lee compares the discovery that mistletoe prevented pregnancy to the discovery that limes prevented scurvy -a major advance in the annals of medicine. \u2018The sailors didn\u2019t know it was Vitamin C. The Celts didn\u2019t know it was progesterone. They just knew it worked.’\u201d \u2022\u00a0And a lot of medicine is still that way, for good or ill\u2026 <\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center> <\/p>\n<p><strong>Contact information for plants<\/strong>: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-2-2025.html\">here<\/a>. From Wukchumni:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sierra_2-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wukchimni writes: \u201cDusty the Adventure Dog eyeing the eastern Sierra.\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\/guest-post\" rel=\"category tag\">Guest Post<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/category\/water-cooler\" rel=\"category tag\">Water Cooler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2025\/01\/200pm-water-cooler-1-7-2025.html\" title=\"2:00 pm\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date updated\" datetime=\"2025-01-07T14:00:10-05:00\">January 7, 2025<\/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\/2025\/01\/what-has-happened-to-our-grand-experiment-the-internet.html\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">\u2190<\/span> What Has Happened to Our Grand Experiment, the Internet?<\/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 Brown Thrasher, Hammonasset Beach SP, New Haven, Connecticut, United States. * * * In Case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":89400,"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-89399","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\/89399","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=89399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}