Post by mhbruin on Feb 1, 2022 9:57:40 GMT -8
US Vaccine Data - We Have Now Administered 539 Million Shots (Population 333 Million)
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California Precipitation (Updated Tuesday Jan 25)
We had a great December, but January has been pretty terrible. We have 3-4 months to get some significant rain.
There are no big storms in the 10-day forecast.
Reservoirs are still low, but they are filling up a bit.
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Today's Worst Person in the World Nominees
Todays' Worst Joe in the World - Claims Joe Rogan Has Made
Claim: A vaccine can alter your genes
Mr Rogan said: "This is not a vaccine, this is essentially a gene therapy." But this is not true.
None of the Covid vaccines change your genetic material or DNA - essentially the recipe book containing the instructions of how to build your body.
Claim: Ivermectin can cure Covid
This claim was made on an episode last year featuring Bret Weinstein, an American author and professor of biology, who said: "Ivermectin alone is capable of driving this pathogen to extinction."
BBC Reality Check looked at a series of research papers claiming to show the effectiveness of this drug in treating Covid.
Many were very low quality, and in some cases the data had been clearly manipulated.
If you look only at rigorously carried out studies, there is no evidence of the drug's effectiveness.
Campaigners often cherry-pick positive examples and ignore the fact that many countries which relied heavily on ivermectin, like Brazil and Peru, had some of the worst death tolls from the virus.
The world-leading experts on reviewing medical evidence, Cochrane, concluded based on just these reliable trials that there was "insufficient evidence" to recommend the drug.
Claim: If you get vaccinated after having had Covid, you're at greater risk of harmful side effects
One of Mr Rogan's most controversial guests has been the virologist Robert Malone.
Mr Malone was banned from Twitter in December last year for violating its Covid misinformation policies. He appeared on Mr Rogan's podcast shortly afterwards.
Among the misleading claims made in this podcast episode was one suggesting people who are vaccinated after having Covid-19 are at greater risk of adverse side effects.
Following his appearance, more than 270 doctors and healthcare professionals signed a letter to Spotify, calling for Covid misinformation to be addressed.
Robust studies so far have shown that a very small number of conditions - blood clots, heart inflammation - are slightly more likely after certain vaccines, although are still very rare.
In one UK study, researchers found that vaccine after effects were more common in those who already had Covid.
However, this study only looked at mild after effects, such as fatigue, chills and headaches.
Claim: For young people, the health risks from the vaccine are greater than from Covid
Mr Rogan said: "I don't think it's true there's an increased risk of myocarditis from people catching Covid-19 that are young, versus the risk from the vaccine."
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that has been raised as a rare side effect of vaccination.
However, research has shown that this condition, which can lead to shortness of breath, chest pain and in very rare cases to heart failure, is considerably more common after a Covid infection than after vaccination. - as is also the case with blood clots.
It also appears that cases of myocarditis post-vaccination are generally milder and shorter-lasting.
It's certainly the case that younger people are at much lower risk of serious illness from Covid, but they are not at zero risk of developing complications.
Buying Silence Is Tax Deductible
Former President Donald Trump's political action committee donated $1 million to the conservative nonprofit organization where his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is a senior partner, according to a campaign finance report filed Monday night with the Federal Election Commission.
In December, the House voted to recommend that the Justice Department pursue contempt of Congress charges against Meadows over his refusal to cooperate with an investigation into the Trump-inspired Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The tax-deductible seven-figure contribution to the Conservative Partnership Institute is by far the largest chunk of $1.35 million in donations Trump's "Save America" PAC made to political allies over the last six months of 2021, according to the campaign finance report.
The "Tough On Crime" QOP
Although some Republicans spoke out against the idea of pardoning people convicted in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as former President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend, others said they’re tired of answering questions about him and would rather discuss other topics.
“The obsession with the former president is becoming obnoxious to me,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) complained on Monday when asked about the dominant figure in his party who is flirting with another run for president in 2024.
“It’s sort of interesting, but considering what we’re dealing with here every day, it’s low priority,” Cramer added of Trump’s latest comments about the Capitol riot. The North Dakota Republican urged reporters to focus instead on the Biden administration and economic problems, such as inflation and high energy prices.
Speaking at a rally in Conroe, Texas, on Saturday, Trump offered his support for those who stormed the Capitol and called on his followers to stage massive protests should prosecutors act to bring charges against him.
Other Republicans declined to comment when pressed about the issue on Monday, including Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.) and Ben Sasse (Neb.).
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, also refused to weigh in, calling the possibility of pardons for Jan. 6 rioters mere “speculation.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a possible 2024 presidential candidate who objected to the 2020 electoral results shortly after the attack on the Capitol, said it was up to Trump whether he wanted to consider pardons for supporters who were convicted of crimes as part of his campaign.
“If he wants to run in 2024 and make that part of his campaign platform, that’s up to him. My own view is that for folks who committed crimes ― actual crimes ― they ought to be prosecuted... whether it was here or Portland or St. Louis,” Hawley said, seeking to draw parallels to violence that occurred during racial justice protests in 2020.
If Only Every Country Has a Leader As Hard-Working As Kim Jong Un
In a new propaganda video, North Korea appeared to address rumors of ailing health that have dogged dictator Kim Jong Un.
The video said Kim, who has at times vanished from public view and lost a significant amount of weight, was “completely withered away,” according to independent news and analysis website North Korea News. The TV special included footage of Kim “struggling to walk down a set of stairs,” and reporter Colin Zwirko shared a clip showing the dictator with a noticeable limp:
Didn't We Just Have a Rapist President?
Garrett Soldano, a Republican candidate for governor in Michigan, faced widespread backlash after he argued against survivors of sexual assault getting abortions, saying they didn’t know if their unborn baby could become president.
Soldano, citing a friend whose mother was the victim of a gang rape, claimed people who become pregnant from sexual assault were put “in this moment” by God and that the DNA of the fetus should be protected.
“And so what we must start to focus on is not only to defend the DNA when it’s created, but, however, how about we start inspiring women in the culture to let them understand and know how heroic they are? And how unbelievable that they are?” he told conservative commentator April Moss on her “Face The Facts” podcast.
“That God put them in this moment and they don’t know that little baby inside them may be the next president, maybe the next person who changes humanity, may get us out of the situation in the future,” Soldano added, per a video of the conversation that Heartland Signal tweeted Monday. “We must always, always protect that DNA and allow it to have a voice.”
I Hope They Catch This Scumbag. Does Previous Guy Want to Pardon Him, Too?
For the second day in a row, several historically Black colleges and universities received bomb threats Tuesday, resulting in shelters-in-place and canceled classes as authorities swept campuses looking for devices. No explosions have been reported.
Howard University, in Washington, D.C., was threatened on both days. It declared an all-clear Tuesday as it did Monday.
CBS Washington, D.C., affiliate WUSA-TV says a bomb threat was also reported at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Tuesday.
Other schools getting threats Tuesday included Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida; Kentucky State University; Fort Valley State, in Georgia; Xavier University in Louisiana; Spelman College in Atlanta and Morgan State in Baltimore.
In addition to Howard on Monday, schools receiving threats included Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida; Albany State University in Georgia; Bowie State University in Maryland and Delaware State University.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.
America's Answer to Pablo Escobar Offers to Help a Little With the Problem They Created. It's Like Shooting Someone, Stealing Their Money, and Offering to Make Up For It By Paying For Their Tylenol.
The family that owns Purdue Pharma is “close” to an agreement that substantially increases its financial contribution to a nationwide opioids settlement, according to a new court filing.
The filing from Judge Shelley Chapman, who is mediating a dispute between Purdue Pharma and states that objected to its bankruptcy reorganization plan, asked for an extra week to reach a deal. Tuesday had been the original deadline.
Descendants of Raymond and Mortimer Sackler initially agreed to contribute $4 billion to resolve private and public claims against the bankrupt maker of OxyContin and fund opioid relief and education programs.
Senator For Sale
With a crucial vote pending over filibuster rules that would have made strong voting rights legislation feasible, Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema flew into Houston, Texas, for a fundraiser that drew dozens of fossil fuel chieftains, including Continental Resources chairman Harold Hamm and ConocoPhillips chief executive Ryan Lance.
The event was held on 18 January at the upmarket River Oaks Country Club. One executive told the Guardian that Sinema spoke for about half an hour and informed a mostly Republican crowd that they could “rest assured” she would not back any changes with filibuster rules, reiterating a stance she took several days before during a Senate speech.
The Arizona senator also addressed some energy industry issues according to the executive, who added that overall he was “tremendously impressed”.
The day after the Houston bash, Sinema voted against changing filibuster rules, thereby helping to thwart the voting rights bill.
The Houston gusher of fossil fuel donations for Sinema from many stalwart Republican donors underscores how pivotal she has become, along with West Virginia Democratic senator Joe Manchin, in an evenly divided Senate involving high-stakes battles for Republican and fossil fuel interests.
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Coming Soon to a Pediatrician Near You
The US is expected to approve coronavirus vaccines for children under the age of five by the end of February.
Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) anticipate Pfizer will ask them in coming days to authorise two doses for the age group.
The company is also researching a three-dose regimen but that data is not likely to be submitted until March.
Paediatric Covid-19 cases have spiked since the rise of the Omicron variant.
More than 3.5 million cases were reported in the US last month, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
But data shows few children have been hospitalised or have died from the virus.
Kid Can Spread the Disease, Too.
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Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi
Australian HIV diagnoses have hit an all-time low, with the country in sight of eliminating transmissions. It's a legacy of Australia's early, effective response, reports Gary Nunn from Sydney.
During the outbreak in the 1980s, a political friend of then Health Minister Neal Blewett had a word in his ear.
"Look mate, there are no votes in collaborating with these [people]," he said.
He was referring to gay men, sex workers and people who inject drugs - those heavily impacted by the virus.
Australia's exceptional HIV/Aids response owes much, experts say, to politicians and other powerful decision-makers offering these communities seats at the table.
It was an extraordinary "leap of faith", says author Nick Cook.
"Homosexuality was still illegal in some Australian states, so all three groups were stigmatised criminals; society's most hated," he says.
"It was also smart strategy: the government couldn't be seen spending money on telling gay men how to have sex and drug users how to inject safely, during an epidemic. But they could funnel money into trusted community groups who could."
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Enjoy Your Free Wordle While You Can
The inventor of word game sensation Wordle has spoken of being overwhelmed by its success, following a sale to the New York Times (NYT).
Software engineer Josh Wardle released the free simple online game in October, and has now sold it for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
He said the game, which has millions of players, "has gotten bigger than I ever imagined. It has been incredible."
The NYT wants to use the game to boost its online subscriptions.
The media group said it will "initially remain free" to play, raising questions that the intention in the long term is to charge.
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Melatonin Melts in Your Brain, Not in Your Hand
"Taking sleep aids has been linked in prospective studies with the development of dementia and early mortality. Melatonin is one such sleep aid," she said.
Melatonin has also been linked to headache, dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, drowsiness, confusion or disorientation, irritability and mild anxiety, depression and tremors, as well as abnormally low blood pressure. It can also interact with common medications and trigger allergies.
While short term use for jet lag, shift workers and people who have trouble falling asleep appears to be safe, long-term safety is unknown, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health.
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No Trouble Brewin'. No Trouble Bruins. He's Not Even In California
The person who made threats to the University of California at Los Angeles has been located, is "under observation and not in California," a UCLA spokesperson said Tuesday, citing out-of-state law enforcement.
Classes will remain remote for Tuesday, spokesperson Steve Ritea told CNN via email, after they were moved online due to "threats sent to some members of our community," the university tweeted late Monday.
A former lecturer and postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at Los Angeles sent email threats to students and faculty members, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times. Leaders of the school's philosophy department, where the former lecturer had worked, warned students and faculty about the threats toward the department, according to emails from the department to students and faculty that the Times obtained.
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How Does a Georgia Sheriff Have Half a Million to Spare?
A Georgia sheriff who recently closed the case of a 17-year-student who was found dead in 2013 in a rolled-up gym mat announced Monday he is offering $500,000 of his own money to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest or conviction.
Last month, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk released a 16-page document concluding that Kendrick Johnson's death was an accident and no charges would be filed.
Johnson's family said they believe the teen was murdered and that his death was covered-up.
“After the release of my synopsis of the Federal files on the Kendrick Johnson case, his parents have called me a liar and continue to state that Kendrick was murdered," Paulk said in a news release Monday.
"Because of these statements, I am personally — with my own funds — offering a reward of one-half million dollars ($500,000.00) to anyone who comes forward with information that results in the arrest and conviction of a person for the alleged murder of Kendrick Johnson at Lowndes High School."
Johnson's body was found in a wrestling mat Jan. 11, 2013, in the high school's gym in Valdosta, Georgia. The report said his body was head-down in a rolled-up mat that was positioned vertically. His feet were visible from the top of the mat, the report said.
State and local law enforcement officials ruled the death an accidental asphyxiation, saying Johnson died after he climbed into the mat to retrieve his sneakers.
Who Hasn't Ended up In a Rolled Up Gym Mat After an Accidental Fall?
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Were Any Marked with a Sharpie?
When the National Archives and Records Administration handed over a trove of documents to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, some of the Trump White House records had been ripped up and then taped back together, according to three people familiar with the records.
Former president Donald Trump was known inside the White House for his unusual and potentially unlawful habit of tearing presidential records into shreds and tossing them on the floor — creating a headache for records management analysts who meticulously used Scotch tape to piece together fragments of paper that were sometimes as small as confetti, as Politico reported in 2018.
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So a Self-Driving Tesla Drives Like My Brother-In-Law
Tesla is recalling nearly 54,000 cars and SUVs because their “Full Self-Driving” software lets them roll through stop signs without coming to a complete halt.
Documents posted Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators say that Tesla will disable the feature with an over-the-internet software update. The “rolling stop” feature allows vehicles to go through intersections with all-way stop signs at up to 5.6 miles per hour.
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I'm an Organ Donor, But I Wouldn't Want My Organs Going to an Anti-Vaxer
Hospitals are yanking people off waiting lists for donated organs if they refuse to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to officials, the hospitals are following standards set by transplant organizations to give available organs to those with the best chances of survival. The American Society of Transplantation recommends that “all transplant candidates and their household members should have completed the full complement of recommended vaccinations,” including vaccines for COVID-19.
“I will die free,” North Carolina resident Chad Carswell, 38, told Charlotte’s WSOC-TV last week after losing his chance at a kidney transplant at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
“There is not a situation in this world that I’ll get a vaccine,” he told The Washington Post. “If I’m laying on my deathbed, and they tell me, ‘You have a kidney waiting on you if you get this shot,’ I’ll tell them, ’I’ll see you on the other side.’”
Carswell did not reveal why he refused to get the vaccine, other than: “I was born free.”
He’s still receiving dialysis three times a week, but that’s only a temporary solution.
“I have to have a kidney to prolong my life,” he said.
What's Freer Than Being Hooked Up to a Dialysis Machine?
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CDC doesn't do a good job of reporting around holidays.
Doses Administered 7-Day Average | Number of People Receiving 1 or More Doses | Number of People 2 or More Doses | New Cases 7-Day Average | Deaths 7-Day Average | |
| Feb 1 | |||||
| Jan 31 | 575,732 | 250,029,773 | 211,818,885 | ||
| Jan 30 | 603,030 | 249,892,470 | 211,695,131 | 497,296 | 2,234 |
| Jan 29 | 595,871 | 249,695,301 | 211,533,229 | 522,626 | 2,261 |
| Jan 28 | 626,946 | 249,473,925 | 211,343,818 | 543,016 | 2,265 |
| Jan 27 | 643,725 | 249,267,851 (I don't know why) | 211,162,083 | 577,748 | 2,300 |
| Jan 26 | 962,958 | 251,518,114 | 210,850,212 | 596,859 | 2,288 |
| Jan 25 | 1,011,603 | 251,289,667 | 210,682,471 | 627,294 | 2,246 |
| Jan 24 | 1,201,186 | 250,964,433 | 210,459,963 | 692,359 | 2,166 |
| Jan 23 | 1,101,405 | 250,763,600 | 210,358,008 | 663,908 | 1,936 |
| Jan 22 | 1,002,322 | 250,568,431 | 210,229,586 | 686,715 | 1,939 |
| Jan 21 | 1,035,111 | 250,262,153 | 210,021,766 | 716,829 | 1,974 |
| Jan 20 | 1,094,988 | 250,028,635 | 209,842,610 | 726,870 | 1,843 |
| Jan 19 | 1,135,453 | 249,702,939 | 209,509,297 | 744,615 | 1,749 |
| Jan 18 | 1,158,537 | 249,393,487 | 209,312,770 | 755,095 | 1,669 |
| Jan 17 | No Data | 736,350 | 1,746 | ||
| Jan 16 | No Data | 771,131 | 1,851 | ||
| Jan 15 | 1,268,202 | 248,707,432 | 208,995,438 | 788,628 | 1,858 |
| Jan 14 | 1,286,773 | 248,338,448 | 208,791,862 | 798,335 | 1,784 |
| Jan 13 | 1,291,013 | 247,987,225 | 208,564,894 | 794,587 | 1,730 |
| Jan 12 | 1,234,672 | 247,695,845 | 208,182,657 | 782,765 | 1,729 |
| Jan 11 | 1,213,113 | 247,321,023 | 207,954,605 | 761,535 | 1,656 |
| Jan 10 | 1,307,445 | 247,051,363 | 207,796,335 | 750,996 | 1,633 |
| Jan 9 | 1,331,635 | 246,812,939 | 207,662,071 | 674,406 | 1,552 |
| Jan 8 | 1,286,783 | 246,447,823 | 207,452,448 | 680,330 | 1,544 |
| Jan 7 | 1,226,151 | 246,050,320 | 207,229,983 | 668,497 | 1,513 |
| Jan 6 | 1,164,127 | 245,653,518 | 207,016,514 | 614,552 | 1,350 |
| Jan 5 | 1,117,999 | 245,278,020 | 206,797,799 | 586,391 | 1,245 |
| Jan 4 | 1,093,005 | 244,947,293 | 206,581,659 | 554,328 | 1,238 |
| Jan 3 | No Data | 491,652 | 1,165 | ||
| Jan 2 | No Data | 438,082 | 1,174 | ||
| Jan 1 | No Data | 411,871 | 1,151 | ||
| Dec 31 | No Data | 391,098 | 1,135 | ||
| Dec 30 | 1,234,917 | 243,527,564 | 205,811,394 | 360,276 | 1,144 |
| Feb 16, 2021 | 1,716,311 | 39,670,551 | 15,015,434 | 78,292 |
| At Least One Dose | Fully Vaccinated | % of Vaccinated W/ Boosters | |
| % of Total Population | 75.3% | 64.8% | 41.5% |
| % of Population 5+ | 80.1% | 67.8% | |
| % of Population 12+ | 85.1% | 72.5% | 44.7% |
| % of Population 18+ | 86.9% | 74.1% | 56.1% |
| % of Population 65+ | 95.0% | 88.4% | 64.5% |
California Precipitation (Updated Tuesday Jan 25)
We had a great December, but January has been pretty terrible. We have 3-4 months to get some significant rain.
There are no big storms in the 10-day forecast.
| Percent of Average for this Date | Last Week | 2 Weeks ago | 3 Weeks ago | 4 Weeks ago | |
| Northern Sierra Precipitation | 124% | 134% | 149% | 158% | 170% |
| San Joaquin Precipitation | 110% | 121% | 138% | 156% | 170% |
| Tulare Basin Precipitation | 101% | 112% | 127% | 145% | 151% |
| Snow Water Content - North | 117% | 128% | 135% | 134% | |
| Snow Water Content - Central | 114% | 129% | 148% | 148% | |
| Snow Water Content - South | 121% | 135% | 160% | 158% |
Reservoirs are still low, but they are filling up a bit.
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Today's Worst Person in the World Nominees
Todays' Worst Joe in the World - Claims Joe Rogan Has Made
Claim: A vaccine can alter your genes
Mr Rogan said: "This is not a vaccine, this is essentially a gene therapy." But this is not true.
None of the Covid vaccines change your genetic material or DNA - essentially the recipe book containing the instructions of how to build your body.
Claim: Ivermectin can cure Covid
This claim was made on an episode last year featuring Bret Weinstein, an American author and professor of biology, who said: "Ivermectin alone is capable of driving this pathogen to extinction."
BBC Reality Check looked at a series of research papers claiming to show the effectiveness of this drug in treating Covid.
Many were very low quality, and in some cases the data had been clearly manipulated.
If you look only at rigorously carried out studies, there is no evidence of the drug's effectiveness.
Campaigners often cherry-pick positive examples and ignore the fact that many countries which relied heavily on ivermectin, like Brazil and Peru, had some of the worst death tolls from the virus.
The world-leading experts on reviewing medical evidence, Cochrane, concluded based on just these reliable trials that there was "insufficient evidence" to recommend the drug.
Claim: If you get vaccinated after having had Covid, you're at greater risk of harmful side effects
One of Mr Rogan's most controversial guests has been the virologist Robert Malone.
Mr Malone was banned from Twitter in December last year for violating its Covid misinformation policies. He appeared on Mr Rogan's podcast shortly afterwards.
Among the misleading claims made in this podcast episode was one suggesting people who are vaccinated after having Covid-19 are at greater risk of adverse side effects.
Following his appearance, more than 270 doctors and healthcare professionals signed a letter to Spotify, calling for Covid misinformation to be addressed.
Robust studies so far have shown that a very small number of conditions - blood clots, heart inflammation - are slightly more likely after certain vaccines, although are still very rare.
In one UK study, researchers found that vaccine after effects were more common in those who already had Covid.
However, this study only looked at mild after effects, such as fatigue, chills and headaches.
Claim: For young people, the health risks from the vaccine are greater than from Covid
Mr Rogan said: "I don't think it's true there's an increased risk of myocarditis from people catching Covid-19 that are young, versus the risk from the vaccine."
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that has been raised as a rare side effect of vaccination.
However, research has shown that this condition, which can lead to shortness of breath, chest pain and in very rare cases to heart failure, is considerably more common after a Covid infection than after vaccination. - as is also the case with blood clots.
It also appears that cases of myocarditis post-vaccination are generally milder and shorter-lasting.
It's certainly the case that younger people are at much lower risk of serious illness from Covid, but they are not at zero risk of developing complications.
Buying Silence Is Tax Deductible
Former President Donald Trump's political action committee donated $1 million to the conservative nonprofit organization where his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is a senior partner, according to a campaign finance report filed Monday night with the Federal Election Commission.
In December, the House voted to recommend that the Justice Department pursue contempt of Congress charges against Meadows over his refusal to cooperate with an investigation into the Trump-inspired Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The tax-deductible seven-figure contribution to the Conservative Partnership Institute is by far the largest chunk of $1.35 million in donations Trump's "Save America" PAC made to political allies over the last six months of 2021, according to the campaign finance report.
The "Tough On Crime" QOP
Although some Republicans spoke out against the idea of pardoning people convicted in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as former President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend, others said they’re tired of answering questions about him and would rather discuss other topics.
“The obsession with the former president is becoming obnoxious to me,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) complained on Monday when asked about the dominant figure in his party who is flirting with another run for president in 2024.
“It’s sort of interesting, but considering what we’re dealing with here every day, it’s low priority,” Cramer added of Trump’s latest comments about the Capitol riot. The North Dakota Republican urged reporters to focus instead on the Biden administration and economic problems, such as inflation and high energy prices.
Speaking at a rally in Conroe, Texas, on Saturday, Trump offered his support for those who stormed the Capitol and called on his followers to stage massive protests should prosecutors act to bring charges against him.
Other Republicans declined to comment when pressed about the issue on Monday, including Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.) and Ben Sasse (Neb.).
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, also refused to weigh in, calling the possibility of pardons for Jan. 6 rioters mere “speculation.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a possible 2024 presidential candidate who objected to the 2020 electoral results shortly after the attack on the Capitol, said it was up to Trump whether he wanted to consider pardons for supporters who were convicted of crimes as part of his campaign.
“If he wants to run in 2024 and make that part of his campaign platform, that’s up to him. My own view is that for folks who committed crimes ― actual crimes ― they ought to be prosecuted... whether it was here or Portland or St. Louis,” Hawley said, seeking to draw parallels to violence that occurred during racial justice protests in 2020.
If Only Every Country Has a Leader As Hard-Working As Kim Jong Un
In a new propaganda video, North Korea appeared to address rumors of ailing health that have dogged dictator Kim Jong Un.
The video said Kim, who has at times vanished from public view and lost a significant amount of weight, was “completely withered away,” according to independent news and analysis website North Korea News. The TV special included footage of Kim “struggling to walk down a set of stairs,” and reporter Colin Zwirko shared a clip showing the dictator with a noticeable limp:
Didn't We Just Have a Rapist President?
Garrett Soldano, a Republican candidate for governor in Michigan, faced widespread backlash after he argued against survivors of sexual assault getting abortions, saying they didn’t know if their unborn baby could become president.
Soldano, citing a friend whose mother was the victim of a gang rape, claimed people who become pregnant from sexual assault were put “in this moment” by God and that the DNA of the fetus should be protected.
“And so what we must start to focus on is not only to defend the DNA when it’s created, but, however, how about we start inspiring women in the culture to let them understand and know how heroic they are? And how unbelievable that they are?” he told conservative commentator April Moss on her “Face The Facts” podcast.
“That God put them in this moment and they don’t know that little baby inside them may be the next president, maybe the next person who changes humanity, may get us out of the situation in the future,” Soldano added, per a video of the conversation that Heartland Signal tweeted Monday. “We must always, always protect that DNA and allow it to have a voice.”
I Hope They Catch This Scumbag. Does Previous Guy Want to Pardon Him, Too?
For the second day in a row, several historically Black colleges and universities received bomb threats Tuesday, resulting in shelters-in-place and canceled classes as authorities swept campuses looking for devices. No explosions have been reported.
Howard University, in Washington, D.C., was threatened on both days. It declared an all-clear Tuesday as it did Monday.
CBS Washington, D.C., affiliate WUSA-TV says a bomb threat was also reported at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Tuesday.
Other schools getting threats Tuesday included Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida; Kentucky State University; Fort Valley State, in Georgia; Xavier University in Louisiana; Spelman College in Atlanta and Morgan State in Baltimore.
In addition to Howard on Monday, schools receiving threats included Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida; Albany State University in Georgia; Bowie State University in Maryland and Delaware State University.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.
America's Answer to Pablo Escobar Offers to Help a Little With the Problem They Created. It's Like Shooting Someone, Stealing Their Money, and Offering to Make Up For It By Paying For Their Tylenol.
The family that owns Purdue Pharma is “close” to an agreement that substantially increases its financial contribution to a nationwide opioids settlement, according to a new court filing.
The filing from Judge Shelley Chapman, who is mediating a dispute between Purdue Pharma and states that objected to its bankruptcy reorganization plan, asked for an extra week to reach a deal. Tuesday had been the original deadline.
Descendants of Raymond and Mortimer Sackler initially agreed to contribute $4 billion to resolve private and public claims against the bankrupt maker of OxyContin and fund opioid relief and education programs.
Senator For Sale
With a crucial vote pending over filibuster rules that would have made strong voting rights legislation feasible, Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema flew into Houston, Texas, for a fundraiser that drew dozens of fossil fuel chieftains, including Continental Resources chairman Harold Hamm and ConocoPhillips chief executive Ryan Lance.
The event was held on 18 January at the upmarket River Oaks Country Club. One executive told the Guardian that Sinema spoke for about half an hour and informed a mostly Republican crowd that they could “rest assured” she would not back any changes with filibuster rules, reiterating a stance she took several days before during a Senate speech.
The Arizona senator also addressed some energy industry issues according to the executive, who added that overall he was “tremendously impressed”.
The day after the Houston bash, Sinema voted against changing filibuster rules, thereby helping to thwart the voting rights bill.
The Houston gusher of fossil fuel donations for Sinema from many stalwart Republican donors underscores how pivotal she has become, along with West Virginia Democratic senator Joe Manchin, in an evenly divided Senate involving high-stakes battles for Republican and fossil fuel interests.
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Coming Soon to a Pediatrician Near You
The US is expected to approve coronavirus vaccines for children under the age of five by the end of February.
Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) anticipate Pfizer will ask them in coming days to authorise two doses for the age group.
The company is also researching a three-dose regimen but that data is not likely to be submitted until March.
Paediatric Covid-19 cases have spiked since the rise of the Omicron variant.
More than 3.5 million cases were reported in the US last month, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
But data shows few children have been hospitalised or have died from the virus.
Kid Can Spread the Disease, Too.
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Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi
Australian HIV diagnoses have hit an all-time low, with the country in sight of eliminating transmissions. It's a legacy of Australia's early, effective response, reports Gary Nunn from Sydney.
During the outbreak in the 1980s, a political friend of then Health Minister Neal Blewett had a word in his ear.
"Look mate, there are no votes in collaborating with these [people]," he said.
He was referring to gay men, sex workers and people who inject drugs - those heavily impacted by the virus.
Australia's exceptional HIV/Aids response owes much, experts say, to politicians and other powerful decision-makers offering these communities seats at the table.
It was an extraordinary "leap of faith", says author Nick Cook.
"Homosexuality was still illegal in some Australian states, so all three groups were stigmatised criminals; society's most hated," he says.
"It was also smart strategy: the government couldn't be seen spending money on telling gay men how to have sex and drug users how to inject safely, during an epidemic. But they could funnel money into trusted community groups who could."
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Enjoy Your Free Wordle While You Can
The inventor of word game sensation Wordle has spoken of being overwhelmed by its success, following a sale to the New York Times (NYT).
Software engineer Josh Wardle released the free simple online game in October, and has now sold it for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
He said the game, which has millions of players, "has gotten bigger than I ever imagined. It has been incredible."
The NYT wants to use the game to boost its online subscriptions.
The media group said it will "initially remain free" to play, raising questions that the intention in the long term is to charge.
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Melatonin Melts in Your Brain, Not in Your Hand
"Taking sleep aids has been linked in prospective studies with the development of dementia and early mortality. Melatonin is one such sleep aid," she said.
Melatonin has also been linked to headache, dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, drowsiness, confusion or disorientation, irritability and mild anxiety, depression and tremors, as well as abnormally low blood pressure. It can also interact with common medications and trigger allergies.
While short term use for jet lag, shift workers and people who have trouble falling asleep appears to be safe, long-term safety is unknown, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health.
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No Trouble Brewin'. No Trouble Bruins. He's Not Even In California
The person who made threats to the University of California at Los Angeles has been located, is "under observation and not in California," a UCLA spokesperson said Tuesday, citing out-of-state law enforcement.
Classes will remain remote for Tuesday, spokesperson Steve Ritea told CNN via email, after they were moved online due to "threats sent to some members of our community," the university tweeted late Monday.
A former lecturer and postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at Los Angeles sent email threats to students and faculty members, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times. Leaders of the school's philosophy department, where the former lecturer had worked, warned students and faculty about the threats toward the department, according to emails from the department to students and faculty that the Times obtained.
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How Does a Georgia Sheriff Have Half a Million to Spare?
A Georgia sheriff who recently closed the case of a 17-year-student who was found dead in 2013 in a rolled-up gym mat announced Monday he is offering $500,000 of his own money to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest or conviction.
Last month, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk released a 16-page document concluding that Kendrick Johnson's death was an accident and no charges would be filed.
Johnson's family said they believe the teen was murdered and that his death was covered-up.
“After the release of my synopsis of the Federal files on the Kendrick Johnson case, his parents have called me a liar and continue to state that Kendrick was murdered," Paulk said in a news release Monday.
"Because of these statements, I am personally — with my own funds — offering a reward of one-half million dollars ($500,000.00) to anyone who comes forward with information that results in the arrest and conviction of a person for the alleged murder of Kendrick Johnson at Lowndes High School."
Johnson's body was found in a wrestling mat Jan. 11, 2013, in the high school's gym in Valdosta, Georgia. The report said his body was head-down in a rolled-up mat that was positioned vertically. His feet were visible from the top of the mat, the report said.
State and local law enforcement officials ruled the death an accidental asphyxiation, saying Johnson died after he climbed into the mat to retrieve his sneakers.
Who Hasn't Ended up In a Rolled Up Gym Mat After an Accidental Fall?
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Were Any Marked with a Sharpie?
When the National Archives and Records Administration handed over a trove of documents to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, some of the Trump White House records had been ripped up and then taped back together, according to three people familiar with the records.
Former president Donald Trump was known inside the White House for his unusual and potentially unlawful habit of tearing presidential records into shreds and tossing them on the floor — creating a headache for records management analysts who meticulously used Scotch tape to piece together fragments of paper that were sometimes as small as confetti, as Politico reported in 2018.
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So a Self-Driving Tesla Drives Like My Brother-In-Law
Tesla is recalling nearly 54,000 cars and SUVs because their “Full Self-Driving” software lets them roll through stop signs without coming to a complete halt.
Documents posted Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators say that Tesla will disable the feature with an over-the-internet software update. The “rolling stop” feature allows vehicles to go through intersections with all-way stop signs at up to 5.6 miles per hour.
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I'm an Organ Donor, But I Wouldn't Want My Organs Going to an Anti-Vaxer
Hospitals are yanking people off waiting lists for donated organs if they refuse to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to officials, the hospitals are following standards set by transplant organizations to give available organs to those with the best chances of survival. The American Society of Transplantation recommends that “all transplant candidates and their household members should have completed the full complement of recommended vaccinations,” including vaccines for COVID-19.
“I will die free,” North Carolina resident Chad Carswell, 38, told Charlotte’s WSOC-TV last week after losing his chance at a kidney transplant at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
“There is not a situation in this world that I’ll get a vaccine,” he told The Washington Post. “If I’m laying on my deathbed, and they tell me, ‘You have a kidney waiting on you if you get this shot,’ I’ll tell them, ’I’ll see you on the other side.’”
Carswell did not reveal why he refused to get the vaccine, other than: “I was born free.”
He’s still receiving dialysis three times a week, but that’s only a temporary solution.
“I have to have a kidney to prolong my life,” he said.
What's Freer Than Being Hooked Up to a Dialysis Machine?
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