2:00PM Water Cooler 1/16/2024 | bare capitalism

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Affected person readers, I received a late begin. There’s a lot on Iowa, however I’ve to fill in round it… –lambert

Chook Tune of the Day

Darkish-eyed Junco (Slate-colored), Wakely Mountain, New York, United States. “Lengthy-Vary Tune is heard.”

Politics

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

2024

Lower than a yr to go!

* * *

“56 % in new ballot keen to see Trump disqualified from ballots in all or some states” [The Hill]. “A majority of People in a brand new survey say they might help the Supreme Court docket both disqualifying former President Trump from presidential ballots throughout the nation or letting states resolve whether or not to incorporate him on their ballots. Almost one-third — 30 % — of respondents within the ABC Information/Ipsos survey mentioned they assume the justices ought to order that Trump be faraway from ballots throughout the nation, and 26 % mentioned they believed the matter needs to be left as much as election officers in every state. Moreover, 39 % of People surveyed mentioned they assume the Supreme Court docket ought to order Trump be saved on the poll in all states. Greater than half of the survey’s respondents, 53 %, mentioned they imagine the justices within the nation’s highest court docket will rule on the premise of legislation on the matter, whereas 43 % mentioned they assume they may rule based mostly on their political opinions on Trump.” • Headline is a contact misleading…..

“Republicans Select Chaos, Violence, And Election Lies” [Brian Buetler, Off Message]. “In yr eight, one thing completely different is occurring, and each Democrats and the media needs to be alert to it. This time round they’ve a clearer path to expunging Trump. With the Iowa caucuses now within the rearview mirror, they might rally for Nikki Haley the way in which Democratic elites flocked to Joe Biden when the 2020 major got here right down to him and Bernie Sanders. As a substitute, they’re selecting Trump, with out reservation. Many had resolved to help him earlier than the caucuses, and are attempting now to edge his challengers out of the race.” • “Off message”? Actually? (Notice the extraordinarily distorted view of 2020, which fully erases the function of The Wizard of Kalorama™.)

“Judicial Discover (01.13.24): In The Sizzling Seat” [David Lat, Original Jurisdiction]. “As first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Structure, certainly one of Trump’s co-defendants—Michael Roman, a former Trump marketing campaign official—alleged in a court docket submitting that Willis and Nathan Wade, certainly one of three particular prosecutors she appointed to work on the matter, ‘have been engaged in an improper, clandestine private relationship in the course of the pendency of this case.” And since Wade has been paid greater than $650,000 thus far, a few of which he allegedly used to take Willis on a Napa Valley journey and Caribbean cruises, each Willis and Wade “revenue[ed] considerably from this prosecution, on the expense of the taxpayers.’ Roman’s movement additional alleges that regardless of being employed to function a particular prosecutor in a particularly high-profile, multi-defendant racketeering case, Nathan Wade has by no means tried a felony racketeering case—or any felony case, interval. He additionally apparently billed Fulton County for twenty-four hours of labor in a single day in November 2021, which is… not nice. Roman seeks to have the fees towards him dismissed, and he has additionally referred to as for Willis, Wade, and your entire Fulton County DA’s workplace to be disqualified from the case…. What do Willis and Wade should say? To date, not a lot. In line with Willis’s workplace, the prosecution will reply by a court docket submitting, and Choose Scott McAfee will then schedule a listening to, anticipated to happen subsequent month…. However in remarks delivered immediately (Sunday) at Large Bethel A.M.E Church in Atlanta, Willis alluded obliquely to the controversy. She described herself as ‘imperfect’ and ‘flawed’—like Dr. King, whose ‘journey was stuffed with errors’ and alleged ‘private indiscretions.’ With out mentioning Wade by identify, she praised his ‘impeccable’ credentials—and famous that regardless that she appointed three particular prosecutors, critics are attacking solely the Black man.” • Willis has a white boyfriend, too? Did she rent him?

“Fani Willis breaks silence on misconduct accusations” [The Hill]. “Willis, talking Sunday with a congregation on the Large Bethel AME Church forward of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, didn’t straight tackle the allegations of an improper relationship with [special prosecutor Nathan Wade], however fiercely rejected claims she acted improper [sic] in hiring Wade within the state’s election interference case involving Trump and greater than a dozen co-defendants…. Talking as if she was having a dialog with God, Willis requested, ‘How come, God, the identical Black man I employed was acceptable when a Republican in a foreign country employed him and paid him twice the speed?’”

* * *

“Ron DeSantis simply failed in Iowa. And it’s solely going to worsen from right here” [MSNBC]. “DeSantis invested great sources within the Hawkeye State, and at the same time as his marketing campaign handled monetary troubles, he particularly prioritized investing in marketing campaign employees and discipline operations there. He additionally hustled to safe native endorsements and succeeded in securing some large ones, together with evangelical energy dealer Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. Tremendous PACs backing his candidacy spent great quantities of money on adverts and door-knocking operations, seeing that technique because the prime alternative to derail the Trump practice. However within the weeks earlier than the race, a type of PACs, By no means Again Down, spiked its advert purchase plans after sensing that DeSantis’ candidacy was already a misplaced trigger. Monday’s outcomes vindicated its considerations. If DeSantis couldn’t pull off a win in Iowa — the place he went all in and the place voters are uniquely open to non-front-runner candidates — it’s onerous to think about the place he can win. ”

“Former Obama Advisor David Plouffe: Ron DeSantis Was A ‘Horrible Candidate’” [RealClearPolitics]. “DAVID PLOUFFE: , to grow to be the nominee of a celebration, you really should be a good candidate…. The political graveyard is plagued by individuals who appear like on paper, they might be robust presidential candidates, however having gone by this, I imply, that is mainly like a searing proctological examination beamed into each house. And only a few folks come out entire on the opposite facet. And he was diminished by this….However I feel, strategically, I feel it was the precise choice to go all-in Iowa. I don’t assume there was one other technique on the market. , and traditionally, that has labored for a number of candidates. It hasn’t labored for many.”

“Haley’s Missed Alternative: Iowa Slows Her Roll Into New Hampshire” [New York Times]. “Ms. Haley’s argument that she was one of the best Republican to thwart Mr. Biden’s re-election might have been persuasive with college-educated Republican voters, 39 % of whom backed her in a New York Occasions/Siena School ballot launched final month. However in a wider Republican voters that has been reworked by Mr. Trump right into a bastion of voters with out a faculty schooling, Ms. Haley, within the Occasions/Siena ballot, had the help of simply 3 % of these voters.” • The Elizabeth Warren of Republican politics. Additionally an Indian! Wait. Not that type of Indian!

* * *

“Biden marketing campaign staffs up, hires Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson” [The Hill]. “The Biden marketing campaign employed a former spokesperson for progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to its communications workforce, because it seeks to beef up its nationwide employees forward of the election…. The bulking up of the marketing campaign workforce comes amid scrutiny from a number of outstanding Democrats who’re criticizing the workforce’s technique and construction. These political figures, together with former President Obama, expressed considerations over the construction of the workforce by which too few employees are empowered to make selections with out first clearing them with the White Home, The Washington Put up reported earlier this month. The marketing campaign argued it’s constructing its employees up on the proper time. A supply near the marketing campaign defended the timing to The Hill earlier this month, stating, ‘Everybody I’ve spoken to on the marketing campaign is working diligently on broadening the marketing campaign to win. They’re staffing up in any respect ranges together with on the management stage, which is completely acceptable at this level.’”

* * *

“RFK Jr. defends Kennedy administration wiretap of Martin Luther King Jr.” [Politico]. “In an unique interview with POLITICO, Kennedy mentioned that his father, Robert F. Kennedy — who approved the wiretapping of King as lawyer common — and President John F. Kennedy permitted the eavesdropping as a result of they had been ‘making large bets on King, significantly in organizing the March on Washington.’ ‘They had been betting not solely the civil rights motion however their very own careers. They usually knew that Hoover was out to damage King,’ mentioned Robert Kennedy Jr., referring to J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director on the time. He argued that the Kennedy administration had a reliable motive to associate with Hoover’s willpower to surveil King. The FBI director noticed King as a harmful radical with Communists in his internal circle. ‘There was good motive for them doing that on the time,’ Kennedy mentioned, ‘as a result of J. Edgar Hoover was out to destroy Martin Luther King and the civil rights motion and Hoover mentioned to them that Martin Luther King’s chief was a communist. My father gave permission to Hoover to wiretap them so he might show that his suspicions about King had been both proper or mistaken,’ he continued. ‘I feel, politically, they needed to do it.’”

* * *

IA: “Trump Savors Historic Iowa Win, Haley Turns Up the Warmth, DeSantis Survives” [Newsweek]. “[I]t was Trump who emerged because the overwhelming victor, taking greater than 51 % of the vote—a margin that exceeded George W. Bush’s 2000 win, by which he took 41 % of the vote. Trump was additionally practically 30 factors away from his nearest rival, DeSantis, the biggest margin of victory in historical past. DeSantis had 21.3 % of votes, and Haley was in third with 19.1 %. Ramaswamy obtained 7.7 % and dropped out, instantly endorsing Trump.” • Half of Republicans voted for Trump; half didn’t (thought that’s not the headline). However the half that didn’t “don’t have any place to go.” In any case:

The large and historic measurement of Trump’s victory ought to result in some self-reflection about what brought about the whole collapse of religion within the legitimacy of US establishments of authority and justice, whereby voters so simply disregard 4 felony instances as irrelevant if not an asset.

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 16, 2024

IA: “31 minutes: Trump’s historic Iowa victory places America on discover” [Axios]. “The astonishing velocity and sweep of former President Trump’s victory within the Iowa caucuses final evening delivered a large wakeup name to Republican skeptics nonetheless dreaming of a post-MAGA world…. He couldn’t have scripted it any higher: Trump received 98 of 99 counties in Iowa, dominating nearly each demographic whereas bodily campaigning within the state far lower than any of his prime rivals.”

IA: “How Donald Trump constructed a base that catapulted him to a historic Iowa Caucuses victory” [Des Moines Register]. “Iowa Republicans additionally credited Trump with quietly assembling an organizing juggernaut that recognized supporters and drew in first-time caucusgoers. ‘The clear message popping out of Iowa is that grassroots organizing issues,’ mentioned Republican operative Nicole Schlinger. ‘The Trump marketing campaign didn’t take his monumental help from Iowans as a right. Not like 2016, they knew precisely who their supporters had been and turned them out.’” • After a headline like that, we get this on the very finish of the story?! The WSJ is best–

IA: “How Trump Grew to become Unstoppable in Iowa” [Wall Street Journal]. “The gang was dotted with white caps bearing the phrases “TRUMP CAUCUS CAPTAIN” in embroidered gold letters, and the previous president wore one himself—a totem of the ruthlessly skilled group that Trump’s marketing campaign has constructed, a far cry from the slapdash operation that did not ship him Iowa in early 2016.” The “captain” idea may be very old style and efficient; DCBlogger would admire it, although maybe not Trump’s use of it. In fact, in a political occasion, not a marketing campaign, the captain positions are everlasting (“precinct captain,” “block captain”). I’m wondering if Trump will contemplate that? Extra: ” The previous president had employed two brutally efficient and skilled operatives to run his marketing campaign: Chris LaCivita, famed for his work 20 years in the past thrashing Democrat John Kerry with the Swift Boat Veterans for Reality, and Susie Wiles, who had helped DeSantis get elected earlier than being unceremoniously ejected from the governor’s orbit. Marketing campaign observers credit score them with turning the once-shambolic Trump operation right into a lean, imply, professionally run store that missed no alternative to stifle DeSantis early.” • Beneath all of the chaos, Trump generally manages to make glorious hires. However solely generally.

IA: “1 winner and three losers from the Iowa caucuses” [Vox]. “The ultimate RealClearPolitics polling common had Trump at 52.5 % of the vote. As of Monday evening, he was round 51 %. That quantity might nonetheless transfer a bit as extra votes are counted, however it received’t shift that a lot — the polls seem to have been mainly proper. That’s excellent news for Trump going ahead: There wasn’t any kind of huge, unnoticed sea change within the GOP voters by which voters deserted him. They’re nonetheless with him. And we’ve each motive to imagine they’ll be with him within the subsequent major and caucus contests, too. Trump hasn’t locked down the race but, in fact; Iowa is only one state. Haley will get to take her shot in New Hampshire. However the central political truth of the previous eight and a half years has been the unshakable loyalty to Trump demonstrated by a lot of the GOP base. It will take a seismic occasion to dislodge him because the GOP frontrunner.”

IA: “Iowa caucus highlights: Trump wins, DeSantis takes second in weather-impacted 2024 Republican contest” [NBC]. “Earlier than the snow got here and the temperature dropped beneath zero and roads had been caked in ice, Republicans had predicted this yr’s turnout for the caucuses would smash information. Some went as far as to say the variety of voters would possibly attain 200,000 — nicely above the practically 187,000 who confirmed up for the final contested Republican caucus in 2016. Then winter spoke. With some votes left to be tallied, it was clear that turnout tonight was a lot decrease than had been anticipated earlier than frigid winds ripped throughout the state. The NBC Information Resolution Desk projected that it might quantity to about 120,000 voters, extra in step with the turnout in 2012 than in 2016.”

IA: “Three Disparate Tickets Out of Iowa” [RealClearPolitics]. “‘I actually assume that is the time now for everyone in our nation to come back collectively. We need to come collectively, whether or not it’s Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative,’ he instructed supporters…. Trump was performing extra like a man who’d sewn up the nomination.” • Commentary:

Dude, cease.

— (@ChidiNwatu) January 16, 2024

IA: “Trump Receives a Heat Embrace in Frigid Iowa” [The New Yorker]. “The climate in Iowa was already not nice, however folks queued exterior for six hours, then waited inside for 3 extra for Trump to take the stage.” And: “I talked to B.J., a caucus captain, as she got here down a marble staircase from the taping. ‘A Trump voter will prove whatever the climate,’ she mentioned. Trump had accomplished an impromptu meet and greet, and signed her captain hat. ‘We’ve been persecuted, so it’s good to be round individuals who assume the way in which we do, who perceive what’s happening.’ She began crying. ‘I’m not a wacky Trump particular person, however I’ve three lovely boys, and so they don’t deserve the nation we’re dwelling in. These rallies are like one of the best rock live performance you’ve ever been to. After I took my son, he mentioned, ‘Wow, I didn’t know so many individuals thought the way in which we do.” She went on, ‘In my view, there’s solely two events: the uniparty and the MAGA occasion. The uniparty is deep state, Democrats and Republicans. The MAGA occasion is America First.’”

IA: “Slouching In the direction of Trump” [Nate Silver, Silver Bulletin]. January 13. “What I’m getting at emotionally although is that I sense plenty of numbness to the thought of Trump profitable one other time period…. However no person appears to be performing as if Trump is an existential menace to democracy or the rest. Folks would possibly assume that, and maybe they’re fairly rational to assume that. However they aren’t performing prefer it…. The pandemic, nevertheless, was a particularly traumatic shared expertise that I’m satisfied the world nonetheless actually hasn’t processed but. Between the mass demise and the large disruption to the material of on a regular basis life, 2020 was the worst yr of most of our lives. The debates over COVID technique are nonetheless pretty uncooked; the injuries haven’t actually healed. In the meantime, practically everyone seems to be in an eschatological temper today. Each political quadrant thinks that civilization goes to finish, whether or not due to local weather change or unaligned synthetic intelligence or the ‘Woke Thoughts Virus‘. In comparison with all of that, a second Trump time period — hey, we survived the primary one, didn’t we? — doesn’t seem to be a very high-stakes proposition.”

* * *

“Billionaire Invoice Ackman Backs Dean Phillips to Problem Biden” [Bloomberg] (January 14). “‘Ackman is giving the cash to a political motion committee that helps Phillips. The contribution is “by far the biggest funding I’ve ever made in somebody operating for workplace,’ he added. He joins a small however rising group of outstanding supporters for Phillips. Mike Novogratz, chief govt officer of Galaxy Funding Companions, introduced in December he plans to help Phillips.” • Ackman’s endorsement:

My greatest and favourite investments come from a deep understanding of the significance of asymmetry, that’s, by understanding the potential threat and reward, and ensuring that the reward overwhelming compensates for the chance. I’ve made some nice uneven investments at…

— Invoice Ackman (@BillAckman) January 14, 2024

“Dean Phillips floats a Cupboard publish for Musk or Ackman” [Politico] (January 15). “Phillips, who’s operating a longshot bid towards President Joe Biden, spoke with Musk, hedge fund billionaire Invoice Ackman and podcast host Jason Calacanis for a wide-ranging dialog on Musk’s X areas platform. Finally, the subject turned to what his first 100 days in workplace would appear like. The Minnesota consultant mentioned he would construct ‘probably the most extraordinary bipartisan Cupboard in American historical past.’ ‘Possibly we could have a 3rd of them on this areas proper now, guys,’s he added. As for different first 100 day priorities, Phillips additionally mentioned he’d use ‘zero-based budgeting’ and rent a world consulting agency to conduct a ‘top-down evaluation’ of the federal authorities.” • A global consulting agency? Hey, how about McKinsey?

“Subject of dangerous goals: Biden rival makes quip after nobody turns as much as 2024 occasion” [Guardian] (January 9). “Considering a New Hampshire marketing campaign occasion to which not one voter confirmed up, the Minnesota congressman and Democratic presidential hopeful Dean Phillips instructed reporters on Tuesday: ‘Typically, if you happen to construct it, they don’t come.’… In Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, Phillips parked his ‘Authorities Restore Truck’ – a examined marketing campaign prop – exterior a Hilton lodge, planning to speak to voters whereas handing out Dunkin’ Donuts espresso, a staple for New Englanders, notably together with Ben Affleck. Sadly, experiences of sparsely or non-attended marketing campaign occasions are a staple of presidential major campaigns. In line with NBC Information, nobody confirmed as much as chat with Phillips partially as a result of the temperature was beneath freezing, thereby sending drivers to an underground parking storage from which they might enter the lodge. Phillips ‘ended up pouring espresso for the staffers who had been there’, NBC mentioned, including that the candidate made his Subject of Desires quip to reporters.” • So large deal. Politics ain’t beanbag. What a non-story.

* * *

MI: “Biden struggling in Michigan as Trump grabs robust lead, ballot exhibits” [Detroit News]. “[I]n a possible contest between Biden and Trump, who’s dealing with a historic onslaught of legal expenses, 47% of doubtless voters mentioned they most well-liked the Republican, whereas 39% chosen Biden, an 8-point benefit for Trump, based on the survey with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 factors. As well as, 3% mentioned they might vote for an additional candidate, and 11% mentioned they had been undecided. Trump’s lead over Biden widened to as a lot as 12 factors when voters surveyed got a listing of third-party candidates. Biden, the present president, and Trump, the previous president, are extensively anticipated to emerge this yr as their events’ nominees…. ‘If I had been a Democrat in Michigan, I might be breaking the emergency hearth alarms within the White Home and demanding to know what the plan is for Michigan,’ Czuba mentioned. “As a result of these numbers are very dangerous for any incumbent of any occasion.” ….Those that gave Biden damaging opinions had been requested an open-ended query about why they’d an unfavorable opinion of him. Probably the most frequent solutions had been associated to his age, his common stage of competence and his psychological competence with 41% of the responses linked to these subjects…. The ballot’s findings are warning indicators for Michigan Democrats who’ve scored a sequence of political victories during the last six years and have taken management of state authorities.” • Apparently, Palestine didn’t present up within the open-ended query.

NH: “Haley says she received’t debate DeSantis in NH except Trump participates” [Valley News]. “‘We’ve had 5 nice debates on this marketing campaign,’ Haley mentioned in a press release, launched as she campaigned in New Hampshire. ‘Sadly, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to cover. The following debate I do will both be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I sit up for it.’” • Ouch!

PA: “The Democrat, the Fracking Government and the Deal They Struck. Can It Work?” [Wall Street Journal]. “An uncommon settlement between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and a natural-gas driller might function a mannequin for locating consensus over a problem that continues to divide a lot of the U.S.: fracking. … After he turned governor, Shapiro mentioned he spent months discussing the necessity for information from drilling operations with CNX Chief Government Nick DeIuliis. CNX then pledged it might disclose the chemical compounds it makes use of in drilling, improve the gap between its drilling operations and residences and faculties whereas it research the info, and publish information on air and water monitoring for most of the people…. An impartial firm is now gathering some CNX information and sending it to state regulators and CNX, which is publishing it, enabling everybody to see the outcomes of an organization voluntarily monitoring and disclosing data on its operations…. Apart from briefly growing the minimal distance between wells and houses and faculties, CNX will conduct water monitoring earlier than and after drilling. It’s going to give state regulators entry to 2 drilling websites beginning in February to conduct in-depth air research. The corporate may even chorus from hiring former state environmental regulators for 2 years after they’ve left workplace, amongst different issues. With these modifications, the corporate is now voluntarily following a lot of the suggestions of the state grand-jury report that Shapiro oversaw as lawyer common in 2020.” • Shapiro is alleged to have “political aspirations past the state”….

Republican Funhouse

“Key reasonable Republican comes out in favor of impeaching Mayorkas, says he needs to be ‘tried for treason’” [FOX]. “Rep. John James, R-Mich., who represents a swing district that former President Donald Trump received by simply 1% in 2020, instructed Fox Information Digital that not solely ought to Mayorkas be impeached however tried for treason as nicely. ‘Secretary Mayorkas have to be impeached and tried for treason,’ he mentioned. ‘Proof will show that Mayorkas’ sustained and willful betrayal of the general public belief makes him an adjunct to the poisoning of thousands and thousands of People, complicit in a modern-day slave commerce and so derelict in his obligation to safe the homeland that it crosses unequivocally into the realm of excessive crimes and misdemeanors….’ ‘These are human beings we’re speaking about. These are women and men. These are kids,’ he mentioned. ‘These are God’s creatures, who’re being herded like cattle, like chattel, like, like animals, by these coyotes. They usually’re being purchased and bought to the tune of $32 million per week simply within the Del Rio sector.’” • Poisoned how? Fentanyl? What am I lacking right here?

Realignment and Legitimacy

“The Left Behind” [The American Prospect]. “The white working class was as soon as the spine of the Democratic Get together, and as late as 2008 gave Barack Obama 40 % of their vote. In 2016, nevertheless, white working-class help for Hillary Clinton was simply 28 %. A comparable shift was seen amongst rural voters, who in 2008 gave Obama 45 % of their votes, and in 2016 gave Clinton a naked 33 %…. How did the worldviews of so many of those voters reverse so fully? These conundrums are solely conundrums if we assume that it’s their worldviews, fairly than their world, which have modified…. In assessing, then, the politics of rural America and the white working class immediately, what’s tipped it into Trumpism isn’t cultural rage, which has been an ever-present issue of various intensities. It’s the financial abandonment of their cities and their livelihoods by American capital, and the a long time of indifference to that abandonment proven by their governments.” Curiously: “Probably the most decisive change, as I’ve famous earlier than, was the just about full flight of capital from small-town and rural America. . Offshoring had begun to weaken their economies starting within the early Nineteen Nineties, however the shift to a postindustrial financial system had been so accelerated and magnified by our commerce insurance policies that the financial world of a lot of the working class, and practically all of it in rural areas, had been hollowed out by the point Donald Trump got here down the escalator in Trump Tower. The one trade that did take root in these communities throughout these years was opioid distribution.” • Fascinating to consider Trumpism as a conservative response to a capital strike in small-town and rural America.

“Safety of Georgia’s Dominion voting machines placed on trial” [CBS]. “A yearslong dispute over the safety of Georgia’s elections and its voting machines got here to a head Tuesday morning in an Atlanta courtroom. Opening statements started within the federal trial inspecting whether or not the Dominion Voting Techniques machines utilized in Georgia may be hacked or manipulated, making their use in elections unconstitutional. The case dates to 2017 and was filed by a number of voters and the Coalition for Good Governance towards members of the State Election Board and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The plaintiffs say they’re not disputing any election leads to Georgia, and their case is unrelated to the 2020 election and the defamation lawsuits introduced by Dominion towards Fox Information and others. David Cross, one of many plaintiffs’ attorneys, laid out the case for banning Dominion touch-screen voting machines. In Georgia, as soon as voters make their selections, the poll is printed with their votes and a QR code. The QR code is finally what’s learn and forged because the voter’s poll. Plaintiffs need the state to revert to paper ballots as a result of they are saying it will guarantee voters that their ballots are being counted accurately.” • I’ll by no means forgive Trump for bigfooting this situation after which butchering the job.

“The Iowa Pizza Chain That Explains How Our Politics Grew to become So Dysfunctional” [Politico]. “Because the beginning of each the caucuses and Pizza Ranch, each have nationalized. What struck me about my time at Pizza Ranches is how I by no means heard an Iowan ask a query with an area spin. They needed to know concerning the candidate’s overseas coverage, about their plans for the border, about whether or not Biden was a hologram. There weren’t any questions on biodiesel or ethanol subsidies or soybean costs. Forty-three years after the primary Pizza Ranch opened, our fractured politics and society are visibly on show there — each by way of direct political campaigning, but in addition the way in which political tribalism has seeped into so many facets of our private lives, with native communities and idiosyncrasies flattened alongside the way in which. In all my time consuming alongside voters on the eating places, I by no means met somebody who described themselves as a Democrat.” • A number of native shade on Iowa, so nicely value a learn, however the central level goes past Iowa….

#COVID19

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hat tricks to useful 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, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).

Keep protected on the market!

Search for the Helpers

The highest two examples are private; read the (long) thread for the “political”:

Elite Maleficence

A tweet from the Cohen account:

We’re seeing plenty of virus circulating proper now. If you happen to’re feeling sick, get examined so you may get therapy. And bear in mind, it’s not too late to get vaccinated! Be taught extra 👉 https://t.co/4Mw2gCFmIQ

— Mandy Okay. Cohen, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) January 16, 2024

I’m completely positive it’s authentically Mandy and never some intern as a result of there’s no point out of non-pharmaceutical interventions.

The Jackpot

Stochastic eugenicism:

That is what I see coming, no less than within the US, and I can’t for the lifetime of me see what to do about it.

Case Information

From BioBot wastewater information, January 16:

Lambert right here #3: Slight lower in slope, because of the Northeast and the West (except it’s an information situation). Personally, I wouldn’t name a peak, based mostly totally on the anecdotes I’m scrolling by, which aren’t encouraging, significantly with regard to the faculties. Very unscientific, I agree! Let’s wait and see. Notice that I don’t settle for the PMC “homework” mannequin, whose most well-known exponent is Sociopath of the Day Bob Wachter, the place you alter your conduct based on a number of sources of (horrible, gappy, lagged) information about an infection ranges (ignoring “threat of damage”). Simply stick along with your protocol day in and day trip, my recommendation. Okay.I.S.S. Nevertheless, monitoring these tendencies, apart from having intrinsic curiosity, is pragmatically helpful for main selections, like journey, cruises (certainly not, readers), relocation, household occasions, communication with recalcitrant HCWs, and many others.

Lambert #4: Seems to be like I used to be too pessimistic! (In fact, half the instances beneath the curve happen after the height….)

Regional information:

Large decline within the Northeast!

• I’ve received a give credit score to Hoerger; he referred to as the height early, however he did name it:

Variants

NOT UPDATED From CDC, January 6:

Lambert right here: JN.1 now dominates. That was quick.

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

Covid Emergency Room Visits

NOT UPDATED From CDC NCIRD Surveillance, January 6:

Lambert: Down, however New Yr’s reporting?

NOTE “Charts and information supplied by CDC, updates Wednesday by 8am. For the previous yr, utilizing a rolling 52-week interval.” So not your entire pandemic, FFS (the implicit message right here being that Covid is “similar to the flu,” which is why the seasonal “rolling 52-week interval” is acceptable for each_{MR SUBLIMINAL I hate these folks a lot}. Discover additionally that this chart exhibits, no less than for its time interval, that Covid is not seasonal, regardless that CDC is attempting to get us to imagine that it’s, presumably to allow them to piggyback on the present institutional equipment for injections. And naturally, we’re not even stepping into the standard of the wastewater websites that we’ve as a proxy for Covid an infection general.

Hospitalization

Bellwether New York Metropolis, information as of January 16:

Lambert right here: Continued lower!

NOT UPDATED Right here’s a distinct CDC visualization on hospitalization, nationwide, not by state, however with a date, no less than. January 6:

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

Positivity

From Walgreens, January 15:

-0.7%. (It will be fascinating to survey this inhabitants typically; these are individuals who, regardless of a tsunami of official propaganda and large peer strain, went and received examined anyhow.)

From Cleveland Clinic, January 13:

Lambert right here: Proportion and absolute numbers down.

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

Up, albeit within the rear view mirror. And listed here are the variants for vacationers, December 25:

Notice the chart has been revised to mirror that JN.1 is BA.2.86.1 (the numbers “roll over”).

Deaths

NOT UPDATED Right here is the New York Occasions, based mostly on CDC information, January 6:

Stats Watch

Manufacturing: “United States NY Empire State Manufacturing Index” [Trading Economics]. “The NY Empire State Manufacturing Index plunged to -43.7 in January 2024, the bottom studying since Might 2020, signalling a pointy drop in manufacturing exercise within the NY state.”

At the moment’s Concern & Greed Index: 71 Greed (earlier shut: 70 Greed) [CNN]. One week in the past: 71 (Greed). (0 is Excessive Concern; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Jan 16 at 1:52:12 PM ET.

Rapture Index: Closes unchanged [Rapture Ready]. File Excessive, October 10, 2016: 189. Present: 188. (Keep in mind that bringing on the Rapture is good.) NOTE on #42 Plagues: “The coronavirus pandemic has maxed out this class.” Extra sincere than most! • What are they ready for? A purple heifer?

The Gallery

Klimt? Jogs my memory of Whistler!

Information of the Wired

“Niklaus Wirth, or the Significance of Being Easy” [Communications of the ACM]. “[Wirth] had a witty, delicate — generally caustic — humor. Here’s a Niklaus Wirth story. On the seventh day of creation God regarded on the end result. (Aspect notice: Wirth was an atheist, which provides spice to the selection of setting for the story.) He (God) was fairly completely satisfied about it. He began wanting on the listing of professions and felt good: all — policeman, minister, nurse, avenue sweeper, inside designer, opera singer, private coach, grocery store cashier, tax collector… — had some benefits and a few disadvantages. However then He received to the College Professor row. The Benefits entry was spectacular: lengthy holidays, first rate wage, you mainly get to do what you need, and so forth; however the Disadvantages entry was empty! Such a scandalous discrepancy couldn’t be tolerated. For a second, a cloud obscured His face. He thought and thought and at last His smile got here again. At that time, He had created colleagues.”

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

Tennesseewaltzer writes: “Here’s a roadside winter wonderland–this occurs with snow and rain and freezing temperatures, which reasonable to supply the icicles. Usually alongside a state thoroughfare minimize by the native stone which undergirds a lot of Center Tennessee land.” I don’t assume I can characterize water or stone as honorary crops, however this can be a beautiful winter scene, so herewith.

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not lined by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you happen to see a hyperlink you particularly like, or an merchandise you wouldn’t see wherever else, please don’t hesitate to specific your appreciation in tangible kind. Keep in mind, a tip jar is for tipping! Common constructive suggestions each makes me really feel good and lets me know I’m heading in the right direction with protection. After I get no donations for 5 or ten days I get fearful. Extra tangibly, a continuing trickle of donations helps me with bills, and I think about that trickle when setting fundraising objectives:

Right here is the display that may seem, which I’ve helpfully annotated:

If you happen to hate PayPal, you’ll be able to e-mail me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I provides you with instructions on methods to ship a test. Thanks!