Yearly Archives: 2020

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects GOP Call Not to Extend Deadline for Mail-In Ballots

A deadlocked U.S. Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling ruling to extend the deadline for counting mail-in ballots.

Links 10/20/2020

Waste Watch: New York Begins Enforcing Plastic Bag Ban

New York begins to enforce its ban on single-use plastic bags, delayed since March by the pandemic and various lawsuits.

COVID-19: Examining Theories for Africa’s Low Death Rates

Countries throughout Africa, like India, are recording lower rates of COVID-19 deaths. The authors examine reasons for this phenomenon.

Can Hunter Biden Be Both Right and Wrong, Both Innocent and Guilty? Yes He Can.

A nuanced primer on the Hunter Biden story : “institutional corruption at its core.” With a heavy helping of Taibbi reporting.

Paul Romer Comes Out Against Contact Tracing in the United States (which Biden Supports)

Can exhortation from the PMC make contact tracing a success?

2:00PM Water Cooler 10/19/2020

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Pandemic Causes Food Security to Wobble, While Much of Rural India Still Continues to be Underfed

The pandemic has caused global food security to wobble. Meanwhile, a recent paper shows most rural indians continue to be underfed.

“Fiscal Cliffication” Continues as the Election Looms

The politics of a new fiscal package have now evolved. And not in a good way.

Links 10/19/2020

WHO is Right: Lockdowns Should Be Short and Sharp. Here Are 4 Other Essential COVID-19 Strategies

As cases of COVID-19 spike yet again in the US and Europe, what public health measures have successfully stemmed the pandemic’s spread?

With Bankruptcies Mounting, Faltering Oil and Gas Firms Are Leaving a Multi-Billion Dollar Cleanup Bill to the Public

Yet another example otf how the oil industry is subsidized, here by another way it dumps environmental costs on the public at large.

Eating More Chocolate: A Cure for Pandemic Fatigue?

Europe and the USA succumb to pandemic fatigue. Vigilance is the only known counter to spread of the virus. Practice small pleasures.

Links 10/18/2020

AOC and Other Top Progressives Urge Biden—If Elected—to Deny K Street, Wall Street Execs Top Cabinet Posts

Progressives pen letter to Biden asking him not to staff his administration with the usual corporate suspects; fat chance!