Patient readers, we understand you miss comments (and each other). We do, too. We will be turning comments back on in the near future, but — and this is an important “but” — with site policy changes that will maintain the NC comments at the high level to which we have all become accustomed. –lambert
Scientists observe live cells responding to magnetic fields for first time New Atlas
How hardy crocodiles outlasted dinosaurs and survived extinction NY Post
Pack of private equity bidders circle £400m KPMG restructuring arm Sky News
Chances are rising for a US economic reset FT
Capitol Seizure
Trump greeted with cheers as he calls in to Republican National Committee meeting WaPo
Impeachment resolution:
Articles of Impeachment for introduction, so proud of everyone co-leading this effort with us.
We need to move quickly to remove this President from office. pic.twitter.com/vbZtA7g6fc
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 7, 2021
How does the 25th Amendment work, and can it be used to remove Trump from office after US Capitol attack? The Conversation
* * * Michelle Obama Reflects On “Wreckage” at the U.S. Capitol: “I Hurt for Our Country” The Oprah Magazine. With full statement.
George W. Bush laments ‘reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election’ The Hill. From the guy selected President by Antonin Scalia in Bush v. Gore. Gimme a break.
CEOs’ Swift Rebukes of the Capitol Riots Speak to Their Elevated Roles in Society Morning Consult
* * * Violence in the Capitol, Dangers in the Aftermath Glenn Greenwald. Interestingly, liberals seem to have a new category: “Property of non-symbolic importance.” That is the sort of property it’s OK to destroy. The conservative mirror image: Public property is OK destroy; private property is not.) On civil liberties, a thread:
THREAD: I’ve represented people the government views as “terrorists.” Here’s an incomplete set of reasons why calling yesterday “terrorism” is not a good idea:
— Diala Shamas (@dialash) January 7, 2021
Define the Capitol seizure as terrorism, and counter-terrorism as a solution is what we’re going to get.
1 big thing: American chaos, Chinese order Felix Salmon, Axios. “The chaos that unfolded on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon is a sign that the U.S. can’t even run an orderly transition of power, let alone project its soft power internationally.”
The spectacle of our imperial oligarchy thrashing against itself Yasha Levine, Immigrants as a Weapon
* * * Who were the Capitol insurrectionists? FT
Decoding the flags and banners seen at the Capitol Hill insurrection Quartz (Re Silc).
Capitol Rioters Planned for Weeks in Plain Sight. The Police Weren’t Ready. Pro Publica
* * * US Capitol Police chief to resign after Wednesday’s riots CNN
Why Was the U.S. Capitol So Easy to Breach? and Visualizing a Riot: Where Today’s Attacks on the Capitol Played Out Curbed. A thread on the Capitol Police:
Journalist @marcusdipaola, who took the video, says this is false — cops did not open the barrier. Interview in thread: https://t.co/mJUpIsiQhd
— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) January 7, 2021
I think you can be agnostic on whether “cops opened the barrier” and also note the extreme discrepancy between how this protest has been handled and how others have been. Digital evidence….
Essential workers:
The same House chamber doors where the armed standoff took place hours ago is being cleaned for members to return for the joint session: pic.twitter.com/JlZgzwci8n
— Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) January 7, 2021
Note the unmasked cop.
#COVID19
Could new COVID variants undermine vaccines? Labs scramble to find out Nature
1 in 100,000 had severe reactions to Pfizer vaccine: US study Agence France Presse
* * * Opening of Large Institutions of Higher Education and County-Level COVID-19 Incidence — United States, July 6–September 17, 2020 (PDF) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC. “Among counties with large colleges and universities (university counties) included in the analysis, remote-instruction university counties (22) experienced a 17.9% decline in mean COVID-19 incidence during the 21 days before through 21 days after the start of classes (from 17.9 to 14.7 cases per 100,000), and in-person instruction university counties (79) experienced a 56.2% increase in COVID-19 incidence, from 15.3 to 23.9 cases per 100,000. Counties without large colleges and universities (nonuniversity counties) (3,009) experienced a 5.9% decline in COVID-19 incidence, from 15.3 to 14.4 cases per 100,000.”
Open Schools, Covid-19, and Child and Teacher Morbidity in Sweden NEJM. “Despite Sweden’s having kept schools and preschools open, we found a low incidence of severe Covid-19 among schoolchildren and children of preschool age during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Among the 1.95 million children who were 1 to 16 years of age, 15 children had Covid-19, MIS-C, or both conditions and were admitted to an ICU, which is equal to 1 child in 130,000.”
* * * Along with vaccine rollouts, the U.S. needs a National Hi-Fi Mask Initiative STAT
Pandemic restrictions follow state lines. The spreading virus doesn’t. High Country News
Sweden’s distinctive Covid strategy nears an end as lockdown proposed FT
China?
Coronavirus: Chinese urged not to make ‘unnecessary’ trips home for Lunar New Year South China Morning Post
China’s state media and pro-Beijing figures delight in comparing US Capitol unrest with 2019 storming of Hong Kong legislature Hong Kong Free Press
National security law: Hong Kong rounds up 53 pro-democracy activists BBC
China Unveils Rules for National Carbon-Trading Scheme Sixth Tone
China cancels Democratic Republic of Congo loans as it joins belt and road South China Morning Post. $28 million?!
Ghana army moves to quell parliament clash ahead of swearing-in Agence France Presse
India
250 million farmers in India are taking a stand against the government as part of the biggest protest in history. Here’s why the US and the world should pay attention. Business Insider. From last week, still germane.
Farmers Protest Live News: Eighth round of talks between farm unions and Centre underway at Vigyan Bhawan Financial Express
Owning digital plans to 3D-print guns without licence to be made a crime after new Bill passed Channel News Asia. Singapore.
New Cold War
2020: Stable Trends in an Unstable World Valdai Discussion Club
How Trump ‘Appeased’ Russia Moon of Alabama
The Biden Transition and U.S. Competition with China and Russia: The Crisis-Driven Need to Change U.S. Strategy Center for International and Strategic Studies
UK/EU
Why UK pledge to become ‘Saudi Arabia’ of wind power rings hollow UK
Antisemitism definition is undermining free speech Guardian
Biden Transition
Raimondo selected for Biden’s Commerce secretary Politico. Pension-gutter, venture capitalist, private equity goon… She’s perfect!
Why Progressives Should Care About The Commerce Secretary Revolving Door Project
Biden chooses Boston Mayor Walsh as Labor secretary Politico
Trump Transition
The Trump Administration Officials Who Resigned Over Capitol Violence NYT. Chao, DeVos, Mulvaney, Pottinger, Costello, Goodspeed, Grisham (FLOTUS), Niceta (FLOTUS), Matthews.
Ajit Pai is distancing himself from President Trump Protocol
Treasury launches $25B coronavirus rental assistance program The Hill. 200,000 people.
Realignment and Legitimacy
Episode 35 – The Gods Must Be F*cking With Us (podcast) Thomas Frank, Bad Faith (JS). Good to see Thomas Frank back in the arena.
Now do RussiaGate:
I’m currently doing a virtual focus group with all Trump voters.
Somehow, they’ve all started yelling at each other. (I haven’t said a word in 5 straight minutes.) pic.twitter.com/eATeGJ5s0K
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) January 8, 2021
Intelligence Community
CIA rebrands to encourage diversity but identity of logo designer remains top secret dezeen (Re Silc). So awesome:
Our Famously Free Press
Now It Can Be Told: How Neil Sheehan Got the Pentagon Papers NYT
Boeing 737 MAX
Boeing agrees to pay $244 million penalty to settle criminal fraud charges over 737 MAX Dominic Gates and Lewis Kamb, Seattle Times. The headline figure is over $2 billion, lol:
Of that amount, only $243.6 million, less than 10%, is a fine paid to the U.S. government for the criminal conduct, ‘which reflects a fine at the low end’ of the sentencing guidelines, the court agreement states. The rest includes an additional $500 million Boeing commits to pay in compensation to the families of the 346 people who died in two crashes of the MAX. However, 70% of the $2.5 billion cited in the settlement, or $1.77 billion, is compensation to Boeing’s airline customers that the company has already agreed to pay. (Indeed, that’s just a fraction of what it has agreed to pay them.)
Alternative headline: “Crooked National Champion Executives Skate Away Clean: No Jail Time.” The whole article is very good; read for more horrid details.
Guillotine Watch
London Luxury Home Buyers Now Need Somewhere to Park Their Jets Bloomberg
Class Warfare
Beggar thy neighbour Ann Pettifor, TLS. Review of Trade Wars Are Class Wars.
More employers are starting to offer student loan repayment assistance Yahoo Finance. Indentured servitude with a layer of indirection…
Denmark launches children’s TV show about man with giant penis Guardian
Antidote du jour (via):
Bonus antidote:
Alexander Liebermann is a composer and teacher who transcribes animal sounds for use in ear training. Here are some examples of his work:
1. Nightingale
2. Wolf (0:26)
3. Uirapura (musical wren) (0:59)
4. Emperor penguins (1:31)
5. Humpback whale (2:04)
Via lieberliner on IG pic.twitter.com/bLKqV0kkC1— Dust-to-Digital (@dusttodigital) January 5, 2021
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here
