2:00PM Water Cooler 12/16/2024 | bare capitalism

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Fowl Tune of the Day

Northern Mockingbird, Quitman Farm, Brooks, Georgia, United States.

In Case You May Miss…

1. DOGE.
2. Kamala’s future. If any.
3. The state of tech: like industrial chemical accident.
4. Covid wastewater: Excellent news.

Search for the Helpers

Will the opposite birds reject this chook, because it’s been held by a human?

My e mail deal with is down by the plant; please ship examples of there (“Helpers” within the topic line). In our more and more determined and fragile neoliberal society, on a regular basis regular incidents and tales of “the communism of on a regular basis life” are what I’m in search of (and never, say, the Pink Cross in Hawaii, and even the UNWRA in Gaza).

Politics

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

Trump Transition

“Dr. Oz Uncovered for Colossal, Multimillion-Greenback Battle of Curiosity” [The New Republic]. “Dr. Mehmet Oz, the daytime tv host Donald Trump has picked to run the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Providers, or CMS, might have a direct monetary stake in three corporations that might do enterprise with the company he intends to run. A assessment of Oz’s 2022 tax disclosure by Accountable.US revealed that the Trump ally owned as much as $26 million stake in Sharecare, a digital well being firm co-founded by Oz that operates CareLinx, the “unique in-home care supplemental profit program” utilized by 1.5 million Medicare Benefit enrollees. The corporate went personal in 2024, so it’s unknown whether or not Oz nonetheless owns a stake within the firm. Novo Nordisk, which produces Ozempic and Wegovy amongst different medication, can be a consumer of Sharecare. As head of CMS, Oz has appreciable impression on the pharmaceutical business—however with enterprise ties like these, it’s equally possible that these drug corporations may have a profound impression on him.” • $26 million? Oz is a patzer. Absolutely the identical logic applies to each single billionaire in Trump’s cupboard? In spite of everything, what’s an oligarchy however battle of curiosity on the grand scale?

“How Quick Can Trump Enact His 2025 Agenda?” [Ed Kilgore, New York Magazine]. “The important thing to implementing Trump’s legislative agenda would be the budget-reconciliation course of that allows Congress to bypass the Senate filibuster and enact a giant package deal of latest legal guidelines on an up-or-down party-line vote. That is how Trump received his tax cuts in 2017 and the way he tried to repeal Obamacare. Gadgets in a budget-reconciliation invoice should be centered on fiscal issues, however it’s nonetheless an enormous asset to a celebration that controls the White Home and each chambers of Congress. It’s starting to seem like Workforce Trump desires two budget-reconciliation payments, one centered on authorizing the massive buildup in border-security sources vital for Trump’s mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and one other geared toward extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts. There’s growing discuss of a really fast begin on the primary invoice. For the reason that 119th Congress shall be sworn in on January 3, Congress may get transferring on a finances decision organising this invoice even earlier than Trump takes workplace.” • This publish supplies a helpful timeline for Trump’s first 12 months.

* * *

“Bringing Elon to a knife battle” [Jennifer Pahlka, Eating Policy]. “Loads of the federal government tech group is skipping the hand wringing; they’ve principally simply grabbed a bag of popcorn and are watching in actual time as Elon and Vivek study all of the issues they’ve recognized, lived, and completely hated for his or her complete time in public service. They don’t see DOGE as their savior, however they’re feeling vindicated after years of shouting into the void. I’m struck by how totally different the tone of the DOGE dialog is between political leaders on the left and the individuals who’ve been combating within the implementation trenches. One group is terrified they’ll succeed. The opposite is beginning to ask a shocking query (or no less than I’m): What if even billionaires can’t disrupt the system we’ve got constructed?” • To this point, DOGE is a only a volunteer group. I may volunteer to reform authorities too, and even get buddies to affix the “effort.” So what? However DOGE is rather a lot like what Hyman Minksy stated about cash: “Everybody can create cash; the issue is to get it accepted.” How does DOGE get “accepted?” How, precisely, is DOGE going to transition from handwaving potential to kinetic drive inside (or no less than affecting authorities? No person appears to ask. Jawboning? Government orders?

“Kamala Harris grapples along with her future in a wounded Democratic Occasion” [WaPo]. “Within the wake of her personal 2024 loss, Vice President Kamala Harris and her allies are grappling with what her political future holds and debating whether or not the unofficial rule nonetheless applies — particularly, whether or not her first shot on the White Home because the Democratic nominee must also be her just one, given the extraordinary circumstances of Harris’s 107-day dash to Election Day.” And: “A few of her donors and supporters, significantly these in her dwelling state, hope she’s going to run for governor of California in 2026. However in 2015, when she was state legal professional basic and a rising star deciding on her subsequent transfer, Harris determined to not search that job after in depth discussions with advisers. She listed the professionals and cons of working for governor versus senator on a authorized pad, aides stated, concluding that the Senate was a greater match for her pursuits and her strengths as a former prosecutor. However as quickly as she misplaced to Trump on Nov. 5, some Harris supporters seized on the thought of a gubernatorial run, together with rich donors desirous to see her take a management position in such a strong publish. ‘,’ one Harris confidante stated.”• Lol. Musical interlude.

Maskstravaganza

Symbols aren’t instruments?

Masks / Respirators are *instruments* to drastically cut back the chance of an infection from airborne pathogens. Their transformation into political and sociological *symbols* has been an enormous hindrance to addressing danger. Demonising *people* who do or don’t masks simply makes this worse.

— Conor Browne (@brownecfm) December 13, 2024

Image manipulators absolutely imagine symbols are instruments.

TABLE 1: Each day Covid Charts

LEGEND

1) ★ for charts new at this time; all others should not up to date.

2) For a full-size/full-resolution picture, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Home windows) on the chart thumbnail and “open picture in new tab.”

NOTES

[1] (CDC) Seeing slightly extra pink, however nothing new main worldwide hubs. Curiously, Calculated Threat is watching wastewater too.

[2] (CDC) Final week’s wastewater map.

[3] (CDC Variants) XEC takes over. That WHO label, “Ommicron,” has completed an excellent job normalizing successive waves of an infection.

[4] (ED) A little bit uptick.

[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.

[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.

[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.

[8] (Cleveland) Up!

[9] (Vacationers: Positivity) Leveling out.

[10] (Vacationers: Variants). Positivity is new, however variants haven’t but been launched.

[11] Deaths low, positivity leveling out.

[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.

Stats Watch

Manufacturing: “United States NY Empire State Manufacturing Index” [Trading Economics]. “The NY Empire State Manufacturing Index fell to 0.20 in December 2024 from 31.2 in November which was the very best studying since December 2021, and effectively beneath forecasts of 12. The studying confirmed enterprise exercise within the NY state held regular, following a giant rise within the earlier month.”

Manufacturing: “Boeing’s 12 months of Disaster Leaves Traders Cautious of Overwhelmed-Up Inventory” [Bloomberg]. ” What was imagined to be a comeback 12 months for Boeing Co. has changed into its worst stock-market plunge since 2008, and if Wall Road is true, the plane-maker’s shares might have solely a modest restoration in retailer in 2025…. The inventory is down 35% this 12 months, inserting it among the many 20 largest decliners within the S&P 500 Index. The shares have stabilized over the previous month, however buyers stay cautious. They level to the string of crises in 2024 that shook their confidence in Boeing’s prospects and the chance that it’ll endure ought to commerce friction construct anew underneath President-elect Donald Trump. ‘Simply staying out of the information can be a win for Boeing at this level,’ stated Eric Clark, portfolio supervisor of the Rational Dynamic Manufacturers Fund.” • And talking of public relations–

Manufacturing: “Pig Stench Causes KLM Boeing 787-9 To Divert To Bermuda” [Simple Flying]. “KLM Flight 685 was diverted to Bermuda after the scent of a herd of swine from beneath decks wafted via the cabin…. The crew reported an “obnoxious scent from cargo coming from pigs in all probability, which can have one thing to do with the oxygen atmosphere within the cockpit.’…. The diversion was not an emergency. There was no Mayday name, no PAN name, and no emergency companies had been required. The pigs had been unloaded and brought to a “safe location on the island throughout their impromptu vacation stayover.” • Clearly not Boeing’s fault, however they will’t catch a break, can they?

Manufacturing: “Boeing Delays Imply Trump Gained’t Fly on a New Air Drive One” [Wall Street Journal]. “President-elect Donald Trump didn’t get to fly on a brand new Air Drive One throughout his first time period. He possible gained’t get to fly on a brand new presidential aircraft in his second time period, both. The long-delayed undertaking has fallen up to now delayed that Boeing has instructed the Air Drive that it expects to ship the brand new jets after Trump leaves the White Home, in keeping with individuals accustomed to the matter. Meaning the airplanes wouldn’t be prepared till 2029 or later. Pissed off with the delays, Trump raised the undertaking with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg when the 2 males had a cellphone dialog in November. As he prepares to return to the White Home, Trump has repeatedly requested advisers concerning the standing of Boeing’s work.Boeing was an excellent American firm, he has instructed aides, in keeping with individuals briefed on the discussions. What occurred to them? Trump has requested.”

The Bezzle: Why don’t we’ve got a Strategic Baseball Card Reserve?

Can anyone clarify to me what’s “Strategic” a few “Strategic Bitcorn Reserve,” and why it’s not merely an outright subsidy to those crooks and fraudsters?

At the moment’s Worry & Greed Index: 56 Greed (earlier shut: 50 Impartial) [CNN]. One week in the past: 48 (Impartial). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Dec 16 at 1:19:55 PM ET.

Rapture Index: Closes down one on Plagues. “The shortage of exercise has downgraded this class” [Rapture Ready]. Report Excessive, October 10, 2016: 189. Present: 182. (Keep in mind that bringing on the Rapture is sweet.) • Arduous to imagine the Rapture Index goes down. Doesn’t the collapse of Syria convey the Third Temple nearer? Do these individuals know one thing we don’t?

Gallery

David with the top of Goliath:

Chairoscuro!

Class Warfare

“By no means Forgive Them” [Ed Zitron, Where’s Your Ed At?] A powerful rant, price studying in full. This caught my eye: “I’m not scripting this to complain, however as a result of I imagine — as I hinted at a number of weeks in the past — that we’re within the midst of the largest-scale ecological catastrophe of our time, as a result of virtually each single interplay with know-how, which is required to stay in fashionable society, has grow to be actively adversarial to the consumer. These points hit all the things we do, on a regular basis, a relentless onslaught of interference, and I imagine it’s a lot larger than simply social media and algorithms — although they’re a giant a part of it, in fact. In plain phrases, all people is being fucked with continuously in tiny little methods by most apps and companies, and I imagine that billions of individuals being fucked with directly in all of those methods has profound psychological and social penalties that we’re not meaningfully discussing. The typical particular person’s expertise with know-how is one so aggressive and violative that I imagine it leaves billions of individuals with a constant low-grade trauma. We appear, as a society, able to understanding that social media can damage us, unsettle us, or make us really feel crazed and offended, however I feel it’s time to simply accept that the remainder of the tech ecosystem undermines our wellbeing in an equally-insidious means. And most of the people don’t comprehend it’s occurring, as a result of all people has accepted deeply shitty situations for the final ten years.” And: “Why wouldn’t individuals really feel insane? Why wouldn’t the web, the place we’re principally pressured to stay, drive most individuals loopy? How are we not discussing the truth that a lot of the web is riddled with poison? How are we not treating the present state of the tech business like an industrial chemical accident? Is it as a result of there are too many individuals at fault? Is it as a result of fixing it could require us to actually interrogate the material of a capitalist dying cult?”• He’s not improper, is he?

Contact info for crops: Readers, be happy to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) learn the way to ship me a test in case you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to learn the way to ship me photos of crops. Greens are effective! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary crops! If you need your deal with to look as a credit score, please place it in the beginning 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 WB: