October 14, 2021 Briefing
Politics:
As supply chain troubles mount, Biden touts longer hours for L.A. port - Washington Post
“President Biden said Wednesday that a new plan to keep a key U.S. port open ‘24 hours a day, seven days a week’ would relieve pressure on an overworked supply chain that has frustrated Americans and blossomed into a major economic shortcoming.”
Leaked Border Patrol docs show mass release of illegal immigrants into US by Biden administration - Fox News
“At least 160,000 illegal immigrants have been released into the U.S., often with little to no supervision, by the Biden administration since March – including a broad use of limited parole authorities to make more than 30,000 eligible for work permits since August, Border Patrol documents obtained by Fox News show.”
“Seven major offshore wind farms would be developed on the East and West coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico under a plan announced Wednesday by the Biden administration.”
Social Security recipients get 5.9% increase, but rising prices will offset the boost - CNN Politics
Social Security recipients will receive an annual cost of living adjustment of 5.9% next year, the largest increase since 1982, the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday. The spike will boost retirees' monthly payments by $92 to an estimated average of $1,657 for 2022. … But that doesn't mean they'll be able to go on a spending spree. The reason for the hike is because inflation is soaring too.”
Business:
“With prices surging worldwide for heating oil, natural gas and other fuels, the U.S. government said Wednesday it expects households to see their heating bills jump as much as 54% compared to last winter.”
“U.S. inflation accelerated last month and remained at its highest rate in over a decade, with price increases from pandemic-related labor and materials shortages rippling through the economy.”
“The U.S. labor shortage continues to stifle every sector of the U.S. economy, making it harder for companies to hire for the pivotal holiday season.”
“Tesla co-founder and former chief technology officer J.B. Straubel recently issued a dire warning to automakers planning on going all-electric in the coming years: The math doesn't easily add up as it pertains to the supply chain.”
Culture:
“Cancel culture makes the problem much worse. One of my patients told me a story about her daughter, a college student, who made a tasteless racial joke at a friend’s expense. She instantly regretted it, and the friend soon forgave her. But another student overheard the joke and reported my patient’s daughter to the dean, who removed her from a student-leadership position and told her she’d be expelled if she told another bad joke.”
“Facebook is slowly expanding its effort to weed out political content from News Feed. The company is now testing its ‘less political’ feed in 75 new countries, Facebook said in an update.”
Capitol Rioter Decides to Represent Himself in Court, Accidentally Admits to Two New Felonies - Daily Beast
“Washington, D.C. news network WUSA reports that the wild hearing opened with a judge advising Brandon Fellows against representing himself, but he ignored that warning and went on to bolster the case against him by admitting to two new felonies.”
William Shatner launches into space on Blue Origin rocket - Fox Business
“William Shatner, 90, made history on Wednesday morning aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket as the oldest person to go to space.”
Health:
An F.D.A. analysis questioned the strength of the evidence Johnson & Johnson provided for booster shots. - New York Times
“A key test used by the company was likely not sensitive enough, the agency suggested, adding that it didn’t have enough time to independently review much of the raw data from the trials.”
“‘What’s important to understand is that this isn’t so much about the physical asset of a hospital bed or a ventilator, and those were big focuses earlier in the pandemic, but now this is really an issue of health care worker capacity,’ Malcolm said. ‘There are actually fewer health care workers on the job today than there were last year due to the extreme stress and burnout that they have faced for over 18 months now.’”
“Padilla is one of thousands of unvaccinated New Yorkers affected by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ultimatum last week. Not only do city employees face the reality of losing their jobs, but without a shot, they’ll even forgo unemployment payments. Some unvaccinated Bronx natives would rather pursue a life outside New York City than be forced to take the vaccine.”