Author: condor

The Foot-Paths — Across The African Continent — Are A Known Vector, For Bundibugyo / Ebola Transmission: 71 New Cases Near DRC’s Remote Northwestern Borders

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It is hard to overstate how utterly deplorable all of this is — as an international non-public health policy — from Tangerine 2.0, Musk and RFK, Jr. May they burn in Hell. I’ll take a breath now — but this is deeply discouraging, indeed. Overall, we are well above 10,000 cases in DRC.

Here’s the latest — but detecting 71 new cases, found at wholly-new monitoring stations — on foot, in the deeply forested / mountainous regions of Ituri — cases not directly connected to any previously known cases… indicates this will almost certainly be the worst ever Ebola outbreak, in recorded history.

To be certain, the dying is very far from being arrested in and around DRC. Dammit — it did not have to be like this. From the WHO, then:

…Seventy-one confirmed Ebola cases have been identified since the start of the outbreak through surveillance points supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as continued transmission, displacement and a USD 59.8 million regional funding shortfall threaten efforts to contain the outbreak. Nearly half of this funding gap is concentrated in the DRC, raising concerns about the ability to sustain critical oversight and preparedness efforts across the region.

“Ebola screening cannot stop at hospitals or official border crossings,” said Frantz Celestin, IOM Regional Director for East, Horn and Southern Africa. “People need timely access to health information and services wherever they live and travel, including displacement sites and remote border communities. Sustaining these efforts is essential to detecting cases early and limiting further transmission….”

Obviously, as we pointed out just yesterday morning — people who ran waxing salons in US airports will NOT be up to the task of running diagnostic kits in the harsh mountain brushland deep inside rebel / conflict territories, in DRC.

They’ve likely never even truly “roughed it / camped out“, in their entire lives. But Trump’s fail sons never met a grift they would pass up. Another $40 million bribe payoff, wasted, from taxpayer funds. Without serious question, there will be excess Ebola deaths, because of the US / Trumpian corruption.

Dammit. Out.

नमस्ते

Look — Almost Nuthin’ Tangerine 2.0 Says Makes Sense Anymore, But It Sure Looks Like The “Qatari Air Force One” Bribe Has Paid Off — In Handsome Fashion.

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I suppose this is to save Whiskey Pete from conviction in the Senate come late January 2027. [And he’s certainly been told — if Pete goes down, he won’t get any replacement Defense Secy. through the now Deep Blue US Senate. Nor will he have any budgetary discretion — to run unlawful “police actions” — in Venezuela.]

None of it will work / stick — as he forgets what he says day to day.

These days, he just about always repeats whatever he’s last heard, before he steps to the mic — in this case, from a lobbying meeting with Qataris.

But. . . to be fair:

I. Honestly. Will. Mostly. Tune. His. Blather. Out — for the next two years.

He will have zero budget authority — and is likely to see re-invigorated Watergate-era anti-corruption laws imposed rather forcefully, upon his cantaloupe-tanned hide. But here is the blather, just the same — with a debunker from AlJazeera:

…United States President Donald Trump has signalled that he considers the US-Israel war on Iran “effectively” at an end, after meeting Qatar’s prime minister in Washington, DC.

In a surprise briefing on Monday, Trump reiterated his position that the US had destroyed Iran’s military. But his remarks suggested he faces pressure from allies in the Middle East to bring hostilities to a close….

As I say — this is putridly stupid fake news. He will likely say the opposite in a few days. Who cares?!

नमस्ते

There Is Very Little Solid Science That Must Be Done, By Boots — On The Moon. Orange-Tinged NASA Nonsense Press Releases Dept.

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But for me, it is not even the lack of scientific reason to go build a human inhabited base — as it is… that Jared Isaacman [BTW, check the ears on that dude, at right! He’s like a taxi driving down Michigan Avenue — with both back doors, wide open!], for Trump — places his putrid “advertorial” copy, in the present tense.

He intones that this moon base… “is” — rather than… “will be” (if and only if funded by Congress –which hasn’t happened, and is not at all likely, now, post the Bluenami) or, may be… built. Here’s the idiocy, tonight:

…The Moon Base IS(?!) humanity’s first lunar outpost, a place where astronauts will live, work, and explore near the Moon’s South Pole.

Through a series of crewed and uncrewed missions, NASA and its partners will build the infrastructure needed to support an enduring human presence on the lunar surface while advancing science, technology, and exploration for the benefit of all….

What a pile of fetid crap, smeared all over an otherwise excellent US agency’s website. And it has the dank odor… of Musk, all over it.

As an aside — as this wends its way toward a vote — likely in the Senate, by late January 2027, let’s put Whiskey Pete in the company of only one other US Defense Secy. — William Belknap, who was impeached (and convicted) for bribery in 1876. Out.

नमस्ते

Hinderaker’s Latest Brain Fart… On US Oil And Gas Prices.

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Overnight, John made plain that he does not understand the role of government or the role of oil, producers, in the price at retail of gasoline. And diesel.

He and other chuckleheads are making the argument that Trump should suspend taxes on the price of gasoline at the pump. Let’s put to the side the fact that Trump has no power to do that. John also argues that California ought to reduce or eliminate its state tax on the price of gasoline.

I realize John lives in a fantasy world — in which he somehow he thinks that Republicans can force these votes and then carry them, in chambers where they are no longer the majority, and in the case of California, where they haven’t been the majority in many years.

Charming.

John lives in a retro-1984 fantasy world where Ronald Reagan is still President and has sway in California.

But I didn’t primarily stop by with my coffee here to make fun of this part of his fantasy, above. It is this particular quote below that I wanted to highlight:

…Governments make more money off gasoline than the oil companies do….

Wow.

Where to begin? Of course the truth is John well-knows what he is saying is nonsensical.

But he is banking on the fact that most Trump supporters have less than a third grade understanding of the most fundamental concepts underpinning national economics.

So let’s just quickly untangle this: most oil refining companies just reported all-time record profits this past quarter. That’s a fact. [So just maybe they could be persuaded — by DoE regs — to stop gouging the American consumer. But John will never suggest that.]

Government is not in the business of “making money”. In fact, one of a government’s main roles — in the economy, is to provide protection, stability and services that otherwise cannot be provided by a for-profit model — all at “prices“ that the populace feels are acceptable.

Finally, John — and other hard right frothers — no longer write much about the size of the deficit because they know that Trump has presided over the largest increases of the deficit — in a well over a century — on a percentage basis.

But if silly John got his way, the deficit would soon be over $6 trillion — within months. [How on Earth would Trump ever fund his ballroom and arch and golf club renovations?]

What a feckless putz.

Out.

Mpox Clade 1b 2026 Cases Rumble Onward: 470 This Time, In Thailand… With Three Fatalities.

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he southeast Asian nation has now recorded significantly more cases thus far in 2026, than it did — in all of 2025.

The genie is likely permanently out of the bottle now, globally. It will be with us in varying severity — in many geographies around the globe — essentially always, now. Awful news — and thanks, Manchurian Cantaloupe.

Here’s the latest, from local sourcings:

…Kriangkrai Tangjitmanisakda, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Medical Service Department, said on Monday (9 November) that figures from the Department of Disease Control showed 470 cumulative mpox cases and three deaths in Thailand as of 31 October 2026….

The BMA’s Medical Service Department has strengthened its standard operating procedures at hospitals under its supervision to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce delays in identifying infections….

Under the enhanced measures, hospitals will conduct more thorough screening of patients with potential exposure risks, including detailed assessments of close contact, travel history and other risk factors….

So it goes — all as a House Republican introduces articles of impeachment against Whiskey Pete Hegseth — for violating the US Constitution. Grin — onward.

नमस्ते

Even AFTER The “Blue Tsunami of 2026” — Graft & Grift, Thy Name Is… Trump: Ebola Testing — Govt. Contracts Edition

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Each of these named dorks is just a cog in a bumbling crime syndicate. The people of America have spoken: they must go. And make no mistake, when Trump said on 60 Minutes that maybe his “tough” immigration measures contributed to the loss — he misspoke. His CRIMINAL ABUSES, of our fellow neighbors. . . did, in fact contribute. Lawlessness is not “tough” — it is cowardice, Donald.

However, today’s installment focuses on Ebola — more precisely, the post-dismantling of USAID in Africa.

Recently, Trump’s two sons were awarded a significant stake in a public company that mostly sells beauty spa treatments at airport store-fronts: waxings and chakra beds. [That company recently acquired a COVID-19 testing subsidiary, but dozens of more capable Ebola testing options exist on the ground in Africa as a legacy, from WHO and the former USAID outreaches.]

By dint of the now-all-too-familiar Orange Magic, with Trump’s sons in tow, this company has been awarded over $40 million in US government contracts, to open on the ground testing locations inside the DRC — for Ebola. The CEO himself admits it is far from clear that the company is capable of doing this. INSANE.

From ProPublica’s fine reporting, then:

…The company, XpresTest, has years of experience monitoring for COVID-19 and other diseases for the government at U.S. airports. That makes its parent, XWELL, an unusual hybrid, selling both spa treatments and biosecurity services. Last year, it made most of its money from waxing salons and airport spas that offer manicures, massages and “chakra beds.”

The contracts are the latest example of the president’s family benefiting financially from his administration’s actions. And the stakes for these deals are particularly high. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an Ebola outbreak has killed more than 5,000 people this year, and the federal government is trying to stop the pathogen from coming to the U.S.

XpresTest has never worked with Ebola or provided biosecurity services abroad, let alone in the kind of volatile locales it’s now expected to work in. The CEO of its parent company, Ezra Ernst, said XpresTest won both contracts in a competitive bidding process and pointed to its years of experience doing screening for COVID-19 and other pathogens at American airports. But even he acknowledged that working internationally is “a new thing for us” and expressed uncertainty about being able to complete the work in the Democratic Republic of Congo….

“This is a risky contract. I’m not sure we can do it,” Ernst said in an interview….

Under previous administrations, the U.S. government addressed international disease outbreaks in partnership with the World Health Organization. But Trump withdrew from the group last year, dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, which handled much of this work, and dramatically scaled back the global presence of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the same time, the State Department launched the America First Global Health Strategy, which calls for the U.S. to use aid to foreign countries to “promote American companies and American innovations abroad.” This March, the State Department announced it would be giving up to $4.5 billion in funding for various purposes, including responding to infectious disease outbreaks.

Under that program, XPresTest was awarded $20 million….

The CDC also awarded XPresTest a contract, for $18.8 million.

The Trump sons’ connection to XWELL was established in February, when a fund called American Ventures invested in the company. The fund was launched by Dominari Holdings, a small financial firm with offices inside Trump Tower in New York. The leaders of Dominari hired the Trump sons as advisers after their father was elected to a second term and granted them a stake of more than 10% in Dominari.

That means XWELL, the company that the Trump-linked investment fund took a stake in, will benefit financially from the Trump administration contracts if the sale closes, even though it won’t be involved in doing the work for the government.

XWELL said in a public filing that the sale was part of an effort “to pursue a new direction in the national security sector.” Ernst said he didn’t know the exact plans but thought the parent company might be looking to work with the Department of Defense….

Yes, indeed, Hakeem Jeffries — we also need state level (NY, CO, IL, CA) indictments, and impeachment moves (in Congress) — up the chain — to the Manchurian Cantalope’s level, as well.

नमस्ते

Islamophobist-Boebert Is Toast In Colorado; She Will Demand A Recount. Ugh.

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In not even a remotely surprising fashion, the odious Lauren Boebert (currently down by ~4,000 votes) is likely to demand a recount at her own expense. Colorado, and more importantly America, needs to turn its back on her brand of hate — and low class sexualized trash.

[For his part, Hinderaker thinks Josh Shapiro (and all other Democrats) are “radical left”?!

All while he never chastised Boebert for barking in a Capitol elevator that her fellow House Rep. (a MN / Muslim / woman / Democrat) might have a bomb in her backpack? This was acceptable decorum for a US House Rep, John?]

In any event, here’s what to expect next in the close out of this race in eastern Colorado:

. . .Robert Preuhs, professor and chair of political science at Metropolitan State University of Denver, told FOX31 that recounts rarely change election outcomes.

“Very very unlikely that recounts will overturn or change an election result, particularly when we’re looking at, you know, 2,000 to 3,000 vote spreads,” Preuhs said….

According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar, counties must finish their initial vote tabulation by Nov. 13.

Counties then have until Nov. 25 to complete their official canvass and submit the results to the state. That is also the deadline for candidates to request a self-funded recount.

Automatic recounts must be completed by Dec. 4, while candidate-requested recounts must be completed by Dec. 8….

Welp — now you know… Back on a jet to the Chi — just eight hours ago — busy week ahead! Gotta’ shove these losing MAGA folk out of DC! ”Surf’s… UP!”

नमस्ते

Hinderaker Has Forgotten His Own “Dear Leader’s” Officially-Issued Death Threats?!? Against… Chicagoans?!

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He’s a crazy, bitter, nonsense and fear-mongering old coot.

And he knows that these GOP/MAGAts — they’ve lost the upper hand in the battle for effective rhetorical flourishes — for at least a decade.

So I would love to ask him to explain this at right that his dear issued right off of his own official White House social media feed.

He can’t.

Out.

Update — Final Status, On Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory: Burnt In.

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This will be the final entry, on that NASA space ‘scope.

It survived a few hours beyond earlier predictions, as the drag was slightly reduced, because its free-fall trajectory was slightly more shallow than forecast. Here’s that, from NASA:

…The U.S. Space Force confirmed that the Swift spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at 7:39 a.m. EST Wednesday over the North Sumatra region of Indonesia, at approximately 3.4 degrees north latitude and 98.6 degrees east longitude. NASA expected most of the spacecraft to burn up as it traveled through the atmosphere, but some components may have survived re-entry….

Now you know. And still over the moon, as to the new blue dawn in America! Out. Wishing you only joy in this next revolution around the Sun!

नमस्ते

[U] Texas Dumps MAGA / Abbott & Paxton. Nation Gives Democrats Firm Control Of House & Senate… Woot!

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Updated: Deliciously, the sad and bitter John Hinderaker… is extra bitter tonight. He seems wholly-unaware that come January, Trump is on his way to jail.

Or at least being indicted and convicted again, without any prospect of anyone pardoning him. Certainly not for his newest state level crimes. End update.

Welp — this isn’t just a blue wave… it’s a tsunami.

Texas has been run by a Uni-party for over three decades. Now Texas is surfin’ — blue.

A Black woman will be the Governor of Georgia in the morning. Yeah, Keisha!

And the Senate may well break 55-45 for Democrats. That makes the unctious Federman largely irrelevant — out of Pennsylvania. And frankly who cares what Collins thinks any more — up in Maine? She’s… toast!

Thank the Goddesses! Here is the NYT, on it:

…Democratic candidates won races in Republican strongholds, flipping Senate seats in Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and even Texas — on a night shaping up as a Democratic tour-de-force….

Me? I will be grinning ear to ear as I fly to Colorado midday on Thursday — it is highly likely that Boebert is now just right back to the trailer trash she came out of — in that state.

नमस्ते