Tell Us, Steve: What Would Healthcare Cost Trends Look Like WITHOUT The ACA of 2010?!

Steve isn’t even a particularly… useful idiot. In the main, he can’t read his own charts. Not with an eye to critical thinking at least.

The knucklehead declares Obamacare a failure, based on a chart that shows healthcare costs are rising in the United States. [All reasonable estimates from just before the ACA of 2010, projected that health care costs would become about 24% of the US GDP by 2022, if we didn’t act. Today, in 2024, 14 years on… health care amounts to about 19% of GDP. Still very high, but a full five points, or 25% lower than those costs would have been, without Obamacare. ]

He neglected to compare that data he cites, with the periods prior.

Moreover, he forgets that in Texas almost no one could afford any kind of healthcare insurance prior to 2010. Same in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

What do each of these states have in common?

That’s right, they were, and are ruby red states… run by hard right governors and legislators… That coincidentally also happened to have very robust very profitable private for profit hospitals and doctors’ groups.

So it was that Obamacare ended at least some of that excess. It does still exist though to be sure.

In a semi-related tangent, these Powerline boys (Hinderaker and Johnson mostly) are trying to make the assassin named Luigi Mangione a “lefty…“ are hilarious. His family has donated millions to GOP and hard right causes, including PACs pushing Trump’s 2016 and 2020 election efforts.

He has expressed admiration for Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. At bottom — I suspect he’s just a spoiled brat who was angry that he didn’t get his back care covered. And it is clear he is mentally ill.

In any event, I would have expected that the Powerline boys would have preached mantra of family responsibility – that is, they would lay blame for his views at his parents’ feet. What did those parents do? Or not do?

So yeah, guys — give it a rest. Your con won’t work on us.

Out.

No, Paul — We Are Smarter Than That. We See That Tangerine IS NOT CAPABLE Of Not… Imploding This Time.

Silly Paul. This morning, he would have us believe that “The Left” is lying in wait for Tangerine 2.0.

Not so.

We are going — in the main — to let the regular GOP do our work for us. And, we will count, once again, on Trump’s staggering, towering… incompetence to be.. plain to all.

Heck — even you (and most of the Powerline boys) now openly admit that you see it:

This time, Trump has picked any number of Cabinet nominees who would never have been picked for the positions they hope to hold by a normal Republican president.

Their merits aside, I’ll cite Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Matt Gaetz (before he stepped aside) as examples. At the sub-cabinet level and ambassador level, I’ll add Kash Patel, Metmet Oz, and convicted felon Charles Kushner. [McMahon, too.]

In addition, the Trump transition team reportedly is asking applicants for high-level positions in the Defense Department and intelligence agencies whether they believe the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and what they think about the January 6, 2021 riot. The “wrong” answers, reportedly, are that the election wasn’t stolen and that the rioters shouldn’t have tried to overturn the result.

If this, in fact, is how applicants are being screened, it doesn’t strike me as normal….

So yes, Paul — we are locked and loaded — but we likely won’t need much fire, this time. Flawless.

Yep — you people will do it, for us. There still are some in the GOP who see that Tangerine 2.0 is already lame ducking himself. [That includes you, John Hinderaker, and Scott Johnson. OTOH, Lloyd Billingsley and Steve Hayward both remain true to the loyalty / fealty oath Tangerine requires. Candidly, I’m not certain about your boy Bill Otis though.]

Out.

Malaria — And Malnutrition Are The Culprits — In At Least 143 “Mystery” Deaths In Kwango Province, DRC…

At a charity dinner tonight, but I saw that the likely causa bella is… malaria.

The ever-excellent CIDRAP website has the breaking story — more in a minute (or after midnight, actually):

…Abdi Mahamud, MD, interim director of alert and response coordination for the WHO, said malaria is endemic in the area and the rainy season has come with an increase in respiratory diseases within expected levels. For example, he said Kinshasa is seeing a rise in flu and COVID activity.

He said the epidemiologic data don’t show an explosive increase in cases or deaths. He added, however, that the high infant mortality shows that the issue needs to be addressed in Panzi and other vulnerable regions.

Mike Ryan, MD, who leads the WHO’s health emergencies program, praised DRC health officials for their work on the outbreak. Officials recognized that the cluster was unusual enough to report to the WHO, he said. “This is a sign of a system working, even in an extreme environment….”

He also said officials are working with the US government to set up an airlift into an airport that is 150 km (93 miles) from Panzi….

That is a relief, actually, as it is not an utterly unknown foe. We do have a vaccine for malaria. The trick will be getting it to the quite remote reaches of Panzi district, and quickly. That, and getting adequate food sources to these children, via airlifts. Onward.

नमस्ते

Dhillon?! Ineffectual, She’ll Be , John. Zero “Mass Resignations”.

John is again deep in his demented/deluded mode… thinking that one appointment to the DOJ Civil Rights Division… is going to cause dozens of career ASA’s to depart. Her arrival… won’t.

But again he needs to be seen licking the right boots — so he yammers on for several paragraphs. Unlike others though, she’s likely to clear the Senate.

That’s about all I can say.

None of Tangerine‘s picks the first time around were able to really “change the course” — on civil rights enforcement law; it will be much the same this time — in Trump 2.0.

BTW, I see he has tasked an “on camera” (but unindicted) January 6 riot mob participant with (once joining his mal-administration), onboarding / vetting national security hires.

Nope. There’s nothing crazy… about that.

“Just move along now, people… nothing to see here.”

Cheers, Johnnie boy!

Out.

“Incarceration” — Rudy’s New Year’s “Gift” — To Himself? Hilarious.

He still has deadlines this week in Manhattan federal district court as we’ve detailed, but he’s been given until January 2 to answer in DC, and must now appear on January 10, rather than December 12. Sigh. The mercy of these courts is perhaps admirable, but it has been over a year since he was held liable — and he has been more than able to retain counsel in numerous other courts, since then. His time is running out though, to be sure.

Here is the overnight order, in DC, from the able USDC Judge Beryl Howell, in full text — she expressly warns him that jail may be the outcome:

…MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendant’s [30] Motion to Enlarge the Time to Oppose Plaintiff’s Motion for Civil Contempt (“Def.’s Mot.”);

ORDERING that, by January 2, 2025, defendant shall file any opposition to plaintiff’s [19] Motion for Civil Contempt and, by January 7, 2025, plaintiffs shall file any reply;

CONTINUING the hearing on plaintiff’s [19] Motion for Civil Contempt until January 10, 2025, at 1:30 PM, in light of defendant’s representations that he will comply with the [16] injunctive order, at least “until the matter is heard,” Def.’s Mot. ¶ 6, and that he needs this time in order to “find an attorney,” id. ¶ 3, given the potential scope and severity of “[t]he arsenal of sanctions available to a court for civil contempt includ[ing] compensatory and coercive fines, as well as imprisonment,” United States v. Latney’s Funeral Home, Inc., 41 F. Supp. 3d 24, 36 (D.D.C. 2014); and

CAUTIONING defendant that any further extension requests so he can obtain counsel will be viewed with continuing skepticism, since defendant is apparently able to obtain the assistance of counsel in this matter, see Def.’s Mot., Ex. 1 [30-1] (Email, dated Dec. 3, 2024, to D.D.C. Clerk’s Office from Adam Katz identifying himself as “an attorney for Mr. Giuliani of [sic] some of his New York State matters”), and has in fact had counsel represent him in this matter, see [14] Joint Stipulation and Consent to Entry of Final Judgment ¶ 6 (“Undersigned counsel of record in this action represent that they are authorized to execute and enter into this Joint Stipulation and Consent to Entry of Final Judgment on behalf of the respective parties whom they represent. Undersigned counsel have full authority to bind the respective parties whom they represent in this Adversary Proceeding.”); id. ¶ 7 (“Defendant represents that he has had an opportunity to consult with counsel, has obtained the advice of counsel, and has agreed to all terms of this Joint Stipulation and Consent to Entry of Final Judgment freely and voluntarily.”); id. at 4 (executed on defendant’s behalf by “Gary C. Fischoff, Esq., BERGER, FISCHOFF, SHUMER, WEXLER & GOODMAN, LLP,” representing defendant).

Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on December 9, 2024….

Now you know. Onward — what a putz hizzoner has turned out to be, over five decades’ worth, now.

नमस्ते

Still No Word — But A Strong Hunch, In DRC Outbreak (Biology Unknown)

STAT’s Helen Branswell has an excellent piece on what may turn out to be the answer — on the so far unidentified DRC outbreak.

Given the observations on the ground in DRC, it seems likely that the disease or viral agent is one already well known and fairly common, but rendered significantly more lethal, in young people, given the current extreme food emergency in remote DRC. Here’s the latest, from STAT:

…Though it did not rule out the possibility of a novel disease, the WHO statement leaned heavily into the likelihood that one or more known diseases — malaria, pneumonia, influenza, Covid-19, or measles — exacerbated by severe malnutrition may be behind the outbreak and the high number of deaths attributed to it….

We will all now patiently await definitive word, which may take a week or more to arrive, but this working supposition from several pandemic experts seems a very strong hypothesis. Onward.

नमस्ते

[U] Delusional Hinderaker Dept.: Cotton Doesn’t Run The Senate, Son.

Update: Hinderaker thought the United Health shooter was a radical/liberal. Nope, it seems based on his social media posts, he admires Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk and Peter Theil. He’s from a GOP family, attended an Ivy and an elite private all boys high school in Maryland (he was Valedictorian). Hinderaker — hallucinated again.

And… in any event, one putative nominee has already burned up in some bright orange flames: that would be Matt Gaetz.

But Hinderaker tonight claims that all of Trump‘s nominees will be approved. I’d take 100 to 1 odds on that.

You see, Sen. Tom Cotton (MAGA) would be very nearly the worst source for how real, sensible GOP-ers see the overall Tangerine slate.

Yeh — John knows he’s got boots to lick though — so there you have it.

No Hegseth. Likely no Gabbard. Likely no McMahon. And likely no Kennedy.

Cheers Johnnie!

It Seems There Is A Highly-Likely Suspect, In Custody In Altoona, PA — With A “Ghost” Gun, And A Silencer. And A Manifesto. Ugh.

While I applaud this excellent police work, and cooperation between NY and local PA law enforcement… I am going to make this about… gun control. Forgive me, in advance. Or… don’t. I don’t care.

You’ll recall that the State of Texas wanted to make it lawful for felons to buy these untraceable “ghost guns”, anonymously, online. You’ll recall that Mr. Biden put an end to it, and the Supremes have agreed: that is “well regulated” under the Second Amendment.

So we are reading that this guy was caught at a McDonalds in Altoona with fake IDs, a manifesto, a silencer and… a “ghost gun”. All this would suggest he’s the man who murdered the United Healthcare CEO in cold blood — hit man style — last week in Manhattan. We expect he will be charged later tomorrow with the gun charges (such a weapon is unlawful in Altoona and NYC)… and then, later in the week — with first degree murder. But we shall see. Do consider that Tangerine opposes the laws that allow NYC to hold him, on the gun charge. [Yes, John — that makes this one of yours… utterly churlish.] Damn. Here’s the latest:

…A man arrested Monday on a gun charge in Pennsylvania, Luigi Mangione, 26, “is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, last Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday.

“He matches the description” of the person police were looking for, Mayor Eric Adams said. “He’s also in possession of several items that we believe will connect him to this incident….”

A man is being questioned in the fatal shooting nearly a week ago of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in New York City after he was found Monday in Pennsylvania with a gun and a suppressor like those used in the homicide, law enforcement officials briefed on the situation tell CNN.

He has been arrested on charges tied to the gun, a law enforcement official said. The weapon is a ghost gun – an untraceable, homemade weapon – another law enforcement source told CNN….

Sure. These are the kind of people Texas and Florida (and Tangerine and Musk — and Cruz and Scott) all want to be able to buy completely untraceable automatic hand-guns, and silencers. That’s… simply a very sensible policy. Right?! Damnation.

नमस्ते

Yawn. Mirengoff Concedes… Reality: Military Academies May Still Consider Diversity — In Admissions.

Paul has whined for decades (literally decades!), about this. And essentially nothing has changed.

He cannot boil the oceans with his Zippo lighter — no matter how hard he tries.

The reality is that — except in rural state schools in parts of Texas, and parts of Florida… diversity is still both being used — and lawfully allowed — as a “plus factor” for admissions.

That bugs old Paul. But it is… controlling law, son.

Grow up.

Power Alley: Merck’s $2.75 Billion Buyout Of San Diego-Based ADC Developer VelosBio (A Private Co.) Pays Off…

True enough, this is based on a very small (only 15 patients) study — and some fairly significant side effects remain a concern. But these are people with very few other options, given the severity of the blood-borne cancers they are facing.

So, these study results mean a Phase 3 clinical trial will begin shortly — and an FDA filing after that — for the candidate called zilovertamab vedotin, brought in to Rahway by the purchase of VelosBio in November of 2020. [That was during the peak of COVID. . . a time that seems long passed.] Here’s the latest, from the cogent keyboards — at BioSpace:

…Merck on Sunday unveiled initial data from the Phase II waveLINE-007 study, demonstrating that its investigational antibody-drug conjugate zilovertamab vedotin achieved a 100% complete response rate when used as part of a treatment regimen in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

The pharma presented these findings at the ongoing 66th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH 2024), being held in San Diego.

In a note over the weekend, BMO Capital Markets analysts called data for Merck’s ADC “very competitive….”

In the study, all 15 patients treated with 1.75 mg/kg of zilovertamab vedotin, in combination with the anti-cancer regimen R-CHP—cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone and rituximab—reached complete response, as assessed using a PET scan and a CT or MRI scan….

Now you know — and again, not yet remotely material, as larger clinical trials are needed to determine the normalized rate of any severe side effects, here.

Onward, smiling… as it again does offer new hope to people suffering with cancers (previously considered mostly untreatable).

नम