[U] While We Wait On NASA’s Return To The Web, Here’s What The European Space Agency Is Celebrating: One Year of HERA.

As I type this, Hera’s mission for planetary defense is cruising through deep space on the far side of the Sun, headed to its final destination: the Didymos binary asteroid system.

But just about a year ago, on October 7, 2024, it was unsure if the mission was ever going to take off at all.

More soon! One of my prior backgrounders, is available from the archives, here.

And. . . from the eu team:

…The mission needed to lift off [immediately after October 7, 2024] because it had to perform a flyby of Mars to speed it on its way to Didymos. Any delay would add years to its travel time….

Since then Hera has been testing out the ‘self-driving’ technology it will use around the asteroids on Earth and the Moon, performed its flyby of Mars and imaged its very first asteroid from three million kilometres, proving the capability of its main Asteroid Framing Camera.

Next, Hera is heading for aphelion, its furthest distance from the Sun. It will reach Didymos in autumn 2026, after which it will begin its mission to find out what happened to the smaller asteroid after NASA’s DART spacecraft impacted it in September 2022….

Okay — now you know. Hera will add to the learnings we collected, when NASA’s DART smashed into one of these same asteroids, in the vicinity of where Hera is now headed — by August 2026.

Hey — C’mon, Congress — solve the standoff. And let America start flying efficiently, again. Onward.

नमस्ते

Pot: Calling… Kettle?!

Wait — Hinderaker’s undies are in a bunch because Kamala Harris said the 2024 election was among the closest this century?!

John — geez, your boy got hundreds convicted of felonies — and made speeches that essentially led to an insurrection, to thwart the lawful outcome and the peaceful transfer of power — after the 2020 election.

He also claimed… Utterly falsely that he won. And several people lost their law licenses, and their homes… Because they believed his complete bullshit. The man is an endless liar. And you are whining, because maybe it wasn’t the closest election in the last century, and therefore, Kamala’s statement might be slightly exaggerated? Bring the fainting couch out. STAT!

By the way, your boy is also a more than two dozen time felon.

So as between Kamala Harris’s recollection, and his… I’ll take Kamala.

But all of it doesn’t matter a whit — as she peacefully and quietly stepped aside… for the good of the nation (domestic tranquility) and let Tangerine 2.0’s time begin without rancor or violence.

Not so you’re pathetic small handed dotard. In 2020.

Out.

Nope — Trump Possesses ZERO Lawful Authority To “Arrest” The IL Gov. And/Or The Chic. Mayor. [Y A W N. Small Handed Dotard Edition.]

This comes down to a policy disagreement: Illinois intends to keep complying with the US Constitution’s promises to… all of us — “we the people“.

Trump targets those he disfavors (mostly for asserting these same rights) with lawless executive orders/actions, and preposterous “orders” to Bondi to indict his opponents. Today he is calling for the arrest of the sitting Chicago Mayor (a Black man) — and the sitting Illinois Governor (a Jewish man), JB Pritzker.

Surprising no one, both are Democratic office holders, duly elected by the people of Illinois — and both support the US Supreme Court approved ‘Sanctuary City’ ordinances and state laws here.

[Those were passed by our city council, and state legislature, respectively. Individual towns, down-state, have “opted out” of that measure — under an express option to do so. No one is being coerced to thwart ICE. Just as ICE is not welcome inside the Cook County jail.] Here’s the NYT, on the the latest installment of the theatre of the absurd — from Trump:

…President Trump said on Wednesday that Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago should be jailed, escalating his campaign of retribution against those he sees as his political foes.

Both Mr. Pritzker and Mr. Johnson are Democrats who have opposed Mr. Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to the Chicago area and have criticized the aggressive way in which the Trump administration has carried out immigration raids. Mr. Johnson has signed an executive order to establish “ICE-free zones” in Chicago to prevent federal agents from staging operations.

“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Mr. Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.

Both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Pritzker said in social media posts that they would not pull back. “This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested,” Mr. Johnson said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And Mr. Pritzker said: “Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives, for checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Not much… not much at all, Mr. Governor — other than the fact that he is wholly impotent. And, Mr. Pritzker’s ancestors know only too well — what creeping authoritarianism looks like — they had escaped Europe, to avoid the coming of the… Holocaust. So, I’d trust him — when he speaks of such matters. Damn.

नमस्ते

Mr. Khalil Has Filed His Amended Complaint (In NJ Fed. Dist. Ct.) Against Pam Bondi And Kristi Noem (And Others) — For Kidnapping Him. It Will Prevail.

The nice thing about the version of the amended complaint I am attaching is that it shows every change from the original filing. This is a specifically marked amendment — and a muscular one. It may even one day support criminal referrals against Noem, et al. as they clearly knew they were taking a self-evidently unlawful series of actions, against Mr. Khalil, and many others.

Do recall here that the First Amendment — by its express terms — doesn’t limit these freedoms to US citizens; it uses the all inclusive phrase “the people” — and that means anyone present on our shores (or interior). [We are all free people — no matter what Tangerine belches on and on about.] And the heads of border agencies (like Noem, Rubio and Bondi) — if appointed by the POTUS — MUST be aware of, and comply with… the applicable Constitutional law of the US.

Just as last week, the able USDC Judge Crenshaw in Nashville found it “plausible” that Noem and Co. acted lawlessly in trying to punish Abrego Garcia with a felony indictment (for seeking habeas corpus, out of El Salvador), so too here — it seems plain Noem snatched Mr. Khalil because he had spoken out (entirely peacefully and lawfully) about Gaza and the Palestinians, at Columbia University. Do stay tuned; this 55 pager will be a barn burner:

…[The Manchurian Cantaloupe’s lawless] Executive Order 14161 states that it is the United States’ policy to “protect its citizens” from noncitizens who “espouse hateful ideology.” It further articulates the administration’s desire to target noncitizens who “advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security,” those who hold “hateful” views, and those who “bear hostile attitudes toward [America’s] citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.” The order’s broad framing of “hostile attitudes” towards the American government could encompass any form of political dissent, including Palestinian rights advocacy.

[The lawless] Executive Order 14188 states that, in order to “combat campus anti-Semitism,” the administration will target for investigation “post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.” The order adopts a definition of antisemitism that includes constitutionally protected criticism of the Israeli government and its policies.

In a “fact” sheet accompanying Executive Order 14188, the White House described the measure as “forceful and unprecedented,” specifically targeting “leftist, anti-American colleges and universities.” [This it cannot lawfully do.] It framed the order as a “promise” to “deport Hamas sympathizers and revoke student visas,” sending a clear message to all “resident aliens who participated in pro-jihadist protests” that the federal government “will find you… and deport you….”

Every bit of that Trump ‘sharpie scribble’ called 14188 violates the people’s First Amendment — and is plainly beyond his lawful powers. Noem deporting people — and relying on it… well knew — or is deemed to well-know! — she was committing crimes. Damn. Do stay tuned.

नमस्ते

Update: This ’25 DRC Ebola Outbreak Is Now Flashing A ~66% Fatality Rate. Efforts At Slowing The Outbreak Are Seeing Only Moderate Effectiveness.

Once again — had USAID been on the ground, uninterrupted — since the beginning of 2025 (start of Tangerine 2.0 — as it has been back before Mr. Obama, before both Bushes, and even before Mr. Clinton — during Reagan), it is highly likely that fewer than five people would be dead — and the outbreak already arrested.

Do read all of it, at the below link — but this was written by Gloabl BioDefense last week (while I was off-grid). The situation in Democratic Republic Congo as of the start of October, then:

…As of Sept. 28, 2025, there are 64 people with confirmed or probable Ebola, which includes 42 deaths, a case-fatality rate (CFR) approaching 66%. At least five healthcare workers were infected, underscoring gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC).

The index case — a 34-year-old pregnant woman — presented with acute haemorrhagic syndrome on August 20 and succumbed within five days, highlighting delays in case recognition and limited early diagnostic capacity.

Geographic risk mapping shows significant vulnerability for inter-provincial and cross-border dissemination, as Kasai shares borders with seven provinces and Angola. Travel corridors — particularly the Tshikapa-Kinshasa route — pose potential pathways for seeding new transmission foci if response measures falter….

[And, as to factors USAID used to help alleviate,] over 40% of children under five in Kasai are stunted, with over 2,000 currently under treatment for acute malnutrition. These conditions heighten morbidity and mortality risks and may exacerbate health-seeking delays.

Severe logistical bottlenecks continue to impede containment: travel between Bulape and Mweka — only 27 km (~17 miles) apart — can take around 12 hours due to poor road infrastructure. Such delays affect the timely delivery of PPE, diagnostic supplies, and deployment of rapid response teams. Concurrent seasonal flooding further threatens access to high-risk communities.

Educational disruption has affected more than 44,000 school-aged children in the affected zones. Psychosocial stress and stigma remain significant, echoing patterns seen in prior outbreaks and increasing the burden on frontline health workers….

We will not fall silent. This is a human tragedy, unfolding. And, a largely avoidable one. The last Ebola outbreak ended with only four deaths, in DRC in 2022. We are at ten times that, in two months. Damn.

नमस्ते

Monthly Amazon Labor Cases UPDATE: October 2025…

Regular readers will recall that we’ve followed the cases against Bezos and Amazon, to force Amazon to be responsible for the putatively “independent contractor” drivers it uses, mostly through much much smaller local outfits, to avoid being unionized, nation-wide — and to insulate it from NLRB charges of unfair labor practices.

It is increasingly clear that all Bezos is ultimately going to be able do here is… delay. The evidence is piling up, in courtrooms around the nation, that these supposedly independent “contractor” companies have zero power to set terms with what would be their “own” putative drivers that would differ, in even an insignificant detail, with what Amazon dictates, as the 800 lbs. gorilla. That makes Amazon… the effective employer, directly — of those drivers. This case, detailed below, is illustrative of all that — and is one where the former US Marines owner of the contract firm tried to do the right thing by respecting a vote to unionize his shop, only to see Amazon crush his whole company.

Here is The American Prospect — on it all, while I was off-grid:

…Until the shutdown, their lawyers were arguing that case before a Los Angeles–based administrative judge. Two weeks ago, I sat in for a day in Judge Rebekah Ramirez’s courtroom to listen to the case. On that day, Ervin was on the stand, testifying in response to questions posed to him by NLRB attorney Sanam Yasseri. . . .

Yasseri’s line of questioning was straightforward. She simply asked Ervin whether he had received specific documents from Amazon, and whether he’d put the directives in those documents into effect. These documents covered every conceivable aspect of employer-employee relations: what he must do if an employee was late for work, what Amazon documents he must tell his drivers to consult if they encountered a wide range of difficulties, what circumstances required him to give a bonus to a driver and how much that bonus should be, and so on.

Ervin would respond that he remembered receiving the specific documents, and that he’d complied with them. At times, Yasseri asked him if he had played any role, or had the option of playing any role, in formulating those documents. Ervin responded that he hadn’t; they were all entirely Amazon’s creations….

The evidence, in short, was completely devastating to Amazon’s claim that it’s not a joint employer for its delivery service partners. The directives Amazon imposed on BTS’s employees made clear that a driver all but has to get an OK from Amazon’s home office if he wants to blow his nose. I profess no legal expertise, but it’s clear to me that there’s no way Amazon can wriggle out of joint-employer status once this case is decided….

So it is, that one such contractor, Battle-Tested Strategies (BTS, above), owned by Johnathon Ervin, a former Marine who had no problems when his 84 drivers voted to join the Teamsters; he recognized the union as their bargaining agent and agreed upon a contract. Amazon’s response was not only to refuse to certify the bargaining agreement, which included raises for the drivers, but also to sever its contract with BTS, lest Amazon be identified as the drivers’ joint employer. That led to the above suit. What a putz that Bezos is. Out.

नमस्ते

Just To Complete The “Hatch Act Violations” Record — Started Last Week: September 30 — Through Noon Today… USDA.Gov Website Front Page…

Please see my screen-cap, at right. That is the current (and continuous, since at least seven days, prior) top of the first landing page for the federal USDA. The farm and agri-biz and livestock agency.

Damn. This is as clear a violation as you are ever likely see:

Hatch Act violations include federal employees engaging in political activity while on duty, using their official position to influence an election, soliciting or accepting political donations, or displaying partisan political items in the workplace.

Examples include posting campaign materials on social media from a government computer, hosting a fundraiser for a political candidate, or wearing a partisan political button at work….

Same old BS — just another different day. It all started while I was up in the mountains, so I suspect most of you saw it over a week ago. But if not — click to enlarge. Out.

नमस्ते

Malawi Mpox Outbreak Now Spans 128 Patients [Up From 11, In May] — Lilongwe Sees Most Of The Cases…

This is (again) the rather odious effect — of allowing a malign narcissist with a third grade understanding of international policy to rule the US. He sees no benefit in being a good partner in the saving of lives (with vaccines and medicines we know work) in the emerging markets. And we will all be set back a decade minimum to the Chinese and maybe even the Russians — in the region.

Here’s our prior May 2025 backgrounder, and now — the latest, out of public health authorities there in Lilongwe, Malawi:

…Malawi is experiencing a steady increase in mpox infections, with the capital city, Lilongwe, recording the highest number of cases, according to the latest outbreak update from the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM).

Since the first case was recorded on April 17, the total number of cases in the country has now amounted to 128, with Lilongwe having recorded 104 cases cumulatively. Only one mpox-related death has been reported so far….

On Monday, the PHIM announced that two new cases had been diagnosed and confirmed at two separate clinics in Lilongwe: one involving a nine-year-old female and one involving an 11-year-old female.

All the confirmed cases have no history of travelling outside Malawi, according to the update….

Now you know. Onward, disgusted at MAGA’s lack of concern for our fellow humans. Do better.

नमस्ते

“There You Go Again, Hinderaker” — All While Unintentionally Excoriating Trump Drug Price Control “Policies”!?!

True, Hinderaker is ever given to hyperbolic and broad claims — usually on a very tiny bit of narrow data.

In this overnight installment, John would tell us that one company (US Merck) choosing not to build a European R&D hub in suburban London is “the demise” (his phrase!) of Euro based pharma.

One company?! Really, Hinderaker: there are over 300 multinational pharma and bio-science companies with European pharma research hubs — 20 in London alone.

Hey John: don’t you know that the singular form of data is called… An “anecdote?” His specific — and preposterous — burp on it is here:

…The lesson: drug price controls kill innovation, not diseases. Yet, the United States seems to be following the price control playbook that has resulted in the demise of Europe’s pharmaceutical industry….

But I write tonight to mention that the chart he uses to claim the preeminent “power of US pharma” is… yep, data from Mr. Biden’s presidency — not Trump 1.0, and certainly not Trump 2.0.

Hilarious.

Most of all, though — I would note his exaggerated “demise” claims (due to price control policies!)… are just the latest of TRUMP 2.0’s endlessly inane policies — supposedly… for the US.

Trump has neither the legislative power to enforce US price controls, nor the willpower to do so.

But why oh why is it that John won’t specifically label this relatively minor data point — as being an utter and complete refutation of Trump’s new make America healthy claims?

We know. It is because Hinderaker still has boot black all over his tongue, from Trump‘s boot. Just this morning, in fact.

Out.

In Hinderaker’s Addled Brain, Continuing The Funding For The ACA of 2010… Is What?!?

I get it, John. Really, I do. This whole thing is math — and for you math is hard. This counting of votes… is really complicated — when you get to numbers that are so big they might reach… 100. The size of the US Senate.

Overnight, Hinderaker (once again!) tells a transparently refutable lie about the shut down. The position of democratic leaders has been clear for at least three weeks before we even entered — and consistent throughout the now ongoing — federal shutdown. [BTW, now we are entering the second week of the shutdown. My personal assessment is it is likely to last more than a month. Meaning that Donald Trump has presided over the two longest shutdowns in American history, despite controlling Congress and the White House.]

That sensible Democratic Party position is that some 15 million US citizens who presently get an ACA of 2010 version of healthcare ought to be allowed to continue to receive it. That should continue into 2026 and beyond.

Please remember that the Manchurian Cantaloupe controls the White House, the Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. In sum, he decides what continues to get funded next year and beyond.

One of his own GOP senators, Rand Paul, voted against Trump and with the Democratic wing when it came time to talk about the shutdown.

Trump needed only seven Democrats to join some form of a compromise with 53 other GOP aligned senators — on some modest proposal to fund healthcare for US citizens in 2026 and beyond. But the irrefutable fact is that he would not offer even an inch of compromise, even though he controls all three as above.

His approaches on policy are so anti-free market that Rand Paul, and his own party will not vote with him reliably.

So maybe he needed eight democratic votes, instead of seven. But he got exactly 0 of them.

The ACA of 2010, or Obamacare if you prefer, does not provide subsidized healthcare to what John (in racist fashion) calls “illegals.”

And in any event, if a small number of people without papers have been able to get healthcare, that in no manner justifies cutting off 15 million clearly documented as US citizen-Americans from preventative healthcare — as it is irrefutably established by peer reviewed studies that preventative healthcare, as a public good is far cheaper to provide, than to have to rely on emergency rooms to deliver emergency care to these very same 15 million Americans when they present with acute conditions because we refused collectively to fund preventative healthcare for them.

Then they end up on dialysis much earlier in life. Or they end up with a need for open-heart surgery on an emergency basis, when preventative healthcare in both cases might’ve been as simple as changing diet and increasing exercise, on the consistent, gentle and sensible advice of a family doctor.

That is what Hinderaker and Trump want to end: they do not want to spend government money to keep Americans healthy. They don’t wanna spend on emergency care either — in truth (and fairness) — but in point of fact, that is what happens in our system of broken healthcare, due largely to GOP senators, kicking a can down the alley for four decades.

So John lies to say that Mr. Schumer demands “free healthcare for illegals.”

If John were willing to be even 10% honest, he would admit that Donald Trump is a preposterous failure –– because this supposed “art of the deal genius” can’t seem to find seven out of 47 votes on the other side of the aisle to join him in a small compromise to get a win for all Americans.

All he ever does is sow chaos and confusion, so that he can blame someone else — anyone else — for everything that he cannot achieve through reasoned discourse.

He’s an impotent tiny handed, sad little man.

And John is even worse — when he licks Trumpian boots knowing this full well.

Cheers.