US Senator Hassan Is Fed Up With "Evergreening" -- On Drug Patents... Keytruda In Focus.

True enough, Rahway has reaped nearly $100 billion, life to date, on revenues from pembrolizumab. At the same time, Jimmy Carter lived about 15 extra years, after a nearly certain six month death sentence (aggressive melanoma) -- directly as a result of the therapy's efficacy. [You might even call that a cure, as what he ultimately died of was not any cancer, at all.]

Still, ~$200K a year for several years is a very steep price. And clearly the US patent laws do allow quite a bit of gamesmanship, as to what is (or is not) a novel invention -- and thus drug companies may easily extend the "exclusivity" / life of long existing patents. [The most recent lobby spend trends at right confirm Merck is bending Congressional ears on this topic, among many others.] Here's that story:

. . .Sen. Maggie Hassan is pressing pharmaceutical giant Merck over access and cost issues around one of its most popular and best-selling drugs.

Hassan is raising questions about the number of patents Merck has filed to protect cancer drug Keytruda, saying it has potentially kept biosimilar and generic versions from reaching the market at lower costs to consumers.

"If they won't agree to stop gaming the system this way and artificially pumping up their prices, then we need to take legislative action and meet it head-on," Hassan said.

The senator said that right now, the annual cost of Keytruda for a single patient is around $200,000. . . .

Now you know. Great match last night -- and to be sure, we will have another steamy day here. The most concerning fires (to me), are now moderating -- out West. And watching tons of little kids (in this very blue city, and state) wave flags and cheer, in the final minutes of the US men's match last night in the park. . . leads me to the opinion that we "liberals" -- and all people of good conscience, really -- need to reclaim that flag. It does not fly for hatred, in the night.

Trule patriots are quite often life-long Democrats, too -- and being proud of our nation's accomplishments, while remaining humble and accepting of our short-comings (and more importantly, being willing to aggressively tackle these wrongful policies, as the same emerge) -- is the most American kind of patriotism I might imagine. We need "liberals" to no longer equate the stars & stripes. . . with MAGA (and its mindless hate). So, onward, to Seattle! End, sermon.



नमस्ते

Now, Marburg Is ALSO Known To Be Circulating In Uganda... Extremely Tough News.

This is doubly vexing news, for Uganda's economy. With Ebola already known to be circulating across the border from DRC, we now learn that there are some cases of Marburg in the country -- on top of all that. Very disconcerting. [And the US is thus discouraging Americans from visiting that country, or DRC.]

In any event, this is the latest excellent reporting, from STAT+ -- and Helen Branswell:

. . .Uganda formally reported to the World Health Organization on Tuesday that it had detected a Marburg disease outbreak in the western part of the country, a spokesperson for the Geneva-based global health agency told STAT. The development could further complicate the effort to contain what is already the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record in Central Africa. Both diseases are viral hemorrhagic fevers.

The Ugandan government has not yet publicly disclosed a Marburg outbreak. But the U.S. embassy in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, issued a health alert on Monday, saying it had been made aware of a possible case of Marburg in the country. The alert was a level 4 advisory alerting Americans they should not travel to Uganda. . . .

The notification from Uganda to the WHO was of a single case. But a well-placed source — who answered questions from STAT on the proviso that their name and place of work would not be identified — said that Uganda had actually detected two cases of Marburg as of Monday. The individual said it appeared that at this point, the outbreak is localized. . . .

This will, as ever, deeply hamper economic development in the country. Just awful.

Meanwhile. . . it is still very steamy here -- but on to World Cup on the jumbotron tonight, again in the park -- at seven pm. And in a small bit of good news, the wildfire in the Rockies -- closest to my homes. . . is moderating. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

Space Walking, And CanadArm2 Repair, Now Well Underway... At ISS.

The idea that we sit with phone in hand, and watch live, as two brave astronauts work a construction/repair job, weightless -- some 250 miles over our heads -- in space-suits. . . is, frankly. . . gob-smacking.

Not just that they are treating it all as blasé, as changing the oil, on the old pickup, in one's front drive-way. . . but that I for one, remember the first ever US spacewalk -- and walker -- named Ed White, in 1966. There was real concern that he might be hit by something, and fly off -- to an unfathomably horrific death.

But now, more than a half-century later, this is common-place -- 280 times (see the feed at bottom). Excellent:

. . .At approximately 8:35 a.m. EDT (1235 UTC) on June 30, 2026, NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir ventured outside the International Space Station for an approximately six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk. The pair will replace a wrist joint on the orbital complex’s Canadarm2 robotic arm.

This spacewalk is the second for Williams and the fifth for Meir. Williams will serve as spacewalk crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Meir will serve as crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. . . .

What a time to be alive! Space exploration science is simply. . . amazing.



नमस्ते

In Which We Update -- And Confirm -- Our $85/Share 24 Month Assessment, For Moderna...

In November of 2024, and again in March of this year, we expressed confidence in a more than doubling of Moderna's stock price.

We reaffirm that today, given the FDA panel's recommended green light, for its newest mRNA vaccine for various flu strains -- in older adults. It was trading aroung $30; it is now at about $72. . . but $85 a share would be a very fair value, in the next six to 24 months. Here's a bit, from NBC a few weeks back:

. . .If approved, it would be the world’s first messenger RNA flu shot, providing public health officials with a much more nimble tool to fight influenza. In a late-stage trial, the vaccine was found to be about 27% more effective than a standard flu shot. . . .

The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, has been hostile to mRNA technology under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He’s called the mRNA Covid shot “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” and last year HHS canceled nearly $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research.

The path to approval of Moderna’s flu vaccine has been touch-and-go. Earlier this year, the FDA initially refused to even review the company’s application for the shot, before reversing course a week later. . . .

Obviously, idiotic MAGA politics are interfering with public health here -- so we hedge a bit, on whether the jab will reach market before flu season this fall. But the clear scientific arc -- bends toward a material revenue enhancer for Moderna.

Onward.

नमस्ते

The Nonsense Attempt To End Birthright Citizenship... Is Dead: SCOTUS.

The obviously plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment was never in doubt, despite the MAGA sophistry suggesting otherwise. Even so, this is good news. Barrett, Kavanaugh and Roberts agree with the usual three making it a 6-3 decision. If you are born here -- you are a citizen, if you want to be. Full stop -- just as we repeatedly said, for over a year.

More problematical, though was the morning's decision on student athletes. It seems the 3/5^ths of a person compromise (for now) is to say trans-athletes in red states must move into blue states, and change schools, in order to compete. That is just political posturing, not legal reasoning. The supposed Supremes' "conservative" majority is more a mini-Congress, than a caller of balls and strikes now, it seems. Ugly.

Here is a bit of the unsurprising birthright case:

. . .To understand the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, it is first necessary to understand the context in which it arose -- and the opinion of this Court, Dred Scott v. Sandford, 19 How. 393 (1857), that it rejected. . . .

[The full text of the Tangerine 2.0 (now enjoined) Sharpie scribble] declares that “the privilege of United States citizenship does not automatically extend to persons born in the United States: (1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary. . . and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth. . . .” [Obviously this violates the plain meaning of the 14^th Amendment, which ended Dred Scott.]

In a Nation of immigrants -- an “asylum for mankind,” in Thomas Paine’s words -- jus soli’s broad scope took on particular importance. Common Sense (1776), in 1 Writings of Thomas Paine 101 (M. Conway ed. 1894). The young Republic attracted tens of thousands of émigrés from the Old World—Scotch-Irish, French, German, Welsh, and many more, some of whom hoped to stay only a short time, others of whom hoped never to leave. . . .

That is what the lady in the harbor promised -- and still promises -- with her torch aloft. There is much more in the reasoning -- do go read it all. It is a fabulous civics lesson -- one Tangerine 2.0 obviously slept, and sleeps. . . through.

Onward, into the steamy end-of-June air -- and baby grrls. Smile. . . with a Moderna update next, as it is finally starting to approach its fair value.

नमस्ते

Well, This Is... Decidedly Thick-Headed. The Fitton-Shills Argue That Judge Kness Should NOT Decide A Statute Of Limitations Issue -- Thus Openly Wasting Judicial Resources.

The goofy Fitton-hired lawyers never even mention tonight the fact that their proposed approach will require at least two sets of factual hearings, on "who all knew what, and when did they know it" -- if the able USDC Judge waits until later, to consider the fact that these five private plaintiffs did not file the original suit in a timely fashion.

They ignore it, because they know focusing on this. . . makes them a pure loser. And that is exactly why the City of Evanston asks the Judge to conserve resources -- and bifurcate discovery -- closing this all out once, and for all.

I will not quote from their stupid filing, and I link it solely for a complete record, here.

Obviously, if the Tangerine 2.0 Department of Justice believes it can prove it made timely suit-filings, here (Hah!) -- it may bring that suit. But nothing compels Judge Kness to let the five private plaintiffs get a free ride, between now and then. And nothing permits the DoJ to "cure" statute of limitations problems in private (albeit federal) suits -- by simply intervening.

The proper course, under the clear federal Rules of Civ. Pro., is for the Judge to decide whether the whole suit is untimely, and not waste his precious deliberative resources on noodling about intervention. The Tangerine DoJ may bring its own suit some other day, if it (preposterously) thinks it too might be able to avoid a timeliness (and standing) problem.

Hilarious. That is all for tonight -- out.

[My lil' ladies are here tomorrow -- baking banana bread and grilling various veggies and steaks and brats. . . and sweltering in the park -- before a fresh but iced lemonade cooler, in the blasting A/C, inside. Heh. Then Wed. evening is US Men's World Cup Soccer / FIFA under the stars. . . Onward.]

नमस्ते

Gatherings Of 50 Or More People Are Now Banned In The DRC Capital City: Kinshasa -- Perhaps An Over-Reaction, To Ebola, ~1,000 Miles Away?

No doubt, as to North and South Kivu, and Ituri -- obviously -- this mass gathering ban makes solid public health sense, since there are certainly now over 300 "missing" cases of Ebola positives, roaming the countryside in the far Eastern regions.

I am not so sure about Bas Uele, and certainly more than a bit skepical. . . about the capital city of Kinshasa -- on the opposite end of the nation (~1,000 miles from Ituri). See my remarks after the pull quote, for context.

In any event -- here is the latest, from Reuters reporting:

. . .The order, issued on June 27 by the interior minister, covers Kinshasa, Tshopo, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele provinces, none of which has recorded cases so far.

It ⁠cited proximity to affected provinces as a key transmission risk, and required authorities in the four provinces to monitor anyone presenting symptoms and submit daily surveillance reports.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has infected 1,274 people and killed 360 across three eastern provinces, Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, according to government data released on Monday. . . .

There is -- to be fair -- some concern that this is political, as the current Administration there seeks a Constitutional amendment, to allow its president a THIRD consecutive elected term. [Gee, who does that remind us of?!]

And stopping rallies in the capital city of Kinshasa (with ~18 million voting souls) would mightily aid that effort, in entrenchment of power. Hmmmm. . . and there have been no cases, this time around, in Kinshasa. Hmmm, indeed. Onward.

नमस्ते

Fourth Circuit Sets July 9 As Due Date, For Tangerine 2.0 -- To Oppose Mr. Abrego Garcia's Motion To End Trump's Appeal Of His Complete Loss...

The tight time frame imposed by the federal appeals court is a fair indicator that the panel agrees -- this appeal should likely never have been docketed, by a disingenuous AUSA -- for Trump.

Again, Abrego will win out, here:

. . .The motion to suspend briefing is granted. . . .

[Separately,] RESPONSE TO MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL DUE: 07/09/2026

Response is required to the motion to dismiss appeal in part on or before the due date above. . . .

Onward, resolutely.

नमस्ते

Trump's Attempt To Bully His Way Into A "Forced Renaming" Of The Hudson Tunnel Project... FAILS -- Completely, In Federal Court In Manhattan, This Morning. Woot!

This is not in any manner. . . a surprise.

Tangerine 2.0 cannot try to bankrupt contractors and deny wages to construction workers -- on the tunnel project, to strong-arm the NY/NJ authorities into renaming it a "dotard" tunnel.

He. Just. Can't.

Here is the full 59 page trial court level opinion; it is clearly a correct statement of federal law. Here's the summary order, in full as well:

. . .OPINION AND ORDER:

For the reasons stated, the Court grants judgment to Plaintiffs with respect to Count I of their Complaint as it pertains to the GDC Grants.

The Court declares that the September 30 Suspension was contrary to law insofar as it suspended disbursements under the GDC Grants in violation of the Uniform Grant Guidance. The Court orders that the September 30 Suspension be vacated and set aside. Defendants are enjoined from relying upon the September 30 Suspension prospectively with respect to the GDC Grants. . . .

The Court otherwise dismisses the claims against Defendants for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

The Clerk of Court is instructed to enter judgment in accordance with this Opinion and Order and close the case.

(Signed by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on 6/29/2026). . . .

Now you know -- onward for a steamy bike ride -- all as dangerous wild-fires continue to rage out West -- but the wind is dying down, so that is good news. Grin. . . .

नमस्ते

The Only Bright Spots, From The Last Seven Days, At A Now Very Political Supreme Court...

First, E. Jean Carroll's $5 million is safe. Trump owes it, personally. Even so, he will doubtlessly soon seek cert., from the Supremes, on the other $83 million he owes here -- but that too will fail. It is encouraging that from this correct decision, there were no dissents. Pay up, dotard -- you are a serial sexual predator. That is simply a fact, beyond contestation now. The Supremes were your last avenue. Period.

It is encouraging also, that "geo-fence" warrants are now clearly "searches" under the Fourth Amendment. Many states' highest courts had so held, but now the Supremes make that federal precedent, as well. This means all such warrant requests must be evaluated as to reasonablness, given the individual circumstances, under the Fourth Amendment's long-standing jurispridence.

Without any serious doubt, the Supremes held off on announcing these two rulings (that would enrage Tangerine 2.0) -- until they could hand down the cases expanding his powers, and overruling Humphrey's Executor -- departing from a long line of cases that hold Congress must act, if an independent agency head is to be fired by the executive branch, for political reasons.

This is nonsense, of course. Alito and Thomas have literally created / made law, from whole cloth, here -- despite the late Justice Scalia's insistence that truly conservative Justices would do no such thing.

One final silver lining was that the Supremes held the Fed still remains a "truly untouchable" agency. Lisa Cook wins. But this only serves to underscore the sophistry deeply embedded in the other firings holdings from Alito and Thomas.

All I can say to the MAGA/Tangerine folks is. . . be careful what you wish for. When a Democratic President takes office -- all of your BS will be wiped clean, from the face of the Earth -- a new clean slate. Bank on it. Your wins here are entirely pyrrhic. Damn. Out.

नमस्ते

Now Exactly 60 Years After Gemini Astronaut Ed White "Took A [First] Space Walk", We Will Conduct Our 280th ISS EVA, Tomorrow...

The image at right appeared in countless pop art installations (including my brother's) from 1966 through the late 1970s. It is truly iconic, of the early US "Space Age".

And now, counting space walks at ISS alone (not counting Space Shuttle or Apollo or later Gemini walks), we will see this as the two hundred and eightieth extra vehicular activity, or space walk -- if you like. Very cool -- here's tomorrow's expected web-cast schedule, and some more narrative background info, on the walk:

. . .NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir will exit the station’s Quest airlock to replace a wrist joint that malfunctioned during normal Canadarm2 operations on May 27 after the arm drew elevated motor current and did not move as expected.

Watch NASA’s live U.S. spacewalk 95 coverage beginning at 7 a.m. EDT on NASA+, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the agency’s YouTube channel. The spacewalk is expected to last roughly six-and-a-half hours.

NASA worked alongside CSA to understand the issue and determined a spacewalk was required to replace the joint using a spare already aboard the space station. Repairs to robotics, like Canadarm2, are normal and expected after more than 25 years of continuous operations, as the system was designed with replaceable components and planned maintenance in mind.

This spacewalk will be the second for Williams and the fifth for Meir. Williams will serve as spacewalk crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Meir will serve as crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. It will be the 280th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. . . .

Excellent, as essentially all of us in Middle to Southern America will see (Super El Niño induced) scorching temps over the next three days, but for our part, we will remain hydrated -- even with another US Men's Soccer match / Jumbotron evening picnic, in the park, for Wed. night @ 7 pm, locally.

Meanwhile, climate change ALSO means various wild-fires are burning very near my various Rocky Mountain family homes. Dammit -- but onward, just the same.

नमस्ते

Was Tangerine 2.0 Treated As Though He "Wasn't Capable Of Paying For" The New Lilly Weight Loss Drug, In April 2026?

At a minimum, if the "79 year old patient" is/was who we all suspect s/he is. . . it would suggest he is not being honest with the American people -- about how serious his related (and unrelated) health challenges are.

This is not something an otherwise very healthy (to say nothing of well-heeled) person would do -- they would have their specialist MD enroll them in one of a dozen studies underway, to get access to these experimental meds.

In any event, we saved this tidbit for a Sunday -- as it is not really Earth-shattering news: the rich and powerful in the US regularly get very special health care treatment. But in this case, the American people are entitled to know if the guy at 1600 Penn is far more frail than he is letting on. [Where are his actual physical results -- from an unaffiliated MD -- not his stupid press-bites. . . and, while we are at it. . . his. . . tax returns?!]

Here is the story from STAT+ that spread like wildfire last week -- prompting Congressional inquiries:

. . .Millions of Americans with obesity are eagerly awaiting a powerful new drug from Eli Lilly called retatrutide, which has demonstrated bariatric-surgery levels of weight loss. Some aren’t even waiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration, instead racing to acquire it through sketchy means.

But STAT has learned that Eli Lilly and the FDA have allowed one person to gain access to the drug through the FDA’s “compassionate use” program, a pathway that gives patients with serious and immediately life-threatening medical issues access to experimental treatments. . . .

Ultimately, for the overall US health care narrative arc, this one case is perhaps trivial -- but if the most powerful can access pathways that were supposedly reserved for the most dire, and needy cases. . . once again, we are compelled to point out that the US health care delivery system is. . . fundamentally flawed. Onward.

नमस्ते

Current Options Skews Suggest A 40% Chance SpaceX Will Be Trading Below $130, In September 2026... Grin.

The odd-ball conglomerate flyer (almost exclusively on Muskian exuberance) posted a meteoric rise, immediately post-IPO pricing -- ripping north from $135 -- to just under $220.

But then. . . a cold harsh reality set in -- and it fell back to Earth. . . now trading between $148 and $153 a share.

I think the options skews are pretty accurate here. It was very fully priced at its IPO -- all the rest was just stupid FOMO buying, mostly by retail. Then the larger holders began selling at the over-inflated price -- locking in huge gains, while still holding a fraction of their original allotments. It is the oldest hot IPO game on the planet -- reserved for funds managing north of $2 billion. And it has played out according to Hoyle, yet again.

So -- as the price more and more is dragged toward a "mean" / reality. . . the options skews look for a ~$130 price by September. I agree.

Here's one of the auto-bot rags, on standardized options trading activity over the past week:

. . .[L]et's consider what the options market is showing. This is where investors buy contracts that allow them to bet on whether a particular stock will rise or fall during a given time frame. A call option, considered bullish, offers the holder the right to buy a certain stock at a set price, while a put option, considered bearish, offers the holder the right to sell at a set price.

Options activity shows a 40% probability of SpaceX stock falling below $130 by the middle of September, Reuters reported this week, citing Susquehanna Financial Group strategist Christopher Jacobson. If this happens, IPO investors may see a loss of at least 3.7%.

Though options still are leaning in a bullish direction, the 40% I mentioned above is high enough to suggest investors might want to proceed with caution. . . .

We just find it all. . . hilarious. Musk always over-promises, and under delivers. So too (again), here.

Onward.

नमस्ते

Community Ebola Transmission Rates Continue To Rise In Ituri -- As At Least 300 People Carrying The Virus Are "Missing" From Health Centers...

And that, in turn, portends a very alarming fall -- for the sick, and dying -- primarily in and around Ituri Province, DRC. Models developed by the African CDC predict the deaths will be over 1,400 by September -- and the sickness levels will approach 8,500 cases. [The "unconfirmed" totals will be much higher -- as entire areas will not have been adequately triaged, for the spread of the disease.]

Without USAID on the ground -- it is simply not possible to turn health facilities into enforced stay / prisons -- and traditional healers are still telling the afflicted that they may go home -- and that they might cure it -- with prayers, alone. That is effectively gasoline, on an already raging bonfire. Here's the latest from the UK Guardian, reporting overnight:

. . .The whereabouts of almost 300 people who have tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is unknown, according to Africa’s top public health official.

The humanitarian crisis amid the conflict in the affected areas means more than 1 million people are living in camps to which health workers have no access, Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said on Thursday.

His comments came as projections from the World Health Organization’s Africa regional office, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, predicted there will be about 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September. . . .

The 300 may also be largely migrants -- miners or sex workers that follow them -- and thus may spread widely in DRC and into Uganda now. That is very very chilling -- as potentials for epidemics go. Yikes. And still no approved vaccine for this Bundibugyo strain. Out.

नमस्ते

Condor Predicts: The Issues On Appeal, In The Fourth Circuit, As To Abrego Garcia... Will Be Reduced To... One. And He Will Win Out.

Tangerine 2.0 earlier appealed, claiming that USDC Judge Xinis wasn't ruling fast enough, after those chuckleheads had delayed for almost a year, in filing their motions. And after they had lost, essentially everything -- in Tennessee. Yawn.

So today, Abrego Garcia's fine counsel has moved the Fourth Circuit to suspend briefing deadlines, and rule on the only even colorably live issue up on appeal: whether Judge Xinis' injunction was entered in error. It was not, and Abrego will win. Here's his motion to suspend briefing, tonight.

Here's some of the muscular argument, proper -- from his team:

. . .When Abrego Garcia reported to the Baltimore ICE field office as directed on August 25, 2025, ICE immediately detained him. Add.28. He filed a habeas petition that same day. ECF 1. That afternoon, the district court issued an oral order enjoining the Government from removing Abrego Garcia from the United States, Add.1, and it made specific findings as to why the injunction was warranted, Add.6:2–9:16.3 Two days later, on August 27, the court entered a written order continuing that injunction. Add.20. On September 26, the court entered another order continuing the injunction. Add.21. The Government had 60 days to appeal the injunction and each continuation under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1). Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(B). It chose to appeal none of them. . . .

Meanwhile, the Government “serially ‘notified’ Abrego Garcia -- while he sat in ICE custody -- of his expulsion to Uganda, then Eswatini, then Ghana; but none of these countries were ever viable options, and at least two had not even been asked to take Abrego Garcia before [the Government] claimed supposed removal to each.” Add.49 (citing ECF 52). It finally settled on Liberia on October 24. ECF 56.

On November 7, [2025] the Government filed a motion to dissolve the injunction so that it could remove Abrego Garcia to Liberia. . . .

[Then,] the Government “affirmatively misled” the district court that “Liberia is the only viable removal option” for Abrego Garcia and that “Costa Rica ‘does not wish to receive him’” and “will no longer ‘accept the transfer’ of him.” Add.50 (citations omitted).

After the Government’s misrepresentations became public, Costa Rica publicly reaffirmed “that its offer to grant Abrego Garcia residence and refugee status is, and always has been, firm, unwavering, and unconditional.” Add.35 (citing ECF 108); Add.50. On December 11, the district court granted Abrego Garcia’s habeas petition for immediate release from ICE custody [because Tangerine 2.0] had no lawful basis to detain or remove Abrego Garcia. . . .

Every bit of it is flawless -- do go read it all -- but we've recited it here many times: this is a lying government, under Tangerine 2.0. It cannot be taken at its word. And thus, the Fourth Circuit will "cut square corners" with it, and dump Trump's vindictive, idiotic and prevaricating appeal. You can bank on it.

[Smile -- and if you scan the local papers, this evening you may see me (in the second pic in the story) sitting dead center -- with my brother in law, and my nephew in law. . . watching World Cup in the park last night.] Hilarious.

नमस्ते

As EU Data Is Now More Reliable Than Trumpian-Led Public Health / Outbreak Data, We [Sadly] Present The Below...

This is not a political posturing piece. No. This is. . . simply a recitation of. . . fact.

We will now source our '26 Ebola outbreak data from the EU authorities. This is not a dart, at the hard-working career CDC or HHS staffers and scientific experts -- but they are in fact being. . . stifled. So to the EU Commission departments we go. Here's the latest, on all that, as of this morning:

. . .As of 26 June 2026, the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus is affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

On 25 June, the DRC Ministry of Health reported a total of 1,155 confirmed cases, including 304 confirmed related deaths, and 385 individuals hospitalised in isolation (as of 24 June). Included in this report are 37 new confirmed cases and five new deaths since the last update on ECDC’s website (25 June, with data as of 23 June).

Ituri is the most affected province, with 1,054 confirmed cases from 22 health zones. In North Kivu, 98 confirmed cases have been reported from 11 health zones, and in South Kivu, three cases from one health zone. Since the previous update, no new affected health zones have been reported in the three provinces. Surveillance data are continuously being reviewed and updated as samples from suspected Ebola disease cases go through the process of laboratory confirmation. . . .

In the European Union/European Economic Area, one confirmed case of Ebola virus disease was reported in France by the Ministry of Health on 24 June. This is in addition to one other confirmed case reported on 19 May in a US citizen who was medically evacuated to Germany for treatment. Both cases were imported from areas affected by the ongoing outbreak in DRC. . . .

Insanity -- but off to watch another ice-skating recital at 12:30 pm local here again. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

Exactly 26 Years Ago Today, The Entire Human Genome Was Sequenced…

And in that quarter century, since President Clinton announced Venter's achievement, we have truly seen a brave new world emerge, in drug discovery -- and forensics.

I mentioned in 2015 that a Stanford University Medical Research iPhone App garnered over 10,000 patient volunteers in its first two nights of availability in the Apple App Store (to conduct large cardiovascular studies).

In the old world, to get 10,000 patients enrolled in a CV study, one would expect that it would take over a year -- and well north of $2 million, in expenses -- just to get a CRO to find that many, and sign them to required informed consent forms. . . before even beginning a study. So, even if we may quibble about how perfect a match these 10,000 iPhone users will be -- compared to the overall populations involved -- that it was accomplished essentially for free -- and in 48 hours -- is positively mind-bending.

On that same 2015 morning, I saw that my favorite lil' genome-mapping-by-spit company, 23andMe had just signed a Genentech executive to begin. . . drug discovery efforts, using the vast database of genomic information the company had built. I noted that the executive must have gotten a release under his non-compete from Genentech, because 23andMe already had agreed to collaborate with Roche (the parent), through Genentech -- using the 23andMe database for. . . you guessed it -- drug discovery. In fact, this same executive apparently spear-headed that deal.

All of this is entirely gob-smacking -- because wonder oncology drugs (like pembrolizumab) from Merck are the result of that moment, over 26 years ago.

Here is a bit of that Year 2000 legacy:

. . .[We join] the scientific community in mourning the death of J. Craig Venter, a pioneer in genomics who helped shape the field by leading the quest to decode the human genome. The renowned biologist, author, and entrepreneur founded Celera Genomics, the Institute for Genomic Research, and the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). He was also the cofounder of Human Longevity Inc. and Synthetic Genomics. Announced by JCVI, which stated that he had been recently hospitalized for complications from cancer treatment, Venter died on April 29, 2026, at the age of 79. . . .

[I was off grid that week, so we note it now.]

To be sure, it is also true that far more deeply puzzling crimes -- long treated as cold cases -- murders, primarily, are being solved through the use of DNA testing on articles of clothing and even from bits of fingernails, or bones.

That this gives the victims' families some level of closure (as an off-shoot of his pioneering work) is an important goal for society as well, but that is a story for another day.

Onward to a gorgeous Friday June morning -- after a little disappointment, in the World Cup watch party last night in the park, on a jumbotron, here. But the US men are on to the next round.

नमस्ते

DRC Now Imposes 21 Day Waiting Period -- And Medical Monitoring (For Ebola) -- On International Travelers, Leaving Ituri Province...

This below should convince skeptics that this is a very severe outbreak.

And as we've repeatedly said, there is no approved vaccine for this Bundibugyo version of Ebola. Here's the latest:

. . .A June 24 decree signed by health minister Samuel-Roger Kamba requires anyone identified as a contact of a confirmed or suspected Ebola case to undergo 21 days of ⁠active health monitoring from their last exposure. During that period, all travel, domestic or international, is banned unless expressly authorized by health authorities.

The same monitoring rules apply to health workers, laboratory staff and response teams returning from affected areas, who must also obtain prior approval before travelling internationally.

More broadly, anyone who has stayed in an Ebola-affected province may only travel abroad ‌after ⁠spending at least 21 days outside the area.

All outbound international passengers are now required to complete a health declaration form issued by border health authorities, with airlines responsible for verifying compliance as ⁠an additional screening measure. . . .

[My legacy masthead, set out above centered -- reflects the October 2022 international travel bans/screenings for Ebola -- that time, for people coming out of Uganda (the primary locus of that outbreak) -- four years ago. Now you know.]

Separately, I cannot fathom the six SCOTUS "Justices" who've decided it is okay to send people back to countries of origin, where it has already been determined they will be tortured or killed, outright.

And that's after Congress expressly gave them the right to litigate whether they could stay here in the US, with "temporarily protected" status.

Tangerine 2.0 proposes to end all that without additional notice or opportunity to be heard. That is far less than what our founding documents require of us -- for all "persons" on our land. Out.

नमस्ते

Here Is The Best Summary Of The Day, On The Deplorable SCOTUS 6-3 Rulings On Temporary Protected Status Statute Congress Passed In 1990.

Do go read Amy Howe.

The three member dissents are a correct statement of our law. Amy has it all:

. . .Then-Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano made both of the designations at the center of this case. In 2010, shortly after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing more than 300,000 people and causing catastrophic damage, she designated Haiti under the TPS program.

Napolitano made a similar designation for Syria two years later, pointing to “deteriorating conditions” there after a “brutal crackdown” by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad against anti-government dissenters. . . .

As I say, she has the chapter and verse, on all the poppycock / torturing of clear Congressional mandates old Alito wrote.

Me? I am too disgusted to offer added comment, at the moment.

I am leaving now, for a long, long lakeside bike ride [legacy, @ right]. Out.

नमस्ते

German Merck’s Biggest M&A Deal Since 2015… And Sigma-Aldrich

To be clear: this is no relation to "our" US Merck. This is the German company, separated by the Treaty of Versailles, after WWI. And it is the largest M&A deal (now under new leadership) in over eleven years, from Darmstadt. And this Minneapolis area company is surely a good bet -- even if the price looks. . . a lil'. . . rich.

Here's the morning's most capable reporting on it all, from FiercePharma:

. . .Merck KGaA has agreed to put up $73 per share in cash to acquire Bio-Techne Corporation, which works out to a total consideration of roughly $11.3 billion for the Minneapolis-based provider and manufacturer of life sci tools, analytical technologies and consumables. The deal marks a 36% premium on Bio-Techne’s one-month average trading price, Merck KGaA said in a June 25 release. . . .

Merck KGaA is set to gain a number of assets and capabilities through the purchase, including a well-known portfolio of cytokines, growth factors, antibodies and immunoassay kits. The German healthcare and electronics firm is also gaining access to Bio-Techne’s ProteinSimple line of automated protein detection and analysis instruments, plus additional tools that could bolster Merck KGaA’s positioning in spatial biology and diagnostics.

Bio-Techne’s established position as a provider of materials, analytics and process technologies to cell therapy developers is also set to bolster the combined companies’ bottom line, in Merck’s estimation. . . .

Now you know -- onward, into the sunshine of perfect June morning, here. [Maybe the Germans are paying a very full price, since these Minnesota operations will allow them to avoid any future tariffs the KGaA might face if Tangerine 2.0 goes stupid -- again.]

In any event, biking at the lake, ahead. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते