Again, Abrego Has The Better Argument: In Maryland Federal Court, He May Depose DHS And ICE Agents, Now... Why Exactly Was He Grabbed?!

We all know where this one is headed. We have told you repeatedly: Mr. Abrego Garcia will win damages from Tangerine 2.0, and his feckless agencies' heads. And he will choose where he will live, as a free man, with his family -- next.

He will soon be a millionaire, due to Trumpian malfeasance. But it will come from taxpayer coffers. Charming. Here is a bit of the latest clearly correct -- and powerful -- argument:

. . .In opposing Petitioner Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s request to conduct limited discovery, the Government continues to pursue arguments that this Court has rejected time and again. To accept the Government’s arguments, one must disregard nearly all of the Court’s prior rulings here and in Abrego Garcia v. Noem, No. 25-cv-00951 (“Abrego Garcia I”). Although doing so allows the Government to feign ignorance of its prior conduct, it does not rewrite the record or Abrego Garcia’s showing of good cause that warrants limited discovery here. The Court should grant Abrego Garcia’s motion.

As the Court recognized at the May 12 hearing, three claims are ripe for resolution: Count One (that the Government’s disregard of Abrego Garcia’s designation of Costa Rica violates 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(2)), Count Three (that the Government’s efforts to remove Abrego Garcia elsewhere violates due process), and Count Four (that the Government’s efforts to remove Abrego Garcia elsewhere violates § 1231(b)(3) and 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16). ECF No. 176 at 8:8–9:4. . . .

[T]he Government [argues again] that Abrego Garcia’s claims are jurisdictionally barred by U.S.C. § 1252(a)(5), (b)(9) and (g). The Government first raised these arguments back in April 2025. This Court, and the Fourth Circuit, have repeatedly rejected them because he is not challenging the Attorney General’s exercise of lawful discretion to commence proceedings, adjudicate cases, or execute removal orders. See ECF No. 110 at 15–17; Abrego Garcia I, ECF No. 31 at 7–16; Abrego Garcia I, ECF No. 238 at 12–14; Abrego Garcia v. Noem, 2025 WL 1021113, at *2–3 (4th Cir. Apr. 7, 2025) (Thacker, J., concurring). The Government has persisted in advancing this position, including at ECF Nos. 28, 72, 115, 142, 159, 160, 170, 184. Here, again, Abrego Garcia respectfully requests that the Court deem his prior responses, including at ECF Nos. 32, 88, 118, 144, incorporated here by reference. . . .

The Government also argues that habeas corpus is not the proper vehicle for Counts One, Three, and Four. See ECF 181 (“Opp.”) 7–8, 11–12. That is wrong. These claims challenge unlawful non-discretionary actions by the Government—such as its disregard of § 1231 and due process -- in its pursuit of Abrego Garcia’s immigration confinement and removal. Such claims sound in habeas because they necessarily imply the invalidity of the Government’s efforts to place Abrego Garcia in immigration detention and remove him to Liberia or other third countries. See Trump v. J.G.G., 604 U.S. 670, 671–73 (2025) (holding that challenges to removal under the Alien Enemies Act must be brought in habeas because they necessarily imply the invalidity of confinement and removal under that Act); see also id. at 674 (Kavanaugh, J., concurring) (“[G]oing back to the English Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, if not earlier, habeas corpus has been the proper vehicle for detainees to bring claims seeking to bar their transfers.”).

Abrego Garcia may therefore take discovery on a showing of “good cause” -- i.e., “a specific allegation that shows reason to believe that [he] may be able to demonstrate that he is entitled to relief.” Quesinberry v. Taylor, 162 F.3d 273, 279 (4th Cir. 1998); see Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 904 (1997); Juniper v. Zook, 876 F.3d 551, 572 n.9 (4th Cir. 2017); Habeas Rule 6(a). . . .

Onward, resolutely.

नमस्ते

A Potentially Multi-Billion Dollar Lanham Act Federal Suit, In New Jersey -- And It Would Seem US Merck Has The Upper Hand Here.

Well. . . this one is finally wending its way to a trial date, after nearly a decade and a half.

It will be a multi-billion verdict, if it reaches that point -- which is why, for over a decade, I've predicted that there will be a confidential settlement, on the eve of trial. [We did predict that German Merck would be required to turn over this financial data, back in April 2026.]

Here's the latest: US Merck will indeed obtain updated financial data, from German Merck -- as a way to estimate what these damages might be, at that future trial.

. . .For the following reasons, the Court finds that Plaintiff [US Merck] is entitled to the discovery it seeks.

First, Plaintiff seeks only updated financial information of the same scope and form as Defendant [German Merck] previously produced. Updating the financial information at this point is appropriate to ensure that the damages theories are fully explored in the event of trial. Thomas & Betts v. Richards Mfg. Co., No. 01-4677, 2010 WL 2400151, at *4 (D.N.J. June 10, 2010) (finding that the “[p]laintiff correctly assert[ed] that no showing of cause is necessary to compel a party to update information already deemed discoverable”). Plaintiff seeks disgorgement as a potential remedy in this matter. Indeed, that was the basis for the Defendant’s production of the four spreadsheets covering financial information to 2016 and 2017. The requested information is plainly relevant so that Plaintiff may have a fair opportunity to prove Defendant’s sales, and to respond to any showing by Defendant as to its costs and deductions, the updated information. Auto Konnect, LLC v. BMW of N. Am., LLC, No. 18-14019, 2019 WL 12338328, at *3 (E.D. Mich. Sept. 24, 2019) (stating, without deciding the issue of whether New Jersey law recognizes disgorgement as a theory of recovery under the plaintiff’s claims, that discovery regarding the defendant’s profits must be turned over); AdvanSix Inc., 2023 WL 179963, at *2 (permitting parties to seek discovery on issues that “may be in the case”).

Second, Defendant’s argument that Plaintiff’s “request would require reopening discovery into facts and expert opinions relevant to both liability and damages since 2017” is unpersuasive. D.E. 336, at 2. Courts in this district have granted similar requests for updated financial information without reopening discovery. See Thomas & Betts, 2010 WL 2400151, at *4-6 (granting request for updated financial information but denying two other requests because they were essentially requests to reopen discovery). Additionally, Defendant does not explain how the burden of production outweighs the probative value of an updated damages calculation. And given that the updated information is data that is gleaned in the ordinary course of business, to be produced in the same format as the prior production, the Court does not independently identify any undue burden on Defendant.

Finally, the Court respectfully disagrees with Defendant that Plaintiff must first satisfy the good-cause standard. The good cause standard is drawn from Rule 16(b)(4), and applies to modifying a schedule. Plaintiff is not seeking to modify a schedule or reopen discovery, at least in the sense that the additional discovery is extensive or requires a considerable period of time to complete, thereby affecting subsequent deadlines. Plaintiff instead merely seeks updated financial information in an abbreviated format that is similar to the prior production. As such, Rule 26(e)(1)(b) governs Plaintiff’s request, and contains no such good-cause requirement. . . .

IT IS ON THIS 9TH DAY OF JULY 2026, ORDERED THAT: Defendant [German Merck] shall produce to [US Merck] Plaintiffs updated financial data in this matter. . . .

Now you know -- onward, on a steamy overcast Thursday -- but this case should settle, as we've long opined. And in fact, there are additional mediation dates on the calendar, to that specific end. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

TANGENT: Hilarious! On June 30, 2026, Goofy "Riot Bull, To The Sky!" TaTech, Over At SA, Posted Riot Would Hit $50, Before $10 (Again).

Welp. Riot is now down about 18% -- at $21 and change, since he belched that pearl of market wisdom nine days ago.

He and I have traded comparisons, of long dated, out of money put strategies (vs. his "buy and hold forever" ones) for more than five years now, on the SA boards. He claims to have bought at under $3, when the crypto world was falling apart, and the Gulf burned in February 2021. R-i-i-i-i-ght.

I have -- four separate times -- made out like a bandit, by buying long dated but out of money puts, on this intrepid name. In bulk.

I am ready to do so, again.

This was never a $29 stock -- and unless Riot announces a $600 million (or better) all new contract for AI / compute in a few weeks, this is about a $15 stock. It will burn nearly a billion in cash this year, with only one AI partner / client to show for it.

And Bitcoin itself is trading at about half the level it was, in October 2025.

See ya', in the funny papers, old TaTech -- my bet is it hits $15 before it ever sees $50 again.

Hilarious.

नमस्ते

A Nice Result, For Federal Court Transparency -- And A Free Press. Kudos -- To Matthew Russell Lee.

Just exactly three years ago, Mr. Russell Lee's InnerCityPress won an unsealing in the SBF felony prosecution -- citing free press law here in the US. He's been on a win streak ever since. Today, he reports that he has prevailed upon a USDC Judge to create a new "catch-all" docket file, just to disclose the requests -- and results -- in otherwise sealed cases.

This is excellent, as researchers (like your correspondent) will not have to bounce around searching every USDC Judge in Manhattan's dockets, individually. Now, 26-cv-4094 will contain all unsealing requests. Excellent!

Here's all of that, from Mr. Matthew Russell Lee at InnerCityPress:

. . .Judge Kuntz did not ignore the letter. He did not deny it in a sealed order.

He did something better -- and, in Inner City Press's experience across a dozen districts, close to unique: he opened a new, public miscellaneous case, captioned In re Inner City Press [26-cv-4094], docketed Inner City Press's letter as Document 1, and put Assistant United States Attorneys on the case to respond. Consider the elegance of it. The underlying case is sealed; even an order about it, entered on its docket, would be invisible.

Rather than let the access request disappear into the same black hole it challenges, Judge Kuntz created a public vehicle in which the question of secrecy will itself be litigated publicly, with the government required to appear and be counted. That is Pellegrino's principle made procedure: whatever ultimately remains sealed, the public gets to watch the deciding. Judge Kuntz, appointed in 2011, on senior status since 2022, presumably could have done what some of his colleagues around the country have done with Inner City Press's requests — nothing, or worse. Instead the docket now shows a case named for the press asking the question.

Inner City Press will report on the government's response and the Court's ruling. . . .

As many here know -- from time to time, we too fight in dusty West Texas, and Nashville, and New Jersey and Southern Illinois and Miami federal courts, to unseal dockets/filings. This one case number won't capture those -- it is specific to Manhattan. But still, a very good start. Thanks, man.

नमस्ते

Roman 'Scope Now Vertical; Launching As Early As August 30, 2026: From Kennedy.

We are quickly approaching the historic launch window, for the first NASA space 'scope named after a (paler) "Hidden Figure" (of sorts): a early-era brilliant NASA scientist -- who simply happened to be. . . female.

Here's the latest from the team at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center:

. . .NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has completed important prelaunch milestones as it prepares to launch nine months ahead of schedule. . . .

Engineers completed additional cleaning to remove any trace contaminants from the facility’s airlock before crews unboxed and raised Roman vertically in the high bay.

Named for NASA’s first chief astronomer and “mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,” the Roman Space Telescope will offer a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, resulting in deep, sweeping explorations of the cosmos.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy. . . .

Now you know. Smiling into the mid-summer sunshine.

नमस्ते

Just As We Said: Discovery, On Statute Of Limitations Moves Forward, FIRST -- In Evanston Reparations Defense.

This is plainly correct, as a matter of federal civil procedural law.

The able Chicago USDC Judge Kness has ruled that the Fitton shills must promptly submit to discovery, about what they knew -- and when. This discovery will precede general questions about whether they ever lived in Evanston, or owned property here.

Here's the latest -- just released to the public docket, this afternoon:

. . .MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness:

Plaintiffs' [Fitton shills'] motion [53] to stay briefing on Defendant's motion to bifurcate discovery until the intervention issue is resolved is denied.

To be sure, intervention by the United States might have some effect on the discovery schedule in this case, but that possibility does not warrant staying briefing on Defendant's motion to bifurcate. Any effect of a favorable intervention ruling, including whether supplemental briefing or modification of any discovery schedule is appropriate, can be addressed if and when the United States becomes a party to the case.

On the Court's initiative, the due date for Plaintiffs' response to Defendant's motion is extended to July 17, 2026. Defendant's reply, if any, must be filed on or before July 31, 2026.

The August 6, 2026 hearing is reset to 8/25/2026 at 10:00 A.M. . . .

Indeed. Sanity prevails in Chicago's federal courts -- once again.

नमस्ते

MedWatch Reports That Bavarian Nordic Will Create New CEO Position, Of Separate Biz Unit, To Sell Only "Emergency" Vaccines, Like Mpox/Smallpox...

I generally do not pay for subscriptions to EU based med-outlets, so I cannot read the full story (this is a sub- of a Danish media conglomerate). But the needs for large R&D budgets, capital for new plants, and the pressures around pricings -- are very different, when a company signs up to provide emergency vaccines, on a "contacts, and contacts of contacts" contract -- as opposed to a general, population-wide prophylactic vaccine (like one for influenza, or shingles). These latter vaccines are already well-capitalized and in many cases have stable annual recurring revenue streams in longer-term governmental contracts.

In an emergency setting however [think of Africa -- and Ebola, Marburg, Lassa or Mpox, here], the per dose payouts tend to be lower, but an off-setting premium may be paid -- for essentially immediate delivery, of say 100,000 to 700,000 jabs. All within weeks. [The EU Health Commission offices or the WHO or Doctors Without Borders may also just flat-out contribute funds -- to get the vax to the spots needed.]

And so, without having read a bit of the story [to date, B/N has no posting on its own website, about the split -- I looked], I will hazard a guess that this is a pre-cursor to transitioning the "emergency vax" arm / biz unit. . . to a not-primarily-for-profit structure.

The newly named head of the emergency vax unit was previously much more an HR / "teams coach", as opposed to a bottom line driven financial type. And while the new biz unit may show a net profit from time to time, that may not be its goal. I will further bet that it will have only a very tiny R&D budget, because this sort of government contracting is awarded only to already approved, on market vaccines. And even then, the vax itself may be sourced from lower cost Indian pharma concerns, by sub-contract. [We have seen that, in the last two years for Mpox deliveries into Africa.]

So to be clear, this entire entry is essentially conjecture -- by me. Smile. But I think it reasonable. If your business really depends on any of the above analysis, I urge you to get a copy of the MedWatch story, and read it closely. Until it is on the Wayback Machine, I'm not likely to read it over. Here's the summary that can be seen for free:

. . .Bavarian Nordic splits up commercial division -- appoints global head of emergency vaccines.

It was just over a month ago that the Danish vaccine company announced it had signed a contract with an unnamed government for the supply of its smallpox and mpox vaccine -- known as MVA-BN -- worth more than DKK 700 million. . . .

Hitesh Sahni will serve as global head of the new independent business unit. . . .

In this way (should the company go all the way through with it), the nearly-non-existent margins on "emergency" vaccine sales will not drag down the overall R&D driven "futures" vaccines revenue / profits, on a reported basis -- under EU accounting rules. Smile.

And the US men have exited the world cup -- proving again that Tangerine 2.0 poisons every real athletic / sporting event he puts his tumb on. [The only game the now world champ NY Knicks lost, in their whole playoff run. . . was the one he attended, at MSG. He made fans wait for hours in the heat until he was ensconced inside the venue.]

And as to soccer, he seems to like cheating more than he hates birthright citizenship. The one he put his thumb on the scale "for". . . was, over 20 years ago, what he would call a "birth tourist" delivery -- out of London. Damn. Onward, just the same.

नमस्ते

Tangerine 2.0 Lawyers Just Appealed The Minneapolis Federal Mag. J. Order To Comply With Discovery, On Jurisdictional Issues...

Many here will recall that the federal trial level courts have ordered MarkWayne Mullin to explain himself, relative to all the violations (including shooting fatalities) late last year, and into this early Spring by ICE/DHS agents, in and around Minneapolis. [Here is my June 23 prior backgrounder on this exact topic.]

Rather than comply with that clear order (text reset, again in blue below) -- the Tangerine 2.0 lawyers today have appealed, essentially saying the actions of ICE/DHS are beyond review by the federal courts. Poppycock. I link that nonsense -- for a complete record. . . but will not quote it.

. . .The parties are ordered to meet and confer before July 6, 2026 to develop a plan for limited discovery before the Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 174) is resolved. . . .

Early Discovery requests must be tailored to issues that might inform the parties’ positions in the Motion to Dismiss, and information with a high risk of dissipation over time. . . .

The Early Discovery plan should identify, as to each request, a reasonable time scope and a narrowly targeted range of custodians from whom such discovery is sought. . . .

Failure by either party to negotiate Early Discovery in good faith will be construed as a waiver of arguments as to such discovery. . . .

[Here is the full June 23 order, from which the above text was lifted.]

Almost to the last one of them, these Trumpian lawyers think the law is only to be applied to the little people. They think they are above it. Beyond it. That hallucination is coming to and end. Right quick. (Quick, at least in terms of legal proceedings. Heh.)

नमस्ते

[Power Alley Part II:] HSBC ALSO Boosts Gilead's 12 Month Price Target Significantly. The House Calls It A "Buy". That Is Correct.

See the immediately prior one, for why you would be wise to trust this very long-standing institution's financial calls. And know that, having personally dealt with the bank -- on mulitple multi-billion dollar deals (representing multi-national life science and pharma concerns), it runs a very tight ship. In this 2020s world of crypo-bros, and morons buying SMELANIA meme-coins. . . that is a very distinguished mark, and brand.

So. . . without any additional ado [but do recall that we mentioned in January a $156 target, from Citi] -- here is that '34 Act registered securities pricing/trading update:

. . .HSBC upgraded Gilead Sciences to Buy from Hold on Monday and raised its price target to $155 from $133.

The firm said the market is too pessimistic on the HIV market following the introduction of dolutegravir generics. HSBC believes long-acting HIV therapies will improve adherence and help offset declines, supporting better-than-consensus HIV forecasts.

The analyst cited potential short-term upside from high-growth PrEP product Yeztugo and oncology catalysts including anito-cel and Trodelvy.

HSBC noted the recent share price correction has made the valuation attractive. . . .

This is where the market is headed: safe, high cash flow names -- in bio-science and pharma. Trust that, with chaos the only brand in DC, these next two and a half years.

नमस्ते

HSBC Securities Bumps Up Its "Buy" Rating On Merck -- Significantly. Sees $150 A Share Soon, On NYSE... [Power Alley]

This securities house was once known (for about a century and a quarter) as the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Co. (note the half-tone/gray coat of arms/sheild in upper right quadrant of my graphic). It is over 160 years in operation, and its securities / research arm is quite well-respected around the globe. With Hong Kong now officially a PRC possession, it is good to see capitalistic (old British) entities doing quite well on the island.

All that said, I think the venerable house is right -- about Rahway. Mr. Davis has Merck firing on all cylinders -- and will likely have Keytruda as a juggernaut (on patenting tricks) well into the 2030s. Here's that -- (from an autobot / rag) but the graphic at right says it all:

. . .HSBC analyst Rajesh Kumar maintains Merck & Co., at a buy rating, and adjusts the target price from $120 to $150. . . .

Now you know. Onward, grinning into the cool sunshine. . . .

नमस्ते

Mpox Cases [Clade Unknown] Now Confirmed In Another Country: Guinea-Bissau. USAID Is Missing, As Outbreaks Proliferate...

This bears repeating: the Trump Administration is willfully choosing excess deaths, and levels of illness -- by continuing to defund USAID. It is doing so, at the moment, outside the US -- but we all know viral vectors enter the US by jey travel, everyday.

And it is a near certainty that within a year or so, we will see excess deaths here stateside, due to his fecklessly unscientific and corrupt administration. Here's the latest from the WHO -- but millions are needed -- and missing, in Africa to fight this, and Ebola. . . in a pair of overlapping outbreaks:

. . .The Minister of Public Health of Guinea-Bissau officially declared the confirmation of one mpox case in the country during a press conference held in the presence of the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative.

Laboratory confirmation was carried out by the Laboratory of the National Institute of Public Health (INASA) and submitted for external quality control to the Department of Virology of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, which confirmed the same result. The genotyping process is ongoing. . . .

Following confirmation of the case, the Ministry of Public Health activated the national response mechanisms, in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) and WHO recommendations. The measures include epidemiological investigation, contact tracing, strengthened surveillance, infection prevention and control in health facilities, community awareness-raising, and coordination with technical and financial partners. . . .

Now you know -- with more World Cup excitement in the park, on the Jumbotron again tonight.

And as much as I want the US team to win -- I do think the straight red card on our guy Balogun was appropriate -- and rightly earned a one match suspension. Of course, we might well win out against Belgium without him, but now we will never know. And, of course, Tangerine 2.0's likely intervention with the FIFA head is. . . yep, both corrupt and inappropriate.

Damn -- if the US wins tonight, the team will live with an asterisk (for something they did not even ask for) in the record books, forever -- due to his venality. If they lose it will matter little -- but again, Trump embarrasses good Americans, in front of an appalled. . . and largely united world (against corruption, in sport), in this matter.

नमस्ते

A Bit Of Ebola Related Good News -- The Doctor From France Has Been Discharged From Isolation, And Is Resting At Home -- Now Symptom Free...

This is good news -- and in world-class health care settings, we do see that affliction with the Ebola virus is survivable. People will, and do. . . recover, completely.

It likely helped that, as an MD, he immediately knew he might be carrying the virus, and got prompt medical intervention -- likely including the experimental human protien therapies. In any event, here is that feel good story -- the French MD has recovered, and gone home:

. . .A doctor who had tested positive for Ebola in the first such case on French territory has recovered and left the hospital, France's health minister said on Saturday.

he humanitariandoctor tested positive after flying to France on 23 June from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is fighting a major outbreak of the deadly disease.

According to Health Minister Stéphanie Rist, "after two negative PCR tests, the patient is now recovered and has been able to return home safely". The doctor flew to France from DRC on an Air France flight and except for headaches was "almost asymptomatic."

Five other passengers on the flight had been identified as possible contacts and put in isolation as a precaution. . . .

Now you know. Much cooler and cloudier here today -- but again looking forward to USA v. Belgium in the park tomorrow evening at 7 pm. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

The Annual Reports Of [Non-] Compliance With Flores Settlement -- Both ICE And Border Patrol -- Are Now On File In LA: Accelerated/Continued Lawlessness.

As we have documented, children continue to be subjected to conditions that violate the Geneva Conventions, to say nothing of the regular federal laws, under the Flores, East Bay Sanctuary and Ms. L. class action settlements. [Trump 1.0 was a party to those last two California federal court settlements, by the way.]

The annual report of ICE is here. And the Border Patrol one is here. In the past 12 or so years, the agents have beome more adept at making the text portions virtual PR kits -- extolling their respective virtues. But the charts do not lie: hundreds of children are being held in entirely inhumane, inappropriate pens, or windowless hotel rooms -- more than ocassionally for months on end -- without access to the things that basic human rights would require. That is a fact. And it is Tangerine 2.0 (via Stephen Miller) directing all this lawless cruelty:

Were he alive today, Frederick Douglass would be offering his Fourth of July critique in front of the Dilley Detention Center. Trust that.

We as a nation, have in general been blessed with ethical leadership for the vast majority of our 250 years. But not so, in the last two of three. This too is a simple. . . fact. Out -- a quiet evening ahead (my flag is flying upside down today -- we are a nation in distress due to corruption in DC).

नमस्ते

Local Coverage -- Of The Evanston Response To The Nonsense Tangerine 2.0 Motion To Intervene -- In A Nonsense Private Federal Suit, In Chicago...

This is what leadership, in the face of specious partisan/MAGA legal wrangling, looks like.

The Trumpians and the Fitton shills will be bounced out of court in the coming months -- as I've long said. Bank on it. Here is the latest, from our home-town University / J-sudents-run newspaper:

. . .The Evanston Reparations Committee met Thursday, responding to the federal government’s move to join a lawsuit challenging the city’s reparations program. . . .

Committee member and former Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th) said she believes the lawsuit is a “threat” to prevent Evanston from setting a precedent and inspiring other cities to create similar reparations programs.

“I’m not afraid of Donald Trump and the Department of Justice, and I’ve been well prepared for these types of attacks,” Simmons said.

For fiscal year 2026, the committee distributed funds to 44 eligible individuals, totalling to about $7,334,646.71 in disbursements so far. No changes have been made to the city’s disbursement plan at this time, according to a statement from its legal department read aloud during Thursday’s meeting. . . .

Now you know -- onward, resolutely -- to barbecues, then fireworks tonight. Tomorrow will be our. . . quieter night. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

[U] Welp. Katalyst Still Must Power-Up, And Capture The Swift Observatory -- Then "Push It, Push It REAL Good!" -- Up To A More Stable Orbit...

Well, the issue was just a needed software update, for the Pegasus XL under-wing rocket. The team made orbit very early this morning, as we all slept.

Here's all that good news -- still much to do, on the in-orbit "punch list" -- to eventually stabilize Swift:

. . .[Updated @ 8 pm 07.03.26] Teams have successfully established communications with Katalyst Space’s robotic servicing spacecraft LINK, which is designed to raise the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher altitude. . . .

Over the next several weeks, Katalyst will perform checkout procedures for LINK, including assessments of its propulsion, sensor, and navigation systems. . . .

A mission to raise the altitude of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is underway after launching at 8:36 p.m. Marshall Islands Time (4:36 a.m. EDT), Friday, July 3, from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean.

LINK, a robotic servicing spacecraft built by Katalyst Space, launched into orbit on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, which was deployed by the company’s Stargazer, a modified L-1011 aircraft, at an altitude of about 40,000 feet.

Our planet’s atmosphere creates drag for spacecraft in low Earth orbit, gradually reducing their altitude if they don’t have propulsion systems to maintain their positions. Recent solar activity magnified this effect on Swift, and its orbit decayed faster than anticipated. . . .

In September, NASA contracted Katalyst to boost Swift. The company needed to design, build, test, and launch LINK and meet, grab, and lift Swift in less than a year. . . .

Do stay tuned -- and do celebrate the fragile, unlikely dream. . . that is the UNITED States of America. We all know that it is not the garish, under-attended, amateurish nonsense Trump has on his outer lawn, on this day -- and tomorrow. It is (among other things) the ingenuity of the above mission -- from concept, to orbit -- in under an elapsed year. Onward.

नमस्ते

[U: Software Issue On Pegasus XL] The Ambitious Private Enterprise Katalyst-Driven Launch, To Boost SWIFT... Twice Delayed For Weather -- Now Has No New Launch Date. Hmm.

While I understand why the various economic / commercial forces behind this audacious idea don't want to share materially adverse information that might tank (Northrup Grumman, SpaceX, or some other) stock prices, it is not really kosher, to not explain at least the broad outlines of the nature of this failure to deploy event.

Did the under-wing rocket's brackets jam -- preventing deployment? Did the L-1011 fail to reach altitude? Did the space payload offer errant readings, prior to the drop zone? We likely won't know what "reviewing the data" entails -- for a few months yet.

In any event, here is the entirety of the morning's very terse news update, out of NASA:

. . .[UPDATED @ 9:35 pm Thursday] Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus team has completed its review of Thursday’s launch attempt and identified a software issue that affected Pegasus navigation performance, which prompted a launch abort before Pegasus was released from the L-1011 aircraft. The system worked as intended by safely stopping the sequence, and a software update has been implemented. The Pegasus rocket and L-1011 remain healthy. . . .

The launch of Katalyst’s robotic servicing spacecraft on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, was postponed Thursday. After takeoff of the L-1011 aircraft carrying the Pegasus XL, a launch vehicle issue temporarily prevented teams from deploying the rocket.

The date of the next launch attempt for this mission to boost NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory will be determined after teams have reviewed data from today’s attempt. . . .

Space is indeed. . . hard. Onward, smiling -- just the same.

नमस्ते

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