[U] All The Living Ex-Presidents [Except Trump] Will Be There! Do Tune In... Obama Center Opens Tomorrow!

This is pretty self-explanatory -- and pretty. . . wonderful. [We will provide a window to it below -- live, tomorrow.]

If you remember seeing genuine American leaders interact, do tune in tomorrow at 11 a.m. local. [The musical guest-list already beats the stupid "250 cage match" by 10,000 miles.] The entire library and democracy center opens to the general public on Friday, Juneteenth. Here's the latest -- the streets are locked down for six blocks in every direction, already. Security will be. . . tight.

. . .Grand Opening Ceremony Livestream

June 18, 2026, 11 a.m. CT

The Grand Opening Ceremony marks the official dedication of the Obama Presidential Center. The livestreamed event brings together global leaders, artists, changemakers, and citizens for an inspiring celebration of the values that shaped the Obama presidency and continues to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to create change.

Tune in right here at 11 a.m. CT on June 18 for a front-row seat to history no matter where you are. . . .

And, at a eulogy/service, after nine were gunned down, inside Mother Emanuel at a prayer meeting -- in cold racial blood -- over ten years ago. . .





There have (again) been bomb threats -- but we will not be dissuaded. Not ever. Never.

Onward -- yes, we can.

नमस्ते

Now, A Silly Attempt To "Stay" -- Any Ruling On Statute Of Limitations, From The Fitton-Shills...

The preposterous claim (just filed this afternoon) by the lawyers for the Fitton shills is that it will promote judicial efficiency -- to decide whether the Boutros-led USAs may intervene, BEFORE any ruling on whether the overall private suit was filed "out of time".

That is exactly the opposite of what the applicable federal procedural law would hold. The first question here, is whether ANYONE (governmental-, or private- party) may sue for supposed wrongs AFTER the statute of limitations has run. And certainly, the US government is deemed to be aware of as much at the Fitton shills were, when they were. And unless Fitton's ppl can prove that the statute doesn't apply to them, the doors to the courthouse are not just closed to them. . . they are deemed (under federal law) to have never opened. End of story.

Solely for a complete record, here is the nonsense plaintiffs' motion to stay the process -- now set to resolve discovery, on what the shills knew -- and when they knew it -- for the purpose of dismissing the entire case, as untimely.

[Still lurking. . . is the second prong of the dismissal tests, from Evanston -- that none of them suffered any injury, and have no standing -- since they never lived in Evanston, and have not owned property here during the relevant time frame. So they cannot complain. That too (as we've long shown) is a winner for Evanston, but Evanston has proposed doing the Statute of Limitations first, and then deposing these five shills, about their residences over the past 45 or so years.]

In any event, onward -- resolutely. Out.

नमस्ते

Finally -- A Glimmer Of Good News, On Bundibugyo: Moderna And Oxford mRNA Vaccine Candidate Trials To Begin In July 2026...

The only good news I can find about this '26 outbreak is that. . . one six month old, and his mother have recovered from the Bundibugyo / Ebola virus as of this week. That, and that Phase I clinical trial testing may begin on various mRNA Bundibugyo vaccine candidates -- in about two weeks.

All while the Africa CDC suspects that this outbreak may prove to eclipse the 12,000 deaths in 2012-14, before it is all over. But here is the encouraging news, just the same:

. . .NAIROBI/DAKAR, June 16 (Reuters) -- Lead vaccine candidates developed by Oxford University and Moderna against Ebola Bundibugyo, ⁠the deadly virus that has swept through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, could enter Phase 1 trials as early ‌as ⁠July 1, with field trials possible within several months, the ⁠head of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, ⁠Richard Hatchett, said on Tuesday. . . .

Excellent, indeed. Speed onward, you biological science-mavens -- we need your help desperately now in DRC and Uganda.

नमस्ते

Lethal Razor Wire Cases, On The Rio Grande, In MAGA West Texas Will Continue To Mediate -- Toward A Settlement.

The first mediation date went off, just as planned (and as ordered by the able USDC Chief Judge Alia Moses), and a second date is now scheduled -- as unsurprisingly, not all issues were solved in one day.

Just the same, this is good news for the families of the dead, and the maimed -- at MAGA Gov. Abbott's lawless "Berlin Concertina Wire / Wall" style barriers, on the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass. The parties will keep mediating, toward compensation for the victims -- from State of Texas taxpayer funds. Here's the latest (a more detailed description of the status of the mediation efforts is restricted to "eyes only" -- lawyers, in dusty West Texas):

. . .In order to facilitate further mediation pursuant to Chief United States District Judge Alia Moses’ Order [ECF No. 142], the undersigned ORDERS the parties to appear before it, in person, on July 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. The mediation will occur in Courtroom No. 4 of the United States Courthouse, 111 E. Broadway Street, Del Rio, Texas. If the parties need the hearing to be reset, they must file an advisory with the Court by July 2, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Further, if the parties wish to file these advisories outside of the Court’s electronic filing system, they must mail the advisories to 111 E. Broadway St. Ste. 100, Del Rio, Texas 78840 C/O Carmen Levrie, and indicate that the filing is made ex parte, under seal, and that it contains documents which are not to be filed electronically. . . .

. . .IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED that the above entitled and numbered case is set for DOCKET CALL/ STATUS CONFERENCE in Courtroom 1, on the 2nd floor, U.S. Courthouse, 111 E. Broadway, Del Rio, TX, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 10:15 AM. All parties and counsel must appear at this hearing.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 16th day of June, 2026. . . .

Onward, resolutely -- to a gray chilly wet Wednesday in the City of Big Shoulders.

And to amplify the thoughts in my last post, of last night -- if the Tangerine [Mal-] Administration truly wishes to stop a voter-approved local law on reparations, it must do so by bringing its own suit.

The law is clear -- it cannot just pop up like a daisy, and try to beat a statute of limitations problem, by intervening -- to step into the shoes of the Fitton-recruited shills in 24-cv-4269 (USDC ND IL).

And certainly, the same statute of limitations has run, on any purported US government claim -- as well. The program has been running since 2021, based on local pot tax revenue, and approved by the city council, and now impliedly by all voters in Evanston.

It is beyond dispute that from at least 1909 through 1969, Evanston had codified red-lining ordinances -- which actually prevented my father in law and mother in law from buying a high end house, in a whyte ward, in 1968. So, as a doctor and lawyer, they picketed and won a seat on the city council, and then passed a fair housing ordinance -- and bought the next big house, in that ward, by 1971. The proof (of invidious race discrimination against people of color) is everywhere, in the newspapers from 1909 through at least 1971, in Evanston. [But that evidence will not be needed in open court in Judge Kness' courtroom in Chicago, as the whole thing will be bounced -- on failure to make a timely claim, by these Fitton shills, and/or the Andrew Boutros led US Attorneys' office here.]

So, the whyte Karen woman / Palatine Village Trustee (not even from here, and so, carpet-bagging) -- acting as counsel to these crisis actors / five whyte complainers will still lose. . . in the end. And Evanston will recover its legal fees from the Fitton shills, and/or the AUSAs. The suit was filed in bad faith. As was the supposed intervenors' motion.

Here endeth the lesson.

नमस्ते

[U, At Bottom.] Now Tangerine 2.0's US Govt. Is Attempting To Intervene In Private Suits In Chicago, Based On "A Sternly Worded Letter" From A Now Dead Election Denier Lawyer?! Wow.

This Trumpian guy, Andrew Boutros, in Chicago -- was/is also deeply involved in trying to violate people's (mostly without papers) rights in Chicago. But seeing as how that is all winding down now since, as US Attorney for the Northern District here, he has lost every motion he filed (and may be subjected to santions in USDC Judge April Perry's courtroom, shortly) -- he now turns his attention. . . to trying to prevent Evanston from snuffing out the idiotic Fitton shills' challenge to our reparations program. [That in turn is presently being heard before a conservative USDC Judge -- Kness. . . a former Chicago cop, from the early 2000s.]

Boutros wastes tons of US taxpayer money -- to file what is simply a political manifesto that bears no resemblance to existing federal law. And cites a long discredited former Bush/Cheney appointee lawyer (and deceased 2020 election denier -- one Boyden Gray) as his touchstone "authority" -- for seeking to intervene in a private suit. Damn. Here are those papers: an idiotic "memo" of supposed law, and a purported "complaint" at law. Both are specious. Get this:

. . .While the City was considering whether to establish the Program, former White House Counsel C. Boyden Gray [Ed. Note -- he most recently led a Trump-PAC-funded 2020 effort to overturn the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, before he died of a heart attack at age 80 in 2023] submitted a detailed legal analysis [actually just a whiny screed letter, from a private citizen, at that point] to Evanston explaining that the Program would provide benefits based on race and would be unconstitutional under Supreme Court precedent. Among other things, the letter pointed out that the Program was not supported by “the kind of specific evidence necessary to justify the imposition of a. . . racially discriminatory policy.” The letter also noted that the City “had failed to give more than perfunctory consideration to race neutral considerations such as upzoning, loosening restrictive zoning practices” or providing “income-based housing assistance to achieve greater financial equality regardless of the race of the applicant.”

The City nevertheless adopted the Program without making changes to address the legal objections identified in the analysis. . . .

The Trumpers are just butt-sore that we out-maneuvered them. Even so, Boutros thinks we must take the word of this Boyden fellow, over the United States Supreme Court?

Forgive me if. . . I am. . . unmoved. [Evanston will have until July 20, 2026, in any event -- to file substantive papers to oppose this attempted intervenor, if USDC Judge Kness doesn't toss it before then, on his own.]

Updated 06.17.26 @ 10 AM: And that AUSA's goofy cite to C. Boyden Gray's private letter of 2021 is a very dubious attempt to avoid the statute of limitations. Undoubtedly, Boutros will argue that a private citizen's screed/letter in 2021 put Evanston "on notice" that the US government would sue it, here in 2026. Preposterous.

Out.

नमस्ते

Protillion Inks A Potentially Up To $510 Million (W/ Other Terms Withheld) R&D / Drug Discovery Deal With Merck...

There are more bio-bucks being put into R&D circulation, this morning -- this time, out of Rahway.

Without any additional ado, here is that AI platform deal detail, such as the same may be known -- from the erstwhile folks at Fierce, then:

. . .AI drug design specialist Protillion Biosciences has inked a $510 million biobucks collaboration and license agreement with Merck & Co. that brings together Protillion’s platform and Merck’s drug discovery expertise.

Protillion will receive an undisclosed upfront payment, with the potential to earn research, development and commercial milestones tied to the successful development of multiple therapies, according to a June 16 release.

The deal is centered around Protillion’s Prot-MaP technology, a data generation platform designed to deliver training sets for protein design AI and enable quantitative analysis of protein libraries. The platform aims to avoid the pitfalls of model overfitting and “enables the identification of optimized biologics with sophisticated therapeutic profiles. . . .

Now you know. Onward, grinning. . . .

नमस्ते

Some Decent DRC Ebola Spread Guesses -- At How Deeply Under-... The Current Counts May Be.

We very well know (based on solid inductive reasoning) that there are more cases -- and fatalities, out there -- because the world learned of this outbreak after many were already dying. And many of the original index cases were traveling the remote country-side, and unknowingly leaving death in their wake.

Now a new Scientific American article attempts to estimate how many there really are -- and what will be the "upslope curve", on the progression of the disease -- since cases in new places continue to appear without any documented connection to the originally-afflicted.

I won't call this article definitive, yet -- but it certainly is a more useful model. . . for assessing how much support, and where that support should be first delivered. . . than only looking at lab tested, confirmed illnesses and deaths. Here's the latest, on all that:

. . .[T]he researchers calculated case numbers for moderate, fast and slow growth scenarios based on cases imported from Ituri alone versus Ituri and Nord Kivu.

Both methods produced fairly consistent estimates for the size of the outbreak as of May 27. The first model yielded an estimate of between 306 and 2,521 cases, whereas the geographic spread model estimated between 282 and 1,345 cases. The researchers stress that these estimates have a lot of uncertainty and that many cases could be missed. “The broad convergence of our estimates from two independent methods supports the conclusion of potentially substantial underdetection of cases and the potential for wider transmission,” the authors wrote in the study. . . .

Tracking the number of cases and deaths in Ebola outbreaks is notoriously difficult, complicated by weak public health systems, armed conflict and other factors. That makes comparisons between the current situation and past Ebola outbreaks almost impossible, McCabe says. . . .

Please be excellent to one another -- it is baby grrls' day here at my place. . . with sunny bike rides, park-play and grilling in store after noon. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

So Now Tangerine 2.0 Is Pushing Forward The Biden-Enacted CMS Drug Price Negotiation Measures. YAWN.

Now that Trump has seen that under the Inflation Reduction Act (passed during the Biden administration), millions of seniors are achieving real savings in their pharmaceutical bills, this year. . . he has flip-flopped -- and decided that he wants to make it permanent. He will "clone" it -- under Dr. Oz.

Dr. Oz's only real change to the Biden well-thought out measures is that the choice of high impact drugs selected into the program each year from 2029 on, will be so selected via blue ribbon committees. That -- and very small makers of high value bio-therapies will be exempted from required negotiations for those therapies -- until they reach a certain dollar level in annual sales in the US.

In any event, I don't care how they got there -- this is good for the vast majority of seniors who live on a fixed income (now being reduced by Trump-flation at over 4% a year). Here's the latest:

. . .The pharmaceutical industry has waged a public campaign against the IRA price negotiations, likening the system to government price controls rather than genuine negotiations, given the harsh penalties for noncompliance, but, so far, the industry hasn't been able to meaningfully resist the IRA measures, Fierce Pharma reported. . . .

Every suit brought against the Biden era negotiations / mechanics has failed in the federal courts. And failed on appeal. This is one where the good guys have won.

नमस्ते

Conundrum: Mr. Musk Now Has Two Separate Groups Of Public Co. Shareholders... Expecting His Full-Time Attention, To Each Business -- Regardless Of The Other One.

When a company decides to avail itself of the public securities markets, the private "controlling shareholder(s) can do whatever they like" mantra comes to an end (as to the minority shareholders, for certain).

And. . . when one person (or tightly-affiliated small group) effectively controls all decisions at TWO (or more) public companies, the potential conflicts -- for time, attention, talent and financial resources. . . can become overwhelming.

True enough, this particular controlling shareholder has vast wealth. . . so some of the concern is mitigated, if he is willing to risk his last dollar, for both companies (if need be). . . but it still remains true that each set of shareholders (into the trillions, in market caps) will now expect the full measure of his devotion -- to their respective businesses (separately).

And -- that is simply not physically possible. He is (wrongly, I personally think) considered by many of these largely-duped shareholders as some sort of engineering Houdini -- a guy who can make silken threads -- from a sow's ear. There are only 24 hours in a day, and time he spends on one business will inexorably be at the expense of the others. That is simply physics -- there is no multi-verse.

[And all of that is before we start talking about the untruths he told lenders about the prospects of Twitter, now called X-itter -- to the tune of about $30 billion. The X social media platform’s ad revenue plunged 65 percent last year. He had said it would quintuple.] No, the most common legal solution, in these situations (with prior '34 Act companies) has been to merge the companies, and have only one public company parent deciding everything for all the subsidiaries. In this way, the shareholder(s) get the benefit (and risks) of all the far-flung "businesses" he claims to be creating.

My strong hunch (based on experiences in similar but smaller situations) is that within a year or so, the Tesla and SpaceX public companies will be folded together, so that all shareholders own the same pieces of his various pies.

If he doesn't do that, eventually some of the people with now billions at stake in SpaceX will sue -- if/when the stock price falls off of these vaporous valuations. They will allege that he is preferring to spend time on present day electric cars and trucks, rather than plans for distant futures, a la the mining of asteroids. They will be. . . right.

So it goes. And, in the end, he will no longer be a trillionaire, no matter what he does from this moment forward. Count on that -- within two years. Onward.

नमस्ते

Tangeriners For ICE, At The Southern Border, Continue To Foot-Drag -- On Even IDENTIFYING Those In Custody -- For Legal Aid. Damn.

This obstinance, in defiance of clear federal immigration law and regulations -- to say nothing of explicit federal court orders. . . is maddening.

In the San Diego Ms. L. class action, the lawyers for the asylum seekers are owed names of those in custody, so that counsel may meet with them -- with appropriate native language interpreters in tow. This the Stephen Miller/Trumpists are. . . refusing to do, without repeated -- ever smaller sentences, in new federal court orders. The insouciance is. . . bordering on sanctionable. Here's the latest, in any event:

. . .Further, providing such information is not as simple as the Court potentially anticipated in the Order. Specifically, while the Court notes that 8 C.F.R. § 241.4(l)(1) requires the government to notify certain formerly paroled aliens “of the reasons for revocation of [their] release or parole,” ECF No. 937 at 8, this regulation is not applicable to every ICE arrest but rather applies to aliens with final orders of removal who may be subject to detention beyond the removal period imposed by 8 C.F.R. Part 241.

Therefore, requiring ICE to provide the bases for detention for all future ICE detentions of class members and QAFMs is not as simple as providing previously created notices that are readily available. . . .

The Trumpers now employed at ICE seem to be saying "since it is not [in all cases] easy, already collected -- and simple. . . we don't have to do it." The USDC Judge already ordered this, idiots. Get with it, you malign clowns. Out.

नमस्ते

Merck, Plus Gilead -- For Twice A Week Oral HIV Treatment -- Soon?

This is a very exciting time for real bio-science. We are on the verge of having oral therapies that are practically a cure, for the scourge of HIV. [Here is one of my prior backgrounders, on Gilead's twice a year injection therapy for HIV.] And longer-term readers will recall that we first mentioned this oral combo probability in March of 2024.

Rather than rehash that, let's simply listen in, to FiercePharma -- ever cogent, on the topic of new drugs in the pipeline -- nearing FDA clearance:

. . .A combination of Merck’s islatravir and Gilead’s lenacapavir has succeeded in two phase 3 trials and is in line to become the first long-acting oral HIV treatment that can be taken weekly.

Both trials of the combination regimen -- which includes a 2 mg dose of islatravir and a 300 mg dose of lenacapavir -- included people with HIV who are virologically suppressed and both achieved their primary efficacy endpoint.

In the Islend-1 study, the combo showed its non-inferiority in those who had switched off Gilead’s once-daily pill Biktarvy. In Islend-2, the combo measured up in those who had switched off standard-of-care antiretroviral regimens. No new safety concerns were identified in either study. . . .

“Long-acting oral therapies represent a new wave of transformational innovation in HIV drug development, with the potential to reshape the landscape of care,” said Jared Baeten, M.D, Ph.D, Gilead’s SVP, Clinical Development, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, said in a release. “Innovative oral HIV treatment options that allow for less frequent dosing may make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with the virus, potentially offering more flexibility and discretion.”

In a note to clients, analysts from Jefferies said that they viewed the data as a “plus,” but that they expect Biktarvy to remain the standard of care because of its well-established efficacy. While five-year data on Biktarvy has shown that 97% of patients remain suppressed, questions remain about the long-term safety and resistance of ISL/LEN. . . .

Gilead’s lenacapavir has been on the market since 2022, when it was approved in the U.S. as Sunlenca for twice-yearly administration for those with drug-resistant HIV. Twelve months ago, the FDA signed off on lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It is known commercially in that indication as Yeztugo. . . .

Now you know -- onward, to a cool but clear and sunny Monday. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

29 Additional Deaths, From Ebola -- In A Single Day -- In Eastern DRC...

We should not be surprised -- but this is very sad, just the same. Trumpism intentionally caused these excess deaths.

Here's AlJazeera, with the latest:

. . .The Ministry of Public Health confirmed 72 new cases on Sunday over the previous 24 hours, a record single-day increase, with 29 additional deaths. . . .

Very, very disappointing.

नमस्ते

World Cup Fireworks -- Now Underway...

I am not a wildly-obsessive soccer fan, but I do enjoy the unscripted dramatic moments. This evening, Ivory Coast was able to break a nil-nil tie, in the ninetieth minute, as Amad Diallo (also of Manchester United when not in World Cup play) scored on Ecuador.

It is hard not to embrace these moments of complete joy.

Just like watching your high-school freshman bury his first j, in Summer League -- or decades ago, advance to state finals in doubles tennis. . .

. . .Or finish second in an olympic tri-, over twenty years later. . . these are the golden moments. So, do take the time to savor and enjoy them -- like a Korean bbq. Smile. Onward.

नमस्ते

Status Report/UPDATE: On The Four DECADES Of Flores Class Litigation -- In LA -- About Treatment Of... Children (And All Others) At The Southern Border...

The orders are clear, from the US Supreme Court, down to the trial courts: children must be have unlimed access to drinking water, fed nutritious food, given toothpaste and toothbrushes, provided warm and sensible bedding, private sleeping arrangements, and regular showers with soap, and daily outdoor recreation and once of school age -- meaningful educational opportunities -- via computers, in their own native language(s).

That is the minimum our own signed protocols on refugees has required, since 1978. [You will recall, that we earlier learned in this litigation, that as of May 31, 2026, Trump agents had held a 12- and 14-year old, locked in a windowless hotel room for more than nine days (by the government agents' own admissions), without access to any outside contact. . . utterly. . . alone. Disgusting.]

Both versions of Trumpian 1.0 and 2.0 cruelty have intentionally violated these laws -- mostly at the direction of Stephen Miller. When this is over, he should be held accountable for his "war crimes" -- since the malign idiot claims preposterously this is an "invasion" -- and has tried to invoke emergency/war powers, here [both times].

These people must be brought to justice, once we hold the reigns of power in the Congress, once more. Here's the latest court filed status report, out of LA:

. . .Both sides acknowledge that since mediation started in January, the number of class members at Dilley and the average time in custody have decreased; educational services offered to younger children have been enhanced; older children have been provided some access to educational activities on computers; and there have been some improvements with respect to the menu and hygiene products.

[The children's lawyers /] Plaintiffs’ position is that the improvements to the menu and hygiene products have been insufficient. In addition, Defendants have allowed Dr. Paul Wise to conduct site visits at Dilley on March 5, 2026, March 24, 2026, and April 23-24, 2026 and received his recommendations and feedback. . . .

With respect to the notice of Flores rights, Plaintiffs provided Defendants a proposed written notice of Flores rights on April 15, 2026. [Trump] Defendants have not yet responded to Plaintiffs’ proposal or offered a counterproposal. . . .

As a result, [the children's lawyers /] Plaintiffs see no reason to think progress will be made on this issue. Defendants’ position is that they are still considering Plaintiffs’ proposal and their own position or alternate proposal. . . .

[The Trumpian] Defendants assert that their consideration has taken time because of the weighty issues and numerous agency components involved. [Ed. Note: this is purely foot-dragging, while violating existing court orders Trump himself agreed to -- in the era of Tangerine 1.0, when faced with both Ninth Circuit, and Supreme Court losses.]

As set forth in the parties’ recent reports to the Court and during the June 1, 2026 status conference, Plaintiffs’ position is that the conditions at Dilley continue to violate the FSA, and Defendants’ position is that they do not.

At this time, Plaintiffs believe that the parties’ mediation efforts are at an impasse due to Defendants’ current position on some issues and the lengthy delay in response time on other urgent issues. . . .

So it is likely to still be in issue -- at least until Trump leaves office, in 2028. Damnation -- these are. . . children. This may require USDC Judge Dolly Gee in LA to start to impose sanctions, on the Trumpian lawyers, for willfully violating her eight years' worth of remedial orders. Damn. Again, these. . . are. . .

CHILDREN. Out.

नमस्ते

A THIRD Fatality, Caused By Kenyan Police, Identified -- From The Protests Against Trump's "Ebola Camps": Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u, A Student.

All of this bloodshed (scores injured), and death -- is directly attributable to Donald Trump's lawlessness, and malign idiocy -- in matters of public health / epidemic abatement.

We have several Ebola treatment facilities in the US -- all first rate. We have a collective bargaining agreement -- one that promises foreign service workers a pass home, and treatment in these facilities, should they contract Ebola. But Trump -- feckless dotard that he is -- is forcing Kenyan authorities to build "leper colonies / camps" in that country -- instead of honoring his obligations to our own citizens.

Unsurprisingly, ordinary Kenyans do not want Ebola stricken US citizens housed inside their cities. So they have been taking to the streets, by the thousands. And the police have shot and killed at least three protesters, including the teenage student at right.

Here's the Sunday Beeb -- on these deplorable developments:

. . .The mother of teenager Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u found his body in a mortuary in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki two days after he went missing.

The 17-year-old was killed on Tuesday in clashes between police and demonstrators during a protest over a US plan to build an Ebola quarantine centre at a nearby military base.

Lucy Kagure had been searching for her son in hospitals and police stations and eventually discovered his body at the mortuary, where he was listed as an unidentified male. . . .

"When I found him, half of his head had been split open. His clothes were soaked in blood," she told the BBC. . . .

His head was likely split open by a tear gas cannister fired at him, from very close range.

Dammit -- this makes American "policy" just. . . the worst -- of the worst.

नमस्ते

[Kicker: Knicks Champs!] USDC Judge Cummings In Chicago Releases Another 10 People Grabbed (Lawlessly) In The Last Six Months By Noem/Bovino/ICE, Under Order To Enforce Consent Decree Of 2019.

Bit by bit, the courts are ending last summer's reign of terror -- by Noem and Bovino and Miller. . . AND Tangerine 2.0.

I won't link the full PDF as it lists too many identifying details as to the ten, and I will not put them at risk from private militias -- or even rogue ICE agents, again -- but here is the central feature, in anonymized text:

. . .For any of the above ten individuals that remain detained, defendants are ordered to facilitate their immediate release on their own recognizance and without bond or conditions of release as specified in Section IV(E)(2) of the Decree, (Dckt. #155-1 at 9), by no later than 5:00 p.m. CT on June 16, 2026.

With respect to those individuals who have already been released, but on bond and with conditions, defendants must take action to refund any bonds and remove all conditions on or before 5:00 p.m. CT on June 16, 2026. Defendants shall file a certification by 5:00 p.m. CT on June 17, 2026, that all individuals have been released on their own recognizance and without bond or conditions of release as required by Section IV(E)(2) of the Consent Decree. . . .

As stated on the record, defendants will produce the remaining approximately 100 files for the individuals purportedly subject to targeted arrests on a rolling basis, and shall complete that production by no later than July 3, 2026. . . .

Now you know -- and onward, to a grilled, dry-rubbed ribeye tonight (rare) -- and now, actually -- at 11 PM. . . a Knicks title -- the first, since 1973 and the days of a young Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Woot!

नमस्ते

Children And Refugees -- In A Crowded Camp Of 30,000+, In DRC Conflict Zone -- Now Presenting With... Ebola. Awful.

This is going to get much worse.

And it didn't have to be this way. [This, even as Gilead donates 2,000 vials of remdesivir -- a therapeutic -- to the DRC health missions. This amount is far short of what will be needed though, to be clear.] Here's the latest -- from CIDRAP:

. . .Among the dead are two victims who were living in a displacement camp in eastern DRC, which has been plagued by conflict between the government and rebel groups. According to Reuters, the mother and daughter, who died on May 31 and June 1 and later tested positive for Ebola, were living in a camp that’s hosting 30,000 internally displaced people in cramped and unsanitary conditions.

"We are all really worried that Ebola in these camps will spread extremely quickly and that there will be panic and people will flee all over whether or not they're contacts, whether or not they're ill," Caitlin Brady, country director for the Danish Refugee Council in Congo, told the news agency.

Officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) said the number of affected health zones in DRC is growing.

“Every day, cases are being identified in new health zones. And that reflects really the scale of this outbreak, a scale that is much bigger than what is being detected and the high mobility of the population in this part of the DRC,” Olivier le Polain, PhD, of the WHO said at a press conference today. . . .

This may well become the second worst outbreak in recorded history -- even as world-wide, various entities are racing to develop both therapeutics -- and a mRNA vaccine, for the current "Bundibugyo" variant of the Ebola virus.

[We won't update our totals in the graphic, as it is not clear that the "official" counts are accurate. They ignore hundreds who were ill and died -- before the world became aware that a new outbreak was underway. We will update our counts to match the official WHO count, when/if the totals reach 1,000 "official" deaths, next.]

This is a fraught moment, indeed. Onward, resolutely -- just the same.

नमस्ते

This Marks 28 Close Passes -- Around Sol -- For Speedy Parker. Well Beyond Designed Life, Already. Cool!

We have closely followed this mission for nearly a decade now, when the probe was being assembled. This is hugely gratifying, that it has performed flawlessly -- and for so long. This is what the best and brightest can do.

Here's the latest, from NASA | JPL this morning:

. . .During this 28^th solar encounter, which started June 3 and ends Saturday, June 13, Parker’s four scientific instrument packages gathered data from inside the Sun’s atmosphere, or corona. Parker will begin returning detailed spacecraft telemetry on June 14, with science data transmission set to run from Wednesday, June 17 to Tuesday, June 30.

Parker’s observations of the solar wind and solar events, such as coronal mass ejections and the aftermaths of flares, are critical to advancing humanity’s understanding of the Sun and the phenomena that drive high-energy space weather events that pose risks to astronauts, satellites, air travel, and even power grids on Earth. Understanding the fundamental physics of space weather enables more reliable prediction of astronaut safety during future deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars.

Parker also equaled its record-setting speed of 430,000 mph — a mark that, like Parker’s distance to the Sun, was set during a close approach on Dec. 24, 2024, and matched during five flybys since, most recently on March 11. Parker will continue matching these speed and distance records during future flybys. . . .

Onward -- and skyward, indeed. Let's see what Spielberg sees -- beyond the close encounters, now -- to sustained terrestrial contact/co-habitation. Smile. . . .

नमस्ते

Merck Continues Its Animal Health Empire-Building, Here In The US -- Thus, Decreasing Price Competition... So It Goes.

Many longer term readers will recall all the back and forth, and deal-doing / swapping that took place about 15 years ago -- to resolve antitrust concerns, when Merck acquired Schering-Plough, and thus its Animal Health businesses (which SGP itself had earlier acquired by buying EU / Organon). Those days are long gone -- but the bottom portion of the graphic recalls that era.

This present era involves Rahway buying up the portion it does not already own -- of the privately-held poultry health company called Targan (which makes the WingScan assembly, depicted above right -- for diagnosing and then innoculating chicken, at scale). There is still some concern that between Pfizer and Merck, there are only really two in the US on this field. But antitrust enforcement is no priority of the current administration. So it makes sense to get this deal done, now. Here's that, from local NJ outlets:

. . .Rahway-based Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire TARGAN, a privately held innovator in developing and commercializing biodevice solutions to improve performance outcomes for the poultry industry, for an undisclosed purchase price.

Merck Animal Health has invested in TARGAN since 2017 and has been one of the company’s largest shareholders.

The proposed acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to approvals from applicable regulatory authorities and other customary closing conditions.

“The acquisition of TARGAN’s best-in-class biodevice technology for use in commercial hatcheries complements and accelerates our growing biopharmaceutical presence in poultry and increases our ability to deliver significant customer value globally,” said Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health. . . .

Now you know -- onward, to a matinee of "Disclosure Day". . . the new Spielberg offering. . . smile.

नमस्ते

[NASDAQ @ $160 = ~$2 Trillion!] Me? I Believe "A Fool And His Money... Soon Go Separate Ways." That Said, I Could Be Wrong About The SpaceX IPO -- But I Doubt I Am.

Updated @ 11:50 am EDT: the stock made its second trade at $150 -- well over the $135 issuance pricing. It is now trading around $160/share, on the NASDAQ -- giving the company an over $2 trillion market cap, for the moment. Hilarious. End update.

We previously "looked under the hood" -- to see that this set of companies (previously privately held under Musk's cone of silence -- as to GAAP financials) are very much about sizzle -- and very little actual. . . steak, today.

Some financial pundits are loudly decrying the relative dearth of the original issuance shares in the IPO set aside -- the "allocation", reserved for retail / mom and pop investors. [Personally, I am glad. Most will own it anyway, at least in small portions -- in a blended form -- through mutual funds / institutions that will buy in tonight, and start trading tomorrow.] Some are also upset about the "take it or leave it" (unprecedented) approach to pricing the offering. I concur -- that is. . . stupid (for the retail investors).

While Musk clearly re-invented the auto industry, over a decade ago, making electric vehicles both practical, and sought after, that may be his only truly revolutionary legacy. All the rest, to my eye -- looks mostly like. . . snake oil. And it comes in a very misogynistic / racism-laced package. So -- for me, that's a hard pass, as I said.

In any event, here's the latest, from a tech/financial expert panel, at the NYT, tonight:

. . .MIKE ISAAC: A lot of folks are (rightly) wowed by the astronomical valuations Musk’s bankers are proposing, which reach into the trillions. I’m more fascinated with the products he claims SpaceX will build to get them there.

They feel plucked straight out of a Philip K. Dick novel: Asteroid mining. Unlimited energy to power data centers. And those data centers, mind you, will not be situated on the ground, but rather in low-earth orbit. And last but not least, fashioning himself the first hotelier in charge of your vacations on the moon. [Ed. Note: All here know I am a huge booster of real space science -- this from Musk is anything but that.]

All of that is built into forward-looking revenue projections for this company. This feels irrationally exuberant even for Musk, who is practically defined by rattling off things that feel ridiculous to even consider. . . .

[T]he reason you’re seeing Musk and his bankers tout these high trillion-dollars figures for what is called the total addressable market, or TAM. Retail investors need to believe that the stock will grow if they are considering buying it, and Musk needs to convince them that we’re in early innings. But the company’s filings show it is losing money and spending a lot.

RYAN: If you believe in Musk’s vision, then you may think that the $1.77 trillion valuation is a great deal because eventually SpaceX will control orbital A.I. data centers, factories on the moon and a human colony on Mars. But Musk has a history of making promises and falling short. . . .

RYAN: Much of what Musk says he or his companies will do simply does not come to fruition. Our colleagues recently tracked some of his promises over the years and how they’ve panned out. On the other hand, some achievements — Tesla’s mainstreaming of electric vehicles, or SpaceX’s development of semi-reusable rockets — have developed or shifted industries. . . .

So, he's had some successes, true -- but in many ways, this feels like he is laying his least sensible private bets off, on a gullible set of external investors. We shall see. But it should pop tyomorrow -- with the main question being whether the exuberance will still be evident. . . in a week's -- or a month's --- or a year's. . . time. Hmmm.

नमस्ते