The Logic of Science - Masks and Vaccines

 

Masks and COVID vaccines were were huge successes; Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine were not

This post from The Logic of Science

A good analysis of the way the world was, starting at the beginning of 2020.  Interestingly, and disturbingly, disinformation persists today, 5 years on.

As If We Didn't Know Already

 

Several million voters elected an eejit to the White House.

But we knew that already....

How Can You Tell When Trump is Lying?

 Apparently whenever he opens his mouth.  This analysis from subversives within the Federal bureaucracy.

Alt National Park Service

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That speech didn’t age well. Here are some notes on the false and misleading claims.

“We won the popular vote by big numbers and won counties in our country 2,700 to 525.”

This is misleading. Trump won the popular vote in 2024 but only by a small margin (1.5%), one of the smallest in modern history.

“Illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded.”

False. February had about 8,300 border encounters, far from historic lows. In the early 1900s and 1960s, annual crossings were much lower.

“Hundreds of thousands of illegal crossings a month, and virtually all of them including murderers, drug dealers, gang members and people from mental institutions and insane asylums were released into our country.”

False. While crossings were high under Biden, there’s no evidence that most migrants were criminals or from institutions.

“I withdrew from the unfair Paris Climate accord, which was costing us trillions of dollars.”

False. The Paris Accord is nonbinding, and the U.S. set its own commitments. Trump’s cost estimates come from industry-backed studies that ignore benefits.

“We ended the last administration’s insane electric vehicle mandate, saving our autoworkers and companies from economic destruction.”

False. Biden promoted EV incentives, not a mandate. Automakers had already committed to EVs due to global trends.

“I have directed that for every one new regulation, 10 old regulations must be eliminated.”

False. No reliable metric shows Trump cut more regulations than past presidents. Studies found his claims exaggerated.

“We’ve ended weaponized government where, as an example, a sitting president is allowed to viciously prosecute his political opponent like me.”

False. No evidence Biden directed prosecutors against Trump.

“We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.”

False. Trump inherited low unemployment, falling inflation, and strong growth.

“We suffered the worst inflation in 48 years. But perhaps even in the history of our country, they’re not sure.”

False. Inflation peaked at 9% in 2022, lower than the 1970s and post-WWII spikes.

“Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control.”

Misleading. Egg prices spiked due to bird flu, not Biden’s policies.

“The appalling waste we have already identified … We found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud.”

Unproven. Claims rely on questionable math, miscategorized spending, and false fraud allegations.

“…$45 million for diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships in Burma …”

False. The funding was for scholarships in Myanmar, not DEI programs.

“…$10 million for male circumcision in Mozambique …”

False. It was a public health initiative to reduce HIV/AIDS.

“…$20 million for the Arab Sesame Street in the Middle East. It’s a program. $20 million for a program …”

False. The main funding came from private foundations, not U.S. government grants.

“…$59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City …”

Misleading. NYC received a grant for migrant housing at standard, not luxury, rates.

“We have hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have not been showing up to work.”

False. Many federal employees telework, but Trump’s numbers are exaggerated.

“It was one of the main reasons why our tax cuts were so successful in our first term, giving us the most successful economy in the history of our country.”

False. The economy was strong, but not the best in history—other periods had higher growth and lower debt.

“Over the last three months about Mexico and Canada, but we have very large deficits with both of them. But even more important, they’ve allowed fentanyl to come into our country at levels never seen before.”

False. Mexico is the main source of fentanyl, not Canada.

“We pay subsidies to Canada and to Mexico of hundreds of billions of dollars.”

Misleading. Trade deficits aren’t subsidies, and Trump’s numbers are exaggerated.

“We have had $1.7 trillion of new investment in America in just the past few weeks.”

Dubious. Claims rely on recycled announcements, vague commitments, and unrelated Biden-era policies.

“Not long ago. And you can’t even believe these numbers. 1 in 10,000 children had autism. 1 in 10,000. and now it’s 1 in 36. There’s something wrong.”

Misleading. The rise is partly due to better diagnosis and broader definitions.

“But it was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure. 38,000 workers died building the Panama Canal.”

False. The actual number was under 6,000, mostly non-Americans.

“Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine — by far!”

False. Military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine exceeded energy spending.

“We’ve spent perhaps $350 billion [on Ukraine], like taking candy from a baby. That’s what happened. And they’ve [the E.U.] spent $100 billion.”

False. U.S. aid was $183 billion, while the EU’s total support exceeded that.

“Biden has authorized more money in this fight than Europe has spent by billion and billions of dollars.”

Misleading. The EU has committed and spent more than the U.S., but disbursement rates differ

If Trump was President in 1940

Think back.  Think waaaay back.

John Stewart on DOGE

 

The video is about 20 minutes long, but it's worth watching.

I understand that Musk has agreed to come on The Daily Show, if nothing is edited or censored.  This could be funny to watch.

OUTRAGEOUS

 

Yesterday's meeting between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, DonOLD Trump and his sidekick JD, descended into what can only be described as a old-style Mafia shakedown.

Trump, Vance shout at Zelenskyy in Heated Oval Office Meeting.

This is simply outrageous.  Ukraine was invaded by Russia.  Ukraine has been trying to defend itself with cautious help from allies for 3 years.  One of those allies used to be the United States.  Not any more, apparently.

Under Trump and his boy JD, the USA seems to have abandoned democracies, has been heard repeating Pootin's talking points about who started this war (as if there was ANY doubt) and has been suggesting that if only Ukraine would settle with Russia, all would be good.

Aurel Braun, a professor of international relations and political science at the University of Toronto, said the exchange was "something extraordinary" that will only play well with a fraction of Trump's most ardent supporters.

"Many Americans will be appalled by this. Most Americans do not want to see this kind of public bullying and humiliation of some ally, which is fighting for its life," said Braun, who is also an associate at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.

"I think this has very long historical implications, I think this is most unfortunate, and it is not over. Trump can change his mind in a New York minute, but what has happened today has been something that will darken whatever legacy [Trump] has forever."

 In another story, The Day the Old American Order Cracked in the Oval Office, there were these comments:

To find a precedent, one expert looked back to the defunct Soviet bloc, and how the Kremlin would treat subservient communist leaders.

"How they humiliated them in public. How they bullied them. There has been no precedent in the United States," said Aurel Braun, an expert on eastern Europe at the University of Toronto, calling the meeting "extraordinary."

Naturally, Russia was celebrating.

In Moscow, the celebratory posts online popped like champagne corks. Referring to Zelenskyy, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev posted on X: "The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office."

Once again, one has to ask.... is there a Russian Agent in the Oval Office?