Favorite Rejects 2022-01-19

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias

The military budget is very large but there’s a real tendency of progressives on here to massively overstate it.

Bob Wachter @Bob_Wachter

In Nov. 20, I discussed why getting deaths to levels "like the flu" was key to normal life. For much of 20-21, "like the flu" was a Big Lie told by Covid-minimizers. Post-surge, our task will be to convince folks it's "like the flu" when, in fact, it is.

Bob Wachter @Bob_Wachter

14/ …and the Covid scare has increased the flu vaccination rate. In fact, we’re seeing pretty low rates of flu so far https://t.co/3KQ6afqhlo We’re not out of the woods, but I’m fairly confident we can take Flu/Covid Twin Pandemic scenario off our overflowing 2020 bingo cards.

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias

But if you think Joe Manchin obstinately killed an overwhelmingly popular proposal you're mistaken — making the CTC expansion permanent is not a popular idea. What *is* overwhelmingly popular are tax and prescription drug ideas Sinema killed.

slowboring.comKyrsten Sinema must be stoppedThe most dangerous possibility — she believes everything she says

Hannah Ritchie @_HannahRitchie

🥛🐄🥜 Two common questions: 1. Are plant-based milks really better for the environment? ➡️ Yes, across most environmental metrics all have less impact per litre. 2. If so, which is best? ➡️ Depends on the metric, there is no winner-takes-all. Post: ourworldindata.org/environmental-…

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias

Because Joe Biden was the most moderate major candidate in 2020, a lot of people can’t seem to process the idea of a swing voter who is somewhat to Biden’s right but there are many such issues.

Hayes Brown @HayesBrown

In the long, long ago days of 1991, here’s how the Senate passed a campaign finance bill — S.3. The Senate spent days debating it. There were amendments. And then the presiding officer announced that it was time to vote on the bill. It passed with fewer than 60 votes.

Andrew Prokop @awprokop

Political party narratives about "why did we lose?" are an interesting topic. Been thinking about that a lot for GOP lately, of course. But Dems have their own that have shifted over the years. grid.news/story/politics…

Mr. Nick Beaudrot @nbeaudrot

new Secret Plan To Fight Inflation just dropped.

Niels Lesniewski @nielslesniewski

Asked about the Senate GOP agenda if they have the majority next year, "I'll let you know when we take it back" says Sen. McConnell.

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias

As recently as 2003, a major piece of non-reconciliation legislation passed the senate with fewer than 60 votes on the theory that it would be untoward to filibuster a conference committee report.

Ezra Klein @ezraklein

I've been thinking a lot about this idea of Covid as "a lasting supply shock." I agree with Greg. It may be even worse than his article says.

Greg Ip @greg_ip

Wall Street is too sanguine about endemic Covid. It would still mean a lot of sickness - as much or more than flu - and it will be in addition to flu. I suspect Covid's toll on health, work and mobility will be a lasting supply shock. My latest: https://t.co/3Lg43ul99N

Matt Levine @matt_levine

not the main point but one notable thing in the trump subpoena stuff is that the IRS will write you a big check for owning a driving range & promising not to build affordable housing on it. ag.ny.gov/sites/default/…