Balloon Juice | Information As Power Archives

In this section, you will find concrete information that may be helpful as we all process the rapid changes that are happening in response to coronavirus.

Initially, the subject matter included information about distance teaching, special enrollment periods for healthcare that are available in some states, and also health insurance options if you suddenly find yourself unemployed.

More recently, various models have been presented to identify where we are now and what the models can tell us about what to expect going forward.

An excellent article by Gottlieb, Rivers, McClellan et al:

Roadmap to Reopening Involves Preparation

Information as Power was last updated April 9,2020.

Excellent Link: Concerning Another Fraught Inauguration

by Anne Laurie| January 16, 20216:14 pm| 146 Comments

This post is in: Biden-Harris 2020, Excellent Links, Information As Power

We’ve been good, warmhearted, gracious jackals for a whole afternoon, so here’s some quality snark!

“Hey, CivilWarHumor, have we been here before — an inauguration beset with assassination plots and insurrection, with doubts raised about the loyalty of law enforcement, troops, and even congresspeople?”

Of course! But back then, Winfield Scott was on the case.

/THREAD pic.twitter.com/MNEMsgqdKR

— Civil War Humor (@CivilWarHumor) January 13, 2021

Matt Palmquist, “writer/editor. Connoisseur of the last Civil War. Here’s hoping we avoid another one“:

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Excellent Link: Concerning Another Fraught InaugurationPost + Comments (146)

Late Night Trump Insurrection Open Thread: It Only Gets Uglier

by Anne Laurie| January 13, 202112:51 am| 82 Comments

This post is in: domestic terrorists, Information As Power, Open Threads, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

🚨BREAKING: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), a Navy veteran and Annapolis grad who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said she saw fellow members of Congress "who had groups coming through the Capitol that I saw on Jan. 5, a reconnaissance for the next day." pic.twitter.com/YbZkW1qq7T

— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) January 13, 2021

Rep. Sherrill, of the Blue Dog Caucus, was a Navy pilot and a federal prosecutor. She has an M.Sc.from the London School of Economics, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Since I’m not on Facebook, I’ve only seen the clip above, plus the breaking news reports, about her comments this evening… but she does not seem like the sort to throw around allegations she doesn’t fully understand.

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Seeing the reporting that Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill stating that some of her colleagues gave some of the insurrectionists a “recon” tour the day before, which reminded me of reporting as it was going on that sources close to the WH were IN TOUCH WITH THE RIOTERS IN REAL TIME https://t.co/FjGkRStleX

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) January 13, 2021

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, as the saying goes, but I can certainly imagine some of Rep. Sherrill’s colleagues deciding to do a little ‘constituent service’, some of them possibly under the impression they were all LARPing for the lulz. From Politico:

… In a 13-minute Facebook video billed as an address to her constituents about the House’s efforts to hold President Donald Trump accountable for inciting the riot, Sherrill included the allegation as part of a call to hold Trump’s allies in Congress accountable as well…

Sherrill did not identify the lawmakers she was referring to, how she was able to describe their activities as “reconnaissance” and how she knew they were connected to the riots that consumed the Capitol the following day. Sherrill’s office was not immediately available for comment.

The startling allegation comes as lawmakers are still seeking answers about the extent of planning and coordination behind the Jan. 6 Trump rally that became the violent assault on the Capitol. Federal investigators say they’re pouring enormous resources into unearthing details of a potential “seditious conspiracy” and that some of the undisclosed evidence about what happened inside the Capitol will be “shocking.” …

Of course, there’s also a brand-new batch of dedicated GOP Death Cultists like gunbunny Lauren Boebert, or would-be firebrand Madison Cawthorpe…

BREAKING: Rep. Mikie Sherrill said tonight that *members of Congress* led people through the Capitol on a "reconnaissance" mission one day before the riot. "I'm going to see they are held accountable, and if necessary, ensure they don't serve in Congress.” https://t.co/O2N2Mzji4t

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) January 13, 2021

Late Night Trump Insurrection Open Thread: It Only Gets UglierPost + Comments (82)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Inaugural Planning

by Anne Laurie| January 12, 20217:24 am| 179 Comments

This post is in: Biden-Harris 2020, Information As Power, Open Threads

DC Mayor Bowser urges people to avoid DC as National Guard plans to have at least 10,000 troops in city by the end of the week https://t.co/TeviY5JerL

— David P Gelles (@gelles) January 11, 2021

The good news — let’s take it where we find it — is that this was going to be a mostly-online Inauguration Day in any event, so the Biden team isn’t scrambling at the last minute to put on a good show. They did a fine job with the nominating convention, and it’s the same people working on this project.

Also, there’s gonna be a considerable number of security professionals roaming DC who will be eager to demonstrate they are not on the side of the insurrectionists, which won’t stop the deluded conspiracists, but should give the semi-pro quasi-military terrorists cause to wonder just how much becoming a martyr is really worth, on a personal level.

It’s sure not the event any of us would have chosen, but… as long as President Biden and Vice-President Harris take over the Oval Office, we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy future uplifting spectacles.

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Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Inaugural PlanningPost + Comments (179)

Cold Grey Pre-Dawn Open Thread: What, You Mean Actions Have Consequences?!?…

by Anne Laurie| January 12, 20216:00 am| 88 Comments

This post is in: GOP Death Cult, Information As Power, Open Threads, Repubs in Disarray!, Trump Crime Cartel, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

On ABC World News Tonight a reporter said Trump is so pissed about a self-pardon being risky that he won't pardon anyone else. If he can't have one, nobody can.

— (((Dr. Ron Mandel))) not a real doctor 🧠 (@Nutcaseman1) January 12, 2021

I’d joke Jared Kushner spent the evening calling all his foreign ‘business allies’ in countries with no extradition treaties… but I seriously doubt Jared/Jarvanka have the collective IQ to understand how much trouble they’re in.

Seriously, though, this video clip is a schadenfreudelicious treat:

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Cold Grey Pre-Dawn Open Thread: What, You Mean Actions Have <em>Consequences?!?…</em>Post + Comments (88)

Very Late Night Open Thread: ‘Helpful’ Suggestions for Prezdint Populism

by Anne Laurie| January 10, 20212:32 am| 88 Comments

This post is in: Information As Power, Open Threads, Trumpery

He wants to get his thoughts out, but also wants money, and just wants to talk to his fans. is there an app for Only Fans

— went from normal to psycho anarchist (@MenshevikM) January 9, 2021

For those who don’t recognize the reference (you fortunate souls): OnlyFans is like Patreon, except (mostly) for pr0n.

Can you imagine Trump, having hit rock bottom after trying every other social media platform, going over the edge after finding out he was pre-banned from Pintrest https://t.co/RzrIalsVjA

— sean hannity's bottomless pasta pass (@MenshevikM) January 9, 2021

It’s not a Full Loomer until he’s gotten himself banned from UberEats, PayPal, and Venmo. pic.twitter.com/dyHVs5KRQL

— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) January 9, 2021

(Laura Loomer, per Wikipedia. Quite a legend!)

Very Late Night Open Thread: ‘Helpful’ Suggestions for Prezdint PopulismPost + Comments (88)

Pre-Dawn Schadenfreude Open Thread: Who’s Got Two Thumbs & Nothing He Can Do With Them?…

by Anne Laurie| January 9, 20216:06 am| 109 Comments

This post is in: Information As Power, Open Threads, Trumpery, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up, Schadenfreude

And now
The end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
But not on
Twitter or Reddit or Facebook https://t.co/mZh8LPx3Mi

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 8, 2021

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Gollum has lost his precious.

— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) January 9, 2021

Politico rubs it in — “The ‘Hemingway of 140 characters’ has lost his favorite bullhorn”:

President Donald Trump has many prized possessions. But few seemed to inspire as much personal joy as his Twitter feed. Trump routinely boasted of the social media bullhorn he possessed. He credited it with launching his political trajectory. And he used it as a tool to lacerate his foes.

On Friday night, he lost it. And, then, he lost his mind…

For Trump, the Twitter ban was yet another inglorious passage to the final chapter of his presidency. Over the past two days, he’s been admonished by his own aides, chastised by Republicans, and threatened once more with impeachment…

There are no plans to immediately emerge from the cocoon either. One White House official said there were initial internal discussions between White House aides and Trump of doing a “last farewell interview.” But, the official added, “I’m not sure if they’re going to come to fruition,” much to the official’s chagrin.

“I don’t want the lasting impression of this administration to be what happened at the Capitol,” the official said…

Trump campaign account suspended after Donald Trump tried to use the account to evade his ban.

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) January 9, 2021

Appears the Trump campaign’s digital director tried to give Trump his account. Twitter promptly suspended him pic.twitter.com/7ejWL7GjEc

— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) January 9, 2021

Donald tried to get on Melania’s Twitter but she told him the password was Barron’s middle name plus his birthday.

— Joe Faina (@faination) January 9, 2021

Hello I am brand new to Twitter, what are you guys up to

— John Barron (@barronjohn1946) January 9, 2021

How it started. How it ended. pic.twitter.com/LL2AYnLA61

— Jennifer Taub (@jentaub) January 9, 2021

You will be able to find this now deleted tweet at the National Archives and maybe a future Trump presidential library https://t.co/adJU2ighxm

— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) January 9, 2021

I ask all of Levin's followers to honor his wishes https://t.co/CpdsrnTgPY

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 8, 2021

Since it’s early (for most of you), note this is *not* the official account…

“Guess who can still tweet motherfuc-” pic.twitter.com/RPUWk5sCw7

— Chris Jackson (@ChrisCJackson) January 9, 2021

Pre-Dawn Schadenfreude Open Thread: Who’s Got Two Thumbs & Nothing He Can Do With Them?…Post + Comments (109)

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Keep It In Perspective

by Anne Laurie| January 2, 20216:17 am| 323 Comments

This post is in: Information As Power, Open Threads

I know the cool savvy hip thing to say is “lol, 2021 will be worse,” but I mean, Donald will be gone after Jan. 20, and eventually we’ll be able to dine in a restaurant safely. That ain’t nothing.

— Starfish Who Just Wants To Grill (@IRHotTakes) December 31, 2020

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Saturday Morning Open Thread: Keep It In PerspectivePost + Comments (323)

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let there be snark.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

I swear, each month of 2020 will have its own history degree.

This is all too absurd to be reality, right?

Yes we did.

Shock troops for the Unitarian Jihad.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Not all heroes wear capes.

I’m going back to the respite thread.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

The math demands it!

Almost as fun as hiking the Appalachian Trail

Good luck with your asparagus.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

It’s not even safe to go out and pick up 2 days worth of poop anymore.

‘Forty-two’ said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

We survived Breitbartpocalypse!

No one could have predicted…

This blog is Obama’s Katrina.

How do you get liars to care about the truth?

Nevertheless, she persisted.

Excellent Link: Concerning Another Fraught Inauguration

Late Night Trump Insurrection Open Thread: It Only Gets Uglier

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Inaugural Planning

Cold Grey Pre-Dawn Open Thread: What, You Mean Actions Have Consequences?!?…

Very Late Night Open Thread: ‘Helpful’ Suggestions for Prezdint Populism

Pre-Dawn Schadenfreude Open Thread: Who’s Got Two Thumbs & Nothing He Can Do With Them?…

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Keep It In Perspective