The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Dem Notes
The economy grew at a 6.5 percent annual rate last quarter. The total size of the economy has now surpassed its pre-pandemic level.
“I always thought the free-market system was not only that there’s competition among companies but guess what: Companies should have to compete for workers.”—That was President Joe Biden, underscoring that antitrust laws–while not the high-profile issue that infrastructure, voting rights and child care have become—is also a major priority. The President has directed federal regulators—notably the Justice Department’s antitrust division with several key Biden appointees—to consider a harder line against corporate consolidation in tech, hospitals, health insurance and meat processing. One expected byproduct of renewed antitrust activism is the increased scrutinizing of prospective judicial nominees on their antitrust views.
Federal workers will be required to prove they’ve been vaccinated or else face mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and other new rules. The Biden Administration is also looking into adding a COVID vaccination shot requirement for members of the military—and federal contractors.
C-Notes for COVID shots: The President is urging states and local governments to use COVID relief package funds to offer $100 to individuals who get shots. Perhaps bribes are the only way we get to herd immunity.
“What has not changed is the fact that people who are vaccinated have a huge deal of protection from serious illness, from hospitalization and from death.”—White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
Speaking of the WH press secretary, she’s a professional and does daily briefings. Anyone other than the usual suspects miss Kayleigh McEnany, Sarah Huckabee Sanders or Sean Spicer?
“He’s such a moron.”—That was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked about House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s criticism of the Capitol physician’s mask mandate in the House.