MICHIGAN PRIMARY, IMMIGRANT DEATHS, EBOLA, RUSSIA, LIFE WITH CATS

Tuesday 4 August 2026

Tillis and Cornyn are thanking Blanche for setting to writing a non-binding agreement to ditch the slush fund or the January 7 trash. It is revolting, just revolting. I think the news got to me last night in a way it hasn’t in a long time.

Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia an Washington are holding contests today which will be influential in who holds Congress next year. The Michigan race is probably the most important one. There, two Democrats vie for a senate seat, one a progressive and one a traditional democrat.

The proresssive, El-Sayed, is leading in the polls, but the moderate, supported by party elders, Haley, has raised much more money. The Democrats have to have the Senate seat in Michigan to win back control of the Senate.

Joe and the dreadful Mika are not to be seen this morning. They haven’t hosted Morning Joe since an explosive melt down Joe had on Friday.

NEWS NOTES

Article: Warren, Michael Sol and Arya Sundaram (8/3/26) “Second detainee dies after being held at Delaney Hall ICE detention center.” Gothamist.

LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

· A citizen of El Salvador who had lived in the country for twenty years was confined in the ICE facility when he experienced a “medical emergency.” (Note: quote from article).

· His mother said he had been prescribed medication for diabetes, high blood pressure and seizures and she believes he was not receiving that medication while he was detained for more than six weeks. ICE says he was receiving proper medication.

· Cornejo is the second detainee to die after being held at Delaney Hall since the center reopened in May 2025.

· ICE reported 22 deaths in custody this year.

· More than 70 detainees filed federal lawsuits alleging medical neglect at Delaney Hall.

· Delaney Hall is a private, for-profit prison. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said: “Corporatioins should not have the right to monetize imprisoning people while avoiding public accountability.” There is a proppsal to open another private, for-profit prison in New Jersey.

· “This Tragedy. Is another devastating result of the rampant, inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall and detention centers across the country, including the routine denial of proper medical care. Sanitary conditions and food.” Amol Sinha, ACLU of New Jersey said in a statement.

EBOLA

Article: Ngorrora, Prosper Heri (8/4/26) “Ebola kills 1700 in eastern Congo as the fastest-growing outbreak surges. AP News.

· There are no approved treatments or vaccines for the Bundibugyo virus.

· Armed conflict and illegal mining have made it difficult to trace the thousands who come in contact with infected individuals.

· The latest outbreak has killed people at a quicker rate than any previous outbreak.

RUSSIA

ARTICLE: Bendett, Samuel and Maria Snegovaya (8/3/26) “The Cure for Russia’s labor shortage is worse than the disease.” Foreign Policy.

· Mass emigration and recruitment of hundreds of thousands of men into the army had worsened the problem.

IRAN

ARTICLE: Suleiman, Rawan (8/4/26) Iran threatens to target US. Warships if Strait of Hormuz blockade continues. Haaretz.

LIFE NOTES

All the cats are in except Capt. Chaos (Sam Clemens). I walked down to the dock and didn’t even get a glimpse of him. Mike’s outside now trying to scare up an appearance. I was just bragging on how much better he was getting staying around the back door when we let him out every morning.

All the cats get to go out for (we hope) an hour or two in the morning. Nobody is excited like Sam about this possibility. He won’t even eat breakfast anymore, and he is an eater extraordinaire. We have to save his breakfast until he comes back inside.

We ordered one of those collars that tracks your cat, but I haven’t gotten up enough courage to put it together and put it on his resisting neck. I’m sure he’ll figure out a way to get it off while he’s five miles away.

Ah, I’m too old to be a mother. I worry too much about them. Mike calls me a “helicopter mom.” I;m always thinking somebody’s going to get their eyes put out.

I got my black sandals, walking sandals for the cruise in February to Spain and Portugal. I’ve already started packing. My Duolingo talking partner (AI) already asks questions about the trip, what cities we are going to, what I like to do on trips. It still shocks me a little when she comes up with these questions she’s remembered from conversations we had weeks ago.

Well, I’ve got to cut New and Life notes short this morning. We are going to try to remodel five bathrooms. Have we lost our minds? Yes, is the answer. I have to make myself get to work. Have a good day, decent people. I look forward to comments and suggestions.

Dr. Christina Johns