It is Friday in Japan, so this must still be Thursday in the USA.  I've bypassed anything linked to Covid for weeks because it is not newsworthy enough these days.  However, thought I'd touch on it today.  First, though, a few other topics: It is becoming clear what new Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican House will be doing, for they are now cherry-picking topics to support their priorities, while insisting that the budget be balanced with cuts to the IRS now, and social programs later, to pay for necessary expenditures.  Both the White House and the Senate scoff at this tactic.   Read the details . If you've lost track of Donald Trump's assorted indictments and court trials,  here is a summary . As I erroneously indicated that the U.S. ended daylight savings time this past weekend, here is the correct information.  When you go to bed  this coming Saturday night , the nation at 2AM falls back one hour on Sunday, November 5, meaning you will have an extra hour to