3 Stories You Should Read 5-1-2020: Biden, Canada, Vaccine

May 1, 2020 Confluence

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In the category of: The biggest gamble

In quest for vaccine, US makes ‘big bet’ on company with unproven technology

Its vision is to harness a new technology that synthesizes messenger RNA, or mRNA — essentially an instruction manual in every living cell for creating protein — to prompt the human body to make its own medicine. The hope has been to find “transformative” treatments for heart disease, metabolic and genetic diseases, kidney failure, even cancer.

To be sure, a handful of other vaccine candidates have since entered the human trial phase, and more than 80 companies and academic labs are working on vaccines to add to the mix.

But Moderna — which has at least 15 products in clinical trials — was the first company with an mRNA vaccine that advanced to human trials, though another German mRNA company has since entered the race and another isn’t far behind. Moderna also has been allocated the most funding by BARDA, a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

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In the category of: More than thoughts and prayers

Canada bans assault-style weapons after Nova Scotia mass shooting

PM Trudeau says the country is banning the use, trade of more than 1,500 models and varies of assault-style firearms.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the country is banning the use and trade of assault-style weapons immediately.

Trudeau cited numerous mass shootings in the country Friday, including the killing of 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. He announced the ban of more than 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms, including the AR-15 and other weapons that have been used in a number of mass shootings in the United States.

“Canadians need more than thoughts and prayers,” Trudeau said.

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In the category of: Same story different day

‘This never happened’: Biden denies sexual assault allegation

The former vice president issued a statement Friday morning insisting that the alleged incident “never happened.”

The former vice president and presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee also struggled to differentiate his denial from his insistence during the confirmation hearings of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh that women accusing powerful men of misconduct should be believed.

Biden was challenged repeatedly on how he would square his unequivocal stance at the time, that in cases in which women come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, “you’ve got to start off with the presumption that at least the essence of what she’s talking about is real.”

“Look, from the very beginning, I’ve said believing women means taking women’s claims seriously when she steps forward and then vet it. Look into it. That’s true in this case as well,” he said Friday, adding that he believes women should be heard but also that the press should “rigorously” investigate the accusations being made.

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