Short Takes – 10-11-24

U.S. Officials Race to Understand Severity of China’s Salt Typhoon Hacks. WSJ.com article (free). Pull quote: “The agencies for decades ignored warnings about vulnerabilities in systems required to comply with law enforcement surveillance requests, Wyden wrote. His office separately asked the FCC for security and integrity plans submitted by AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, the federal law that requires telecommunications firms to allow U.S. agencies access to data pursuant to a court order.”

A Cultural Assault on Reality. Archives.is copy of article from The Atlantic. Pull quote: “Even in a decade marred by online grifters, shameless politicians, and an alternative right-wing-media complex pushing anti-science fringe theories, the events of the past few weeks stand out for their depravity and nihilism. As two catastrophic storms upended American cities, a patchwork network of influencers and fake-news peddlers have done their best to sow distrust, stoke resentment, and interfere with relief efforts. But this is more than just a misinformation crisis. To watch as real information is overwhelmed by crank theories and public servants battle death threats is to confront two alarming facts: first, that a durable ecosystem exists to ensconce citizens in an alternate reality, and second, that the people consuming and amplifying those lies are not helpless dupes but willing participants.”

2024 Marburg Airport Entry Questionnaires. Reginfo.gov announcement – emergency ICR approval. Abstract: “CDC has been tasked with conducting public health assessments at U.S. airports of travelers coming from areas experiencing an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) originating in Rwanda. The purpose is to detect ill travelers or travelers at high-risk of becoming ill with MVD from regions affected by the outbreak. As the response evolves, CDC may be tasked with performing this action for additional travelers in the future. This information will help CDC determine if illness investigations and medical care is needed, or if CDC should inform state and local health departments of travelers.”

Congressman Johnson Leads Delegation Letter Demanding EPA Regulate BioLab Chemicals. HankJohnson.House.gov press release. Pull quote: “The 2023 (CSB) report on BioLab Lake Charles found a regulatory gap regarding the oversight of chemicals like TCCA, particularly in their classification and management under existing federal regulations. Given TCCA's involvement in multiple safety incidents due to its highly reactive properties, we urge the EPA to include it on the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP).”