In the United States, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. There are about 40,000 new confirmed COVID-19 infections each day, "down more than 40% from less than a month ago and just one-fifth of what the nation was facing at the start of the year." Deaths have also dropped rapidly, with less than 700 per day on average — down from a peak of more than 3300 in January.
I am fully vaccinated and have been for weeks. I was exposed three times through my job and was tested and self quarantined. I am high risk. Three of my kids and their partners had Covid-19. Their jobs have required they get vaccinated, still. For them Covid was worse but they have had reactions to the vaccine. Just lasted a day or two at the most. NE Journal of medicine said last month maybe just one shot for folks who have already had it. No exactness has been the Hallmark of Covid. We have changed our thoughts on it in the CDC so many times. With an animal jump disease into a population of hosts with no natural immunity, we had to learn as we go and worse yet, had Donald Trump as the leader of the battle.
No this Covid 19 vaccine hasn't been exact, but the fact the numbers are falling since vaccinations began proves something. It's working. These damn idiots Johnson and Carlson are playing to a crowd who voted for Donald Trump and they beat his drum in support. Stupid is as stupid does in Johnson. Carlson is the Fox in a hen house.
As for corporations. AT&T consistently near the top on almost every list! Judd maybe an expo on AT&T and it's upper management an BoD to rattle their cage and let us know who these people are!
Wells Fargo has a huge diversity program. They know who their clientele is and so they have much to answer for if they get caught handing bucks to the MAGA representatives in Congress like Johnson.
What makes me angrier are the nurses at our local giant medical system that post on their Facebook pages that there is no scientific evidence to support the Covid vaccines. They use fear and inuendo. They identify themselves in their profiles as the medical system Giant's employees. They do much damage locally because people actually know them, know they are nurses and believe what they write. I unfriended and blocked another one this weekend. In my mind that was a helluva way to celebrate nurses week because they clobber the good work their coworkers do. And that's 90%
of the great Frontline workers in the system. In my mind an anti vaxx nurse is as bad as a Ron Johnson or worse because they have seen Covid-19 in action and like him who has had it, blows it off. Most if not all of their employees were in the first wave of those receiving the vaccine. (I don't know if they were allowed to refuse the vaccine) Donald Trump who later waddled on up and got vaccinated was all show for months and still got the vaccine. Nuff said.
Johnson and Carlson talk out of both sides of their mouths to the ignorant who are going to keep this country from Herd immunity. Why? Because they don't want Biden to get credit and because the GOP is flailing to regain power anyway it can and at the expense of public safety, voter rights etc, etc.
Not sure about the RNs here but it’s the fire depts, first responders and cops who are refusing to get their vaccines. I know my very, very ill trumper neighbor had to go to the hospital twice within 24 hrs via EMS the other day. She’s elderly so am not sure if she or any of her family have been vaccinated yet. It would be interesting to know if anyone thought to ask any of the EMTs if they had been vaccinated as they loaded her up and drove her away.
It does have an element of Darwin and survival of the fittest for certain. Just another personal observation that is going to seem like I am a horrible human. Not really, but fair is my game ball. And what I see is not fair. I am just frickin' amazed at how many of these anti Covid vaxxers and hoax pros and my personal favorite, "most people never get it worse than a cold," chanters escaped it. They have not caught it or if they did, had it no worse than a cold. It seems it hasn't killed any of those who ignored the warnings around here, but killed people like my retired fireman friend who drove a school bus in his district. The bus garage worker spread it or my friend with heart trouble that ate out at a local restaurant where a worker was asymptomatic, but co workers and clientele caught it. It killed her. My kids all got it from a jack ass co-worker in 3 different places in the SE refusing to wear a mask at work. Because they worked in GOP headed companies in the South, there was no push to do the right thing. So they are alive. My son's best friend died, a young man no less and masks only came to that area because production went down.
I want to shake my fist at the heavens, but I am likely overdue for a lightning bolt.
Great article. Please keep the spotlight on these quacks and the companies that keep funding them. I am a bit shocked by how many republicans are essentially anti-science. We knew it was bad, but the numbers just keep getting worse after each stupid report by Tucker or GOP interview. How disappointing.
Ron Johnson is the guy who forced the full reading of COVID stimulus/relief legislation late into the night by Senate staff as a political stunt. So it should be no surprise this ghoul is promoting anti-vaxx rhetoric. What a heel.
Ron Johnson is the "friendly face" of today's anti-science, conspiracy theory-obsessed Republican Party. While ogres like Ted Cruz draw the headlines, people like Johnson are just as bad. Thank you for exposing his perfidy.
It's sad to say, even gruesome, and I may get fire from this comment, but it seems to me that if lots of GOP lie believers don't get the vaccine, and then die, there will be fewer non-believers and anti-vaxers in the general population.
This is very sad to me, especially for innocent children. Oh! Work to save these innocent, willfully ignorant-of-facts people, and victims of this kind of talk!
Ignorance is not bliss, it is a death toll.
These unbelievers persist in their beliefs. How can you convince people headed for suicide to stop their self destructive tendencies? Can it be done? Yes, with patience and compassion.
In a dispassionate manner, I've thought along those lines myself. Humanity has always been beset by calamities and manages to endure. A viral catastrophe on a global scale is particularly daunting but in this instance science offers provides choices. Whether or not our species learns valuable lessons from this pandemic is the critical question. Sic vita est.
Read my reply to Sarah. I am worse. I think I am wishing for them to get it because I have seen too many people I know trying to do the right thing, catch it and die.
Please forgive me for my honest indignation at their loss and callous thoughts towards the anti vaxxers
You are forgiven. So now we go out together and work like hell to get every single person in our neighborhoods jabbed. And re: gas shortages. So sorry people are doing this just like sheep being lead to the slaughter house. What might have been just short lived scarcity turns into a stampede.
I am told that four stations are sold out and a local Fire and EMS sent out a safety alert about carrying filled gas cans in your vehicle and storing gas in your garage. Yes they are filing up everything they own...
I’m so over the right wing jackassery that one can hear any more. My solution is to make getting the vaccine as difficult as it started out to be when everyone(with any sense)wanted it. If it’s like what I’m witnessing around here(western NC)there is a consumer-driven gas shortage here because of the Colonial pipeline hack. There are literally two traffic jams within 2.5 miles of my house because everyone wants to buy gas four days ago but thought that today was better. Around these parts it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if I heard that someone had gotten shot at one of these locations. There were two separate roads that intersect that were blocked up but sheriff and HP were conspicuously absent even being fully aware of the situation. Any more people are just idiots and trumpublicans are doing their best to see that things stay that way.
If I could send you a pic I took going to pick up groceries of the panic gas buying. 🙄 I am told we don't use the pipe line gas out in this area of the state but have a different provider. Don't tell these damn Magaheads as FB is full of Biden did this.
I am losing my good nature over America the Stupid.
People are very afraid and can't understand their fear. Things that seemed so dependable are not any more. Out of fear they panic and horde and seem like maniacs. I am sad for them mostly. They don't have to choose to live this way.
Have courage and see above for maintaining balance in seemingly crazy world.
Your good nature belongs to you and you alone. Share it when you can, but protect it carefully and take yourself out of situations that drain that precious good nature you were born with and have developed all your life. Don't let anyone steal it from you or dilute it. Take a walk in nature, or watch a bird. Make something good to eat and nourish that wonderful good nature. If you loose it, the negative forces win!
Fight to keep that good nature that is truly yours and most valuable.
I try. It's just so frustrating. If I could post a photo of my 34 year old pony I would. He has become a local celebrity bringing hope and happiness to people during the time of Covid. If you do the FB thing look me up. My icon is me and my cat who is celebrating her 18th Birthday today!
Sorry. I never signed on for FB right from the start. I am pretty suspicious of a site that says it's free but uses my personal information to sell me stuff I don't want. I even use an ad blocker on my computer. Thanks for the invite. I am so glad you have that wonderful pony. And very very glad you are helping to lift the load of the community during this Covid time, which as you know is not near over yet. May you be safe from danger. May you be healthy. May you be happy. May you live with ease.
That's pretty hard to do! I commend her for the effort. Once you do online banking or even look at your account, zero is pretty shot. :) I'm working at a zero footprint on the planet, which won't be possible, of course, but fun to see how good I can get at it.
The fact that ignorant people like Johnson and Carlson have their voices amplified is what's wrong with America. Neither are experts in anything yet they continue to preach to even dumber people who believe every word they say. What a pathetic time to be alive when conspiracy theorists and trust fund babies rule the daily news cycle.
Actually this is a prime time to be alive to call out liars and grifters because it is so apparent to anyone who can think clearly that they are wrong wrong wrong. If they were even slightly adjusting the facts to half truths or even 3/4 truths, it would be harder to call them out. Take courage and muster one foot in front of the other and amplify your call outs.
We live in a time when real change can begin. It's a good time to be alive!
If we write to the companies who support this “spin doctor”, suggestions on what to say in our letter? Do you appeal to their “higher angels” (like any American business has any)? Unfortunately, many of these companies offer services many of us use. For example, I use AT&T for phone.
I hesitate to write this because I don't want to mistakenly spread false info, but according to the medics who gave me my shots, the vaccine is highly effective at minimizing the disease effects of exposure to the virus.
It does not make one "invisible" to the virus. A person CAN still be infected by the virus after vaccination and CAN still spread the virus to others after vaccination.
I belive Johnson and Carlson are knowingly manipulating the public's lack of understanding of this when they state things like "If the vaccine is effective, there is no reason for people who've received a vaccine to wear masks or avoid physical contact".
It is my understanding that 30% of the military is not vaccinated and military leadership cannot order vaccination as current vaccines are experimental. As Pfizer is applying for full approval of their vaccine, military leadership could move to mandate/order vaccination. This should make a tremendous impact.
Thank you Judd for the very informative article. I would still like to know WHY R. Johnson is pulling these stunts and saying such nonsense. What is the gain for him to knowingly lie like this?
I find myself wondering what RoJo & *ucker and the rest of the wingnuts would be saying about vaccines if the virus had the same symptoms as ebola without the mortality rate.
Judd, thanks for all you do to expose corporate contributions to congress. Any ideas for leveraging your work with regional watchdogs such as the Wis. Democracy Campaign? https://www.wisdc.org/
cathy bensonjust now
I am fully vaccinated and have been for weeks. I was exposed three times through my job and was tested and self quarantined. I am high risk. Three of my kids and their partners had Covid-19. Their jobs have required they get vaccinated, still. For them Covid was worse but they have had reactions to the vaccine. Just lasted a day or two at the most. NE Journal of medicine said last month maybe just one shot for folks who have already had it. No exactness has been the Hallmark of Covid. We have changed our thoughts on it in the CDC so many times. With an animal jump disease into a population of hosts with no natural immunity, we had to learn as we go and worse yet, had Donald Trump as the leader of the battle.
No this Covid 19 vaccine hasn't been exact, but the fact the numbers are falling since vaccinations began proves something. It's working. These damn idiots Johnson and Carlson are playing to a crowd who voted for Donald Trump and they beat his drum in support. Stupid is as stupid does in Johnson. Carlson is the Fox in a hen house.
As for corporations. AT&T consistently near the top on almost every list! Judd maybe an expo on AT&T and it's upper management an BoD to rattle their cage and let us know who these people are!
Wells Fargo has a huge diversity program. They know who their clientele is and so they have much to answer for if they get caught handing bucks to the MAGA representatives in Congress like Johnson.
What makes me angrier are the nurses at our local giant medical system that post on their Facebook pages that there is no scientific evidence to support the Covid vaccines. They use fear and inuendo. They identify themselves in their profiles as the medical system Giant's employees. They do much damage locally because people actually know them, know they are nurses and believe what they write. I unfriended and blocked another one this weekend. In my mind that was a helluva way to celebrate nurses week because they clobber the good work their coworkers do. And that's 90%
of the great Frontline workers in the system. In my mind an anti vaxx nurse is as bad as a Ron Johnson or worse because they have seen Covid-19 in action and like him who has had it, blows it off. Most if not all of their employees were in the first wave of those receiving the vaccine. (I don't know if they were allowed to refuse the vaccine) Donald Trump who later waddled on up and got vaccinated was all show for months and still got the vaccine. Nuff said.
Johnson and Carlson talk out of both sides of their mouths to the ignorant who are going to keep this country from Herd immunity. Why? Because they don't want Biden to get credit and because the GOP is flailing to regain power anyway it can and at the expense of public safety, voter rights etc, etc.
Not sure about the RNs here but it’s the fire depts, first responders and cops who are refusing to get their vaccines. I know my very, very ill trumper neighbor had to go to the hospital twice within 24 hrs via EMS the other day. She’s elderly so am not sure if she or any of her family have been vaccinated yet. It would be interesting to know if anyone thought to ask any of the EMTs if they had been vaccinated as they loaded her up and drove her away.
It does have an element of Darwin and survival of the fittest for certain. Just another personal observation that is going to seem like I am a horrible human. Not really, but fair is my game ball. And what I see is not fair. I am just frickin' amazed at how many of these anti Covid vaxxers and hoax pros and my personal favorite, "most people never get it worse than a cold," chanters escaped it. They have not caught it or if they did, had it no worse than a cold. It seems it hasn't killed any of those who ignored the warnings around here, but killed people like my retired fireman friend who drove a school bus in his district. The bus garage worker spread it or my friend with heart trouble that ate out at a local restaurant where a worker was asymptomatic, but co workers and clientele caught it. It killed her. My kids all got it from a jack ass co-worker in 3 different places in the SE refusing to wear a mask at work. Because they worked in GOP headed companies in the South, there was no push to do the right thing. So they are alive. My son's best friend died, a young man no less and masks only came to that area because production went down.
I want to shake my fist at the heavens, but I am likely overdue for a lightning bolt.
Great article. Please keep the spotlight on these quacks and the companies that keep funding them. I am a bit shocked by how many republicans are essentially anti-science. We knew it was bad, but the numbers just keep getting worse after each stupid report by Tucker or GOP interview. How disappointing.
Ron Johnson is the guy who forced the full reading of COVID stimulus/relief legislation late into the night by Senate staff as a political stunt. So it should be no surprise this ghoul is promoting anti-vaxx rhetoric. What a heel.
Ron Johnson is the "friendly face" of today's anti-science, conspiracy theory-obsessed Republican Party. While ogres like Ted Cruz draw the headlines, people like Johnson are just as bad. Thank you for exposing his perfidy.
It's sad to say, even gruesome, and I may get fire from this comment, but it seems to me that if lots of GOP lie believers don't get the vaccine, and then die, there will be fewer non-believers and anti-vaxers in the general population.
This is very sad to me, especially for innocent children. Oh! Work to save these innocent, willfully ignorant-of-facts people, and victims of this kind of talk!
Ignorance is not bliss, it is a death toll.
These unbelievers persist in their beliefs. How can you convince people headed for suicide to stop their self destructive tendencies? Can it be done? Yes, with patience and compassion.
Don't give up.
In a dispassionate manner, I've thought along those lines myself. Humanity has always been beset by calamities and manages to endure. A viral catastrophe on a global scale is particularly daunting but in this instance science offers provides choices. Whether or not our species learns valuable lessons from this pandemic is the critical question. Sic vita est.
Read my reply to Sarah. I am worse. I think I am wishing for them to get it because I have seen too many people I know trying to do the right thing, catch it and die.
Please forgive me for my honest indignation at their loss and callous thoughts towards the anti vaxxers
You are forgiven. So now we go out together and work like hell to get every single person in our neighborhoods jabbed. And re: gas shortages. So sorry people are doing this just like sheep being lead to the slaughter house. What might have been just short lived scarcity turns into a stampede.
I am told that four stations are sold out and a local Fire and EMS sent out a safety alert about carrying filled gas cans in your vehicle and storing gas in your garage. Yes they are filing up everything they own...
Past time to car pool. Anybody think of that yet?
Guess here the mask question is huge in a carpool. These crazy right wingers don't mask or vaccinate.
I’m so over the right wing jackassery that one can hear any more. My solution is to make getting the vaccine as difficult as it started out to be when everyone(with any sense)wanted it. If it’s like what I’m witnessing around here(western NC)there is a consumer-driven gas shortage here because of the Colonial pipeline hack. There are literally two traffic jams within 2.5 miles of my house because everyone wants to buy gas four days ago but thought that today was better. Around these parts it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if I heard that someone had gotten shot at one of these locations. There were two separate roads that intersect that were blocked up but sheriff and HP were conspicuously absent even being fully aware of the situation. Any more people are just idiots and trumpublicans are doing their best to see that things stay that way.
If I could send you a pic I took going to pick up groceries of the panic gas buying. 🙄 I am told we don't use the pipe line gas out in this area of the state but have a different provider. Don't tell these damn Magaheads as FB is full of Biden did this.
I am losing my good nature over America the Stupid.
I can certainly relate. It’s getting effing unreal.
People are very afraid and can't understand their fear. Things that seemed so dependable are not any more. Out of fear they panic and horde and seem like maniacs. I am sad for them mostly. They don't have to choose to live this way.
Have courage and see above for maintaining balance in seemingly crazy world.
not like I have that much balance. I sometimes just want to run away til my old legs run out! :)
Your good nature belongs to you and you alone. Share it when you can, but protect it carefully and take yourself out of situations that drain that precious good nature you were born with and have developed all your life. Don't let anyone steal it from you or dilute it. Take a walk in nature, or watch a bird. Make something good to eat and nourish that wonderful good nature. If you loose it, the negative forces win!
Fight to keep that good nature that is truly yours and most valuable.
I try. It's just so frustrating. If I could post a photo of my 34 year old pony I would. He has become a local celebrity bringing hope and happiness to people during the time of Covid. If you do the FB thing look me up. My icon is me and my cat who is celebrating her 18th Birthday today!
Sorry. I never signed on for FB right from the start. I am pretty suspicious of a site that says it's free but uses my personal information to sell me stuff I don't want. I even use an ad blocker on my computer. Thanks for the invite. I am so glad you have that wonderful pony. And very very glad you are helping to lift the load of the community during this Covid time, which as you know is not near over yet. May you be safe from danger. May you be healthy. May you be happy. May you live with ease.
You and my oldest daughter share similar views. She wants a zero footprint on the Internet
That's pretty hard to do! I commend her for the effort. Once you do online banking or even look at your account, zero is pretty shot. :) I'm working at a zero footprint on the planet, which won't be possible, of course, but fun to see how good I can get at it.
The fact that ignorant people like Johnson and Carlson have their voices amplified is what's wrong with America. Neither are experts in anything yet they continue to preach to even dumber people who believe every word they say. What a pathetic time to be alive when conspiracy theorists and trust fund babies rule the daily news cycle.
Actually this is a prime time to be alive to call out liars and grifters because it is so apparent to anyone who can think clearly that they are wrong wrong wrong. If they were even slightly adjusting the facts to half truths or even 3/4 truths, it would be harder to call them out. Take courage and muster one foot in front of the other and amplify your call outs.
We live in a time when real change can begin. It's a good time to be alive!
If we write to the companies who support this “spin doctor”, suggestions on what to say in our letter? Do you appeal to their “higher angels” (like any American business has any)? Unfortunately, many of these companies offer services many of us use. For example, I use AT&T for phone.
I hesitate to write this because I don't want to mistakenly spread false info, but according to the medics who gave me my shots, the vaccine is highly effective at minimizing the disease effects of exposure to the virus.
It does not make one "invisible" to the virus. A person CAN still be infected by the virus after vaccination and CAN still spread the virus to others after vaccination.
I belive Johnson and Carlson are knowingly manipulating the public's lack of understanding of this when they state things like "If the vaccine is effective, there is no reason for people who've received a vaccine to wear masks or avoid physical contact".
It is my understanding that 30% of the military is not vaccinated and military leadership cannot order vaccination as current vaccines are experimental. As Pfizer is applying for full approval of their vaccine, military leadership could move to mandate/order vaccination. This should make a tremendous impact.
Thank you Judd for the very informative article. I would still like to know WHY R. Johnson is pulling these stunts and saying such nonsense. What is the gain for him to knowingly lie like this?
Keeps the heat off the Insurrection
I find myself wondering what RoJo & *ucker and the rest of the wingnuts would be saying about vaccines if the virus had the same symptoms as ebola without the mortality rate.
keep up the excellent reporting!
Keep pressing Tucker Carlson on if he has had the Vaccine.
Happy to see your work lauded on Chris Hayes, MSNBC, last night, Judd!
Judd, thanks for all you do to expose corporate contributions to congress. Any ideas for leveraging your work with regional watchdogs such as the Wis. Democracy Campaign? https://www.wisdc.org/