See it: CDC director Mandy Cohen wears mask in photos with Democratic senators, but not in photo with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Mandy Cohen recently shared an eyebrow-raising post that included four photos of her with U.S. senators. While she was wearing a mask in photos with Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Cohen was maskless in a photo with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah.

"Busy day meeting with Senators - appreciate the support and partnership!" Cohen's post read, seemingly indicating that all of the photos had been taken on the same day.

People on social media took notice of Cohen's inconsistent masking.

"Why the mask, but then also why no mask with Romney?" Chuck Ross of the Washington Free Beacon tweeted.

— (@)

"Mandy Cohen wears masks when meeting with Democrats but not @SenatorRomney," Matthew Foldi of The Specator World wrote. "Why?"

"Masked meeting the Dems // unmasked meeting Romney," Josh Kraushaar of Jewish Insider noted.

"What happened to your useless mask in the first photo dear?" someone else tweeted.

Cohen began serving as CDC director earlier this year.

Back in 2020, she shared a photo of herself sporting a face mask emblazoned with a photo of Dr. Anthony Fauci.

"Did you know it’s #WorldMaskWeek?" Cohen wrote on that August 2020 post. "Face coverings are one of our strongest tools to slow the spread of #COVID19 in our communities... and like my Dr. Fauci mask, they can be fun too! Join me in masking up this week & beyond – every time you leave the house."

— (@)

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Paul Krugman predicts that people who wear face masks will 'face harassment, even violence'



Paul Krugman is predicting that individuals who choose to wear face masks will be targeted with harassment and violence.

Krugman's comment on Tuesday came after a judge on Monday issued a ruling that slapped down the federal mandate which required people to mask up on public transportation.

"A prediction about masking: Soon we'll be seeing many incidents in which those who choose to protect themselves with KN95s etc face harassment, even violence. Because this was never about freedom," Krugman tweeted.

A prediction about masking: Soon we'll be seeing many incidents in which those who choose to protect themselves with KN95s etc face harassment, even violence. Because this was never about freedom.
— Paul Krugman (@Paul Krugman) 1650378766

Many Americans oppose mask mandates and believe that people should have the individual liberty to decide whether or not to don a mask.

BlazeTV host Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report," responded to Krugman by posting clown emojis.

"My view: It was very much about freedom," Robby Soave, a senior editor of Reason, tweeted in response to Krugman's comment.

"I think a lot of people (including me) just don't want to be forced to wear masks in airports and on planes," Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute tweeted.

Virginia Kruta of the Daily Wire commented: "More likely: if we even notice that someone else has chosen to wear a mask, the worst they'll get from us as we go about our business is an eye-roll. This was always about personal risk assessment."

"Preemptive outrage is a key subgenre of Liberal Fiction," Caleb Howe of Mediaite tweeted.

"No-one cares about masks. They never did, never will. The issue was never the mask - it was being forced to wear one against your will. You want to wear a miniature pig as a mask? Go for it," Ian Haworth of the Daily Wire tweeted.

Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon said that he had already heard a story about someone getting hassled for not wearing a mask: "My editor @bethelmckenzie today told me she was verbally harassed for wearing a mask. It’s already happening. And the harasser also just started ranting about CRT … presumably because she’s Black," Sassoon tweeted.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a statement on Tuesday indicating that it could potentially challenge the court decision related to the mask mandate.

"On April 13, 2022, before the district court’s decision, CDC explained that the order would remain in effect while it assessed current public health conditions, and that the Transportation Security Administration would extend its directive implementing the order until May 3 to facilitate CDC’s assessment," spokesperson Anthony Coley noted in the statement. "If CDC concludes that a mandatory order remains necessary for the public’s health after that assessment, the Department of Justice will appeal the district court’s decision."

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Newsom claims he removed mask for 'brief second' to snap photo with NBA legend. Photo evidence shows otherwise.



California Gov. Gavin Newsom stopped short on Monday of admitting that he made a mistake after he was caught, once again, not abiding by COVID-19 rules.

Instead, the Democratic governor defended himself and denied what photographic evidence clearly showed.

What is the background?

Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) flouted COVID-19 mask rules while attending the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

By not wearing face coverings, the Democratic leaders violated a series of COVID restrictions, including California's universal indoor mask mandate (which was recently extended), Los Angeles County's mask guidelines, and those in place at SoFi Stadium.

Newsom's hypocrisy on COVID restrictions was exposed after NBA legend Magic Johnson posted a picture with Newsom on social media. In that photo, Newsom was not wearing a mask. Johnson also posted photos with Garcetti and San Francisco Mayor London Breed (D), neither of whom were wearing masks.

Hanging out at SoFi Stadium today!pic.twitter.com/XfotiRLGz9
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@Earvin Magic Johnson) 1643597831

How did Newsom respond?

At a press conference, Newsom abdicated all responsibility for skirting COVID rules, instead saying he removed his mask only for the photo with Johnson.

"I was very judicious yesterday, very judicious," Newsom claimed.

"You’ll see the photo that I did take, where Magic was kind enough, generous enough, to ask me for a photograph and in my left hand’s the mask and I took the photo," he explained. "The rest of the time I wore it as we all should, um — not when I had a glass of water — and I encourage everybody else to do so. And, uh, that’s it."

When one reporter asked Newsom if he should have "reconsidered" taking his mask off "given your history with this issue" — a clear reference to Newsom's serial hypocrisy on COVID restrictions — Newsom almost admitted that he had made a mistake, but stopped short of actually saying that.

"Yes, of course. I was trying to be gracious. I made a mis — I was trying to be gracious," he said. "I took the mask off for a brief second, but no, I encourage people to continue to wear them."

NEW: Here\u2019s how Governor Newsom responded to questions about the photo of him not wearing a mask at SoFi stadium last night. \n\nHe stops short of saying he made a mistake, says California\u2019s \u2018endemic plan\u2019 is coming soon.pic.twitter.com/ib8hCanc1a
— Ashley Zavala (@Ashley Zavala) 1643655516

Is that true?

The Los Angeles Rams' "fan cam" caught Newsom without his mask on while sitting in his seat. At the time the picture was taken, it was not the "brief second" that he met with Johnson for the photograph.

Newsom's mask was down around his face, dangling from one ear. He was not eating or drinking. Interestingly, none of the people around him were wearing masks, either.

Gov. Newsom is sitting on the right with the face mask dangling from his ear. (Image source: LA Rams "fan cam" screenshot)

Chief Justice John Roberts buries media narrative vilifying Neil Gorsuch for allegedly defying request to wear face mask



Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts finally buried an attempt from NPR to tarnish Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Roberts clarified that he did not, in fact, ask Gorsuch — or any Supreme Court justices for that matter — to wear a face mask in court.

"I did not request Justice Gorsuch or any other Justice to wear a mask on the bench," Roberts said.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Roberts was forced to release a statement after NPR reported on Tuesday that Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been teleworking, and therefore hearing cases from her chambers, because Gorsuch refused to wear a mask on the bench after Roberts asked him to do so.

"Sotomayor did not feel safe in close proximity to people who were unmasked. Chief Justice John Roberts, understanding that, in some form asked the other justices to mask up," the story claimed. "They all did. Except Gorsuch, who, as it happens, sits next to Sotomayor on the bench. His continued refusal since then has also meant that Sotomayor has not attended the justices' weekly conference in person, joining instead by telephone."

The story immediately generated anger and backlash against Gorsuch.

Sotomayor and Gorsuch attempted to correct the record Wednesday by releasing a joint statement that clarified Gorsuch did not refuse a request from Sotomayor to mask up.

"Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us. It is false," the statement said. "While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends."

However, NPR did not budge, and stood by its reporting. The news outlet claimed its story was correct because the statement from Sotomayor and Gorsuch only denied that Gorsuch refused a mask-wearing request from Sotomayor — not Roberts.

"NPR stands by Nina Totenberg's reporting. Totenberg never reported that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask, nor did she report that anyone admonished him. She did report that Chief Justice John Roberts; 'in some form asked the other justices to mask up' — and Gorsuch was the only one who did not," the statement from NPR said.

NPR spokesman Ben Fishel added in a separate statement, "The statement released by Justices Sotomayor and Gorsuch does not contradict the reporting in Totenberg’s piece."

Restaurant owner exposes Dem senator caught on surveillance footage blatantly ignoring mask mandate



A New York restaurant owner blasted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) on social media Friday after surveillance video caught the Democratic lawmaker blatantly ignoring face mask rules.

What happened?

The owner of Innovo Kitchen, an American-style restaurant near Albany, blasted Gillibrand in an Instagram post for not following face mask rules. The owner included video of Gillibrand storming into the restaurant without a mask to the seating area.

"The problem with NY politics in a nut shell," the Instagram post read. "My Senator blowing past my manager before she can even ask her to put a mask on. Walking right past a really big sign that says 'masks required to enter.'"

"The masks are a mandate from the Governor. As good citizens, agree or not, we must follow our leaders. Her guest is graciously wearing one," the post added. "I guess Senator Gillibrand thinks that the Governor is wrong or she is special and above the rules."

Face masks are required in all indoor businesses in the Empire State, per Gov. Kathy Hochul (D).

The face mask mandate declares, "Any person, past their second birthday and medically able to tolerate a face covering, must wear an appropriate mask while in any indoor place, regardless of vaccination status."

What did Gillibrand say?

The Democratic lawmaker did not apologize for breaking the mandate rules, but only said that she needs to "do better" about following state and local guidelines in the future.

"We all need to do our part to help stop the spread of Omicron and that means following state and local guidance," Gillibrand told Fox News. "That includes me and I will do better going forward."

Democratic leaders nationwide have been repeatedly caught skirting pandemic-related restrictions, like mask mandates, despite voicing support for such restrictions. Like Gillibrand, many have expressed the desire to do better in the future, but the conundrum has left Americans wondering: Why are restrictions necessary for us but not the leaders who enact and support them?

California extends statewide indoor mask mandate into February



A statewide California mask mandate requiring most people to wear face masks in indoor public places has been extended and will now last through Feb. 15.

The mandate requires people to wear a mask in indoor public locations irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The California Department of Public Health tweeted that, "CDPH has extended the statewide indoor masking requirement one month, through February 15, 2022. Masks must be worn in all indoor public places regardless of vaccine status."

The mandate includes several exceptions, including those for individuals below the age of two, for the hearing impaired and those communicating with the hearing impaired, as well as for individuals with a medical issue, mental health issue, or disability that stops them from using a mask. There is also an exemption for individuals "for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines."

"We are not discussing business closures or further limitations on businesses or other sectors of our economy and for the schools," California health and human services secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said during a call with reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"We also know that the level of immunity that we’ve created primarily due to vaccines has allowed us to sort of treat Omicron as, frankly, a little less virulent, a little less likely to cause severe disease, because we have high levels of immunity from so many Californians getting vaccinated, and those who’ve gotten prior infection," he said, according to the outlet. "We can manage the disease burden that we’re seeing in a way that we weren’t able to a year ago."

CDPH has extended the statewide indoor masking requirement one month, through February 15, 2022. Masks must be worn in all indoor public places regardless of vaccine status.pic.twitter.com/iSWQBkMfRg
— CA Public Health (@CA Public Health) 1641432725