Progressive Cenk Uygur smashed by the left and right for admitting Dem-controlled LA is 'close to anarchy,' gets labeled a 'grifter'



Progressive commentator Cenk Uygur bellyached about the deteriorating conditions of Los Angeles. However, many reactions from Twitter curiously asked the founder of the Young Turks if he actually considered how his own politics may have contributed to the ruination of living conditions in California.

"LA is a mess. There's trash all over the roads. Cops don't respond to calls. It's close to anarchy here," said Uygur – who is a co-founder of the Justice Democrats political action committee that is behind the campaigns of the members of "the Squad" in Congress. Members of the Squad have been some of the most fervent supporters of the "defund the police" movement.

Uygur lashed out at current Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti – who was nominated as the U.S. ambassador to India by President Joe Biden in July 2021, but did not have enough votes to get passed by the Senate. Cenk also bashed Karen Bass – a Democratic mayoral candidate in Los Angeles.

"Is Garcetti already in Mumbai? Is anyone running this city? Karen Bass seems to be saying she's going to maintain the status quo. She knows how to work the system," Uygur ranted. "No thanks!"

Cenk announced that he is voting for and supporting Rick Caruso – a "billionaire businessman and longtime former Republican who sits on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation board to be their next mayor."

"Karen Bass’ main message seems to be that she is an establishment Democrat (no interest) who thinks things in LA are generally fine (they’re not) and will work the system better," he declared on Twitter. "The problem is the system. There is nothing but incompetence & corruption here. We need change."

When asked about cleaning the city up himself, Cenk shot back, "No, that's not my job. Real people don't have time to also be municipal workers. Why doesn't Garcetti get out of his f***ing car or leave his mansion and pick up the trash?"

\u201cLA is a mess. There's trash all over the roads. Cops don't respond to calls. It's close to anarchy here. Is Garcetti already in Mumbai? Is anyone running this city? Karen Bass seems to be saying she's going to maintain the status quo. She knows how to work the system. No thanks!\u201d
— Cenk Uygur (@Cenk Uygur) 1666803053

Uygur was ripped by members of the left and the right for his awakening about the degrading living conditions in Los Angeles.

Leftists attacked Uygur and belittled him as a "grifter."

Screenwriter Josh Olson: "Lest there was ever any doubt that this guy was an absolute fraud, here ya go. Grotesque."

Science blogger Yvette d’Entremont:Yvette d’Entremont: "Cenk Uygur always has been and always will be a grifter who lacks conviction. A progressive voting for Rick Caruso over Karen Bass screams 'pay attention to me' much louder than 'I give a f***.'"

Progressive strategist Dante Atkins: "So, you, who supposedly are a progressive and believe that every billionaire is a policy failure, are going to vote for a literal Republican billionaire developer to run the second-largest city in the country?"

Comedian Martha Kelly: "Man f*** you and your billionaire buddy."

Reactions on Twitter from conservatives slammed Cenk for not realizing that the progressive politics that he preaches might not work in real life.

Digital strategist Greg Price: "Cenk, my brother in Christ, this is the type of world you've literally been advocating for your entire career."

Columnist John Nolte: "But-but-but Democrats run everything, checked off every wish on their list... Shouldn't it be a utopia?"

Media critic Stephen L. Miller: "Well well well if it isn't the consequences of my own actions."

The Hodgetwins: "You’re almost there Cenk."

Commentator Kurt Schlichter: "I think it’s important that we are reelect Democrats. Since Democrats are in total control of California, it’s the Republicans fault that this is happening. How dare Trump do this to us?"

Evolutionary behavioral scientist Gad Saad: "I wonder if the LA dystopia is related to leftist 'progressive' policies. Any thoughts @cenkuygur?"

Columnist Karol Markowicz: "I just love this whole exchange. How bad must LA be for Cenk to say that? And then the follow-up tweet where a socialist doesn’t see municipal workers as 'real people.'"

\u201cI just love this whole exchange. How bad must LA be for Cenk to say that? And then the follow-up tweet where a socialist doesn\u2019t see municipal workers as \u201creal people,\u201d just \ud83e\udd0c\u201d
— Karol Markowicz (@Karol Markowicz) 1666822848

This isn't the first time that the progressive pundit railed against Democrat policies.

In September, Cenk wrote on Twitter, "Will people who came up with 'Defund the Police' slogan admit they were wrong? It was wildly counterproductive framing. You don't speak for the left. And neither do people pushing the counterproductive 'Abolish Prisons' Polls show that almost no one on the left agrees with you."

However, Uygur proclaimed that he was "supporting #DefundThePolice 100%" in a tweet posted in June 2020.

"I already largely agreed with the substance of the argument & now I'm down for the framing, too," he explained. "There is no reform or transformation that can fix this. We have to start over and completely rebuild policing in this country."

In August, Uygur's fellow Young Turks commentator Ana Kasparian attacked soft-on-crime policies in a YouTube segment titled: "Why Are Violent Criminals Not Serving Jail Time in California?"

Politico quotes reporter saying that 'Jawing with Jen [Psaki] just makes you look like an asshole'



Politico quoted a journalist as saying that "Jawing with" White House press secretary Jen Psaki "makes you look like an asshole."

The reporter indicated that covering the White House is "less rewarding" than it was during the Trump administration.

"Jen [Psaki] is very good at her job, which is unfortunate," the reporter said, according to Politico. "And the work is a lot less rewarding, because you’re no longer saving democracy from Sean Spicer and his Men’s Wearhouse suit. Jawing with Jen just makes you look like an asshole."

The outlet did not give the identity of the reporter who made the remarks.

Spicer served as then-President Donald Trump's White House press secretary during the first six months of the administration.

Psaki has served as the White House press secretary since the beginning of the Biden administration.

"This is the most pathetic thing I have ever read," Jerry Dunleavy of the Washington Examiner tweeted along with a link to the Politico piece and a screenshot of the unidentified reporter's quote. "BTW what possible good reason could there be for Politico to grant this reporter anonymity?" Dunleavy asked in another tweet.

BTW what possible good reason could there be for Politico to grant this reporter anonymity?\n\nalso, it is Men\u2019s ***Wearhouse***, not Warehouse.\n\nexcellent mix of snobbery & lack of attention to basic detail.https://twitter.com/jerrydunleavy/status/1520027763092168704\u00a0\u2026
— Jerry Dunleavy (@Jerry Dunleavy) 1651242879

"The Washington Press Corp is like a herd of zombies," someone tweeted.

"We could replace the entire White House press corps with the savviest non-pro-media people on Twitter, and while a few journos' contributions would be missed, the overall caliber of public discourse and journalistic seriousness would skyrocket," someone else remarked .

Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson tagged Politico White House reporter Max Tani, the author of the Politico piece, and asked Tani to "please unmask the identity of the idiot who told you this."

.@maxwelltani please unmask the identity of the idiot who told you this!-"And the work is a lot less rewarding, because you\u2019re no longer saving democracy from Sean Spicer and his Men\u2019s Wearhouse suit. Jawing with Jen just makes you look like an asshole" -https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/04/29/the-fall-of-the-white-house-correspondent-00028272\u00a0\u2026
— Eliana Johnson (@Eliana Johnson) 1651257583

"Only a liberal reporter can think Jen Psaki is very good at her job. She is objectively not," Karol Markowicz tweeted.

Only a liberal reporter can think Jen Psaki is very good at her job. She is objectively not.https://twitter.com/jtLOL/status/1520046906482860032\u00a0\u2026
— Karol Markowicz (@Karol Markowicz) 1651260602

Tom Bevan of RealClearPolitics says his 5th grader was given vocabulary words for science class including 'transgender' and 'nonbinary'



RealClearPolitics co-founder and president Tom Bevan said that his 5th-grade child was given vocabulary words for a science class that included the terms "transgender," "cisgender," "adolescence," "consent," and "nonbinary."

"Last night my 5th grader told us his vocabulary words for 'science' class this week," Bevan tweeted along with a list of the words.

Bevan followed up his initial tweet by posting a photo of a sheet of paper that contained the five vocabulary words, as well as definitions and examples of each word being used in a sentence.

While Bevan did not state the name of the school, he referred to "our district" when linking to an article on the Post Millennial that discussed District 65 in Illinois.

Last night my 5th grader told us his vocabulary words for "science" class this week: \n\nadolescence\nconsent\ntransgender\ncisgender\nnon-binary
— Tom Bevan (@Tom Bevan) 1646776639
BTW, there was a recent article by @libbyemmons in the Post Millennial detailing the full scope of the gender and race stuff being pushed on kids in our district starting in kindergarten.https://thepostmillennial.com/illinois-school-district-teaches-gender-and-race-propaganda-to-all-lower-grades\u00a0\u2026
— Tom Bevan (@Tom Bevan) 1646784651

"This is just awful and unacceptable. I hope you intervene," Tammy Bruce tweeted in response to Bevan.

"Rescue your child from that school!" Mollie Hemingway declared.

"Homeschool is a great option," Mercedes Schlapp wrote.

"What's amazing is how many people think Tom is lying (he provides evidence in next tweet) and are clearly not paying attention. Every subject has become a lesson in wokeness. All of them," Karol Markowicz tweeted.

Many parents deeply oppose radical leftist gender ideology that flies in the face of biological reality and do not want their children exposed to that ideology at school.

What's amazing is how many people think Tom is lying (he provides evidence in next tweet) and are clearly not paying attention. Every subject has become a lesson in wokeness. All of them.https://twitter.com/TomBevanRCP/status/1501316158506496003\u00a0\u2026
— Karol Markowicz (@Karol Markowicz) 1646793244

Joy Behar shredded for jaw-dropping complaints that Ukraine invasion might interfere with her swanky European vacation plans



Joy Behar, co-host on "The View," is facing heavy backlash after selfishly complaining that the Ukraine-Russia crisis could derail her plans for a European vacation.

What are the details?

Behar on Thursday — the very day Russian forces invaded Ukraine — expressed her concerns that the ongoing conflict might affect her plans to visit Italy for a lavish vacation.

The panel began by discussing the escalating war during the broadcast, prompting co-host Sunny Hostin to express her fears for those Ukrainians who might end up injured or dead due to the ongoing conflict.

"What I also thought about was the fact that estimates are 50,000 Ukrainians will be dead or wounded and that this is going to start a humanitarian crisis, a refugee crisis in Europe," she explained. "We’re talking about 5 million people that are going to be displaced. It’s heartbreaking to hear what is going to happen."

Even co-host Whoopi Goldberg added that the conflict was "so disheartening."

"The people in Russia, they don't want this war," she added. "[Putin] wants it because he's trying to hold on."

Behar, however, appeared to care little for human suffering, casualties, and displacement and said that she was concerned that her trip to Italy might be derailed.

"Well, I'm scared of what's going to happen in Western Europe, too. You know, you plan a trip, you want to go there," she attempted to reason. "[I wanted] to go to Italy for four years. I haven't been able to make it because of the pandemic — and now this. It's like, what's going to happen there, too?"

What was the reaction?

Much of social media condemned Behar's remarks.

Leading the criticism was Barstool Sports writer Kevin Clancy, who castigated Behar for her apparent selfishness.

"The true horror of the worldwide pandemic and Russia invading Ukraine? Joy Behar hasn't been able to take her trip to Italy," Clancy wrote on Twitter. "Thoughts and Prayers for Joy. We hope she makes it through this tragedy."

The true horror of the worldwide pandemic and Russia invading Ukraine? Joy Behar hasn\u2019t been able to take her trip to Italy. Thoughts and Prayers for Joy. We hope she makes it through this tragedy.pic.twitter.com/UYM1Q0C5nU
— KFC (@KFC) 1645750590

New York Post and Fox News writer Karol Markowicz added, "Did Putin even stop to think how his invasion would affect Joy Behar's trip to Italy?"


Did Putin even stop to think how his invasion would affect Joy Behar\u2019s trip to Italy?https://twitter.com/liz_wheeler/status/1496987947870171138\u00a0\u2026
— Karol Markowicz (@Karol Markowicz) 1645746343

Washington Times columnist Tim Young spat, "Joy Behar is elitist trash."

Joy Behar is elitist trash.https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1496897797165285377\u00a0\u2026
— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1645752678

He later added, "Joy Behar is the perfect liberal Karen... she doesnt care about people getting killed in Ukraine, just that this might interrupt her trips to Italy."

Joy Behar is the perfect liberal Karen... she doesnt care about people getting killed in Ukraine, just that this might interrupt her trips to Italy.
— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1645752553

A widely liked tweet from user Joanne Mason read, "God grant me the absolute confidence and egocentricity of Joy Behar complaining that a war ruined her vacation plans while the bombs are still literally dropping."

Even Behar fans turned their backs on the co-host over the remarks.

One user wrote, "She sounded so damned entitled when she said that and I actually like her."

"I'm old and say dumb stuff sometimes too, but holy hell, she was being just startlingly oblivious," another user added.

Twitter user Sarara chimed in, "Can you even imagine being so privileged, so removed from reality, so far up your own colon that you’d respond to a massive humanitarian crisis by complaining about your hypothetical vacation being disrupted? Seriously, what the hell @JoyVBehar?"

Behar has yet to issue a clarification or apology for the offending and insensitive remarks.

New York will prioritize non-white people when distributing lifesaving COVID treatments



As COVID-19 rips through New York, the state government has decided to prioritize non-white people to receive COVID-19 treatments because of "longstanding systemic health and social inequities."

Last week, New York’s Department of Health released a document titled: "Prioritization of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies and Oral Antivirals for the Treatment of COVID-19 During Times of Resource Limitations Introduction." The memo provides a hierarchy of who should receive the limited supplies of monoclonal antibodies as well as the new oral antiviral pills — Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's molnupiravir — that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week under Emergency Use Authorization.

New York state offers a framework on which individuals should receive priority for COVID-19 treatments based on "risk factors," which include those who are immunocompromised, those who are aged 65 or older, and those who are overweight.

There is also a "note" that states that any COVID-infected people who are non-white should receive priority for treatment over white people because of "inequities."

"Non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19," New York’s Department of Health states.

NY State Department of Health warns they don't have enough Paxlovid or Monoclonal Antibody Treatment and white people need not apply. http://www.mssnyenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/122821_Notification_107774.pdf\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/MwBtjv2pDx
— Karol Markowicz (@Karol Markowicz) 1640916049

Erin Silk, a spokesperson for the New York Department of Health, told Fox News, "Systemic poverty, which has clearly proven to be a risk factor in populations in New York State and nationwide, is added to the algorithm of prioritization similar to all other risk factors. It is merely mentioned as a factor that increases risk."

The spokesperson noted that the state's "prioritization guidance comes directly from the CDC," adding "Race nor ethnicity would disqualify an individual from receiving treatment."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, "Race and ethnicity are risk markers for other underlying conditions that affect health, including socioeconomic status, access to health care, and exposure to the virus related to occupation, e.g., frontline, essential, and critical infrastructure workers."

The New York City Department of Health also recommends that race should be considered when prioritizing who receives monoclonal antibodies and oral antiviral pills for COVID-19.

"Consider race and ethnicity when assessing individual risk, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities may contribute to an increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19," the memo to providers reads.

In May, Dr. Anthony Fauci claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed "the undeniable effects of racism" in America.

"Now, very few of these comorbidities have racial determinants," said the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden. "Almost all relate to the social determinants of health dating back to disadvantageous conditions that some people of color find themselves in from birth regarding the availability of an adequate diet, access to health care, and the undeniable effects of racism in our society."

‘The View’ co-hosts reportedly frustrated that they can’t find a permanent Republican to join the show and quietly take their abuse



The liberal co-hosts of ABC's "The View" — who have been accused of incessantly bullying past conservative co-hosts and guests — are reportedly frustrated over the fact that they can't find a permanent replacement for former Republican host Meghan McCain.

What are the details?

According to Politico, before heading off on holiday break, the show's three long-standing co-hosts — Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, and Sunny Hostin — told executive producer Brian Teta that they're tired of the rotating cast of Republican guest hosts since McCain's exit.

McCain quit the daytime talk show in August, later slamming the show's "f***ed up" culture and recounting that she suffered constant abuse from her fellow co-hosts both on- and off-camera. Her departure after four years on the show left producers scrambling for a replacement.

Over the next several months, producers brought in a variety of conservative fill-ins, including Alyssa Farah, S.E. Cupp, Condoleezza Rice, and Carly Fiorina. But so far, none have remained, and now the liberal co-hosts are reportedly upset.

"Nearly six months in, the show has yet to settle on a permanent replacement. And now, the longtime co-hosts ... are upping the pressure to pick a successor, and voicing their displeasure at having to introduce new guest hosts week after week in a seemingly endless process that they find disruptive to the flow of the show," Politico reported.

It's not too outlandish a take to assume that McCain's accusations resonated as a warning sign to prospective replacements about what kind of treatment they ought to expect should they choose to join the show.

Moreover, McCain is far from the only Republican cast member to lodge complaints about abusive behavior. Past co-hosts, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Nicolle Wallace, and Candace Cameron Bure have also expressed similar sentiments about their time on "The View."

Even so, Behar, Goldberg, and Hostin seem befuddled as to why Republican women may be hesitant to join their gang.

The news prompted one commenter on social media to darkly quip, "Husband with history of beating past 8 wives struggles to find 9th."

What else?

On top of that, Politico added that another major source of the show's struggles to find a replacement stems from its incredibly specific criteria for a permanent Republican cast member. Citing anonymous sources, Politico reports the show will not consider anyone who denies the 2020 election results, supports the January 6 riots, or may be too close to MAGA Republicans, but any right-leaning co-host must also appeal to mainstream Republican viewers, including those who support Donald Trump.

Executives are said to be looking for a conservative woman who is willing "to fight — but not too hard, because they don’t want it to be ugly and bickering," per a former show staffer, Politico reports.

The Daily Wire summarized the criteria by saying the show "apparently wants to find a very niche, moderately conservative woman who won’t fight that hard and one who doesn’t support former President Trump or the base of the party."

Anything else?

Commenters on social media mocked the show's struggles Monday.

Newsbusters vice president Dan Gainor blasted the show's cast and staff as "anti-conservative lunatics."

That's because the people who run @theview are anti-conservative lunatics. | \u2018The View\u2019 to Fill Meghan McCain\u2019s Seat With Rotating Conservative Guest Hostshttps://www.thewrap.com/the-view-to-fill-meghan-mccains-seat-with-rotating-conservative-guest-hosts/\u00a0\u2026
— Dan Gainor (@Dan Gainor) 1640616733

Fox News contributor Karol Markowicz said, "Oh, please. Just admit you want a show of liberals for liberals. It would be best for all of us if people could just be truthful."

Oh, please. Just admit you want a show of liberals for liberals. It would be best for all of us if people could just be truthful.https://twitter.com/tripgabriel/status/1475479728031248401\u00a0\u2026
— Karol Markowicz (@Karol Markowicz) 1640624418

Hot Air's Ed Morrissey novelly suggested the show introduce actual parity by installing two Republican co-hosts.

"Maybe they should have *two*, which might make the cast more stable and also more balanced. Turning one woman into an isolated piñata certainly doesn't work for recruitment," he tweeted.

Maybe they should have *two*, which might make the cast more stable and also more balanced. Turning one woman into an isolated pi\u00f1ata certainly doesn't work for recruitment.https://twitter.com/tarapalmeri/status/1475478877082464261\u00a0\u2026
— Ed Morrissey (@Ed Morrissey) 1640619769

Celebrities at the 2021 Met Gala ripped for not wearing masks during swanky fete while the 'help' was forced to cover up: 'COVID rules are for serfs, not celebrities'



Social media expressed collective outrage over Monday's 2021 Met Gala after A-list celebrities were pictured en masse without masks while other, lesser-known entertainers and employees were forced to cover up their faces for the super-elite event.

2020's Met Gala was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.

What are the details?

Celebrities and politicians — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — took to the crowded NYC event's red carpet without masks on Monday night.

Conservative media maven Megyn Kelly tweeted about the event — and Ocasio-Cortez's appearance — and wrote, "A pathetic self-aggrandizing hypocrite. Meanwhile our kids are muzzled & six feet apart all day long while trying to learn but she & these other 'Rules for Thee but Not for Me' pols can parade around maskless & in top of each other at the Met Gala bc, SCIENCE."

A pathetic self-aggrandizing hypocrite. Meanwhile our kids are muzzled & six feet apart all day long while trying… https://t.co/t6fbEjbPnj

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) 1631623522.0

Professor and Dr. Howard Forman added, "Notion that you don't need to be masked at the #MetGala because everyone is vaccinated flies in the face of every public health proclamation of past 2 months. This 'let them eat cake' cartoon would be funny if not compounded by the 'tax the rich' subtitle."

Notion that you don’t need to be masked at the #MetGala because everyone is vaccinated flies in the face of every p… https://t.co/AdsujuUxog

— (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) 1631581525.0

The Daily Wire's Megan Basham added, "How can you tell the elite from the peasants? The peasants have to wear masks." Her remark was in reference to Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), who was pictured indoors without a mask while standing in front of a long row of gala staffers — all of whom were masked.

How can you tell the elite from the peasants?The peasants have to wear masks. https://t.co/ocHOqjaehN

— Megan Basham (@megbasham) 1631585003.0

The outlet reported that celebrities were required to wear masks indoors, but not on the outdoor red carpet. The Met Gala's policy also reportedly stated that all attendees be fully vaccinated and provide proof of a negative PCR test the day before the event. Attendees were also reportedly required to wear masks while indoors except when eating or drinking.

New York City itself also requires proof of vaccination to access all public indoor spaces, including museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art — home of the Met Gala.

What else is being said about this?

In a lengthy essay for the Spectator, journalist Karol Markowicz wrote, "COVID rules are for serfs, not celebrities."

She began, "Amid the ridiculous outfits at the Met Gala last night, between the faux-socialist in her absurd 'Tax the Rich' dress and whatever that was that Kim Kardashian was attempting, stood a row of servants, masked. The celebrities, of course, were not. If there's one thing we have collectively learned during the 18 months of this pandemic is that the rules don't apply to the rich and famous."

"Vice President Kamala Harris's 'model' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff posed for pictures at the Met Gala with a mask on, then took it off," she continued. "Her sequin mask, of course, offered little protection from COVID anyway but it continues to be galling that the rest of us have to engage in COVID safety theater while the rich and famous don't even need to go through the motions."

Noting that those in attendance at Monday night's event largely are "denizens of the American left," excuses were made for their behavior, which was swept under the rug.

National Review's Charles W. Cooke added that per New York City local mandates, all people ages 12 and older are required to show proof that they have received "at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine" if they work in — or want to enter — public places such as movie theaters, music and concert venues, museums, aquariums, zoos, sports arenas, and more.

"This new requirement — called the Key to NYC — also means staff at these locations must be vaccinated," Cooke wrote. "The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a museum. Why, then, did the staff have to wear masks while the celebrities did not? It can't be because, unlike the celebrities, the staff were unvaccinated. And it can't be because, even though everyone was vaccinated, there's still a risk of transmission and infection, because that risk would apply equally to the celebrities as it would to the staff."

He added, "Is the science different for famous people, perhaps?"

Others noted that the mayor's executive order did, by its terms, exempt celebrities who are performing:

Not that I doubted @karol but geez https://t.co/hHbqZS8l3V https://t.co/u6djfFRVfN

— Stu Burguiere (@StuDoesAmerica) 1631634509.0

Teachers union boss gets shellacked for saying teachers, who spent months at home, are exhausted and need to be nourished



The president of the second-largest teachers union in the United States got slammed for recently saying that teachers are "tired and exhausted," despite being at home for months. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten also said that "we have to find a way to repair and nourish" teachers, which was lampooned by online commenters.

Weingarten appeared on MSNBC Friday night, where she attempted to persuade viewers that the AFT wants to reopen schools, despite having yet to commit to in-person learning in the fall.

"Number one we want schools to reopen for a rapport and we don't want outbreaks," Weingarten said. "We want schools open and we want them to stay open."

But Weingarten said that teachers "don't want to be the mask police," adding that Texas and Iowa made a politically motivated decision to "rush to say no mask mandates when we still don't have a vaccine that's okay for elementary school students."

"Well there's two plans: one is for the summer and one is for the fall," the union boss of 1.7 million members said. "In the fall we have to first and foremost create a safe and welcoming environment."

Weingarten attempted to garner sympathy for teachers.

"Teachers are tired; they are exhausted," she said. "We have to find a way to repair and nourish them as well as families in terms of attracting and retaing our teaching force."

Online commenters mocked Weingarten's comments about teachers being "exhausted."

  • "Let's try this, Randi. STUDENTS are tired; they are exhausted. They've been put on the back burner by teachers unions for over a year so a virus could be used for political power gains. And MONEY. And pushing CRT so they can be told their skin color is all that matters.Shameful."
  • "From what? Sitting our your asses on Zoom? People have had it with your no work, whining nonsense."
  • "Why do public school teachers think they're so special? Parents and students not exhausted and tired too. medical workers and grocery store workers need to be nourished and repaired too. You. Aren't. Special."
  • "Poor teachers. Where I live in Oregon they got vaccinated before 80+ months ago, and many are still not back at school. My kids are getting 2 hours twice a week in person. When it was Zoom it was 2 hours 4 days a week. They must be so exhausted. I hope the teachers are ok."
  • "Having a whole year off must be exhausting!"
  • "Straight talk: Schools should not have closed this year. What was always clear is now *crystal* clear. Accountability for the high costs of closures to children is beyond-fair."
  • "If you don't actively scorn teacher's unions by this point, you're not paying attention."

Weingarten, who has a reported salary of around $500,000, has recently been attempting to change the perception that she is a proponent of reopening schools thanks to the help of Democratic figures, including first lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Randi Weingarten is the person most responsible for destroying this school year for so many kids. She led the way o… https://t.co/F7hK9Z7ByG

— Karol Markowicz (@karol) 1621343927.0

On May 18, Weingarten appeared on C-SPAN, where frustrated parents grilled the AFT boss for refusing to reopen schools.

Parents call into C-SPAN to grill Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers:https://t.co/rzrKkiXoYp

— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) 1621428916.0

One upset parent astutely asked Weingarten, "How come the parochial schools and the private schools could navigate their way through this scenario, but the public schools didn't seem to be able to manage that?"

Weingarten's answer via Reason:

So this is part of the reason why we asked the last administration to collect data on all of these things. So there were many many many public schools that have been open in a hybrid manner or in a full-time manner since September. And there have been many private schools, and many parochial schools [open]. And there have been many private and parochial schools that were not open. But we don't have the data, we have the anecdotal data. Fifteen percent, for example—a piece of data that I just got a couple of weeks ago—fifteen percent of parochial and private schools have closed fully during this period of time.

Many of the private schools that I know when I started asking them the questions about how are they doing this because we have to learn from each other, they said that they got the PPP loans that was in one of the first COVID packages so that they could do the testing that I just talked about, and they could do the layers of mitigation. And they also had parents, in a couple of the private schools, they had parents who shelled out a lot more money to do that. And the parochial schools, we saw some extra space that got used in those kind of ways.
And frankly, some of us also, you know, said that every one of the schools, you know, who were serving poor people had to get additional funding, and I got criticized by my, you know, public education friends for doing that. This is a matter of we have to learn from each other. But at the end of the day, if you have a ventilation system that doesn't work, if you don't have soap and water in your schools, if you can't get soap and water, and you need to have, you know, you need to wash kids, everyone needs to wash their hands, perhaps sanitizing stations, all of those things were resource-based things that were really important.

Earlier this month, Weingarten implied that Fox News and former President Donald Trump were at fault as to why schools are not reopened now.

Weingarten's AFT has been scrutinized for its cozy relationship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Damning emails between AFT officials and the CDC suggest that the teachers union successfully lobbied the CDC on the health agency's reopening guidance and language.

AFT donated nearly $20 million to Democrats in 2020, according to watchdog The Center Square.