Brian Schatz @brianschatz · 21h This is worth reading. I agree it is impossible to justify the govt action then. In Hawaii during Covid, for a time, the bars were open and the schools were not. The smart response to this, however, isn’t to put someone in charge who will cause measles to make a comeback. Quote Sean T at RCP @SeanTrende · 22h The damage done by this is incalculable. This, and the closing of churches while liberal-coded institutions were opening was a radicalizing, red-pill moment for so many conservatives. x.com/esotericcd/sta… Sean T at RCP @SeanTrende · 21h To be clear, I 100% agree, and have never voted for Trump in a primary or a general. As a father of a kiddo with autism, the HHS developments are beyond horrifying. This is descriptive, not prescriptive or justifying. Brian Schatz @brianschatz · 21h I know what you meant and I’m glad this is a constructive exchange. I think what you are saying is important because I know people for whom Covid and the govt response seemed so kafakaesque as to reorient not just people’s partisan affiliations but everything else.
@SeanTrende The damage done by this is incalculable. This, and the closing of churches while liberal-coded institutions were opening was a radicalizing, red-pill moment for so many conservatives. Quote Jeff Blehar is *BOX OFFICE POISON* @EsotericCD · 23h It was in this moment that many of us hanging on to a thin sliver of trust in our institutions irrevocably lost faith in them. One of the most poisonous blows to public trust in living memory - worse than the effect of the Iraq War in many ways. RFK Jr is a direct result of this. x.com/SteveGuest/sta… 12:22 PM · Aug 31, 2025 · 454.1K Views
@EsotericCD It was in this moment that many of us hanging on to a thin sliver of trust in our institutions irrevocably lost faith in them. One of the most poisonous blows to public trust in living memory - worse than the effect of the Iraq War in many ways. RFK Jr is a direct result of this. Quote Steve Guest @SteveGuest · Aug 31 Politico 5 years ago: [screenshot of article falsely claiming public health officials lied about COVID measures then abandoned them for BLM protests] Views
I've never seen such a disconnect between Dem elected/staff/consultants and actual Dem voters.
The latter understand what's going on.
The former are awash in right-wing brainrot, hence @schatz.bsky.social blaming COVID mitigation and BLM marches for the GOP's wanton destruction of public health.