July 21, 2021
The Delta variant, now the most dominant and dangerous strain of the coronavirus in the United States, is ripping through unvaccinated communities nationwise. The mounting crisis is especially acute across Southern and Midwestern states, where rural hospitals are once again struggling to handle the latest surge. And as my colleague Jackie Flynn Mogenson noted earlier this month, anti-vaxxers have exacerbated the situation by fueling misinformation to convince people that current, widely available vaccines aren't effective against the Delta variant. (Again, that's not true.) The divide has once again focussed attention on the peddlers of vaccine lies over at Fox News, where a minuscule shift might be taking place: Two big names this week bucked the on-air trend and backed vaccines—sort of. We'll believe it when it sticks. But before anyone feels tempted to brush this off as a problem just for those refusing to get vaccinated, I urge you today to read about one Alabama doctor's experience treating the unvaccinated who are dying. It captures both the frustration of health care workers—and frankly everyone who understands the critical necessity of vaccines—and the heartbreak that continues to overwhelm this pandemic. One quote especially stood out for me:
The whole thing is worth reading, particularly before we head into the Fall, when kids head back to school, the need for booster shots could become a reality, and cases are expected to rise even more. Hope to be back tomorrow with some cheerier news. —Inae Oh His team recently announced that thousands of people released early due to COVID could be forced to return after the pandemic. BY SAMANTHA MICHAELS
BY DAVID CORN
BY TIM MURPHY
BY DAN FRIEDMAN, RUSS CHOMA, AND DAVID CORN
BY OLIVER MILMAN Women in multiple countries have been living in fear of Sergey Grishin. Now they’re fighting back. BY SAMANTHA MICHAELS
Support from readers allows Mother Jones to do journalism that doesn't just follow the pack.
SOME GOOD NEWS, FOR ONCE
See you next. Send good news and tips to recharge@motherjones.com. —Daniel King Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by forwarding it to a friend or sharing it on Facebook and Twitter.
|