21 Comments
Sep 14, 2021Liked by Ari Melber

I think you have captured our state of affairs very succinctly. Always on point. There is an incredible contempt for our institutions, rule of law, democratic principles, sound science, and the American people. I do think the Covid war will get worse before it gets better. And where are our Republican “ better angels”- champions for the common good? ( Your full interview with J Balvin was amazing !!!)

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, and shoutout to J Balvin!

Expand full comment
Sep 14, 2021Liked by Ari Melber

Ari, you were gentle, by assigning “ignorance” to some of these Republican governors. It is shear stupidity! When it comes to COVID-19, everybody wants to practice medicine or become a scientist. It unnerves me to see the financial losses to businesses, workers, and to the country, based on gamesmanship, Trumpism, and just plain, outright lies by Republican lawmakers, governors, political strategists and commentators. People’s social status and well-being gone: Jobs! Homes! Savings! Just think how far along the country would be, had we shut everything down, wore masks, and were vaccinated, soon as the vaccines were available. Simple! Common sense! So, yes, President Biden is right and you’ve established that it’s legal.

Expand full comment
Sep 14, 2021Liked by Ari Melber

The perils of social media and varying "news" platforms exasperate the efforts to educate and inform the public. As a result, the "covid wars" blossomed and hopefully reached their peak since experience of our stark reality becomes inescapable. Vaccines, masks, and smart practices work. Adhering to and condoning extreme stances does not. The antics of the former Commander in Tweet are lesser than before--The Spiral of Silence is real. Unfortunately ignorance is not bliss but perhaps if we come together as fellow Americans, we can learn and grow together through this so very difficult time.

Expand full comment

My dad was an Army veteran, a true American Patriot. At a very young age he taught me to be patriotic and to vote as soon as I turned 18. He told me how lucky we were and not to take our

freedom for granted. What is happening to our country today is heartbreaking. The GOP are taking away so much from us, and the lawmakers are letting it happen. The Biden administration has every right to mandate the vaccine to protect all Americans. The political games the Republicans and the right wing media are playing, are dangerous for all of us. 🙏

Expand full comment

Addendum: Forgot to mention the multitude of lives lost, families destroyed. It’s more than stupid. It’s criminal!

Expand full comment

Hi Ari. We are in a War with an invisible and more deadly enemy than anything we have seen before, FDR made drastic changes in Americans lives to save lives. Food was rationed, women worked in factories, {all able men were drafted even Black and Brown men}, car manufacturers stopped production on cars and produced tanks and armaments. Bidens mandate was absolutely necessary , Legal or not he is willing to take the blow back if one comes. God Bless Biden.

Expand full comment

It's a bit ironic that many of the persons who 'conscientiously' object to being vaccinated during this war on Covid are the very same ones who look down on those that conscientiously objected to joining the fight during the Vietnam War. While those in the 1960s didn't participate because they objected to killing people who they didn't know and were not a direct threat, many of today's vaccine conscientious objectors don't seem to care if they kill strangers or even persons they do know.

Expand full comment

Ari, I struggle with writing this, as I love you to death and thus my concern. However, if you believe what you speak and what you write concerning COVID vaccines, wearing masks, as well as other safety protocols, then be careful that your actions are not construed as a “hypocritical stance.”

COVID wars are causing more polarization in the black community when we see celebrities at huge parties, so close together that there is no escaping someone passing some germ on to you if you are not wearing a mask. It seems to be a case of do as I say not as I do! I used to hate when my parents would say that to me. It does not make it right. If it takes a mandate to save a life, then go for it.

Lastly, celebrities have a platform that can reach and influence the masses which can help save lives. Many of your latest musical guest interviews echo shielding yourself from this pandemic (JBalvin). Sure it’s my body my choice. I chose to be vaccinated and wear a mask( even though it can mess up my lipstick ☺️). I hope you do the same. Stay safe stay well! 😷💉🦠🥰

Expand full comment

Ari, excellent article as always. This topic is in my turf…not the legal part of course😊 I am a Scientist/ Quality and Compliance Specialist that works in the Research and Development space of one of the major pharmaceutical companies that produced the COVID-19 vaccine.

I was recently informed at my job that I (all employees and contractors) have to show proof of vaccination or reason for not vaccinating before going back to the office. Failure to do either of these is grounds for termination. I am already vaccinated…woo hoo!!! And yes, I am ok with the vaccine mandate. I started to wonder if legally, it is ok to mandate getting vaccination. I read the vaccine FAQs posted at my job’s intranet and I could tell that these FAQs were drafted with the medical doctors and lawyers that work in my job. Also, I listened to your explanation on vaccine mandate on The Beat.

I will never understand for the life of me why getting vaccinated or a disease that is so deadly is being politicized by anyone especially the GOP. There are people dying from COVID-19 virus that is easily preventable with the COVID-19 vaccine, wearing masks, washing hands, social distance etc. This is a life and death situation and Americans (the unvaccinated) need to understand that life has no duplicate, and one cannot gamble with life and death situations.

Do you think our “covid wars” are getting better or worse?

It is getting worse and worse…when I listen to the reasons why some people don’t want to get vaccinated, I shake my head in disbelief. Like yesterday, I listened to someone from the FL Governor’s crew say that “the vaccine changes your RNA”. Really? That is absolute and complete false!

Things that we should keep in mind are:

There are so many laws that pharmaceutical industries have to abide by or else, they get shut down immediately by the government (Food and Drug Administration). The role of FDA is to protect the consumer.

All drugs and vaccines are made in the same process (4 Phases of clinical trials, FDA review, approval and pharmacovigilance or post market safety monitoring).

So anyone that will not get vaccinated because of conspiracy theories might as well as find other means of curing themselves when sick.

I feel like we Americans feel so entitled. Like your guest, J. Balvin stated in the special interview with you (BTW, I love his music and great interview), not every country has vaccines like we Americans do at their disposal.

We should be grateful that we have intelligent scientists that created this vaccine that save lives.

Expand full comment

Very well said, thank you!!

Expand full comment

The Covid wars are worse at the moment, but not because of the majority of the public who support the mandate. It's due to Republican leaders and certain so-called news outlets that oppose anything this administration puts forward. Their spread of misinformation does a lot of damage. It's almost as if they want things to get worse so they can blame the outcome on President Biden. But I ultimately feel that will boomerang on them (See Desantis). States that have higher vaccination rates and fewer hospitalization/death rates due to Covid are mostly Democratic lead states. So states that have low vaccination and higher hospitalizations/death are due to leadership and the buck will stop with them. Back to the mandate. As you mentioned, it's partial. There is a choice, get the vaccine or do weekly testing. And as always, I love how you include music into everything. Everywhere, Rhiannon, Dreams, and Landslide were always heavily rotated by me. My mom says she hates when you are not on her screen at 6pm (I too miss you).

Expand full comment

I believe the President Biden mandate is legal and necessary.

Expand full comment

Stupidity and ignorance is murder

Expand full comment

This is good work, thanks❤️

Expand full comment

Yes They Are Ari Due The Laws Writ It Amends To Threats Of Public Menace By Virus For The Consensus As We Do All Things In The US As Majority Rule Can Decide.. A Hollywood Situation Really You Can Quarantine The Minority For Threatening The Health Of The Greater Public.. Simple In Reason As Well Take The Vaccine And Be Free Of Any Worry In Corona-19 Sickness Or Spread As We See It Is Getting More Virulent Through Unvaxxed Hosts..

Expand full comment

Finding whatever in whateve

Expand full comment

Hi Ari. From what I can observe the wars aren't getting any better because some of the republicans doesn't want President Biden to succeed and this Covid, and that is really sad. Goog night handsome!

Expand full comment