Thread by @juliettekayyem

Thread. Masking! Biden calls on Govs to mandate masks. This is essential, as it is actually the norm; don't let the faux rage about taking away freedom make this seem like a real debate. 35 states already under masking orders, covering nearly 75% of the American population. 1/

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1294008351580475392

Polls show vast majority, sometimes over 80%, want mandatory masking. States (as of last week) that remain outliers are: AZ, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, MS, MO, NE, NH, ND, OK, SD, TN, WY. Some states -- like MS -- have at least county mandatory orders. SC abandoned Trump last week. 2/

The reason why you don't want to punish states that don't do masking with financial harm (i.e. holding back Covid relief funding) is that it hurts people in those states who you are trying to help. Instead, the federal government sets a baseline standard; Trump chose no masks. 3/

The tragedy is that Trump could have convinced these states otherwise. If anyone could, he could. He won't. But let's be clear on this "debate": it isn't one. It's like saying because people smoke, there is a "debate" about its capacity to cause cancer. 4/

Nationwide, masking actually represents what is going on on the ground. When seatbelt rules were passed, state by state, only 20% of the American public wore seat belts. That's not this. Know your facts. The public gets masks and is living them. 5/

A President sets the standards. President Trump chose death and ignorance.
It honestly is as simple as that. 6/6
#WearADamnMask