COVID Update October 13: I've been writing these for 8 months straight. I could never have imagined. I imagine you're eagerly awaiting the day when you go on Twitter & don't have to see these any more.
You deserve that and so much more... 1/
1. A pandemic election.
You deserve to hire someone for this job. Based on my time serving in government, make the decision based on compassion, competence, and someone who won't rest until Americans are safe again. 2/
2. Stress relief.
People are wound pretty tight after 8 months of this I don't care who you are. Take time to remind yourself what gives you joy in life-- likely who gives you joy in life. Don't make this feel unsustainable, like you can't exhale. Meaningful moments exist. 3/
3. Not going back to the old way but going forward. Some crave a return to normal. But normal wasn't great for many. The pandemic not only exposed so much inequality, it exploited it.
Family medical leave, independent living, health care for all seem like places to start. 4/
4. Reconciliation.
Face it you hate your neighbors. Not those neighbors, the other ones. The ones that watch that other cable channel and wear their masks ironically. Yes, them.
It feels like you'll never get past it. But remember they make that mean dessert you like. 5/
5. To hug your kids.
Ours don't hug us anyway. They're 22 and 18. It doesn't mean we don't deserve it though. We're cool parents & very funny. 6/
6. A helicopter ride to the hospital if you get sick, access to the best medicine, and the doctor that looks like Alfalfa.
Actually I'm fine with a different doctor, but we should all get the helicopter ride & the medicine. 7/
7. The ability to be shocked once again.
"Did you hear? He swallowed an American flag."*
"Yes dear. I know."
*Sub: "He burned down the White House"; "He sold Nevada"; "He put tariffs on Virginia"; "He rode a horse into the Oval."
Be honest, none of it would shock you. 8/
8. I'm quite confident that if Joe Biden becomes president, we will once again be trained to be appalled if misplaces an adverb or wears socks that are too light.
But we deserve to be shockable again. 9/
9. A credible light at the end of the tunnel. No bullshit but the promise that many of the things we miss will be returned at some point.
Crowded airports, Fall TV, dinner parties, a safe bus, a wedding, a graduation-- step by step and safely. 10/
10. Some water and a few fans cheering for us.
Yes, this is going to be a marathon not a sprint. But when I watch marathons, someone is passing out water & some friend is cheering at mile 14.
Right now, we're getting handed a fake map, a cup of spit & someone glaring at us. 11/
11. More good days.
I hear from a lot of people who are having some rough days. Depression, anxiety, judicial hearings. That's not every day. The good ones come. But everyone needs more. 12/
Question: does Melania Trump still hate kids and Christmas because I don't hear about it much?
I wouldn't object except its on page 2 of the First Lady's handbook: "Must like kids and Christmas. Can pick additional things, but kids and Christmas are a must." 13/
12. A dashboard.
The White House dashboard to be exact. They have a detailed dashboard of what's going on with the pandemic but won't share it publicly I think because it makes it appear like we're having a pandemic & they're trying to keep that on the down low. 14/
13. A peaceful transition.
Or a loud transition. Or a messy transition. Or a transition where security needs to be called. So just a transition really. 15/
14. A death toll that begins to look more like the rest of the world.
Apparently its not humanly impossible. 16/
15. Fewer long threads, more cat videos.
That was the original vision of this website right? My bad. 17/
16. More years of the democracy. Would be nice.
18/
I do have a preview of the next year with a little more precision on it. With @ZekeEmanuel
Then I have some episodes where I get yelled at. 19
“Ron DeSantis is taking the politics of being a bully to a different level,” Sykes tells me. “He’s decided he's going to move as hard and demagogically to the right as he can. He’s learned something from Donald Trump: you don’t need to be a nice guy.” 2/
Sykes says DeSantis is exploiting the culture wars in order to tap into Republicans’ grievances, and that the GOP sees the Florida governor as a “younger, smarter” but equally combative replacement for Trump. But DeSantis stands out from other conservatives for a reason. 3/
Some thoughts on using Twitter:
With Musk inviting back people who use the platform to threaten rape, to lie at scale & become whatever else his whims decide, here are some actions worth considering …
-Mute all advertisers in your feed. I’m not going to be a revenue source & don’t want those who advertise here to be encouraged.
-If you have a lot of followers or post a lot, consider moving the bulk of your content elsewhere. Post looks promising. (I’m @ASlavitt there.)
-I’m also on Mastadon to check it out & until Post is done with its waitlist & will eventually pick one.
-I continue to occasionally check the news feed here & promote things on Twitter minimally & will cross-post for a short time as people decide what they want to do.
COVID Update: It’s time for one as we look ahead to the winter.
The real question is whether we will have another 2021 with a lot of disruption— on a more modest wave— or nothing at all.
There is early data to help answer this question. 1/
Currently there are lots of Omicron sub-variants co-circulating around the globe.
Household names like:
BA.4.6
BQ1.1
XBB
While it’s all a little hard to follow, there’s something interesting about the nature of these variants. 2/
Variants: 1- These are all variants of Omicron. This is good. Better than dealing with a Delta variant emerging. Makes progression more closely resemble the flu. 2- Each are growing in different parts of the world without 1 being dominant. We could have a mix this winter.3/
NEW: COVID vaccines will now be recommended annually, with the flu shot.
I spoke to the White House yesterday about the plan. 1/
Rather than an ad hoc schedule which confuses many as to when to get vaccinated, the thinking is that an annual shot will result in many more people getting vaccinated.
They point to 2/3 of adults who take the flu vaccine vs 1/3 of adults over 50 who have been taking COVID. 2/
We have infrastructure, outreach, and habits that can be capitalized to get people their flu and COVID vaccines together.
This is the prime benefit.
But of course it comes with some questions they are preparing to address. 3/