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‘Don’t ever let a Republican tell you they’re pro-life again’: Internet stunned as Texas removes all COVID restrictions
March 02, 2021
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced he is lifting all coronavirus restrictions, despite the deadly virus surging across the Lone Star State.
“Too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities. Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end," Abbott said, according to The Dallas Morning News. “It is now time to open Texas 100%."
<p>“Also, I am ending the statewide mask mandate," said the governor, fresh off a statewide crisis that threw millions into the freezing cold without power or water, almost as an afterthought. “Texans have mastered the habits to keep from getting COVID."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
TEXAS—“I'm issuing a new executive order that rescinds most of the earlier executive orders."<a href="https://twitter.com/GovAbbott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovAbbott</a> orders 100% of businesses in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texas</a> open and ends statewide mask mandate starting next Wednesday, March 10. <a href="https://t.co/uALxx9cSjF">pic.twitter.com/uALxx9cSjF</a><br/>
— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) <a href="https://twitter.com/breeadail/status/1366846236968501256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Phil Huang is calling the move "premature."</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-19-vaccine-doses.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, Texas ranks 48th in vaccine administration, meaning only two states (Georgia and Utah) have inoculated even fewer of its residents on a percentage basis.</p><p>It appears Abbott may be removing the protections for purely political reasons. On Monday night he tweeted out a new poll that shows his approval rating did not suffer despite the power grid disaster that led to dozens of deaths.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you Texans for your support.<br/><br/>I will have some exciting news for you tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/xX15LUwsoN">https://t.co/xX15LUwsoN</a><br/>— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1366575890797391874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Some are tying the political decision to this weekend's CPAC conference:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">If you're curious why Texas just suddenly ended our mask mandates and COVID business restrictions, look no further than the CPAC presidential straw poll. <br/><br/>Greg Abbott got zero votes. This is not a coincidence. <br/><br/>What happens at CPAC matters.<br/>— Kenny Webster 🎙 (@KenWebsterII) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenWebsterII/status/1366840648641445888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>The internet was stunned.</p><p>Journalist David Gura noted the pandemic in Texas is even worse than when Abbott finally invoked the COVID-19 restrictions.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
When Gov. Greg Abbott announced a statewide mask mandate, I was on a reporting trip to Houston.<br/>
On that Thursday, July 2nd, there were 7,434 new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> cases in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texas</a>, and 44 deaths.
Yesterday, there were 8,140 cases and 129 deaths.
— David Gura (@davidgura) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidgura/status/1366846397396316161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Here's what others are saying:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"I just announced that I'm killing more Texans.
AS MANY AS I CAN.
I also ended the statewide mask mandate that was saving lives while we wait for vaccine doses."
Fixed it for you.<br/>
— MightyMary007 (@Mary007Mighty) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mary007Mighty/status/1366848258316791809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Governor Greg Abbott has announced he's re-opening businesses in Texas 100% and removing the mask mandate.<br/>
TX is LAST in per capita vaccinations. 93.5% of the state has not yet been fully vaccinated.
Don't ever let a republican tell you they're "pro-life" again.
— Steve Hofstetter (@SteveHofstetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveHofstetter/status/1366839624363094026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
No power, No water, No masks. Fucking geniuses.<br/>
— TheRealBATJAY (@therealbatjay) <a href="https://twitter.com/therealbatjay/status/1366848029916037121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Pro Life Party my ass<br/>
— TWalsh (@hogan_1969) <a href="https://twitter.com/hogan_1969/status/1366846892911517705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
at a time when wearing double masks is encouraged and safer, in a state where we've had over 2 million cases & almost 45,000 deaths, our “governor" <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregAbbott_TX</a> has decided to lift the mask mandate, putting 29 million texas residents at risk. not very pro life if you ask me. <a href="https://t.co/cPedVSYjMf">pic.twitter.com/cPedVSYjMf</a><br/>
— ༺coco༻ (@kittykatcoco) <a href="https://twitter.com/kittykatcoco/status/1366849237158293508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Hi, ICU nurse here in Austin. So disgusted & sick to my stomach over this news. Less than 20% of the state has been vaccinated and we are just barely starting to get relief in the hospitals from Covid surges. This is absolutely too early to lift restrictions.<br/>
— Elizabeth Wilks (@IzabethJD) <a href="https://twitter.com/IzabethJD/status/1366851284041691142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Got to deflect from your power grid mess of a couple of weeks ago, huh? Might be nice to wait until we are above a 6% vaccine rate.<br/>
— FV Angela 📚⚾️🏀🌊🍷 (@fv_angela) <a href="https://twitter.com/fv_angela/status/1366847648548999171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Greg Abbott: "If that snowstorm didn't kill them, this will!" <a href="https://t.co/uqaTM8T4if">https://t.co/uqaTM8T4if</a><br/>— Rob Gill (@vote4robgill) <a href="https://twitter.com/vote4robgill/status/1366854419929784323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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Nicolle Wallace hits 'RonAnon' Johnson after his conspiracies get destroyed at Jan. 6 hearing with FBI
March 02, 2021
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has been mocked for the past several weeks for repeating right-wing conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
FBI Director Christopher Wray made it clear to the Senate on Tuesday that the "lethal violence" of radical right-wingers are behind "racially-motivated violent extremism" that Americans are now facing.
<p>During the hearing, senators asked Wray about reports that Antifa and fake Trump supporters were really behind the Jan. 6 insurrection. Wray made it clear, there has been zero evidence to support the conspiracy. </p><p>At the start of her Tuesday show, MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace referred to the Wisconsin lawmaker as "RonAnon," a play on QAnon, saying that Wray debunked the desperate GOP theory that "fantasy dress-up Trump supporters" were behind the militias.</p><p>"We're seeing quite a number, as we're building out the cases on the individuals we've arrested for the violence, quite a number what we would call militia violent extremists," said Wray. "So, self-identify with the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers. Things like that. We also have a couple of instances where we've already identified individuals involved in the criminal behavior who we would put in the racially motivated, violent extremists who advocate for what you would call white supremacy. So, there have been some of those individuals as well."</p><p>"Based on your investigation so far, do you have any evidence that the Capitol attack was organized by 'fake Trump protesters?" asked Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).</p><p>"We have not seen evidence of that at this stage," said Wray. </p><p>"Understand in your testimony, previously, that you did not see Antifa or groups playing a significant role in the January 6th insurrection?"</p><p>"While we're equal opportunity and looking for violent extremism of any ideology, we have not, to date, seen any evidence of anarchists, violent extremists or Antifa connected with the 6th," Wray said. </p><p>See Wallace's opener below: </p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c96a5e24b2d3237452e5c3182b018b8e" style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" type="lazy-iframe" scrolling="no" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BWuMCAUTFlk?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">RonAnon Johnson</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWuMCAUTFlk" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p>
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This Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the state would be abandoning its mask mandate and its businesses will go back to functioning at 100 percent capacity, effective on March 10.
"Covid has not suddenly disappeared," Abbott said. "But state mandates are no longer needed."
<p>Speaking on MSNBC this Tuesday, epidemiologist Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones<strong></strong> said that the decision was "premature and may cost many, many lives." </p><p>Later in the segment, Jones said that she's worried Abbott's decision may give other state leaders the impetus to enact similar reopening measures. </p><p>"It's almost like you've been carrying this umbrella in the rain and you say, like, 'Oh, you know, I don't need an umbrella anymore because I'm dry' -- but no. Even as the numbers are going down -- first of all, the numbers of people who are dying, the numbers of infections are going down but they're above the highest levels that we had this summer across the country, and then you don't close the umbrella when the threat has not gone away. It's still raining." </p><p>Watch the video below: </p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kdyv7bpcjCc" width="560"></iframe></div>
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