Biden's Valentine's Day present for Democratic governors


President Biden just gave an early Valentine's Day present to the Democratic governors who are deep-sixing their states' mask mandates: He's disagreeing with them. Mildly, but still.
"It's hard to say whether they're wrong. The science is saying now that masks work, masks make a difference," Biden said in a pre-Super Bowl interview with NBC's Lester Holt on Sunday. "I committed that I would follow the science, the science as put forward by the CDC and the federal people," he later added. "I think it's probably premature, but it's a tough call."
Biden is likely right on the merits. There were more than 2,400 COVID-19 deaths reported on Sunday, and hospitals in some parts of the country are still so overwhelmed that the military is sending in relief units to help shore up staffinging shortages. "The volume of patients that we currently have in our hospitals really has not dropped off," said an executive at a Oklahoma hospital that is operating with help from Air Force personnel. The pandemic is still very much a thing, even if a number of Americans want to be vaxxed and done.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But Democratic governors who are lifting their mask mandates — a group that includes Colorado's Jared Polis, New Jersey's Phil Murphy, New York's Kathy Hochul, among others — probably are ahead of Biden on the politics. While most Americans still favor indoor mask mandates in their states, that number is skewed by overwhelming support from Democrats. Elected Dems who want to reach beyond their base understand the mandates aren't universally popular.
That's why Biden's comments to Holt were a gift to those governors. It's traditional for state-level politicians to expand their appeal with shows of independence from their national parties, anyway. Biden's unpopularity — and the intensity of feeling on both sides of the COVID divide — amplifies the power of such a move. The president just drew the lines a little more brightly.
He also gave a promising politician like Polis the chance to play statesman. Polis went on Fox News this weekend to call for "civility and respect" from maskers and anti-maskers alike. "If you're somebody who doesn't like wearing masks, respect those who do," he said. "If you're somebody who likes wearing masks, please respect those who don't." It's the kind of unity message that has carried a couple of Democrats to the White House during this century. Biden might not fully agree with Polis, but he probably understrands.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Backbench rebellions and broken promises: is it getting harder to govern?
Today's Big Question Backbench rebellions and broken promises: is it getting harder to govern?
-
Glastonbury and the BBC: time for a change?
Talking Point Furore over Bob Vylan broadcast could 'mark the end' for streaming festival live
-
Hotels with kitchen gardens for a foodie weekend away
The Week Recommends Feast on seasonal produce straight from the veg patch at these country retreats
-
Zohran Mamdani: the young progressive likely to be New York City's next mayor
In The Spotlight The policies and experience that led to his meteoric rise
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Some mainstream Democrats struggle with Zohran Mamdani's surprise win
TALKING POINT To embrace or not embrace? A party in transition grapples with a rising star ready to buck political norms and energize a new generation.
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
DNC rocked by high-profile departures as future is in question
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Generational shifts, ambiguous priorities, and the intensifying dangers of the Trump administration have pushed the organization into uncertain territory
-
Trump tells ICE to hit blue cities, spare farms, hotels
Speed Read Trump has targeted New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles among other cities
-
Is Trump's military parade 'just a parade'?
Talking Point Critics see an 'echo of authoritarianism'
-
'It was also a gift to music-lovers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day