Covidiots

The Hill reports: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said on Wednesday that his office was looking into “every avenue” to block the city of Austin’s mask mandate. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) lifted the state’s mask mandate on Wednesday, making it the latest out of over a dozen states to ease the coronavirus prevention method. However, the Austin City …

USA Today reports: A video that shows a ride-sharing passenger ripping off her mask, coughing on a driver, attempting to steal his phone and breaking the driver’s mask has prompted a police investigation and bans from both Uber and Lyft. San Francisco police say the incident occurred Sunday and a 32-year-old driver for Uber was the victim. The conflict began …

“It’s time for us to break free of the cycle of failed experts and frankly unconstitutional orders. If you are trapped in a blue state that won’t open up, that denies the data and the science, that bows to the teachers unions, it’s time to get — get up and either leave altogether, or get involved in politics, on the …

San Francisco’s CBS News affiliate reports: An Uber driver in San Francisco was assaulted and coughed-upon by a woman riding with two other women after he refused them service for not wearing masks, in an attack the driver captured on video. San Francisco police also said one of the women sprayed what is believed to be pepper spray into the …

Media Matter reports: So-called “vaccination exemption” cards — which have no legal basis — are being promoted on social media platforms, including Twitter, which just updated its policy against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. Despite this policy, tweets promoting online stores that sell these cards are still on the platform. In addition to “vaccination exemption” cards, fake “mask exemption” cards have been …

KIDO radio reports: Over 150 people rallied at the Idaho State Capitol today to rally against Governor Little’s emergency powers.Darr Moon of Free Idaho told the New York Times that the statewide event has been all local. Over thirty sites have organized mask burning rallies across the Gem State. Tom Munds of the John Birch Society told us, “The informed …

Miami’s NBC News affiliate reports: A South Florida gym owner is facing jail time for violating a county ordinance over the summer that required gyms and businesses to mandate masks in their premises. Mike Carnevale, the owner of Fitness 1440 in Plantation, was arrested three times over the summer and appeared before a judge Thursday. He is facing several charges …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: At Disney World, visitors are required to have their temperatures checked and they must wear masks at the four theme parks, hotels and Disney Springs. Many have praised Disney for putting strict rules in place and devoting employees to enforce them during the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 31,000 Floridians. But Orange County Sheriff’s …

“We’ve got people being released at the border right now who’ve got COVID — wait a minute, I listened to you, you listen to me! They’ve got COVID. They’ve got all kinds of diseases. They are being released into the United States! Now, you’re not going to tell me that a governor is going to shut me down and not …

Boise’s NBC News affiliate reports: It’s five words that many have likely heard their children or someone arguing in social media comments say; “I have done some research.” That’s also what Representative Karey Hanks (R- St. Anthony) said while speaking in support of a bill that would ban any sort of face mask mandate issued by local governments in Idaho. …

The Hill reports: The detention center officer, Isaac Legaretta, sued a county manager and his supervisor on Sunday, Bloomberg Law reported. The officer’s attorney, Ana Garner, said he was told he would be fired for refusing inoculation. The complaint claims the county manager and supervisor violated his rights by making the vaccine a condition of employment for first responders unless …

The Detroit Free Press reports: A Ferris State University professor has been fired after posting racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic comments on Twitter. Physical sciences professor Thomas Brennan announced the firing on Twitter Saturday His posts included the N-word regarding Neil deGrasse Tyson, a homophobic slur, COVID-19 denial, and comments about a “Jewish mafia” and COVID-19 being a “(J)ewish revolution,” according …

Orlando’s Fox News affiliate reports: A Delta Air Lines passenger is facing a $27,500 fine for allegedly assaulting a flight attendant amid a dispute over the flight attendant’s instructions and the airline’s mask policy, officials said. The FAA said the unnamed passenger was traveling with another person who refused to wear his mask, fasten his seat belt or put up …

The San Jose Mercury News reports: Anti-mask protesters returned to the Trader Joe’s in downtown Santa Cruz on Sunday but did not gain access to the store this time. Signs the protesters were wielding made references to loving one’s neighbor, breathing air freely, and stated, “Maskless Lives Matter.” One sign showed symbols of a circle-slash over a swastika. The choice …

Media Matters has the radio show transcript: HANNITY: When my number’s called, I’m going to get it. MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah, I know. You’re neurotic. You think that you have to get it. You think that it’s going to help something. They won’t know what’s in this thing. HANNITY: I believe in the science, I do. MCLAUGHLIN: Oh, you believe in the …

The Washington Post reports: An audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference heckled its hosts for urging them to wear masks after a series of speakers bashed the lockdowns in other states and criticized “authoritarian” coronavirus restrictions. “I know this might sound like a little bit of a downer, but we also believe in property rights and this is a …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: A Florida restaurant created a stir this month when it shared its anti-mask sign on social media. “FACE DIAPERS NOT REQUIRED! EVERYONE WELCOME,” declares the sign at BeckyJack’s Food Shack near Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. It’s accompanied by an image of a blue disposable mask overlaid by a red “banned” symbol, to indicate that the …

Bakersfield’s ABC News affiliate reports: The group came into a Trader Joe’s over the weekend and ignored calls from store employees to leave. They say they have the right to shop freely at a business open to the public without wearing masks, but Santa Cruz PD says that’s not the case. They say private stores can refuse service. The video …

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports: Hotel staff at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort asked two maskless men to cover their faces. When they refused, it was the lie they told that got them arrested, according to a federal complaint. Instead of calling COVID-19 a hoax or going off about the First Amendment, they told hotel staff they were U.S. …

Pat Robertson’s CBN reports: Christian actor Kevin Sorbo has become the latest example of Big Tech censorship after announcing Friday that Facebook had deleted his page. “Political correctness is word fascism. And Big Tech censorship is digital assassination,” Sorbo said. “I was quieted on Twitter and eliminated on Facebook. Because they deemed me as ‘less than human,’ they simply rescinded …