Liberating

A real sign of how far things fell under the last US Administration is to be found in the following. One doesn’t have to have any investment in the Democrats to feel that this is important when Anthony Fauci speaks about Covid-19.

“It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things like that, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based in scientific fact.”

“I take no pleasure at all being in a situation of contradicting the president, so it was really something that you didn’t feel that you could actually say something and there wouldn’t be any repercussions about it,” Fauci said.

“The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the science is and know that’s it, let the science speak – it is something of a liberating feeling.”

None of this is to endorse the current Administration, indeed in some ways they need to be watched even more closely than their predecessor because they clearly have an ability that is significantly greater – and with that comes a knowledge of how to use the system and structures to their own ends. But, it is good to see science and research being reified in this very specific context.

REPORTER: You've joked a couple times about the difference between the Trump and Biden administrations. Do you feel less constrained?

FAUCI: You said I was joking about it. I was very serious. I wasn't joking. pic.twitter.com/nyH4ow1zVj

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2021