Panic Attack
Playing Politics with Science in the Fight Against COVID-19

“Follow the science” is whatthey said. “Follow our politics” is what they meant. In PanicAttack, nationally bestselling author and physician Nicole Saphieruncovers the hypocrisy and hysteria which has characterized so much of theAmerican pandemic response. While journalists trumpeted the importance offollowing science to “flatten the curve,” they praised Governors Andrew Cuomoand Phil Murphy, who sanctioned ill-equipped nursing homes to takeCOVID-positive patients, leading to an enormous death spike for New York andNew Jersey. Plus, the old guard medical establishment captured by Dr.Fauci proved to be far too rigid during a health care emergency. While some state legislators are still concealingaccurate records of nursing home deaths, many others have made anti-sciencedecisions regarding re-opening plans; all of which fuel distrust and civilunrest. Democrat mayors like Bill de Blasio openly admitted that theirdecisions to keep schools closed were fueled by a “social contract” withteachers (that is: teachers’ unions), despite hard science saying this would beharmful.
When anti-science measures are continuouslyimplemented, the long-term consequences of such actionswill likely stay with us for years to come. The pandemic has resulted in afailure of government, much of which is unavoidable in a unique disasterscenario. However, the rampant politicization of science, from the origin ofthe virus to the simple concept of wearing facemasks, has hopelessly muddiedthe water, divided the country, and knee-jerk anti-Trumpism made it all worse.