A recent paper in JAMA IM claims that individuals who were Republican were more likely to die during the pandemic than Democrats were after vaccines were out. This paper happily fuels a narrative that Republicans died because they are stupid and didn’t get vaccinated.

Unfortunately, however, the paper is flawed— it can’t prove this case. Second, it is divisive— you could never say something so nasty about any other group, but it is acceptable to condemn Republicans. Third, and worst of all, it ignores the failures of Democrats— that failure been consistently ignored. Let’s take a close look at the paper.

First, NPR, proud defender of school closure and toddler masking, is happy to cover it… surprise, surprise!