Pandemic Politics: School Closures and Consensus

It appears that the United States may be at a turning point in the pandemic. The contagiousness of the Omicron variant has many people resigned to the fact that they probably will be infected; this variant is, relative to its predecessors and in most cases, milder; and there is universal vaccine access for those old enough to receive a shot. 

So, The Times commissioned a poll of 4,400 Americans to discover how they are thinking about the pandemic and gauge how, and when, we might pivot to living with the virus. 

We explore the results of this poll — and the divides in opinion by age, vaccination status and politics. 

Guest: David Leonhardt, a senior writer for The New York Times.

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Background reading: 

• The two Covid Americas: You can read David Leonhardt’s analysis of a poll about attitudes toward the pandemic here. 

For more information on today’s episode, visit 

nytimes.com/thedaily

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