The Daily

How a Sudden Mask Ruling Left the C.D.C. Reeling

Apr 26, 2022

Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a health policy correspondent for The New York Times, and Heather Murphy, a travel reporter, dive into the fallout from a Florida judge's unexpected ruling that overturned the CDC's mask mandate for travelers. They discuss the chaos that ensued among passengers, the legal challenges against the mandate, and the potential lasting effects on the CDC’s authority. Insights into how this decision could impact future public health responses, especially in emergencies, highlight the delicate balance between individual rights and governmental power.

40:44

Creator website

Episode guests

Heather Murphy

Sheryl Gay Stolberg

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Origins and Fallout of the Transportation Mask Mandate

11min

A Sudden Shift in Mask Policy: Chaos in the Skies

3min

Legal Maneuvering Post-Mask Mandate Ruling

10min

Implications of a Court Ruling on Public Health Authority

3min

Current Events and Global Tensions: Twitter's Acquisition and U.S. Responses to Russia

3min

In January 2021, one of President Biden’s first big moves in office was to sign an executive order mandating masks in airports and on planes and other forms of public transit.

But an unexpected ruling from a judge in Florida has abruptly and unexpectedly overturned that mandate — and the implications of the decision could tie the government’s hands when it comes to future health emergencies.

Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a Washington correspondent covering health policy for The New York Times; and Heather Murphy, a reporter covering travel for The Times.

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Background reading:

In the end, the mask mandate was brought down by a little-known nonprofit, a conservative judge, and chance.
While the C.D.C. wants to keep the mandate intact, appealing the ruling is risky: If the Florida decision is upheld, it could permanently weaken the agency’s authority.

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