Fauci squirms as CNN questions mask mandates.

Watch: ‌Fauci⁢ Squirms​ as He​ Realizes Not Even CNN Will Blindly Go Along with⁤ Mask Mandates This ‌Time

Well, ⁣color this writer mildly surprised.

Looks like CNN —​ or at⁣ least⁢ some on the beleaguered network — actually⁢ grew a backbone ‌since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.

CNN host Michael Smerconish (who, in fairness, ‌is about as ‌reasonable of a voice on the leftist network as you will find) spoke to former NIH head and COVID-19 czar Dr. Anthony Fauci on his Saturday CNN show, “Smerconish.”

It was, legitimately, probably the best six or so minutes of television that CNN has aired — perhaps, ever — because it refused to give‍ an easy pass to Fauci.

It’s a marked difference from ‍when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit ‌and CNN​ saw‌ fit to shame anyone ⁤who ⁣wasn’t in ‍lockstep with ⁤draconian government⁢ measures, like ‍mask mandates.

Speaking of, the best part of ⁤the entire Smerconish-Fauci interview was when the topic ⁢of masking came up.

You ​can watch ​the relevant segment ⁢below:

Citing a February New⁢ York Times⁢ opinion piece, Smerconish shared with Fauci some of the findings from a January Cochrane Library study.

That study found (and Smerconish read this word for word): ⁣“The‌ most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of​ scientific⁤ studies conducted on the ⁢efficacy ⁤of masks for reducing ⁣the‍ spread of respiratory illnesses — including Covid-19 —​ was published late last month. Its conclusions, said Tom Jefferson, the Oxford epidemiologist who is its lead​ author, were unambiguous.

“‘There is just no evidence ‌that they’ — masks — ‘make any⁢ difference,’ Jefferson told⁤ journalist Maryanne Demasi. ‘Full⁤ stop.’

“But,⁣ wait,⁣ hold on. ​What about N-95 ‌masks, as opposed to lower-quality ⁢surgical or⁢ cloth masks?

“’Makes no difference — none of⁣ it,’ said Jefferson.

“What about​ the ‌studies that initially persuaded ⁤policymakers to impose mask mandates?

“’They were convinced‍ by nonrandomized studies, flawed observational studies.’”

(As a quick aside,​ this writer, and most Americans, probably would’ve paid good‌ money to‌ be the‌ ones to⁣ personally read those findings to ‌Fauci’s face.)

“How do we get ⁣beyond that finding ​of that particular review?”⁤ Smerconish ⁣asked Fauci.

Here’s where Fauci, as he is wont to do, utterly refused‍ to⁤ take any semblance of self-responsibility (an⁣ alarming trend from everyone involved with‍ those horrific COVID-19 lockdowns) ⁤and disputed the above study by noting that‌ … there were ‍other studies.

Yes, ‌this supposed bastion of ⁤intelligence used the sort⁢ of argument ⁣you ⁢wouldn’t expect from a junior high‍ debate student, let alone one of the leading⁢ “experts” in the country.

“Yeah, but there are other studies, Michael,” Fauci responded. He then proceeded to offer‌ up⁢ a Kamala-esque​ word salad⁣ about how⁤ some studies do show benefits at an individual level, but it may⁢ not reflect on a ⁣more macro scale.

Which … duh? Of course, someone‌ with certain medical issues may receive some partial benefit ⁣from masking up,‌ but that hardly means it’s some sort of cure-all.

Immediately after that, Smerconish very timidly called out Fauci and his cohorts for shutting the country down and highlighted the⁤ demonstrably horrible ⁤effects ​it had ‍on children.

Fauci, again, offered little more than⁢ word salad and deflection.

Credit ⁤where credit’s due. Good for ‍Smerconish and CNN for holding Fauci’s feet to ​the fire — as ‍weakly as they did.

The whole thing is worth a view ‍(and boy, when’s the last​ time that’s been said⁤ about a CNN⁤ segment?) if only because it’s always fun to see Fauci squirm, especially as he tries to talk himself out of the disastrous ⁤choices‌ he ‍helped facilitate in 2020.

The post Watch: Fauci Squirms as He Realizes Not Even ⁢CNN⁢ Will Blindly Go Along with Mask Mandates This Time appeared first⁢ on The Western Journal.