Crash Course: Virginia students lose the masks

Plus: Is that COVID in your eye? none Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none Schools are suing Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin over his executive order ending a school mask mandate During his campaign against former Democratic governor Terry McAuliffe, Glenn Youngkin sought to distance himself from former President Donald Trump and was described as a "moderate conservative" in the mainstream press. Yet he has gone full Ron DeSantis after taking office, issuing nearly a dozen executive orders on his first day that hit many of the biggest conservative culture-war issues. Youngkin, a former private equity executive, issued an order barring school mask mandates, despite vowing on the campaign trail that he would allow local governments to decide their mask policies. He also issued orders banning employer vaccine requirements and the teaching of "critical race theory" — which is not taught in public schools — and slashing government regulations. On Monday, Youngkin announced a special tip line for parents to report teachers who discuss "divisive" topics in the classroom. He has also nominated former Trump EPA chief Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist who decimated federal environmental protections, to be his secretary of natural resources. Flashback: [Keeping the Big Lie alive after Virginia: Maybe Glenn Youngkin was a fake?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMDkva2VlcGluZy10aGUtYmlnLWxpZS1hbGl2ZS1hZnRlci12aXJnaW5pYS1tYXliZS1nbGVubi15b3VuZ2tpbi13YXMtYS1mYWtlL1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) [Learn more.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvdHJ1bXAtaW4tYS1yZWQtdmVzdC1zY2hvb2wtZGlzdHJpY3RzLWdsZW5uLXlvdW5na2luLWFmdGVyLXNvLWNhbGxlZC1tb2RlcmF0ZS1nb2VzLWZ1bGwtbWFnYS9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) none none Is that COVID in your eye? You've likely seen them around town: the face-shield wearers, in grocery stores, behind counters, and in medical settings. The plastic sheaths over their faces resemble visors without the straps, or motorcycle helmets without the actual helmet. These face shields look like they'd easily stop a loogie or a spitball. But do they really stop COVID? Or are they "pandemic theater," as we've come to call protective measures that look robust but do little? The answer to that is a bit muddled, but there are a few data points. A study from nursing homes in the midwest found that staff was able to drastically lower COVID-19 spread by requiring employees to distance, wear face masks and don face shields. We don't know individually how face shields stack up, but together with other PPE, they seem to work. Still, in order for face shields to really work, that would mean COVID would have to spread through the eye. And is that happening? According to one scientist with whom Salon spoke, perhaps — but it is probably not common. [Read the full story.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0QxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvZmFjZS1zaGllbGQtcHBlL1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Photo via Getty Images) none - A court [strikes down](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvc3RyaWtlcy1kb3duLWFsYWJhbWEtZ29wcy1yZWRpc3RyaWN0aW5nLW1hcHNfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Alabama GOP's racist redistricting maps. - A Wisconsin judge [blocks hospital workers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvd2lzY29uc2luLWJsb2Nrcy1ob3NwaXRhbC13b3JrZXJzLWZyb20tc3RhcnRpbmctbmV3LWpvYnMtd2l0aC1iZXR0ZXItcGF5X3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) from starting new jobs with better pay. - Very meta: Laura Ingraham breaks out a self-parody by [imitating Kate McKinnon's impression](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvYnJlYWtzLW91dC1hLXNlbGYtcGFyb2R5LWJ5LWltaXRhdGluZy1rYXRlLW1ja2lubm9ucy1pbXByZXNzaW9uLW9mLWhlci9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) of her - Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkin calls on parents to [report teachers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvdmlyZ2luaWFzLW5ldy1nb3Zlcm5vci1jYWxscy1vbi1wYXJlbnRzLXRvLXJlcG9ydC10ZWFjaGVycy1mb3ItZGl2aXNpdmUtc3ViamVjdHNfcGFydG5lci9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) for "divisive" subjects - Antiwar critics [blast Pelosi](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjYvYW50aXdhci1jcml0aWNzLWJsYXN0LXBlbG9zaS1vdmVyLXByb3Bvc2VkLTUwMG0tbWlsaXRhcnktYWlkLXRvLXVrcmFpbmVfcGFydG5lclcDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) over her fast-tracking $500 million in military aid to Ukraine. - COVID-19 is making us [lose our religion](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjYvcmVsaWdpb24tYXR0aXR1ZGVzLXN0dWR5L1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). - U.S. troops are on standby as [tensions with Russia worsen](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvdXMtdHJvb3BzLW9uLXN0YW5kYnktYXMtdGVuc2lvbnMtd2l0aC13b3JzZW4tb3Zlci1wb3NzaWJsZS11a3JhaW5lX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) over a possible Ukraine war. - In an op-ed, Elayne Clift writes that [women will never forget](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0QxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvZWxheW5lLWFib3J0aW9uL1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) how the Supreme Court has eroded their rights. - New York City's public housing authority wants to transform the market for [clean heat](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvaG93LW55Y3MtcHVibGljLWhvdXNpbmctYXV0aG9yaXR5LXBsYW5zLXRvLXRyYW5zZm9ybS10aGUtbWFya2V0LWZvci1jbGVhbi1oZWF0X3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). - Commentary: We need a deep state — just [not in the way Trumpers mean it](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvdG8tc2F2ZS1kZW1vY3JhY3ktd2UtbmVlZC1hLWRlZXAtc3RhdGUtLWJ1dC1ub3QtdGhlLXdheS10aGUtdHJ1bXBlcnMtbWVhbi9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Neil Young is [protesting Spotify](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvbmVpbC15b3VuZy1zcG90aWZ5LWpvZS1yb2dhbi1hbnRpLXZheHgvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) over Joe Rogan's propensity for spreading COVID misinformation. - Are we headed for a [second Dust Bowl?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvZHVzdC1pcy1hLWdyb3dpbmctcHJvYmxlbS13aGF0LXJvbGUtZG9lcy1mYXJtbGFuZC1wbGF5X3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Read Julia Child's [favorite soup recipe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvd2hhdC1qdWxpYS1jaGlsZHMtZmF2b3JpdGUtc291cC1yZWNpcGUtdGVhY2hlcy11cy1hYm91dC10aGUtYXJ0LW9mLWNvb2tpbmcvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). - After slamming Taylor Swift's songwriting, Blur frontman Damon Albarn [continues to play the victim](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvdGF5bG9yLXN3aWZ0LWRhbW9uLWFsYmFybi1ibHVyLWdvcmlsbGF6LWNvbmNlcnQvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Netflix's "[Archive 81](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvYXJjaGl2ZS04MS1uZXRmbGl4LXZpZGVvdGFwZS9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)" taps into nostalgia, obsession, and an analog mystery. Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0QgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to receive Crash Course. none none Extremism isn't a "both-sides" issue False equivalences abound in the media retelling of the divide in American politics, writes Salon's Amanda Marcotte. "It's only been a year since a Republican president attempted to overthrow democracy to install himself illegally as president, summoning a violent mob to the Capitol to help with the task," she writes. "And even though Trump's entire party continues to support his coup and is engaging in what amounts to a national effort to make sure the next one succeeds, far too much of the mainstream media has reverted back to the comfy bothsiderism that treats the two parties as moral equivalents." [Learn more.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvZXh0cmVtaXN0LXBvbGl0aWNpYW5zLWFyZW50LWEtYm90aC1zaWRlcy1pc3N1ZS0taXRzLXN0cmljdGx5LWEtcGhlbm9tZW5vbi9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Photo via Getty Images/Salon) none - "'My Freshmen Are More like 7th Graders': Inside the Omicron-Era Classroom," [Esquire](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXNxdWlyZS5jb20vbmV3cy1wb2xpdGljcy9hMzg4NzA1NTkvb21pY3Jvbi12YXJpYW50LWNsYXNzcm9vbS10ZWFjaGVyLWludGVydmlld3MvVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "After 94 Years, It’s Time for the Academy to Recognize the Art Form of Stunt Work," [Hollywood Reporter](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG9sbHl3b29kcmVwb3J0ZXIuY29tL21vdmllcy9tb3ZpZS1mZWF0dXJlcy9vc2NhcnMtc3R1bnQtd29yay1yZWNvZ25pdGlvbi1ndWVzdC1jb2x1bW4tMTIzNTA3NjM4Ny9XA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "'We’re All Speculating': Inside the Wildly Hyped Metaverse Real Estate Rush," [Vice](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudmljZS5jb20vZW4vYXJ0aWNsZS96M256N3kvd2VyZS1hbGwtc3BlY3VsYXRpbmctaW5zaWRlLXRoZS13aWxkbHktaHlwZWQtbWV0YXZlcnNlLXJlYWwtZXN0YXRlLXJ1c2hXA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Hipster Megachurch in Shambles Over Pastor’s Alleged Affair," [The Daily Beast](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZGFpbHliZWFzdC5jb20vdmVudWUtY2h1cmNoLWluLWNoYXR0YW5vb2dhLWluLXNoYW1ibGVzLW92ZXItcGFzdG9yLXRhdm5lci1zbWl0aHMtYWxsZWdlZC1hZmZhaXJXA3NwY0IKYeDaN_FhblZqVVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "A Tinder Revenge Story," [New York Magazine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly9ueW1hZy5jb20vaW50ZWxsaWdlbmNlci8yMDIyLzAxL3RpbmRlci1zZWFuLXJhZC1iYXJyeS1kaWxsZXIuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) none none In historic bankruptcy settlement, the victims of OxyContin may get nothing at all. It is rare that a huge corporation messes up so bad and kills so many people that they go bankrupt. Such is the case of Purdue Pharma, makers of opioid OxyContin, who for years pushed a highly addictive drug on an unsuspecting public. The Department of Justice appointed a number of people to serve on the creditors' committee to figure out how to disburse the remaining funds. One of the former creditors, Ryan Hampton, writes in Salon about his dismay at the revelation that the victims of Purdue, including himself, might end up with absolutely nothing. The plan, as it stands today, is to release the Sacklers from civil liability, which would also "eliminate the $750 million that was to be divided among over 138,000 victim creditors," Hampton writes. "Without the Sacklers' substantial financial contribution to the overall settlement, there is no guarantee that victims will receive any compensation for the life-shattering losses they suffered." [Learn more.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjUvaW4tcHVyZHVlLXBoYXJtYS1zZXR0bGVtZW50LW94eWNvbnRpbnMtbWFueS12aWN0aW1zLW1heS1yZWNlaXZlLW5vdGhpbmctYXQtYWxsL1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Photo via Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, 19801 DE [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmHg2jfxYW5WalVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj07zYP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgph4No38WFuVmpVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)