Dreaming Of Our Post-Pandemic Lives. Plus: An Announcement

Matter of Opinion

New York Times Opinion

Society & Culture, Ross Douthat, News, New York Times, Journalism

4.2 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2021

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Michelle and Ross dream of a post-pandemic world. Michelle is ready to meet with friends again once vaccinated, and Ross wonders if the psychological stress of the pandemic has forever changed U.S. politics. Then they reflect on what they’ve learned from arguing with each other for more than two years. A note for our listeners: On Feb. 24, Jane Coaston will take the reins as host of “The Argument.” The show started in 2018 as a place for civil debate, a place that’s as much about listening as it is about talking. This mission isn’t changing. Jane will bring her years of reporting on politics (and sports!) to argue the issues shaping our politics and society. She’ll invite guests who disagree with her and one another, and encourage you to consider — or maybe even reconsider — your point of view. A huge thanks to our original team: David Leonhardt, Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and Frank Bruni. Keep listening, and you’ll hear them on the show as guests and sometimes agitators.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Michelle Goldberg.
0:01.7	I'm Ross Douthet, and this is the argument.
0:10.8	This week we talk about the pandemic finish line, vaccines and what comes after, and the
0:16.6	prospects for the return of normal life.
0:19.8	And then stay tuned after the break for some argument nostalgia and a special announcement.
0:31.6	The vaccination push in the United States is accelerating, we're averaging over a million
0:36.1	shots per day.
0:37.7	Two more vaccines are waiting in the wings, cases are falling nationwide, probably not from
0:42.7	the vaccine yet, but soon enough the impact should be felt.
0:46.2	It doesn't seem unreasonable to dream of big dinner parties and far-flung holidays.
0:51.8	But nobody knows what the post-vaccine future looks like.
0:55.1	Can people who've been vaccinated let down their guard, die now, go to the theater, or as
1:00.5	many public health officials have argued should restrictions stay in place, stay inside,
1:05.1	keep on masking, don't interact with strangers.
1:07.9	And if so, till when?
1:10.5	So Michelle, how do you feel about a post-pandemic world and how close does it feel
1:15.9	to you right now?
1:16.9	Well, it feels like it keeps getting further and further out of reach, right, especially
1:22.6	with the nightmare of the new variants.
1:26.6	There's public health experts, I think, who are frustrated by the public health guidance.
1:32.6	I do feel like every time somebody kind of starts saying, oh, once I get the vaccine, I'm
1:37.2	going to, you know, whatever they're going to do, you know, have a party.
	...

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