now, at the time there were concerns about ppe shortages. and there not being enough ppe for firstg responders. but that's not what they said at first. in e-mails from 2020 fauci said masks were not likely to be effective and surgeon general jerome adams at the time said mats kz could increase the risk of catching covid. the guidance has been updated. it's evolved as we've come to understand that masks are an effective tool to limit the spread of the virus. but it would have been better to be up front about the need to makeou sure that first responde had enough masks first. now, listen, i'm not trying to beat a dead horse here about masking or rag on dr. fauci any more than he normally gets from critics and certainly those on the right. but that lack of candor early on created a little bit of doubt and confusion. and doubt and confusion leaves room for the bad faith actors, many of them in the republican party, on the right,f