CNN Shares Harsh Words For Senator Ron Johnson

When the COVID-19 virus began to spread across the United States in early 2020, people were understandably concerned. 

In an attempt to gain as much knowledge about the virus as possible, many turned to the internet and news networks. During this time, we've seen conflicting opinions about COVID-19 across various platforms (via Pew Research).

Fake news about the virus, which has claimed more than 800,000 lives in the United States (as of this writing), has led to people putting their lives at risk during the pandemic (per the United Nations). Between prescribing themselves horse medication to avoiding the vaccine, many are failing to care for themselves properly due to the spread of misinformation.

Unfortunately, some of this false information has been shared by members of the government. As a result, the individuals whom these politicians represent are at risk. Now, news sources like CNN aren't holding back when it comes to putting these politicians in their place.

Recently, CNN's news program "Erin Burnett Out Front," temporarily hosted by Poppy Harlow, had Dr. Jonathan Reiner on as a guest (via Yahoo! News). The doctor and the host were talking about recent comments made by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin regarding COVID-19.

On Fox News this week, Johnson made some shocking comments about the virus. "We all hoped and prayed the vaccines would be 100 percent effective, 100 percent safe. But they're not," he said. "We now know that fully vaccinated individuals can catch COVID, they can transmit COVID. So what's the point?"

Dr. Reiner was not having it. "I'd say that he's so misguided that it makes me wonder whether this is all just an act," he said. "And if it is an act, what does that say about what he thinks his constituents want to hear? And if this is not an act, then he is just the most ignorant man in the United States Senate. And that says a lot."

He wasn't the only medical professional who shared concerns about Johnson's comments. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also weighed in when Johnson accused him of overhyping the virus as well as the AIDS epidemic (via CNN). 

"How do you respond to something as preposterous as that? Overhyping AIDS? It killed over 750,000 Americans. 36 million people worldwide," Dr. Fauci said. "How do you overhype that?" 

It seems Johnson isn't doing himself any favors right now.