, Columnist
Why Republicans Are Turning Against Vaccines
It seems irrational for elected officials to put their own constituents at risk. But there is a political logic to it.
The politics of self-destruction.
Photographer: Erin Scott/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Get Jonathan Bernstein’s newsletter every morning in your inbox. Click here to subscribe.
Why are some Republican politicians suddenly turning against the coronavirus vaccines — and in at least one case, seemingly turning against vaccination in general? It seems to make no sense; it’s their own constituents who will suffer if their vaccination rates stay low. Indeed, that’s exactly what’s happening now, with more Republican states having the lowest vaccination rates and experiencing new surges of Covid-19. How can that work out for them?