Today, a 30-year old woman I always considered quite reasonable, started talking about the "dangers of the vaccine re: fertility." She said, "The doctors I'm hearing from have said..." later saying that "the media is not reporting this."
Her sources were random YouTube videos.

She continued, saying, "If China DID do this on purpose, what's to stop them from doing it again, seeing how much it's hurt us?
(I reminded her that the entire planet (including China) has been decimated, but...)

She went on to say that she's "all for vaccines, just not THIS one."

The more she talked, the more disbelief came over me as I realized, "Wow, they got to her, too." This was not some unhinged stranger on Twitter. This was someone who I knew and who should know better.

It took me about a 30-second Google search to disprove her claims. I sent her some links to reputable medical websites, but I can already tell she will dismiss them. It was so deflating, because it reminds me how pervasive the MAGA lies run and how much work we have to do.

More and more, I see how relationally fractured we are and that it will get worse before it gets better. We're all going to have to face the re-tribing of our lives, as we choose between people we once loved and respected—and reality.

I know I'm not alone. I know we're all grieving the loss of friends and family, and I guess I just wanted to encourage you as you face the divides and the disconnections. You're in good company.