It began as a question at the daily White House briefing. A reporter wanted to know why Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had suddenly banned vaccine mandates in his state. On Monday, Abbott signed an executive order banning mandates “by any entity.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki answered with one word — “Politics.” Then she added:

“When you make a choice that’s against all public health information and data out there, it’s not based on what is in the interest of the people you are governing”

Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary