MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan defended school lockdowns during the pandemic and criticized conservatives for promoting “dangerous myths” about learning loss. Hasan emphasized that children were not immune to COVID-19 and accused those downplaying children’s deaths as misinformation. He highlighted the broader importance of school closures for overall public safety. Hasan also challenged claims that learning loss was insignificant and pointed out the societal impact of the pandemic on orphaned children. He asserted that closing schools was necessary to prevent more deaths. The Department of Education reported the largest reading score decline in three decades following the pandemic. Hasan has been a vocal supporter of school shutdowns amid the pandemic.
