Fauci Denies He Wanted to Close Schools

What happened in this episode?

In this short segment from Honestly with Bari Weiss, the discussion focuses on Anthony Fauci’s role in US Covid-19 school-closure decisions. Weiss references Fauci’s public remarks in interviews, including a reported July 2022 exchange with The Hill in which he said he did not recommend locking down anything, and asks what Fauci’s “diaries” show about his private involvement.

The guest claims the diary entries describe Fauci’s conversations with a senior aide to California governor Gavin Newsom and with New York City mayor Bill de Blasio. The guest specifically alleges that Fauci urged de Blasio to close schools in spring 2020, arguing this contradicts the narrative that Fauci did not push school closures. They characterise Fauci as having embraced being the public face of the US pandemic response, citing the diary as evidence he was “happy to have that role”.

The guest also alleges Fauci criticised Florida governor Ron DeSantis on television in April and May 2020, including claims that DeSantis was “killing kids”, and argues Florida’s education outcomes ultimately compared favourably. The segment ends with the guest arguing that school closures produced lasting harms for children, including educational setbacks and, citing economic studies, a claimed link between reduced education and lower life expectancy.

No documents are presented in the audio; the claims rely on the guest’s description of the purported diary entries and their interpretation of Fauci’s public messaging.

What are the key points?

• Host cites Fauci’s public denials that he recommended lockdowns, including a reported July 2022 interview with The Hill.
• Guest points to what they describe as Fauci diary entries about calls with a top aide to California governor Gavin Newsom.
• Guest alleges Fauci privately encouraged New York City mayor Bill de Blasio to close schools in spring 2020.
• Guest argues Fauci’s daily TV presence made him a major driver of national pandemic-response messaging.
• Guest alleges Fauci attacked Florida governor Ron DeSantis in early 2020 over school policies.
• Guest argues school closures harmed children educationally and claims education levels are linked to life expectancy.

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

Bari Weiss Honestly

Published

20 August 2026

Duration

1m

Original episode

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