The Covid-19 Pandemic: 5 Years Later
The Expert Lies, the Government Overreach, and the Lessons Learned
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of the Covid-19 response, seen “double-masking.” Photo: PBS News.
March 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the most disastrous overreach of government power in American history: the COVID-19 pandemic response.
What was initially presented as a two-week effort to "slow the spread" became a years-long nightmare of unconstitutional lockdowns, forced closures, and rampant lies from the mainstream media and the Biden administration.
As we reflect on the past five years, it is crucial to acknowledge the harm caused by lockdown policies, the hypocrisy of government officials, and the outright lies that fueled one of the most damaging periods in modern American history.
It would be impossible to capture all the absurdities enforced during this period—from mandatory masking for children as young as two years old, social distancing, and collectivist slogans like, “It’s for the greater good that you stay home.”
Around the world, people were bombarded with messaging designed to divide, instill guilt and shame, and justify the cruel and unjust treatment of those who dared to question lockdowns and mandates. Our hope is that as time passes, we will continue to reflect on the fear and propaganda pushed by unelected bureaucrats and global organizations.
May future generations learn from our resilience and find the courage to stand against authoritarian overreach in the years to come.
A Policy of Tyranny
By mid-March 2020, states across the country began enforcing sweeping lockdowns that upended daily life.
California, New York, and Michigan imposed some of the harshest restrictions, shutting down businesses, schools, churches, and even outdoor activities.
In Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer banned the sale of gardening supplies, preventing citizens from growing their own food. In California, playgrounds were taped off and police arrested surfers for daring to enter the ocean alone.
The distinction between "essential" and "non-essential" businesses was arbitrary and devastating. Big-box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon thrived, while small businesses were crushed under the weight of government mandates and forced closures.
Thousands of family-owned restaurants, gyms, and shops never recovered, forced into bankruptcy by restrictions that benefited only corporate giants. Those that opposed lockdowns and remained open for business were harassed by local health departments and faced daily fines.
The Hypocrisy of the Political Class
While Americans were told to stay home and sacrifice their livelihoods, the ruling class continued living their lives as usual.
California Governor Gavin Newsom infamously dined maskless at the upscale French Laundry restaurant while imposing strict mandates on his constituents.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was caught getting her hair done in a closed salon while publicly advocating for continued lockdowns.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot justified getting a personal haircut while forbidding others from doing the same, claiming that as a public official, she had a right to "look good."
The War on Churches and Schools
While liquor stores and abortion clinics were deemed "essential," churches and schools were shuttered for months—some for years.
Pastors were fined and even arrested for holding worship services. In California, authorities put chains on church doors, preventing worshipers from gathering.
Schoolchildren suffered unprecedented academic and social losses, with mental health crises soaring due to forced isolation.
In states like Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis prioritized keeping schools open, students fared significantly better than their counterparts in leftist stronghold states that kept them shut down for extended periods.
The Treatment of the Unvaccinated
As vaccines became widely available, the media and radical Left demonized those who chose not to take them. Unvaccinated Americans were vilified as "plague rats," accused of spreading the virus, and threatened with job loss and exclusion from public life.
A sign reads: “It’s In Our Hands Play Your Part.” Photo: Getty Images.
New York City implemented a vaccine passport system barring the unvaccinated from restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues.
President Biden himself declared that unvaccinated Americans faced "a winter of severe illness and death," a dire prediction that never materialized.
Meanwhile, vaccine efficacy dropped significantly over time. Initially, the public was told that the mRNA vaccines were "95% effective," yet breakthrough infections became common and began happening regularly.
Booster after booster was recommended as it became clear that the vaccines were far from the miracle cure they were promised to be. Still, mandates persisted, costing countless Americans their jobs and freedoms.
The Flip-Flopping of Dr. Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci became the face of the COVID-19 response, and his ever-changing guidance left Americans confused and frustrated.
In early 2020, he dismissed the need for masks, only to later insist that masking—even double-masking—was essential. When evidence showed that cloth masks were ineffective, the narrative shifted yet again.
Fauci also downplayed concerns over natural immunity, despite decades of established science proving its effectiveness. His credibility was further eroded when his private emails revealed that he knew early on about the potential Wuhan lab leak but dismissed it publicly as a conspiracy theory.
The Lies About COVID’s Origins
One of the most egregious examples of media and government deception was the cover-up of COVID-19’s true origins. When President Trump placed a travel ban on China in early 2020, he was called "xenophobic" by the Left.
The mainstream narrative insisted that COVID originated from a wet market in Wuhan, dismissing the possibility that it had leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology—despite overwhelming evidence suggesting otherwise.
Scientists who raised concerns were censored, and media outlets labeled the lab leak theory a "far-right conspiracy."
It wasn’t until years later that the FBI and Department of Energy admitted that the lab leak was the most likely origin.
Fighting for Freedom
While government officials attempted to silence dissent, millions of Americans took a stand against lockdown tyranny.
In states like Michigan and California, citizens gathered in massive protest rallies, demanding their freedoms back.
Parents fought to reopen schools, business owners defied mandates to save their livelihoods, and church leaders sued the government for their right to worship.
Governors like DeSantis and Kristi Noem of South Dakota became champions of liberty, refusing to buckle under pressure to enforce draconian measures.
Florida’s success in balancing public health with economic freedom proved that lockdowns were never necessary.
Never Again
Five years later, the damage caused by COVID lockdowns remains clear. Businesses are gone, children are still struggling to catch up, trust in public health is shattered, and many Americans remain unrepentant for their role in pushing authoritarian policies.
The lesson we must learn from this dark chapter in history is simple: Never again.
The American people must remain vigilant against government overreach and media lies.
When the next crisis arrives, we must stand firm in defense of liberty, reject mass hysteria, and refuse to surrender our freedoms in exchange for false promises of security, just as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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