Is the “chosen one” having doubts about whether the vaccine is safe?

2021 NBA All-Star Game

Source: Kevin C. Cox / Getty

Last night’s NBA All-Star Game was pretty ho-hum. While we have a full appreciation for the fact that the guys were playing on behalf of HBCU’s and charities that support African-Americans, the game just isn’t the same when you can’t have all the pomp and circumstance that is inherent in All-Star Weekend. The fact of the matter is that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and having tens of thousands of screaming fans packed into a building just isn’t an option at this time.

That brings us to some interesting comments that face-of-the-league-baller LeBron James made last night prior to tip-off in Atlanta. During a House of Highlights interview, LeBron was asked if he would be taking the COVID-19 vaccine. His response was much coyer than we expected from him.

“That’s a conversation that my family and I will have and I pretty much I’ll keep that to a private thing. Obviously, I’ve seen Adam had his comments about the vaccination and whatnot. But things like that, when you decide to do something that’s a conversation between you and your family, and I’ll keep it that way.”

You can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth in the video below (FF to 20:30)

As with all things LeBron James related, these comments were ripe fodder for the internet to weigh in on one man’s personal decision to keep his health choices private. To be clear, LeBron James doesn’t owe anyone any explanation about how he and his family choose to deal with COVID. He is under no obligation whatsoever to share his thoughts with the general public.

That said, we mentioned our surprise at his coyness simply because LeBron is usually very vocal about things that adversely affect the Black community and COVID certainly qualifies as such. By no means does that make him an anti-vaxxer but our shallow level of surprise is still worth noting.

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This week in politics, the vibes are messy, alarming, and straight-up confusing. From late night TV being snatched off the air to vaccine policies getting hijacked, it’s giving “WTF is going on?” Let’s break down the headlines everyone’s talking about inside. First Amendment on the Chopping Block Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has been pulled from ABC, and Stephen Colbert’s show? Cancelled completely. The official line is murky, but the bigger picture is loud. Free speech is being tested under the Trump administration. While Trump once said he’d “honor” the First Amendment, recent moves suggest he’s working off a remix version that only benefits him. Case in point? The Guardian reports his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times. A judge already tossed it out, saying Trump’s claims about “false content” violated federal rules. Still, the fact that these lawsuits and cancellations keep happening has people questioning the future of free expression in America. CDC Shake-Up Sparks Health Concerns Meanwhile, over at the CDC, things are getting political fast. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has basically turned the agency upside down, firing all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with appointees that include vaccine skeptics. On top of that, the CDC director is out, high-level staffers are resigning, and decisions about vaccine safety are suddenly more about politics than science. Public health leaders are calling this move dangerous, saying it dismantles independent oversight just when Americans need clarity most. According to California’s government website, they are one of the few states pushing back on the federal government’s stance. California, Washington, and Hawaii aren’t taking it lying down. The states have formed an alliance pushing back on the feds, promising to keep vaccine guidance rooted in science, safety, and transparency. Their health officers are reviewing guidelines from trusted medical groups like the AAP and ACOG to ensure communities still have access to clinically recommended vaccines. Trump & Xi Meet About US TikTok’s Next Chapter And then there’s TikTok. After years of “will they, won’t they?” drama, Trump announced that he and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping approved a deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations. According to BBC, the plan reportedly hands control to a group of U.S. investors, sidestepping a shutdown. Trump called the call with Xi “productive” on Truth Social, and even, teased a face-to-face meetup at the APEC summit in South Korea this fall. From free speech battles to vaccine wars and TikTok drama, this week in politics has us all asking the same thing: WTFGO?

Global Grind