Schadenfreudelicious! Swanky Soirée Turns Swamp Superspreader
The elites of journalism and politics — 630 of them! — gathered just over a week ago for the 137th annual Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner. The New York Times describes the fête as “an annual white-tie roast between journalists and presidential administrations.” The dinner was held at the Renaissance Washington Hotel.
But all was not champagne and caviar — as of this writing, 73 of the glitterati who attended the bash have tested positive for the dread disease, COVID-19.
It’s not like the beautiful people were being careless. Fearful of catching the ‘rona, they canceled the dinner altogether for the past two years. And though they courageously held the event this year, “All guests at the Gridiron Club dinner were required to show proof of vaccination,” avers Gridiron President Tom DeFrank. (If you want to know how incestuously social the establishment politicians and prestige media who attend this sort of event are, check out DeFrank’s bio.)
But in spite of everyone’s innoculation state of grace, the newest variant in town — BA.2 — crashed the party. The New York Post reports that “At least three cabinet secretaries, several members of Congress, multiple White House officials and a large number of journalists are among the dozens to test positive.”
PART OF THE LIST
- Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo
Attorney General Merrick Garland
Joe Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens
Vice President Harris’s Communications Director Jamal Simmons
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas)
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Sen. Susan Collins (technically a Republican, but a squishy one)
Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.)
NYC Mayor Eric Adams