Democrats’ About-Face on Masks

New York governor Kathy Hochul is not known for her bold leadership or willingness to court controversy. So, it must be painful necessity that has led the Empire State’s chief executive to conclude, however reluctantly, that the masks have to go.

“It’s time for a reset,” Hochul said at a Thursday press conference. “There’s obviously a problem here. This will be dealt with.” The “problem” to which the governor referred is the near ubiquity of identity-concealing face masks at what she called “vile and disgusting” antisemitic demonstrations in New York’s streets and on its college campuses. More than that, though, face masks have also become an accessory that facilitates petty criminality in cities across the country — a reality that convinced New York City mayor Eric Adams to advise local businesses against admitting masked patrons 16 months ago.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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New York governor Kathy Hochul is not known for her bold leadership or willingness to court controversy. So, it must be painful necessity that has led the Empire State’s chief executive to conclude, however reluctantly, that the masks have to go.

“It’s time for a reset,” Hochul said at a Thursday press conference. “There’s obviously a problem here. This will be dealt with.” The “problem” to which the governor referred is the near ubiquity of identity-concealing face masks at what she called “vile and disgusting” antisemitic demonstrations in New York’s streets and on its college campuses. More than that, though, face masks have also become an accessory that facilitates petty criminality in cities across the country — a reality that convinced New York City mayor Eric Adams to advise local businesses against admitting masked patrons 16 months ago.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.