Even after a federal judge ruled Monday against the CDC’s federal travel mask mandate, a new poll from AP-NORC shows that 56 percent of respondents favored forced masking on planes and other forms of public transportation. Twenty-four percent oppose such mandates, while another 20 percent have no opinion. (Who the heck doesn’t have an opinion at this point?!)

Not surprisingly, there’s a huge partisan divide. Fully 80 percent of Democrats want mandatory masks for planes, trains, and buses, while only 33 percent of Republicans do.

The poll was conducted by AP-NORC between April 14-18, with 1,085 adults participating via landline or cellphone. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.9 percentage points.

Party breakdown was 44 percent Democrat, 20 percent Independent, and 36 percent Republican. Make of that what you will.  The gender breakdown meanwhile was 48 percent male to 52 percent female.

It’s clear that the mask zealots are not going to give up easily. New York City–insanely–continues its forced masking policy for children 5 and under, while mandates at colleges and universities are actually on the on the rise.

It’s not clear that she’s suggesting you lie, but it sure sounds like it when she recommends saying, “I have an elderly mother at home, I’ve got a child with cancer at home. Will you please do me a favor?” At least she prefaces it by saying, “I know this sounds crazy…” Yes. Yes, it does.

Many question the effectiveness of mask mandates, however, with even the Washington Post admitting in February that “mask mandates didn’t make much of a difference anyway.” Meanwhile violence “up in the air” has surged, and the masks are clearly to blame. The conflicts are usually caused by a passenger refusing to mask up, or a Karen harassing someone who bares their naked face.

Here’s my favorite mask nut of the day (hat tip to Bonchie for the second picture):

A Covid mask mandate alarmist's story in two acts: pic.twitter.com/Nz8dArlE8Z

— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) April 20, 2022

Writer Ann Bauer has a great idea; let market forces take over.

TSA would add a "Precheck" or "Clear" style paid program where you can go through a security line only with masked flyers and agents.

Airports would designate lounges for masked travelers that charge a fee.

The market would respond if 56% of people actually wanted it.

— Ann Bauer (@annbauerwriter) April 20, 2022

If 56 percent of people really want to keep masks mandates, some aspiring entrepreneur should start a mask-only airline, “MaskAir” or something.  Maybe Elon Musk could start it; he can afford it.

Not everyone was sad that the mask mandates went away though. As RedState reported, there’s been a multitude of viral videos around the internet lately showing passengers cheering and celebrating the end of an era.

Pilot announces removal of mask mandate mid flight 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3CqC1CIJqj

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2022

Even as I’m writing this, though, the CDC and the Biden administration are fighting back, Fox News reports:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking the Department of Justice to proceed with its appeal of a ruling issued by a Florida judge on Monday which tossed out the Biden administration’s mask mandate for public transportation passengers.

They just can’t let go.