Olivia Messer

As the Beast’s former lead reporter on COVID-19, Olivia has top epidemiologists on speed dial and has tirelessly covered super-spreaders, hot spots, shaky reopenings, and how this insanity could eventually end. She previously covered crime, breaking news, and politics. She has one eye on Texas at all times.

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‘EGO-DRIVEN TANTRUM’

The ‘Shameful’ End of a Crucial Texas Muckraker

It’s no exaggeration to say that without The Texas Observer, which will abruptly shut down this week, corruption will flourish in the Lone Star State.

Olivia Messer

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HOLDING OUT HOPE

She Only Has One Good Lung. She Can't Get the Vaccine.

Americans with serious preconditions are stuck in the dark—and the panic is escalating.

Olivia Messer

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Who Do You Know?

The State Where ‘Connections’ Are King in Vaccine Hunt

The vaccine process has been a disaster nationally, but some rollouts have gone worse than others.

Olivia Messer

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The Absurd Ways Desperate Old People Are Getting Vaccines

Left to beg their younger relatives—or random strangers—for help, older Americans say the rollout is going even worse than you think.

Olivia Messer

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CNN Reporter Breaks Down in Tears on Air Over COVID-19 Story

“I’m going to try to get through this,” she sobbed. “This is the tenth hospital that I have been in.”

Olivia Messer