It appears we’re entering the phase of the pandemic when even the pettiest of tyrants are beginning to see the absurdity of their mandates. But don’t give them full credit just yet. With the public pressure mounting and tolerance for bureaucratic edicts waning, they didn’t really have a choice.

Look no further than Washington, D.C. This week, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the district-wide vaccine mandate for restaurants, bars, gyms, and other entertainment venues would come to an end on Feb. 15, just one month after its enactment. The indoor mask mandate now expires on Mar. 1.