Austin mayor blasts Abbott's lift of mask mandate, but says 'Neanderthal' is 'not a word I would have used'

Austin’s Democratic Mayor Steve Adler blasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift the statewide mask mandate, but said that President Biden’s “Neanderthal” comment was “not a word that I would have used.” 

"I'm disappointed that the mandate is being withdrawn. Our governor has said that it's still important to wear masks, and I appreciate that. But by removing the mandate, I think we create an ambiguity. There are many people in the state that are hearing that as a message that masking doesn't work, it's not effective, or that we're past concern on the virus. And that ambiguity and communication is what I have the biggest issue with," the Austin mayor continued.  Both Texas and Mississippi announced this week that they would be lifting coronavirus restrictions on businesses and removing their statewide mask mandates.