South Dakota is, by any measure, one of the hardest-hit states by the coronavirus surge in the United States right now. Yet, amid a rapidly worsening situation Governor Kristi Noem is making sure people know that if President-elect Joe Biden moves to institute a national mask mandate, she won't comply. In his latest episode of The Point, CNN’s Chris Cillizza explains how Noem is choosing politics over safety to propel her national standing within the Republican Party. SOURCES AND FURTHER READING: Covid-19 Alert: The 10 Riskiest States To Visit Right Now, Ranked https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2020/11/14/covid-19-alert-the-10-riskiest-states-to-visit-right-now-ranked/?sh=6cd5394399bd If Joe Biden enacts mask mandates, lockdowns, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem won't enforce them https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/13/south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-wont-enforce-if-joe-biden-enacts-mask-mandates-lockdowns/6280673002/ Most states now require face masks to reduce the spread of Covid-19. These are the ones that don't https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/us/biden-mask-mandate-nationwide-trnd/index.html This Republican governor thinks she's nailed her state's Covid-19 response. She hasn't. https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/politics/kristi-noem-south-dakota-coronavirus/index.html CDC now says masks protect both the wearers and those around them from Covid-19 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/10/health/masks-cdc-updated-guidance/index.html About me: I was named "best dressed" in 7th grade. That, along with being CNN's editor at large and author of the daily "Point" newsletter are my proudest achievements. Look for me here every Tuesday and Thursday to find out what’s really going down in politics. CREDITS Writer: Chris Cillizza Producer: Allison Gordon The Point Editor: Leigh Munsil Video Editor: Steven Sevilla Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cillizzac/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cillizzacnn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.cillizza/ Subscribe to The Point newsletter: https://www.cnn.com/specials/politics/the-point-with-chris-cillizza?source=Point_Youtube. #CNN #Cillizza #Coronavirus