It’s tough to have a sane political discussion in the United States these days, when seemingly every matter of American life is filtered through the fervor of partisan polarization. Anything or anyone backed by one side becomes sainted and infallible to its supporters, only to be automatically reviled, attacked, and besmirched by the other in response, obliging a further doubling down on the first position in turn — with the whole process often having little to do with reality. Just look at Anthony Fauci.

Fauci, who has effectively been the voice and face of US public health and medical science these past two years, this week announced he’ll be retiring as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) after serving in the position for nearly forty years. The news immediately sparked the reactions you’d expect.

From the Democratic side came the warm tributes to Fauci as a “hero,” a “once-in-a-century public health leader” who “always spoke to science,” and the implacable leader who refused to step away and “patiently offered the country his most informed advice,” despite everything lined up against him. Republicans, meanwhile, have vowed to investigate Fauci and called him a “coward.” “Someone needs to grab that little elf and chuck him across the Potomac,” said Florida governor Ron DeSantis. “Fuck you,” argued conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly. And, of course, every one of these insults spurs counter-recriminations on the other side.