Editorial cartoons for Jan. 12, 2022: Omicron surge, a new year, Jan. 6 anniversary

After a brief hiatus, we’re back with a selection of the best editorial cartoons from the past few weeks.

Leading the gallery is Drew Sheneman’s depiction of a beleaguered healthcare worker holding together a frayed rope by a thread. As the Covid-19 pandemic approaches its third year, and the highly contagious omicron variant sweeps the country, medical professionals and hospitals are being stretched to their limits.

Editorial cartoonists also commented on the Biden administration’s failure to ramp up Covid testing, President Joe Biden’s statement in late December that states need to take the lead on pandemic response, and dashed hopes for a worry-free holiday season. Fans of “The Far Side” will note Mike Luckovich’s Covid-era homage to the classic Gary Larson cartoon, “The real reason dinosaurs became extinct.”

As the calendar flipped from 2021 to 2022, several artists relied on the “Father Time/Baby New Year” imagery that has been a staple of cartooning for decades. However, their words speak to this moment: Covid variants, vaccine hesitancy, Facebook’s misdeeds and even air fryers.

Another hot topic was the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election. Michael Ramirez leads with his depiction of the Republican Party at the Whitewash Dry Cleaner.

Cartoonists also commented on Biden’s stalled domestic agenda, including the demise of the Build Back Better bill; the spike in violence in Chicago and other U.S. cities; controversies at CNN and Fox News. The gallery ends with David Horsey offering a glimmer of light from a bright star: “Even in the darkest times, hope can be reborn.”

Cartoons were drawn by Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.

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