There's NEVER a COVID pandemic. What changes, in US and world?

[Skill and Chance]

There wouldn't have been a recession in 2020, meaning that we'd likely be experiencing a record 12 years of straight growth after the GFC.

George Floyd is maybe never murdered, and if he is it captures way less attention and doesn't spark as many riots/protests as IRL.

2020 election turnout is still historically high, although lower than observed IRL because of less mail-in voting.

Obviously there are thousands upon thousands of other differences between ours and a pandemic-free world, but that's what jumps out at me immediately.

Is Trump still President?

Almost surely.  Given recent polling error, he was headed for a narrow PV win before COVID.

[Skill and Chance]

It would be interesting if COVID and Monkeypox were switched, with Monkeypox occurring in early 2020 and COVID being delayed until May of 2022.

The Dems win big on that 2022.

On the other hand, monkeypox being its own independent story and not overshadowed by years of COVID almost surely would have played in favor of social conservatives in 2020.

[Skill and Chance]

It would be interesting if COVID and Monkeypox were switched, with Monkeypox occurring in early 2020 and COVID being delayed until May of 2022.

The Dems win big on that 2022.

On the other hand, monkeypox being its own independent story and not overshadowed by years of COVID almost surely would have played in favor of social conservatives in 2020.

Probably right. I am thinking that some cities and states still might have done lockdowns and things like mask and glove mandates in 2020 due to Monkeypox, although they might have only lasted a few months at the most.

I think it would be more like rural state governors testing everyone who comes off a flight from NYC or San Francisco for a few months, and the the left/right polarization on whether that was appropriate would be reversed.

[Skill and Chance]

It would be interesting if COVID and Monkeypox were switched, with Monkeypox occurring in early 2020 and COVID being delayed until May of 2022.

The Dems win big on that 2022.

On the other hand, monkeypox being its own independent story and not overshadowed by years of COVID almost surely would have played in favor of social conservatives in 2020.

Probably right. I am thinking that some cities and states still might have done lockdowns and things like mask and glove mandates in 2020 due to Monkeypox, although they might have only lasted a few months at the most.

I think it would be more like rural state governors testing everyone who comes off a flight from NYC or San Francisco for a few months, and the the left/right polarization on whether that was appropriate would be reversed.

There's no real reason to think this. Liberals being hypocritical doesn't mean conservatives are. It's forgotten now, but right-wing skepticism of COVID restrictions didn't rise because Trump was against them: conservative skepticism rose even when Trump was supporting restrictions. Conservatives would oppose mandatory Monkeypox testing. Left-wingers are only pretending otherwise because they're trying to avoid responsibility for their own pandemic hysteria.

 In 2014, it was the conservative base demanding stricter ebola quarantine measures while the Obama administration took a very hands off approach.  At the beginning of 2020, when the COVID debate was solely over whether to limit international travel, conservatives supported the travel restrictions and liberals generally opposed them.

[Skill and Chance]

It would be interesting if COVID and Monkeypox were switched, with Monkeypox occurring in early 2020 and COVID being delayed until May of 2022.

The Dems win big on that 2022.

On the other hand, monkeypox being its own independent story and not overshadowed by years of COVID almost surely would have played in favor of social conservatives in 2020.

Probably right. I am thinking that some cities and states still might have done lockdowns and things like mask and glove mandates in 2020 due to Monkeypox, although they might have only lasted a few months at the most.

I think it would be more like rural state governors testing everyone who comes off a flight from NYC or San Francisco for a few months, and the the left/right polarization on whether that was appropriate would be reversed.

There's no real reason to think this. Liberals being hypocritical doesn't mean conservatives are. It's forgotten now, but right-wing skepticism of COVID restrictions didn't rise because Trump was against them: conservative skepticism rose even when Trump was supporting restrictions. Conservatives would oppose mandatory Monkeypox testing. Left-wingers are only pretending otherwise because they're trying to avoid responsibility for their own pandemic hysteria.

 In 2014, it was the conservative base demanding stricter ebola quarantine measures while the Obama administration took a very hands off approach.  At the beginning of 2020, when the COVID debate was solely over whether to limit international travel, conservatives supported the travel restrictions and liberals generally opposed them.

Sure. Conservatives believe in using national borders to keep out diseases to the maximum extent possible. But we don't support violations of citizens rights, like mandatory testing for internal travel or lockdowns.

What about (temporary) state border closures?  That seems like a gray area?