Names and faces

▪ Chris Evans became the most politically prickly “Avenger” a few years back with withering tweets about President Donald Trump and his Republican supporters. But the “Captain America” actor is staying relatively quiet during this presidential campaign, saying he wants to amplify the voices of elected officials instead and “combat the proliferation of misinformation.” Last month, Evans, 39, launched a civic engagement app and website called A Starting Point, featuring short videos from Republican and Democratic members of Congress and other U.S. politicians sharing perspectives on policy issues. Evans built the site with actor-producer Mark Kassen, a longtime friend, and tech entrepreneur Joe Kiani. It has three sections: One where Republicans and Democrats answers questions about broad longterm issues like immigration, climate change and gerrymandering; a second where politicians can upload solo messages about hot topics like Trump’s executive orders; and a third, “counterpoints” section, which highlights moderated debates, such as whether schools should reopen during the pandemic. The site is intended to educate, not advocate, Evans says. There are no view counters, like or dislike buttons, or comments sections. Some of the videos are fact-checked by an outside group. “This felt like it could cast the widest net because it actually removed my personal politics and just tried to offer information to people who may want to participate,” Evans said.

▪ Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks is asking younger people to wear masks and social distance to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and she’s doing it with a blend of statistics, harrowing language pulled from science and one of the “American Horror Story” seasons she appeared in. “If I get [covid-19], I will probably never sing again. Put me on a ventilator and I will be hoarse for the rest of my life — I don’t have much time,” the 72-year-old Nicks said in a social media post. Citing the number of people who had died in the United States since her previous covid-19 post — more than 22,000 in 13 days — Nicks warned against people who aren’t wearing masks or adhering to other safety guidelines. “The masks and the distancing have now become a political statement. It is not political. It is a silent killer hiding in the shadows. It is stalking you. It doesn’t care who you are … It’s just looking for a victim,” she wrote. On Twitter, she linked to a Washington Post story that focused on details about covid-19 and its after effects. “This virus can kill you. It can kill me. Kill my chances of pulling on those boots and hitting the road,” Nicks wrote, later declaring that younger people needed to stop thinking they are immortal and slap on masks. “This is a real American Horror Story. It is not a mini-series — It is a tragedy.”

Nicks

Evans