I think that there is increasing consensus among various federal agencies that the lab-leak theory is most likely, and there is evidence and testimony that the NIH was providing grant money which was funneled to the Wuhan lab for coronavirus research. (Though there is no evidence that any specific research which led to the creation of SARS CoV-2 was part of those grants). All of this is documented in the recent Congressional report and in other reporting, including in Vanity Fair, a liberal outlet. Though what Fauci may have known about this is anyone’s guess, the record does show that he backed the natural origin theory very early on before the matter was thoroughly investigated; there is also evidence that he directed other scientists, including one whose organization had also funded coronavirus research in Wuhan, to write a paper dismissing the lab leak theory as a conspiracy. He has offered varying explanations as to the level of his involvement in prompting and reviewing this paper when questioned. His conflict of interest in promoting a natural origin theory while serving as director of an institution funding the Wuhan lab, albeit indirectly, is troubling.
The issue of the origins of the pandemic should not be a partisan one, and the mere fact that people in the Trump administration, or even Trump himself, felt a lab leak was plausible should not make you dismiss it out of hand. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Otherwise, this is a funny article, but discrediting the lab leak theory is a cheap shot which undermines the impact.
I **KNEW** it! I always knew you were an alt-leftie, Cohen!
If that even is your real name. "Cohen". Like co-hen. Like half a lesbian couple. You're really one of those trans folks I keep hearing about that wants to do evil things in bathrooms (like smoking!) and won all the gold medals in the last Olympics by competing in the boys events just because it matched your sex at birth!
Nervous laughter as the ship sinks… We’re in the hands of a mad man who doesn’t know the first thing about running a government. I’m going to miss avocados.
Now that Dump is president again, I long for having "sleepy Joe" as president again over this destroyer of democracy. Even though he has been president for only a week, it does seem more like a year. And the price of eggs is soaring and he still has no plan! Wake up, America, and smell the aroma of fascism you voted into office!
No worries about finding votes in Georgia this time. With a phone call a person can have a voter removed from the roles. New law - 100s of 1000s removed. POOF. MILLIONS OF VOTES WERE SUPPRESSED to the tune of 2%-4%, when KAMALA lost by 1.4%. LOOK IT UP.
In her interview on Fox with Brett Baier, he gave her the opportunity to walk back her on-video enthusiastic support for taxpayer-paid sex-trait modification surgeries for prisoners. She refused. She said "That's a remote issue."
The Democrat-aligned PAC Blueprint 2024 did extensive post-election polling on 25 issues. The #1 issue for swing voters was "Kamala Harris is focused more on cultural issues like transgender issues rather than helping the middle class". This was #3 for all voters (behind inflation and immigration). "Kamala Harris is too soft on crime" was #17. "Kamala Harris would allow abortions in too many circumstances" was #21.
She chose to let her previous speeches on the subject stand after Trump made a big deal out of them. Credible analysis shows it was a significant factor in her losing the election.
It's fine with me if Democrats choose not to understand that. They will just keep on losing.
I don't disagree that Republican lies were a significant factor in her losing the election.
And the fact that Donny Convict convinced his cultists that something she said half a dozen years ago was more relevant than all the things she was saying during the campaign is more an indictment of them than her.
It remains that true that your original contention that the election was lost because Democrats were "trying so hard to keep boys in girls' sports and lockerrooms" remains a lie. It was not a focus of their campaigns, speeches or lies. That you had to reach back to years before to find something Harris said about it rather than anything more recent makes that obvious. And if you were honest you'd acknowledge that.
As if. But yes, not compromising on human rights is worth losing elections over. And it was the compromising on human rights by enabling and cheering the genocide in Gaza together with an unconscionable border policy that led to our deserved defeat.
Congratulations on this great piece, Ben.
What a perfect cartoon depicting Trump’s approach to overnment.
How can I get permission to use this in my next book? Elizabeth Graham
I think that there is increasing consensus among various federal agencies that the lab-leak theory is most likely, and there is evidence and testimony that the NIH was providing grant money which was funneled to the Wuhan lab for coronavirus research. (Though there is no evidence that any specific research which led to the creation of SARS CoV-2 was part of those grants). All of this is documented in the recent Congressional report and in other reporting, including in Vanity Fair, a liberal outlet. Though what Fauci may have known about this is anyone’s guess, the record does show that he backed the natural origin theory very early on before the matter was thoroughly investigated; there is also evidence that he directed other scientists, including one whose organization had also funded coronavirus research in Wuhan, to write a paper dismissing the lab leak theory as a conspiracy. He has offered varying explanations as to the level of his involvement in prompting and reviewing this paper when questioned. His conflict of interest in promoting a natural origin theory while serving as director of an institution funding the Wuhan lab, albeit indirectly, is troubling.
The issue of the origins of the pandemic should not be a partisan one, and the mere fact that people in the Trump administration, or even Trump himself, felt a lab leak was plausible should not make you dismiss it out of hand. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Otherwise, this is a funny article, but discrediting the lab leak theory is a cheap shot which undermines the impact.
I **KNEW** it! I always knew you were an alt-leftie, Cohen!
If that even is your real name. "Cohen". Like co-hen. Like half a lesbian couple. You're really one of those trans folks I keep hearing about that wants to do evil things in bathrooms (like smoking!) and won all the gold medals in the last Olympics by competing in the boys events just because it matched your sex at birth!
That was great! I’d like to send it to my stupid cult member brother and ex-husband.
Hey, Mark: is that really ALL you heard Kamala talking about--trans? Jesus.
Putins boy
Nervous laughter as the ship sinks… We’re in the hands of a mad man who doesn’t know the first thing about running a government. I’m going to miss avocados.
This is brilliant!
Frank Fukuyama is trying to save the country. Not sure what Mount is doing
Now that Dump is president again, I long for having "sleepy Joe" as president again over this destroyer of democracy. Even though he has been president for only a week, it does seem more like a year. And the price of eggs is soaring and he still has no plan! Wake up, America, and smell the aroma of fascism you voted into office!
No worries about finding votes in Georgia this time. With a phone call a person can have a voter removed from the roles. New law - 100s of 1000s removed. POOF. MILLIONS OF VOTES WERE SUPPRESSED to the tune of 2%-4%, when KAMALA lost by 1.4%. LOOK IT UP.
So, my fellow Democrats, was trying so hard to keep boys in girls' sports and lockerrooms REALLY worth losing the election over?
Show me where I can find the speech where Harris focused on trans people.
Go ahead. I'll wait.
In her interview on Fox with Brett Baier, he gave her the opportunity to walk back her on-video enthusiastic support for taxpayer-paid sex-trait modification surgeries for prisoners. She refused. She said "That's a remote issue."
The Democrat-aligned PAC Blueprint 2024 did extensive post-election polling on 25 issues. The #1 issue for swing voters was "Kamala Harris is focused more on cultural issues like transgender issues rather than helping the middle class". This was #3 for all voters (behind inflation and immigration). "Kamala Harris is too soft on crime" was #17. "Kamala Harris would allow abortions in too many circumstances" was #21.
Do the math.
https://blueprint2024.com/polling/why-trump-reasons-11-8/
“Show me the speech where she…” and all you can come up with was the nothing-but-attempts-at-gotcha-questions interview with a Fox propagandist?
Bzzzt. I’m sorry, wrong answer. Try again.
Post election polls show voters fell for Republican lies?
Nope. That’s also not an example of her campaigning on trans issues. That’s two wrong. You get one more try.
She chose to let her previous speeches on the subject stand after Trump made a big deal out of them. Credible analysis shows it was a significant factor in her losing the election.
It's fine with me if Democrats choose not to understand that. They will just keep on losing.
I don't disagree that Republican lies were a significant factor in her losing the election.
And the fact that Donny Convict convinced his cultists that something she said half a dozen years ago was more relevant than all the things she was saying during the campaign is more an indictment of them than her.
It remains that true that your original contention that the election was lost because Democrats were "trying so hard to keep boys in girls' sports and lockerrooms" remains a lie. It was not a focus of their campaigns, speeches or lies. That you had to reach back to years before to find something Harris said about it rather than anything more recent makes that obvious. And if you were honest you'd acknowledge that.
As if. But yes, not compromising on human rights is worth losing elections over. And it was the compromising on human rights by enabling and cheering the genocide in Gaza together with an unconscionable border policy that led to our deserved defeat.