The US government has some conflicting ideas about the origin of Covid
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The US Energy Department has concluded the Covid pandemic most likely originated from a lab leak, according to a new classified intelligence report that was recently shared with top US lawmakers and first reported on by the WSJ. Though like pretty much everything in life besides death and taxes, this conclusion is far from certain.
📝 More details… The Energy Department oversees a network of 17 laboratories across the country, some of which conduct advanced biological research. Its Covid report was based on newly obtained intelligence, further study of academic literature, and consultation with outside experts, sources told the Journal – though they declined to provide any further information.
🏛️ Elsewhere on Capitol Hill: Eight federal agencies have investigated the virus’ initial source.
- Two agencies – the Energy Department and the FBI – have concluded that Covid likely leaked from a Chinese lab.
- Four other agencies say Covid was likely the result of natural transmission (meaning it passed from animals to humans).
- Two, including the CIA, are still undecided.
But despite the varying conclusions, all eight are in consensus that Covid wasn’t the result of a Chinese biological-weapons program, per the Journal. And also worth mentioning: the FBI is the only agency to say it had “moderate confidence” in its assessment, versus a “low confidence” rating from the others.
🦠Zoom out: Earlier this month, the World Health Organization abandoned its plans for a follow-up investigation into Covid’s origins, citing the difficulties of doing field research in China and "politics across the world." The now-canceled investigation was announced after dozens of prominent scientists raised concerns that the WHO’s initial report, which concluded a lab-leak was “extremely unlikely” compared to natural transmission, had been influenced by China.
📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, which of the following is the most likely explanation for Covid’s origin?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that we’ll never truly know whether Covid leaked from a lab or not due to Chinese interference – but it ultimately doesn’t matter, since that information has little to contribute to future global pandemic awareness.
- Others contend that regardless of whether or not Covid initially leaked from a lab, scientists around the world need to take all steps necessary to ensure that any potentially dangerous virus can’t escape into the world.
- “The Lab-Leak Theory Still Can’t Be Disproved. Should We Care?” –John Ehrenreich, Slate
- “Let’s Make Sure Lab-Grown Viruses Stay in the Lab” –Faye Flam, Bloomberg
- “Wuhan’s early covid cases are a mystery. What is China hiding?” –WaPo Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the most alarming part of the lab-leak hypothesis was the lengths that some media organizations went to suppress initial speculation that Covid could have leaked from a lab – to the overall detriment of the American public.
- Others contend that now that Republicans have taken back control of the House, they can start launching impartial investigations that Democrats have been loath to pursue, and perhaps may finally find out the truth about Covid’s origins.
- “COVID lab leak is a scandal of media and government censorship” –Jonathan Turley, NY Post
- “COVID panel will look for real answers” –The Republican Editorial Board
- “The media's startling incuriosity about COVID-19's origin” –Peter Laffin, Washington Examiner
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