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The CDC did not 'brand the lab-leak hypothesis a conspiracy theory'. The CDC stated the scientific truth, which was that we didn't have enough to go on at the

The CDC did not 'brand the lab-leak hypothesis a conspiracy theory'. The CDC stated the scientific truth, which was that we didn't have enough to go on at the time to make a judgement one way or another. The initial lab-leak hypothesis was primarily created by Trump & the MAGA folks to try to deflect blame onto China. It could still be valid and correct, but it was definitely not motivated from facts at first, and to my understanding we still don't have enough facts to assert it confidently one way or the other.

philipallstar 1y ago
If the two options are a) coming from a wet market vs b) coming from a coronavirus gain of function laboratory in Wuhan that's funded by the CDC, you have to start thinking about this more than just MAGA conspiracy theories. It's the most bloody obvious explanation, and in a sane world where "MAGA" didn't just turn off everyone's brain cells and cause them to blindly repeat what they're told, any alternative would need some serious heft to be convincing.
- mvdwoord 1y ago
  So much this. It was hard to watch.
- felixgallo 1y ago
  'coronavirus gain of function laboratory in Wuhan that's funded by the CDC' is misleading. The particular lab (Wuhan Institute of Virology) is not a 'coronavirus gain of function laboratory', but an institute studying viruses, including the coronavirus, and including gain of function research. And, critically, "the viruses used in these experiments were not physically present but rather consisted of synthesized genetic sequences, meaning they were not complete, nor infectious viral particles capable of replication, and the pseudo-virus experiments conducted to test human cell entry lacked the ability to replicate." (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12040609/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12040609/). It's possible that WIV did screw up and create, intentionally or otherwise, the virus responsible for the pandemic. And, WIV has been linked with military research programs. But, it's not a slam dunk, and the best/widest scientific consensus is still, in 2025, that the origin was natural/biological and came as a result of human/wild-animal contact.
- SpicyLemonZest 1y ago
  I don't know how you could read this story as anything other than complete vindication of the people who turn off their brains and refuse to listen to anything "MAGA" has to say. I wasn't in their camp, I thought Kennedy was going to be fine, and now he's working full time to make sure Americans get more diseases and fewer treatments.
- aredox 1y ago
  The most bloody obvious explanation is a natural origin, exactly like the first SARS. Did you forget about that was also a coronavirus outbreak, a close cousin of the COVID-19 (whose real name is SARS-cov-2) that was more lethal (but less contagious, and contained thanks to the heroic efforts of Hong Kong and south Korea)?
  - aredox 1y ago
    The clique downvoting my post can suck it: SARS-CoV-1 as well as MERS are more lethal than SARS-CoV-2 (aka COVID-19), and nobody doubts they are perfectly natural - that is until RFK jr and the crazies around him on day begin to lie they are bioengineered, the same way they lie about Lyme disease, vaccines, autism, antidepressants and their FUD-du-jour.
- UncleMeat 1y ago
  Given precisely that amount of information, sure. But people dig in further and it complicates things. We don't just go "ugh jeez isn't it obvious" and turn our brains off.

philipallstar 1y ago

If the two options are a) coming from a wet market vs b) coming from a coronavirus gain of function laboratory in Wuhan that's funded by the CDC, you have to start thinking about this more than just MAGA conspiracy theories. It's the most bloody obvious explanation, and in a sane world where "MAGA" didn't just turn off everyone's brain cells and cause them to blindly repeat what they're told, any alternative would need some serious heft to be convincing.

mvdwoord 1y ago
So much this. It was hard to watch.
felixgallo 1y ago
'coronavirus gain of function laboratory in Wuhan that's funded by the CDC' is misleading. The particular lab (Wuhan Institute of Virology) is not a 'coronavirus gain of function laboratory', but an institute studying viruses, including the coronavirus, and including gain of function research. And, critically, "the viruses used in these experiments were not physically present but rather consisted of synthesized genetic sequences, meaning they were not complete, nor infectious viral particles capable of replication, and the pseudo-virus experiments conducted to test human cell entry lacked the ability to replicate." (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12040609/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12040609/). It's possible that WIV did screw up and create, intentionally or otherwise, the virus responsible for the pandemic. And, WIV has been linked with military research programs. But, it's not a slam dunk, and the best/widest scientific consensus is still, in 2025, that the origin was natural/biological and came as a result of human/wild-animal contact.
SpicyLemonZest 1y ago
I don't know how you could read this story as anything other than complete vindication of the people who turn off their brains and refuse to listen to anything "MAGA" has to say. I wasn't in their camp, I thought Kennedy was going to be fine, and now he's working full time to make sure Americans get more diseases and fewer treatments.
aredox 1y ago
The most bloody obvious explanation is a natural origin, exactly like the first SARS. Did you forget about that was also a coronavirus outbreak, a close cousin of the COVID-19 (whose real name is SARS-cov-2) that was more lethal (but less contagious, and contained thanks to the heroic efforts of Hong Kong and south Korea)?
- aredox 1y ago
  The clique downvoting my post can suck it: SARS-CoV-1 as well as MERS are more lethal than SARS-CoV-2 (aka COVID-19), and nobody doubts they are perfectly natural - that is until RFK jr and the crazies around him on day begin to lie they are bioengineered, the same way they lie about Lyme disease, vaccines, autism, antidepressants and their FUD-du-jour.
UncleMeat 1y ago
Given precisely that amount of information, sure. But people dig in further and it complicates things. We don't just go "ugh jeez isn't it obvious" and turn our brains off.