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"That’s because the toxic presidency of Donald Trump poisoned discourse over nearly every important issue we have been facing over the past several years"

NO. That's because the Left put its hatred of Trump above *all* science. Your statement is as ignorant ss those attrbuting the wreckage of society to "the pandemic", when it was rabid, stupid, power-grabbing government reaction to "the pandemic" - plus endless leftwing media panic-mongering - that caused *all* the damage.

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Mar 4, 2022Liked by Michael Balter

Another excellent, finely balanced piece of reporting on a very important issue. For me, the key sentence is: "And critiques are also appearing online, from other scientists who have argued for nearly a year now that we don’t have enough evidence to decide either way—in large part because Chinese officials have withheld critical evidence about the pandemic’s earliest days." The fact that Chinese officials have withheld critical evidence, thus severely hindering an impartial scientific investigation, is simply appalling and should be firmly and unceasingly challenged by the scientific community. [Why is this not happening?] The obvious conclusion in the absence of cooperation is that China surely has something to hide. That government-driven concealment is the primary "conspiracy" that I see in all of the animated discussion about alternative hypotheses.

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Mar 4, 2022Liked by Michael Balter

Excellent balanced analysis, but I'd like to add a few concepts that were omitted to help evaluate the Natural vs. Lab theories.:

1/3 of the Wuhan Lab is a sealed CCP section. The International coalition worked in the other section. Is it possible that Eco Health Alliance or Peter Daszak lied about not moving forward with Furin Cleavage modifications or Shi shared this proposal with the CCP who did?

How did the Yuhan Horseshoe bat make it to a wet market 2000 mikes away? That is akin to an alligator viral breakout at Faneuil Hall in Boston. Especially when Shi has those DNA samples in the lab since 2014.

You accurately note the intermediary animal hasn't been found, but where is the analysis on the 4% genomic code deviation in the Horseshoe bat viral sequence which causes much of Covid's contagious spread and deadly impact on the vulnerable?

You correctly pointed out that China and Eco Health are hiding data. If it's Natural origin, then why hide it?

Like everyone else, I don't know for sure, but would love answers to these questions to help form the proper conclusion. Mainly to prevent it from happening again

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