The Origin of Coronavirus

The politicization of the China lab-leak theory has only gotten worse as more and more ...

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The politicization of the China lab-leak theory has only gotten worse as more and more information surrounding it comes out. To talk about why that is, and the merits of the theory itself, is Josh Rogin of the Washington Post. Rogin has been doggedly reporting on this very subject and even wrote a book about it.

Show Notes:

–Chaos Under Heaven by Josh Rogin

–Josh’s Twitter page

–Josh’s Washington Post page

–Josh’s story on unsafe Wuhan lab

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Comments (44)
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  1. Mark Holmlund

    This was outstanding. Have Josh back to talk about the broader theme of his book. I maintain Chaos Under Heaven is perhaps the most important public policy book written this year, if not this century.

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    Anne W (Raw5254)

    The Dispatch just keeps getting better. Some great reporting and interviews!

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    Tom Westberg

    News Alert! BK has a new chicken sandwich and the public is waiting for the Isgur Review. Really. You can't those amateurs at the Washington Post get a lead on this!

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      RandyMc

      I think she did review it, but I tried it and it's disgusting.

      Now, let's see what KFC is out with...

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  4. Trumeau

    I really enjoyed Josh Rogin interview. It makes you mad at all these money given to China with no oversight. I am all for partnership to try to open an autocratic country like China. However at this point giving free money to the CCP so that they research on dangerous virus with no accountability makes no sense. It is not in our security interest. What is the value for the US security? I don’t see any and it’s even against our security because China uses that to build biological weapons and refuses any criticisms. I wholeheartedly agree with Josh let’s just stop giving taxpayers money to China for that and screw Anthony Fauci and Peter Daszak. They are just thinking for themselves.

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    Ben Connelly

    Increasingly, I think the lab leak theory is more and more overwhelmingly likely. Or a similar theory where a researcher unknowingly brought it back from a bat cave. But more likely the former. Thanks for doing this interview. Rogin became more animated than I expected but perhaps I should of figured that after seeing him on Joe Rogan. Boy I hope his comment there at the end about a potential Springsteen tour with his wife on accordion comes true!

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    1. Anonymous

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        Ben Connelly

        Good point. I guess I meant not that the theory was any more or less likely than before. But that I had learned enough about it to update my view to thinking it more likely than not. I agree that it’s only a theory until proven and I am not “convinced.” This is the hypothesis I lean towards and that I think the evidence best supports, but you’re right: above all we simply need to learn more and investigate. And if new information comes out (new evidence) disproving the lab leak theory, I will update my thinking again.

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        1. Anonymous

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            Ben Connelly

            Right. I believe Rogin actually said in this interview that the theory isn’t any more or less likely but that it’s more widely accepted because evidence is no longer being buried. While I’m far from a perfect example of this, I try to change my opinions in the face of new and strong scientific evidence. In my opinion, evidence over the last six months has made the lab leak theory seem like the most likely theory. A year ago, I would not have said that. But it’s still just a theory at this point.

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  6. DJ

    When did “got over your skis” becomes a bad thing? That’s what you should do. It’s when you get back on your heels that you lose control.

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    RandyMc

    I don't like when writers and commenters conflate calling the virus names such as "China Virus" and "Wuhan Flu" with racism when I think it's generally nationalism, but this is otherwise the best discussion I've heard on the subject.

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    1. Anonymous

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        RandyMc

        China is not a race. If it came out of France, people would call it some kind of name such as the Frog Flu or something.

        Not everything is about race, including this.

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        1. Anonymous

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            RandyMc

            I'm pretty bigoted about a lot of things - pedophilia, arson for profit, elder abuse, the list is long. Most well adjusted people are intolerant and bigoted about such things. I'm pretty bigoted about a nation-state that currently enslaves over 3 million people. My great, great grandfather didn't like it either as a Tennessean fighting in the Grant's Army of the Tennessee.

            But I agree, nationalistic xenophobia is a good word for this purpose and the President of the United States shouldn't encourage such behavior.

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    Steve Gordon

    This was spectacularly good. Josh was a bundle of kinetic energy, but Steve and Sarah did great work prompting him along to clarify where necessary. This content is the type of stuff we all hoped for with The Dispatch, thanks for delivering!

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    The Bell Tower

    The only surprising thing here is that any major media company has the courage to run such a podcast. Since I’m a long time subscriber, I know to expect nothing less.

    Still, I want to thank Steve and Sarah and especially Mr. Rogin for such important and serious journalism. Your book is bought.

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    I Was a Crooked Lawyer

    Really good episode. The immediate dismissal of the laboratory origin of the virus explanation (especially by people who probably knew better ) has everything that makes the current environment so poisoned. The hyper partisanship of the age corrupts crisis management. The government scientific and intelligence communities found wanting, defensive and dissembling. Plenty of blame to go around. If the Left had started blaming CCP early on that would have been accepted as gospel from the get go.

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