Rasmussen Retorts Episode 5: Five Reasons Why We Think It Was Zoonotic

Six years later, still no evidence for a lab leak

I’ve been remiss on posting new articles lately, but with all of my least favorite American public health and science officials bringing up lab leak nonsense, I couldn’t stay quiet. So I wrote a long article about it. And then made Episode 5 of the Rasmussen Retorts show! Share either or both with the lab leakers in your life.

I also can’t think of anyone better to talk to about hardcore virology topics than the guy who taught me virology to begin with: Vincent Racaniello, my PhD mentor. Also, he is the actual star of the show.

Unfortunately, I appear to be cursed to have some sort of personal involvement with every stupid thing the MAHA brain trust does. This is likely because I have been beefing with them on the hellsite for the past six years about the same stupid things since we all came up together in the academic tier of fledgling pandemic Twitter celebrities. One of these stupid topics was the lab leak. And one thing I can do is not shut up about my own research into pandemic origins, since I’ve actually done this research.

This is not because most people are even interested in this anymore. I’ve had people ask me why I don’t think it was a lab leak and the second the word “geospatial” comes up, eyes glaze over. Most people don’t care at all and want to put COVID behind them. But the group who cares—the MAGA/MAHA contingents—very much want you to think the lab leak is settled science, because it will allow them to steal from us. If research causes lab leaks and lab leaks cause pandemics, then Making America Healthy Again means no more research. Since we aren’t doing research anymore, our science and health agencies don’t need such big budgets. Those should go back to the White House, according to the current regime. I think people should know that there is no evidence that supports the lab leak theory except the pandemic started in Wuhan and there is a lab there. A LOT of evidence shows that the pandemic emerged from the live animal trade at the Huanan Market. People should know that when the government says it was a lab leak, they are lying to the America.

After more than two decades, I’m still learning a lot from Vincent. And one thing he continues to teach me is that it’s more important than ever for as many of us to stand up in whatever way we can, because science is worth fighting for. Our field—virology—is worth fighting for. Not just because my colleagues and I think viruses are fascinating and beautiful (they are), we like studying them (we do), and we think it’s important (it is), but because it is literally a matter of life or death. Without virology research, we would be set back decades in our understanding of cell and molecular biology. We would not have vaccines. We would not have many drugs, for viruses and other diseases. We would not have the basic knowledge required to prevent something like the death toll from the 1918 influenza pandemic. That occurred when we knew so little about flu that they named a bacteria after it before they figured out it was a secondary infection. Estimates for mortality due to the 1918 pandemic usually fall somewhere around 50 million people. That is what happens in a world where the approach to pandemic preparedness is health platitudes and bullshit rather than a functioning health system and medicine that works and won’t kill you.

The Trump administration will not stop at virology or infectious disease research. They will terminate as much scientific research and funding as possible. The lab leak will be used to declare almost all research unsafe and used as a pretext to redirect taxpayer funds into the pockets of authoritarians and traitors. Yes, a lot of scientists and health care workers will lose their jobs. Sad for those of us affected, but worse for the entire economy and for everyone who gets sick, injured, or killed as a result. This is not about just destroying a field that me and Vincent love. It’s about destroying America and everything we value so the President can steal our money, our freedom, and our future.

I’m not going to be quiet about this. I urge you to speak up as well, in whatever way you can.

And check out more from Vincent at microbe.tv.