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Internet controversy media and media people

Zero-Evidence Zeroes

“A new poll finds 40% of respondents believe in a baseless conspiracy theory that the coronavirus was created in a lab in China,” @NPR tweeted on Friday. 

“There is zero evidence for this,” declared the radio network. “Scientists say the virus was transmitted to humans from another species.”

Some scientists say this. Others — along with several U.S. intel agenciesdo not

What does not exist? A consensus on a zoonotic origin. What we knew early on and what we learned from the Fauci diary last week demonstrates that the wet market was not the origination point, and that Fauci had to convince consulting scientists to go against the Lab Leak hypothesis.

Sad that NPR would still be cherry-picking scientists — and flat-out fibbing — to buttress the political narrative it favors.

But unsurprising.

CNN is no better. On Sunday, the egregious Dana Bash interviewed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in an utterly disgraceful way, repeatedly contradicting him with vague claims of “study after study after study” while unable to cite any specific published research. 

When RFK pointed out that the U.S. had the highest death rate from COVID, Bash claimed, “That’s not accurate because” — awkwardly long pause — “public health experts say that there is a combination of factors that went into that.”

Went into what? Oh, yes, the U.S. having the highest death rate from COVID . . . just like RFK said.

Too many journalists see themselves as defenders of some Official Story. Dana Bash is a perfect example, doing the job of factless fact-checker, Overton Window Shrinker, and censuring censor.

These days, when you hear someone say that there exists “zero evidence” for something — or imply unanimity among experts — we know they possess zero credibility.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.


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Illustration created with Nano Banana

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national politics & policies too much government

Wand Wavers Aren’t Us

Why do some Washington wizards refuse to wave their magic wands? Why, they could make our world . . . wonderful!

On CNN’s State of the Union program over the weekend, guest host Dana Bash spoke with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) about her legislation to “give parents paid leave to be with their child in exchange for delaying retirement up to six months.”

“So, the question is,” Bash queried the senator, “if paid leave is so important, why would it require somebody to . . . lengthen their time working, to give up six months of retirement, in order to pay to have a child and work?”

In other words, why should employees not be awarded paid leave from their jobs whenever they want it? Without having to make any trade-off with their employer. Is Sen. Ernst some kind of cheapskate?

“[T]he plan that I have put forward . . . is a voluntary program,” she noted. “It is not a mandatory program.” 

Not mandatory? She must be relatively new to Washington.

“And that way, a parent can decide what is right for them,” explained Ernst. 

Time off taken now would be traded for equal time working later; it would not be simply forced upon employers to provide a freebie for employees. 

“But what we don’t want to do is impose an additional tax,” the rookie senator continued. “And I have heard from small business owners all across Iowa that say, if there was an additional tax, I wouldn’t be able to have as many workers or so forth.”

Voluntary federal programs . . . next thing we know freedom may break out.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.


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Photo credit: New America

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