The week in whoppers: The Atlantic’s COVID-origins miscues, Rep. Bowman’s China blinders and more

Diary of disturbing disinformation and dangerous delusions

This headline:

“The Strongest Evidence Yet That an Animal Started the Pandemic”

— The Atlantic, Mar. 16

We say:  If this is “strongest evidence” COVID started with “animals,” then the lab-leak theory looks likelier than ever. The new info comes from an analysis of genetic sequences collected from the Huanan Market in Wuhan, China. Yet a WHO official notes that the virus in question wasn’t actually found in any animal, nor did the study uncover proof that animals infected humans. Yes, The Atlantic headline is technically correct that the virus likely started with animals — but not necessarily a raccoon-dog, as it wants you to think; it could’ve also come from a bat infected with a bug brought to the lab.

This tweet:

We say: Biden keeps repeating this lie hoping folks will buy it. But as readers note in a warning Twitter slapped on his tweet, that 3% figure is based not on income but investment gains that could well turn into losses. Even if they don’t, they’re taxed when they’re sold and become income. Indeed, the average billionaire’s taxes is actually about 25% of his income, not 3%.

This comment:

“[Republicans saying] ‘Soros, Soros, Soros,’ and attacking Alvin Bragg, putting that together and then saying, ‘crime’ — which to me is saying ‘black people and Jews.’”

— MSNBC’s Joy Reid, Tuesday

We say: Reid suggests any criticism of George Soros — who has funded some of the nation’s most pro-criminal district attorneys, including Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg — amounts to anti-Semitism. And criticizing Bragg, who’s black and believes the criminal-justice system has discriminated against African-Americans, for being pro-criminal is racist. Why? Maybe because even she can’t defend Soros’ and Bragg’s views.

This remark:

“Why the hysteria and the panic and the targeting of TikTok? As we know, Republicans, in particular, have been sounding the alarm, creating a Red Scare around China.” 

— Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Wednesday

We say: Hysteria? Red Scare? Is Bowman totally blind to the threat China poses, not only to America, but the world? Just this week, China’s Xi Jinping visited Russia’s Vladimir Putin — who is wantonly slaughtering Ukrainians (and sending his own soldiers to die) — and praised the China-Russia alliance. Xi’s own regime, of course, has been butchering Uyghurs and dissidents for years, threatening Taiwan and spying on Americans. And TikTok is linked to the regime and has been accused of being able to collect data on Americans and harming kids. National security officials and even President Biden himself all see the threat. Is Bowman being paid off? Or just nuts?

This excuse:

“It’s been lies and . . . inaccuracy for the past couple of years.”

— WH Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Wednesday

We say: Jean-Pierre refused to say what the Biden family did in exchange for the millions it got from a Chinese company, because of, she says, “lies” about the issue. Hmm: Does she mean, say, the lie that The Post’s 2020 scoop on Hunter Biden’s laptop was “a Russian plant,” as President Biden called it? That story produced the first evidence of those Chinese payments to the Bidens, and today, nearly every major news outlet (and even Hunter himself) admits The Post’s story was 100% true.   

— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board