Topic: Biodefense

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is being repositioned within the CDC to streamline pandemic readiness. Dr. Birx highlighted the agency's role in biodefense, referencing a 2019 proposal for a "Manhattan Project for Biodefense." The discussion touched on the history of facilities like Fort Detrick and Plum Island, questioning the safety and transparency of high-level biological research.

A 2018 interview with Anthony Fauci discussed the risks of weaponized microbes and the "culture of responsibility" required in high-containment labs. Critics point to Fauci's association with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been rated poorly for security, as a potential source for the COVID-19 outbreak.

The hosts discuss the 2017 Michael Douglas film *Unlocked*, noting its "prescient" dialogue regarding global viruses and the implementation of medical martial law. The film mentions forced isolation, quarantine camps, and real-time access to private medical records as necessary responses to a bio-threat.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has become the primary spokesperson for the Ebola response, highlighting the role of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA, which operates under the Department of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, is tasked with financing medical countermeasures for biodefense. Plans are underway to conduct large-scale phase two vaccine trials in West Africa, specifically in Monrovia, Liberia, to determine efficacy and safety.

A retrospective of 2009 intelligence assessments warns of a high probability of a biological attack by 2013. The discussion covers the inadequacy of U.S. response capabilities, the testing of anthrax vaccines on children, and biodefense research funding at the University of Texas. The antibiotic Cipro is mentioned as a treatment for anthrax exposure.

The Obama administration's $150 million no-bid contract for anthrax vaccines is linked to reports of anthrax-tainted heroin appearing in Europe. The hosts discuss the possibility that weaponized anthrax from Afghanistan contaminated drug shipments. They speculate on a "CIA war" where the administration is preparing for biological threats potentially facilitated by intelligence agency activities in the Middle East.