Topic: News Leaks

The Trump administration has transformed the official COVID.gov website to focus on the "lab leak" theory of the virus's origin in Wuhan, China. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder criticizes the move, arguing that the strongest evidence still points to a "natural spillover" at a wet market. The hosts mock the reintroduction of the "raccoon dog" theory and argue that public trust in government health guidance has already been permanently damaged.

China has revived the theory that COVID-19 outbreaks are linked to imported frozen food, a claim previously used to explain cases in New Zealand. This comes as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that the lab leak theory was dismissed prematurely. The hosts mock the "frozen food" narrative as a recurring propaganda tactic to deflect from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Journalist Sharri Markson reports on official Chinese government documents from 2011 submitted to the United Nations Biological Weapons Convention. These documents warned that accidental mistakes in biotech labs could place mankind in "great danger." Markson further claims that China has researched "genetic weapons" designed to target specific ethnic groups based on genetic susceptibilities revealed by the Human Genome Project.

President Trump accuses New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman of writing a "retribution" story claiming Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was crying in the White House. Trump argues that mainstream outlets frequently use "anonymous sources" to fabricate stories when they lack actual evidence. He uses his daily briefings to bypass traditional media and speak directly to the public about what he characterizes as dishonest reporting.

The origins of the John Bolton manuscript are questioned, with theories suggesting the book may be a vehicle for intelligence agency leaks or a "scam" to force testimony. The reporting by the New York Times is criticized for appearing on the opinion page and lacking direct quotes from the actual text.

New York Magazine reports that President Trump and Sean Hannity speak frequently late at night. The level of detail in the reporting leads the hosts to speculate that the White House is heavily bugged by multiple intelligence agencies.

The New York Times published a report alleging President Trump sought to dismiss Robert Mueller over perceived conflicts of interest, including a dispute over golf club fees. Speculation arose that the information originated from a cache of leaked data or electronic surveillance within the White House prior to an August 2017 renovation. Critics argue the story is outdated "link bait" since no firing actually occurred and the events took place seven months prior to the reporting.

President Trump's lawyer, Mark Kasowitz, announced plans to file a complaint with the Inspector General regarding James Comey's leak of personal memos to the press. CBS News is criticized for conflating this official government complaint with Trump's history of private civil lawsuits to diminish the seriousness of the leak.

Judge Jeanine Pirro characterized James Comey as a "wily predator" who calculated his interactions with the President to facilitate future leaks. The involvement of Columbia Professor Daniel Richman as the intermediary for the leaks is highlighted as evidence of Comey's deep ties to the Washington elite.

Former CIA officer Brian Dean Wright appeared on Fox News to scold the New York Times for publishing sensitive details, such as photos of evidence from the Manchester bombing. Wright argued that such leaks are driven by media greed and ego, and warned that the lack of confidentiality is severely damaging the CIA's ability to recruit foreign informants.

The New York Times published a leaked transcript of a private phone call between President Trump and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. In the call, Trump reportedly revealed the location of two U.S. nuclear submarines near North Korea and praised Duterte's aggressive anti-drug campaign. The hosts criticize the media for reporting on confidential transcripts without questioning the source or the legality of the leak.

The hosts examine how various networks defended Susan Rice using anonymous sources. They highlight a potential conflict of interest, noting that Rice is married to Ian Cameron, an executive producer at ABC News. They suggest this connection explains the favorable coverage she receives from the network.

NBC News correspondent Cynthia McFadden reported that U.S. intelligence chiefs did not actually brief Donald Trump on the specific salacious contents of the Steele dossier during a classified meeting. This contradicts earlier reports and suggests the information was only an unverified addendum to the main report on Russian interference.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announces a new "intermediate level" for the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). Johnson explicitly mentions that the government communicates threats through "news leaks" and "anonymous sources." The hosts are shocked by this admission of using propaganda to maintain public anxiety. Johnson also warns of "self-radicalized actors" who could strike without notice.

The New York Times and the Obama administration have reportedly experienced a "falling out" after the administration bypassed the paper to give NSA leak information to The Guardian and The Washington Post. The hosts note that the Times has recently published more critical op-eds, including one from the grandfather of a teenager killed in a drone strike. They also mention the influence of new CEO Mark Thompson, formerly of the BBC.

New York Times journalist David Sanger released a book detailing the Obama administration's covert cyberwarfare against Iran, known as "Olympic Games" or Stuxnet. Senator Dianne Feinstein criticized the leaks, stating they compromise national security and put American lives at risk. The discussion suggests the leaks may be part of a deliberate strategy to portray the president as a decisive commander-in-chief.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is criticized for his dismissive tone during briefings and an accidental admission regarding the administration's use of leaks. During a back-and-forth about secret meetings with Congress, Carney mentions "handfuls [of meetings] that we still haven't leaked," confirming the intentional placement of stories in the media.

The hosts discuss the appointment of a former New York Times legal officer to the position of US Army General Counsel. They highlight a potential conflict of interest, as the appointee is receiving deferred compensation from the newspaper while being tasked with investigating military leaks to the media.