It Might Be A Conspiracy Theory But We're Still Up 270 to Nil

You know, there are things that are going on around the world that I just don't care about.

Vladimir Putin? Some guy in Russia doing things.

Flooding in North Carolina?  Just a bunch of water with nowhere to go.

Deforestation in the Amazon rain forest? It's a "rain" forest.  Plant more trees.

Smog in India and China?  Send in the AQMD.

Gain of Function research relating to the coronavirus?  Turns out, I'm starting to care about this one if, for no other reason, I really think those stupid white masks didn't do squat except to make my face all hot and sweaty.

In case you were wondering, Gain-of-function (or "GoF") research refers to scientific studies in which an organism—often a virus, bacterium, or other pathogen—is deliberately modified to enhance certain biological properties. 

The “function” in question could be anything from infectivity, transmissibility, virulence (ability to cause disease), or resistance to treatments. Essentially, the research is aimed at giving the organism a new or stronger capability than it naturally possesses.

So, why is this so important?

Well, Gain-of-function research has become important—and controversial—because it sits at the intersection of science, public health, and global safety. Its significance comes from both its potential benefits and risks. 

I know I'm starting to sound like a 3-year old here but so what and why is that important?

Well, GoF allows scientists to see how viruses or bacteria could naturally evolve. This is important because it helps in risk assessment, vaccine design, and pandemic preparedness. 

OK, alright - but helping to prepare for a pandemic is a good thing, right? 

Well, it would have been a good thing except for the fact that in the case of the Covid virus, it was the GoF that actually caused the whole pandemic.  In fact, a recent report found that a lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research is the most likely the origin of COVID-19. 

Wait, what?! 

So, here's how things happened in real time: 

• In 2002–2003, there was a SARS outbreak in China (SARS-CoV-1) with about 8,000 infected and about 800 deaths. 

• Then, in 2012, there was a MERS outbreak in Saudi Arabia (MERS-CoV) with about 2,500 infected and about 860 deaths. 

• Finally, in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan, China, causing COVID-19 pandemic. 

After SARS, researchers wanted to understand how corona viruses could mutate to infect humans. GoF experiments were initiated and involved modifying animal coronaviruses to see if they could infect human cells or transmit between animals. 

And if you think Covid was transmitted by a bat, then you'd be right.  However, the prevailing conspiracy theory as it relates to the COVID-19 virus was that it was intentionally released into the general population claims that the virus was either created or weaponized, often suggesting involvement by government or military actors—most notably, the Chinese government or military.  

This theory alleges that release was deliberate, with motives ranging from population control, global disruption, to biological warfare. 

You know, the thing with conspiracy theories is that when they are presented, there is no hard evidence to support them.  Well, no evidence except that most all conspiracy theories in the last few years have been proved true like:

1. Mass Surveillance (NSA & Tech Companies)

   • Claim: Governments were secretly collecting vast amounts of private data from ordinary citizens.

   • Confirmed: Edward Snowden’s 2013–2014 revelations showed this was real, and reporting into the 2010s–2020s (e.g., PRISM, Section 702 of FISA) confirmed ongoing surveillance practices. Courts and Congress debated reforms through the 2010s and 2020s.

2. Big Tech Content Manipulation & Censorship

   • Claim: Social media companies were coordinating with governments to suppress or flag certain content.

   • Confirmed: The “Twitter Files” (2022–2023) and related disclosures showed platforms coordinated with U.S. government agencies to influence moderation policies, particularly on COVID-19 and election-related content.

3. Epstein & Elite Networks

   • Claim: Jeffrey Epstein was connected to powerful political, business, and academic figures and was involved in sex trafficking.

   • Confirmed: Epstein’s 2019 arrest and subsequent reporting showed years of abuse and connections to influential people. His death in custody fueled further speculation, but the trafficking ring itself was proven.

4. Wuhan Lab Leak Theory (COVID-19 Origin)

   • Claim: COVID-19 may have originated from a laboratory accident in Wuhan, not solely from a wet market.

   • Initially dismissed: Branded as a conspiracy in 2020.

   • Later: By 2021–2023, U.S. intelligence agencies and multiple governments acknowledged the lab-leak hypothesis as a plausible scenario.

5. Government Involvement in UFO/UAP Programs

   • Claim: The U.S. government was hiding evidence of unidentified aerial phenomena.

   • Confirmed: In 2020–2021, the Pentagon released declassified videos and established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Congressional hearings (2022–2023) further confirmed military encounters with unexplained craft.

6. Pharmaceutical Industry Influence

   • Claim: Big Pharma companies were influencing medical research and public messaging beyond normal lobbying.

   • Confirmed: Opioid litigation (e.g., Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson) revealed deliberate downplaying of addiction risks, with internal documents proving knowledge of harm while aggressively marketing opioids.

7. Cambridge Analytica & Facebook Data Harvesting (2016–2018)

   • Claim: A private firm was secretly harvesting data from millions of Facebook users to manipulate elections.

   • Confirmed: In 2018, whistleblowers and UK/US investigations revealed Cambridge Analytica harvested data from up to 87 million users without consent to build voter profiles. Facebook admitted failure to protect user data and paid billions in fines.

8. Boeing 737 MAX Cover-Up (2018–2020)

   • Claim: Boeing and regulators downplayed safety problems with the 737 MAX after two crashes.

   • Confirmed: Investigations showed Boeing concealed critical information about the MCAS flight control system, and the FAA provided lax oversight. Boeing later agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement with the DOJ in 2021.

9. Volkswagen Emissions Scandal (“Dieselgate”) (2015)

   • Claim: Automakers were cheating emissions tests to appear environmentally compliant.

   • Confirmed: The U.S. EPA revealed Volkswagen had installed “defeat devices” in millions of cars to trick emissions tests. Executives were charged, billions in fines were paid, and the company admitted to the scheme.

10. Hunter Biden Laptop Story Suppression (2020–2022)

• Claim: Media and social platforms deliberately suppressed reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop, labeling it as “Russian disinformation.”

• Confirmed: In 2022–2023, major outlets (e.g., NYT, WaPo, CBS) authenticated the laptop’s contents. The “Twitter Files” showed federal agencies flagged the story to social media platforms in 2020.

So, while it's a theory now, stick around and who knows what will come up in the next few years.

Anyway, here's where things get fun. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has faced extensive scrutiny regarding his role in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the origins of the virus and allegations of criminal negligence. 

In June 2024, Fauci testified before Congress and presented emails he sent early in the pandemic urging the reporting and investigation of valid concerns regarding a possible lab leak. He denied that these messages were an attempted cover-up, calling such allegations “preposterous.”

During his congressional testimony, Dr. Anthony Fauci made several statements about coronavirus research funding that have later been challenged and characterized by some as misleading or untruthful.  

Fauci repeatedly stated that the NIH and NIAID did not fund gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. For example, in a 2021 Senate hearing, he said, “The NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.” 

However, documents later revealed by FOIA requests and confirmed by government officials contradicted this, showing that gain-of-function research was indeed funded at the Wuhan lab through grants approved by NIH/NIAID.

Fauci also testified that staff members working with him did not have conflicts of interest regarding the oversight of coronavirus research grants. 

Later, he acknowledged that at least one senior advisor, Dr. David Morens, had a conflict of interest and was implicated in obstructing congressional investigations into NIH grants related to Wuhan research.

During hearings, Fauci admitted that some COVID-19 mitigation policies, like the “six feet apart” social distancing rule, were not strictly based on science but rather were arbitrary decisions that “just appeared.” This admission raised questions about the scientific rigor behind some public health guidance he promoted.

In short, Fauci’s key false or misleading claims during congressional testimony centered on denying NIH/NIAID funding of gain-of-function research at Wuhan, denying conflicts of interest among his staff, and downplaying the lab leak theory’s credibility despite evidence to the contrary. 

OK, so what?  Unless someone is in an orange jumpsuit, why does this even matter?

It all matters because even if no one individual is criminally liable for the pandemic, understanding the circumstances and ethics surrounding gain-of-function research is crucial to mitigating risks to global health, improving scientific practices, ensuring accountability, and protecting society from potentially catastrophic lab accidents (like what happened with the Coronavirus).

Essentially, if we are unable to "trust the science" or the people behind the science, then when the next pandemic happens, is anyone going to listen?