White House ordered NIH to cancel coronavirus research funding, Fauci says

[LiberalArkie]

BETH MOLE - 6/24/2020, 6:16 PM


The National Institutes of Health abruptly cut off funding to a long-standing, well-regarded research project on bat coronaviruses only after the White House specifically told it to do so, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Fauci made the revelation Tuesday at a Congressional hearing on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by a coronavirus that is genetically linked to those found in bats. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) asked Fauci why the NIH abruptly canceled funding for the project, which specifically worked to understand the risk of bat coronaviruses jumping to humans and causing devastating disease.

Fauci responded to Veasey saying: “It was cancelled because the NIH was told to cancel it.”

“And why were they told to cancel it?” Veasey pressed.

-Snip-

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/white-house-ordered-nih-to-cancel-coronavirus-research-funding-fauci-says/

[captain queeg]

1. Trump is so simple minded it's stunning

Shutting down testing and research might temporarily make “his numbers” look a little better. But it’s guaranteed that the pandemic spread will continue and increase. He might be able to hide some of the info for awhile but when hospitals and morgues are overwhelmed the truth will get out and the evidence will be especially damning. He’s incapable of looking ahead a few months. The “numbers” will be catastrophic closer to the election. If there were not real human impacts I’d say go for it you pathetic excuse for a leader but his stupidity will cause untold suffering and ultimately his stock market & economy numbers will be in the gutter.

[madeup64]

8. It is mind boggling isn't it?

It's as if he truly believes that if there are less positive tests that will help his campaign somehow. As if testing is the only reason for the high numbers. He seems completely unable to wrap his tiny little brain around the fact that more testing means less cases total in the long run. It makes you wonder if he understands how viruses even work.

When the whole pandemic started and it appeared that older Americans were the highest at risk of dying upon contraction I was befuddled that the Republican Party didn't see how bad that was for their election prospects. It's no secret that older Americans vote for Republicans more than they do for Democrats.

It's like the mail in voting issue. Republicans have long had an advantage over Democrats when it comes to using mail-in voting where available. Now because of Trump Republican voters are shunning it to their own detriment.

[Warpy]

12. No one in that entire building

is willing to take the blowtorch away from the baby.

I sincerely hope he fries himself with it soon. He's a danger to us all.

[madeup64]

14. It's scary that is so true

It's high time someone set an open drum of gasoline next to the baby and do us all a favor.

[triron]

21. Unfortuately most likely won't happen. I have suggestions but won't say them.

[intheflow]

15. He knows it hits cities the hardest, and cities tend to be

liberal, Black, and brown. That potentially wipes out a lot of voters. He's such an absolute asshole, incompetent, and a megalomaniac, but I don't think we can just chalk this up to simple-mindedness. Or maybe he's simple, but his enablers encourage his behaviors because his behaviors disproportionately affect urban areas.

[Botany]

2. Trump wants to kill us

N/t

[SoonerPride]

20. His plan is working

We will be lucky to be alive by January 2021.

[uponit7771]

3. Was anyone in congress told before Fauci spoke of it? thx in advance

[ecstatic]

4. We need to be open to the possibility that China is telling the truth

regarding the origination of the virus.

trump strikes me as the type who would jump at the chance to develop biological weapons of mass destruction.

So let's look at everything--he disbanded the White House Pandemic team. He disbanded the teams working on the ground in China. I'm sure there are other things that I'm forgetting. And now this?

[SharonAnn]

18. Several major cuts in CDC. Can't keep track of it all.

Have to have $ to build a wall.

[cynical_idealist]

23. maybe the dominionists got to him

with the message : kill them all and let god sort them out

they think the rich will be "saved"

wtf

[not fooled]

5. It's the new Dark Ages

that's where red don feels most comfortable.

[llmart]

6. This is disturbing.

I don't even know what else to say. Everyone who hears this should be disturbed as much as I am, especially health care workers. However, I know some nurses who think the Dump is the cat's pajamas.

[Initech]

7. Bring out your dead!!!

[milestogo]

9. Do I understand correctly that this was done in late April?

[Demonaut]

11. can it accept outside donations?

[AdamGG]

13. Fauci should quit and join Biden's campaign

Not now, because he's doing work that's too important, but in September or October. I'd love to see Biden announce a bunch of his selections for cabinet posts early and then have them campaign for him, especially Barack Obama, Secretary of State.

[Hestia]

17. Hmm, how bout Susan Rice for SoS, PBO for Supreme Court Justice and let Ginsburg enjoy

the rest of her life at peace. I think as soon as Biden is elected she will step down.

PBO will know how to curtail Kavanaugh, Thomas and Alito. He has several bones to pick with them.

[AdamGG]

22. That's even better

Barack is 58 and it would be great to see Biden appoint someone who's about 10 years younger, but I would love reading his opinions. Plus, it would be nice to have an African American justice appointed who is actually qualified for the job.

[Hestia]

16. Since We the People are on our own, we need to order testing & supplies directly from WHO

Seeing the outcomes with EU countries, at least we can get a real idea of how many are infected. We - States - are being blocked, still, from actually know if or who has been infected. Still getting shady supplies from Jared Bros through FEMA.

Cut the crap and go directly to WHO. They seem to be the ones who can actually help.

[Duppers]

19. Good idea. Info on how we do that?

Thanks.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Remember The Why Of The China Office Closure

It was because it was bad business to have people on the payroll just in case something came up.
So, government decisions got made as a business decision by a guy who went bankrupt running a casino!
And at least 125,000 people died.
PINO doesn't grasp that dead people are also bad for business. They're poor consumers and ineffective workers!