Bill Maher had Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, "evolutionary biologists" pushing that

[still_one]

people should not take the mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer because there is not much experience with them, and instead opt for adenovirus vaccines arguing there is more experience with them, such as the vaccine developed by Astrazeneca.

Ignoring the fact that researchers have been working and developing mRNA vaccines since at least 2003, and the vast majority of the medical community endorse the mRNA vaccines, it is pretty irresponsible, though not surprising, that Maher would have these people on his show discouraging people not to take the mRNA vaccines, but instead insist on the AstraZeneca vaccine, as though people have a choice, and ignoring the shortage of all the vaccines that exist.

What I found particularly irritating was Maher pushing his usual xenophobia by asking his guests was Covid developed in lab in Wuhan, to which they responded they are 90% sure it was, without providing any evidence to justify that speculation except by saying that the virus "isn't like most virus in that this one affects all parts of the body". That statement by itself was a red flag. There are quite a few viruses out there that affect multiple systems in the the body.

Is it possible that the SARS co V2 came from a lab in Wuhan? Sure, but unless someone provides evidence, instead of speculation and conspiracy theories, it is irresponsible to push that as fact.

https://news.yahoo.com/bill-maher-pushes-bonkers-steve-050238602.html

[yardwork]

1. How disgraceful of him.

[PCIntern]

2. There are three possibilities:

The virus was endemic but first noted in Wuhan because of the sensitivity of the region because there aren’t bats and a biowarfare lab there a priori.

The virus was man-made and escaped or was seeded from the Wuhan lab

The virus was man-made and deliberately released in Wuhan so as to be able to call it “the Chinese virus”.

If I were writing a novel I’d pick #3.

[still_one]

3. Was SARS and MERS also created in a lab?

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30641-1/fulltext

[PCIntern]

7. Not my point

The point is there are only three possibilities- what I believe is irrelevant to the process, and what we have is a situation which resulted in genocide. It’s just a literary coinkydink that the virus was first noted in a city that has a biowarfare lab.

[still_one]

10. Thanks for the clarification. I think the importance of knowing the origins of the virus, whether

it was through "manmade adjustments", or through natural selection is important, but needs to be based on evidence and facts

[womanofthehills]

15. I believe scientists from WHO are over in Wuhan now

Trying to find information about the origin the virus. The Wuhan lab is an active lab for the study of coronaviruses so a accident is possible. I often disagree with Bill Maher but I found the program interesting. Astra Zeneca’s vaccine does not have to be frozen and only costs $3. so it should be easier for mass distribution and many of us would prefer a more traditional vaccine esp since the PEG vaccines have a higher rate of severe allergic reactions.

[arlyellowdog]

4. I hate when Bill Maher acts like he is a good guy

Maher has a lack of respect for women and many other groups of people.

[still_one]

5. No doubt about that

[Hortensis]

11. He provides that as an excuse for watching what most viewers come for.

A formula for the niche he fills, and a balancing act. Too good and he'll lose audience. When the cover falls short criticism rises, but of course that works for him also by drawing attention to his show. Then he plays "good guy" as needed to reassure his audience.

[womanofthehills]

18. He can be an asshole but sometimes a good guy

I listen to him because he can be pretty funny. The scientists did say some things that were true. They said you are not allowed to ask a question about a novel vaccine without getting demonized. It’s happening on TicToc. People are posting their vaccine side effects and others are calling them evil for doing so.

[stopbush]

6. Maher is an anti-vaxxer of long standing.

I suppose it’s progress that he at least admitted that people should be getting vaccinated against Covid.

BTW - he said on this show that he never gets the flu vaccine because it’s often only 10% effective. The real number is 40-70% effective. His guests did not correct him.

[still_one]

12. I heard that also, and it was an outright lie as you indicated.

[womanofthehills]

19. These scientists definitely were not anti-vax

Because of their work in the tropics they claimed to have had way more vaccinations than the average person.

[stopbush]

20. Well, they were no doubt required to get those vaccinations to be allowed

to work in the tropics. That doesn’t make them pro-vax. Just pro-employment.

[womanofthehills]

21. They were definitely pro Covid-19 vaccines but had a preference

They said they will be taking the more traditional Covid-19 vaccine. So will I.

[apcalc]

8. Bill Maher is into making money. That is all.

[Generic Brad]

9. He's a comedian, not a scientist

I agree with him on some things. Disagree on others. Just like with any other human being on the planet.

I strongly disagree with his opinions on this virus. If everyone shared his ideas we would be blaming severe cases on poor diet and no one would get vaccinated because we would leave it to everyone else to protect us.

[Hortensis]

13. He's an influencer and responsible for all the deceits,

encouragement of bigotry, encouragement of negativism, and undermining of commitment to belief that viewers take away. That they come for his product does not diminish his sins in the least. He knows many are especially vulnerable to pernicious influences even while he makes fun of QAnon.

[milestogo]

14. He's an asshole, not a comedian.

All his humor is based on attacking other people. Granted, its funny when its people you want to see taken down. But beneath it all, he's just a well spoken bigot who has his own tv show.

[dalton99a]

17. +1. Maher is an amoral scumbag.

[roamer65]

16. I worry about climate change and Fukushima Dai'ichi a LOT more.

They are ongoing threats to our well being.

[Midnight Writer]

22. This virus attacks the bloodstream, which in turn affects "multiple systems in the body".

[Yavin4]

23. So the Maher/Weinstein/Bannon argument is that the virus originated in a lab in Wuhan, China

but because of political correctness, no one can even suggest this is the case.

Here's my question. Has any reputable scientist or scientists in this domain across the globe made this claim or proposed this hypothesis?

If they have not, maybe it's not because of political correctness. Maybe it's because it didn't come from the Wuhan lab.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

24. Why anyone watches him is beyond me.