All things political. Coronavirus Edition. (15 Viewers)

[Maxp]

I fear we are really going to be in a bad place due to the obvious cuts to the federal agencies that deal with infectious disease, but also the negative effect the Affordable Care act has had on non urban hospitals. Our front line defenses are ineffectual and our ability to treat the populous is probably at an all time low. Factor in the cost of healthcare and I can see our system crashing. What do you think about the politics of this virus?

 

[Optimus Prime]

Was it Censoring content or stopping misinformation and blatant lies when thousands of people a day were dying? Many due to those lies
=================================

WASHINGTON (AP) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergsays senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again.

In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, “repeatedly pressured” Facebook for months to take down “certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire.”

The officials “expressed a lot of frustration” when the company didn’t agree, he said in the letter.

“I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it,” Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee’s Facebook page and to its account on X.

The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly.

“I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today,” he said, without elaborating. “We’re ready to push back if something like this happens again.”

In response, the White House said in a statement that, “When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety. Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present.”…….

Zuckerberg says the White House pressured Facebook over some COVID-19 content during the pandemic

Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic.

apnews.com

 

[bird]

Was it Censoring content or stopping misinformation and blatant lies when thousands of people a day were dying? Many due to those lies
=================================

WASHINGTON (AP) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergsays senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again.

In a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg alleges that the officials, including those from the White House, “repeatedly pressured” Facebook for months to take down “certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire.”

The officials “expressed a lot of frustration” when the company didn’t agree, he said in the letter.

“I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it,” Zuckerberg wrote in the letter dated Aug. 26 and posted on the committee’s Facebook page and to its account on X.

The letter is the latest repudiation by Zuckerberg of efforts to target misinformation around the coronavirus pandemic during and after the 2020 presidential election, particularly as allegations have emerged that some posts were deleted or restricted wrongly.

“I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today,” he said, without elaborating. “We’re ready to push back if something like this happens again.”

In response, the White House said in a statement that, “When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety. Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people, while making independent choices about the information they present.”…….

Zuckerberg says the White House pressured Facebook over some COVID-19 content during the pandemic

Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic.

apnews.com

Zuckerberg discovered that there are unintended consequences and that he has responsibilities. He didn’t like that.

 

[zztop]

Glad this topic got bumped because

31% of Republicans say vaccines are more dangerous than diseases they prevent

The partisan divide on vaccine falsehoods threatens the health of children nationwide.

arstechnica.com

 

[coldseat]

Glad this topic got bumped because

31% of Republicans say vaccines are more dangerous than diseases they prevent

The partisan divide on vaccine falsehoods threatens the health of children nationwide.

arstechnica.com

I will never understand why vaccines scare some people so much now a days. No doubt those same people are or have taken many medications with a laundry list of possible side effects, but vaccines, which are safer than just about all other medications, are so dangerous? Make it make sense.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I will never understand why vaccines scare some people so much now a days. No doubt those same people are or have taken many medications with a laundry list of possible side effects, but vaccines which safer than just about all other medications are so dangerous? Make it make sense.

forget medications, people have been getting vaccinated their whole lives with zero hesitation or controversy

 

[Nebaghead]

forget medications, people have been getting vaccinated their whole lives with zero hesitation or controversy

It is because dippity dumb arse said it was bad even though he got it. Sheep.

 

[LA - L.A.]

The officials “expressed a lot of frustration” when the company didn’t agree, he said in the letter.

The most important statement from Zuckerberg. When you have the option to not do what the government is "pressuring" you to do, then you are not being censored or controlled by the government.

 

[LA - L.A.]

I will never understand why vaccines scare some people so much now a days. No doubt those same people are or have taken many medications with a laundry list of possible side effects, but vaccines, which are safer than just about all other medications, are so dangerous? Make it make sense.

It's mostly the result of foreign and domestic groups that want to destroy or take over our society. Using disinformation propaganda to create an environment in which measles, polio and other eradicated diseases make a come back in a country is a very powerful and lossless way to disrupt and undermine a country. Foreign and domestic groups want Americans diseased and dying, so they have an opening to do what America keeps them from doing.

It's a passive form of biological warfare and it's been going on for at least a couple of decades.

 

[zztop]

anyone have thoughts on this?

Mark Zuckerberg regrets not pushing back on Biden’s COVID “pressure” campaign

Facebook is "ready to push back" on government takedown requests, Meta CEO says.

arstechnica.com

 

[Bigdaddysaints]

he is basically admitting that the stuff they took down was their own decision, he just didn't like the gov't pushing him for more.
Rs want to brand this as admitting Biden forced him to do it, but in actuality, being asked and pressured is not the same as forcing them.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I wish Zuckerberg would elaborate on exactly what he was being "pressured" to take down

If it was posts saying that "Nyquil mixed with apple cider vinegar is more effective than the covid vaccine!" yeah, that probably shouldn't be out there

 

[faceman]

I wish Zuckerberg would elaborate on exactly what he was being "pressured" to take down

If it was posts saying that "Nyquil mixed with apple cider vinegar is more effective than the covid vaccine!" yeah, that probably shouldn't be out there

We had a member on the EE board saying FB took down his ivermectin posts. He was ( falsely ) accusing the government
of censorship.

 

[MT15]

Nobody should let him get away with claiming he did anything but a horrible job.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Posted on EE also
==============

LONDON (AP) — Scientists searching for the origins of COVID-19 have zeroed in on a short list of animals that possibly helped spread it to people, an effort they hope could allow them to trace the outbreak back to its source.

Researchers analyzed genetic material gathered from the Chinese market where the first outbreak was detected and found that the most likely animals were racoon dogs, civet cats and bamboo rats.

The scientists suspect infected animals were first brought to the Wuhan market in late November 2019, which then triggered the pandemic.

Michael Worobey, one of the new study’s authors, said they found which sub-populations of animals might have transmitted the coronavirus to humans.

That may help researchers pinpoint where the virus commonly circulates in animals, known as its natural reservoir.

“For example, with the racoon dogs, we can show that the racoon dogs that were (at the market) … were from a sub-species that circulates more in southern parts of China,” said Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona.

Knowing that might help researchers understand where those animals came from and where they were sold. Scientists might then start sampling bats in the area, which are known to be the natural reservoirs of related coronaviruses like SARS.

While the research bolsters the case that COVID-19 emerged from animals, it does not resolve the polarized and political debate over whether the virus instead emerged from a research lab in China.

Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, said the new genetic analysis suggested that the pandemic “had its evolutionary roots in the market” and that it was very unlikely COVID-19 was infecting people before it was identified at the Huanan market.

“It’s a significant finding and this does shift the dial more in favor of an animal origin,” Woolhouse, who was not connected to the research, said. “But it is not conclusive.”………

A new genetic analysis of animals in the Wuhan market in 2019 may help find COVID-19's origin

Scientists searching for the origins of COVID-19 have zeroed in on a short list of animals that possibly helped spread it to people.

apnews.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

A health official who helped lead New York City through the Covid-19 pandemic admitted to attending sex parties during lockdown, flouting the social distancing guidelines that he touted.

Dr Jay Varma, the senior public health adviser from April 2020 to May 2021 to then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, was privately partying while he was publicly promoting vaccine and mask mandates, social distancing rules, and restrictions on gathering sizes.

The epidemiologist acknowledged breaking his own rules in a video released by conservative podcaster Steven Crowder on Thursday.

In a montage of recordings, Varma speaks about going to a “dance party” underneath a Wall Street bank while high on MDMA with 200 people as well as hosting a party with his wife at a hotel with eight to 10 others.

“The only way I could do this job for the city was if I had some way to blow off steam every now and then,” he is heard saying in one clip.

The recordings, which were taken in summer 2024, capture Varma acknowledging the hypocrisy of serving as the city’s Covid czar while also flouting the guidelines he helped shape. “I did all this deviant sexual stuff while I was on TV,” he says in one clip.

He recalled when some people asked if he was “afraid” or “embarrassed” at the time, and expressed no remorse, saying: “No, actually I love being my authentic self.”……….

Former NYC Covid czar attended sex parties while shaping pandemic guidelines

‘The only way I could do this job for the city was if I had some way to blow off steam every now and then,’ Dr Jay Varma can be heard saying in one clip

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[bird]

That is a steaming pile of what the bleep.

Oh, Empty?

https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.htmlhttps://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.html

 

[DaveXA]

So as to not insult morons, I'm not gonna call her a moron. Something, something box of rocks.