The Energy Department's lab leak assessment isn't a smoking gun

This report is likely to be a major topic of conversation for the first hearing of the House's new Covid subcommittee, Hayes Brown writes.

VIEW IN BROWSER MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news VIEW IN BROWSER MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Feb. 28, 2023 THE LATEST The Energy Department's lab leak assessment isn't a smoking gun By Hayes Brown A classified intelligence report recently delivered to Congress included the Energy Department's assessment that it is "likely" that Covid-19 first spread after a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, two sources with direct knowledge told NBC News.   That's likely to be a major topic of conversation for the first hearing of the House Oversight Committee's new Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Tuesday's roundtable ostensibly will focus on speaking to doctors about policy decisions made during the crisis, but the panel's Republican members are sure to highlight the lab leak theory. Despite their likely enthusiasm, though, the Energy Department assessment is not the smoking gun they've been hunting for the last three years.   This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest article. Read their full column here.  TOP STORIES ALYSSA MILANO 38 states have ratified the ERA. The Senate should respect that. The lack of constitutional protections for anyone who is not a man is a blemish on the very idea of Americanism. Read more. STEVE BENEN Jack Smith isn't taking no for an answer on Pence subpoena Eager to avoid special counsel testimony, Mike Pence makes a flawed case. Read more. KATIE S. PHANG Alex Murdaugh turns the witness stand into a confession booth By taking the stand in his own defense, Alex Murdaugh's practiced deceit is on full display. Read more. JARVIS DEBERRY The part of the 'Dilbert' controversy that everybody's missing The "Dilbert" cartoonist got burned by his racist rant. This poll lit the match. Read more.         TOP VIDEOS THE BEAT WITH ARI Ari Melber: Rupert Murdoch seems ready and willing to throwing some Fox hosts under the bus CHRIS JANSING REPORTS FBI arrests man dubbed 'Sedition Panda' for allegedly storming Capitol ALL IN George Santos was reportedly questioned by Secret Service over 2017 credit card fraud probe THE REIDOUT Elizabeth Warren: We're going to use every tool to keep abortion access available nationwide BLACK HISTORY, UNCENSORED "Black History, Uncensored" is a ReidOut Blog series that highlights work by Black creators targeted by GOP bans.   White fragility and willful ignorance of Black history have always posed an obstacle to the truthful teaching of America's past and present. But we haven't seen conservatives this rabid — and coordinated — in their effort to hide these truths since the post-Civil War Redemption era.   Here, we explore works Republicans want to keep under wraps. Why Lorraine Hansberry was fed up with white, liberal views on activism The heaviness of Kiese Laymon Jerry Craft's cartoons are nightmare fuel for some conservatives  MORE FROM MSNBC On Sunday, MSNBC Films presents the third episode of "When Truth Isn't Truth: The Rudy Giuliani Story," a four-part series from TIME Studios. This week, Giuliani goes global as a terrorism expert after 9/11. Then, fueled by the same ambition, he brings his playbook to Ukraine in the name of Donald Trump. Watch an all-new episode of "When Truth Isn't Truth: The Rudy Giuliani Story" on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on MSNBC, and streaming on Peacock. A new episode of the special podcast mini-series "Into America presents Street Disciples: Politics, Power and the Rise of Hip-Hop" is now available. In episode four, host Trymaine Lee explores how in the late 90s, mainstream hip-hop had largely begun to shed its political messaging. Then, the backlash against a Republican government brought politics back to hip-hop once more, leading to the mobilization of a generation and the first hip-hop president: Barack Obama. Listen now. 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE