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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki continued to prove she has little time for right-wing media pushing unsubstantiated conspiracy theories in the briefing room.
On Thursday, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, challenged Psaki with a question drawing on a discredited conspiracy theory regarding the origins of the viral pathogen responsible for the pandemic.
The Fox News reporter—son of Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy—referred to a lab leak hypothesis promoted by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
He asked:
"House Republicans are claiming that they have 'significant circumstantial evidence' that [the virus] originated in a lab."
"Has the White House seen any circumstantial evidence that it did not, originate in a lab?"
The rumored Republican proof—much like their proof of voter fraud—has never been provided to authorities or released to the public.
Before giving her usual informed response, Psaki had a note for Doocy.
"Well I think first I would caution you against disproving a negative there which is never the responsible approach in our view when it comes to getting to the bottom of the root causes of a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States."
Psaki then addressed Doocy's question and offered:
"I will say that our view continues to be there needs to be an independent, transparent investigation and that needs to happen with the cooperation and data provided from the Chinese government."
"We don't have enough information at this point to make an assessment."
You can watch the video of their interaction, here.
Doocy: Has the WH seen any circumstantial evidence that it did not originate from a lab? \nPsaki: I would caution you against disproving a negative... when it comes to getting to the bottom of the root causes of a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the USpic.twitter.com/qYzrAuapKa— Acyn (@Acyn) 1621532298
Twitter had plenty to say after observing Doocy and Psaki's latest interaction.
I love this woman. Meanwhile, Doocy is too dumb to understand the concept of \u201cdisproving a negative\u201d— \ud83c\udf78 Blondish \ud83c\udf78 (@\ud83c\udf78 Blondish \ud83c\udf78) 1621533374
She\u2019s soooo good!— Nana (@Nana) 1621532346
.@FoxNews Really??? This thing is the best you can send to press conferences? Asking to prove a negative? How ignorant you think your viewers are?\n\nFox can you prove Dragon's do not exist? How about Fairy's, Unicorns? No one can prove a negative.— Human (@Human) 1621538836
"I would caution you..." is the professional way of saying "Are you hearing the crap coming out of your face?"\n\nHow does she keep her cool?— Ash Okhotnik (@Ash Okhotnik) 1621535427
I have a question. Has the WH seen any circumstantial evidence that Doocy did not originate from a lab?— Radical Liberal \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Radical Liberal \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1621532921
Jen Psaki giving new meaning to #DroppinADoocy— \ud835\ude73\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude97\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude9c\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude85\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude9d\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude8d\ud835\ude71\ud835\ude95\ud835\ude9e\ud835\ude8e \ud83d\udc63\ud83e\udd8b\u2661 (@\ud835\ude73\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude97\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude9c\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude85\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude9d\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude8d\ud835\ude71\ud835\ude95\ud835\ude9e\ud835\ude8e \ud83d\udc63\ud83e\udd8b\u2661) 1621540200
Yikes he just gets worse and worse. I think Fox news gives him fruit snacks as a reward instead of paying him.— Jake Tubesock (@Jake Tubesock) 1621543731
Psaki was captain of the debate team while Doccy was getting D\u2019s in lunch.— Dismantelope (@Dismantelope) 1621535708
Last month, Psaki called for China and the World Health Organization (WHO) to give international experts "unfettered access" to data and be allowed to ask questions regarding the beginnings of the outbreak.
Psaki told reporters the Biden Administration reviewed the WHO's 120-page report published by a team of international scientists about the origins of the virus.
They concluded:
"The report lacks crucial data, information and access. It represents a partial and incomplete picture."
She added:
"There's a second stage in this process that we believe should be led by international and independent experts. They should have unfettered access to data."