"<a href=""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78jqx9fx2I&amp;t=1m11s"">1:11</a>-<a href=""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78jqx9fx2I&amp;t=1m14s"">1:14</a> on the importance of humility and being a communicator at the cross roads of geo-politics", science, and global health—this is a conversation that even by the most modest terms is highly complex.  Up to this point, I have agreed with and quite literally felt relief from everything discussed so far,  including the assessment of Dr. Fauci and his handling of the COVID pandemic. That said, what I believe to be an extremely important point fell through the cracks. Put simply, it was mentioned various times that it is important to assess what the Chinese virologists in Wuhan have done, how they’ve reacted and  responded, with an understanding of the specific authoritarian pressures under which they must operate.   Similarly, must we not maintain that same understanding in regards to the responses and reactions of the scientific figure heads here in the United States? Certainly anyone involved in this conversation, at the level that takes place in this podcast understands that high level employees of the US government, who are directly involved in a globally catastrophic event, must also operate under immense pressure, the true nature of which virtually none of us can claim to understand, given the extremely powerful tendency toward secrecy. Why should we believe that Dr. Fauci, or anyone who may find themselves in his or a similar position, simply have the freedom to chose between being transparent or not? Despite how things appear, how they are labeled, or what we as a society and culture decide to tell ourselves about the nature of our government—the reality is that history provides us with ample evidence to understand that the difference in the calculus of conflict between someone like Dr. Fauci or any given high profile Chinese Virologist is more than anything, superficial, and dictated nearly entirely by the political lens through which we decide to look.,(reply>), @Twn Twrs By the way," at <a href=""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78jqx9fx2I&amp;t=1m47s"">1:47</a>-<a href=""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78jqx9fx2I&amp;t=1m49s"">1:49</a>", first Metzl doubles down on the magnitude of the Chinese governments oppression, highlighting the “potential hundreds” of Chinese citizens who possess useful information regarding the COVID pandemic, but who are “terrified” to share that information, or otherwise lack access to a SAFE method of doing so. Having been to China, where I spent more than enough time interacting with people in both Shanghai and Beijing—having sat down for tea with locals in Hutong neighborhoods, I can attest to the reality of that fear and disdain of government. Yet very much so I can equally attest to the reality of the very same fear and disdain of government here at home. Both equally valid. If this were not the case, Edward Snowden wouldn’t be exiled in Russia, Chelsea Manning wouldn’t have spent years in military prison, and so many countless others wouldn’t have been killed, slandered, forced into silence or simply made so “terrified” that they wouldn’t dream of speaking out, even if they did have access to safe methods of doing so, which they demonstrably do not, a fact indisputable thanks to Snowden. All of which Lex skirts around after his “emotional” diatribe on learning to ask the “hard questions.” Which he lives up to by asking about the language barrier? Saying some nonsensical thing about not hearing the “music” from Chinese people, or Asian people in general? Seriously what? I have yet to collect my thoughts on this particular comment, but for now, just WOW.,(reply>), @Twn Twrs Exactly, SO SO much talk about open mindedness, empathy, understanding etc. yet this point was countlessly danced around and glossed over for five straight hours. It is the case, that all sides are involved, all sides are responsible, and most of all that no matter what you call it, or where it is, absolute power corrupts absolutely.