Changes

The [[mainstream media]] was none too quick in smearing Cotton. ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''The Washington Post'' called his remarks a "conspiracy theory,"<ref name=liberalmediapt1/> which ''[[The Hill]]'' also inserted in a headline.<ref>Folley, Aris (February 17, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/483354-sen-cotton-repeats-coronavirus-origins-conspiracy-theory Sen. Cotton repeats coronavirus origins conspiracy theory]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 9, 2021.</ref> The Washington Post later admitted that Cotton had most likely been correct.<ref>Schow, Ashe (April 5, 2021). [https://www.dailywire.com/news/washington-post-now-admits-maybe-tom-cotton-was-right-to-suspect-coronavirus-outbreak-originated-in-chinese-lab Washington Post Now Admits Maybe Tom Cotton Was Right To Suspect Coronavirus Outbreak Originated in Chinese Lab]. ''Daily Wire''. Retrieved October 9, 2021.</ref>

The [[mainstream media]] was none too quick in smearing Cotton. ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''The Washington Post'' called his remarks a "conspiracy theory,"<ref name=liberalmediapt1/> which ''[[The Hill]]'' also inserted in a headline.<ref>Folley, Aris (February 17, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/483354-sen-cotton-repeats-coronavirus-origins-conspiracy-theory Sen. Cotton repeats coronavirus origins conspiracy theory]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 9, 2021.</ref> The Washington Post later admitted that Cotton had most likely been correct.<ref>Schow, Ashe (April 5, 2021). [https://www.dailywire.com/news/washington-post-now-admits-maybe-tom-cotton-was-right-to-suspect-coronavirus-outbreak-originated-in-chinese-lab Washington Post Now Admits Maybe Tom Cotton Was Right To Suspect Coronavirus Outbreak Originated in Chinese Lab]. ''Daily Wire''. Retrieved October 9, 2021.</ref>

Other outlets which denied the lab leak theory included [[Reuters]], [[NPR]], [[Snopes]], [[The Guardian]], [[PolitiFact]], [[Vanity Fair]], and [[Vox Media]].<ref name=liberalmediadeceit/>

Other outlets which denied the lab leak theory included [[Reuters]], [[NPR]], [[Snopes]], [[The Guardian]], [[PolitiFact]], [[Vanity Fair]], and [[Vox Media]].<ref name=liberalmediadeceit/> When Chinese virologist and whistleblower [[Li-Meng Yan]] blamed the [[Chinese Communist Party]] for the [[CCP pandemic]], PolitiFact claimed her assertion was "Pants on Fire," a "fact-check" they embarrassingly retracted in mid-May 2021.<ref>May 17, 2021. [https://www.politifact.com/li-meng-yan-fact-check/ Archived fact-check: Tucker Carlson guest airs debunked conspiracy theory that COVID-19 was created in a lab]. ''PolitiFact''. Retrieved October 9, 2021.</ref>

==Timeline==

==Timeline==