The strategy CNN management chose was silence. Just say nothing, and hope the controversy fades away.
It's been almost 10 days since Fauci diary entries revealed that two of CNN's top anchors were private pals with the man they were supposed to be objectively covering.
From… pic.twitter.com/LnrIgKlTrA
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) August 3, 2026
Glenn Reynolds wrote in the New York Post that Fauci’s long run and the COVID years prove one person should never own science.
Fauci ran NIAID from 1984 to 2022. That is 38 years.
He took the Fifth Amendment 111 times on July 29 when senators asked about COVID origins and his role.
Rand Paul released more than 1,000 pages of Fauci’s private diary just before the hearing.
The diary shows Fauci having dinner at Jake Tapper’s house and calling it “friendship building.”
Fauci wrote that he gave Tapper questions to ask other officials on air.
Dana Bash texted him support after tough hearings and shared mockery of Republicans.
CNN has said nothing for nearly 10 days about the close private ties.
Reynolds says science advances by criticism not by declaring it settled.
He points to other examples like the Alzheimer’s “amyloid mafia” that blocked better ideas for years.
The column calls for shorter tenures and more open debate inside the NIH and NIAID.
New York Post — August 3 2026
Fauci’s follies — time to toss the ‘science is settled’ groupthink by Glenn Reynolds
https://nypost.com/2026/08/03/opinion/faucis-follies-time-to-toss-science-is-settled-groupthink/
USA Today — July 29 2026
Dr. Anthony Fauci refuses to answer Senate questions about COVID-19
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/29/anthony-fauci-fifth-amendment-senate-covid-19/91089990007/
Washington Examiner — July 29 2026
Fauci pleads the Fifth over 100 times during Senate testimony
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4667643/anthony-fauci-pleads-fifth-over-100-times-senate-testimony/