COVID-19 origins revealed? NCGA exercises UNC oversight | Gym chain faces transgender cancellation attempt | Democrats, socialists, anarchists rally against immigration enforcement
No. 128 — Jun. 8-Jun. 14, 2025
COVID-19 origins transparency? Legislative committee requests UNC records
NC lawmakers launch ‘fact-finding mission’ into UNC coronavirus researcher Ralph Baric - N&O
Uncovered risks — no oversight of UNC’s extreme virology (Opinion) - Carolina Journal
Gov Ops requests records about UNC-Chapel Hill coronavirus researcher Baric - Carolina Journal
Between January 1, 2015 and June 1, 2020, the virology labs at UNC-Chapel Hill reported six lab accidents involving lab-created coronaviruses, according to public records obtained by ProPublica.
And, the university's most noted virologist Ralph Baric is known to have been in communication with virologists in Wuhan, where COVID-19 originated. Baric even planned to secretly use the substandard biosafety level two labs at the Wuhan Institute of Virology to carry out gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses, as documented in "Project DEFUSE" which was proposed to (and rejected by) DARPA.
Moreover, evidence has emerged of seven lab-acquired COVID-19 infections in Chapel Hill involving strains which were being studied at the university during the pandemic.
However, even years after the pandemic, the burning question still remains in the minds of many skeptics: did the Baric and his UNC lab play a direct role in the creation of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, which then leaked out of the WIV and started the worldwide pandemic?
Medical watchdog group US Right to Know has attempted to answer this question with a number of public records requests, but has been somewhat stymied by UNC adopting a very broad interpretation of a "research exception" to cover many of the related documents. (A lawsuit on the issue is currently in the appeals process after an Orange County judge sided with UNC.)
Although public access to university records may be limited by the state's public records law, the university is also subject to oversight by the state legislature.
This week, as first reported by the News & Observer, House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell, Watauga) issued a letter in his role as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, requesting that UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts provide certain records which may provide more transparency on the issue, including
the records sought by USRTK
the records provided to Congressional probes
any other communication between Baric Lab and WIV, EcoHealth Alliance, DARPA from 2018-2021
According to the N&O, this letter was sent because one of Hall's staff members "has a personal curiosity about the truth of what happened, about what Baric was researching and its relevance to COVID."
Related Coverage:
Public Records Lawsuit Against UNC by Medical Watchdog Group Investigating COVID-19 Origins Advances (Original Article — Nov. 6, 2023)
UNC claims "research project collaborations" are exempt from public records statute in COVID-19 origins investigation lawsuit (No. 57 — Feb. 3, 2024)
U.S. Right to Know public records lawsuit reveals efforts to evade transparency (No. 58 — Feb. 10, 2024)
Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee alleges FBI interest in UNC/COVID origins public records requests (No. 59 — Feb. 17, 2024)
UNC COVID-19 Origins Public Records Lawsuit: what does "proprietary mean"? (No. 61 — Mar. 2, 2024)
"Stop Gain of Function" rally at UNC-Chapel Hill (No. 62 — Mar. 9, 2024)
UNC-linked coronavirus researcher accused of "discrepancies in testimony" (No. 66 — Apr. 6, 2024)
UNC coronavirologist Ralph Baric: "can't rule out" lab leak origin of COVID-19 (No. 70 — May 4, 2024)
3rd Party Report Finds UNC Withheld Public Records Requested by Medical Watchdog Group Investigating COVID-19 Origins (Original Article — Aug. 1, 2024)
Judge rules in favor of UNC in public records suit brought by medical watchdog investigating COVID-19 (No. 94 — Oct. 19, 2024)
U.S. Right to Know appeals public records lawsuit ruling vs UNC (No. 99 — Nov. 23, 2024)
UNC lab leaks? Evidence indicates seven lab-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections in Chapel Hill during pandemic, researchers say (interview) (Original Article — Apr. 26, 2025)
US Right to Know files brief filed in appeal of UNC COVID-origins public records lawsuit (No. 126 — May 31, 2025)
Climbing gym faces cancellation (again) for not bowing to transgender agenda
Just months after weathering a cancellation attempt over one of the founders being a Trump supporter, the Triangle Rock Club has once again found itself in the cross hairs of leftist activists for declining to stock women's products in the men's restrooms.
According to an anonymous reddit poster, TRC's North Raleigh location began placing free menstrual products into the men's restroom, but was overruled by "executive leadership" citing the company's policy against "engag[ing] in ideological or otherwise politicized issues."
For such Triangle residents, the decision not to engage in an open display of affirming the delusions of transgender-identifying customers is at odds with the "diverse and welcoming" climbing community, and is worthy of cancellation:
Hello everyone! Many of you are likely already aware that some of the executive leadership of Triangle Rock Club support/contribute to right wing politics and politicians. These views have recently led to some decisions and policy changes at the local gyms which I believe are important for the community to be aware of. In the past, all TRC locations provided free menstrual products in the women’s restroom for community use with some gyms offering them in all restrooms - women’s, men’s, and gender neutral. Within the last few months, the North Raleigh gym attempted to extend the offering of menstrual products into all gym restrooms, but were forced to remove products from the men’s room by the executive leadership who cited a company policy not to “engage in ideological or otherwise politicized issues.” Following this incident, a large number of community members reached out to the executive leadership team to express their support of Triangle Rock Club offering menstrual products in all gym restrooms and encouraged them to allow local gym leadership to decide how they may best show support to their climbing community. In response to this outpouring of support, Triangle Rock Club has decided to remove menstrual products from all restrooms at every TRC location.
The climbing community both at large and within the triangle is a wonderfully diverse and welcoming place. LGBTQ+ people and allies make up a massive part of TRC members, visitors, and gym staff which makes it all the more unfortunate that the executive leaders have taken such a strong stance against showing support to transgender climbers in our gyms.
What can you do to help?
Leave a comment card: Comment cards are an anonymous way to provide feedback directly to gym management. These are available at the front desk (or community board) and can be returned to desk staff when completed.
Leave a review: Online reviews are a great way to publicly show your support for a more inclusive gym environment. (Note: If you are not a TRC visitor/member, please do not brigade the company’s reviews, we want to keep feedback relevant and civil)
Cancel your membership: Unfortunately TRC dominates the local climbing market and is the only option available for many climbers in the area. However, if you were already on the fence about continuing your membership and these recent policies have convinced you to cancel, you can share that feedback with the director of membership whose email address is available at the front desk at all TRC locations.
Thank you for helping make the triangle climbing community a more open and inclusive space!
Protest Watch
This week featured over a dozen protests in the wake of the LA riots expressing opposition to President Trump's immigration enforcement, with varying levels of intensity and radicalization.
Unionists rally to support labor leader charged with impeding federal officer in California
Raleigh Joins Nationwide Wave of Pro-Immigrant Protests - INDY
Activist groups gather in Raleigh in solidarity with Los Angeles ICE protests - N&O
On Monday, the Union of Southern Service Workers organized a rally in Raleigh to call for the release of David Huerta, the president of Service Employees International Union of California who was arrested during an ICE raid and charged with "conspiracy to impede an officer." (Huerta was released on a $50,000 bond.)
The demonstration appears to have had upwards of fifty attendees, with signs including "Abolish ICE" and "from LA to Raleigh, ICE out!"
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ICYMI: No permit for socialist-organized anti-ICE protest resulting in vandalism, says Raleigh Police
Nationwide ICE protests draw thousands to downtown Raleigh: 'They need justice' - ABC11
Protesters march in downtown Raleigh to rally against Trump immigration crackdown - N&O
A much larger "From LA to Raleigh: ICE Out!" protest was organized on Wednesday with over a thousand primarily Hispanic attendees, which appears to have been organized by a local branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
For more info, including the evidence of antifa/black bloc extremists in attendance as well as vandalism (which the mainstream media seems to have missed), see the full report:
No permit for socialist-organized anti-ICE protest resulting in vandalism, says Raleigh Police
Raleigh Police have confirmed that no permit was issued for an anti-ICE protest last night with approximately 1600-2400 participants, which blocked city streets as it marched from Moore Square to the capitol and back, leaving graffitied state property in its wake.
Anarchists march and rally against ICE in Durham
Durham protesters march to oppose Trump deportation push, support LA defiance - N&O
The most extremist of the anti-ICE events this week was held Friday night in Durham, which called on attendees to "mask up!" in "Solidarity with the LA resistance."
Ahead of the demonstration, the "North Carolina Triangle Radical Event Ecosystem" account on Instagram which promoted the event shared a "messaging" guide defending violent behavior, and making the argument that media should only cover police action, because any action taken against the state or state-aligned entities is justified (presumably including media who don't follow their rules).
The rally and march attracted approximately 125-150 participants, with most appearing to adhere to the recommended anti-surveillance tactics by wearing a mask and/or full black bloc regalia.
Although the march did not result in the same level of escalation as "direct actions" organized by similar groups in Durham in the past, such as a September 2020 "protest" by 50 anarchists smashing windows at ~40 businesses, the News & Observer journalists in attendance did observe "a masked protester spray red paint on a Vietnam War memorial" outside the historic Durham County courthouse.
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No Kings
In comparison to the socialist and anarchists events, the "No Kings!" events on Saturday sponsored by mainstream Democratic organizations were practically Republican.
I was able to verify that at least twelve of these events occurred at various locations across the Triangle (Cary, Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Clayton, Durham, Hillsborough, Morrisville, Pittsboro, Raleigh (3x), Sanford, Wake Forest), but I was not able to find any verification that the planned events for Oxford and Roxboro actually took place.
The ordinary challenges of estimating the attendance of an event are complicated in this case by the number of events, the fact that many of them were geographically spread out along roadways, and the fact that they were somewhat spread out temporally from the morning until late afternoon, with some attendees known to have gone to at least two of the events.
However, I arrive at a very rough guesstimate of 5,000-15,000 total attendance based on aerial imagery, social media posts, and mainstream media reports.
The locations with the largest attendance appear to include North Raleigh/Capital Boulevard with over 1,500 (according to News & Observer), and Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Durham, both of which had crowds of thousands which could be seen stretching across multiple blocks as they marched.
Even the smaller rallies in more red-leaning areas such as Clayton, Sanford, and Wake Forest appear to have attracted crowds in the hundreds.
Although some of Trump's opponents take this to signify that the people of America are turning against him, I see it more of a sign of the level of passion possessed by those who lost at the ballot box in November.
Cary
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Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Clayton
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Durham
Hillsborough
Morrisville
Pittsboro
Raleigh/State Capitol
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South Raleigh
North Raleigh/Capital Blvd
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Sanford
“Personal curiosity”?! Shouldn’t legislature be obligated to investigate the dangers of “research” which unleashed COVID? Only N&O…