Former Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler publicly acknowledged on Thursday that he was “completely wrong” to dismiss the COVID-19 lab leak theory as “doubtful” in a 2020 headline.

In a conversation with theeditors.com founder Ira Stoll, Kessler addressed growing skepticism toward mainstream fact-checkers—especially among conservatives—using his own 2020 piece as an example. That Washington Post fact check, titled “Was the new coronavirus accidentally released from a Wuhan lab? It’s doubtful,” became a flashpoint in debates over media bias and pandemic narratives.

Kessler admitted the article’s framing was his mistake, explaining that while the fact check focused primarily on debunking claims that the virus was a bioweapon, his addition of “it’s doubtful” in the headline went too far.

“One of the reporters on the piece came up to me the next day and said, ‘I think you made a real mistake by putting ‘it’s doubtful’ here. Because I’m uncertain where it stands, and you framed it in a way that made it seem more definitive than what we came up with,’” Kessler recalled. “That’s on me. I screwed up.”

He singled out co-author Sarah Cahlan, who challenged his decision at the time. “In my goodbye remarks [to her], I said this explains why you should always listen to Sarah—because she’s right, and I was completely wrong about this.”

Kessler emphasized that the intent of the piece was to address the bioweapon theory, not the broader question of whether the virus came from nature or a laboratory.

“It’s the headline. The piece itself…” Kessler began, before Stoll interjected, “People only remember the headline.”

“Like I said, that’s on me,” Kessler replied.

This admission comes as more public health officials, intelligence agencies, and scientists acknowledge that the lab leak theory remains a plausible explanation for the pandemic’s origins—contradicting the certainty with which many media outlets initially dismissed it.

A former Space Force officer’s objection to the military’s Biden-era COVID-19 vaccine mandate still haunts him over three years later.

WorldNetDaily spoke to Joshua Zermeno, a former officer who dedicated part of his career to space superiority, having served in the U.S. military for 13 years. In August 2021, Zermeno objected to then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s military COVID-19 shot mandate, questioning both its “efficacy and legality.” For this, he received two Letters of Reprimand (LORs) and a “Do Not Promote” recommendation that blocked his promotion to major. He was also banned from government buildings and required to work from home.

With his career collapsing in front of him, Zermeno attempted to voluntarily separate from the military in October 2021, but was told his separation was “not in the best interest of the Air Force and Space Force.” In the week following this statement, he said base leadership initiated Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) action against him. Despite the rescission of the COVID-19 shot mandate in January 2023, he was passed over for promotion a second time. Seven months later, he was forced to separate from the military entirely.

Nevertheless, Zermeno would consider returning to Space Force, but has been offered “zero guidance” from the Department of Defense and the Air Force’s Total Force Service Center, which manages Space Force matters.

The former Space Force officer said stories like his are among “the most censored topics globally.” He pointed out, “Many service members and veterans have turned to social media to share their experiences, but censorship limits reach, and account deletions risk erasing these stories.” Even his own X account has been “targeted and tagged with ‘Visibility limited: this Post may violate X’s rules against Hateful Conduct,’ despite its professional content.” (Read more from “4 Years After Objecting to Mandated COVID-19 Shot, Former Space Force Officer Receives ‘Zero Guidance’ to Return to Duty” HERE)