Podcast Summary: "False Positive" featuring Steve Deace

Podcast Information:

• Title: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
• Host/Author: Premiere Networks
• Episode: False Positive ft. Steve Deace
• Release Date: September 7, 2020
• Description: Hosted by Ben Ferguson, The 47 Morning Update delves into the latest news and political headlines, emphasizing the President's administration, policies, and agenda. This episode features an in-depth discussion with Steve Deace from The Blaze, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic, testing metrics, and public policy implications.

Introduction and Guest Introduction

[00:00 - 01:37]

The episode kicks off with Michael Knowles welcoming listeners to Verdict with Ted Cruz, introducing Senator Ted Cruz and special guest Steve Deace from The Blaze. Michael emphasizes Steve's expertise and passion in conservative circles, particularly his deep dive into pandemic-related statistics and policies.

Key Quote:

Ted Cruz: "Steve is brilliant. He is a passionate conservative. [...] he's been diving in from the beginning of this pandemic to the numbers."

Understanding the Current State of the Pandemic

[01:37 - 02:40]

Michael expresses confusion over the conflicting statistics surrounding COVID-19, highlighting the difficulty in discerning the truth amid varying data interpretations. Steve responds by emphasizing the importance of focusing on testing metrics and how they impact public policy.

Key Quote:

Michael Knowles: "I try to keep my head into it. I can't really make heads or tails of it. I don't know what to believe."

Decoding R-Values and Testing Metrics

[02:40 - 05:58]

Steve delves into the concept of R-values (R2, R3) which indicate the rate at which the virus spreads. He critiques the PCR testing methodology, especially the cycle threshold (CT) settings used by institutions like the CDC. Steve references Didier Raoult's work, arguing that high CT values (37-40) lead to a significant number of false positives—ranging from 40% to 90%. He discusses how these false positives skew public perception and policy, causing unnecessary panic and lockdowns.

Key Quotes:

Steve Dase: "If your state is at a 37 or at a 40, anywhere from 40 to 90% of our positive tests are false positives."

Michael Knowles: "The way it was reported in the New York Times seemed to be this kind of stunning revelation that you could have up to 90% of people who are not contagious."

The Impact of Testing Policies on Public Health Decisions

[05:58 - 10:49]

The conversation shifts to how testing policies influenced lockdown measures and reopening strategies. Steve points out discrepancies in case numbers and hospitalization rates, using data from universities and states to argue that excessive testing doesn't correlate with higher danger. He criticizes the focus on broad testing metrics instead of targeting contagious individuals, suggesting that policies were misaligned with actual threats.

Key Quote:

Steve Dase: "We went hunting with mice with an elephant gun. We made this huge investment in locking everyone down over the canard of asymptomatic spread."

Evaluating Reopening Criteria and Logical Inconsistencies

[10:49 - 17:50]

Michael highlights California's stringent reopening criteria, which require a positive test rate below 2%. Steve counters by presenting data showing decreasing hospitalization rates and low Emergency Room (ER) visits for COVID-like symptoms, questioning why reopening criteria remain rigid despite positive trends. The discussion underscores the tension between public health data and governmental reopening policies.

Key Quote:

Steve Dase: "Without not a therapeutic. A meaningful vaccine. [...] how do we do better than less than 2% of ER visits for Covid?"

Critique of New York's COVID-19 Management and Leadership

[17:50 - 21:56]

Ted Cruz and Steve critique New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's handling of the pandemic, particularly the decision to reintegrate COVID-positive patients into nursing homes. They argue that this policy led to a disproportionate number of deaths in long-term care facilities. Comparative analysis with Florida's handling under Governor Ron DeSantis is presented, highlighting lower case fatality rates despite different policy approaches.

Key Quotes:

Steve Dase: "New York does not even come close... it would still be the 6th worst country in the world for COVID-19 death."

Ted Cruz: "The public policy of the New York state government [...] lions at the DNC, than his policies of sending people into nursing homes [...]"

Academic and Institutional Responses to COVID-19 Data

[21:56 - 23:16]

Steve discusses the resistance faced by researchers like John Ioannidis and Tony Katz, who challenged prevailing COVID-19 models and testing strategies. He emphasizes the politicization of scientific discourse, noting that esteemed institutions and experts have begun to voice skepticism over initial pandemic responses and data interpretations.

Key Quote:

Steve Dase: "I would urge people to go back... John Ioannidis at Stanford University [...] he was considered a quack, but he's turned out to be exactly right."

Policy Implications and Moving Forward

[23:16 - 24:01]

The dialogue returns to the implications of testing policies on public health strategies. Steve stresses the need for targeted measures focusing on contagious individuals rather than blanket lockdowns. He criticizes mask mandates and lockdowns in isolated regions like Hawaii and the Philippines, arguing that such measures are ineffective in stopping virus spread but still contribute to economic and social disruption.

Key Quote:

Steve Dase: "The question is, can we stop it from getting to the people that it's most going to hurt? That is the question."

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

[24:01 - End]

Michael and Ted wrap up the discussion by reinforcing the importance of accurate data interpretation and sensible public health policies. They urge listeners to stay informed and critically evaluate the information presented by mainstream media and governmental bodies.

Key Quote:

Steve Dase: "The policy that we have done of attacking mice with elephant guns."

Ted Cruz: "This is a very vicious virus. I don't want to understate that whatsoever, but there's a very targeted demo that it goes after."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [00:41] Ted Cruz: "Steve is brilliant. He is a passionate conservative."
• [04:15] Steve Dase: "If your state is at a 37 or at a 40, anywhere from 40 to 90% of our positive tests are false positives."
• [07:31] Steve Dase: "Why we have continued to do this now for five, for six months."
• [13:02] Steve Dase: "We didn't lock down the vulnerable because we put in this incredible effort to lock everybody else down."
• [17:54] Steve Dase: "What New York did wrong is there... they brought a bomb into their nursing homes."
• [21:19] Ted Cruz: "It's gonna be like a climate change debate. It's going to be Steve Days, Breitbart, Michael Knowles, against academia."
• [24:14] Steve Dase: "It is a very vicious virus. I don't want to understate that whatsoever, but there's a very targeted demo that it goes after."

Conclusion:

In the "False Positive" episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, Steve Deace provides a critical examination of COVID-19 testing metrics, policy decisions, and their implications on public health. The discussion highlights concerns over false positives due to high CT values in PCR tests, the effectiveness of lockdowns, and the politicization of scientific data. By comparing different state responses and emphasizing targeted public health strategies, the episode encourages listeners to question mainstream narratives and advocate for data-driven policies.