definitely don't visit COVID.GOV

Hi Global Recap readers,

You can’t make this stuff up.

I kept seeing people on social media urging everyone to check out COVID.gov.

And I was like, wait—aren’t we past all that? What’s the point of the site now?

Turns out, it still has one last job to do…

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Revamped COVID.GOV

The White House just “repurposed” COVID.gov, rolling out a new page that leans into the lab leak theory as the possible origin of COVID‑19.

New Landing Page

The old page for vaccines and testing has been replaced with one called “Lab Leak: True Origins of COVID‑19.”

• The move leans on a five‑point argument drawn largely from the December 2024 GOP‑led subcommittee report.

• The page purports that if the virus had a natural origin, “evidence would have already surfaced.”

Five Key Arguments

The new landing page lays out five specific claims for a lab leak:

• The virus “possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature.”

• All documented cases “stem from a single introduction into humans.”

• Wuhan is spotlighted as the home to China’s foremost SARS research lab.

• Researchers there allegedly experienced COVID‑like symptoms in the fall of 2019.

• The absence of natural origin proof is presented as damning evidence.

Dr. Fauci

The page doesn’t let Dr. Anthony Fauci slide, either.

• It suggests that Fauci helped steer a 2020 research paper meant to nail down a natural origin, but critics argue he pushed back the lab leak theory instead.

• At a 2024 hearing, Fauci fired back, saying, “The accusation being circulated is absolutely false, and simply preposterous.”

• A photo of Fauci paired with mention of a pardon by former President Joe Biden for “any offenses” intensifies the narrative of alleged misconduct.

Agencies

Federal agencies aren’t off the hook either.

• The page accuses NIH, HHS, and other federal entities of breaking transparency laws and dodging congressional scrutiny, even though they complied with FOIA requests and testified before lawmakers.

• It takes a swipe at New York officials, questioning the effectiveness of measures like social distancing, masking, and lockdowns.

A Divided Debate

This isn’t a new controversy—the origins of COVID‑19 have long been mired in uncertainty, with intelligence reports and experts split between the lab leak and natural spillover theories.

• Past reports, including a declassified 2021 Office of the Director of National Intelligence document, revealed divided views on the matter.

• Even President Trump hinted at how COVID‑19 strained his relationship with President Xi, underscoring the broader international implications.

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Recognizing Crimea as “Russian”

The Trump administration is reportedly considering recognizing Crimea as Russian territory as part of a broader peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war. This is certainly not the Easter gift Ukraine was hoping for…

The Proposal

Bloomberg reported that the administration is exploring this recognition as a way to secure a ceasefire agreement.

• Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, but the US has always recognized it as part of Ukraine.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated he won’t cede Crimea or any other territory to Russia.

Rubio’s Role

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the charge on negotiations.

• Rubio said the US will decide within days whether a peace deal is even possible.

• He recently met with Ukrainian officials and European allies to discuss the terms of a potential agreement.

The Sticking Points

Talks have stalled more than once, mainly because of US demands clashing with Ukraine’s push for solid security guarantees.

• Ukraine wants assurances that it can seek EU membership and won’t be barred from future alliances.

• The Trump administration’s latest proposal reportedly excludes security guarantees for Kyiv, which is a major sticking point.

Trump’s Push

President Trump has expressed frustration with the slow pace of negotiations.

• He told reporters that if talks drag on, the US might abandon its efforts altogether.

• Trump has also pushed for Ukraine to sign a minerals deal in exchange for continued US support, but disagreements over the scope of the deal have complicated talks.

What’s Next?

It’s unclear whether the US will ultimately push for Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia.

• Bloomberg’s sources say no final decision has been made yet.

• The situation remains fluid, with both sides accusing each other of stalling while the war continues.

• So what will come first? Cessation of Crimea or Trump’s abandonment of peace talks?

🇩🇪 GERMANY
Bunny Renaming: Myth Debunked

Social media is lit up with rumors that Germany’s chocolate Easter bunnies have been “rebranded” to sound more politically correct.

But is this really happening?

Spoiler: It’s not.

Viral Buzz

Johann Martel of the AfD recently stirred the pot by posting on X that “the sitting bunny is forcing out the Easter bunny.”

• Martel used this claim to suggest Germany was downplaying its Christian roots.

• His remark quickly gained traction on X, driving dozens of heated comments.

DW’s Investigation

DW dug in and found the claims overblown.

• Lidl does sell a “Sitzhase” (sitting bunny), yet it also features traditional “Osterhase” products in its Easter range.

• Aldi offers both a “Sitzhase” and a “Stehhase” (standing bunny), using the names simply to describe different chocolate designs.

• These naming choices cater to product variety rather than any cultural overhaul.

A Rich Tradition

Here’s the irony: In his effort to defend tradition, Martel seems to have bagged on a rich tradition of naming these products. These alternative names aren’t a modern invention; they’re part of a long-standing tradition.

• Lindt’s “Goldhase” (golden bunny) has been around since 1952, while Milka’s “Schmunzelhase” (grinning bunny) goes back to 1973.

• Records show that “Sitzhase” was in use as early as 1938, proving that product labels evolve over decades without a hidden agenda.

🤔 Thoughts

I’ve recently been thinking about similar issues to this.

Right-leaning people have been pushing back against the “wokeness” of corporations and culture for a while now—and honestly, I see that as a pretty healthy reaction to a trend that’s often bulldozing tradition at a rapid pace just to score political points.

But here’s what’s been bothering me lately: that same crowd is starting to sound a lot like the woke mob they criticize—always fired up, always offended. Sure, after years of dealing with performative wokeness, a little skepticism is understandable. But how about taking a breath, giving people the benefit of the doubt, then doing a bit of digging and giving things a fair look before flying into outrage mode?

And if, after all that this they still come off as “woke,” then go ahead—call it out. Just make sure to stick to the motto: “facts over feelings.”

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Advisers Exploit Navarro's Absence

When Peter Navarro wasn’t around, top White House trade aides made a bold move (allegedly). On April 9—amid turbulent markets and a looming tariff fallout—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick rushed into the Oval Office, convincing President Trump to hit pause on his aggressive tariff plan.

The Ambush Meeting

With financial chaos intensifying, Bessent and Lutnick seized a rare window when Navarro was scheduled elsewhere.

• They reportedly orchestrated an unscheduled, impromptu meeting with Trump.

• Their “sneaky intervention” led Trump to tap out a Truth Social post announcing the tariff pause.

• An insider said, “We needed everyone singing from the same song sheet.”

Market Mayhem

Tariffs that had kicked in on April 2 were wreaking havoc on the financial markets.

• The sudden pause was vital to stabilize stocks and calm a severe selloff in Treasury bonds.

• Trump later explained his decision by noting that markets were “getting yippy.”

• The dramatic move helped restore confidence (for now) and balance during a frenzied trading session.

Navarro’s Notable Absence

Peter Navarro—Trump’s go-to guy for tough tariffs and never one to shy away from controversy—was noticeably absent.

• Navarro’s regular presence would have brought his forceful pro‑tariff arguments into play.

• His absence allowed Bessent and Lutnick to present an unchallenged proposal directly to the president.

• Many online are calling this a s***show, while others are praising President Trump for his ability to quickly adjust his views when confronted with information that challenges his beliefs.