AP’s Matt Lee Confronts State Dept Spox Over “Alex Jones Territory” Russia Claims; Psaki Says Biden “Not Pro-Lockdown,” Won’t Open Domestic Oil

On 2/4/2022, AP diplomatic correspondent Matt Lee delivered a blistering exchange with State Department spokesman Ned Price over Russia disinformation claims, accusing Price of entering “Alex Jones territory” by presenting assertions without evidence. Separately, Psaki claimed Biden was “not pro-lockdown” after a Johns Hopkins study found lockdowns reduced COVID mortality by only 0.2%, and she refused to say whether Biden would consider opening domestic oil and gas production despite gas prices at a seven-year high.

”This Is Alex Jones Territory”

The viral exchange occurred when Price announced the U.S. had intelligence that Russia was planning a false-flag operation in eastern Ukraine, including a fabricated propaganda video. Lee pressed for evidence.

“What evidence do you have to support the idea that there is some propaganda film in the making?” Lee asked.

“This is derived from information known to the U.S. government — intelligence information that we have declassified,” Price said.

“Where is it? Where is the declassified information?” Lee pressed.

“I just delivered it,” Price said.

“No, you made a series of allegations and statements,” Lee responded.

“Would you like us to print out the topper? Because you will see a transcript of this briefing that you can print out for yourself,” Price said.

“That’s not evidence, Ned. That’s you saying it. That’s not evidence,” Lee fired back.

The exchange escalated further. “I would like to see some proof,” Lee said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time.”

“I know,” Price replied. “That was my point.”

“And I remember that Kabul is not going to fall. I remember a lot of things,” Lee shot back — referencing the administration’s failed assurances about Afghanistan.

“You seem not to understand the idea of deterrence,” Price said, arguing that publicly calling out Russian plans was itself a deterrent.

“But then it’s unprovable,” Lee responded. “My God. What is the evidence that you have that suggests that the Russians are even planning this? I’m not saying that they’re not, but you just come out and say this and expect us to believe it without you showing a shred of evidence.”

Lee compared the claims to “crisis actors” conspiracy theories. “This is like crisis actors, really. This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now,” he said.

Lockdowns Reduced Mortality by 0.2%

A reporter asked Psaki about a Johns Hopkins meta-analysis that found lockdowns during the first wave of COVID in spring 2020 “only reduced COVID mortality by 0.2% in the U.S. and Europe” and “suggested they have little to no public health benefit but severe consequences for the economy.”

“Is that the shared view of the administration looking in the rearview mirror?” the reporter asked.

Psaki distanced Biden from lockdowns entirely. “The president has been clear — we’re not pushing lockdowns. We’ve not been pro-lockdown. That has not been his agenda,” she said. “Most of the lockdowns actually happened under the previous president.”

When pressed on whether the administration believed lockdowns were “more harmful than helpful,” Psaki deferred. “I would point you to our scientific experts on the specifics of a study, but the president’s approach has not been lockdowns,” she said.

No Plans to Open Domestic Oil Production

A reporter noted gas prices were at a seven-year high after OPEC had again “snubbed requests to increase production” and asked whether Biden would “consider opening up domestic production” to help both Americans and European allies.

Psaki listed steps Biden had taken — tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and “conveying clearly to OPEC member countries” the importance of meeting demand. But on domestic production, she punted. “In terms of whether or not there could be more oil drilling, I’d point you to the oil companies on what available places they have and if they’re maximizing that. My understanding is they’re not,” Psaki said.

When asked about increasing LNG export licenses, Psaki said: “I don’t have anything to preview for you.”

Key Takeaways

• AP’s Matt Lee accused State Dept spokesman Ned Price of entering “Alex Jones territory” by claiming Russia was planning a false-flag operation without providing evidence beyond verbal assertions.
• Lee invoked the administration’s failed Afghanistan assurances: “I remember that Kabul is not going to fall. I remember a lot of things.”
• Psaki claimed Biden was “not pro-lockdown” and blamed Trump for lockdowns after a Johns Hopkins study found they reduced mortality by only 0.2%.
• With gas at a seven-year high and OPEC refusing to increase production, Psaki would not say whether Biden would open domestic oil and gas production.
• Price argued that publicly revealing intelligence was “the idea behind deterrence”; Lee called it “unprovable.”

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• That’s not evidence, Ned. That’s you saying it. That’s not evidence. This is like crisis actors, really. This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now.
• I remember that Kabul is not going to fall. I remember a lot of things.
• You just come out and say this and expect us to believe it without you showing a shred of evidence.
• The president has been clear — we’re not pushing lockdowns. We’ve not been pro-lockdown. Most of the lockdowns happened under the previous president.
• Is there any point where the president would consider opening up domestic production? I’d point you to the oil companies on what available places they have.
• You seem not to understand the idea of deterrence. But then it’s unprovable. My God.

Full transcript: 1210 words transcribed via Whisper AI.