The Chinese spy balloon that flew over the U.S. earlier this year was able to gather intelligence on U.S. military bases and transmit it back to Beijing in real time, according to NBC News (Lean Left bias).

Key Details: U.S. officials said that China could have gathered more intelligence if the administration had not moved around potential targets, and obscured the balloon's ability to pick up electronic signals by keeping them from broadcasting.

Key Quote: "The intelligence China collected was mostly from electronic signals, which can be picked up from weapons systems or include communications from base personnel, rather than images," NBC cited the officials as saying.

For Context: The high-altitude Chinese balloon was able to make several passes over military installations in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Missouri before it was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4. The Pentagon has said it didn't shoot down the balloon sooner due to the risk to civilians and property on the ground. President Joe Biden has said that he authorized officials to shoot it down days earlier.

How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum covered the news that the spy balloon was able to get intelligence on U.S. military bases prominently. Many highlighted how China has denied any wrongdoing.