Dr. Anthony Fauci's rivalry with Republicans continued Tuesday in the form of tense exchanges between he, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) over COVID-19.

Picking up where they left off in previous arguments about COVID-19 origins, Paul cited emails that he said proved Fauci moved to suppress scientists early in the pandemic who supported the theory that the COVID-19 pandemic began with a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China. Fauci accused Paul of distorting the facts, and said Paul's continued criticism of him "kindles the crazies out there, and I have threats upon my life, harassment of my family and my children." Separately, Marshall noted how Fauci is the government's highest-paid employee and asked if he'd be "willing to submit to Congress and the public a financial disclosure" detailing his investment history; Fauci said that info was already "public knowledge" and could be produced upon request.

Coverage from left-rated outlets often highlighted how Fauci accused Paul of enabling harassment of his family. Reports from right-rated sources focused on the narrative that Fauci lied about the U.S. role in controversial Chinese virus research and the lab leak theory. Some also highlighted how Fauci called Morgan a moron. One writer for Washington Post (Lean Left bias) echoed Fauci's claim that Paul and Marshall politicized the moment, noting how congressional oversight is "only as good as the people elected to Congress." One writer for Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) argued that Fauci made himself unlikable with inconsistent pandemic messaging.