{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/aaron-rodgers-calls-anthony-fauci-a-coward-after-senate-hearing-on-covid-respons","slug":"aaron-rodgers-calls-anthony-fauci-a-coward-after-senate-hearing-on-covid-respons","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/aaron-rodgers-calls-anthony-fauci-a-coward-after-senate-hearing-on-covid-respons","title":"Aaron Rodgers calls Anthony Fauci a 'coward' after Senate hearing on COVID response","subtitle":"The NFL quarterback criticised Fauci for invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing.","excerpt":"Aaron Rodgers called Dr. Anthony Fauci a 'coward' and an 'absolute criminal' on *The Pat McAfee Show* after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during a Senate hearing on the government's COVID-19 response. Outlets diverged on whether the focus was Fauci's legal strategy or Rodgers' criticism.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-08-04T13:25:39.613Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-08-03T20:59:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T19:16:33.111Z","readTime":"4 min read","scores":null,"tags":["#AaronRodgers","#AnthonyFauci","#COVID19","#SenateHearing","#USPolitics"],"entities":["Aaron Rodgers","Anthony Fauci","Pittsburgh Steelers","National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases","The Pat McAfee Show"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Aaron Rodgers called Dr. Anthony Fauci a 'coward' and an 'absolute criminal' during an appearance on *The Pat McAfee Show* on 3 August 2026.","Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing the previous week, refusing to answer questions about the government's COVID-19 response.","The hearing examined Fauci's role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the pandemic.","Right-rated outlets led on Rodgers' criticism of Fauci, while the left-rated digest highlighted the legal context of Fauci's refusal to testify."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, criticised Dr. Anthony Fauci on 3 August 2026 during an appearance on *The Pat McAfee Show*. Rodgers called Fauci a 'coward' and an 'absolute criminal' in response to Fauci's testimony before a Senate hearing the previous week. The hearing focused on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times to avoid answering questions."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The Senate hearing, held the week before Rodgers' comments, examined Fauci's leadership as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Republican lawmakers accused Fauci of endangering the public through his guidance during the pandemic, as reported by Mediaite. Fauci's decision to plead the Fifth became a central point of contention, with Rodgers' remarks amplifying the criticism."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated digests mentioned the number of times Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during the Senate hearing. The left-rated digest from Mediaite did not include Rodgers' direct quote calling Fauci an 'absolute criminal'. The centre-rated digest from US Magazine omitted the broader context of the Senate hearing, including the accusations made by Republican lawmakers."},{"type":"pullquote","text":"I’m going to plead the fifth, like that absolute coward, Tony Fauci. Absolute coward.","author":"Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback"}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/sports/aaron-rodgers-eviscerates-anthony-fauci-pleading-fifth-senate-hearing-absolute-criminal","headline":"Aaron Rodgers eviscerates Anthony Fauci after pleading the Fifth at Senate hearing: 'Absolute criminal'","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-03T20:59:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Mediaite","url":"https://mediaite.com/media/sports/aaron-rodgers-torches-absolute-coward-fauci-for-pleading-the-fifth-at-hearing-what-are-you-scared-of-tony","headline":"Aaron Rodgers Torches ‘Absolute Coward’ Fauci for Pleading the Fifth at Hearing: ‘What Are You Scared of Tony?’","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-08-03T20:57:48.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Daily Caller","url":"https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/03/aaron-rodgers-anthony-fauci-pat-mcafee-show-espn-nfl","headline":"‘What Are You Scared Of, Tony?’: Aaron Rodgers Obliterates ‘Absolute Coward’ Anthony Fauci In Epic TV 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