Sen. Tom Cotton took a dig at the liberal media for its early dismissal of he lab-leak hypothesis after the CIA's newly released assessment supporting the theory.

Beijing rejected the CIA’s findings that COVID-19 was likely leaked from a Chinese research laboratory. “It is ‘extremely unlikely’ that the pandemic was caused by a lab leak — this is the authoritative conclusion reached by the experts of the WHO-China joint mission based on science following their field trips to the lab in Wuhan

The Central Intelligence Agency previously said that two explanations were plausible, a lab leak or a natural source for the virus. But under new agency director John Ratcliffe, the CIA has changed its view, which is now in line with that of the Department of Energy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

China on Monday dismissed the lab leak theory on COVID-19 origins proposed by the CIA, calling it baseless and emphasizing the need for scientific investigation, state media reported.

Several studies have said the virus originated naturally — but U.S. intelligence changed its assessment over the weekend.

The Central Intelligence Agency with a "low confidence" has changed its stance and concluded that it's likely the COVI-19 virus was leaked from a Chinese lab before it became a global pandemic five years ago.

Newly-confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News the decision to release a Biden-era analysis favoring the COVID-19 lab leak theory is a step toward transparency.

The CIA now assesses the virus that causes Covid-19 more likely originated from an accidental lab leak in China, rather than occurring naturally, according to a statement from the agency Saturday, just days after Director John Ratcliffe took the reins.

China on Monday dismissed the possibility that the virus that caused COVID-19 leaked from a lab, after the CIA said it now favors the so-called lab leak theory over natural transmission. “It is extremely unlikely the pandemic was caused by a lab leak,

Langley joins the FBI and Energy Department in agreeing that a lab leak is the most likely source of the pandemic.

The CIA has changed its assessment on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, now favoring the lab leak theory. But some worry this could be an indication of politicization.