Trump Says Plague Isn't Believed a Bioweapon, Per ABC
“Joining us via satellite is Tad Fennimore-Voss, a lobbyist who represents both the plague lab and the people suing it. Tad, welcome.” — Hank Ledger, on air
At a glance
- First reported by ABC News: “'We hope not': Trump says US doesn't believe Russian plague is a bioweapon”.
- Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6:35 PM ET on The Recap, by Hank Ledger.
- Topics: ABC, Russian, Trump, US.
- BBN covered this story before: Ferguson Fine Rescinded; Super Bowl Streams on Disney+ (October 7).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- ABC News'We hope not': Trump says US doesn't believe Russian plague is a bioweapon
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNew: ABC News reports Trump says the U.S. doesn't believe the plague is a bioweapon. He said, quote, we hope not.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTrump also has a phone call scheduled with Vladimir Putin.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorJoining us via satellite is Tad Fennimore-Voss, a lobbyist who represents both the plague lab and the people suing it. Tad, welcome.
Tad Fennimore-VossThanks, Hank. To be clear, I represent the lab, the victims, the antidote makers and the plague. Everyone deserves a seat at the table.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorYou represent the plague.
Tad Fennimore-VossTechnically its trade association. They're called Friends of Bacteria. Wonderful people. Very small. Very aggressive growth.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe president said we hope not about a bioweapon. Is hope a policy, Tad?
Tad Fennimore-VossHope is a billable service, Hank. My morning client hopes it's not a weapon. My afternoon client hopes it is, for the grant money.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAnd what do you tell both of them at the same time?
Tad Fennimore-VossI tell them both the exact same thing: send a retainer. Then I cc myself on the reply. Twice. For efficiency.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHave you ever lost a case against yourself?
Tad Fennimore-VossOnce. I lost, then won the appeal, then billed both sides for the celebratory lunch. I #$%&! love this town.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe'll have to leave it there. Tad Fennimore-Voss, who is in a conflict with himself.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhether the Putin call changes anything is unclear, and that's an opinion.
The story so far
- Sarah Macdonald returns to ABC radio after being sacked in 2024 · The Guardian
- Trump says he’ll call Putin ‘very soon’ about suspected Russian plague · Washington Examiner
- Trump to Raise Russian Plague Lab Worker's Death With Putin · BBC
- Grammy Race, Rockin' Eve Simulcast, Channel 4 Hire · The Hollywood Reporter
- Trump to Raise Russian Plague Lab Death With Putin · The Guardian
- Ferguson Fine Rescinded; Super Bowl Streams on Disney+ · Fox News
- Trump Says Plague Isn't Believed a Bioweapon, Per ABC (this story)
- WHO Presses Russia on Plague Death, Second Suspected Case · Newsmax
- California Scientist Wins Nobel Prize, ABC News Reports · ABC News
- Trump Accounts: 70 Million Kids Enrolled, ABC Says · ABC News
- Tropical Weather Eyes Both U.S. Coasts at Once, NY Post Says · New York Post
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months


