Brittney Hopper: Journalist’s Experience Questioning Fauci

Former CBS News journalist Brittney Hopper discussed the challenges she faced when she questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an appearance on News24 in Australia, she shared her experiences from her time at CBS News, where she covered COVID extensively.

Hopper recounted, “I was on the front lines, reporting extensively on COVID. After hearing and interviewing Fauci for years, I began to question his actions. This led to me being reprimanded and taken off-air for a few days.” She continued, “We weren’t supposed to question the agenda. I was essentially a puppet on mainstream media. Hopefully, more people recognize the lack of journalistic integrity.”

Hopper’s remarks come as Fauci faced scrutiny for invoking his Fifth Amendment right over 100 times during a congressional hearing. Hopper expressed that she hoped this incident would serve as a wake-up call for news organizations worldwide. The notion of maintaining six feet distance, wearing masks outdoors, many questions were left unanswered,” she said. “Initially, we were unaware, but later, journalistic integrity seemed absent.

In addition to facing criticism from lawmakers, Fauci’s hearing drew attention due to excerpts from his private diary which contradicted his public statements. Despite claiming in 2022 that he did not endorse COVID lockdowns, diary entries from 2020 showed he advocated for them to various officials.

CBS News confirmed Hopper’s departure before the leadership change at the network in 2025. Hopper’s story sheds light on the complexities journalists faced in reporting during the pandemic.