COVID

17 statements across 14 episodes · 3 bullish · 7 bearish · 4 people on the record · first statement Nov 4, 2020 by Bill Gurley · across every show →

Everything said about COVID, oldest first

Nov 4, 2020 negative
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Gurley: The US cannot move past COVID under a Trump presidency
“I think that we can't get past COVID With Trump, because the TDSers are so convinced that it has to be problematic”
Bill Gurley Nov 4, 2020 ▶ 1:50:04 E11: Election Night Special featuring Phil Hellmuth, Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner & more!
Feb 3, 2021 positive
Assertion Supported
Sacks: Airbnb absorbed customer deposit losses from COVID cancellations
“When they had a whole ton of cancellations because of COVID, they ate all those deposits. They made good on that.”
David Sacks Feb 3, 2021 ▶ 9:34 E20: Robinhood wrap up, Insiders vs. Outsiders, California's failing report card & how to fix it
Mar 6, 2021 negative
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Friedberg: COVID testing will not be needed in 30 to 60 days
“We don't need to test anyone for COVID in about 30 to 60 days.”
David Friedberg Mar 6, 2021 ▶ 22:57 E24: Markets trend down, political pandemic manipulation, stimulus breakdown, biological Patriot Act
Mar 6, 2021 neutral
Assertion Contradicted
Sacks: States that kept schools open saw no COVID case increases
“States which have open schools have not seen an increase in COVID.”
David Sacks Mar 6, 2021 ▶ 31:46 E24: Markets trend down, political pandemic manipulation, stimulus breakdown, biological Patriot Act
Apr 17, 2021 bullish
Prediction Didn’t hold up
Sacks: COVID will end and economy boom by CA recall election
“By the time we actually get around to the recall, which will be in about five or six months the recall election, you know, the economy's going to be booming again. COVID's going to be over. People will probably forget.”
David Sacks Apr 17, 2021 ▶ 13:48 E29: Coinbase goes public, direct listings vs. IPOs, unions & more with Bestie Guestie Brad Gerstner
Apr 23, 2021 negative
Assertion Supported
Sacks: US federal spending jumped from 20.7% to 31.3% of GDP during COVID
“Federal outlays of percentage of GDP have generally been around the 20% line plus or minus a couple of percent since, you know, the 19 eighties. And last year, in 2019, it was 20.7%. It jumped to 31.3% under COVID.”
David Sacks Apr 23, 2021 ▶ 30:24 E30: Ramifications of Biden's proposed capital gains tax hike, founder psychology & more
Jul 16, 2021 negative
Assertion Supported
Sacks: $10 trillion was spent battling COVID-19 in 2020
“We spent 10 trillion dollars battling COVID. Last year.”
David Sacks Jul 16, 2021 ▶ 36:05 E40: A Bestie gets COVID, Delta breakthrough, Billionaire Space Race & more
Aug 28, 2021 neutral
Prediction Held up
Sacks: COVID-19 will be around forever like the cold or flu
“COVID is going to be around forever. It's like the cold or the flu.”
David Sacks Aug 28, 2021 ▶ 1:02:44 E44: USA's Afghanistan embarrassment, China's new algo laws, future of robots + Italy recap!
Oct 2, 2021 negative
Assertion Supported
Sacks claims loose-fitting cloth masks do not prevent COVID transmission
“People are like walking around wearing these cloth masks, these loose fitting cloth masks. It's ridiculous. The COVID goes, you know, through the bottom, over the top, through the side, it goes right through it. I mean, like it doesn't do anything.”
David Sacks Oct 2, 2021 ▶ 36:48 E49: Coinbase CEO reflects on controversial blog, state of the markets, 1000 unicorns & more
Dec 29, 2021 neutral
Prediction Not checkable as stated
David Sacks predicts mainstream media will completely reverse its COVID-19 coverage
“I think the media is going to, the media is going to pull a total one 80 on COVID. Okay, so after pumping out COVID fear porn for two years, they're going to change their tune next year.”
David Sacks Dec 29, 2021 ▶ 43:20 E61: 2022 Predictions! Business, politics, science, tech, crypto, & more
Dec 29, 2021
Assertion Supported
Sacks asserts more U.S. COVID deaths occurred under Biden than Trump
“More Americans have already died from COVID under Joe Biden than Donald Trump.”
David Sacks Dec 29, 2021 ▶ 43:50 E61: 2022 Predictions! Business, politics, science, tech, crypto, & more
Feb 5, 2022
Assertion Partly supported
Sacks cites Monmouth poll showing majorities of Republicans and independents want to move past COVID
“The Monmouth poll just came out, where 89% of Republicans, 71% of independents, say that it's time we accept COVID is here to stay, and we need to get on with our lives. Only 40% of Democrats.”
David Sacks Feb 5, 2022 ▶ 1:27:45 E66: $FB's big drop, Rogan/Spotify mess, Xi/Putin meetup & supply chain issues with Ryan Petersen
Oct 13, 2023 bullish
What-if
Sacks: Trump would have won reelection in a landslide without COVID
“If it weren't for the black swan of COVID, he would have been reelected in a landslide.”
David Sacks Oct 13, 2023 ▶ 1:04:10 E149: Hamas terror attacks in Israel: fallout, reaction, next steps
May 31, 2024
Assertion Contradicted
Fauci knew early in February 2020 that COVID leaked from lab
“Fauci knew very early, as early as February first of 2020, that COVID came from a lab leak.”
David Sacks May 31, 2024 ▶ 26:31 Trump verdict, COVID Cover-up, Crypto Corner, Salesforce drops 20%, AI correction?
May 31, 2024
Assertion Supported
Internal NIH emails suggest COVID-19 leaked from a BSL-2 facility
“There are internal NIH emails that suggest that COVID leaked from a level two facility. They call it BSL two, which does not operate with the top level biohazard safeguards.”
David Sacks May 31, 2024 ▶ 38:10 Trump verdict, COVID Cover-up, Crypto Corner, Salesforce drops 20%, AI correction?
Jul 12, 2024 negative
Assertion Partly supported
Friedberg estimates US grocery prices have risen over 30% since COVID
“Much of the inflation, like I think grocery prices are up 30 plus percent. Nick, you could probably pull this up since COVID.”
David Friedberg Jul 12, 2024 ▶ 17:54 Biden chaos, Soft landing secured? AI sentiment turns bearish, French elections
Sep 19, 2025 negative
Opinion
Chamath: Charlie Kirk's killer represents a lost generation shaped by COVID
“So to me, what Tyler Robinson illustrates is the emergence of a lost generation that was shaped by COVID.”
Chamath Palihapitiya Sep 19, 2025 ▶ 1:16 Charlie Kirk Murder, Assassination Culture in America, Jimmy Kimmel Suspended, Ellison Media Empire
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