Newly surfaced diary entries undercut Fauci's public denials about pushing pandemic lockdowns, a blow to his credibility with critics.

• In a 2022 interview, Fauci said he "didn't recommend locking anything down" and pointed to the CDC instead.
• His own diary from March 2020 tells a different story.
• One entry says he convinced New York's mayor to close schools, bars, and restaurants, and pushed California's governor's office to do the same.
• Another entry credits his TV appearances with driving those shutdown decisions.
• Days later, official guidance reflected the aggressive 15-day mitigation plan he says he was privately pushing.

Outlook: Expect renewed political attacks on Fauci as more of these contradictions surface.