This gallery of quotes provides a guide to more than 30 statements attributed to public officials, government regulators, and other drinking water and public health experts throughout the Flint drinking water saga.

Each quote is marked at the top with one of three labels:

1. “Bad Information” – a statement that ultimately turns out to be seriously incorrect.
2. “Outrageous Statement” – a statement that is not only seriously incorrect, but suggests some combination of irresponsibility, insensitivity, or a serious lack of professional judgement or urgency in dealing with the lead-poisoning crisis.
3. “Truth Telling.” – accurate, revelatory statements that ultimately lead to full exposure of the lead crisis in Flint drinking water.

This gallery summarizes far more detailed information within the Michigan Truth Squad’s Flint Water Disaster Timeline.

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THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY: Rating comments of public officials and experts on the Flint water crisis

by Bridge Staff, Bridge Michigan
February 4, 2016

<h1>THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY: Rating comments of public officials and experts on the Flint water crisis</h1> <p class="byline">by Bridge Staff, Bridge Michigan <br />February 4, 2016</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-1a" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41916" data-id="41916" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-1a.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-1a</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-2a" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41917" data-id="41917" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-2a.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-2a</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-3a" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41918" data-id="41918" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-3a.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-3a</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-4a" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41919" data-id="41919" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-4a.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-4a</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-5" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41920" data-id="41920" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-5.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-5</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-6a" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41921" data-id="41921" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-6a.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-6a</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-7" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41922" data-id="41922" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-7.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-7</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-8a" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41923" data-id="41923" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-8a.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-8a</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-9" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41924" data-id="41924" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-9.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-9</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-10" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41925" data-id="41925" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-10.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-10</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-11" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41926" data-id="41926" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-11.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-11</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-12" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41927" data-id="41927" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-12.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-12</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-13" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41928" data-id="41928" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-13.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-13</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-14" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41929" data-id="41929" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-14.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-14</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-15" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41930" data-id="41930" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-15.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-15</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-16" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41931" data-id="41931" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-16.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-16</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-17" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41932" data-id="41932" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-17.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-17</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure> <img alt="flint-slide-18" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-41933" data-id="41933" src="https://bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/flint-slide-18.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">flint-slide-18</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p> <a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><br /> <a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><br /> <a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </p></div> </p></div> <div class="wp-related"> <h2>More coverage</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://bridgemi.com/2016/02/where-blame-leads-so-far-in-flint-water-crisis/">Where blame leads so far in Flint water crisis</a></li> <li><a href="http://bridgemi.com/2016/02/flint-water-disaster-timeline/">Disaster Day by Day: A Detailed Flint Crisis Timeline</a></li> <li><a href="http://bridgemi.com/2016/01/who-approved-switch-to-flint-river-states-answers-draw-fouls/">Who approved switch to Flint River? State’s answer draws foul</a></li> </ul> </div> <p>This gallery of quotes provides a guide to more than 30 statements attributed to public officials, government regulators, and other drinking water and public health experts throughout the Flint drinking water saga.</p> <p>Each quote is marked at the top with one of three labels:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>“Bad Information”</strong> – a statement that ultimately turns out to be seriously incorrect.</li> <li><strong>“Outrageous Statement”</strong> – a statement that is not only seriously incorrect, but suggests some combination of irresponsibility, insensitivity, or a serious lack of professional judgement or urgency in dealing with the lead-poisoning crisis.</li> <li><strong>“Truth Telling.”</strong> – accurate, revelatory statements that ultimately lead to full exposure of the lead crisis in Flint drinking water.</li> </ol> <p>This gallery summarizes far more detailed information within the <a href="http://bridgemi.com/2016/02/flint-water-disaster-timeline/">Michigan Truth Squad’s Flint Water Disaster Timeline.</a></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://bridgemi.com/truth-squad-companion/good-bad-and-ugly-rating-comments-public-officials-and-experts-flint-water/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://bridgemi.com&quot;&gt;Bridge Michigan&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-android-chrome-192x192-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://bridgemi.com/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=10218&amp;amp;ga4=G-1E2G9MSHX5&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://bridgemi.com/truth-squad-companion/good-bad-and-ugly-rating-comments-public-officials-and-experts-flint-water/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/bridgemi.com/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p> Copy to Clipboard

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