That’s a lot of “ifs” and “mays” and “potentials”. (Otherwise known as “too early to call.”) It may have been tempting for Leonhardt to write a story with an insider quote hinting that the test results look good, but skeptical reporters (and readers, too) know better than to trust anonymously spoken positive spin. Of course, the administration hopes and wants the tests to be positively received. But we can wait until Thursday to report the facts, instead of preemptively reprinting anonymous spin.

Katia Bachko is on staff at The New Yorker.