The Fauci-Paul show returned to Congress on Wednesday, when the world-renowned immunologist traded blows with his libertarian tormentor in a contest that did not even mention monkeypox - the subject that had brought them to the Senate hearing.

Once again, Sen. Rand Paul went to the archives to dig up old comments by Dr. Anthony Fauci in an effort to paint him as a scientifically inconsistent fraud.

And once again Fauci bested him with a factcheck and a quip. 'I have never ever denied fundamental immunology,' he said. 

'In fact, I wrote the chapter in the textbook of medicine on fundamental immunology.'

The two have clashed at hearing after hearing, but the end of the Fauci-Paul show is nearing. The 81-year-old has announced he will retire from government service in December.

The only chance of reruns is if Republicans take back the House or Senate and launch investigations into Fauci and his handling of the pandemic.