'Vaccine!' A Twitter Play In Two Acts, Starring Joe Rogan, Etc.

By Susie Madrak — June 19, 2023

The short version: Joe Rogan is shilling for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine conspiracy theories, and demanded this weekend that Dr. Peter Hotez, vaccine expert, appear on his wacky podcast to debate Kennedy.

Now, Hotez has been on the infotainment show several times, and is happy to have a discussion. But he refused to agree to a circus of a debate with Bobby Kennedy Jr., whose own family knows he's a wack job.

So after Hotez said no, Rogan went to work riling up his flying monkeys on Twitter, to the point where a Qnut showed up at Hotez's home and confronted the scientist.

And because this is Twitter, the usual suspects came out of the woodwork to defend Rogan and Kennedy. I don't need to tell you Kennedy is being backed for the Democratic presidential nomination by Steve Bannon and his minions, right?

Oh, and Elmo Musk got involved, too.

That would be a great suggestion if you could assure that the industry you were representing wasn’t completely captured by heartless monsters who have a history of some of the biggest criminal fines in human history because their deception has cost hundreds of thousands of people… https://t.co/fVlPdwCWrq

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 18, 2023

I've been suing the pharma industry for over a decade. I've had big pharma shills lie to my face under oath.

But Peter Hotez is not one of them. He doesn't even do that work; he works on stuff big pharma doesn't want to do because it isn't profitable.https://t.co/OntvnspBIy

— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) June 19, 2023

Spotify Has Stopped Even Sort of Trying to Stem Joe Rogan’s Vaccine Misinformation. It’s really true ⁦@annamerlan⁩ just awful. And from all the online attacks I’m receiving after this absurd podcast, it’s clear many actually believe this nonsense https://t.co/GwIFsOODC2

— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) June 17, 2023

This piece of trash showed up to Dr. Peter Hotez PRIVATE RESIDENCE to ask why he won’t agree to an ambush debate with whackadoodle Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and middle school bully, Joe Rogan.

This is harassment and not ok. He goes on to say Hotez will be ok and justifies his… https://t.co/dLW8mrIgW8

— Ryan Shead (@RyanShead) June 19, 2023

Peter Hotez Pushes Back at Joe Rogan and Elon Musk's Vaccine Debate: No Interest in 'Turning It Into The Jerry Springer Show ' https://t.co/WVPOFiLS0W

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) June 19, 2023

I know you did a PhD and wrote a book on this complex topic but if you don't debate my horse on stage at the county fair, why should I believe you? my horse can clomp his hoof once for yes and twice for no

— Hamilton Nolan (@hamiltonnolan) June 18, 2023

It’s not even a secret. He’s being funded by Steve Bannon’s PAC and hangs out with Michael Flynn and Roger Stone. Three felons pardoned by Trump. https://t.co/k4JOORxtwg pic.twitter.com/NeoBjnpRQA

— MamaPause (@mama_pause) June 18, 2023

We are at a point where a podcaster and right wing billionaire

Spew vaccine disinformation and use schoolyard bully tactics against vaccine expert Peter Hotez

In an attempt to discredit his work

Which-if successful-means people will die

Is this what Elon Musk & Joe Rogan want https://t.co/UeSEpOknZg pic.twitter.com/PJ6WXlppVc

— Adam Cohen Lawyers for Good Government #DemCast (@axidentaliberal) June 18, 2023