I just signed up for Spotify
And I've never listened to Joe Rogan
I don’t believe I’ve ever listened to Joe Rogan. No reason. Just never did.
But with Neil Young quitting Spotify to protest the outlet’s deal to air “The Joe Rogan Experience,” aka JRE, I had no choice. I jumped onto Spotify today and am set up to start listening.
If critics can’t challenge Rogan on the substance of his claims on COVID and climate change in a forthright debate, shame on them. The fact that any controversial positions invites a stampede of cancellations shows how dispirited political debate has become in America.
We don’t argue any more, we cover our ears and make noises.
You can read a letter signed by doctors and other health-care professionals that outlines their complaints about JRE.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine. He has discouraged vaccination in young people and children, incorrectly claimed that mRNA vaccines are “gene therapy,” promoted off-label use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 (contrary to FDA warnings), and spread a number of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. In episode #1757, Rogan hosted Dr. Robert Malone, who was suspended from Twitter for spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Dr. Malone used the JRE platform to further promote numerous baseless claims, including several falsehoods about COVID-19 vaccines and an unfounded theory that societal leaders have “hypnotized” the public. Many of these statements have already been discredited. Notably, Dr. Malone is one of two recent JRE guests who has compared pandemic policies to the Holocaust. These actions are not only objectionable and offensive, but also medically and culturally dangerous.
A few disclosures. I am pro-vaccine, anti-mandate. I also am in my 60s, so of course I got all three shots as soon as I could.
But I understand why some younger adults and parents of young children might calculate that the risk of illness if they contract COVID might be more acceptable than possible as of yet unknown risks of getting shots of a vaccine approved in the hat of political discord. I wouldn’t encourage that decision, but I do believe adults have rights as to what they put into their bodies.
Side note: Nothing gets the back up of those who don’t trust the system more than people who act as if COVID’s spread is all on the unvaccinated — when so many vaccinated people have contracted the virus. (You’re less likely to be hospitalized or die, of course, and that’s why I will get a fourth booster if and when recommended.)
In short, Young are short-fuse censors, and their attempts to silence others are counter-productive. They’ve taken a crowbar to the country’s divides. Aren’t they morally superior?
Addendum:
An earlier version of this post mentioned Barry Manilow joining Neil Young in quitting spotify. Manilow issued this statement and I removed his name.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I recently heard a rumor about me and Spotify. I don’t know where it started, but it didn’t start with me or anyone who represents me.</p>— Barry Manilow (@barrymanilow) <a href="
28, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Debra J. Saunders is a fellow at the Discovery Institute's Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership. Contact her at dsaunders@discovery.org.
Our government has never been honest about natural immunity, nor the lack of knowledge they have about the efficacy of the vaccines. Joe Rogan has never claimed to be anti-vax he, like many of us, is skeptical of what we're being told and the government, rather than convincing us, has decided to play games and force us to get vaccines that may, or may not, have problems. Neil Young knows nothing about vaccines, the difference is that Rogan at least, is asking questions and trying to get educated. Neil Young, is just a partisan thug.
I only started listening to some of Rogan's shows recently, so my opinions are limited. Still, one thing I do like is that he lets his guests talk. I look forward to hearing what you think.