AUSTIN, TEXAS: Comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan has offered vaccine expert Dr Peter Hotez a sum of $100,000 to debate Democratic presidential contender Robert F Kennedy Jr on his show. Following an interview with Kennedy Jr, Rogan questioned Dr Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, over the Covid vaccines,
During 'The Joe Rogan Experience' interview, Kennedy Jr reiterated his claims that vaccines cause autism, which has been repeatedly debunked since British anti-vaccine activist Andrew Wakefield's study into an apparent link between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the condition was exposed as flawed and eventually retracted.
'I am offering you $100K'
Kennedy Jr, a member of the political dynasty of the Kennedys, also questioned the likelihood of a CIA murder attempt. His uncle John F Kennedy, and father Robert F Kennedy Sr, were slain and their deaths have sparked many conspiracy theories.
Following the interview, Hotez slammed Rogan and Spotify, claiming that the podcaster was spreading "vaccine misinformation." In response, Rogan tweeted, "Peter, if you claim what RFKjr is saying is “misinformation” I am offering you $100,000.00 to the charity of your choice if you’re willing to debate him on my show with no time limit."
Twitter CEO Elon Musk also chimed in and responded to Rogan, "He's afraid of a public debate because he knows he's wrong."
"Peter," Kennedy Jr said, adding, "Let's finally have the respectful, congenial, informative debate that the American people deserve."
'I don't want an adversarial relationship'
Hotez seemed eager to be on Rogan's podcast, which has millions of listeners for each episode. "I'm happy to come on and have a meaningful discussion. I respect you and your show and I don't want an adversarial relationship. I think we can make some progress," he added.
He went on to say, "And I'm open to a number of different options, but to be pressured to give you an answer on Twitter, now, with a 'take it or leave it' demand that's not how I work. Honestly, I don't even think that would be in your best interests."
According to the World Health Organization, "Vaccines are actually very safe" and most side effects "are minor and temporary, such as a sore arm or mild fever." It did acknowledge that there are more substantial adverse effects on rare occasions—on the scale of one to thousands to one per million.
Before being involved in the vaccine skeptic movement, Kennedy Jr began his political career as an environmental campaigner. During the Covid epidemic, his profile expanded with the publishing of his 2021 book titled 'The Real Anthony Fauci', which criticized the president's main medical adviser as part of "a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy."
