Latest news with #JRE
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Misinformation, guitar ballads and herbal remedies: A who's who of RFK Jr's vaccine committee
Robert F. Kennedy Jr has unveiled his choices for a critical committee whose job it will be to advise the US government on vaccine use. All 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP) at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were abruptly sacked earlier this week in the health secretary's latest assault on US vaccine policy. Mr Kennedy, a prominent vaccine sceptic, has now named the eight officials who will take over the job of developing recommendations on how to use vaccines to control diseases in the US. Among them are high-profile critics of the jabs developed to fight Covid-19, an accident and emergency doctor with little or no vaccine expertise, and a former gynaecology professor who advised a supplement company selling healing herbs. Out of the eight – the minimum number of people required to sit on the committee – at least four have actively spoken out against vaccines in the past in some form. The sudden dismissal of the original advisors, along with the swift announcement of their replacements, has sparked concern in the public health community that the usually strict vetting procedures have not been followed. Typically, the ACIP vetting process takes a year and a half. It is not clear how long the new members were vetted for – although Donald Trump took office just five months ago and RFK Jr was only confirmed as health secretary in February. The ACIP was once considered the 'gold standard for vaccine decision making,' said Helen Chu, one of the fired panel members, but now many in the field are concerned that the panel will advance an anti-vaccine agenda. Arguably the most controversial pick is Dr Robert Malone, a medical doctor and biochemist by background who became one of the most vocal critics of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic. Dr Malone actually claims to have invented mRNA technology – the technology first used during the pandemic to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines, which have been credited with saving millions of lives. Though he was involved in some early mRNA research in the late 1980s, his role has been described as minimal at best. But during the pandemic, Dr Malone made several appearances on right-wing media channels to share his views on the jabs and was temporarily banned from using X (formerly Twitter) for spreading misinformation. Dr Malone appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast in 2023 which ignited uproar in the medical community. In a three hour episode, Dr Malone and Mr Rogan discussed theories and claims about the pandemic and vaccines. The conversation included a false equivalence between the vaccine and Nazi medical experiments, that the public had been 'hypnotised' into following government Covid guidelines, and that those who are vaccinated after having Covid-19 are at greater risk of harmful side effects. After the episode aired, a group of 270 doctors, scientists, and academics wrote to Spotify, saying that 'Dr Malone used the JRE platform to promote numerous baseless claims, including several falsehoods about Covid-19 vaccines and an unfounded theory that societal leaders have 'hypnotised' the public. Many of these statements have already been discredited'. Dr Malone is closely aligned with Mr Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again movement, and joined both the health secretary and President Trump to celebrate on election night. Dr Kulldorff is a Swedish biostatistician and former professor of medicine at Harvard university. While he has been historically supportive of vaccines – and previously advised the CDC on vaccine safety – he is critical of vaccine mandates. He has argued that those who have been previously infected with Covid-19 – and children – do not need to be vaccinated. 'Study after study have shown that natural immunity after Covid infection is superior to vaccine immunity,' he wrote on X. 'Forcing the vaccine on everyone is a stain on hospitals, universities and public health officials. How can we trust them on other matters?' In October 2020, Kulldorff, along with now US National Institute of Health director Jayanta Bhattacharya, co-authored the highly controversial Great Barrington Declaration. The open letter opposed lockdowns and called for the promotion of herd immunity through infection by lifting all restrictions on lower-risk groups and shielding older people from the virus. Dr Levi is a professor of operations management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has published multiple research papers on Covid-19, including one that raises concerns about the relationship between vaccines and cardiac arrest in young people. Pinned to the top of Dr Levi's X profile is a post from 2023, in which he said: 'The evidence is mounting and indisputable that MRNA vaccines cause serious harm including death, especially among young people. We have to stop giving them immediately!' Infectious disease experts and scientists say that mRNA vaccines are safe and effective, and saved millions of lives during the pandemic. The technology is particularly useful in outbreaks of novel viruses, because the vaccines can be manufactured quickly and to scale. Dr Hibbeln is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He has previously worked at the US National Institutes of Health, where he focused chiefly on the link between nutrition and mental health disorders. His work has also influenced US public health guidelines on fish consumption during pregnancy. Echoing the rhetoric of RFK Jr's 'Make America Healthy Again' movement, a post on Mr Hibbeln's Linkedin says 21st century diets provide 'inadequate brain nutrients that are likely contributing to the high burden of mental illnesses worldwide.' It is not clear what Dr Hibbeln's views on vaccination are. Dr Ross is a former professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth university. He has held board, advisory and executive positions at a wide range of private healthcare and life-science firms. He once worked as an advisor to LarreaRX, a supplement manufacturer which produces capsules made from Larrea Tridenta, a desert herb that the company claims 'can be used for immune support.' The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings about the herb, saying it can be hazardous to health. The agency says it has received multiple reports of hepatitis associated with consumption of the herb, including at least two cases in which consumers had to undergo liver transplants. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Ross signed an open letter criticising a study which found ivermectin was ineffective for treating the disease. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic used in both humans and livestock, was touted as a 'miracle drug' by vaccine sceptics, despite it being proven to have no effect on Covid-19 infection. 'We oppose this fixation on randomised controlled trials at the expense of other clinical and scientific evidence and urge medical policymakers to restore balance to the practice of medicine,' the letter read. Dr Pebsworth is an ICU nurse by background, and has previously served on the FDA's Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. She is a board member of the National Vaccine Information Center, formerly called 'Dissatisfied Parents Together', a Virginia-based organisation which has been widely criticised as a leading source of misinformation about vaccines. An online biography of Ms Pebsworth says her interest in vaccine safety was peaked when her son 'experienced serious, long-term health problems following receipt of seven live viruses and killed bacterial vaccines' during a health visit as an infant. Dr Meissner is a professor of paediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and previously worked as the Chief of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Tufts Children's Hospital. He has sat on multiple federal boards, including the ACIP between 2008-2012 and an advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration on vaccine safety. In 2021, he was a part of the FDA panel that rejected Joe Biden's plan to offer Pfizer booster jabs to Americans of all age groups, approving only their use in over 65s and those at risk of significant illness. 'I don't think a booster dose is going to significantly contribute to controlling the pandemic and I think it's important that the main message we transmit is that we've got to get everyone two doses,' he said at the time. He has also expressed doubt over whether children should be vaccinated against Covid-19. Dr Pagano is a retired emergency medicine doctor from Los Angeles 'with over 40 years of clinical experience', and is a 'strong advocate for evidence-based medicine,' according to Mr Kennedy. He has published two medical fiction books entitled The Bleed and The Drain. The latter is about 'money, medicine, miracles, and a doctor's pursuit of happiness in spite of all that,' according to a description on Amazon. According to his author's biography, Dr Pagano is also an accomplished guitarist who has composed and recorded music for motion pictures. The cover of his album 'Hopeless Romantic' depicts the doctor with a martini in one hand, with his arm around a guitar. What does it mean for vaccination in the US? Since 1964, the ACIP has deliberated on the use of new and existing vaccines and delivered their findings to the CDC, who subsequently implements their recommendations – although has the power to overrule them. The group votes on key questions about jabs, for example who should receive Covid boosters or at what ages children should receive certain vaccinations. All of the vaccines that are discussed already have to be approved by the FDA, although many health insurance companies – including Medicare, the federal insurance program for people aged 65 or older and younger people with disabilities – are required to pay for vaccinations in full if the ACIP recommends them. The Vaccines for Children Program, another federal program which provides free vaccinations for kids whose parents cannot afford them, also covers the cost of immunisations recommended by the ACIP. If the new board decides to stop recommending certain vaccinations, it is possible that insurance companies could stop funding them – meaning individuals would have to pay for the shots themselves. The ACIP's next meeting is set for later this month. A previously released agenda said the committee would discuss vaccination against Covid, HPV, and lyme disease. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Picks Former Joe Rogan Guest to Advise on Vaccine Safety
One of the eight new members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to sit on a vaccine advisory panel found national fame with a controversial appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. In an X post on Wednesday, Kennedy announced that he had appointed eight new doctors and researchers to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The expert panel guides the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the Department of Health and Human Services, to make the 'most appropriate selection of vaccines and related agents' to effectively manage vaccine-preventable diseases within the country, per the CDC. Earlier this week, Kennedy fired all 17 previous members of the panel and reinstated eight new ones—a decision he described as a 'major step toward restoring public trust in vaccines.' 'I'm now repopulating ACIP with the eight new members who will attend ACIP's scheduled June 25 meeting,' Kennedy continued. 'The slate includes highly credentialed scientists, leading public health experts, and some of America's most accomplished physicians. All of these individuals are committed to evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science, and common sense. They have each committed to demanding definitive safety and efficacy data before making any new vaccine recommendations.' One of the eight new members, Dr. Robert Malone, was previously the subject of intense scrutiny—and, in some circles, praise—for conspiracies he touted about the COVID-19 virus and vaccine in a 2021 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. At the time, Dr. Malone argued that parts of the population had been 'hypnotized' by health professionals into believing that their reports and recommendations on COVID-19 were true. He also questioned the severity of the virus and drew comparisons between the COVID-19 vaccine and Nazi medical experiments, per The New York Times. Dr. Malone, who played an early role in mRNA research and claims to be the inventor of the technology, was criticized in an open letter from more than 250 healthcare professionals and researchers following the episode for 'broadcasting misinformation.' 'On Dec. 31, 2021, The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE), a Spotify-exclusive podcast, uploaded a highly controversial episode featuring guest Dr. Robert Malone (#1757),' the January 2022 open letter to Spotify read. 'The episode has been criticized for promoting baseless conspiracy theories and the JRE has a concerning history of broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.' In a 2022 profile for The New York Times, Dr. Malone dismissed fact-checks of his claims as 'attacks' and maintained that he received pushback because anything that questions guidance from institutions like the CDC is quickly labeled as misinformation. Meanwhile, the seven other members Kennedy appointed include: Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln, Dr. Martin Kulldorff (who criticized pandemic protocols in 2020), Dr. Retsef Levi, Dr. Cody Meissner, Dr. James Pagano, Dr. Vicky Pebsworth, and Dr. Michael A. Ross.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Do you think I will protect ...' Kash Patel opens up about Epstein in a surprise Joe Rogan podcast
Kash Patel speaks about Epstein Files in Joe Rogan podcast. FBI director Kash Patel came clean about the Epstein Files on a surprise Joe Rogan Experience episode that dropped a day after Elon Musk claimed that President Donald Trump is named in the Epstein Files and that's why they are not releasing it. The timing of the episode caught JRE fans by surprise as it's not yet known when the episode was shot. Kash Patel was seen smoking and talking in details about FBI and Epstein Files. Without mentioning the damning allegation that Musk brought against Trump regarding Epstein -- possibly because the episode was shot before, Kash Patel said people are pissed at him for the delay in releasing the files. He said he was not there when Jeffrey Epstein did the abominable act with the protection of a section of media who chose to protect Epstein because of the connections he had. Claiming that Epstein killed himself, Patel asked if anyone thinks that he and Dan Bongino would protect any information regarding the pedophile. Patel said it was the decision of the Donald Trump administration that all files would be released and they will be released "as much as possible", Patel said. The FBI director added that he knows that he would not be able to convince anyone that Epstein did kill himself in the prison cell, no matter how many files the FBI releases, because there have been 15 years of people coming in and creating fiction. Did you never think Epstein was killed, Rogan asks Kash Patel Joe Rogan asked Kash Patel what he used to think about Epstein's death before he became the FBI director. Patel said he never had a suspicion that Epstein was killed in his cell and said that he had a different background that made him acquainted with jails as a public defender. He said he knew people who committed suicides in cell and based on the information publicly available to him at that time, he always believed that it was not possible for anyone to enter Epstein's cell and kill him. Patel said the FBi would release the video of the cell and everybody would be able to see whether Epstein killed himself or not.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Guy Fieri Makes His Opinion on Joe Rogan Extremely Clear
Celebrity chef and television star Guy Fieri teamed up with Joe Rogan for a recent podcast episode. Rogan's show The Joe Rogan Experience has featured thousands of guests over the years. During that time, he's developed an immense following, but has also earned his share of criticism for his personal comments and the people he chooses to platform. Fieri was featured on the program last Friday. You can watch the full episode here, but be warned, it's nearly two-and-a-half hours long. On Saturday, Fieri promoted his appearance and gave Rogan a shoutout on X/Twitter. "It was an honor and a pleasure to be a guest on JRE 2.5 hrs just flew by!! Thanks for havin' me @joerogan," Fieri wrote. Fieri, 57, began his career as a chef and restauranteur in the 1990s. His rise to fame was expedited by his victory in season two of The Next Food Network Star in 2006. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Fieri's most popular show, debuted in 2007 and remains a Food Network mainstay to this day. The Emmy Award-winning personality has also hosted Guy's Big Bite, Guy's Grocery Games, Guy's Family Road Trip and Guy Off The Hook, in addition to appearing on a number of other food network programs. While Fieri's entire life and career has been food-oriented, he has taken a renewed focus on his health in recent years. In May 2024, Fieri revealed in an interview with Men's Health that he shed 30 pounds through a combination of rucking and various HIIT workouts. "Unfortunately, in the [Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives] world, people like to go, 'Oh, you're the chef that eats the deep-fried pizza burgers with the ice cream toppings and all those huge, fried everythings.' My response is, 'I don't want to say that you don't know what you're talking about. But you don't know what you're talking about,'" Fieri said.
Fox News
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
David Lucas compares his 'common sense' comedy to preaching, says no group gets 'special treatment' from jokes
Stand-up comic David Lucas believes that good authentic comedy can bring healing to people just like the spiritual words of a religious leader. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the rising comedian described that though he had the traditional upbringing that could have made him the leader of a congregation, he found the ability to bring another type of healing to people through his blunt style of comedy. He described his comedy as "in some sense preaching and also healing to a lot of people who are going through different periods of their life." The Macon, Georgia native talked about growing up with a single mom and his strict religious grandfather as his father figure. "Yeah, I was raised in Macon, Georgia, and I grew up with a, you know, traditional Southern Baptist household. My granddaddy was very strict," he said. Lucas mentioned how his grandfather would take him to "church all the time," joking that it was as if his grandfather was preparing him for religious life. "So it's crazy that I turned out this way because it seems like he was preparing me to be a preacher of some sort," he said. Like preachers helping souls navigate spiritual darkness, Lucas believes comedians like him, Joe Rogan and others are helping people see the truth in an era where traditional media has been widely discredited. "I feel like in a very dark period, Rogan's podcast brought a lot of enlightenment to people, especially when he started bringing on accredited people that could back what he was saying," Lucas said. "But a lot of what we know as public media has been discredited. And I think that came along with the territory of COVID and the George Floyd situation. You know, they really pumped a lot of fear into us – a lot of fearmongering, a lot of doubt, to where people didn't know where to turn." He continued, "So when you turn on JRE [Joe Rogan Experience], you hear this guy, you know, telling you like, 'Hey, maybe don't get vaccinated if you're a healthy adult.' Then people are like, 'Well, that aligns with what I believe, because why would I put a vaccine in my system that I know absolutely nothing about?'" Rogan's podcast, along with others – like comedian Theo Von's podcast – were widely credited with beating out traditional media and news networks in delivering people information in recent months, especially around the 2024 presidential election. Many say President Trump appearing on those long-form programs won him the election. On his latest special, "Uncancellable," the comic showcases his own anti-status-quo point of view, putting up a barrage of jokes skewering the cultural and political norms of our current era. Lucas' special, which dropped online in 2024, features jokes against politicians like former President Joe Biden and President Trump, as well as digs against the #MeToo movement and the LGBTQ movement – particularly the trans community. However, despite going after highly political subject matter, Lucas insisted to Fox that he doesn't see himself as a political comic but as someone who makes jokes based on "common sense." "I don't really like to take a political stance, even though a lot of my views in life are more right-leaning. But I have some liberal views as well. But it's like, at the end of the day, common sense is common sense." A big part of his motivation to drill some straight talk and common sense into his audiences is his contempt for groups that believe they should be off-limits from being made fun of. He stressed to Fox that he refuses to go easier on more sensitive groups, saying that no one deserves to be shielded from jokes. "But, it's like some groups want this special treatment, and they want to be a part [of society]. Well, being a part of it comes with jokes and criticism. So, you got to accept all facets of it. It's not just one-sided," he said. "Blacks get talked about, fat people get talked about, men get talked about, women get talked about, straight get talked about, gay get talked about. That's just how it is." Going after sensitive groups or sensitive subjects seems to be one of Lucas' favorite aspects of comedy. The comic, who started his career as a roast comic on MTV's "Yo Momma" back in the 2000s, told Fox, "Crowds will turn on me because I will go down some deep, deep, dark pathways. And sometimes I like to put myself in a hole to see if I can get myself out of it." "It's challenging, bro. It's challenging," he said, describing that being able to dig himself out of those holes during a show is a "very great feeling." The comic has his own podcast called "Fishing With David Lucas," where he sits down with famous comedians, influencers and other interesting people to talk about their lives, interests and other topics in a peaceful nature setting. "Like, you're in nature, you're relaxed. And then people that come on the podcast are like, 'This is so much better than being in the studio. Like, I just feel at peace by the water,'" the comic said. "This is just like two old men sitting at the lake talking s---, you know? So, you're very relaxed, and I think a lot of people appreciate that nature side of doing a podcast because you don't really get that anywhere else." The comedian is currently on tour in the United States. You can watch his special "Uncancellable" at and catch his podcast on YouTube.
