JRE #1999 - Robert Kennedy, Jr.

15-Jun-23

Joe Rogan Podcast #1999 – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

This podcast dives into the world of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an attorney, environmental activist, and 2024 presidential candidate. It explores his controversial views on vaccines, the pharmaceutical industry, and the potential dangers of environmental toxins. Rogan initially approached the conversation with skepticism, having previously encountered Kennedy’s views as fringe and conspiracy-laden. However, Kennedy’s detailed explanations, backed by extensive research and personal experiences, challenge the conventional narratives surrounding vaccine safety and the role of the government in public health. The conversation also touches upon the complexities of political discourse, the influence of corporate money on public policy, and the importance of critical thinking in a society often prone to accepting information at face value.

Here are some of the major topics discussed in the podcast:

1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Transition from Environmental Activist to Vaccine Skeptic:

Kennedy’s early work with the Waterkeeper Alliance focused on cleaning up the Hudson River, a polluted waterway. This experience instilled in him a healthy skepticism towards government agencies and their scientific pronouncements.
He encountered mothers of children with intellectual disabilities who believed their children had been harmed by vaccines. Intrigued by their claims, he began researching the science of vaccines and found discrepancies between what the public health agencies were saying and the actual scientific literature.
Kennedy was further alarmed by his discovery that many high-level public health officials lacked a deep understanding of the scientific research on vaccine safety, often relying on industry insiders for information. He ultimately became convinced that there was a systemic cover-up regarding the potential harms of vaccines.
This led him to found Children’s Health Defense, an organization dedicated to advocating for vaccine safety and raising awareness of potential side effects.

2. The Vaccine Act of 1986 and its Implications:

This act granted immunity from liability to vaccine manufacturers for any injuries caused by their products, regardless of negligence or recklessness. Kennedy argues this legislation created a perverse incentive for the industry, removing the pressure to improve vaccine safety and incentivizing the production of more vaccines.
He contends that the industry convinced the government that vaccines are “unavoidably unsafe” and secured this immunity, even though vaccines are the only medical products exempt from pre-licensing safety testing. This, he argues, has led to a culture of secrecy and lack of transparency in the vaccine industry.
Kennedy points to studies like Lazarus and Geiger, which challenge the conventional wisdom regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness. Lazarus found that the rate of vaccine injuries was significantly higher than what CDC had been reporting, while Geiger concluded that vaccines had a minimal impact on the decline in infectious disease mortality in the 20th century.
He highlights the importance of placebo-controlled trials in assessing the safety and effectiveness of any medical product, yet argues that vaccines have never been subjected to such trials. This lack of rigorous scientific scrutiny, he argues, raises significant concerns about the long-term health consequences of widespread vaccination.

3. The Simpsonwood Meeting and the Cover-Up of Vaccine Safety Data:

In 1999, a meeting was held at Simpsonwood, a Methodist retreat center in Georgia, where officials from CDC, NIH, FDA, and vaccine companies gathered to discuss a study by Thomas Verstraeten that linked the hepatitis B vaccine to a significantly increased risk of autism in infants.
The study found a relative risk of 11.35, a number considered proof of causation in the scientific community. This discovery triggered a panic among those present, as they recognized the potential legal ramifications of the study being publicly revealed.
The transcripts of the meeting, which Kennedy obtained and published in Rolling Stone magazine, reveal a concerted effort to suppress the study and prevent its findings from reaching the public. This, Kennedy argues, demonstrates a pattern of deception and cover-up that has become ingrained in the vaccine industry.
The suppression of Verstraeten’s study, he claims, highlights a broader problem in the industry: a willingness to prioritize profits over public health and to silence dissenting voices.

4. The Autism Epidemic and Environmental Toxins:

Kennedy points to a dramatic rise in autism rates since the 1980s, coinciding with an expansion of the vaccine schedule and the introduction of new vaccines, particularly the hepatitis B vaccine. While correlation does not equal causation, he argues that the timing and nature of this increase warrant further investigation.
He emphasizes the importance of considering environmental toxins as contributing factors to the autism epidemic. He believes the explosion of chronic diseases, including autism, can be attributed to a combination of factors, including vaccines, environmental toxins, and lifestyle choices.
Kennedy lists several environmental toxins that he believes are potentially contributing to the rise in chronic diseases: glyphosate (Roundup), neonicotinoid pesticides, PFOAs (flame retardants), and electromagnetic radiation (cell phones and Wi-Fi). He cites research suggesting that these toxins can disrupt the immune system, damage the microbiome, and contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.
He stresses the need for more research into the combined effects of these toxins and the role they may play in the overall health of the population, particularly in vulnerable populations like children.

5. The Influence of Corporate Money on Public Policy:

Kennedy argues that the pharmaceutical industry has captured the regulatory agencies, effectively controlling the flow of information and shaping public health policies. This capture, he argues, is fueled by financial ties between industry and regulators.
He highlights examples like FDA’s dependence on pharmaceutical company funding, CDC’s dependence on vaccine sales for its budget, and NIH’s royalty payments to researchers for vaccines they promote. This, he argues, creates a conflict of interest that undermines the agencies’ ability to act in the best interests of public health.
Kennedy believes that the pharmaceutical industry has successfully shifted the public’s understanding of health from a holistic approach to a reliance on pharmaceuticals. He advocates for a more preventative and personalized approach to health, emphasizing the importance of diet, exercise, and environmental factors.
He believes that reforming the regulatory agencies, eliminating financial entanglements, and increasing transparency are crucial steps in restoring trust in public health institutions.

6. The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine:

Kennedy critiques the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the demonization of Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, two drugs that he believes have shown efficacy against the virus. He argues that the suppression of these medications, despite significant anecdotal and scientific evidence, was driven by economic and political motives.
He points to studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Ivermectin in treating COVID-19, especially in early stages of infection, and argues that its suppression was due to its generic status and low cost, making it a threat to the lucrative COVID vaccine market.
He raises similar concerns about hydroxychloroquine, highlighting its use in malaria treatment and its proven efficacy in treating autoimmune diseases, but argues that it was discredited through questionable studies and a campaign of misinformation.
Kennedy questions the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in the long term, citing the Cleveland Clinic study which showed waning efficacy and even negative efficacy after seven months. He believes the rush to promote the vaccines, despite limited understanding of their long-term effects, was a result of political pressure and the desire to maintain control over the narrative.

7. The Importance of Critical Thinking and Questioning Authority:

Kennedy emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in navigating a complex and often confusing information landscape. He argues that we should not blindly trust experts, especially when there are strong financial or political motivations at play.
He believes that the “trust the experts” mantra is a dangerous one, as it encourages blind obedience and discourages critical analysis of information. He advocates for a more skeptical approach, where we challenge conventional wisdom and seek out diverse perspectives.
Kennedy points to the role of social media and online platforms in shaping public discourse, highlighting the potential for censorship and the suppression of dissenting voices. He believes that the current climate of fear and intimidation surrounding topics like vaccines has created a chilling effect on open dialogue.
He believes that restoring trust in public health institutions requires a commitment to transparency, accountability, and an open embrace of scientific inquiry, even when it challenges established narratives.

8. The Impact of Corporate Capture on American Democracy:

Kennedy argues that corporate capture has gone beyond influencing public health policies and now threatens the very fabric of American democracy. He believes that the concentration of wealth at the top and the erosion of the middle class are destabilizing forces, creating a system where power rests in the hands of a small elite.
He sees the COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point, where the government used emergency powers to restrict individual liberties and suppress dissent, further undermining democratic principles. This, he argues, has created an environment where questioning authority is viewed as disloyal and dangerous.
Kennedy believes that restoring faith in democracy requires addressing the issue of income inequality and empowering the middle class. He advocates for policies that promote economic fairness, reduce corporate influence, and protect individual rights.
He believes that a return to a more inclusive and participatory form of democracy is essential for safeguarding freedom and ensuring a future where all Americans have an equal opportunity to thrive.

9. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Presidential Bid:

Kennedy’s decision to run for president stems from his belief that neither of the major political parties is adequately addressing the critical issues facing the country. He believes that both parties have become beholden to special interests and have lost touch with the needs of ordinary Americans.
He aims to unite a populist coalition of left and right, drawing on the legacy of his father and uncle, who were both able to appeal to a wide range of voters by speaking truth to power. He believes that a return to a more principled and honest form of politics is necessary for restoring faith in government and addressing the challenges facing the nation.
Kennedy sees the podcasting world as a potential avenue to circumvent the mainstream media, which he believes is often biased and controlled by corporate interests. He believes that podcasts provide a platform for diverse voices and encourage critical thinking, making it a valuable tool for political discourse.
He hopes to use his presidential campaign to raise awareness of the issues he has been fighting for: vaccine safety, environmental protection, and the restoration of American democracy. He believes that by speaking truth to power and advocating for a more just and equitable society, he can inspire a movement for change.

5 Memorable Quotes from the Podcast:

“I’ve been litigating for 40 years. Every case I have, there’s experts on both sides. So when we brought them on Santa case, they had experts from Yale, Stanford, and Harvard. And we had experts from Yale on our side, Stanford and Harvard. And they both said completely different things from each other. And they were totally credible.” – Kennedy highlights the subjectivity of expert opinions and the need for critical analysis of data, even from seemingly credible sources.
“You know, I’m not saying that’s the only thing, but that he did. He had a lot of other stuff going for him, but he had a new media, as I’m saying. And I think this year, the podcasts are going to be… I have the potential to revolutionize American politics because for the first time you can end run the mainstream media.” – Kennedy recognizes the power of podcasts to bypass traditional media outlets and reach a wider audience, particularly those who are often marginalized by established narratives.
“The trust the experts is not a function of science. That’s the opposite of science, trusting the experts is a function of religion. It’s not an totalitarianism, especially function of science or democracy. You know, and democracy is you question people in authority and maintain a posture of skepticism toward them. The same is true in science. You don’t trust the experts.” – Kennedy challenges the notion of blind faith in authority figures, both in science and in politics, advocating for critical thinking and questioning the status quo.
“It’s really this the entire cosmology around which we’ve kind of weaved and constructed our lives. The whole foundations are you have to start questioning everything and most people don’t want to do that. It’s just, I think it’s terrifying and I understand that. I see it in my family.” – Kennedy acknowledges the fear and uncertainty that can arise from questioning deeply held beliefs, but argues that confronting these fears is necessary for personal and societal growth.
“It is it you know Trust in The trust the experts is not a function of science. That’s the opposite of science, trusting the experts is a function of religion. It’s not an totalitarianism, especially function of science or democracy. You know, and democracy is you question people in authority and maintain a posture of skepticism toward them. The same is true in science. You don’t trust the experts.” – Kennedy challenges the notion of blind faith in authority figures, both in science and in politics, advocating for critical thinking and questioning the status quo.

JRE #1999 – Robert Kennedy, Jr.