I have to admit that while there are likely many things that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and I would disagree on, I do like his willingness to challenge the democratic orthodoxy and not be quiet about it. For that “crime,” he is not liked by the powers that be. I think the Biden team is a little bit scared of him, which is one of the reasons they don’t want to have a debate with him. He’s got the Kennedy name, he’s a lightning rod, and he’s about ten times smarter than Joe, with the ability to put together a coherent sentence.

RFK Jr. recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast. We covered how he thought his uncle may have been killed by the CIA. But he also spoke about vaccinations, and that ticked off vaccine scientist Peter Hotez, who didn’t like the fact that Rogan had Kennedy on to spread vaccine “misinformation,” and he tweeted a story that attacked Spotify for running the interview.

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

That’s when Joe Rogan threw down the gauntlet offering Hotez, who he’s had on his show, $100,000 to come on the podcast and debate RFK Jr., with no time limit.

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. https://t.co/m0HxYek0GX

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 17, 2023

RFK Jr. immediately agreed. He’s shown he’s willing to debate what he thinks.

Peter. Let’s finally have the respectful,congenial,informative debate that the American people deserve.

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 17, 2023

Elon Musk was all for the battle.

🔥🔥

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2023

Hotez responded that Rogan had his contact information, but he still ducked answering the challenge.

Joe, you have my cell, my email, I’m always willing to speak with you https://t.co/dJDzJMxBwi

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

Rogan explained he challenged him because he quoted the Vice article,

This is a non answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit vice article. If you’re really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion… https://t.co/g1FGalC0Ym

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 17, 2023

Warning for language:

This is a non answer. I challenged you publicly because you publicly quote tweeted and agreed with that dogshit vice article. If you’re really serious about what you stand for, you now have a massive opportunity for a debate that will reach the largest audience a discussion like this has ever had. If you think someone else is better qualified, suggest that person.

Rogan also noted that he’d seen the original response from Hotez that demanded $50 million for the challenge and an apology from RFK Jr. because Hotez knew that would never happen, so he wouldn’t have to debate.

By the way, @PeterHotez , I saw this tweet that you deleted. pic.twitter.com/eS7ynkGqGO

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 17, 2023

If Hotez believes what he’s saying is right and RFK Jr. is wrong, then why doesn’t he do it for free if he’s so concerned about what RFK Jr. is saying?

That’s when Musk laid out Hotez.

He’s afraid of a public debate, because he knows he’s wrong

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2023

Hotez said he was happy to come on and clear the air.

I’m happy to come on and clear the air. I respect you and your show. I don’t want an adversarial relationship, I think we can work well together

— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) June 18, 2023

Rogan made it clear that Hotez was just offering to come in and talk on his show, not debate. Then Rogan pointed out that even as Hotez was backpedaling and trying to play nice, he claimed in May that Rogan was part of a coalition with neofascist leanings involving Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and RFK Jr. Talk about conspiracy theories.

To those misunderstanding what he’s saying, he’s NOT agreeing to debate @RobertKennedyJr. He’s just offering to come on my show by himself.

— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 18, 2023

Notice the “I hope Biden is preparing” in that May tweet from Hotez. To do what? Shut down speech? Go after people who disagree with him? Unfortunately, the “neofascist coalition” here is the most dangerous conspiracy of all: that of no conspiracy, when many think the same thing without colluding because they see the evidence before their eyes. And all of them support free speech and are willing to stand by what they believe.

Game, set, and match to Rogan with that last response, nailing Hotez for saying one thing to his face while writing something else about him behind his back.

Extra fun from Rogan dealing with the expert, Tom Nichols.

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

Then Elon Musk finished off Hotez too.

First of all, I am generally pro vaccine. I have been vaccinated against pretty much everything, as have my kids.

Second, I think there is tremendous promise in synthetic mRNA. It is like medicine going from analog to digital.

That said, the world obviously went crazy with… pic.twitter.com/lQkqY8uvgT

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 18, 2023

At last report, this was the money being offered for the debate:

💰 The Peter Hotez vs. RFK Jr Charity Debate Pot Is Up To $860,000!!

Please add any other contributions I missed to the comments

a) $100k – @joerogan
b) $150k – @BillAckman
c) $100k – @RubinReport
d) $100k – @patrickbetdavid
e) $100k – @stkirsch
f) $50k – @jason_howerton…

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) June 18, 2023

The point here is if you believe what you say, stand by it. Don’t try to shut down speech; add more speech, and be willing to debate. And no, everyone who doesn’t agree with you isn’t a “neo-fascist,” particularly when they’re allowing you to make your points. Finally, what fun Twitter 2.0 can be when it allows speech like this.