Add Bill Maher to the list of podcasters sympathetic to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s fledgling campaign – anti-vaccine sentiment be damned.
The longtime Democratic candidate appeared on the HBO host’s podcast Maher’s Club Random on Sunday. New York Times for a story that drew attention to his right-wing leanings earlier this month. He argued to Kennedy that the newspaper’s declarative language about his views – so-called “conspiracy theories” and “misinformation” – had no place in the US news pages. Times and praised the candidate for sticking to his beliefs about vaccines.
“Courage and honesty to take that stance and stick to your weapons,” Maher said. “You lose New York Timesfamily, this is a double ball for me.
Maher then mildly challenged Kennedy about his views on vaccines, while appearing to sympathize with his views and also questioning how he could stand behind Kennedy’s skepticism even when research praised the efficacy of vaccines.
“Why did they do so many studies, including those not funded by the pharmaceutical industry and those from other countries, that they all found autism to have nothing to do with vaccines?” asked.
When Kennedy began to back off by saying there were epidemiological studies, Maher interrupted: “So when they say there are no studies, they’re lying. [that link autism to vaccines]?”
“Of course,” Kennedy said. “There are over 100 studies on the side that show vaccines cause autism.”
Maher attempted to determine how Kennedy would explain such “complex” views in a debate scene, and Kennedy noted that President Joe Biden was unlikely to argue with him—he offered no explanation for how voters could distill his views in an intelligible or scientifically sound way. path.
The two then discussed the nature of the COVID-19 vaccines. Maher admitted that he only got the vaccine to get back to work, and shared his personal view that getting multiple vaccine injections further increases a person’s risk of COVID-19. Still, Maher noted that the vaccine likely reduces the effect of the virus on the immune system, which indicates the effectiveness of the vaccine. “Do you think this is possible?” Maher investigated Kennedy, apparently seeking a concession.
Kennedy tried to cite a Cleveland Clinic study that supported Maher’s belief, but one study author told Factcheck.org that the observational study was not intended to determine this, and that there are multiple factors that could lead to this conclusion. In accepting the vaccines, Kennedy was outspoken.
“Is it better to avoid death or avoid serious hospitalization?” said. “My belief in this is that while there are claims that it exists, there is no advantage to the vaccine.”
While Maher prefers to have the freedom to choose which vaccines to choose, she rebuffs this, noting that some vaccines can be helpful. “There are advantages for some, not others,” Maher said.
Both men have a common history of anti-vaccine sympathy. 2015 episode of the HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher also commended Kennedy for “defending” the anti-vaccine cause and encouraging a debate on the subject (whatever the actual basis). She also cast doubt on the potential for a pandemic in a 2003 episode of her show She.
The new interview comes weeks after Kennedy was on the show of podcast provocateur Joe Rogan, who also disregarded his anti-vaccine beliefs. After Peter Hotez (a COVID-19 vaccine developer and Daily Beast contributor) criticized Rogan’s decision to host the candidate, Rogan promised to donate $100,000 to a charity of Hotez’s choice if the doctor agreed to discuss Kennedy. Hotez refused.