We Want Them Infected Podcast

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent explore the shocking contradictions of those who once claimed to defend scientific dialogue but now cheerlead for mass censorship. They dissect the hypocrisy of figures like Vinay Prasad, Jay Bhattacharya, and Marty Makary—who spent years railing against censorship but remain silent as the new administration muzzles scientists, cancels NIH study sections, and de...

Dr. Marty Makary's controversial positions during the COVID-19 pandemic have sparked debate over his suitability to lead the FDA. Despite his early rationality in addressing the crisis, he shifted to downplaying the virus's impact, overstating natural immunity, and spreading dubious claims about vaccine-related myocarditis. The episode also highlights his misleading narratives about pediatric COVI...

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent confront the troubling trend of downplaying the consequences of pandemic misinformation. They tackle RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine legacy and its normalization by influential doctors, explore the Great Barrington Declaration's advocacy for mass infection, and critique the intellectual theater around pandemic debates. The hosts highlight how these debates often overshad...

In this episode, hosts Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent dissect the ongoing efforts to rewrite the history of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the role of the Great Barrington Declaration. They examine Dr. Edward Livingston's recent commentary on the document, which downplays its advocacy for herd immunity through mass infection and instead praises its criticism of lockdowns. Jonathan and Wendy...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent explore the controversial history of the Great Barrington Declaration, a document that advocated for herd immunity via natural infection, and its lasting impact on public health discourse. They critique the flawed claims made by its authors and discuss how the Declaration's proponents have rewritten its history to align with more socially palatable narratives. The h...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent tackle two deeply troubling articles advocating for RFK Jr.'s role in vaccine oversight. They dissect claims linking Kennedy to evidence-based medicine and highlight his role in the deadly Samoa measles outbreak, where misinformation sowed distrust and fueled a public health disaster. The hosts criticize calls for impossible vaccine trials and underscore the irrespo...

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent address the rise of anti-vaccine rhetoric, focusing on RFK Jr.'s potential confirmation to a major public health position. They examine the role of high-profile doctors like Vinay Prasad and Martin Kulldorff in legitimizing RFK Jr.'s views and discuss the failure of medical leaders to challenge misinformation. Highlighting past outbreaks and the potential for fu...

This episode of We Want Them Infected delves into the implications of RFK Jr.'s recent nominations to lead major public health agencies, including his selection of anti-vaccine advocates for key roles. Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent analyze the potential resurgence of preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and pertussis due to declining vaccination rates. They also critique the medical...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent trace the evolution of COVID-19 discourse from the early calls for open scientific debate to the current atmosphere of hostility and revenge.    They examine the shift in tone from figures like Vinay Prasad, who initially warned against demonizing heterodox views, to now using inflammatory language that fuels public outrage against scientists and public health offic...

The latest episode of We Want Them Infected dives into the unsettling consequences of the recent election, with RFK Jr. poised to gain significant influence over public health policy. Jonathan and Wendy lament the spread of misinformation and its role in shaping voter choices, particularly the anti-vaccine rhetoric promoted by influential figures like RFK Jr., Jay Bhattacharya, and Marty McCary. T...

In this pre-election episode of We Want Them Infected, hosts Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent discuss the alarming potential of RFK Jr. assuming control over America's key health agencies under a Trump administration. With stakes high for the election, the episode dissects the anti-vaccine rhetoric and misinformation strategies that could influence policies affecting public health, and they delve i...

Hosts Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent return to discuss the normalization of anti-vaccine and disinformation narratives within respected medical circles. They explore prominent doctors' public support for RFK Jr., who has spread numerous vaccine-related conspiracy theories.    The episode critiques figures like Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Marty McCary for endorsing Kennedy's viewpoints and the po...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent dive into the dangerous world of pandemic revisionism and vaccine misinformation spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They detail RFK Jr.'s extensive history of promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric and conspiracy theories, from false claims about COVID-19 targeting specific ethnic groups to his unfounded accusations linking vaccines to autism. The hosts warn about RFK Jr...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent delve into the debate over COVID-19's origins, discussing the scientific evidence behind both the lab leak and natural transmission theories. They critique the rhetoric used by some public health figures and organizations like Biosafety Now, highlighting the contradictions in how lab safety and herd immunity have been framed during the pandemic. The episode conclude...

In this episode, hosts Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent explore recent COVID-19 developments, including a study from JAMA examining long-term outcomes of vaccine-induced myocarditis versus COVID-19 myocarditis. They discuss the implications of these findings, contrasting the media's portrayal of vaccine myocarditis with the actual data.    The conversation shifts to the controversial political land...

In this episode, the discussion centers around the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines by certain doctors, with a specific focus on Dr. Vinay Prasad.  Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent critique Dr. Prasad's approach to public discourse about the pandemic, pointing out his contradictory statements and apparent disregard for scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of vacci...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent explore the harmful effects of tone policing within the medical community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue that tone policing is being used to protect prominent figures who have spread misleading information, such as Dr. John Ioannidis and Emily Oster, while silencing legitimate criticism.  The hosts emphasize the importance of maintaining open...

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent dive into the controversial topic of herd immunity in the COVID-19 pandemic. They explore how early beliefs in natural immunity, touted by prominent figures, have been debunked by the ongoing waves of COVID reinfections and deaths. The discussion highlights how some experts have attempted to redefine herd immunity to cover up their past mistakes, and the duo emp...

In this episode, Dr. Howard and Wendy discuss the troubling trend of politicizing vaccines, focusing on recent comments by Trump and JD Vance against vaccine and mask mandates in schools. They explore the misinformation spread by notable figures like Marty McCary, who falsely claimed that no healthy children have died from COVID. The episode also addresses the alarming resurgence of COVID cases in...

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent discuss a controversial Reuters article revealing a Pentagon-led secret anti-vax campaign aimed at discrediting China's Sinovac vaccine. They delve into the ethical implications and consequences of this campaign, highlighting the impact on public trust in vaccines.  The hosts also address recent COVID-19 trends, vaccination debates, and the importance of maintai...

Jonathan Howard's latest podcast episode revisits the early COVID-19 predictions of Dr. John Ioannidis, a prominent figure known for his controversial stance on herd immunity and the pandemic's severity. Howard plays clips from Ioannidis' interviews and writings, highlighting significant discrepancies between his optimistic projections and the actual outcomes of the pandemic. The episode also addr...

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent critically examine the Great Barrington Declaration, a controversial document that proposed achieving herd immunity by allowing COVID-19 to spread among low-risk populations. They explore the impracticalities and dangers of this plan, the public's rejection of it, and the declaration's failure to protect vulnerable individuals. The discussion highlights the unre...

Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent critically examine the premature declarations of herd immunity made by various doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic. They revisit statements by Dr. Marty McCary, Dr. Monica Gandhi, Dr. Lucy McBride, and others who incorrectly claimed that the pandemic was nearly over, even as new variants like Delta and Omicron emerged. The hosts discuss the impact of these false cl...

This episode of "We Want Them Infected" explores the early pandemic predictions made by Dr. John Ioannidis and the subsequent misinformation that spread from credible academic sources to conspiracy theorists and political figures. Hosts Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orant analyze Ioannidis's claims, such as the prediction that only 40,000 Americans would die from COVID-19 and the assertion that most d...

Dr. Jonathan Howard and Wendy Orent discuss Jonathan's recent experience of being cancelled, censored, and silenced. Jonathan shares his story about being disinvited from speaking at a conference because his talk was considered "too political." The conference organizers, fearing backlash from powerful politicians and the potential negative impact on their organization, decided to cancel his talk....