Topic: Anti Vax

Experts expressed doubt that any COVID-19 vaccine would be 100% effective, comparing it to the measles vaccine's 97% rate. If only a portion of the population accepts a partially effective vaccine, achieving herd immunity remains unlikely. Dr. Anthony Fauci noted an "alarmingly large" percentage of Americans harbor anti-science and anti-vaccine sentiments, complicating the path to ending the pandemic.

The hosts reflect on receiving polarized feedback from listeners regarding their coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 vaccines. They emphasize their commitment to deconstructing media narratives regardless of audience "rage-quitting" or accusations of bias.

In her first CNN interview, CDC Director Mandy Cohen claimed that the updated vaccine can prevent "long COVID," despite admitting it does not stop transmission. She shared a third-hand anecdote about an "anti-vax" wife refusing a vaccine for a dying husband to illustrate the dangers of misinformation. Critics argue her personal endorsements lack the backing of rigorous human trial data for the latest formulations.

A producer from Sweden sends a critical note expressing frustration with the show's extensive coverage of vaccine-related topics, labeling it "anti-vax." The hosts respond by clarifying that they are not doctors and are simply deconstructing public information to highlight flaws in official narratives. They argue that public anger should be directed at government authorities rather than independent podcasters.

Dr. Lee Merritt presents a theory that the death toll of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic has been retroactively inflated by media and government agencies. By examining county-level records from the era, she argues the numbers do not support the millions of deaths commonly cited. Merritt suggests this historical inflation serves as a precedent for modern public health narratives.

CNN is promoting a special report titled "Megaphone for Conspiracy," which focuses on Alex Jones and his "misinformation empire." The trailer attributes the rise of QAnon and the anti-vaccination movement to Jones's influence. The hosts mock the premise, noting that CNN is attempting to link Jones to various disparate movements like Anonymous.

Dr. Michael Osterholm reported that six conservative AM radio talk show hosts who were vocal critics of his policies have recently died from COVID-19. The discussion questions the health status and comorbidities of these specific media personalities. Efforts to verify the identities of these six individuals via search engines are mentioned during the segment.

Greta Thunberg was excluded from the official COP26 proceedings and led protests outside the venue. She criticized the summit as "blah blah blah" and was filmed singing an anti-establishment song often used by anti-vaccine protesters in the UK. The hosts suggest that Thunberg has been "kicked out" by the global elite now that her role as a mobilization icon is no longer needed.

Email marketing service MailChimp has begun removing accounts associated with anti-vaccination messaging. The move is framed as a "brand safety" measure rather than direct political censorship, as companies seek to avoid controversy associated with disinformation.

Rene Duresta and Jonathan Morgan founded Data for Democracy, a collective that eventually led to the creation of New Knowledge. In an interview with Kara Swisher, Duresta explains how the group transitioned from tracking ISIS and anti-vaccination narratives to monitoring "manipulated narratives" for brands. The hosts point out that Morgan was focused on the "alt-right" rather than Russia immediately prior to the 2016 election.