Misinformation Doctors enjoy political platforms

Misinformation Docs See Their Political Stars Rise Familiar names appear on speakers' lists for popular conservative rallies Kristina Fiore medpagetoday

Two of the most visible right-wing, conservative political movements in the U.S. right now -- "Defeat the Mandates" and the "ReAwaken America" tour -- have extensive involvement from physicians who have been flagged for spreading medical misinformation.

Their names often appear on the featured speakers' list at both events: Robert Malone, MD; Peter McCullough, MD; Pierre Kory, MD; and Simone Gold, MD, JD, among others.

Their rhetoric at these events frequently leans ideologic rather than scientific. For instance, during a Defeat the Mandates rally in Los Angeles in April, Kory said, "There are so few Americans who recognize what's happening. They have taken control of information and they are infecting our brains with lies. The world has gone mad, and it's not their fault. It's from unrelenting propaganda and censorship of good information."

While many of these doctors have given up their careers in mainstream medicine, they've found their political stars rising at these rallies -- much to the dismay of experts who think their comments create false balance and undermine public health initiatives.

"It's fascinating the degree to which this has become about ideology," Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and science policy at the University of Alberta in Canada, told MedPage Today. "We're increasingly seeing ideology become part of the medical misinformation landscape." ....

New York Magazine recently described the ReAwaken America tour as "the start of QAnon 2.0." It's hosted by business coach Clay Clark and by Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, and promotes themes like preserving American values while fighting back against government control.

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