CNN's defense of its 'incorrect' Joe Rogan-ivermectin coverage blasted by WaPo media critic as 'more like ... an advocacy group than a journalism outfit'



Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple blasted CNN in an op-ed Thursday, not only over the cable network's coverage of Joe Rogan's bout with COVID-19, during which the podcaster took medically prescribed ivermectin to treat the infection — but also over CNN's defense of its reporting.

What are the details?

Given that multiple CNN on-air personalities repeatedly declared that Rogan was taking "horse dewormer" rather than the human dose of ivermectin, Wemple said that "the network's coverage was slanted in some cases and straight-up incorrect in others."

Indeed, Wemple cited Scott Phillips of the Washington Poison Center in Seattle, who told the media critic that "if you're prescribed the FDA human version [of ivermectin] then you're not taking a horse pill."

What's more, after Rogan told CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta that CNN "out and out lied" about his ivermectin use, Gupta admitted to Rogan that CNN "shouldn't have said" the podcaster was taking "horse dewormer":

With all those hard facts at his disposal, Wemple asked CNN for an explanation — and here's the statement the media critic said the cable network sent him:

The heart of this debate has been purposely confused and ultimately lost. It's never been about livestock versus human dosage of Ivermectin. The issue is that a powerful voice in the media, who by example and through his platform, sowed doubt in the proven and approved science of vaccines while promoting the use of an unproven treatment for covid-19 — a drug developed to ward off parasites in farm animals. The only thing CNN did wrong here was bruise the ego of a popular podcaster who pushed dangerous conspiracy theories and risked the lives of millions of people in doing so.

'More like the work of an advocacy group'

While Wemple gave CNN points for some aspects of its statement, he ultimately took the the cable network to task for its response, saying it "sounds more like the work of an advocacy group than a journalism outfit."

Wemple added in his final paragraph that "you don't have to endorse Rogan to abhor CNN's coverage of this topic. Here's a network, after all, that prides itself on impeccable factual hygiene, a place where there's no conceptual hair too fine to split, no political statement too sprawling to flyspeck. It's tough living by your own standards."

This wasn't the first time Wemple took CNN or other left-leaning news outlets to task. In March he appeared on the cable network's "Reliable Sources" program and appeared to shock far-left host Brian Stelter by ripping the "love-a-thons" between then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo.

And in late 2019, Wemple blasted MSNBC host Rachel Maddow for "misleading and dishonest" coverage of Russia and the Steele dossier.

What's the background?

After Rogan announced last month that he caught COVID-19, CNN's Anderson Cooper said — above a headline reading, "Joe Rogan announces he has COVID; praises horse dewormer ivermectin" — the drug is "more often used to deworm horses."

CNN's chief media correspondent Brian Stelter joined in: "But when you have a horse deworming medication that's discouraged by the government that actually causes some people in this crazed environment we're in to actually want to try it, that's the upside-down world we're in with figures like Joe Rogan."

At least the physician on the panel, Dr. Leana Wen, admitted that ivermectin can be prescribed for humans — but again, no clarifying words from her that Rogan received the medication properly.

Joe Rogan says he tested positive for Covid-19youtu.be

Wemple noted that CNN anchor Jim Acosta a few days later played video of Rogan's COVID infection disclosure and added, "In case you missed it, Rogan said ivermectin. Yes, that's the deworming medicine made to kill parasites in farm animals and, weirdly, is being promoted by right-wing media figures and even some politicians as a COVID treatment."

Rogan was not happy and floated the idea of a lawsuit, saying CNN is "making s**t up."

And even after Gupta's admission that his own network shouldn't have said Rogan was taking "horse dewormer," Gupta later that day appeared on Don Lemon's CNN show to talk about his interview with Rogan — and they completely glossed over and spun Rogan's issues with CNN's coverage of the podcaster's COVID-19 treatments:

"I will talk to them," @DrSanjayGupta told @JoeRogan after Gupta said on the podcast that it was wrong for CNN to d… https://t.co/41iCUZ4jE7

— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) 1634237432.0

Even CNN contributor Mary Katharine Ham ripped her cable network's coverage of the Joe Rogan-ivermectin controversy, saying CNN engaged in "dishonest" and "bulls**t" reporting.

CNN commentator torches own network over 'horses**t' coverage of Joe Rogan, ivermectin



CNN contributor Mary Katharine Ham torched her own employer Friday for its "dishonest" reporting on Joe Rogan and ivermectin.

What is the background?

When Rogan announced last month that he had tested positive for COVID-19 — and was subsequently prescribed ivermectin — CNN dishonestly claimed that Rogan was taking "horse dewormer."

Rogan, of course, was not ingesting the form of ivermectin made for animals, but the form of ivermectin produced for human ingestion. Although the media had reduced ivermectin to a mere "horse dewormer," ivermectin was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2015 for its "immeasurable" benefits to humans.

Rogan made headlines this week after interviewing CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. During the interview, Rogan forced Gupta to admit that CNN "shouldn't have said that," referring to the dishonest framing that claimed Rogan ingested a "horse dewormer."

What did Ham say?

Writing on social media, Ham affirmed Rogan's criticisms, explaining CNN decided to "dunk" on Rogan instead of providing viewers with accurate coverage about Rogan's bout with COVID-19.

"Rogan is right that it's dishonest to say he took horse dewormer when he did not. It was irresistible to dunk on him for a lot of people, so they went with that instead of sticking to 'hey, this anti-parasitic isn't recommended for COVID treatment,' which would've been credible," Ham said.

Rogan is right that it’s dishonest to say he took horse dewormer when he did not. It was irresistible to dunk on hi… https://t.co/O6omDmkbFz

— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) 1634307540.0

In a follow up, Ham ratcheted up her criticism, describing CNN's "horse dewormer" framing as "horses**t."

"Agreed, I'm not looking to explicate the entire Ivermectin fight in one tweet. That was shorthand for a pronouncement that would have been more suitable than he's taking horse dewormer,' which is just straight, well, horses**t. I'm happy for folks to take it safely & half expect," she said.

Anything else?

Gupta seemingly backtracked on his admission during an interview with CNN host Don Lemon on Thursday.

During that interview, Lemon doubled down on CNN's lie, saying, "It is not a lie to say that [Ivermectin] is used as a horse dewormer. I think that's important. And it is not approved for COVID." Gupta responded, "Correct, that is correct and it is not approved for COVID."

In fact, a range of CNN hosts and personalities advanced the lie that Rogan took medication meant for animals. They did not simply note, as Lemon claimed, that ivermectin "is used as a horse dewormer." Honest reporting would have differentiated between what Rogan took — not animal medication — and the version of ivermectin made for animals.

Rogan has floated suing CNN for "making s**t up."

Interestingly, Gupta later published an essay explaining why he appeared on Rogan's podcast. Gupta said he did so to convince Rogan to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Rogan, however, has natural immunity against COVID-19 because of his infection this summer.

VIDEO: CNN's Don Lemon, Dr. Sanjay Gupta completely gloss over Joe Rogan's assertion that network 'lied' about him taking 'horse de-wormer' to fight COVID



The video of podcaster Joe Rogan taking to task CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta over his network's "lie" that Rogan took "horse de-wormer" to battle his COVID-19 infection — when, in fact, his ivermectin was prescribed by a doctor — is pretty stunning to watch.

As most folks still willing to embrace the truth know by now, there's ivermectin for animals and ivermectin for humans. And no, humans shouldn't take the ivermectin for animals.

'Yeah, they shouldn't have said that'

"Do you think that that's a problem that your news network lies?" Rogan asked Gupta. "First of all it was prescribed to me by a doctor."

"Yeah, they shouldn't have said that," Gupta replied "If you got a human pill — because there were people that were taking the veterinary medication, and you're not obviously; you got it from a doctor, so it shouldn't be called that."

Gupta then tried to change the subject, but Rogan wouldn't let him off the hook just yet.

"Does it bother you that the news network you work for out and out lied?" Rogan asked him. "Just outright lied about me taking horse de-wormer?"

Gupta confessed again: "They shouldn't have said that."

"Why did they do that?" Rogan asked.

"I don't know," Gupta answered.

"You didn't ask?" Rogan replied incredulously. "You're the medical guy over there."

"I didn't ask," Gupta responded contritely. "I should have asked before coming on your podcast."

Joe Rogan asks Sanjay Gupta if it bothers him that CNN outright lied about Rogan taking horse dewormer to recover f… https://t.co/1nvKUS3wES

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) 1634179170.0

Wow! Could that mean we might actually be getting somewhere with embracing facts, ending spin, and conducting proper journalism?

Apparently no.

What happened?

Because Gupta appeared on Don Lemon's CNN show later Wednesday, and the pair proceeded to completely gloss over the network's assertion that Rogan took horse de-wormer and ignored the fact that Rogan got a doctor's ivermectin prescription for human consumption.

"[Rogan] did say something about ivermectin that I think wasn't actually correct about CNN and lying," Lemon told Gupta, adding that "ivermectin is a drug that is commonly used as a horse de-wormer. So, it is not a lie to say that the drug is used as a horse de-wormer. I think that's important. And it is not approved for COVID. Correct?"

Gupta replied, "That's right. That's correct. It is not approved for COVID. And, you're right. I mean, the FDA even put out a statement ... that said 'you're not a horse, you're not a cow, stop taking this stuff'" in reference to ivermectin.

The doctor continued, saying "now I think what Joe's point is" before Lemon cut him off — perhaps Gupta was about to bring up the fact that Rogan took ivermectin for humans. But we'll never know.

"It's been approved for humans but not necessarily for COVID, right?" Lemon said, failing to clarify that Rogan actually did take the proper prescription as opposed to the one for animals.

"That's correct," Gupta replied. "It's been used for a parasitic disease for something called river blindness, and it's been very effective for that. But, you know, just because it works for one thing doesn't mean it works for something else. And there are still a few ongoing clinical trials around ivermectin. But for the most part, if you look at the data, there's no evidence that it really works here."

He continued saying that when Rogan "got sick, he took ivermectin." Again, no mention that it was properly prescribed by a doctor. Gupta added that "he also took monoclonal antibodies, which is, you know, an infusion of these antibodies. So, he took both those things. It's very likely it was the monoclonal antibodies that made him feel better so quickly."

"I will talk to them," @DrSanjayGupta told @JoeRogan after Gupta said on the podcast that it was wrong for CNN to d… https://t.co/41iCUZ4jE7

— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) 1634237432.0

Spin, spin, and spin some more

CNN talking heads could legitimately argue all day long that the FDA has discouraged ivermectin use to treat COVID-19 — that's factual. They could legitimately argue some humans are taking it improperly — that's factual.

But saying Rogan used horse de-wormer isn't factual. When a human is medically prescribed ivermectin, it's for humans, not horses or other animals. But CNN indeed downplayed that last month, as Anderson Cooper — on top of a headline reading, "Joe Rogan announces he has COVID; praises horse dewormer ivermectin" — said the drug is "more often used to de-worm horses."

CNN's chief media correspondent Brian Stelter echoed that spin: "But when you have a horse de-worming medication that's discouraged by the government that actually causes some people in this crazed environment we're in to actually want to try it, that's the upside-down world we're in with figures like Joe Rogan."

At least the physician on the panel, Dr. Leana Wen, admitted that ivermectin can be prescribed for humans — but again, no clarifying words that Rogan received the medication properly.

Joe Rogan says he tested positive for Covid-19youtu.be

All of which might explain why Rogan also told Gupta during his podcast, "My point is you're working for a news organization. If they're lying about a comedian taking horse medication, what are they telling us about Russia? What are they telling us about Syria? Do you understand that that's why people get concerned about the veracity of the news?"

'They're lying at your network': In tense exchange, Joe Rogan forces Sanjay Gupta to admit CNN claiming he took 'horse dewormer' was wrong



There was a tense exchange between Joe Rogan and CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The massively popular podcast host confronted Gupta about CNN's lying about Rogan using "horse dewormer" after falling ill with coronavirus.

Last month, Rogan announced that he contracted COVID-19. The stand-up comedian said he "threw the kitchen sink" at the respiratory disease – including monoclonal antibodies and the controversial anti-parasite drug ivermectin. Rogan skewered CNN for the network's repeated claims that the UFC color commentator was using "horse dewormer" and even floated the idea of suing the cable news network for falsely saying that he was taking a veterinary medicine and not the human version.

In the most recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," the podcast host grilled Gupta about CNN's lies about him using "horse dewormer."

Gupta told Rogan, "By the way, I'm glad you're better."

"Thank you," Rogan responded. "You're probably the only one at CNN who's glad. The rest of them are all lying about me taking horse medication."

"That bothered you," Gupta said while grinning.

"It should bother you too," Rogan fired back. "They're lying at your network about people taking human drugs versus drugs for veterinary."

Gupta admitted, "Calling it a 'horse dewormer' is not a flattering thing, I get that."

"It's a lie. It's a lie on a news network … and it's a lie that they're conscious of. It's not a mistake," Rogan said, noting that ivermectin was prescribed to him by a doctor. "They're unfavorably framing it as veterinary medicine."

Gupta attempted to justify CNN's misclassification by referencing a "snarky" statement released by the Food and Drug Administration about ivermectin that said: "You are not a horse. You are not a cow."

Rogan asked, "Why would you say that when you are talking about a drug that's been given out to billions and billions of people?"

"A drug that one of the inventors won a Nobel Prize in 2015," Rogan noted.

"A drug that has been shown to stop viral replication in vitro. ... Why would they lie and say that's horse dewormer? I can afford people medicine, motherf***er. This is ridiculous! It's just a lie!"

Rogan said CNN host Brian Stelter was "gleeful" over Rogan's positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Rogan slammed CNN for not reporting that he tested negative for COVID-19 "five days later" and "felt great" following his treatment.

He continued to question CNN's chief medical correspondent, "Don't you think that a lie like that is dangerous on a news network when you know that they know they're lying? ... Do you think that that's a problem that your news network lies?"

Rogan challenged Gupta, "My point is you're working for a news organization. If they're lying about a comedian taking horse medication, what are they telling us about Russia? What are they telling us about Syria? Do you understand that that's why people get concerned about the veracity of the news?"

Gupta finally confessed, "They shouldn't have said that." Gupta said he "didn't know" why the network spread the "horse dewormer" lie.

Joe Rogan asks Sanjay Gupta if it bothers him that CNN outright lied about Rogan taking horse dewormer to recover f… https://t.co/1nvKUS3wES

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) 1634179170.0

Rogan also confronted Gupta on the neurosurgeon's recommendation that children get vaccinated.

.@joerogan challenges TV doctor @drsanjaygupta on forcing children to get vaccinated.It's as if it's the first ti… https://t.co/7s7d2u3yIM

— Young Americans for Liberty (@YALiberty) 1634160600.0

Rogan also pressed Gupta about the possibility of the Wuhan lab-leak theory in relation to gain-of-function research funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The Questions Around Gain of Function Research www.youtube.com

Following the release of the interview on Spotify, Gupta called "The Joe Rogan Experience" – which is one of the world's most popular podcasts with over 200 million monthly downloads in 2019 – a "lion's den."

"I realized that if I was serious about trying to communicate public health, I needed to go to a less comfortable place," Gupta explained.

"I walked into the lion's den and spoke with @joerogan on his podcast for more than 3 hours — vaccines, ivermectin, and much more. Friends tried to get me to turn down his invite, but ultimately I'm glad I did it," Gupta said.

"When I told Joe early in the podcast that I didn't agree with his apparent views on vaccines against Covid, ivermectin and many things in between, part of me thought the MMA, former Taekwondo champion might hurtle himself across the table and throttle my neck," Gupta said of Rogan. "But, instead he smiled, and off we went."

You can watch the entire "Joe Rogan Experience" episode with Sanjay Gupta below.