September 4, 2024 • 3hr 21min

#2198 - Bret Weinstein

The Joe Rogan Experience

In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan speaks with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein. They discuss a wide range of topics including Darwinian evolution, the upcoming 2024 U.S. election, civil liberties, censorship, and Weinstein's upcoming "Rescue the Republic" event in Washington D.C. The conversation also touches on COVID-19 vaccines, Tucker Carlson, and the importance of unity across political divides.

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Key Takeaways

Bret Weinstein argues there is overwhelming evidence for Darwinian evolution and adaptation, contrary to Tucker Carlson's recent claims
Weinstein believes modern Darwinists have made errors in presenting evolution too narrowly, focusing only on random mutations in protein-coding genes
He proposes there is likely another layer of information storage and adaptation in DNA beyond just protein-coding genes that allows for more rapid evolution
Weinstein suggests even if the universe was created by an intelligent designer, Darwinian evolution would still be the mechanism used to create diverse life forms
He argues that at some level, even in a created universe, you eventually have to invoke a natural, Darwinian process to explain the origin of complex life
Weinstein is organizing a "Rescue the Republic" event in Washington D.C. on September 29th to unite people across political divides to defend civil liberties
He believes the 2024 election is critically important and that a large turnout at this event could help prevent election fraud
Weinstein expresses concerns about erosion of civil liberties, censorship, and propaganda in the U.S.
He argues for the importance of free speech, informed consent in medicine, financial freedom, and sovereignty of the family

Introduction

In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan speaks with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein. They discuss a wide range of topics including Darwinian evolution, the upcoming 2024 U.S. election, civil liberties, censorship, and Weinstein's upcoming "Rescue the Republic" event in Washington D.C. The conversation also touches on COVID-19 vaccines, Tucker Carlson, and the importance of unity across political divides.

Topics Discussed

Darwinian Evolution and Adaptation (2:52:59)

Weinstein addresses Tucker Carlson's recent claims that there is no evidence for evolution. He strongly disagrees, stating there is "overwhelming" evidence for Darwinian evolution and adaptation. However, Weinstein believes modern Darwinists have made errors in how they present evolution:

They focus too narrowly on random mutations in protein-coding genes as the sole mechanism
This explanation is likely not sufficient to explain the diversity and complexity of life
There is likely another layer of information storage and adaptation in DNA beyond just protein-coding genes
This additional layer may allow for more rapid evolution than the standard model suggests

Weinstein states: "I've thought since I was in college that there was a missing layer...that explains how the amazing alterations in form that we see is produced by Darwinian processes."

Intelligent Design and the Origin of Life (3:08:30)

Weinstein discusses intelligent design proponents like Stephen Meyer:

He respects Meyer's passion for biology but disagrees with his conclusions
Meyer points out valid issues with current evolutionary theory, like the "waiting time problem"
However, Weinstein believes these issues reveal missing aspects of Darwinian processes, not intelligent design
Even if the universe was created by an intelligent designer, Darwinian evolution would likely be the mechanism used to create diverse life

Weinstein argues that at some level, even in a created universe, you eventually have to invoke a natural, Darwinian process to explain the origin of complex life: "Eventually, you're going to get to the place where you're going to have to surrender to the only thing anyone's ever come up with that could, in principle, create intelligent creatures. And it doesn't have a creator. It's a Darwinian process."

The "Rescue the Republic" Event (2:35:11)

Weinstein discusses an upcoming event he is organizing called "Rescue the Republic" to be held in Washington D.C. on September 29th:

The goal is to unite people across political divides to defend civil liberties and "save the West"
It will be held between the Washington Monument and World War II Memorial
Speakers include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Russell Brand, Jimmy Dore, and others
Weinstein hopes for a large turnout to demonstrate widespread support for unity and civil liberties

Weinstein states: "If you don't know if your vote counts, you know what does count? If you show up in a large group, that makes it very clear that there are lots of us who are intent on keeping our rights."

The 2024 U.S. Election (2:30:41)

Weinstein expresses serious concerns about the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election:

He believes it may be the "last opportunity to wield the power that remains in our constitution in order to preserve the West"
Argues the "blue team" has become hostile to fundamental Western values
Worries about potential election fraud and the erosion of civil liberties
Sees a large turnout at the "Rescue the Republic" event as a way to demonstrate opposition to fraud

Weinstein states: "I truly believe the republic is in serious jeopardy. I believe that however it happened, the blue team has become hostile to all of the fundamental values that allow the republic to function and that undergird the west."

Censorship and Civil Liberties (2:42:34)

Weinstein outlines several key pillars of the "Rescue the Republic" event related to civil liberties:

Free speech: Repeal censorship, propaganda, and information control
Truth-seeking: Return to open truth-seeking rather than paternalistic lying "for our own good"
End lawfare: Stop abusing courts for political purposes and election interference
Election integrity: Ensure free, fair, and verifiable elections
Financial freedom: Oppose central bank digital currencies that could enable tyranny
Family sovereignty: Protect parental rights in areas like gender treatments for children

On free speech, Weinstein argues: "We have to be able to talk freely. There's nobody who knows what the facts are so that they can tell us which things we're allowed to talk about any more than there's somebody in a position to tell us which speech is tolerable."

COVID-19 Vaccines and Medical Freedom (1:54:47)

Weinstein expresses serious concerns about COVID-19 vaccines and medical freedom:

Argues mRNA vaccines were rushed to market without proper safety testing
Believes pharmaceutical companies knew about potential harms but pushed vaccines anyway
Claims the goal was to normalize gene therapy technology on a mass scale
Worries about new self-replicating mRNA technology being developed
Calls for recodifying informed consent in medicine

Weinstein states: "The mRNA platform itself is the ultimate cash cow that couldn't be brought to market under anything but the most extraordinary emergency circumstances."

Unity Across Political Divides (2:56:23)

Weinstein and Rogan discuss the importance of unity and seeing past political labels:

They praise Tucker Carlson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for being open-minded and willing to change views
Argue many people are mischaracterized by partisan media narratives
Call for looking past labels to find common ground on important issues
See the "Rescue the Republic" event as a way to unite people across ideological divides

Rogan states: "The rational, objective voice, where you look at both sides, you look at. I see why someone would say this. I see what you're saying. I see this. Everybody immediately gets polarized."

Conclusion

This wide-ranging conversation between Joe Rogan and Bret Weinstein covered complex topics in evolutionary biology, U.S. politics, civil liberties, and more. Weinstein made a passionate case for the evidence supporting Darwinian evolution while also arguing current theories are incomplete. He expressed deep concerns about threats to democracy and civil liberties in the U.S., calling for unity across political divides to defend core Western values. The discussion highlighted the importance of free speech, open scientific inquiry, and resisting authoritarianism from any political faction. Weinstein's upcoming "Rescue the Republic" event aims to catalyze a unity movement to address these issues leading up to the 2024 election.