The Joe Rogan Experience #2454 – Robert Malone, MD (February 13, 2026)

Overview

In this follow-up conversation, Joe Rogan welcomes Dr. Robert Malone, known for his work in mRNA vaccine technology and as a controversial figure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on their previous, headline-making discussion from five years ago, the episode grapples with Dr. Malone’s personal and professional experiences related to vaccines, COVID-19, medical policy, government censorship, mass formation psychology, media manipulation, and the broader societal consequences of the pandemic and subsequent responses by governments and institutions.

The discussion is candid, occasionally technical, and deeply reflective, touching on everything from the ongoing debate over mRNA vaccines and “safe and effective” narratives, to vaccine policy reform, weaponized psychology, and the ethical dilemmas of emerging technologies like artificial wombs and genetic engineering. The tone swings between critical, skeptical, and, at times, hopeful for positive change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: The Fallout from Malone’s Previous Appearance

• Malone reflects on the intense blowback from his initial appearance (00:13–00:54), noting the attempts to label him a "quack and a kook."
• Rogan highlights that attempts to delegitimize Malone didn't fully succeed, especially among people who scrutinized his credentials.
• Quote:

  “Anybody that really paid attention to your background said, no, this guy's very credible.” – Joe Rogan (00:54)

2. Malone’s Involvement with mRNA Vaccines and Personal Experience

• Malone details his patents and early research on mRNA vaccine delivery (01:19–05:13).

• He describes his adverse reactions to the Moderna vaccine and regret for following early recommendations, spurred by travel restrictions and assurances of improved safety from trusted colleagues.

• Quote:

  "My doc, who was a cardiologist, was like, why were you so stupid to take this?" – Robert Malone (01:30)

• Discussion of technical hurdles with mRNA delivery, inflammation, and the development of lipid nanoparticles (with specifics about Peter Cullis’ work at UBC).

• Quote:

  “He’s the one that should have got the Nobel Prize for these products…” – Robert Malone on Peter Cullis (09:19)

3. Long COVID: Malone’s Personal Case and Early Treatments

• Malone describes contracting COVID-19 in early 2020, experiencing severe symptoms and "long COVID" (14:23–15:57).
• He experimented with repurposed drugs (famotidine, ivermectin, celecoxib) and worked with U.S. government agencies to investigate their effectiveness (16:06–21:55).
• Resistance from the FDA, particularly over ivermectin, is discussed alongside public messaging and medical policy.

4. Mass Formation Psychosis and Weaponized Psychology

• Re-examination of the viral “mass formation psychosis” concept (22:59–36:07).

• Malone explains its origins (Matthias Desmet) and application to pandemic psychology and policy, arguing that modern psychology and information control have been weaponized by governments—especially through nudge units and psychological operations (psyops).

• Quote:

  “Modern psychology has been weaponized, it’s been intentionally weaponized in the context of military activities…” – Robert Malone (31:03)

• Details on UK/US “nudge” units, the normalization of propaganda, and examples of government/media collusion.

• Example: CDC, Coca-Cola, and the Global Alliance for Responsible Media pressuring Spotify over Malone's previous episode (36:07–42:50).

5. Censorship, Media Manipulation, and Corporate Interests

• The role media and corporations—like Coca-Cola and mainstream news—played in pandemic narratives and vaccine messaging (34:41–42:50).
• The Trusted News Initiative identified Rogan as a major threat to legacy media business models (82:38), reflecting the shift to decentralized, personality-led platforms.
• Quote:

  "Joe Rogan represents...the major threat to their business model is you and what you represent..." – Robert Malone (83:08)

6. Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine, and the Suppression of Alternative Therapies

• Rogan and Malone analyze why ivermectin, among many treatments, was uniquely demonized during the pandemic (60:08–69:59).
• Discussion covers flawed studies, regulatory suppression, pharmaceutical company interests, and the meta-analysis shuffled at Cochrane.
• The hypothesis that Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccines depended on no other effective therapies being available.
• Quote:

  "The only thing that makes sense...all about emergency use authorization." – Joe Rogan (69:42)

7. Propaganda, Upward Transfer of Wealth, and Economic Consequences

• Malone outlines how COVID-19 policy led to history’s greatest upward transfer of wealth, decimating small business and the middle class (69:59–71:16).
• Rogan laments the lack of widespread outrage over this, attributing it partly to people justifying their own vaccine choices.

8. Vaccine Policy, Legal Immunity, and the ACIP

• The structure of U.S. vaccine policy, the role of the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), and the “cash cow” nature of pediatric vaccine schedules are covered in detail (131:01–134:12).
• Discussion includes the lack of legal liability for manufacturers and the rubber-stamping of vaccine additions.

9. New Technologies: Artificial Wombs, Cloning, CRISPR, and Ethics

• Malone raises the rapid advances in artificial wombs and gene editing, foreseeing a future of designer humans and possible clones for organ harvesting (123:54–129:37).
• Both express deep ethical discomfort, referencing the movie “Gattaca” and China’s documented organ harvesting practices (“demonic” is repeatedly invoked).
• Quote:

  “Okay, again, demonic. It sounds demonic.” – Joe Rogan (126:28)

10. Gain-of-Function Research and Emerging Biosecurity Threats

• Breaks news on a gain-of-function research-related lab leak of African Swine Fever in Spain and its agricultural/economic impact (107:05–113:10).
• Connects these issues to post-COVID biosecurity, the risks of decentralized high-biohazard labs, and the complexity of risk mitigation in a fast-moving biotech era.

11. Hopeful Developments & Final Thoughts

• Despite dark topics, Malone highlights optimism: advances in genetic screening could soon help identify those most at risk for rare vaccine side effects, improved transparency, and a possible positive cultural shift toward skepticism of propaganda (142:20).
• Praise for the community of dissident scientists and for Rogan’s role as a platform for open discussion.
• Malone candidly acknowledges the personal and professional costs of his outspokenness, but expresses gratitude for the support and opportunity to continue his work via Substack and advisory roles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the demonization of alternative therapies:

• “There was only Ivermectin. And that's what really puzzled me.” – Joe Rogan (61:26)

On psychological operations and narrative control:

• “The government believes in the UK that once they have won an election, it's perfectly acceptable to deploy this modern psychology and information control technology on their own population.” – Robert Malone (32:24)

On youth alienation and mainstream media’s decline:

• “Those males don't have anybody in mainstream news that represents anything that resembles them…they don't want to be what their dad is…they're like: what is this fucking bullshit? I know I'm being lied to. I know the news is full of [it]...” – Joe Rogan (85:33)

On the biotech acceleration and ethics:

• “We are right at the doorstep of that... we can grow our own clones to provide donor tissue, to provide an insurance policy. We are right at the doorstep.” – Robert Malone (126:13)

On optimism and pushing forward:

• “There is all this dark stuff, and we have to allow ourselves to see it…But we look away at our own risk...But I'm optimistic that these narratives that have been promoted, these false narratives, we're going to be able to break them through doing actual science if we're allowed to do it.” – Robert Malone (142:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:12–01:19 — Intro, fallout from previous appearance
• 01:19–11:24 — mRNA vaccine patents, early research, and adverse experiences
• 14:23–22:18 — Long COVID, early treatments, FDA resistance
• 22:59–36:07 — Mass formation psychosis, weaponized psychology, and nudge units
• 36:07–42:50 — Corporate media manipulation, CDC and Coca-Cola, Spotify pressure
• 60:06–69:59 — Ivermectin story, suppression of alternative therapies, EUA
• 71:16–82:38 — Economic consequences, upward wealth transfer, vaccine schedule business models
• 82:38–86:28 — Media disruption, the Trusted News Initiative, Rogan’s influence
• 107:05–116:45 — African Swine Fever lab leak in Spain, biosecurity
• 123:54–129:37 — Artificial wombs, gene editing, organ harvesting, and Gattaca
• 131:01–136:31 — Vaccine policy, ACIP, and “cradle to grave” vaccine business models
• 142:20–146:00 — Positive advances, transparency, and future directions

Overall Tone, Context, and Impact

The conversation merges medical rigor, political skepticism, and open philosophical questioning. Rogan and Malone maintain an assertive, at times critical, but ultimately constructive posture—questioning consensus, advocating for scientific transparency, and warning of the ethical and societal consequences of unchecked technological and institutional power. The episode closes on a note of cautious optimism amid acknowledgment of the complex, and often dark, challenges faced in modern science, policy, and society.

For listeners seeking an unvarnished, behind-the-scenes perspective on COVID-era science, media, and public policy, this episode offers a thorough, intricate, and at times provocative discussion—serving both as a case study in contemporary controversy and a wider meditation on truth, power, and progress.