Comorbidities
Isaiah Berlin famously said that “[t]o understand is to perceive patterns.” Four right wing anti-vaccine radio broadcasters have died from COVID-19 in the last few weeks and one remains hospitalized. My write up is below. Let me know if you perceive any patterns.
Phil Valentine was a prolific Tennessean right-wing “radio personality” who regularly made false claims about the dangers of the vaccine while downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19 on air and in social media. Valentine even recorded a parody song titled “Vaxman” which suggested the vaccine was a method of “government control,” while, strangely, also lauding President Trump for developing the vaccine. Valentine was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early August and, after his initial diagnosis, stated he was taking ivermectin and he expected to return to radio soon. Later in his hospitalization, Valentine recanted and promised to be “pro-vaccine” upon his return to the air. Ultimately, Valentine did not have the chance, dying from COVID-19 after approximately five weeks of hospitalization. After his death, Valentine’s brother told his audience “if [Valentine] were able to tell you this, he would tell you, ‘Go get vaccinated. Quit worrying about the politics. Quit worrying about all the conspiracy theories.’”
Dick Farrel was a Floridian conservative radio host and occasional Newsmax TV anchor known as “the other Rush Limbaugh.” In his broadcasts and social media, Farrel praised President Trump and disparaged “lib morons,” calling Dr. Anthony Fauci a “power tripping lying freak” and, in incoherent posts frequently marked as “false information,” mused on hydroxychloroquine as an alternative. Farrel also regularly broadcast baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud and predicted an impending civil war. Less than two weeks before Farrel died, he encouraged a long-time friend to get the vaccine and told her “I wish I had gotten it!”
Marc Bernier was, yet another, right wing talk radio host located in Florida. Bernier’s work — which spanned over four decades — mostly consisted of interviews with political / current event figures and reciting headlines and providing his commentary, which, on my brief review, seems to regularly consist of lazy Trump tropes demonizing “the media,” “liberals,” “BLM,” etc. and asserting election fraud as a fact. Bernier also regularly criticized the vaccine and wearing masks on air and compared the US government to Nazis for encouraging people to get the vaccine. As best I can tell, Bernier has not died but remains hospitalized with COVID-19 for approximately two and a half weeks.
Jimmy DeYoung, also from Tennessee, was a Christian preacher and widely disseminated broadcaster who published the Prophecy Today Intelligence Briefing which, by my estimation, is a mishmash of Israel-centric eschatological ramblings. Earlier this year, DeYoung warned of “misinformation and deception” concerning the vaccine and conducted an interview with frequent guest and former Pennsylvanian State Representative Sam Rohrer (R), wherein the two bandied about conspiracy theories re: the vaccine, including that it would make women sterile, was a matter of government control, and was not actually effective as a vaccine. DeYoung died eight days after being hospitalized with COVID-19.
Tod Tucker was a long-time radio broadcaster whose work included right wing political commentary and once held a radio slot following Glenn Beck. Tucker was also a vocal Republican political supporter, supporting President Trump and Senator Jim Inhofe (R). Tucker frequently posted on Facebook comparing vaccinated Americans to lab rats, disparaging Nancy Pelosi / “liberals”, and promoting President Trump. He died shortly after being hospitalized for COVID-19 and was recently buried in Oklahoma.
