A growing debate stemming from a conversation between comedian Dave Smith and journalist Douglas Murray earlier in April is prompting prominent conservatives to choose sides on the subject of expertise.
Murray and Smith clashed in a pseudo-debate hosted by Joe Rogan in which Murray criticized Smith for taking strong stances against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza despite the fact that Smith is not an expert. Before engaging Smith, Murray also questioned Rogan’s judgement in platforming a number of creators who he deemed to be unworthy of an elevated podium.
Later in the debate, Murray appeared incensed when Smith admitted he had never been to Israel or the Middle East.
Douglas Murray: “Have you been to the crossing points of Israel and Gaza?”
Dave Smith: “No. Have you ever been to Nazi, Germany? Are you not allowed to talk about them?”
Douglas Murray: “I can’t time travel.”
Heated: Dave Smith and Douglas Murray intense argument on Joe Rogan. pic.twitter.com/owGWoQQTbb
— Joe Rogan Recaps (@JoeRoganRecaps) April 15, 2025
Murray further elucidated his position in a New York Post op-ed, calling for a new standard for media commentators.
“The new media will lead people into errors and evils far greater than the old media could ever dream of,” Murray wrote.
Many right-of-center commentators concurred with Murray.
Konstantin Kisin, the popular co-host of the “Triggernometry” podcast, upheld Murray’s view in a short video response. While previously championing the rise of new media, Kisin issued a video mea culpa admitting he was wrong to do so.
“Just as the assumptions of the elite class were proved wrong by the actions of their fellow citizens during the era of Trump, Brexit and COVID, the assumptions some of us held about the future of the media are now crumbling before our very eyes,” Kisin said in an April 21 video.
My thoughts on the Murray vs. Smith debate. This is based on my most read article ever. pic.twitter.com/2IcrRImK1W
— Konstantin Kisin (@KonstantinKisin) April 21, 2025
While Kisin admitted that the popular media narratives surrounding the global COVID-19 response were incorrect, others on the right believe that the public should still hold COVID-19 expert opinions in high regard. (RELATED: White House Launches Website Obliterating The Left’s Favorite COVID Junk Science)
Tyler Cowen, an economist and columnist who has strongly advocated for libertarian policies, told readers that “elites” got a lot right during the pandemic.
“A lot of people do not want to admit it, but when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic the elites, by and large, actually got a lot right,” Cowen wrote in a Free Press op-ed titled, “Our Elites Don’t Deserve This Much Hatred.”
“Low personal mobility levels meant that often ‘lockdowns’ were not the real issue. Most of that economic activity was going away in any case,” Cowen wrote. “Most states should have ended the lockdowns sooner, but they mattered less than many critics have suggested. Furthermore, in contrast to what many were predicting, those restrictions on our liberty proved entirely temporary.” (RELATED: American Students Are Now Absent At Record Rates After Missing Months Of Classroom Instruction During The Pandemic)
Others on the right, like Quilette founder Claire Lehmann, concurred.
The great @tylercowen in defence of expertise in @TheFP pic.twitter.com/EHrkpZe1Kw
— Claire Lehmann (@clairlemon) April 22, 2025
Some others, however, pushed back.
“Yet another embarrassing piece this week from the once promising Free Press. Sad,” The Federalist editor in chief Mollie Hemingway wrote April 23 on X.
Yet another embarrassing piece this week from the once promising Free Press. Sad. https://t.co/yTu9YGdKjS
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) April 23, 2025
Some agreed with Hemingway.
“Murray reveals that despite the IDW recording thousands of hours about free speech they could not care less about it as a principle His 1st loyalty is to the expert class, the truth is irrelevant,” Aaron MacIntyre, a columnist for The Blaze, wrote.
Right-wing social media personality Mike Cernovich and author-podcaster Bret Weinstein, who considers Murray a friend, piled on. Cernovich said the discussion was more about “wannabe gatekeeping assholes” than it was about substance.
The backdrop of the Dave Smith vs Douglas Murray debate was less substance and more that these are wannabe gatekeeping assholes. They are dicks. They throw tantrums. They run smear campaigns. They take pot shots at everyone and then cry when you hit back. They are disliked. Their…
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) April 14, 2025
Weinstein likened Murray’s position to a “hostage video.”
“What is going on with Douglas that suddenly he’s ready to make an anti-free speech argument like this?” Weinstein asked. “I truly cannot imagine.”
Greetings from Podcastistan — @BretWeinstein and @HeatherEHeying discuss a hostage situation in Podcastistan on Episode #272 of The Evolutionary Lens.
They explore the strange about-face of some prominent free speech warriors.
00:00 Douglas Murray on Bill Maher
03:15 Douglas… pic.twitter.com/kNkYPANhGN— The Darkhorse Podcast (@thedarkhorsepod) April 20, 2025
The Daily Caller reached out to Smith, Murray and Hemingway for comment but did not receive a response.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
