The heated debate between Douglas Murray and Dave Smith on Joe Rogan’s podcast exposed deep rifts in conservative circles. Murray, a staunch defender of Israel, clashed with Smith’s anti-Zionist views, sparking accusations of elitism and betrayal. The fallout continues as both sides double down on their positions.
Murray faced backlash for suggesting only experts should weigh in on complex issues like the Israel-Hamas war. Critics called him out of touch, but he fired back, arguing “experts have let us down” through failure and corruption. His decades of firsthand experience in conflict zones, he says, still matter more than armchair theories.
Smith, a Jewish libertarian, shocked many by accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. Conservatives slammed this as a twisted betrayal of his own people. While Hamas butchers babies and rapes women, Smith parroted lies that paint terrorists as victims. This isn’t free speech—it’s moral blindness.
Rogan took heat for giving Smith a platform to spread anti-Israel propaganda. The podcaster later sided with Smith, mocking Murray’s Oxford degree and dismissing expertise altogether. Once a haven for open debate, Rogan’s show now risks becoming a megaphone for unserious voices.
The fight goes beyond Israel. It’s about whether facts and experience still matter in public discourse. Murray represents the old guard—principled, informed, and unafraid to call evil by its name. Smith embodies a dangerous new trend where feelings trump truth and “comedy” shields harmful ignorance.
Mainstream conservatives overwhelmingly back Murray. His clarity on radical Islam’s threat to Western values resonates with patriots tired of woke apologism. Meanwhile, Smith’s fringe views alienate voters and weaken unity. The right can’t afford infighting while America burns.
This clash reveals a choice: embrace moral courage or surrender to chaos. Murray’s warnings about Islamist influence in Britain apply equally to U.S. cities overrun by crime and anti-Semitism. Smith’s lazy “both sides” rhetoric helps no one but the terrorists.
The future of conservatism hinges on rejecting false equivalencies. Supporting Israel against jihad isn’t elitist—it’s standing with the only democracy in the Middle East. Letting comedians dictate foreign policy isn’t freedom. It’s suicide.
