Douglas Murray faced off against comedian Dave Smith in a fiery debate on Joe Rogan’s podcast, exposing deep cracks in the Right. The clash centered on Israel’s war against Hamas, free speech, and who gets to shape public opinion. Murray, a stalwart defender of Western values, slammed Smith for spreading lies about Israel while hiding behind his comedian title.
Smith, a self-described libertarian, accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza—a twisted smear straight from the Hamas playbook. He downplayed Hamas’s butchery of innocent Israelis, including burned babies and mass rapes, to push his anti-Zionist agenda. For a Jewish person to parrot terrorist talking points during Israel’s fight for survival isn’t just wrong—it’s a betrayal of his own people.
Murray shot back with cold, hard facts. He warned that platforms like Rogan’s give fake experts a megaphone to spread dangerous myths. “These armchair historians rewrite reality while dodging accountability by saying ‘I’m just a comedian,’” Murray argued. His point? Truth matters, and Rogan’s show shouldn’t become a stage for conspiracy theories.
Rogan, caught in the middle, later mocked Murray’s “expert” credentials. “You have an English degree—not a Ph.D. in Middle East studies!” he said. The podcaster sided with Smith’s “free speech” angle but missed the bigger issue: unchecked lies about Israel fuel antisemitism and put Jewish lives at risk worldwide.
The debate revealed a civil war on the Right. Traditional conservatives like Murray prioritize facts, moral clarity, and defeating existential threats like radical Islam. Populist libertarians like Smith cling to “free speech” absolutism, even if it means platforming enemies of the West. This isn’t just politics—it’s a fight for civilization itself.
Murray’s defense of Israel was a masterclass in courage. He didn’t back down from naming Hamas as a genocidal death cult backed by Iran. Meanwhile, Smith played the “anti-war” card while ignoring the 7,000 rockets Hamas has fired at Israeli civilians since October. Peace isn’t possible when one side wants you extinct.
The real tragedy? Millions of young Rogan listeners now think Israel is the aggressor. Smith’s emotional rants—not Murray’s facts—will stick in their minds. That’s how the Left wins: by hijacking free speech to normalize lies. Conservatives must choose: Will we defend truth, or let clickbait comedians rewrite history?
This showdown proves the Right needs leaders who won’t apologize for defending America and its allies. Murray’s unwavering stand for Israel and expertise is the model. Smith’s lazy “both sides” rhetoric helps no one but the terrorists. In the battle for hearts and minds, there’s no room for fair-weather patriots.
