Johnson Earns Three Pinocchios For Vaccine Lies, Faces Intense Scrutiny For Anti-Science Rhetoric

Senator Ron Johnson –– the GOP’s “foremost amplifier of conspiracy theories and disinformation” –– is once again facing backlash for his “scientifically dubious claims” and repeated amplification of dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric: 

• A Washington Post fact check gave Johnson “three pinocchios” for a recent right-wing radio show appearance where the vulnerable incumbent again questioned vaccination efforts and amplified anti-vaccine information, suggesting that the vaccine was dangerous and potentially deadly. Experts easily refuted Johnson’s “deeply misleading” claims, telling the Post that Johnson is “misusing the data,” “exaggerating” the risks, and providing “highly suspect” information.

• Johnson faced fire for “pushing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories” in a local opinion column where the “vaccine-resistant leader” was excoriated and called out for “not seem[ing] to grasp the concept of public health.”

• And CNN’s Briana Keilar called Johnson’s claims “truly, madly, deeply false.”

Reminder: this is not the first time Johnson has promoted dangerous conspiracies and self-serving rhetoric to further his own political ambitions. Johnson has a long history of spreading dangerous misinformation at the expense of Wisconsinites, including:

• Repeatedly amplifying baseless lies about the 2020 presidential election results
• Spreading lies and downplaying the deadly assault on the Capitol 
• Espousing ‘racist’ and ‘unacceptable’ theories about the January 6th insurrectionists
• Touting “discredited” COVID-19 treatments
• Embracing dangerous vaccine skepticism that led to him being called out by a Republican colleague
• Blowing off FBI concerns about Russian disinformation

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