Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
RFK Jr, Pharmaceutical Companies, and “Who Let the Dogs Out” 2-20-25
Thu, 20 Feb 2025
In this episode, Scott Becker critiques RFK Jr.’s stance on banning pharmaceutical advertising, arguing it undermines free speech.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic of this episode?
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast. And today's discussion is RFK Jr., pharmaceutical companies, and who let the dogs out? So one of the great song phrases of all times is this concept of, and I won't try and say it or chant it, but who let the dogs out? Woof, woof, where people then bark at who let the dogs out.
And when I see some of the things that come out of RFK Jr. 's mouth, that come out of Pete Hex's mouth, all I can think of is we've got an administration who's going to let some of the leadership just run crazy and say whatever they want to say. So that's, again, the adage of who let the dogs out first. Woof, woof, and excuse me for that horrible bark.
Chapter 2: What are RFK Jr.'s views on pharmaceutical advertising?
But the concept being, the latest for RFK Jr., he's been on this ongoing tirade about pharmaceutical company advertising. And I'm not a particular one who does business with the pharmaceutical companies or anything like that. I'm thrilled at the developments of the pharmaceutical companies in a lot of spots. I'm also annoyed at the expense of the pharmaceutical companies in a lot of spots.
Chapter 3: Why is banning pharmaceutical ads considered an inane idea?
But either way, the concept that we should ban advertising for pharmaceuticals is literally one of the most inane ideas I've heard in a long time. And the concept being... that if you're a believer in free speech, and most Republicans are big believers in free speech, including paid political speech, including funding for political ads and so forth.
Chapter 4: How does free speech apply to pharmaceutical advertising?
They're backers of the Citizens United concept where companies could put money into politics and so forth and so on. Basic believers in free speech of any sort. And so if you're gonna believe in free speech, then you gotta be a believer in the advertising and pharmaceutical companies abilities to get their ads out and their ideas out into the marketplace of ideas.
Chapter 5: What are the implications of restricting advertising?
And then for all of us to judge, you know, is this good or bad and to try and make judgments on it. If we start as a society decide, those people are smart enough to advertise to us, but we're not smart enough to decide whether it's garbage or not, then we're in really, really bad shape. So if you're a believer in free speech, you got to believe in free speech, whether you love it or not.
Chapter 6: Are there limits to commercial speech?
And maybe there's lines on hate speech, some of the things that Kanye says and other people say in racist speech, but in terms of pure commercial speech, whether you like it or not, choosing what industry is allowed to advertise and what's not, and we allow politicians to advertise.
So one of the great quotes, concepts is, and it's used in many professions is, how do you know that a politician is lying? Well, because their lips are moving, because they're talking. That's the concept. And you use it for a lot of different professions. How do you know a lawyer's overbilling you? Because he's billing you.
But to come back to the theme of who let the dogs out, Pete Hegseth is now Secretary of Defense. And again- I'm not going to qualm over his credentials one way or the other. I don't really know enough one way or the other.
When he starts his day-run job as Secretary of Defense with a tirade against DEI, it reminds me of this concept of just like the DEI leaders of the fire department or the mayor of Los Angeles, don't focus on DEI, whether against or for it. Don't be a culture warrior. If you're in charge of the Los Angeles fire department or the Los Angeles government, protect the community from fires.
If you're in charge of the U.S. military, protect us from military threats. I don't want to hear you talk about DEI this, DEI that. You hate it. You like it. You're this, you're that. I don't care. Deal with your job. Try and improve health care in our country. God bless you, RFK Jr. Don't deal with banning free speech. If you're Pete Hegseth, deal with improving our military service.
Don't deal with culture wars. I don't want to hear it. Most of us don't. I mean, there is a percentage of people that they just cheer and are like it's meat to dogs when you're fresh meat, red meat to dogs when you say that kind of stuff. But the reality is protect us from fires, protect us militarily, improve our health care. Don't try and get into a free speech.
Don't fright every culture war that your brain idea comes out of your mouth or thought or head. Filter some of that. Again, RFK Jr., pharmaceutical companies, and who let the dogs out? I won't do again the who let the dogs out woof woof thing because I do it so poorly.
If you agree with this, you don't agree with this, if you're the first one to respond to this podcast today at Becker Private Equity and Business, And text Scott Becker at 773-766-5322. We'll send you a $100 Amazon gift certificate. Thank you for listening to the Becker Private Equity and Business Podcast.
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