Howard Stern Waves the White Flag on ‘Freedom’

Howard Stern may be watching too much CNN these days.

It’s one explanation for the radio giant’s obsession with COVID-19 and his estrangement from the truth.

The 67-year-old SiriusXM star no longer rants about his radio competition or FCC speech restrictions like he once did. Now, he sounds like the guy on social media who rages about the pandemic without having all the facts at his disposal.

RELATED: Leaving Howard Stern Behind … Again

Even more shocking?

A man who once stood up to the FCC on free speech grounds is no longer interested in freedom. He said precisely that this week. Radio’s premiere outlaw wants citizens to do as they’re told.

Stern spends plenty of time these days savaging anyone who doubts COVID-19 vaccinations are the only way to battle the pandemic. He sneered at podcast giant Joe Rogan for taking unorthodox medications when he contracted the virus, ignoring the fact that Rogan quickly got better.

Dave Portnoy Jumps in Howard Stern Vs. Joe Rogan COVID Debate – OutKick Stern has lost his edge #olddude https://t.co/u5miiDgWjH

— 1brainyblonde (@1brainyblonde) October 4, 2021

More recently, Stern used his satellite radio perch to savage Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers for getting COVID-19 and not being fully transparent about his vaccination status. The talk show host even mocked Rogers for a toe injury which could impact the rest of the superstar’s season.

“Now I hear he has a toe injury. When he had the toe injury — did he go to the doctor or did he go to Joe Rogan? Who fixed his toe?” Stern said. “I bet you he went to a doctor, so he goes to doctors for everything else, but on the vaccine, he’s listening to Joe Rogan.”

Now, Stern is threatening to run for the White House in order to steer the country clear of COVID-19. And it sounds like he’d be the Dictator in Chief if elected.

“I used to be into freedom, but I’m not anymore.” Stern said. “I don’t feel good about what’s going on in my country. I might have to run just to clean this f**king mess up.”

“Oh, I could clean it up in two seconds,” he vowed. “Just the way [President Joseph] Biden got us out of Afghanistan. That quick I’m going to clean things up. Boom. Right away.”

Stern’s example might not be catnip to voters, given how disastrous Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal proved on multiple fronts.

• The Taliban is back, along with its monstrous human rights record
• The loss of millions in U.S. equipment
• Hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans still trapped in the country
• A political black eye that won’t heal any time soon

Stern’s allegiance to the vaccines isn’t based in reality. While the vaccines have helped many people avoid serious illness and death, they lose their effectiveness over time. Nations with strong vaccination numbers, like Israel, continue to suffer from the virus’ fallout. Plus, fully vaccinated people can still give the virus to others.

The recovering shock jock either doesn’t understand those truths or is in denial. 

RELATED: Sorry Howard, You Haven’t Changed at All

This isn’t the first time Stern flirted with political office. In 1994 he briefly ran for governor in his home state of New York, but he quit after realizing he would have to disclose his net worth in the process.

He’s clearly not serious about a presidential run now. His fame doesn’t burn as brightly as it once did, meaning any presidential run would be a vanity effort, at best. Plus, his colorful broadcasting past would crush any chances he had with Left-leaning voters, and his anti-Trump shtick would alienate millions on the Right.

It’s just Howard being Howard, the endless self promoter ginning up media clicks … again.