If they're ignorant then Hotez should be able to destroy them on air, with ease, shouldn't he? The actual fear here is not that these guys are ignorant idiots

If they're ignorant then Hotez should be able to destroy them on air, with ease, shouldn't he? The actual fear here is not that these guys are ignorant idiots but rather that they will in fact make many correct points that aren't easy to refute at all, and that Hotez - a completely discredited person who has said many untrue things - would end up losing the debate comprehensively. Which is why he has now backpedalled. It should be an easy $100k+ win for a charity of his choice but he can't do it.