Joe Rogan is now mainstream media

Helen Lewis: “In October of this year, near the end of the presidential election, podcaster Joe Rogan said something unusual. He just invited Donald Trump for a three-hour chat at his studio in Austin, Texas, and wanted to make it clear that he discussed a similar agreement with Kamala Harris’ campaign. ‘They suggested a date on Tuesday but I had to see her and they only wanted to do it for an hour,’ he posted on X. ‘I feel strongly that the best way to do it is in a studio in Austin.’ So Rogan refused to interview the Vice President.”

“Some people said she was such a diva. If you get an offer to interview a presidential candidate, jump on a plane! But Rogan can dictate his own terms. He’s not competing in the snake pit of D.C. journalism, where sitting opposite a major candidate brings an immediate elevation in status. He’s the most popular podcaster alive, with a devoted audience made up of right-wing men who enjoy mixed martial arts, stand-up comedy, and outrageous speculation about aliens (in space, not illegal ones). They are not political obsessives. Rogan knew Harris needed him more than she needed him.”

“Nothing is more emblematic of this election’s changed media landscape than Rogan’s deadpan candor. Within a week, the interview with Trump had over 40 million views on YouTube alone, and millions more on other platforms. Aside from the Harris-Trump debate, no single event has garnered a larger audience this election cycle.”

Save to favorites