Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
Joe Rogan briefly reminisced about the Obama administration while discussing the current political climate with podcast guest Kurt Metzger.
Rogan — whose controversial podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, is the most subscribed-to pod on all of Spotify — sat down with the comedian on the Tuesday, March 26, episode of his eponymous show.
The duo were discussing the political climate in Israel when Metzger noted, “Remember back when … we knew what was what before we went to all this cuckoo caca. I hope we go back to those days. In fact, if I was liberal, I’d also [say] that the Obama times — they were just so great,” he laughed.
Rogan agreed. “The times of a less confusing enemy. … It was more clearly established what was going on,” the podcast host shared.
Michael Schwartz/Getty Images
Despite agreeing with multiple right-wing ideologies, Rogan insisted in July 2022 that he was not a “secret conservative,” as some thought he was.
“You don’t know what the f—k you’re talking about. I’m so far away from being a Republican,” Rogan said at the time. “Just because I believe in the Second Amendment and just because I support the military and just cause I support police [doesn’t mean I’m a Republican].” The UFC commentator, who made headlines with his debunked opinions on the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic, proceeded to lay out a list of social justice issues he supports, including same-sex marriage, welfare and more. He also referred to himself as a “bleeding heart liberal.”
Last month, Rogan made even more waves with a new Spotify deal worth up to $250 million. The specifics of his massive reach were also revealed: per Bloomberg, Rogan has 14.5 million podcast subscribers — a number that is millions of times over the next two on the list. (Ted Talks Daily has 5 million subscribers while Call Her Daddy has less than 4 million.)
Nearly every episode of Rogan’s podcast goes viral, with his opinion on squatters in New York City making headlines just three days before his conversation with Metzger.
The city’s policy protects those who have been living in the home after 30 days of occupancy, which he called “bananas.”
It’s “basically allowing people to steal other people’s homes,” he said.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.