Latest news with #TheJoeRoganExperience
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Joe Rogan's blunt reply shuts down Bernie Sanders' attack on Musk
As everyone already knows, Joe Rogan famously interviewed President Donald Trump on his podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," in the weeks leading up to the 2024 election before endorsing #47 on the eve of the big day. Before Rogan joined the MAGA crowd, however, he expressed a preference for Bernie Sanders in the 2020 primary. In fact, he endorsed the almost-Octogenarian in the race, although at the time, the endorsement was not necessarily treated as a win by Sanders' supporters. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Still, Sanders and Rogan have a long history, and Rogan has interviewed Sanders several times in the past, spending time discussing big issues in his trademark long-form interviews. Now, Rogan invited Sanders onto his show again last week to discuss the current state of the world. Related: T-Mobile announces free new perk for customers after major loss Sanders and Rogan talked about a wide range of issues and found some points of agreement, including on the minimum wage. Rogan also asked Sanders about whether he had any further presidential ambitions (the answer was no) and suggested he was much more vibrant for his age than Biden. While the discussion was a pleasant one, the two men did have a few conflicts as well, most notably on one super controversial figure that has also been a Rogan guest: Elon Musk. The conversation got heated between Sanders and Rogan when the topic of campaign finance came up. Sanders was complaining about the role of money in politics, commenting that the Citizens United decision had made it possible for someone to "put millions or hundreds of millions of dollars into a campaign," to express their view and "you can buy that election." Related: Joe Rogan sends blunt one-word message on minimum wage Then, the fireworks started as Sanders made a statement that Rogan simply couldn't let stand, commenting, "The result of that decision, let's take us to where we are today, is that Elon Musk… we can talk about Elon.., he spent $270 million to elect Trump as president. Ok. I think that's absurd, that any one person…." Sanders didn't get to finish that thought, though, as Rogan clapped back immediately, defending his long-time friend and frequent podcast guest. Rogan's reply was blunt and clear, as he asked Sanders a pointed question: "What's the most someone donated toward the Harris campaign?" Rogan went on to point out to Sanders that, "they spent $1.5 billion over the course of a couple of months," making clear that he was not going to let Sander's scapegoat Musk when there is money on politics on both sides of the aisle and the issue is definitely not specific to Musk's contributions. Musk and Rogan have a long history, so it is not a surprise that Rogan jumped to his defense as Sanders went on the attack. Not only has Musk appeared on Rogan's podcast on numerous occasions, even famously smoking marijuana live on the show, but Musk and Rogan have been seen together at social events, and Rogan has referred to Musk as the "great and powerful," and praised Musk's companies and innovations. Related: Amazon aims to crush Elon Musk's Robotaxi Still, Rogan was not just defending a friend when he clapped back at Sanders on the issue of Musks' donations – and Rogan's point was obviously a good one, as Sanders backed down immediately, admitting that money in politics is a bipartisan issue and that Musk was not the only large donor to the two presidential campaigns. Rogan's quick and effective response, and the way in which he brought Sanders around to agreeing that Musk's donations were not an unusual event, show why the podcast host has so many devoted fans, and why Spotify recently paid him $250 million to sign onto a new Spotify deal. Rogan will continue to bring on diverse voices, share his opinions, and find both points of agreement and disagreement, and that's a powerful thing in today's world when so many seem to only want to hear viewpoints aligned with their own. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
CairoScene
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Meet Mo Islam: The Podcaster Helping Rewrite Saudi's Story
Somewhere between the quiet hum of production gear and the clink of ceramic coffee cups, Mo Islam leans back in his chair, eyes focused but posture relaxed—the kind of composure you only earn after 160 episodes, a thousand follow-ups, and five years of never missing a beat. We're in the softly lit studio of The Mo Show. Nestled in the heart of Riyadh's evolving media district, it's one of the most distinctive podcasts to emerge from the region—not just in sound, but in purpose. Mo has hosted Rio Ferdinand, Gary Vaynerchuk, Princess Reema bint Bandar, and the CEO of IWC. He's moderated Boris Johnson. He's sat across from astronauts, Saudi sports champions, Formula E founders, fintech pioneers, and the quiet architects of cultural change. His guests are not chosen for virality but for credibility, conviction, and the ability to mark a moment. Which makes it all the more striking that this entire platform was built by someone with no formal background in media. He'd spent over a decade in oil and gas—nowhere near a studio, a script, or a strategy deck. 'I had absolutely no connection to the media industry,' he tells me. 'I mean, maybe a little bit of interest when I was in school in England and there was some radio...' The real shift happened during COVID lockdown. Six to eight weeks at home gave him space to reflect—and time to binge-watch podcasts. One episode in particular, featuring tech thinker Naval Ravikant on The Joe Rogan Experience, cracked something open. 'That episode spoke to me,' he says. 'I saw the industry right before my eyes. I acknowledged we don't have anything like that on a local level in Saudi.' It wasn't just the content. It was the format—long-form, unscripted, independent. No networks. No protocol. Just people talking. And in Mo's case, a glaring gap: there was no one doing that kind of deep, unfiltered conversation out of Saudi. Especially not in English. 'I didn't want to spend another day building someone else's dream,' he says. 'The information revolution is among us. So I went from oil and gas, which was industrial revolution, to the media space, which is the information revolution.' He signed up for a podcasting masterclass. Bought the gear. Started learning. For the next three years, he juggled it all—his job, his family, and the slow, steady building of The Mo Show. Mo grew up in Jeddah, the eighth of eleven siblings, before being sent to prep school in Berkshire and later university in Boston. That back-and-forth shaped him: Saudi by origin, but fluent in the grammar of Western discourse. 'I think in English,' he says—and that clarity of language would become his clearest tool. If there's a single thread that runs through every episode—beyond the polished cadence of his voice or the off-guard honesty he draws from his guests—it's this: a desire to correct the record with precision, persistence, and, crucially, in English. 'In the early days I was asked a lot about why am I doing it in English by my fellow citizens,' he recalls. 'That's when I knew that okay, clearly my content isn't for them... Let me double down on my strengths as opposed to working on my weaknesses and put something out there fully in English to hopefully one day with consistency be a source of soft power for the kingdom. I think we achieved that today.' And he has. Consistency, more than anything else, is his secret weapon. 'In the last five years, we have put out about an episode every 11 days,' he says. 'The consistency element really is the only thing that eventually works in your favor, like the seventh wonder of the world.' Princess Reema's appearance—arguably the show's flagship episode—was a moment of quiet validation. 'She is someone who can go on any interview show she chooses, yet she came on my show and helped empower me. That really showed me that I'm on the right track.' Increasingly, Mo Islam is not just hosting—but moderating on global stages. From Boris Johnson and Karim Benzema to astronauts, finance chiefs, women's football leaders and Formula E founders, Mo has become the go-to English-speaking Saudi voice for public discourse. Today, The Mo Show has sponsors like Tim Hortons, IWC, Noon, and Saudi Airlines. It's backed by KAFD, Riyadh's futuristic business district. International guests reach out directly. Whoop, the American performance wearable company, didn't just sponsor the show—they sent their CEO on as a guest. He's even shared a short exchange with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. And yet, ask Mo what drives him, and he doesn't mention numbers or monetization. 'I love the craft,' he says simply. 'I used to love updating the website as much as, you know, 1, 2, 3, we're rolling... It never really felt like work. It's like a dream job for me.' Even now, when his strategy head Greg begs him to delegate, he stays deeply involved. 'He understands that I'm very much involved because I love the craft,' Mo explains. 'And I guess that's maybe why I've been doing it now consistently for five years... because it never really felt like work.' There's an unmistakable clarity to the way he speaks about purpose, and it cuts through even when the conversation turns light. A trip to Cirencester this summer with his wife and kids. The memory of updating the studio website himself. The fact that some of his family 'were a bit worried' during the early episodes. 'Historically, Saudi freedom of speech, you know, choosing to put yourself out there was very much not the norm,' he admits. 'But I knew that through my message and my intent and my patriotism… I'll always be the first line of defense for Saudi.' The Mo Show is ultimately a calibrated response to years of narrative absence. 'I honestly felt that the Wester Press was intentionally ignoring the positivity that exists on the ground here by way of achievements or projects.' he tells me. 'Yet a rising tide lifts all boats... Just because one region or country is on the up, it doesn't mean that it should come at the cost of a country going down.' He speaks from experience. His cousin, a former rower at Cambridge, went on to compete for Saudi at the Tokyo Olympics after being supported by the Ministry of Sports. 'Actors, musicians, if you are talented and you are fit for representation, you will be empowered by the top,' he says. 'That's what I've noticed in the last couple of years as I've peeked behind the curtain... and knocked on the door of excellence.' That clarity—paired with consistency—is what has made The Mo Show not just successful, but sustainable. Now, Mo is thinking about expansion. 'We are working on the show spinning off into a new touchpoint,' he hints. 'A medium that will coexist with the show as we know it.' He won't say more than that, not yet. But it's clear whatever comes next will carry the same DNA: self-funded, self-built, self-aware. An English-speaking Saudi voice that doesn't speak on behalf of anyone, but speaks with clarity, conviction, and a command of both form and content. 'We need this first line of defense in English,' he tells me again, near the end of our conversation. 'The people at the top... they can't break protocol when they speak. I can.' And he has. Quietly, consistently, and without compromise.
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gizmodo
Joe Rogan Gives MAGA a Liberal Makeover After Splitting With Trump on Iran
Joe Rogan prides himself on the premise that his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, is the digital town square, a place where the conversations that mainstream media won't touch can flourish. It's this ethos of radical curiosity and open dialogue that built his nine-figure Spotify empire and defines his cultural influence over millions. But in a recent episode, Rogan weaponized that identity to challenge the operating system of the most powerful online political movement in America: MAGA. In a June 24 sweeping conversation with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), Rogan drew a clear red line, not just with Donald Trump, but with the entire MAGA ecosystem. He argued it has become a cult-like echo chamber that punishes dissent, a direct threat to the very principles his platform is built on. The flashpoint was President Trump's reaction to the American bombing of Iran on June 21. When a few conservative voices questioned the decision, Trump demanded absolute loyalty. His primary target was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), one of the few Republicans who stated the president lacked the authority to bomb Iran without congressional approval. This act of defiance sent Trump to his own platform, Truth Social, to excommunicate the lawmaker. 'Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is,' Trump posted on June 24. 'He is a negative force who almost always Votes 'NO,' no matter how good something may be. He's simple minded 'grandstander.'' The threat was clear and aimed at anyone else considering a similar deviation: 'MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!' For Rogan, this was a purity test that revealed the rot within the movement. Online political tribes, powered by algorithms and social media, often devolve into echo chambers where any deviation from dogma is met with expulsion. Rogan, whose brand depends on platforming a spectrum of views, positioned this intolerance as MAGA's greatest weakness. Signaling his growing distrust, he rushed to Massie's defense. — 'When a guy like Thomas Massie steps up and says something, he's gonna have a lot more support as well,' Rogan said, framing dissent as a strength. — 'The answer is yes,' Sanders agreed. 'And my only point is he has a right.' — 'Yes,' Rogan affirmed. Rogan then did something remarkable: he attempted to co-opt and redefine the MAGA slogan itself, rebooting it with a surprisingly progressive vision. He argued that a movement truly dedicated to making America great would focus on strengthening the entire community, not just its base. He criticized the political system for treating issues like poverty and inequality as 'beach balls' to be bounced around in endless debate instead of being solved. — 'Do you want to make America great again?' Rogan asked rhetorically, before answering himself. 'Less losers. How do you make less losers? Don't stack the deck against them.' He continued, sounding more like Sanders than the figure his critics often portray: 'One of the first things you'd have to do is figure out why these communities, these cities, have been the exact same way for decade after decade, back to Jim Crow and the redlining laws.' Rogan acts as a primary gateway for millions of young men into anti-establishment and right-leaning thought. By challenging MAGA's core tenet of absolute loyalty to Trump, he is creating a potential schism in the online right. He is forcing his massive audience to choose between two models of anti-establishment thinking: the rigid, top-down dogma of Trump's Truth Social, or the chaotic, open-dialogue ethos of his own digital town square. It's a battle for the soul of online contrarianism, and Joe Rogan just used his platform to declare his side.
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Joe Rogan Just Used a $25 Sandwich to Torch the Minimum Wage While Talking AI and Automation
He's the controversial king of podcasting, a multimillionaire media mogul who built an empire on a cocktail of MMA, psychedelic evangelism, and institutional skepticism. While Joe Rogan has recently drawn criticism from the left for his contrarian views, in a moment that feels both inevitable and utterly bizarre, he may have just become the nation's most effective advocate for raising the minimum wage. The catalyst wasn't a dense economic report or a progressive policy paper. It was a viral TikTok video about a single, outrageously expensive sandwich. The scene unfolded during a June 24 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) returned for another one of his now-classic deep dives into the state of America. Their discussion, however, went far beyond politics, touching on the very future of human labor. Before the conversation turned to wages, it was grounded in a pressing, modern anxiety: the threat of AI and automation replacing human workers. Rogan and Sanders discussed a future where jobs at manufacturing giants like Ford and GM could be rendered obsolete by robotics, as both carmakers heavily invest in automation to streamline production. Their discussion is timely, as the debate over job displacement intensifies. While major firms roll out cost-cutting tech, labor advocates are asking a crucial question: what happens to the workers? Sanders argued that society faces a critical choice. Rather than simply dismissing millions of workers as technology advances, he proposed a fundamental shift in our approach to labor: reducing the work week. The senator suggested that a 32-hour week could allow more people to remain employed, sharing the benefits of automation rather than becoming its victims. This proposal comes as a recent U.N. study highlights the scale of the issue, finding that one in four jobs worldwide is potentially exposed to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). This broader anxiety about the value of human labor in an increasingly automated world set the stage for the episode's most viral moment. The conversation pivoted from the abstract threat of AI to the immediate, tangible struggle of workers today. What followed was a potent rant about the absurdity of the federal minimum wage from a man who can easily afford any sandwich he wants. Yet, faced with the stark math of working hours versus the cost of lunch, Rogan found himself making Sanders's core argument with more raw, everyman passion than the senator himself. 'I think the minimum wage in this country is ridiculous. I mean, it's $7, what?' Rogan said in disbelief. 'It's insane. How do you live off $7? You go to Jimmy John's, you get a sub. How much is a sub? Like a big sub at Jimmy John's?' He continued, referencing a TikTok video: 'Some guy did a video where he's like, 'They're trying to say that minimum wage $15 is too much.' I think he had a sub that he bought for 25 bucks. So imagine that's your lunch. So imagine you have to work three and a half hours just to pay for a sandwich. Imagine how insane that is.' Rogan added, 'That's insane. Like, how do you eat? And how do you eat dinner? How do you eat lunch, breakfast?' Sanders: 'I have talked to people who make 10, 12 bucks an hour trying to raise a kid.' Rogan: 'Jesus. Well, the argument against that is, 'Hey, these are entry-level jobs that are supposed to be for kids.'' Sanders: 'No. And that's factually—yeah, of course, it's true to some degree…' Rogan: 'To some degree, but if you have grown adults that are working those jobs, now it becomes disgusting.' Sanders: 'That's right, just exactly! Especially when you're dealing with an enormous corporation.' Rogan: 'Right!' Sanders: 'So we put a lot of pressure, you know, we are trying to raise the minimum wage, federal minimum wage, to 17 bucks.' Rogan: 'That's a reasonable amount of money. You know, I mean, it's still—it's gonna be real difficult to live off of 17 bucks an hour, but at least…' Sanders: 'That's right.' Rogan: 'At least you can get a sandwich in under two hours' worth of work.' Rogan didn't specify which video exactly, but there are numerous videos on TikTok of people ranting about $25 subs. Sub prices vary depending on the toppings, and the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The exchange is remarkable not just for the point being made—Sanders has delivered this message for decades—but for how Rogan arrived at it. After briefly entertaining the classic 'jobs for kids' counterargument, he immediately dismissed it with palpable revulsion, calling the reality of adults in those positions 'disgusting.' His frustration, stripped of political jargon, is likely more resonant for his massive audience than any speech on the Senate floor. By endorsing Sanders's proposed $17 minimum wage as 'reasonable,' Rogan grounded the entire debate in a visceral, understandable metric: how many hours of your life it should cost to buy lunch. For Sanders, who is campaigning against corporate power, he could not have found a better ally. Rogan is one of the most influential voices among men, and young men in particular, making this unlikely alignment a potentially significant moment in the public conversation about economic fairness in America.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Court issues new orders against Liver King following release after Joe Rogan threats
Brian Johnson, known as the "Liver King," has been released from jail after posting a $20,000 bond following his arrest on charges of making terroristic threats against podcaster Joe Rogan. Johnson, 47, was arrested on June 24 in Austin, Texas, after police contacted Rogan, who expressed concern over Johnson's online posts, which he believed were threatening. Johnson's arrest took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, where he was booked for a terroristic threat causing fear of imminent bodily harm. In addition to posting bond, Johnson is subject to a restraining order that requires him to stay at least 200 yards away from Rogan and his family members. The court also mandated that Johnson undergo a mental health evaluation within a week of his release (Travis County Court records). Despite the legal trouble, Johnson resumed posting on Instagram, where he has 3 million followers, and continued to claim that he wanted to fight Rogan. In one video, Johnson said, 'We came here to pick a fight, and we're gonna do it,' further addressing Rogan with, 'I would love to man-to-man challenge you to a fucking fight. No one's going to die. But I hope we'll both get hurt.' Johnson even made a joke about his conflict being with actor Seth Rogen, while also revealing that he was wearing an ankle bracelet and had a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The situation stems from comments Rogan made on his podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' where he criticized Johnson's steroid use and mocked his 'ancestral diet.' Despite this, Rogan told the police he had never interacted with Johnson before, and it's unclear what motivated Johnson's public feud. Johnson's controversy further escalated with the release of Netflix's documentary, "Untold: The Liver King," which exposed his steroid use after promoting an all-natural, ancestral lifestyle online.
