Joe Rogan made The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the most powerful podcasters. Of course.
Rogan has been at or near the top of the podcast charts for some time now.
When you read the bios of his fellow podcasters, though, something jumps out. Rogan appears to be the only one brimming with negative information.
The conspiracy-curious, vaccine-questioning comedian and MMA enthusiast established himself as the undisputed king of podcasting in 2020 with his $200 million, three-and-a-half-year deal with Spotify. Top artists including Neil Young fled the platform in protest.
Hmmm.
Why would THR single out Rogan for that negative framing? Even more curious? The far-Left site praised fellow podcaster Rachel Maddow, who eagerly spread the biggest Fake News story of a generation – the Russian collusion hoax.
She’s not conspiracy-curious. She’s all in. Yet the article features nothing but praise for Maddow.
Hmmm.
Over at Salon, the site is melting down over Rogan following the release of his newest Netflix special, “Burn the Boats.”
But what he and the other comics he boosts have in common, besides Netflix deals, is their penchant for anti-trans material and platforming far-right bigots in the name of “asking questions” and pursuing the “truth.” They also sell out arenas, cultivating their audiences online and forward some truly odious ideas in the name of yuks and supposed pondering.
There’s more.
Netflix’s willingness to further elevate a performer whose entire schtick is slapping a smile on disinformation and normalizing trans panic should worry more of us, even if they’ve done it several times before.
Salon wants a world where no company will platform Rogan. Why? Misinformation and hateful jokes.
Media Attack Rogan But Not Colbert and Co. … Why?
Except other comedians dole out both without any hand-wringing from Salon or The Hollywood Reporter.
Remember this? Colbert goes all in on both, including some classic “gay panic” material.
Or this:
There's Fake News, and then there's what Bee said in her fact-free, anti-Brett Kavanaugh rant.
— Christian Toto (@HollywoodInToto) September 23, 2019
Samantha Bee: Anatomy of a Late Night Smear https://t.co/FDBc69c6zi@JCNSeverino @ByronYork
And let’s not forget the seething reviews for Rogan’s “Burn the Boats.”
Here’s the far-Left Indiewire subtly suggesting Netflix should cancel Rogan. (been there, failed at that).
Rogan aggressively mocks the LGBTQ community, punches down at the 7 million people who died of COVID, reminds fellow fearmongers about the asinine Pizzagate theory, and spreads plenty more misinformation — all while claiming to be a good guy. It’s grotesque, but par for the course for the data-driven streamer that proudly platforms transphobes like Dave Chappelle.
The Daily Beast similarly decried the special, dubbing it a victory for “right-wing comedy.” Except Rogan isn’t a right-winger.
Weird.
Why the never-ending rage against a comedian? Rogan doesn’t set policy or hide from questions like a certain presidential candidate. He hasn’t faked his military service or supported criminals eager to burn down major cities.
Rogan is genuinely a center-Left soul. He favors many liberal positions (marijuana legalization, gay marriage and more) and refuses to have Donald Trump on his show.
The media loathe him for two reasons. He is fair to center-Right guests and he cannot be controlled.
Rogan Tells Is (Mostly) Like It Is
Rogan called out President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline months before the press dared to address it. He spoke out for those who didn’t subscribe to the government’s extreme pandemic measures, many of which have aged horribly.
He routinely calls out the corrupt corporate media, and they have no defense against said attacks. Because he’s right.
Plus, he’s his own boss. He doesn’t shill for vaccines like professional hack Stephen Colbert.
Rogan knows better, and his refusal to vomit the Left’s narrative du jour put a target on his back.
Said target may never fade away.
For all those reasons the media and the Left (but we repeat ourselves) will never stop trying to cancel Rogan. And, if they’re ever successful, the free speech fight may be over.
