Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spoke out against the Democratic Party’s reaction to Joe Rogan and other podcast hosts in a recent interview. Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Sanders addressed questions from host Dana Bash regarding the backlash he faced after appearing on Rogan’s podcast and receiving his endorsement.
In response to the criticism, Sanders expressed that he found it difficult to understand the issue with appearing on such shows. “You can argue with Rogan or agree with him, but what’s the problem with going on those shows?” Sanders remarked, suggesting that engaging with alternative media should not be controversial.
Joe Rogan and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Rogan, who endorsed President-elect Trump just before Election Day, has had figures like Trump and Elon Musk appear on his podcast. Their conversations have sparked serious attention, especially with Musk’s appearance shortly before the election.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign did not decline an interview with Rogan outright but opted not to visit his Texas studio. Rogan had stated that if the interview were to happen, it would require Harris to travel to him, and they would only have an hour for the discussion. Meanwhile, the interview never took place, drawing criticism for Harris’s failure to connect with a wider audience.
Following the disappointing election results, Democrats are reassessing their strategy, with some arguing that Harris missed a critical opportunity to engage with a younger, male demographic by bypassing Rogan’s platform.
Sanders used the opportunity to advocate for broader outreach to alternative media channels, emphasizing the need to engage with the “millions and millions of viewers” who tune into such platforms. In January 2020, Rogan endorsed Sanders in the Democratic primary, a move that also drew scrutiny from the Democratic establishment.
