California Governor Gavin Newsom pulled no punches when discussing popular podcast host Joe Rogan during a recent YouTube interview. When asked if he would appear on major podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience, Newsom revealed a contentious history with the influential media personality.
“Problem with Rogan, he won’t have me on,” Newsom stated bluntly. The governor explained that despite his willingness to engage with critics across the political spectrum, Rogan has repeatedly declined to host him. “He doesn’t want to be confronted with the BS that he spews, particularly in the political sense. He’s just a BS artist in political terms. Sorry. Just is.”
Newsom emphasized his track record of appearing on platforms where he faces opposition, citing his three-and-a-half-hour conversation with Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan. He also mentioned bringing Fox News host Sean Hannity to Sacramento for an unedited hour-and-a-half interview.
“I want to meet people where they are,” the governor explained.
The frustration appears to stem from what Newsom describes as two years of one-sided attacks.
“I’m happy to confront him, but he won’t do it. Now I’m not even interested It’s been two years of him just insulting me on a weekly basis. Well done, tough guy,” he said. “But he won’t have me on. I told him it’d be 10 against 1. You can have people ask the questions and follow-ups for you, but he won’t do it.”
Newsom suggested that Rogan’s reluctance reveals deeper insecurities.
“He can’t do that because there’s obviously an insecurity. There’s some anxiety, insecurity around it for him because it’s threatening because I will call him on the BS,” he said. The governor added that he used to watch Rogan regularly and once admired him before “something happened to a lot of these guys.”
The comments come as Newsom positions himself as a leader willing to engage across ideological divides. He pointed to his podcast, which featured Charlie Kirk, Michael Savage, and Steve Bannon as early guests despite criticism from fellow Democrats.
“Divorce is not an option. I’m not platforming them. They were platforming me,” Newsom explained. “I just think it’s important to talk to people you disagree with.”
