In a fiery CNN appearance, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his frustration with podcast titan Joe Rogan, comparing the influential host to a social media giant.
“Joe Rogan is the Facebook of podcasting,” Newsom declared during the interview, signaling his disinterest in pursuing a guest spot on Rogan’s show after what he describes as persistent criticism without the opportunity to respond.
The governor’s comments highlight a one-sided feud that has apparently been brewing for years, with Newsom claiming Rogan has repeatedly targeted him without offering a platform for rebuttal.
“For years and years, he’s been attacking me, and it’s one way,” Newsom stated. “He won’t have me on. He’s consistently not having me on.”
The California leader appeared particularly irritated by what he perceives as a lack of professional courtesy, noting that he has appeared on other platforms hosted by commentators with differing political viewpoints.
“I’ve watched you on podcasts with Sean Ryan. He had the courtesy,” Newsom pointed out, also mentioning his appearances with Sean Hannity. “And so if I can go on Sean Ryan and Sean Hannity, what are you worried about?”
The dispute comes amid Rogan’s continued popularity in the podcasting space, though Newsom suggested that other podcasters are producing more meaningful content. “He was sitting across one of the brightest minds in podcasting right now… there are a lot of people at the mic doing extraordinary things in podcasting,” he noted.
When pressed about Rogan’s substantial audience, Newsom questioned the host’s confidence, suggesting that Rogan’s unwillingness to have him as a guest reveals a deeper issue despite the show’s reach.
“If he has a big audience, but he doesn’t have big enough confidence to have me on,” Newsom remarked, leaving the thought unfinished.
The governor characterized Rogan’s approach as part of a broader pattern among certain media figures. “These guys, they all have something in common. It’s one way. They attack, they belittle, they demean, they take things out of context.”
Despite the tensions, Newsom made it clear he’s ready to move forward. “I’m moving on. I have no interest,” he concluded.
