The long-standing tension between Joe Rogan and California Governor Gavin Newsom has been well-documented but comedian Bryan Callen recently shed new light on the dynamics behind Rogan’s steadfast refusal to host the governor on his podcast.
According to Callen, who appeared on a recent episode of TFATK podcast, the conflict reached a personal turning point after Rogan publicly called Newsom a “con man.” What followed was an unexpected chain of communication that revealed just how much the governor wanted to change Rogan’s perception.
“Gavin Newsom texted me and there was a long exchange about how he’s not a con man, that he’s a fan of Joe’s, and that it’s a personal thing and he wants to be, he’d like to, you know, at least Joe to know that he’s not a con man,”
Callen explained. The comedian found himself in the unusual position of being a communication bridge between two of California’s most talked-about figures.
Callen attempted to show Rogan the text messages from Newsom during a dinner but the response was unequivocal.
“I was there when he showed him the text while at dinner and Rogan goes, f**k off,”
Callen recalled.
“He goes, I don’t see that. He doesn’t like him. He’s a scumbag.”
But Callen’s analysis goes deeper than simple personal animosity. He outlined what he believes is a strategic calculation on Rogan’s part about the risks of platforming skilled politicians.
“Sometimes when you are a podcaster and you have someone like Gavin Newsom on, Gavin’s a very charming guy, Gavin’s not a dumb guy, and Gavin can make a strong case for California,”
Callen explained.
“Joe is very savvy and smart to know that he doesn’t know enough sometimes to not be gamed.”
This caution, according to Callen, extends beyond just Newsom.
“One of the reasons he probably doesn’t want to have certain leaders of countries on is because those leaders are very good for making a case for why they’re good guys. Because politicians are very good at that.”
The comedian noted that Newsom could effectively argue why California’s problems aren’t solely his responsibility, pointing to the complex bureaucratic challenges governors face.
“He can also make a strong case for why he is not running the state. He’s also dealing with city councils and a lot of other sh*t that’s very hard,”
Callen said, referencing Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s own comments about the limitations of gubernatorial power.
When Newsom attempted to take credit for California’s economic achievements, Callen noted a key contradiction.
“And all his, the things that he posted, all that was there in California before you became governor, dumb**s. So he’s taking credit for it. That stuff was there before he was governor. He did not create that.”
The public feud has only intensified in recent months with Newsom repeatedly calling out Rogan for refusing to host him while the podcast host has given platforms to other controversial figures. The governor has compared Rogan to social media giants and accused him of lacking confidence but according to Callen’s account, there’s a fundamental trust issue at play.
“Joe’s got very good insight,”
Callen said simply, suggesting that Rogan’s instincts about people are rarely wrong.Yet Rogan’s radar was fooled a number of times by different content including but not limited to AI Tim Walz, claims that Nicotine isn’t harmful to health, and believing that AI music and videos are fine but podcast is a bridge too far.
