In a miraculous and disappointing turn, Joe Rogan has said that he will not sit down and chat with Kamala Harris based on her conditions for the interview. The man with one of the most-listened to and influential podcasts in the country has said on many occasions that he will talk to anyone – Bernie Sanders being just one, but put his foot down in refusing to accommodate the limited terms. This is probably a big mistake, perhaps for both.
The campaign said that they would make Harris available for an interview so long as Rogan traveled to meet her and only did one hour. The conditions made the offer unacceptable to Rogan – at least that’s his assertion. He did say that if she wanted to come to his studios in Austin that she would get the regular three hours on his show. She should probably have taken him up. No one asked me.
From The Daily Beast:
“They offered a date for Tuesday, but I would have had to travel to her and they only wanted to do an hour,” Rogan complained in a late Monday tweet. “I strongly feel the best way to do it is in the studio in Austin. My sincere wish is to just have a nice conversation and get to know her as a human being.”
Yes, and Rogan should have taken her up on the offer anyway, depending on who asked who what and when. Still, she – much more than Donald Trump, stood to benefit from the interview.
It was only a week ago that Trump made two days of headlines from his Rogan stint, some of which centered on Trump’s non-stop nonsensical answers. It did get a lot of attention, if for no other reason than it demonstrated the power of popular podcasts in this new media age. Plus, Rogan – who can be an unmitigated jackass, something he’d probably admit, is like no other interviewer. He is goofy, charismatic, funny, and just dumb enough to make his audience feel okay about themselves. He would likely admit that, too. But what he does do more effectively than anyone else is “get to know” the person sitting across from him. And that’s why a Harris voter likely shakes his or her head.
It is really hard to believe that Kamala would benefit from another day of pounding out rallies in Pennsylvania and Michigan over three hours on YouTube available anywhere. Additionally, Rogan’s audience is eclectic, younger and more male than most – a demographic that traditionally doesn’t vote in big numbers and one that would provide her a big opportunity. Last, Rogan is also instinctively conservative but notorious for being easily swung by raw charm. Damn, she has a big chance that I hope she reevaluates.
Before I get utterly duck-walked in the comments for questioning the highly-paid professionals on her end, someone will have to explain to me how it is that she would benefit more from another speech in another town in another swing state. Besides, she could do the show on the way to Arizona or Nevada anyway. The two days of media hype in the crucial last week would be campaign gold.
As if that were not enough, we know she could do it and do it well! She is just dynamite in one on one interviews and far better than Trump. Moreover, she is still the lesser-known commodity, and people like what they see when they see it. It seems like there is no downside – she’s not going to make a fool of herself – and untapped upside. Yes, Rogan should have done it anyway. It would look better for him. Still. Does she end up looking petty? Big time?
Rogan doesn’t exactly owe it to her. Trump came out. Harris missed a chance to say, “Alright, I see your Rogan interview and raise you with some real answers about what really can be done. I will talk about you, the voters, not me.” So easy. Arghghg, pounds head on table.
See you in Pennsylvania. Let’s hope that she’s just locking in a win.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak
I cancelled Spotify and Netflix because of joe Rogan. he has no redeeming qualities. he is scum. better off staying away from him.
Not so much about him as it is about “them” the voters listening.
To the extent that he could be a jerk, she can absolutely take care of herself and look big in the process.
Still think it was a missed opportunity.
jason
Their heads are full of big ideas, images, and distorted facts…Bob Dylan
His audience has already been baked in and many are loud non voters. I seriously doubt any needles will be moved at this late date.
It is a sure-fire good headlines opportunity.
I just don’t see the downside.
jason
would you want her to show up on rush scumball. glad he is dead. trash is trash, these people don’t deserve a platform. all it is are incells listening. they don’t deserve the audience.
Rogan is and always has been an a-hole. I get that he’s got an audience and it would serve Harris well to talk with him. At the same time he HAD to know his own conditions for putting Harris on his podcast were unrealistic. Unlike Trump Harris is running a full-blown campaign and nothing, nothing means more to voters than a candidate showing up in their state and more particular their part of a state. Trump had three hours to blow because he’s a) running a lite campaign schedule and simply doesn’t have the proverbial gas in the tank to be making several or more appearances a day. Second, he didn’t CARE what it would mean for his rally attendees up in MI. Oh, he eventually showed up but I think a lot of MAGAs there and elsewhere were miffed. Being late is something they’re used to from Trump but three freaking hours so he could sit down with Rogan?
The laws of political physics don’t seem to apply to Trump but he’s the only person for whom that can be said. Look at how many GOPers have tried to be Trump and had their asses handed to him. ONLY Trump gets away with the sh*t Trump gets away with. As for Harris like any other candidate and particularly in the closing weeks of a close caompaign the most valuable commodity is the candidate’s TIME. Who the f**k is Joe Rogan to go (in effect) saying HE is so goddamned special that HE deserves more of Harris time than far more substantive political pundits? People who actually know sh*t and can probe for answers on tough matters. And that Harris should be ‘thankful’ by blowing up her schedule and travelling to Austin to sit in his little studio?
No, from where I sit Rogan is on an ego trip and never really wanted Harris to talk with him in the first place. So he set a couple of conditions that he knew damn well Harris couldn’t meet. As you say they seem reasonable to Rogan’s listeners but to most of us not so much. Whether Harris time is better spent in swing states and helping not just herself but other candidates is a subject of legitimate debate. I for one think Harris is making the right decision. Even an HOUR of her time right now is incredibly valuable and I’m sure she’d have fronted the travel costs to Rogan to meet her somewhere – and the studio time for his full three hour show. He could do what he wanted in the other two hours on her dime.
Sorry to have to disagree with you at least in part. A sit down for a chat with Rogan would have been a win-win for both Harris and Rogan but not on Rogan’s terms. Rogan is a Trump guy, even if he doesn’t loudly proclaim it from the rooftops. The proof right now is him making a fuss blaming HARRIS for setting conditions.
Well, the conditions for his show were the conditions for every show. She was making a counter-offer I think.
Yes, Rogan can be a jackass – as noted, and yes – he’s in the can for Trump – which I believe is all the more reason for her to go.
She is very very good and able to disarm people pretty easily. I think she could have had him chasing his tail a bit.
Anyway, it’s probably not going to happen. It’s not a huge loss, just a lost opportunity IMO.
I’m with Denis: Kamala’s time’s just too precious to spend 3 hours with Rogan. An hour’s chat would have suited both of them, but clearly Rogan needed to impose his rules, feeding that good ole male ego. Media “stars” like him have clout, I guess, but dictating terms to the VP of the USA, during her campaign for the presidency, is way over the top.
rogan is just another p*ssy-assed bitch who is terrified V.P. Harris will eat his f*cking lunch. She absolutely could of course but she also has something rogan, and I’m guessing many of his guests, lack: class. She might make him stay on topic but I seriously doubt she be out to embarrass his idiot ass.
V.P. Harris is a busy woman at the moment so, yeah, three hours on rogan’s little show would be three hours better spend elsewhere.
Trump got two days of headlines but with the media the way it is i doubt she even would get a notice from them. After the 60 minutes interview X was a blaze with lies about how bad she did.this wouldjust be the same.hind sight is always 20/20 but it’s probably best she stirs clear of him.
Rogan should have given her the hour, and then have Trump fill the rest of the time with rebuttals.