I did not plan to weigh in on the Joe Rogan/Spotify debate because — undoubtedly like the fascistic voices trying to cancel him — I admittedly have never listened to his popular show.
The irony is that his detractors may have more in common with the autodidactic comedian and actor than I.
Rogan is socially liberal, supports universal health care, recreational drug use, and has publicly endorsed isolationist radicals Tulsi Gabbard, Ron Paul, and Bernie Sanders. As a hawkish, traditional conservative, I disagree with those stances and dislike the aforementioned political trio.
But I also know the New Jerseyan values free speech, abhors progressives’ cancel culture, supports the 2nd Amendment, and disagrees with the intolerant way most media treats conservative views. The classical liberal in me approves of these stances, even if precious few Democrats will.
I value open conversations and recoil at the increasingly censorious nature of the left-leaning corporate media.
I rarely watch cable news commentary and prefer various podcasts, and the myriad of great Substack writers available.
So what did Rogan do to earn the ire of nearly 300 pedantic doctors, washed up Canadian rockers, and worst of all, the execrable Duke and Duchess of Sussex?
I think my favorite absurdity of the Joe Rogan dust-up thus far is Harry and Meghan, who have been paid roughly $1 million per minute of podcast they've produced for Spotify, harrumphing that the company "meet the moment" lest they take the 35 mins of work elsewhere.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) February 1, 2022
Rogan, who is not anti-vaccine, reminded everyone this week the “science” has changed several times throughout the COVID pandemic — from cloth masks’ effectiveness and whether vaccines stop all infection, to if coronavirus started in a Chinese lab.
I am not into conspiracies or blind hatred, but Dr. Anthony Fauci and his acolytes — Drs. Michael Osterholm, Rochelle Walensky, and Leana Wen — admitted they’ve lied to Americans for political expediency. Think that may sow doubt?
Distrust of our citizenry has also led to censorship of conversations, which is pernicious and intrinsically un-American.
As I mused Tuesday, free speech and the right to protest doesn’t exist only among those with like-minded views.
When I publish a column, I love when people offer feedback, telling me where they agree or disagree.
Why is there no media introspection about why the preponderance of Americans distrust what most mainstream commentators say?
Joe Rogan with a better net fav than Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Ron DeSantis, and Pete Buttigieg. https://t.co/Kx4TcuETf6
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) January 31, 2022
While CNN’s Jim Acosta can barely reach 400,000 viewers per night for his new show, Rogan’s podcast totals over 10 million listeners per episode.
Meanwhile, Spotify paid the unhinged Markle and her emasculated husband $25 million for a podcast that no one enjoyed.
Given the choice, Americans prefer an intellectually curious man who tolerates eclectic views over millennial woke hypocrites who stifle freedom and exploit the royal institution that gave them everything.
Like Dave Chapelle, J.K. Rowling, and other liberals who’ve been targeted for cancellation, Rogan will prevail. He’s not only rich, but his audience isn’t likely to abandon him; if anything, he’ll become more popular. Heck, even I might tune in.
A.J. Kaufman
A.J. Kaufman is an Alpha News columnist. His work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Florida Sun-Sentinel, Indianapolis Star, Israel National News, Orange County Register, St. Cloud Times, Star-Tribune, and across AIM Media Midwest and the Internet. Kaufman previously worked as a school teacher and military historian.
