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Don’t underestimate the Rogansphere. His mammoth ecosystem is Fox News for young people

https://lemmy.world/post/22240648

Don’t underestimate the Rogansphere. His mammoth ecosystem is Fox News for young people - Lemmy.World

Summary The “Rogansphere,” a sprawling ecosystem of podcasts and online shows led by figures like Joe Rogan, has become a powerful cultural force for younger audiences, functioning as a “Fox News for the young.” With its mix of anti-establishment rhetoric, distrust of Democrats, and casual conversations blending left-leaning and conservative ideas, it normalizes figures like Donald Trump for a disillusioned, lonely audience—particularly young men. Democrats risk underestimating its influence, as this ecosystem fosters deep listener loyalty and has contributed to a significant shift in young male voters toward Trump.

Nov 20, 2024 at 12:19pmWeb
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
I’m a 42 year old Democrat and I don’t mind his show at all. You really don’t have to agree with things you disagree with.
Show threadxenspideyNov 20, 2024
It’s crazy to me how honesty and truth are downvoted here. It truly is just reddit 2.0. I’m not a loyal Rogan watcher but from what I have watched he seems like a true middle of the road kinda guy. Talks about the benifits of weed and psychodelics and then also talks about hunting and other things. Sure he’s had crazy conspiracy folks on. But he’s always seemed to just let people talk.
Show threadTheTechnician27Nov 20, 2024

>“true middle of the road kinda guy”

>endorsed a fascist for POTUS

lmfao okay

Show threadOptionalNov 20, 2024

I get what both of y’all are saying. I’ve seen his show a couple times, he takes an hour or so with someone on the edge of mainstream from either side and asks basic questions that pop into his head. That’s the gist of it, and by itself, in a vacuum (or in the privacy of one’s home, say) it’s fine. I wanted to hear what his guests had to say on occasion.

That said, there’s a lot of identification with power and dominance symbolism that happen all throughout it, and endorsing trump is unconscionable. I appreciate he’s expanded his mind with DMT or whatever but seriously, whatever supplements he’s on have suppressed some serious judgement pathways. I don’t eat Subway 'cause they’re still in ruzzia and I won’t listen to Rogan for any reason now.

Show threadxenspideyNov 20, 2024
He also endorsed Bernie
Show threadTheTechnician27Nov 20, 2024
I totally forgot that if I drive on the left side of the road for a bit then swerve way off into the ditch past the right side of the road and stay there, I’m basically “a middle of the road kinda guy”.
Show threadcapital_sniffNov 21, 2024
I think what they are saying is that Rogan has no values or principles and can easily endorse freedom and unfreedom thus averaging out to a middle position. Truly the most open minded individual can both believe the earth is a globe and flat.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024

Yeah I’ve only seen less than 20 of his videos, usually when it’s a guest he has on that I like (rob zombie, bill burr etc). One episode I watched he was even calling out Trump and saying he didn’t want him on the show.

You are exactly right, he lets people talk and he is great at keeping the interview feel organic and moving.

People downvoting because they prob never even listened to him and are just doing the echo chamber nonsense.

Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024

One episode I watched he was even calling out Trump and saying he didn’t want him on the show.

Except he brought him on and endorsed him. He’s not a moderate he’s a mouthpiece for MAGA.

Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
Kamala declined to be on with Rogan. I’m guessing you’ve never watched his show, but he is definitely not a “mouthpiece for MAGA”. If you bring up a few progressive topics and his opinions on them, you’ll see he’s actually much more left leaning than right, even if he himself doesn’t know it.
Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024
Endorsing a fascist makes you a fascist champ.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
Oh shut up child.
Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024
Lol, what a baby.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
lol you keep editing your comments. Do you just call everyone you disagree with a fascist? How’s that working out for you? Winning a lot of people to the left?
Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024

I’m editing them just like you are, champ.

So endorsing a fascists doesn’t make you fascist? And I only called Trump and Rogan a fascist. Is that “everyone?”

Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
Why do you keep calling me “champ”? Do you think that makes you sound cool or something lmao. Stop acting like a pencil dick and instead of calling everyone a fascist, why don’t you say why they are a fascist with some good points to back it up. Internet has enough trolls already and you’re not very good at it.
Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024
Again since it seems you’re a little slow. I’ve only called Rogan and Trump fascists. But keep on lying if that makes you feel better. And do i really need to bring up points on why Trump is a fucking fascist? Had your head up your own ass for the past 8 years, champ?
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024

I must be appear to be slow because you’re giving conflicting information

“Endorsing a fascist makes you a fascist, champ.”

That was you less than an hour ago, champ.

Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024
Yes, Rogan endorsing Trump makes him a fascist. Do you need to read that again?
Show threadShardikprimeNov 20, 2024
Bro do you even read
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
By your logic, calling Rogan a fascist for an endorsement says more about your inability to define ‘fascist’ than it does about Rogan. I feel like I’m arguing with a 14 year old. I’m done here.
Show threadFiremanEdsRevengeNov 21, 2024
Maybe lay off the Rogan. Clearly, it’s done some damage to you already.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 21, 2024
Okay, mom.
Show threadNoneOfUrBusinessNov 20, 2024
As someone whose only information about the man is secondhand, what does he even talk about?
Show threadxenspideyNov 20, 2024
Everything, weed, psychedelics, hunting, wrestling. He’s had Bernie Sanders on, Elon Musk smoked weed on his show etc.
Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024
And endorsed a fascist don’t forget that.
Show threadSarmythNov 20, 2024

He’s didnt endorse him til the last minute. In fact he refused to, to Trump’s face multiple times.

Harris was given many opportunities to come on the show but refused to do so under the same conditions her opponent did. Her team wanted to change the circumstances of the show too much and wouldn’t come to him. Trump completely disregarded a preexisting obligation to go on his show.

If it were my show, I know who I would like better, putting politics aside. I feel like the Rogan episodes I’ve seen haven’t really shown him to be conservative, but he platforms alot of conservatives which can be construed with him being conservative himself.

I think it’s funny that anyone who actually talks about the show like they’ve heard a bunch of episodes gets downvoted while people just saying he’s bad get up voted. It’s more Lemmy echo chamber, in action.

Show threadtheprogressivist Nov 20, 2024
Except he still endorsed him. The mental gymnastics you guys are pulling is seriously pathetic.
Show threadSarmythNov 20, 2024

What gymnastics? What message do you believe is being conveyed here?

People aren’t all black and white. The more people try to demonize these guys and their viewers, the more credence is given to them when they say their detractors are out of touch or lying. When we make obviously disprovable things up about the right wingers, it destroys all credibility. There’s real shit going on, and we need to stick to that.

At this point, the race is over. We need to learn from our mistakes, not double down on failed messaging.

Show threadNoneOfUrBusinessNov 20, 2024

Her team wanted to change the circumstances of the show too much and wouldn't come to him.

Can you explain this in more detail (or link something that talks about it)?

Show threadSarmythNov 21, 2024

[newsweek.com/joe-rogan-kamala-harris-interview-co…](Newsweek Article)

I also saw the clip on YouTube where he talked about it.

It’s pretty broadly discussed online at this point. Pick your favorite search engine for additional articles on the matter.

Joe Rogan refuses Kamala Harris' conditions for podcast interview

The comedian said he wants to interview the vice president, but that he won't agree to her campaign's conditions.

Newsweek
Show threadxenspideyNov 20, 2024
And also Bernie Sanders
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
Literally every topic you could think of
Show threadNoel_SkumNov 20, 2024
Welcome to .world where everything is black or white and there are only two opinions - one of which is wrong. I’m not sure they (well, some of them) can even spell nuance.
Show threadTechAnonNov 21, 2024

His show used to be great and he used to be middle of the road. Guests were fantastic: Graham Hancock, Rhonda Patrick, Duncan Trussel, - I learned a lot and it caused me to look into things I would have never dreamt of.

Then as the Spotify deal came closer, there was a shift in the show. Less middle of the road, less interesting guests. COVID happened and made things even worse to the point where I stopped watching. That used to be my favorite podcast.

Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 21, 2024
Thanks for a real response. I agree that the show did used to be better like when he used to have Rob Zombie and the like on. Seemed like for a bit he was becoming more moderate again until right before the election.
Show threadWeirdGoesProNov 20, 2024

I find this frustrating. Yes, many of those podcasters are conservative and have participated in spreading misinformation, but there is a huge difference between a private cable news company that is designed to manipulate the electorate, and a bunch of loosely connected yahoos on YouTube who share similar opinions.

Trump gained ground with nearly every demographic out there. They weren’t all watching Kill Tony. Working class people, comedians who rely on unrestricted speech, and a whole lot of other demographics have legitimate grievances that the Democrats have either ignored or shamed them for. They either need to lean how to address these people’s needs, or they will continue to suffer the consequences.

And when you aren’t trying to form a political opinion about it, Kill Tony is actually a pretty funny show. That is why it is the number one comedy podcast, not because of Tony’s political opinions.

Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024

We are being downvoted for this but it’s funny to me that they are calling him Fox News for young people. The show really isn’t all that political. Instead of whining about Rogan, democrats need someone who occupies a similar space as Rogan that young people want to watch.

When I was younger we had Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Times have changed and right leaning comedians are edging out left leaning comedy, for whatever reason. Maybe the left is too PC? I don’t know.

Show threadWeirdGoesProNov 20, 2024

In my opinion, the heavy policing of language during the 2010’s made the Democratic Party a hostile environment for improvisational artists. The whole style of their art is to make an omelette on the fly while definitely breaking a few eggs along the way. It is fundamentally necessary for them to be able to make a mistake and move on, and that is something that the “cancel culture” was progressively trying to deny.

It has gotten a little better, but this latest round of blaming comedians and podcasters for Trump isn’t going to help. The Democratic Party needs to realize that when they point the finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at them.

Show threadOptionalNov 20, 2024

The whole style of their art is to make an omelette on the fly while definitely breaking a few eggs along the way. It is fundamentally necessary for them to be able to make a mistake and move on, and that is something that the “cancel culture” was progressively trying to deny.

Is this cancel culture in the room with us now?

Show threadWeirdGoesProNov 20, 2024
No, but it sure was in the room when a lot of people got fired.
Show threadryathalNov 20, 2024
A lot of Democrat spaces have been in purity spirals for closing in on a decade. It’s not enough to just be pro choice anymore, you have to support free home delivery of abortion meds via text message, elective abortion into the third trimester…
Show threadblackbelt352Nov 20, 2024

you have to support free home delivery of abortion meds via text message, elective abortion into the third trimester…

Where in any Democrat aligned policy us this the case? The only people getting late term abortions are people who’ve had something catastrophic happen during their pregnancy. No person is going through 6+ months of all the challenges and difficulties associated with pregnancy just to decide they don’t want a baby at the very end.

Don’t just parrot what you hear off of Fox News or Breitbart or Daily Wire, look shit up and verify what they’re saying is true.

Show threadryathalNov 20, 2024
Top line policy and allowed opinions in various groups are different. I don’t think you understand a purity spiral, it’s not realistic or logical, it’s about signalling increasingly extreme adherence to a belief. Whether that is third trimester abortion, or anyone not worshiping X god in exactly the right way or you burn in hell, it’s the same root problem.
Show threadblackbelt352Nov 20, 2024
Got a source on those policy positions to back that up? Any politicians that explicitly are running on encouraging 3rd trimester abortions?
Show threadblackbelt352Nov 20, 2024

The problem is that Rogan is the beginning of algorithmic rabbit holes that relatively quickly draw people into further right-wing political commentary, pundits like Ben Shapiro or Matt Walsh or Tim Pool start popping up more and more on recommended pages, for whatever criteria the almighty algorithm had decided Joe Rogan and right-wing pundits have in common.

He might not seem very political, but he has politically engaged figures on his show quite often.

Even on my own YouTube, I actively curate the recommendations and channels that get suggested to me and tend to cut out the extreme right wing and I still get suggestions for anti-woke conservative videos.

Rogan is an inflection point that leads many people to right wingers.

Show threadtempestNov 20, 2024
People often think propaganda is done by hiding something or lying. More often they don’t need to do either of those things. Once you have a pulpit it’s more about who you choose to elevate and amplify.
Show threadOptionalNov 20, 2024

Even on my own YouTube, I actively curate the recommendations and channels that get suggested to me and tend to cut out the extreme right wing and I still get suggestions for anti-woke conservative videos.

For reasons I cannot explain sufficiently, YouTube seem to be in full we-have-no-ideas panic mode and spitting out lots of right wing crap regardless of what your algorithms used to be.

Show threadvaultdweller013Nov 21, 2024
I keep getting youtube videos from folks with a thousand subscribers max, I think youtube just kinda imploded somewhat.
Show threadTonNov 21, 2024

The best thing one can do on YouTube (alas, I’m a Premium subscriber I must admit), is TURNING OFF VIEWING HISTORY.

I cannot emphasise this enough, please show your parents, your children or cousins on how to turn it off. It makes your viewing experience so much better.

Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024

Those other guys you mentioned are certified douchebags. Joe Rogan is way more moderate than those clowns.

If Tim pool appeals to young people, then we have to ask ourselves why. It’s not because they may like Joe Rogan. I have a maga buddy who is a huge pool fan but doesn’t like Rogan

Show threadblackbelt352Nov 20, 2024
Congratulations you’ve pointed out the obvious they’re douchebags who lean further right than rogan, it doesn’t change the fact that algorithms have linked Rogan with these douchebags.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
No need to act like you’re better than me for whatever reason. It sounds like you’re blaming Rogan instead of the algorithms. If that’s not good enough then shout at the sky because hacks like Tim Pool exist. You all are going out of your way to blame something else that isn’t even the problem to begin with.
Show threadblackbelt352Nov 20, 2024
You need to work on your reading comprehension. I am primarily pinning it on the algorithm but I’m also pointing out that Rogan’s podcast is leading people to right-wing commentators, partly because of the guests he has on and partly because the algorithms push people in that direction.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024

He has plenty of left wing guests on. I have no idea what the situation is with algorithms because I don’t get any right wing nonsense in my feed despite watching Rogan from time to time.

I will say that I checked my ChatGPT and it thinks I’m a right winger because I’m always fact checking my maga friend. What I’m saying is that if people are like me and have right wing friends they argue with, they may get flagged as right wing just from checking their links.

Show threadShigglesNov 20, 2024
I’m sure I trust someone with the username “ThirdWorldOrder” telling me Joe Rogan isn’t al that political. It’s just a joke, bro!
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
I’ve had this username since StarCraft 1… so a long time ago. What does ThirdWorldOrder mean to you? lol
Show threadOptionalNov 20, 2024

democrats need someone who occupies a similar space as Rogan that young people want to watch.

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it another hundred times but that.cannot.happen. It’s not possible. It’s like saying “democrats should fight an armed conflict with water balloons and paste” - it is not a possible thing to do.

There are some really interesting reasons why that is, but the TL;DR of it is right-wing conservative bullshit does not translate. So what we’d get is a left-wing liberal papier-mâché version that wore thin quickly.

All I’m saying is don’t bother going down this road. It’ll eat up lots of time and have no results that will help. The answer to Fox News Limbaugh Rogan Chudville Station is not the opposite sameness. It’s entirely different media.

Show threadblackbelt352Nov 20, 2024
Don’t fight against them, expose the sources of funding they get and go after the money. Almost immediately after Tenet was found out to be a Russian front paying for and delivering talking points to Podcaster like Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, etc and was shut down. All these shows suddenly started dropping what they could do because they lost a significant source of funding and content.
Show threadThirdWorldOrderNov 20, 2024
Well, good luck finding something that appeals to young men then.