JP's OPINION: No - we don't need a "Joe Rogan for the left"
Please read a book
OK—maybe I came out of the gates a little strong. I’m sure many of you have read all types of books. But what’s important to note is the last thing we need the Democratic Party to be doing is looking for a “Joe Rogan for the left.”
That CTE and testosterone-fueled golem succeeds for fairly obvious reasons: he seems open-minded yet skeptical, he doesn’t push an agenda super hard, he could actually beat someone to death, and he really loves DMT. Truly. He also bleeds a genuineness the likes of which Democrats couldn’t get with a million TikToks showing Kamala making collard greens in her bathtub.
Ever since the election season, Joe Rogan has been promoted from online kook and personality to full-fledged “kingmaker,” with liberals claiming that in order for “us” to have a fighting chance, we need a content creator and media personality like him. This is mainly because of his incredibly large reach and his (projected) demographics of 18-45ish year old men.
But that’s messed up for a few reasons.
First and foremost, Joe Rogan is an idiot. Now, I’m also an idiot, so I can say that. But he is an incurious and almost entirely unchallenging interviewer. This a large part of his charm. Whether he has on Bernie Sanders or Alex Jones, he agrees with, and encourages, his guests in whatever they could possibly have to say.
Second, he doesn’t go into interviews with a thought-out agenda. Now, don’t get me wrong, Rogaine has had to backpedal antivax comments, has continuously spouted anti-trans rhetoric, and conspicuously keeps close ties with many right-wing psychopaths—including the newly elected head of the Republican Party. But he doesn’t (usually) jump all over someone he disagrees with.
Much of the animus towards the left from median-voter America—in my humble opinion—comes from the fact that many of our people come off as nit-picking, overly anal, debate lords. Maybe I’m just consuming the wrong media, but we don’t have too many people who package the talking points as simply and commonly as they can be. Rogan does this, and it clearly resonates with his demographic.
Third and last, it’s easier to do what I just said—be lowkey and chill and a cool guy—because the people who do this on the right rarely have skin in the game, at least not in the same way we do. It’s much easier for Trump, Elno, Jordan Peeterson, and the like to sit there and wax poetic about taking away healthcare for women, revoking civil rights for trans people, and being able to say slurs, because their lives will largely remain unchanged whether the issues go one way or the other.
And that fact—it’s argued—makes them more reasonable. Because . . . Star Wars told us our emotions cloud judgment? Maybe?
What appeals to listeners and viewers is plain speech, honesty, and humor.
What Democrats actually need—and what’s worked in the past—is plain-spoken and simple policy that everyone wants. Higher wages, the rich paying their fair share, healthcare, a good education, the freedom to choose what’s right for your body. For fuck’s sake (Or fuck sake depending on your regional accent), Democrat Andy Beshear has been serving as governor for five years in Kentucky by smacking down Republican freaks who tried to shame him for his stance on trans rights and pictures with drag queens.
But as usual, Democrats look at gold-plated shit and decide they need the shit.
Do we need more progressive content creators with an easy-going style, an approachable demeanor, and who speak with a genuine and plain honesty? Yes. But that isn’t the same as a “Joe Rogan for the left,” and the difference is important.
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