Kim Williams, chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), didn’t hold back in his sharp critique of podcast titan Joe Rogan during an address to the Australian National Press Club.
As Fox News reported, on Tuesday, Williams accused Rogan of exploiting public fears and fostering societal anxiety through his wildly popular platform, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
While acknowledging that he isn’t a listener of Rogan’s show — a revelation that drew laughter from the audience — Williams didn’t hesitate to express his disdain.
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“I think people like Mr. Rogan prey on people’s vulnerabilities,” he asserted. “They prey on fear. They prey on anxiety. They prey on all of the elements that contribute to uncertainty in society.”
Williams also criticized Rogan’s promotion of what he called “entrepreneur fantasy outcomes and conspiracy outcomes” as part of an emerging social narrative.
His tone grew sharper as he added, “I personally find it deeply repulsive, and to think that someone has such remarkable power in the United States is something that I look at in disbelief.”
Accusing Rogan and others of using their platforms for “treating the public as a plunder for purposes that are really quite malevolent.”
Williams seemed perplexed that such figures are embraced as sources of entertainment in America.
His critique quickly made waves online, prompting Rogan to react with a short but cutting response on X (formerly Twitter): “LOL WUT.”
LOL WUT https://t.co/xXJ9DlYr55
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 27, 2024
Rogan, known for his willingness to explore controversial topics, has been a thorn in the side of liberal pundits for years. Following President-elect Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, Democrats began acknowledging the massive influence of independent podcasters like Rogan.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision to sidestep a Rogan interview during her presidential run was widely criticized as a missed opportunity to connect with his broad audience.
Despite Rogan’s occasional liberal-leaning views, including support for Senator Bernie Sanders in 2020, the podcaster stunned the political establishment by endorsing Trump in 2024.
Critics on the left have since accused Rogan of spreading “misinformation” and influencing the election outcome in Trump’s favor.
Rogan addressed these grievances during his podcast this week, dismissing calls for Democrats to develop a “left-wing Joe Rogan” as wishful thinking.
Reflecting on Harris’s media strategy, he quipped, “I think these ‘Call Her Daddy’ shows and all these different shows that she went on — I mean, I’m sure they had an impact, but I think that in the future… they’re scrambling to try to create their own version of this show.”
He added with a mix of sarcasm and incredulity, “This is one thing that keeps coming up like, ‘We need our own Joe Rogan,’ right? But they had me, I was on their side!”
🚨JOE ROGAN: “The left keeps saying they want to create their own Joe Rogan. But they had me. I was on their side.” pic.twitter.com/pXLJFg9t3D
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) November 26, 2024
Rogan’s ability to hold influence over millions of Americans continues to frustrate liberal elites, and Williams’ remarks are just the latest chapter in the ongoing debate over independent media’s role in modern politics.
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