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Television host Jon Stewart says ‘overreaction’ to Joe Rogan’s podcast is a ‘mistake’

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Television host Jon Stewart spoke out against the controversy over Joe Rogan’s podcast and the current debate over whether Spotify should remove Rogan from its platform for spreading misinformation, saying the ‘overreaction’ to Rogan’s podcasts is a ‘mistake.’

On the latest episode of his own podcast, “The Problem With Jon Stewart,” the comedian and political commentator defended Rogan, saying, Rogan is “an ideologue in any way” and that he is willing to be corrected when he is wrong.

“There’s no question that there is egregious misinformation that’s purposeful and hateful, and that being moderated is a credit to the platforms that run them,” Stewart said. “But this overreaction to Rogan, I think, is a mistake.”

Stewart went on to say much of the public reaction to the Rogan/Spotify debacle is “overblown rhetoric” and that Rogan is not actually as controversial as he has been made out to be during this news cycle.

To illustrate his point, Stewart referred to an episode of Rogan’s podcast during which fellow broadcaster Josh Zepps corrected Rogan on claims that the COVID-19 vaccine increases the risk of myocarditis among teens. Rogan publicly admitted he was incorrect and that Zepps had made him ‘look dumb’ on the topic. 

Stewart encouraged the public not to boycott, but rather to listen and engage with one another. “Don’t leave. Don’t abandon. Don’t censor. Engage,” he said. He went on to warn listeners that the real culprit in the spread of dangerous misinformation is algorithms that lead users directly to it.

“Misinformation will always be out there, but if the algorithm drives people further and further down the rabbit hole, the algorithm is the amplifier and the catalyst of extremism,” he said.

ARTICLE: LAURA SPIVAK

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: BILLBOARD.COM

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Laura Spivak

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

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