Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized Democrats for their attitude toward Joe Rogan and other podcast hosts in Sunday comments.
Sanders joined CNN’s “State of the Union,” where he was asked by host Dana Bash about the blowback he received years ago after appearing on Rogan’s podcast and receiving his endorsement.
“Yeah, I think that’s fair enough. Look, you’re going to have an argument with Rogan, agree with him, disagree with him. But, what’s the problem with going on those shows? It’s hard for me to understand that,” Sanders said.
Rogan endorsed President-elect Trump just a day before Election Day. Trump sat for an interview with Rogan late last month, and the two talked for nearly three hours. Trump ally Elon Musk also appeared on the show ahead of the election.
Vice President Harris’s campaign did not pass on an interview with Rogan but said she would not come to his Texas-based studio. Rogan said he would have had to travel to her, and that they would only be able to sit for an hour time slot, so the interview didn’t happen. Harris was criticized for not appearing on his show.
After the brutal election loss, Democrats are left pointing fingers and trying to figure out where they went wrong. Some say not doing the Rogan interview was a missed opportunity for Harris to reach a younger, male demographic.
Sanders argued Sunday that more candidates need to be reaching the “millions and millions of viewers” that watch alternative media.
In January 2020, Rogan said he would vote for Sanders in the Democratic primary.
The Vermont senator noted that he received backlash from the Democratic establishment when he sat for an interview with Rogan during the primary.
“I don’t see a problem in doing that,” Sanders said Sunday.
