Gavin Newsom Challenges Joe Rogan: "Too Chicken" for a Debate?
“You’ve been taking cheap shots for years... you’re relegated to irrelevancy.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) escalated his feud with podcaster Joe Rogan on social media, posting that Rogan is “TOO CHICKEN” to have him on the “Joe Rogan Experience” show. Newsom employed an all-caps style reminiscent of former President Donald Trump.
The Spark: A Resurfaced Clip
Newsom’s remarks were triggered by a resurfaced clip from an August 2023 episode of Rogan’s podcast. In the clip, Rogan criticized Newsom’s COVID-19 policies and called him “a fucking con man” and “a cardboard cutout of a person.”
Newsom’s Response
In his post, Newsom doubled down on his willingness to appear on the show. He stated that Rogan takes “cheap shots” and is “relegated to irrelevancy,” reiterating that he is ready to sit down for a conversation.
“I’m ready to go on the show. He knows it. He just doesn’t want the smoke.”
Separately, during a 2025 appearance on the “Higher Learning” podcast, Newsom claimed that Rogan has attacked him for years without ever extending an invitation to appear on the show.
Background and Context
The COVID-19 Controversy
- Newsom’s Misstep: In late 2020, during a spike in COVID-19 cases, Newsom attended a friend's birthday dinner in San Francisco. He initially described the event as outdoors before photos revealed he was maskless at an indoor table. He later apologized.
- Rogan’s Exit: Rogan left California for Texas in 2020, citing what he called “draconian” vaccine mandates.
Rogan’s Vaccine Criticism
Rogan faced significant backlash in 2022 for remarks about the COVID-19 vaccine. The controversy prompted Spotify to add content advisories to episodes of his podcast discussing the virus.
2028 Presidential Rumors
Newsom is widely rumored to be planning a presidential run in 2028, though he has not formally launched a campaign. This high-profile exchange with Rogan is seen by some as a potential preview of his national media strategy.