Newsom Press Office Challenges Rogan to Podcast

California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office issued a sharp challenge to podcaster Joe Rogan on X, formerly Twitter, on May 1, 2026, accusing him of avoiding an invitation to his popular show. The post, written in all-capital letters and signed "Governor GCN," read: "JOE LITTLE GUY ROGAN IS TOO CHICKEN TO HAVE ME ON HIS FAILING PODCAST BECAUSE HE KNOW ID CRUSH HIM, SO HE TAKES CHEAP SHOTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY AS HE GETS RELEGATED TO IRRELEVANCY. ALL TALK, NO ACTION. IM READY WHEN YOU ARE, LITTLE GUY. OR KEEP HIDING!!!!"

The statement responded to a resurfaced clip from a 2023 episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," in which Rogan, speaking with guest Patrick Bet-David, criticized Newsom's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his potential presidential ambitions. "Nobody wants President Newsom either. Nobody believes in that guy. That guy's a f***ing con man," Rogan said. He cited Newsom's support for vaccine mandates for children, which he called unnecessary, and an incident in which the governor was photographed without a mask at a dinner event while such rules were in place statewide. Rogan described Newsom as a "stone-cold, narrative-driven politician" and a...