Joe Rogan discusses the release of Brittney Griner instead of former US Marine Paul Whelan in exchange with Russia

Joe Rogan discusses a wide variety of topics with guests on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE). The UFC commentator shared his thoughts on Brittney Griner's release after spending nearly ten months in Russian custody.

Speaking to guest Steve Rinella during episode #1912, Rogan stated:

"It turned out that they offered one or the other. They offered either Paul Whelan, who is the Marine, or the women's basketball player... Supposedly, it was a one versus one, you could pick which one, and, in Russia, there's this political show, sort of like a Fox News type show... where they're just completely mocking."

Rogan added:

"Meanwhile, in Russia, top state propagandists reveal the narrative they'll be pushing to harm Biden and exchange Americans about the exchange of Brittney Griner for Viktor Bout by falsely claiming that it wasn't Russia's decision to oppose Whelan's release as opposed to Griner, so it's hard to say. This person who's saying this is saying that it was Russia's decision to oppose Whelan's release, who they think was spying."

Following Griner's release, there have been conflicting reports pertaining to Whelan. While some have claimed that America made a choice between the two, others have claimed that the United States attempted a two-for-one and two-for-two swap, only to be rejected. The family of the former United States Marine shared their support for Griner's release, noting that the two cases were not intertwined.

Watch Joe Rogan discuss Brittney Griner's release from a Russian penal colony below (starting at the 1:33 mark):

Check out the full episode below:

Joe Rogan previously discussed Brittney Griner's imprisonment with Sean O'Malley

Prior to her release from Russian custody, Joe Rogan expressed disdain for Brittney Griner's detainment. Speaking with No.1-ranked bantamweight Sean O'Malley on episode #133 of The Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show, the UFC commentator stated:

"What they're doing now to Brittney Griner is f**king insane. They moved her to a penal colony. It's like slave labor. You're in a labor camp. Penal colony, like where? Where is this thing? They'll f**king literally move you to Siberia, and you live in prison in Siberia... For a vape pen... That's straight insanity."

Griner spent the final few weeks of her detainment at the IK-2 penal colony in Mordovia. She was released on December 8 after spending nearly ten months in Russian custody.

Watch Rogan and O'Malley discuss the treatment of Brittney Griner below (starting at the 0:50 mark):

Check out the full episode below: