"They got cocky" - Joe Rogan compares Democrats to UFC 1 fighters, slams complacency in today's political landscape

On episode #2225 of The Joe Rogan Experience, the popular podcaster hosted comedian and political commentator Dave Smith. During the pair's conversation, Rogan aimed criticism at the Democratic Party, which has historically dominated the American political sphere alongside the Republican Party.

However, the Democrats suffered a crushing loss in the 2024 United States presidential elections. Former president Donald Trump won the elections against the Democrats' nominee, Kamala Harris. This, among other reasons, led to Rogan labeling the Democrats as arrogant and lazy.

"They had full, complete control of the narrative because they own the media, and they've owned the media for so long. They had the run of the roost for so long that they got cocky, and they didn't pay attention to the game as it was evolving. They're like a UFC 1 fighter that takes time out of the gym, steps into 2024 and tries to compete against the guys of today. You missed the game. The game is way passed where you were."

Check out Joe Rogan's criticism of the Democratic Party (56:02):

This isn't the first time that Rogan has criticized the Democratic Party. In the past, he frequently criticized Joe Biden as president, often citing his age and cognitive function as causes for concern. He has been far more receptive of Republican politics as of late.

He did, however, express his willingness to host Harris on his podcast amid reports that she was interested in making an appearance. Unfortunately, her rumored terms for said appearance, including a one-hour conversation instead of the usual three, were non-negotiable from Rogan's view.

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Joe Rogan previously praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a sensible option

In terms of his political views, Joe Rogan felt that former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a sensible choice. He praised him to such an extent that it drew Donald Trump's ire, and led to the UFC commentator's Republican fanbase turning on him briefly.

While he claimed his praise for Kennedy was not an official endorsement, he did not back down from praising him again on episode #2220 of the JRE podcast.

"I said that RFK Jr. was the only guy that makes sense, but I was essentially saying it the same way I'm saying it here. With RFK Jr., he talks about facts and he talks about reality, and he talks about issues and he talks about studies and what we know about things. He's just brilliant with his recall, and he doesn't attack people and I think we could all use more of that."

Check out Joe Rogan praising Robert F. Kennedy Jr. again (22:50):

Ultimately, however, Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race.