California Gov. Gavin Newsom has reignited his long-running feud with podcast giant Joe Rogan, accusing the host of refusing to invite him onto The Joe Rogan Experience because he does not want to face him directly.
Newsom made the explosive remarks during a recent conversation with YouTuber Shelby Church. The discussion turned to the growing political influence of podcasts and whether Newsom would appear on major shows such as Rogan’s podcast and Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy.
Instead of offering a diplomatic response, Newsom took aim at Rogan.
The California governor described Rogan as a “bull**** artist” in political terms and argued that the podcast host has repeatedly criticized him without giving him an opportunity to respond directly.
Newsom’s comments add another chapter to a feud that has been developing for years. Rogan has repeatedly attacked Newsom’s record in California, while Newsom has repeatedly challenged Rogan to have him on the podcast.
The dispute is especially notable because Rogan has become one of the most influential voices in American political media.
What Did Gavin Newsom Say About Joe Rogan?
Newsom’s latest comments came after Shelby Church asked him about appearing on major podcasts.
Church referenced the role podcasts played during the 2024 presidential campaign. Former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Call Her Daddy, while Donald Trump appeared on Rogan’s program shortly before the election.
When Rogan’s name came up, Newsom immediately pushed back.
He argued that Rogan has spent years criticizing him while refusing to have him on the program.
Newsom said he has made an effort to engage with people who disagree with him politically. He pointed to conversations with Fox News host Sean Hannity and the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as examples of his willingness to enter unfriendly media environments.
But Newsom said Rogan has not shown the same willingness.
According to Newsom, Rogan does not want to confront him over the claims he makes about California and its leadership.
Newsom went further, describing Rogan as a “bull**** artist” when it comes to politics.
He also said that after roughly two years of Rogan criticizing him, he is no longer particularly interested in appearing on the podcast.
Why Does Newsom Want to Appear on Rogan’s Podcast?
The dispute is about more than a simple interview invitation.
The Joe Rogan Experience has become a major platform for political conversations, particularly among younger audiences and voters who consume less traditional television news.
Rogan’s audience is also politically diverse. Although he endorsed Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election, Rogan has criticized Trump on several issues since the election.
That makes Rogan an unusual political media figure.
Newsom appears to believe that appearing on the program would give him an opportunity to speak directly to an audience that may not regularly watch Democratic politicians on mainstream television.
The governor has increasingly used nontraditional media to build a national profile. His willingness to appear on podcasts and engage with conservative commentators is part of a broader strategy to reach voters outside traditional Democratic media circles.
For Newsom, Rogan represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
If he appeared on the podcast, Newsom could directly respond to Rogan’s criticism. At the same time, the format could expose Newsom to difficult questions about California’s economy, homelessness, housing costs, crime, COVID-era policies and his political ambitions.
That tension helps explain why the dispute has continued.
Rogan Has Repeatedly Criticized Newsom
The feud did not begin with Newsom’s latest remarks.
Rogan has criticized Newsom for years, particularly over California’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and broader issues facing the state.
In previous podcast discussions, Rogan has questioned Newsom’s leadership and argued that California has struggled with major problems despite its enormous economic resources.
Rogan has also criticized Newsom’s political ambitions.
In one previously reported episode, Rogan questioned the idea of Newsom seeking the presidency after governing California.
The criticism was blunt. Rogan argued that a politician should not be able to oversee problems in one state and then promise to fix the country after moving into the White House.
The podcaster has also questioned Newsom’s authenticity.
That criticism became especially heated in April 2026, when Rogan described Newsom as a “cardboard cutout of a person.”
Rogan argued that Newsom appears highly scripted and political rather than authentic.
That comment prompted an angry response from Newsom’s press office.
Newsom Fires Back With an All-Caps Attack
Newsom’s response in April showed just how personal the feud had become.
His press office posted an aggressive, all-caps message accusing Rogan of being “too chicken” to invite Newsom onto his podcast.
The message claimed Newsom would defeat Rogan in a direct conversation and accused the podcaster of taking “cheap shots” from outside the arena.
Newsom also mocked Rogan as “Little Guy” and challenged him to have him on the program.
The response deliberately echoed the confrontational social-media style associated with Donald Trump.
The episode demonstrated that the Newsom-Rogan dispute is no longer simply a disagreement about California policy. It has become a broader clash over political credibility, media influence and authenticity.
Rogan’s “Cardboard Cutout” Attack
Rogan’s criticism of Newsom’s personality is important because it goes beyond individual policies.
He has argued that Newsom represents a type of modern politician who is heavily managed and carefully presented.
Rogan contrasted Newsom with politicians he considers more spontaneous or authentic.
That criticism is particularly damaging in an era when voters increasingly consume political content through podcasts, livestreams and social media.
Traditional political interviews often follow predictable formats. Long-form podcasts are different.
A three-hour conversation can expose a politician’s personality, preparation and ability to respond to unexpected questions.
For Newsom, an appearance on Rogan’s podcast could therefore be both an opportunity and a major political risk.
Newsom Says He Has Already Tried Reaching Across the Political Divide
One of Newsom’s central arguments is that he is willing to speak with people who disagree with him.
He has highlighted his conversations with conservative personalities as evidence that he does not avoid hostile audiences.
That argument is important because Newsom has increasingly positioned himself as a national Democratic figure.
His second term as California governor ends in 2026, and he has been widely discussed as a potential Democratic presidential contender for 2028.
Recent reporting has highlighted his growing national profile and political positioning.
Newsom has also said he would not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris enters the race, describing a contest between the two California Democrats as potentially destructive for both.
Against that backdrop, reaching audiences outside the traditional Democratic media ecosystem could be politically valuable.
The Podcast Snub Has Become a Political Story
The phrase “podcast snub” may sound relatively minor, but the dispute reflects a much bigger transformation in American politics.
Podcasts have become major political platforms.
Candidates can bypass traditional television networks and speak directly to millions of listeners.
The 2024 presidential election highlighted this shift. Trump appeared on Rogan’s podcast, while Harris appeared on Call Her Daddy.
Those appearances demonstrated how political campaigns increasingly view podcasts as essential campaign platforms.
For Newsom, appearing on Rogan’s show would potentially provide access to a large audience that may be skeptical of Democratic politicians.
It would also allow him to answer some of Rogan’s accusations directly.
However, Rogan controls the format.
That means Newsom could not expect a traditional friendly interview.
Why Rogan May Not Want Newsom on the Show
Newsom argues that Rogan is avoiding him because he does not want to be confronted.
Rogan has offered a different explanation in the past.
According to reporting from the San Francisco Chronicle, Rogan previously suggested that Newsom’s social-media strategy and combative style made him less interested in hosting the governor.
Rogan reportedly indicated that he might have been open to having Newsom on the show previously but became less interested after Newsom’s public attacks.
That distinction matters.
Newsom sees the absence of an invitation as evidence that Rogan is afraid of a direct confrontation.
Rogan’s position, by contrast, has been that Newsom’s approach has made an interview less appealing.
Neither side appears eager to concede ground.
Newsom and Rogan Represent Two Very Different Media Styles
The feud also highlights the differences between the two men.
Newsom is a career politician who has served as San Francisco mayor and California governor.
Rogan is an entertainer, comedian, UFC commentator and podcast host whose political influence comes primarily from his independent media platform.
Their communication styles are also dramatically different.
Newsom frequently uses political messaging, rapid responses and social-media attacks.
Rogan’s podcast is built around long conversations, informal discussion and unscripted exchanges.
That difference makes a potential interview particularly intriguing.
A Newsom-Rogan conversation could easily become one of the most closely watched political podcast episodes.
Could Gavin Newsom Still Appear on Joe Rogan’s Podcast?
Despite the latest comments, the door may not be completely closed.
Newsom has repeatedly said he is willing to appear.
That means the next move could ultimately come from Rogan.
The governor’s latest comments suggest, however, that his patience has diminished.
Newsom said that after years of Rogan criticizing him, he is no longer particularly interested in pursuing the appearance.
That creates an unusual situation.
Both sides have publicly challenged each other, yet no interview has occurred.
The longer that continues, the more the dispute itself becomes a political story.
What Would Happen if Newsom and Rogan Finally Sat Down?
A Newsom-Rogan interview would likely attract enormous attention.
Several subjects would dominate the conversation.
California’s Homelessness Crisis
Rogan has repeatedly criticized California’s handling of homelessness.
Newsom would likely defend his administration’s policies and point to state investments and reforms.
Housing Costs
California’s housing affordability crisis would almost certainly become another major issue.
Newsom would face questions about housing construction, regulations and the cost of living.
COVID-19 Policies
Rogan has criticized California’s pandemic restrictions and vaccine policies.
Newsom has defended his decisions by arguing that officials were making difficult choices based on the information available at the time.
National Politics
Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential ambitions would almost certainly come up.
Rogan could ask Newsom whether he believes Democrats need to change their approach to win back voters.
Donald Trump
Newsom’s frequent attacks on Trump would also be unavoidable.
Rogan has supported Trump at important moments but has also criticized the president on several issues.
That could create an unusually complicated political conversation.
Why the Newsom-Rogan Feud Matters
The Newsom-Rogan dispute is bigger than two public figures trading insults.
It reflects the growing battle over who controls political conversations in America.
Traditional media organizations once dominated national political interviews.
That has changed.
Podcasters now command huge audiences, and politicians increasingly want access to those platforms.
At the same time, podcasters are not obligated to follow the rules or expectations of traditional political journalism.
They can ask unconventional questions, challenge politicians aggressively and spend hours exploring subjects.
That gives them enormous influence.
Newsom’s frustration with Rogan demonstrates how important that influence has become.
Newsom’s National Ambitions Add Another Layer
Newsom is approaching the end of his time as California governor, but his national political profile is rising.
Recent reporting has described him as a potential 2028 Democratic contender.
That means every media appearance matters.
A successful appearance on Rogan could help Newsom reach voters outside his traditional base.
A difficult interview could also expose weaknesses.
For that reason, the ongoing podcast dispute may be strategically significant for Newsom.
The governor wants to demonstrate that he can communicate directly with skeptical voters.
Rogan’s platform could provide exactly that opportunity.
Final Takeaway
The Gavin Newsom Joe Rogan podcast snub has become one of the more colorful media feuds surrounding the California governor.
Newsom says Rogan has spent years criticizing him without giving him the opportunity to respond directly. His latest comments described Rogan as a “bull**** artist” and accused him of avoiding a confrontation.
Rogan, meanwhile, has repeatedly criticized Newsom’s leadership, political style and authenticity. His previous description of Newsom as a “cardboard cutout” triggered another furious response from the governor’s camp.
For now, there is no indication that the two men are sitting down for a podcast interview.
But if Rogan eventually invites Newsom onto The Joe Rogan Experience, the episode would likely draw enormous attention.
It would also give Newsom exactly what he says he wants: an opportunity to answer Rogan’s criticisms directly.
Until then, the feud continues to play out publicly, with both sides using increasingly aggressive language.
FAQs
Why is Gavin Newsom angry with Joe Rogan?
Newsom is angry that Rogan has repeatedly criticized him while not inviting him onto The Joe Rogan Experience. Newsom argues that Rogan should allow him to respond directly.
What did Gavin Newsom call Joe Rogan?
Newsom recently called Rogan a “bull**** artist” in political terms and accused him of avoiding a direct confrontation.
Has Joe Rogan criticized Gavin Newsom before?
Yes. Rogan has repeatedly criticized Newsom over California policy, COVID-era decisions, homelessness, the state’s broader problems and Newsom’s political style.
Has Gavin Newsom appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast?
No. Newsom has publicly expressed interest in appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience, but Rogan has not hosted him.
Why would a Newsom-Rogan interview be significant?
Rogan has a huge podcast audience that includes many listeners who may not regularly consume traditional political media. An appearance could give Newsom direct access to that audience.
Did Joe Rogan call Gavin Newsom a “cardboard cutout”?
Yes. Rogan used that description while criticizing Newsom’s authenticity in April 2026. Newsom’s press office responded with an aggressive message challenging Rogan to have the governor on the podcast.
Is Gavin Newsom considering a 2028 presidential campaign?
Newsom is widely discussed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. However, he has said he would not run if Kamala Harris enters the race.
Will Joe Rogan eventually interview Gavin Newsom?
There is no confirmed interview at this time. Newsom says he is willing to appear, but Rogan has not announced an invitation.
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