I like Joe Rogan.
Rogan isn’t the smartest guy in the world − and he knows that. That’s part of why people trust him. He talks like a real person, not a politician or a pundit. You don’t listen to Rogan because he’s always right. You listen because he’s honest in the moment.
I don’t always trust his judgment, but I trust that he’s being real.
That’s exactly why his influence can be risky.
Everything depends on trust
Seeing him alongside Donald Trump wasn’t surprising because of politics − it was surprising because Rogan isn’t a Trump loyalist. He’s more Libertarian, open to new ideas, and willing to question anyone.
At least, that’s how he built his audience.
The issue isn’t that Rogan has access to power. It’s what happens when he gets there. If he starts changing his tone, pulling punches, or accommodating high-level figures in ways he wouldn’t with anyone else, then the thing that made him valuable begins to fade.
If that continues, the trust behind his platform won’t hold.
And if that trust goes, so does everything else.
Thomas Maddox lives in Corryville and is a senior at the University of Cincinnati and a member of the Enquirer Board of Contributors.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Joe Rogan’s downfall be selling out to power? | Opinion
Reporting by Thomas Maddox, Opinion contributor / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
