After months of sharply criticizing President Donald Trump’s actions, decisions and rhetoric, the left-leaning MeidasTouch Podcast overtook the Joe Rogan Experience for the first time last week, according to YouTube’s weekly ranking of top podcast shows.

While Rogan’s 20.1 million YouTube followers dwarf MeidasTouch’s 5.2 million, the podcasting giant’s show finished in second place. Progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen and conservative-leaning Sean Ryan’s shows also made the top ten.

The MeidasTouch Podcast saw its rankings climb in July as Trump attempted to appease Congress, the media, and voters over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, with episodes zeroing in on the president’s past ties to and comments about the disgraced financier.

  • F_OFF_Reddit@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I have no fucking idea why people watch Rogan, he’s not particularly well versed in anything other than martial arts, he’s not brilliant or even well spoken or educated by any stretch of the imagination… it feels to me as if he became popular because the average idiot finds this interesting but in reality he’s just talking about nonsensical themes with some guests that, surprisingly, are quite well educated themselves.

    I’ll always remember this man as the crazed idiot who screamed bloody murder at a zoologist because her findings, research and experience contradicted what he wanted to showcase so at that moment he truly showed who he was.

    • Mister Neon@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      he’s not brilliant or even well spoken or educated by any stretch of the imagination

      That’s the point. He’s the average American idiot. I grew up with legions of these guys. He got people to eat bugs in the 2000s for insane ratings.

      The masses are garbage people.

      • criss_cross@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I don’t think there’s anything wrong with listening to people that aren’t smart for podcasts. I listen a lot to sports podcasts that are just 2 people shooting the shit about random things.

        Now it IS a problem if you base your political identity and take voting advice from them yes. Joe Rogan should not be someone ever reported on by CNN.

        But saying that every podcaster has to have a PHD is a bit heavy handed.

    • Carvex@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      He’s like a friend’s older brother who isn’t educated but tells coolbro stories and conspiracies with no backing. It’s edgy and cool if you’re 14 with no life experience, but besides that it’s just noise which helped Yamtits get elected.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      People also like McDonald’s and coca cola … even when they have runaway diabetes.

      The popularity of something or someone is just a barometer of the general intelligence of a population … and judging by what’s happening in the US, it’s a very low level indeed.

    • TJDetweiler@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      Rogan used to have great stuff on his show pre-covid, especially MMA talks. He even had a great episode with Michael Osterholm at the beginning of the pandemic.

      Shortly after that, he 180’d on his vaccine stance, and moved from Cali to Texas. Since then, he’s been a total conservative pundit.

      I’ve long since kicked Rogan from anything I listen to, but there was a time where he was entertaining, and did have great guests. Some of his “talking nonsense” was kind of what made his show fun, when it was harmless. Now he spreads misinformation and perpetuates brainrot in young men.

      • cuerdo@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I am in the same boat.

        Joe Rogan was a good interviewer, he is humble and unassuming and gives enough space to the guest to share. If you are into the guest, then you will enjoy it, I really enjoyed his interview on Tarantino and a few others.

        It is also nice when he interviews comedians, since you can see the camaraderie and some of them are really funny, like Chapelle, Burr or CK. It is very interesting to listen to them if they are given space.

        I stopped to listen when it became obvious that he is monetizing or capitalizing all the audience he has gained over the years. He is not a neutral commentator, he is a pundit with an agenda and he is making bank on it. That has degraded the image I had of him to the image I have of people as O’Reilly or the Bow-Tie guy.

        It is a shame but I will not listen to anything from his show on principle.