Douglas Murray Challenges Joe Rogan on Podcast Guest Choices

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2025 — During an intense episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, guest Douglas Murray, a conservative British journalist, confronted the host over his guest selection concerning the Israel and Ukraine conflicts. The episode aired on Thursday and featured a heated exchange lasting approximately 40 minutes.

Murray, a vocal supporter of both Ukraine and Israel, raised questions about Rogan’s penchant for giving a platform to commentators with controversial views. He asked, “Since the war in Ukraine began, and the war in Israel began, you’ve had quite a lot of people who are very against both, in different ways. Do you think you’ve had enough people who are supportive of either war?”

Rogan initially deflected his inquiry, stating, “I don’t know that word, ‘enough,’ if that’s a good word,” which prompted Murray to clarify, “Let’s say enough people who are on the side of Israel instead of wild critics.” Acknowledging the imbalance, Rogan admitted, “Yeah, probably, more tilted towards the idea that perhaps the way they’ve done it is barbaric.”

The conversation escalated as Murray pressed Rogan on the apparent bias in his guest choices. “Why do you think that is just out of interest? I’m just interested in your selection of guests because you’re like the world’s No. 1 podcast,” Murray pointed out. Rogan replied, “I don’t think about it that way. I just think, ‘I’d like to talk to this person.’”

Murray also critiqued Rogan’s decision to host guests who lack expertise in serious historical discussions, specifically questioning Rogan’s choice to bring on Ian Carroll, a guest known for discussing conspiracy theories. Rogan defended his choice, stating he invited Carroll to explore the conspiracy theory industry.

“But do you have any – I mean, there’s been a tilt in the conversation, both conversations, in the last couple of years,” Murray retorted, stressing the issue of non-experts speaking on complex matters. He referenced another guest, comedian Tim Dillon, whose past remarks about Winston Churchill created controversy. “It’s pretty hard to listen to somebody who says, ‘I don’t know what I’m talking about, but now I’m going to talk,’” he added.

In defense of his guests, fellow podcaster Dave Smith suggested that the aim was to provide in-depth explanations rather than quick soundbites. Yet, Murray was unconvinced, asserting, “But if you throw a lot of shit out there, there’s some point at which ‘I’m just raising questions’ is not a valid thing.”

Murray further expressed concern over misinformation, stating, “I feel you’ve opened the door to quite a lot of people who’ve now got a big platform who have been throwing out counter historical stuff of a very dangerous kind.” His remarks highlighted the responsibility that comes with hosting a widely influential platform like Rogan’s.

The podcast segment has drawn attention for its depiction of the ongoing struggle to navigate complex geopolitical issues within mainstream media and entertainment platforms.