Podcaster Joe Rogan has criticized California's leadership, including Governor Gavin Newsom, arguing that the state has ignored significant problems, leading to a decline in its once-dominant film industry. Rogan, speaking with comedian Tim Dillon on his podcast, suggested that Los Angeles is "slowly becoming Detroit."
Rogan contended that the state has "overtaxed and overregulated" its core industries, pushing production to other states and countries. He specifically targeted what he described as an "arrogance" in rhetoric from state leadership, such as Newsom's, which he believes dismisses growing issues like population decline and corporate departures.
"Instead of acknowledging, ‘Yeah we’ve got f—ing real problems. People are moving for the first time ever more than they’re coming here. We’re losing all these giant corporations that are leaving,’" Rogan said, he believes leadership instead relies on positive statistics and unwavering optimism about the state's future. Dillon agreed, noting that many places feel like they are relics of a past era. He recalled an anecdote about Atlantic City, where a casino owner reportedly blamed high population density and social programs for issues like crime and disorder.
Rogan suggested that for Los Angeles to recover, a significant shift in perspective is necessary, stating it must be viewed as a "functioning business" rather than driven by what he called "the empathy industry."
In response to Rogan's comments, an office representing Governor Newsom issued a statement to Fox News Digital that parodied former President Donald Trump, calling Rogan "JOE ‘LITTLE GUY’ ROGAN" and accusing him of making "cheap shots" from the "peanut gallery" while hiding from a potential podcast appearance. The statement asserted, "ALL TALK, NO ACTION. I’M READY WHEN YOU ARE, ‘LITTLE GUY.’ OR KEEP HIDING!!!!"
Rogan, a former California resident, expressed his view that the entertainment industry, once the state's flagship, is now struggling, with fewer major films being produced in the region.