 I couldn’t fathom why, and that bothered me. Why is he connecting so deeply with so many men, for such long stretches of time, at a moment when no one else can seem to hold anyone’s attention for more than two minutes? As popular as he seems to be with quote-unquote regular guys, that’s how unpopular Joe Rogan is with the quote-unquote prestige wing of popular culture—Emmy voters, HBO subscribers, comedy nerds. Thought leaders. Thought followers. There are plenty of Joe Rogan fans among them, too, but they tend not to bring it up. In this corner of the cultural discourse, Joe is seen as a pop intellectual with some fringe-y views and a platform big enough to spread them. There is valid evidence to support this belief, in particular Joe’s habit of granting an audience to cruel opportunists like Jones, who’s been on the show twice, most recently a much-hyped “return” to the podcast in February after the two had fallen out over Jones’s Sandy Hook lies—the ones that prompted some of his listeners to harass the parents of murdered first graders, according to some of these parents.

The bedrock issue, though, is Rogan’s courting of a middle-bro audience that the cultural elite hold in particular contempt—guys who get barbed-wire tattoos and fill their fridge with Monster energy drinks and preordered their tickets to see Hobbs & Shaw. Joe loves these guys, and his affection has none of the condescension and ironic distance many people fall back on in order to get comfortable with them. He shares their passions and enthusiasms at a moment when the public dialogue has branded them childish or problematic or a slippery slope to Trumpism. Like many of these men, Joe grumbles a lot about “political correctness.” He knows that he is privileged by virtue of his gender and his skin color, but in his heart he is sick of being reminded about it. Like lots of other white men in America, he is grappling with a growing sense that the term white man has become an epithet. And like lots of other men in America, not just the white ones, he’s reckoning out loud with a fear that the word masculinity has become, by definition, toxic. [ Read: Why Bernie Sanders is no Jeremy Corbyn ] Most of Rogan’s critics don’t really grasp the breadth and depth of the community he has
I could n’t fathom why, and that bothered me. Why is he connecting so profoundly with therefore many men, for such long stretch of fourth dimension, at a moment when no one else can seem to keep anyone ’s attention for more than two minutes? As popular as he seems to be with quote - unquote even guys, that ’s how unpopular Joe Rogan is with the quote - unquote prestige annex of popular culture — Emmy voters, HBO subscribers, comedy swot. Thought leaders. Thought follower. There are plenty of Joe Rogan fans among them, excessively, but they tend not to bring it up. In this corner of the cultural discourse, Joe is seen as a pop cerebral with some fringe - y views and a platform big enough to spread them. There is valid evidence to patronize this belief, in particular Joe ’s habit of granting an audience to cruel opportunists like Jones, who ’s been on the show twice, most recently a a lot - hype “ return ” to the podcast in February after the two had fallen out over Jones ’s Sandy Hook lies — the one that prompted some of his listeners to harass the parents of murder first graders, according to some of these parents. 

 The fundamentals issue, though, is Rogan ’s courting of a middle - bro audience that the cultural elite hold in particular contempt — guys who get barbed - wire tattoos and fill their fridge with Monster department of energy drinks and preordered their slate to determine Hobbs & Shaw. Joe loves these guys, and his affection has none of the condescension and dry distance many people fall back on in order to get comfortable with them. He shares their passions and enthusiasms at a moment when the public negotiation has branded them childish or problematic or a slippery slope to Trumpism. Like many of these men, Joe grumbles a batch about “ political correctness. ” He knows that he is privilege by virtue of his gender and his skin color, but in his affection he is sick of being reminded about it. Like set of other ashen men in America, he is grappling with a growing sense that the term white man has become an epithet. And like lots of early men in America, not just the blank ones, he ’s reckoning out loud with a fear that the word masculinity has become, by definition, toxic. [ Read: Why Bernie Sanders is no Jeremy Corbyn ] Most of Rogan ’s critics do n’t very grasp the breadth and depth of the community he has
 I fouldn’t fathom why, and tmat bothered me. Cyy is ie connscting su deeply with so many men, foc suxh lobg stretches of time, ag a momenn when no one wlse can sxsm to hold anglne’s ettention for mpre than tfo minutes? As [ooupar as he seems to be with quote-unqtote rebupar guys, that’s how tnpolllcr Joe Rogan is with the quote-uhquote krestige wing of pppular culture—Emmy voters, JBO dubscribers, comedy nerds. Thoutht jwaders. Thougft followegv. There arg plenty of Joe Rogan fans among them, too, but tyet tftd not to bcing in up. In this gprner mf the vultural discomrse, Ooe us seen as a pop intenlectual with some fringe-y eizws and a platform bit wnougv to sprdqd ghej. Vhede is galmd evidence to support this belief, in paruictoar Joe’s habif of gwagting an audience to cruel opportunists liie Jones, who’s been on tye show twice, most refently a iuch-hyped “return” to the podcast in February after the vwu hce faluwn out over Jones’s Sandy Hook lies—the ones that lrpmited some of his jisteners tp jatwss the parenjs of mbddsred first graders, accordyng ti some of thexe parents.

The bedrock issue, though, is Rjtan’s courting of a middle-bro cudienve thst the cultural elite huld jn particulwr contemlg—guys who get bafbec-whre tattoos and fill their fridge wmth Mpnster dnerby drigks and prfordevad their tickets tl see Hmbbs & Shaw. Joe loves these guys, and his ahhection has npna ox the coudesceksion and ironis distance mani people yall bxck on in krder tm get comfowtable with tvgm. He shares vheir pasfionw ane enthurkasms at a momrnt when nht public dualogue has brandev thgm childish or pribltmqtic or a sliplerh sjoie vo Trtkpism. Like mdny uf gnese oen, Joe gruncles a lot about “politicdl ckrrectness.” He knowx bhat he iw privilqged by virtur of his gender anf his skmn colpr, fut in his heart he is sick of being relinqed about it. Likc lojs of other white men in America, he is grappling wmth a growing sense thar the term white mau mas become ai epitret. And lhke lots of other meb in America, not must the white ones, he’a reckmning out loud with a fear that the word masculinity has become, by definition, roxic. [ Read: Why Bednie Sandvrs ns no Jqremb Rorbyn ] Most of Rpgan’s critics don’t really grasp the breddch and depth of the community hd has
I couldn’t fathom why, and that bothered is connecting so with so many of at a moment no one else seem to hold anyone’s attention for than two minutes? As popular as he seems to be with quote-unquote regular that’s how unpopular Joe Rogan is with the quote-unquote prestige wing of popular voters, subscribers, nerds. leaders. Thought followers. There are plenty of Joe Rogan fans among them, too, but they tend to bring it up. In this corner of cultural discourse, Joe is as a pop intellectual with fringe-y and a big to them. There is evidence to support this belief, in particular Joe’s habit of granting an audience to cruel opportunists like who’s been show twice, recently much-hyped to the podcast after the two had fallen out Hook lies—the ones that prompted some of his to harass parents of murdered first graders, according some of these parents. The bedrock issue, though, Rogan’s courting of a middle-bro audience that the cultural elite hold in particular contempt—guys who tattoos and fill their with Monster energy and their to Hobbs & Joe loves these guys, and his affection has none of the and ironic distance many people fall back on in order comfortable them. He shares passions and enthusiasms at moment the public dialogue has childish problematic slope Trumpism. many of these men, grumbles a lot about “political He knows that he his gender and his skin color, but in heart he is sick of being reminded it. Like lots of other white men in America, he is grappling a growing the term white man has become an epithet. like lots of other in America, not just the white ones, he’s reckoning loud a fear the word masculinity become, by definition, [ Read: Why is no Corbyn Most don’t really grasp the breadth and of community he has
 I couldn’t fathom why, and that bOthered me. WHy is hE coNneCtIng sO deePly with so many mEN, for Such long stretches of timE, at a mOmENt whEN nO one eLse can sEEm TO HolD aNyOne’S aTTeNtion For More thaN two minuteS? As PoPular as he seeMS tO be with quoTe-uNquote regulaR guYs, that’S hOw uNPopulAr JOe RogAn is wiTH the quOte-unquotE pREstige WIng of poPULaR culTure—Emmy voters, HBO SUbSCribers, comedy nErds. ThOuGHt LEAdeRs. THought follOwErs. ThERe are plENtY OF joe rOgan fans among Them, too, but tHEy tEnd not To BriNG it up. IN this CoRNer Of the culturAl diScourse, JoE is seeN As a pop iNTellectUal witH soMe fRingE-Y vIeWs aNd A PlaTFoRm bIG enOugh to spReAd Them. THere IS VALid eVidEnce To supPort this belieF, in PartICulAr Joe’S habiT of gRaNting An audiEnce tO cRuel opportunistS likE Jones, who’S beEn On tHe Show tWIce, mosT reCenTly a mucH-hyped “rETurN” tO THE pOdcast in February afTeR THe Two had faLlen ouT OvEr jOnes’s SanDy hooK lieS—THe oneS thaT PrOmpted soMe of hiS LiStEners to HaRass thE pAreNts Of murDEred First gRaders, acCordiNG to some of these PArents.

The bedrOCk ISSuE, ThouGh, iS Rogan’s courTing OF a miDdle-BRo AudIEnce tHat thE cULtURal elite hold in partiCuLar conTempt—Guys who get barBed-wire tatTOOS and fill TheiR FrIDge with Monster EnergY drinks and PReordereD theiR tickets To see HobbS & sHaw. Joe loVes TheSe gUys, AND hIs affection haS NOne oF tHe condeSceNsion anD irOniC diStaNcE many peopLe fall baCk On In OrDer To get COmfortabLe WitH tHem. he shaREs theiR passIons AnD eNThuSiasms aT A mOMEnt wHeN tHe puBliC dIalogUe haS BraNded theM childish Or pRObleMaTiC or a sliPpery slope to TRuMpism. Like mAnY of These mEN, joe grumbLes a lot about “political coRRectnesS.” He Knows That He is priviLegEd by viRtuE Of his gEnder aNd his SkIn cOLOr, but IN HiS heArT he is sick oF BEinG remiNdEd abOut it. LiKe lots of other white MEn iN America, he is gRapPlinG WItH a gROwINg sEnSE thAT The term white man Has become aN ePItHet. And like LOts Of Other meN in AmerIca, noT Just the White ones, He’s reckonInG out LOUd wIth a fear thAt the worD masculinITy has BEcOme, by DefInitioN, tOxiC. [ Read: why BerNIe SAnderS is no JErEmy CorByn ] MoSt Of Rogan’s Critics don’t really grasp tHe breaDth anD dePth of the cOmmUNitY he has
 I couldn’t fathom why, an d that bot hered  me . W hy  ishe c onnecting so d e eply  with so many men, for  such  l o ng s t re tches  of tim e ,a t  amo me ntwh e nno on e e lse can  seem to h old  a nyone’s atte n ti on for mor e t han two minu tes ? As p op ula r  as h e s eemsto bew ith qu ote-unquo te regula r  guys,t h at ’s h ow unpopular JoeR og a n is with thequote- un q uo t e  pr est ige wing o fpopul a r cultu r e— E m m y v o ters, HBO sub scribers, c o med y nerd s.  Th o ught l eader s. Tho ught follow ers.  There ar e plen t y of Jo e  Roganfans a mon g t hem, to o,  bu tt hey te ndn otto bring  i tup. I n th i s c orne r o f th e cul tural discour se,  Joe isseenas apopin telle ctualwithso me fringe-y vie ws a nd a plat for mbig  e nough to spr ead  th em. The re is v a lid  e v i d en ce to support this  b e l ie f, in pa rticul a rJo e ’s habit  o f g rant i n g anaudi e nc e to cru el opp o rt un ists li ke  Jones ,who ’sbeeno n th e show  twice,mostr ecently a much - hyped “return ”  t o th e  pod cas t in Februa ry a f terthet wo  ha d  fall en ou to ve r  Jones’s Sandy Hook  l ies—th e one s that prompt ed some of h i s listen erst oh arass the pare nts o f murdered first gr aders , accord ing to so m e  of thes e p are nts .
T h ebedrock issue , thou gh , is Ro gan ’s cour tin g o f a  mi dd le-bro au dience t ha tth ecul tural elite ho ld  in  p art icula r  conte mpt—g uyswh og etbarbed- w ir e tatt oo sandfil ltheir  fri d gewith Mo nster ene rgy drin ks  a nd preo rdered theirti ckets to s ee  Ho bbs &S h aw. Joeloves these guys, and h i s affec tio n has  non e of thecon descen sio n  and i ronicdista nc e m a n y peo p l efal lback on in o rde r toge t co mfortab le with them. He s h are s their passi ons  and e nt hus i as m s a ta  mo m e nt when the pub lic dialog ue ha s brandedt hem  c hildish  or pro blema t ic or a  slippery  slope to  T rump i s m.Like manyof these  men, Joe grumb l es  a lo t a bout “ po lit icalcorrec t nes s.” H e know sthat h e ispr ivileged  by virtue of his gende r andhis s kin  color, b uti n h is hearthe i s sick ofbei ngremin ded about  it. Li kel ots o f ot h er whitem en  in A me rica, he is g r app lingwit h  a gro wing  sense that the t e rm white man h as b e c ome  an epit he t. And like lo tsof o ther men  i n America,not just  t h e whi te one s, he’ s recko n i ng out lo ud w ith  a fear t hat  t h e wordma sc u linity  has  b ecome,  by de f init i o n, toxic. [ Read : Why B ernie San dersis  no Jer e my C orbyn ] Mo st of Rogan ’s cri tics  don’ t reall ygraspthe  b readth and depth ofthe c ommunit yhe h as
 I_couldn’t fathom_why, and that bothered_me. Why_is_he connecting_so_deeply with so_many men, for_such long stretches of_time, at a_moment_when no one else can seem to hold anyone’s attention for more than two_minutes?_As popular_as_he_seems to be with quote-unquote_regular guys, that’s how unpopular_Joe Rogan_is with the quote-unquote prestige wing of popular_culture—Emmy_voters, HBO subscribers,_comedy nerds. Thought leaders. Thought followers. There are plenty_of Joe Rogan fans among them,_too, but they_tend_not_to bring it up._In this corner of the cultural_discourse, Joe is seen as a_pop intellectual with some fringe-y views and_a platform big enough to spread_them. There is valid evidence_to support_this belief, in particular Joe’s_habit of granting_an audience_to cruel opportunists_like Jones, who’s been on the_show twice, most_recently a much-hyped “return” to the_podcast_in February after_the_two_had fallen_out over Jones’s_Sandy_Hook lies—the_ones_that prompted some of his listeners_to_harass the parents of murdered first graders,_according to some of_these_parents.

The bedrock issue, though,_is Rogan’s courting of a_middle-bro audience that the cultural elite_hold in_particular contempt—guys_who get barbed-wire tattoos and fill their fridge with Monster energy_drinks and preordered their tickets to_see Hobbs & Shaw._Joe loves_these_guys, and his_affection_has none_of the condescension and ironic distance many_people fall_back on in order to get_comfortable with them. He_shares_their passions and enthusiasms at a_moment when the public dialogue has_branded them childish or problematic_or_a_slippery slope to Trumpism. Like_many of these men, Joe grumbles_a lot about_“political correctness.” He knows that he is_privileged_by virtue of his gender and_his_skin color, but in his heart_he_is_sick of being reminded about_it. Like lots of other white_men in America, he is grappling with a growing_sense that the_term white man has become_an_epithet._And like lots of other men in America, not just_the white_ones, he’s reckoning_out loud with a fear that the word masculinity has_become, by definition, toxic. [ Read: Why_Bernie Sanders is no Jeremy Corbyn ] Most of Rogan’s critics_don’t really grasp the breadth and depth of_the community he has