Famed neuroscientist, philosopher and author Sam Harris has once again brought Joe Rogan‘s podcast into the spotlight, this time criticizing the JRE host for how he addresses important subjects. While Harris has previously been on The Joe Rogan Experience, his current statements suggest he is getting increasingly dissatisfied with the show’s course over the years. According to Harris, the UFC commentator’s impact has grown, but the host’s treatment of critical issues may be doing more harm than good. His comments, made on a recent edition of his own podcast, generated outrage online particularly from Elon Musk.
Sam Harris made it clear that, while he believes Joe Rogan is a “genuinely good guy” with good intentions, he believes the UFC commentator is out of his depth on many of the topics covered on the show. “Joe is a genuinely good guy who wants good things for people. But he is honestly in over his head on so many topics of great consequence.” According to the philosopher, Joe Rogan’s interactions with guests and ideas—particularly those that could be considered controversial or unverified—have unintentionally contributed to the spread of disinformation, which is “avoidable.” He said, “(Rogan) could actually take the responsibility, that really is his to take at this point, to get his facts straight.”
He further recommended that Joe Rogan reduce some of the repercussions by getting professional journalists to assist him in examining the content provided on the show. His solution was simple: “He could have two brilliant journalists, whose full-time job, he could pay each of them a million dollars a year just to sit there and make sure he doesn’t put his foot in his mouth in a colossally irresponsible way.” Sam Harris appears to be advocating for more accountability from the JRE host, who has been accused of promoting misinformation and conspiracies, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis.
However, it wasn’t just Rogan who came under fire. Harris also targeted Elon Musk, slamming the billionaire’s role in spreading harmful information on social media. According to the philosopher, when the Tesla CEO’s errors are pointed out, Musk does not accept responsibility—he simply dismisses the criticism and moves on. Musk, never one to back down from a quick online fade these days, responded with a six-word post on X: “Sam Harris has lost all credibility.”
Sam Harris has lost all credibility
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2025
It’s evident that this back-and-forth has further fueled the fire. People are now questioning how much effect Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have on public opinion, and whether they should be held more accountable for the content they help spread. It is worth noting that it isn’t the political misinformation that often gets thrown out to the public. Earlier this year, the JRE host caught NFL athletes in the crosshairs.
Joe Rogan’s fact-checking error on JRE brings NFL players to light
Joe Rogan found himself in deep water again earlier this year after making inaccurate statements on The Joe Rogan Experience. This time, the emphasis was on NFL players’ financial difficulties following retirement. Joe Rogan said that “85% of NFL players go bankrupt” after quitting the game, yet this was far from the truth. According to sources such as Sports Illustrated, the actual amount ranges between 16 and 78%, which is still a big issue but grossly lower than Rogan’s estimates. This error raised questions about the quality of the information provided on his widely influential platform, something pointed out aptly by Sam Harris in his latest criticisms.
Rogan has a habit of making bold, unsubstantiated claims and delivering them with confidence. His past comments about COVID-19 and climate change have also sparked widespread criticism. With millions of listeners, the UFC commentator’s inaccuracies can have far-reaching implications, forming beliefs based on inaccurate facts. His casual approach to these topics only worsens the problem, especially when discussing complex issues that require more careful consideration.
Despite his popularity, the UFC commentator’s tendency to dive into controversial topics without thorough fact-checking raises fundamental concerns about responsibility. Sam Harris has pointed out that public individuals like Joe Rogan have a responsibility to ensure that the information they offer is correct. His platform carries considerable power, and the consequences of spreading incorrect information cannot be overlooked.
The real question for the JRE host now is whether he’ll take responsibility for his statements or continue to ignore criticism. What do you think? Do you agree with Harris’ claims? Let us know in the comments.
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