The Rogan Bump

So Donald Trump's interview with Joe Rogan went up on YouTube yesterday, as I write, and has 22 million views, 1.3 million likes and no dislikes. The Howard Stern interview with Kamala Harris went up two weeks ago, has 1.6 million views and likes and dislikes are disabled. That last detail is crucial and key to one's popularity over the other--one at least gives the impression of honesty, of a willingness to take public opinion head on, while the other would put up a barrier.

That's the impression. Is it the truth? I find it hard to believe out of 22 million people, not one would dislike Trump. But maybe they'd think of it as a vote against Rogan. The view count could be bots. I don't really think so. Rogan is wildly popular, Stern really isn't at this point. The true test between the two candidates won't come unless Harris sits down with Rogan. I think she ought to at this point and probably won't. The biggest problem the left faces, and Joe Rogan astutely points this out in the Trump interview, is that everyone can see they're trying to manipulate the truth all the time. Rogan could be in Russia's pocket, he didn't really challenge Trump on his relationship with Putin at all. I don't think Rogan is in Putin's pocket, though.

The Rogan/Trump interview is simply easier to listen to. Rogan always comes off as friendly and reasonable and he has a way of bringing up contrary points without seeming resentful or combative. He did confront Trump on his persistent denial of election results and I don't think Trump realised how foolish he came off because of how diplomatically Rogan constructed the segment.

Trump is relaxed and interesting in the interview but to the unbiased listener I don't think he came off well, at least not as a presidential candidate. He rambles frequently--which Rogan charitably calls "weaving", and Trump, with his fragile ego, eagerly accepts the term. And Trump shows himself frequently unable to recall the names of people important to the stories he tells or points he's trying to make. Sometimes he meanders so much he becomes nonsensical and his continually stressing the importance of being friendly with Putin or Kim Jong Un doesn't come off as tactful but every bit as guileless as Harris accuses him of being.

If Harris loses this race, I think it'll be entirely on the lack of transparency. We really do need a candidate outside of the machine Rogan talks about but Trump is simply not suited to be president. He's too simple-minded. But I sure hope Harris accepts Rogan's invitation to do his show.