July 30, 2024 • 3hr 8min

#2182 - Michael Malice

The Joe Rogan Experience

In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan sits down with Michael Malice, a cultural commentator, podcast host, and author. They have a wide-ranging conversation covering current events, politics, technology, media, and various conspiracy theories. The discussion provides insight into their skeptical views of mainstream narratives and institutions.

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Key Takeaways

Joe Rogan has a Netflix special coming out that will be live-streamed globally on Saturday night from San Antonio
They discuss recent events like Trump's assassination attempt, Biden's debate performance, and Kamala Harris becoming the likely Democratic nominee
There's speculation about Biden using body doubles or AI technology due to his apparent physical and mental decline
Rogan and Malice are skeptical of mainstream media narratives and discuss various conspiracy theories
They talk about the influence of social media, bots, and AI on public discourse and politics
Elon Musk is praised for his handling of Twitter/X and pushing back against censorship
They discuss the challenges of determining what's real vs fake in the current information landscape

Introduction

In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan sits down with Michael Malice, a cultural commentator, podcast host, and author. They have a wide-ranging conversation covering current events, politics, technology, media, and various conspiracy theories. The discussion provides insight into their skeptical views of mainstream narratives and institutions.

Topics Discussed

Joe Rogan's Upcoming Netflix Special (2:33)

Rogan announces he has a Netflix comedy special coming out that will be live-streamed globally on Saturday night from San Antonio. He notes it's been 6 years since his last special.

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed plans for a special in 2020
Rogan has been enjoying doing regular stand-up at his club in the meantime
He's excited about the material in the new special

Trump Assassination Attempt (38:00)

They discuss the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump and the strange circumstances surrounding it.

Authorities knew about the shooter in advance but didn't stop him
There's speculation it may have been staged or allowed to happen
Rogan: "The whole thing is really squirrely, and it just makes you wonder."
They note how quickly the media moved on from covering it

Biden's Debate Performance and Possible Body Double (1:37:00)

Rogan and Malice analyze Biden's poor debate performance and speculate about the use of body doubles or AI technology.

They compare videos showing apparent physical differences in Biden
There's discussion of Biden seeming taller and walking differently
Malice: "That looks like a different human. Look at the size difference of the torso."
They wonder if some kind of rejuvenation technology is being used

Kamala Harris as Likely Democratic Nominee (2:19:50)

They discuss Kamala Harris becoming the likely Democratic nominee to replace Biden.

Malice thinks Harris will struggle to win the general election
Rogan believes she has a good chance due to anti-Trump sentiment
They speculate on how the Democratic establishment might try to replace her
Malice: "No one likes her. That's a big difference [from Hillary Clinton]."

Social Media, Bots, and AI (2:12:40)

There's discussion of the influence of social media, bots, and AI technology on public discourse and politics.

An ex-FBI analyst estimated 80% of Twitter accounts are bots
Political campaigns likely use bots and paid influencers
AI-generated content is making it harder to determine what's real
Rogan: "It's going to be so hard to tell [what's real]."

Elon Musk and Twitter/X (2:54:04)

They praise Elon Musk for his handling of Twitter/X and pushing back against censorship.

Musk is seen as uniquely capable of running the platform due to his wealth and personality
They discuss Musk's trolling of politicians on the platform
Malice: "We don't deserve him."

Media Skepticism and Conspiracy Theories (1:33:31)

Rogan and Malice express skepticism of mainstream media narratives and discuss various conspiracy theories.

They're doubtful of official explanations for events like the Las Vegas shooting
There's discussion of historical CIA programs like MK Ultra
They speculate about hidden power structures and "deep state" influence
Rogan: "That's the deep state. The people that can pull the strings that aren't elected officials."

Challenges of Determining Truth (2:33:10)

They talk about the difficulty of determining what's true in the current information landscape.

Rapid news cycles and social media make fact-checking challenging
AI and deepfake technology are making fake content more convincing
There's discussion of historical examples of media manipulation
Rogan: "It's so hard to know what's true and what's not true."

Comedy and Culture (4:44:47)

They discuss various comedians, comedy shows, and cultural topics.

Praise for comedians like Dave Smith and Kurt Metzger
Criticism of Stephen Colbert's shift from edgy comedy to mainstream late night
Discussion of the show "Strangers with Candy" starring Amy Sedaris
Malice: "Strangers with Candy is one of the greatest shows of all time."

Conclusion

This wide-ranging conversation between Joe Rogan and Michael Malice covers numerous current events and controversial topics. They express skepticism towards mainstream narratives and institutions while speculating about various conspiracy theories and hidden power structures. The discussion highlights the challenges of determining truth in the current media and technology landscape. Overall, the episode provides insight into their contrarian perspectives on politics, culture, and society.