August 29, 2024 • 2hr 51min
#2197 - Mike Baker
The Joe Rogan Experience
Key Takeaways
- Concerns about Biden's mental decline and lack of transparency from the White House about who is actually making decisions
- Criticism of Kamala Harris as unprepared and inconsistent on policy positions
- Discussion of security failures around Trump assassination attempt and Secret Service response
- Debate over voter ID laws, mail-in voting, and potential for election fraud
- Analysis of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East, and concerns about Iran's influence
- Critique of media bias and lack of objectivity in political coverage
- Worries about political polarization and tribalism in American politics
- Skepticism about government agencies like FBI, CIA but acknowledgment of their importance
- Discussion of processed foods, obesity crisis, and need for better nutrition policies
Introduction
In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan sits down with Mike Baker, a former CIA covert operations officer and current CEO of a global intelligence firm. They have a wide-ranging discussion covering current political events, national security issues, media bias, and cultural topics. Baker provides insider perspective on intelligence matters while Rogan offers his trademark mix of curiosity, skepticism and humor.
Topics Discussed
Biden's Mental State and White House Decision-Making (14:25)
Rogan and Baker express serious concerns about President Biden's apparent cognitive decline and lack of public appearances. They criticize the lack of transparency from the White House about who is actually making key decisions:
- Baker argues there should be more questions asked about "when did you know that he was in significant mental decline?" referring to Biden
- They speculate that a small group including Kamala Harris has been deceiving the public about Biden's capabilities
- Baker says: "Nobody seems to give a s**t. Right. And nobody's asking questions." about who is really in charge
Kamala Harris as Potential President (35:37)
The conversation turns to Vice President Kamala Harris and her preparedness to potentially take over as president:
- Baker is highly critical of Harris, calling her a "half wit" who has "failed upwards spectacularly"
- They discuss her upcoming CNN interview, predicting it will be softball questions
- Rogan says people he knows claim Harris is intelligent but "locks up when she has to talk"
- Baker argues her policy positions are inconsistent and she's walking back previous statements
Trump Assassination Attempt and Secret Service Failures (24:52)
Baker provides a detailed breakdown of the security failures around the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump:
- Calls it a "c**k up of monumental proportions" in terms of Secret Service protocols and procedures
- Criticizes lack of transparency and poor crisis communications from Secret Service leadership afterwards
- Says local law enforcement has been more forthcoming with information than federal agencies
Voter ID Laws and Election Integrity (54:49)
The discussion turns to debates over voter ID requirements and concerns about election fraud:
- Baker argues for requiring proof of citizenship to vote, saying it's not voter suppression
- They discuss Texas removing over 1 million ineligible voters from rolls
- Baker says expanded mail-in voting and ballot harvesting create more opportunities for fraud
- Rogan worries about setting precedents that undermine faith in elections
Ukraine-Russia Conflict (1:45:03)
Baker provides analysis on the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia war:
- Ukrainian forces now holding territory inside Russia for first time
- Speculates this may be a ploy by Ukraine to force Putin to negotiations
- Says U.S. support has been critical - "Without US support, Putin would have Ukraine by now"
- Discusses risks of conflict expanding, potential for Belarus to get involved
Iran's Influence in Middle East (1:14:25)
Baker argues Iran is the primary driver of instability in the Middle East:
- Says Iran is behind Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and other militant groups
- Criticizes Biden administration's "policy of appeasement" toward Iran
- Argues there can be no lasting peace without regime change in Iran
- Discusses recent Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and intelligence capabilities
Media Bias and Lack of Objectivity (33:21)
Rogan and Baker criticize mainstream media coverage of politics as biased and lacking objectivity:
- Baker says many media outlets act as "advocates for the Democratic Party" rather than journalists
- They discuss examples of selective coverage and framing of stories to fit narratives
- Rogan mentions MSNBC deceptively editing a clip of him to make it seem he was praising Harris
Political Polarization and Tribalism (1:33:33)
The conversation touches on growing political divisions and tribalism in American politics:
- Baker says Democrats are "very good at doing what they're told and following a message"
- Rogan argues the left has abandoned principles like free speech in favor of censorship
- They discuss how social media amplifies polarization and outrage
Skepticism of Government Agencies (1:30:21)
Baker and Rogan express concerns about overreach by agencies like FBI and CIA, while acknowledging their importance:
- Discuss calls by some to "disband the FBI" or "shut down the CIA"
- Baker argues you can't just tear down institutions - "You've got to have these organizations"
- They speculate about contents of unreleased JFK assassination files
Processed Foods and Obesity Crisis (1:57:42)
The conversation turns to America's obesity epidemic and problems with processed foods:
- Rogan criticizes article downplaying harms of ultra-processed foods
- They discuss how food companies exploit addictive qualities of sugar and salt
- Baker says more funding is needed for police training rather than "defund the police" movement
Rapid-Fire Topics (3:09:00)
The episode concludes with quick takes on various topics:
- Fruit juice vs. whole fruit
- Different types of rice
- Bread and fermented foods
- Intermittent fasting
- Zero-calorie sodas
- Importance of fiber
Conclusion
This wide-ranging conversation between Joe Rogan and Mike Baker covers many of the most pressing political and cultural issues facing the United States. Baker provides insider perspective on intelligence and national security matters, while both men express concerns about political polarization, media bias, and threats to democratic institutions. They touch on everything from presidential politics to processed foods, offering a mix of serious analysis and humorous asides. While critical of many aspects of the current political landscape, they also acknowledge the complexity of governing and importance of key institutions, even as they argue for reforms.
