Joe Rogan may be America’s most useful bellwether. So goes Joe, so goes the nation… 

But seriously, it behooves us to listen to the man, the legend, the podcasting giant, and take some cues from him. His political instincts are closely aligned with millions of people who feel alienated from the establishment and the elite culture of both parties.  

Rogan was one of the first major independent media personalities to take the Bernie Sanders phenomenon seriously in 2016. During COVID he was a walking, talking manifestation of populist dissatisfaction with elites’ lockdowns and mandates. And in 2024, his endorsement of Donald Trump was a sign of the times: a sign that young people, working-class people, male minorities, etc., were leaning away from the Democratic Party and toward Trump. 

Lately, he’s expressed disappointment with some of Trump’s policies, including mass deportation — not of violent criminals, but of absolutely anyone in the country illegally. He’s also objected to aspects of our foreign policy, which he believes is too deferential to Israel. 

My bottom line is this: When Rogan has a take, we should listen. Because he’s not afraid to disagree with his side — in fact, he doesn’t really have a side. So I think it matters that he is absolutely disgusted by the response of many people to the murder of conservative media giant Charlie Kirk.  

“”The fact that they were cheering when he died, normal people — housewives, moms, f–king people working at banks, in various industries, celebrating a man getting shot in front of his kids, in front of the whole world. What the f–k is wrong with us?” 

Those remarks came during his discussion this week with The Red Clay Straws, a country band. Rogan went on to clarify that he was talking specifically about the left’s response. “People on the left, they’re supposed to be ‘progressive.’ These are supposed to be the kind, compassionate inclusive people that are celebrating gun violence, like public execution — that’s insane.” 

Rogan speaks for a great many people who are just plain gobsmacked by the left’s capacity to excuse violence, which was evident this week after the death of Assata Shakur, a well-known leftist radical and convicted cop killer whose poetry was praised by those mourning her passing. Kirk, on the other hand, is not being remembered fondly by the left, which is of course their right—but when you have kinder things to say about an actual killer than you do about someone who merely used provocative language, it communicates something about your priorities.  

And guess what? The rest of us are noticing. We are noticing which of our countrymen condemn violence in all its forms, no matter who it targets. And we are noticing who is making excuses for it — who would probably applaud if it happened to us. It’s an ugly thought. 

Robby Soave is co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising” and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his daily commentary.