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Political figure Pierre Poilievre declined an invitation from Joe Rogan, a well-known conversation host, resulting in apparent hurt feelings among some circles.

In the shocking election results, the Liberal party outshone the Conservatives, reversing a possibility that seemed remote only a few months prior. This surprising turn of events saw the defeat of Poilievre.

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3 min read
Following the election, a surprising victory by the Liberals transpired, a development that...
Following the election, a surprising victory by the Liberals transpired, a development that initially seemed implausible only a few short months prior. This shocking election result saw the defeat of Poilievre.

Political figure Pierre Poilievre declined an invitation from Joe Rogan, a well-known conversation host, resulting in apparent hurt feelings among some circles.

Straight-Talkin' Joe Rogan Goes to War with Canada's Pierre Poilievre

In the world of non-traditional media powerhouses, Joe Rogan ain't no stranger to schoolin' those in the political arena. In a recent podcast episode, the podcast guru took aim at Pierre Poilievre, Canada's Conservative leader, accusing him of snubbing Rogan due to perceived controversy.

With an army of almost 20 million YouTube subscribers, Rogan's self-described "long-form interview show" is anything but a minor player in the media game. But, after Poilievre's campaign rejected an interview offer from Rogan, he wasn't about to let it slide.

During the 2025 Canadian federal election, Poilievre's media strategy has come under fire for its restrictive approach to journalists. The campaign decided to bar media from their plane and bus, making it difficult for the press to track the candidate's movements or policy announcements. This made waves, with Poilievre's refusal to engage with the mainstream media and alternative outlets only exacerbating the issue.

That's not where the trouble ended for Poilievre. A chorus of right-leaning online personalities have voiced disappointment following their own attempts to secure interviews with the Canadian leader. When self-proclaimed "Conservative-coded" YouTuber J.J. McCullough extended an olive branch, Poilievre's team seemingly dropped the ball.

McCullough, who boasts almost one million subscribers, said he'd interviewed with Poilievre before, even having "constructive conversations" with his team, only to be left hanging.

"When he does that to alternative media," he grumbled, "it's like, 'So you think of us as being as bad as the mainstream press? As being untrustworthy or in bad faith?'"

Though Poilievre has found traction on social media, engaging with a new generation of self-described online commentators, his avoidance of mainstream media has raised eyebrows. Politicos like Tim Powers, chair of Summa Strategies and a former adviser to Conservative political leaders, have been critical of Poilievre's choice to dodge traditional media in favor of right-wing channels.

However, Powers reckons Poilievre's rejection of Rogan, a high-profile figure known for espousing controversial opinions on COVID-19 and vaccines, was a sound decision. According to Powers, Poilievre might have feared being associated with fringe movements or validating those who question established scientific facts.

Poilievre's dilemma reflects the difficult balancing act between engaging with the alt-right and alienating the mainstream. Although he successfully tapped into popular sentiment on social media, his decision to funnel content to right-wing channels may have come at a cost. By doing so, Poilievre missed an opportunity to reach out to a broader audience, showing signs of risk-aversion and giving his critics plenty to dissect.

  1. Joe Rogan, a prominent figure in non-traditional media, has recently criticized Pierre Poilievre, Canada's Conservative leader, for his perceived avoidance of controversial interviews.
  2. Poilievre's media strategy during the 2025 Canadian federal election has been criticized for its restrictive approach towards journalists, with his campaign barring media from their plane and bus.
  3. Many alternative media personnel, including J.J. McCullough, have voiced disappointment after attempting to secure interviews with Poilievre, who has allegedly failed to respond to their offers.
  4. McCullough, who has interviewed Poilievre in the past, expresses concern that Poilievre may view alternative media as being on par with the mainstream press, lacking trustworthiness or operating in bad faith.
  5. Despite finding traction on social media, Poilievre's avoidance of mainstream media has been met with skepticism, particularly from politicos like Tim Powers, who question Poilievre's strategy in the world of Canadian politics.
  6. Powers suggests that Poilievre's rejection of Rogan, a high-profile figure known for his controversial opinions on COVID-19 and vaccines, was a strategic move, as Poilievre may have wished to avoid being associated with fringe movements or validating those who question established scientific facts.
  7. Poilievre's approach to media presents a delicate balance between engaging the alt-right and alienating the mainstream, raising questions about the cost of limiting his reach to right-wing channels in a bid to appeal to a specific audience.

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