Elon Musk and Joe Rogan have once again captured headlines, this time for their shared admiration of X as a hub for authentic and reliable news. Musk, who purchased X in 2022 for $44 billion, has radically transformed the platform, from its branding to its role in shaping public discourse. Most notably, it played a pivotal role in the 2024 U.S. Presidential elections, serving as a key stage for Donald Trump’s return to social media.

Recently, reports of unexplained aerial phenomena in New Jersey have driven users to X as their go-to source for real-time updates. On his podcast, Rogan hailed X’s authenticity and transparency. The UFC color commentator said, “X is the number one news source on Earth. It’s the most trusted because it’s the only one that’s not f**ed with. Even if someone is incorrect, the community notes will correct them.”

Elon Musk, delighted by Rogan’s praise, responded on the platform, “Joe Rogan says 𝕏 is the most trusted source of news! True.”

Despite its rising reputation as a trusted news source, X faces mounting financial challenges. According to Fidelity, the value of their investment in the platform has plummeted 79%, from $19.66 million in October 2022 to just $4.2 million as of August 2024. While Musk’s efforts have elevated X’s cultural relevance, the significant decline in valuation underscores the financial hurdles it continues to face.

Rogan and Musk share a pretty close relationship and the Tesla CEO has appeared in the Joe Rogan Experience many times. The most recent appearance was in November when the UFC color commentator endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential election and supported Elon Musk’s arguments in favor of the present president-elect. On top of that, Rogan had an extensive discussion with Discovery Channel host Mike Rowe on mainstream media and how it is being manipulated.

Joe Rogan dismissed mainstream media while taking a dig at New York Times

Episode #2235 of The Joe Rogan Experience delved into the issue of authenticity in modern media, with guest Mike Rowe offering a scathing critique of teleprompter-dependent journalism. Rowe remarked, “You think about the anchor who just wants to be believed, the spokesman who just wants to be seen as credible, the politician who just wants it. So, it’s like they want to be authentic, and yet they do the single most inauthentic thing you can possibly do, which is pretend to not read a thing that everyone can see you’re reading. So the cognitive dissonance is rich.”

This prompted Rogan to go on a passionate rant about traditional media, arguing that social media is rapidly outpacing conventional journalism in authenticity and reach. He pointed out that traditional media outlets are reluctant to relinquish their grip on authority, saying, “You and these people that want to cling to authority and say, ‘No, you’re not,’ you’re not a journalist. You [mainstream media] guys f**d us too many times, and we don’t believe you anymore. So, the only way for us to find out what’s real and what’s not real is someone posts it online and then everybody looks at it and then you get the Community notes.”

Rogan also aimed at The New York Times, criticizing what he views as trivial and sometimes misleading reporting. He cited an example where the paper reportedly claimed, “Froot Loops in Canada are exactly the same as the Froot Loops in America,” as noteworthy news. Rogan noted how social media, particularly X debunked this claim, portraying it as a platform for exposing inaccuracies in traditional media narratives.

A longtime critic of mainstream journalism, Rogan has positioned himself as an advocate for unfiltered truth, arguing against selective reporting and bias. He has consistently praised X for its user-driven fact-checking system, such as Community Notes, which he sees as a tool for democratizing truth.

However, Rogan’s support for X and its owner Elon Musk has sparked discussions about his objectivity. Some have suggested that his stance may be influenced by his growing support for Musk and former President Donald Trump in recent months. What do you think about Rogan’s perspective? Is his trust in X a sign of its growing credibility, or is it a reflection of his personal affiliations? Share your thoughts below.