In 2020, CNN described Rogan as "libertarian-leaning". [1] However, Rogan has said that he holds a wide variety of political views and does not easily fall on any particular side of the political spectrum. [2] Rogan has described himself as socially liberal, saying that he supports same-sex marriage, gay rights, women's rights, recreational drug use, universal health care, and universal basic income, but also supports gun rights and the Second Amendment. [3][4]

During a 2011 podcast episode, comedian Joey Diaz joked publicly about how he required women to engage in oral sex with Diaz if they wanted to get stage time: “You think I’m f*cking kidding you? F*ck yeah, you gotta suck my d*ck to get up in The Belly Room. I’m makin’ a call for you. That’s the f*cking gateway for coming into Hollywood, everybody knows that.” Diaz later went on to say, “I had this little blonde open mic chick … and just take me up to The Belly Room and suck my d*ck and then go do her set, she was tremendous. She finally freaked out. When she got to Hollywood bro, she was beautiful. But when she left, she had dirty f*ckin’, her nails were dirty. And then she wrote me a letter to The Comedy Store. ‘You c*cksucker you broke me.’” After Diaz first mentions coercing women into oral sex, Rogan asks him, “How many girls did you have do that?”  Diaz replied, “Oh, 20!” To which Rogan laughed while clapping his hands. Later, when Diaz discussed the letter he received from one of his victims, Rogan once again threw his head back in laughter and clapped his hands. [1][2]

Rogan describes himself as a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and has criticized what he describes as "cancel culture" and what he perceives to be suppression of those who hold right-wing views in the television and film industry. [1]

Rogan has also criticized what he describes as an American foreign policy of military adventurism. [1]

In the 2012, Rogan endorsed Ron Paul for President, [1] and in 2016 he voted for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in the U.S. presidential election. [2] In 2020, Rogan endorsed Bernie Sanders during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, [3] but ended up voting for Jo Jorgensen in the general election. [4] Rogan also publicly supported Tulsi Gabbard and encouraged her to run for president in 2020. [5]

Rogan supports the legalized use of cannabis and believes it holds numerous benefits. He hosted the documentary film "The Union: The Business Behind Getting High and was featured in Marijuana: A Chronic History and The Culture High". He also supports the use of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT toward the exploration and enhancement of consciousness, as well as introspection. [1]

Rogan is an avid hunter and is part of the "Eat What You Kill" movement, which attempts to move away from factory farming and the mistreatment of animals raised for food. [1]

Rogan is opposed to routine infant circumcision and has claimed that there is a lack of significant scientific evidence for any benefits to the practice, which he considers not entirely different from female genital mutilation because of its non-consensual nature. [1]

Rogan has been an outspoken critic of trans women competing with cis-gender women in all forms of amateur and professional sports, including MMA matches. [1]

Early in Rogan's standup career, fellow comedian Mehran Khaghani complained that he unnecessarily used a gay slur in his act. [1] In a 2010 newspaper interview, Rogan also said that "sometimes faggot is the right word," and that it is not "a slanderous evil nasty word about homosexuals". [2]

Fellow comedian Sue Costello complained Rogan once followed her act at an L.A. club, saying "Who would ever fuck her with that accent", and simulating sex with her on stage. [1]

In February 2022, singer-songwriter India Arie shared a compilation on Instagram of Rogan saying the N-word on The Joe Rogan Experience. [1] Rogan apologized, calling his past language "regretful and shameful" , while also saying that the clips were "taken out of context" and that he only quoted the slur to discuss its use by others. [2][3][4] Rogan described the video compilation as a "political hit job". [5][6][7]

Spotify had refused to carry 42 episodes of the podcast when it acquired the exclusive rights. [1] Spotify says it spoke to Rogan about his "history of using some racially insensitive language", and it says (in an internal memo) that Rogan selected 70 episodes, [2] which were removed on February 4, 2022. [3]

In April 2021, Rogan made false remarks about COVID-19 vaccines, in particular claiming that young, healthy people do not need to be vaccinated against the virus. [1][2] This view was criticized by Anthony Fauci and White House communication director Kate Bedingfield, as well as by several media outlets. [3][4][5][6] Part of the objection was that there have been notable cases affecting young, healthy people. [7] Rogan acknowledged there was "some legitimate science" behind Fauci's view and emphasized that he is not a doctor and his advice should not be taken as "a respected source of information". [8][9]

On September 1, 2021, Rogan tested positive for the virus. [1] Soon after, he released an online video reporting on the status of his condition and stating that he had begun a regimen including monoclonal antibodies, prednisone, azithromycin, NAD drip, a vitamin drip, as well as ivermectin, a drug usually taken to treat parasitic infestations and not endorsed by the FDA as an effective treatment for COVID-19. [2][3][4] This caused some controversy due to multiple people reportedly being hospitalized after self-medicating with an over-the-counter form of ivermectin designed to treat ailments in livestock, which typically has a significantly larger dosage. [5] Rogan criticized CNN for describing ivermectin as a "horse dewormer". [6]

In January 2022, 270 scientists, physicians, professors, doctors, and healthcare workers wrote an open letter to Spotify expressing concern over "false and societally harmful assertions" on The Joe Rogan Experience and asked Spotify to "establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform." The 270 signatories took issue with Rogan "broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic", and more specifically "a highly controversial episode featuring guest Robert W. Malone (#1757). The episode has been criticized for promoting baseless conspiracy theories, including "an unfounded theory that societal leaders have 'hypnotized' the public". The signatories further assert that "Dr. Malone is one of two recent JRE guests who has compared pandemic policies to the Holocaust. These actions are not only objectionable and offensive, but also medically and culturally dangerous." The signatories also note that Malone was suspended from Twitter "for spreading misinformation about COVID-19". [1][2]

On January 24, 2022, musician Neil Young posted an open letter threatening to remove his music from Spotify if they did not remove the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience from their service. [1] Responding to the controversy, Rogan denied intentionally spreading misinformation and pledged "to try to balance out these more controversial viewpoints with other people's perspectives". Rogan also said that he agreed with Spotify adding a disclaimer to the beginning of his videos. [2]

Rogan has accused comedians Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia of stealing his jokes. [1][2]

In 2013, Rogan hosted the television show Joe Rogan Questions Everything on the SyFy network, which aired for six episodes. The show covered topics discussed on his podcasts, including the existence of Bigfoot and UFOs, and featured several comedians, experts, and scientists with the aim of trying to "put some subjects to bed... with an open-minded perspective". [1]