In a political moment that felt more podcast therapy than campaign pitch, Joe Rogan sat down with Texas lawmaker James Talarico and ended up urging him to run for president—because, in Rogan’s words, “we need someone who is actually a good person.”
The moment marked another turn in Rogan’s very public distancing from former president Donald Trump.
From Teacher to Lawmaker, Talarico Wins Rogan Over
Rogan’s admiration for Talarico was clear throughout the episode.
The 36-year-old Democrat, a former teacher and now a Texas state representative, impressed the host with his ideas and his calm demeanor.
Rogan even called on Talarico to step up to national leadership, saying he represents a new generation of politicians with genuine integrity.
Talarico’s background sets him apart—he entered the Texas legislature at just 28 and often goes viral on Instagram with his passionate floor speeches.
He’s openly religious, currently studying in seminary school, and vocally critical of the rise of Christian nationalism on the right.
That stance earned praise from Rogan, who seemed to appreciate Talarico’s mix of spirituality and progressive politics.
Talarico Pushes Back on Political Hero Worship
But Talarico wasn’t exactly ready to launch a presidential campaign.
When Rogan floated the idea, he gently pushed back.
“Can I actually push back on that?” he said, pointing out how dangerous it is when voters start treating politicians like religious figures.
He used Trump and Bernie Sanders as examples—not to criticize them directly, but to highlight the public’s tendency to idolize flawed humans.
“I like Bernie,” Talarico said, “but some people treat him like he’s a messianic figure.”
Rogan agreed—though he noted Sanders has been unusually consistent over his career.
Rogan’s Continued Break From Trump
This latest episode signals another clear break from Trump for Rogan.
Despite having endorsed him in the past, the podcast host has grown increasingly critical.
Just recently, Rogan blasted Trump over his administration’s handling of the “Epstein files,” accusing the White House of hiding information and misleading the public.
He’s also slammed Trump’s immigration tactics—especially ICE raids that targeted undocumented immigrants without criminal records—and called Trump’s public disputes with Canada “stupid.”
A New Voice in the Democratic Party
Talarico, meanwhile, has quietly emerged as a potential rising star in the Democratic Party.
There are whispers that he’s eyeing a long-shot U.S. Senate run. On the show, Rogan asked why he sticks with the Democratic Party.
Talarico’s answer was rooted in family history.
“My mother saw Texas Democrats who fought for the little guy—for working people who were forgotten,” he said. “That was the classic Democratic Party.”
But he admitted the party has lost its way and now needs to get back to those values.
Not Afraid of Controversy
Talarico isn’t shy about taking bold stances. In 2021, he stirred controversy by claiming in the Texas statehouse that there are “six genders”—a statement that drew criticism but was rooted, he said, in scientific nuance.
“Biologically and scientifically speaking, sex is a spectrum,” he explained at the time.
That kind of comment hasn’t stopped him from growing a loyal online following.
In fact, it was one of his viral videos—where he argued against posting the Ten Commandments in public classrooms—that caught Rogan’s attention and led to the podcast invite.
Behind the Scenes of the Interview Invite
Talarico confessed he was shocked to get the email from Rogan’s team.
“We thought it was a phishing scam,” he joked. But once they confirmed it was real, he jumped at the opportunity.
For the young lawmaker, the appearance wasn’t just about boosting his profile—it was also about nudging Rogan back to his more progressive roots.
“He speaks for a lot of people who feel politically homeless,” Talarico told Politico afterward.
“People who are rightly suspicious of a corrupt political system.”
Rogan: A Free Agent in Politics
Talarico came away from the conversation with a nuanced view of Rogan’s politics.
“I think he’s not loyal to any party,” he said. “He’s just deeply skeptical of the entire system.”
That includes Trump, Biden, and the institutions surrounding them.
In the end, the episode was less about campaign announcements and more about two politically different men finding common ground over big ideas—and maybe, just maybe, nudging the national conversation toward something a little more human.