In a heated exchange that’s sparking widespread discussion, Joe Rogan took on one of the left’s most vocal champions. The conversation, aired on The Joe Rogan Experience, has conservatives buzzing about the need to scrutinize government-driven climate policies. 

Summary

• Joe Rogan challenged Bernie Sanders’ climate change claims, citing a Washington Post report showing Earth is in a cooling period over millions of years.
• Rogan argued that climate alarmism is driven by money and control, not just science.
• Sanders pivoted to unrelated topics, avoiding Rogan’s points about potential corruption in climate science.
• The debate highlights growing skepticism about government overreach in climate policies.

Rogan’s Reality Check on Climate Narrative

On June 25, 2025, Joe Rogan welcomed US Senator Bernie Sanders to his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. The discussion quickly turned to climate change, with Sanders asserting it’s “not a hoax” and pushing for massive government investment in green energy. But Rogan wasn’t buying the urgency. Citing a Washington Post report based on a 2024 study in Science, 

“The Earth’s temperature has never been static, right? We can both agree on that. It’s always been up and down,” Rogan noted,

He pointed out that, over 485 million years, Earth is currently in a cooler phase compared to most of the Phanerozoic Eon.

This data-driven pushback left Sanders, 83, on the defensive. The senator expressed skepticism about the report, claiming other scientists still view climate change as an immediate crisis. 

Rogan doubled down, saying, “There’s a lot of money involved in this whole climate change emergency issue. And there’s a lot of control.”

Sanders’ Pivot and the Bigger Picture

Instead of engaging with Rogan’s concerns about financial motives behind climate policies, Sanders shifted gears, invoking Native American traditions of respecting nature before abruptly changing the topic to artificial intelligence. 

This dodge didn’t go unnoticed. Conservatives argue it reflects a broader reluctance among climate alarmists to face tough questions.

“Sanders couldn’t counter Rogan’s logic, so he ran from it,” said political commentator Ben Shapiro on his show, The Ben Shapiro Show. “This is what happens when ideology trumps facts.”

Rogan’s critique aligns with growing Republican skepticism about climate initiatives. A 2024 House Energy and Commerce Committee report criticized the Biden-Harris Administration for funneling $41 billion into nonprofits pushing a “radical, left-leaning ideology” to phase out fossil fuels, often relying on Chinese-dominated supply chains. This raises red flags for conservatives wary of government overreach and foreign influence.

Why It Matters

The Rogan-Sanders clash underscores a divide between those demanding immediate, costly climate action and those questioning the motives behind it. Rogan didn’t deny human impact on the environment, acknowledging pollution’s harm to oceans and ecosystems. But he separated this from what he sees as a “power-hungry agenda” cloaked in climate rhetoric. 

“The problem is giving people that are in power… more control over citizens,” Rogan warned.

Conservatives are rallying behind Rogan’s call for transparency. 

“We need to focus on real solutions, not fearmongering that enriches elites,” said Senator Ted Cruz in a recent Fox News interview. 

As debates over energy policy heat up, this exchange could fuel demands for accountability in how climate funds are spent.

Looking Ahead

Rogan’s bold challenge to Sanders has ignited a conversation about balancing environmental responsibility with individual freedom. With both sides agreeing China leads in carbon emissions, the question remains: should America bear the brunt of costly regulations? For now, Rogan’s fact-based pushback is a win for those urging caution against climate-driven government overreach.