Topline

Joe Rogan is set for possibly the biggest episode in his podcast’s history when he interviews Donald Trump on Friday, a possible boon to Trump’s bid for the presidency just days away from the election as Kamala Harris may no longer appear on the show .

Key facts

When will Rogan’s interview with Trump be released?

The Wall Street Journal reports that publication will not take place until October 26 at the earliest.

Will Harris appear on “the Joe Rogan Experience”?

Apparently not. Harris was reportedly interested in an interview on Friday, but the WSJ, citing sources familiar with the show, reported that she could not attend due to scheduling conflicts in Texas, where she will also attend a meeting with Beyonce and a has a scheduled interview with academics. and motivational speaker Brené Brown.

Important background

Trump’s media strategy relies heavily on podcasts, which have grown in popularity. Trump has been on more than a dozen podcasts this year, speaking to comedians like Theo Von and controversial streamers like Adin Ross, with audiences largely made up of young men. Trump’s interview with Von is one of the most viewed interviews in recent months, with more than 14 million views on YouTube. This podcast strategy stems from the Trump campaign’s goal to reach undecided or unlikely voters and specifically target young male voters and Black voters. The ‘bro’ podcasting aims to add a competitive edge to Kamala Harris’ strength among female voters. Rogan is apparently the most influential podcaster among this group, with a large audience of young men and black listeners.

Crucial quote

The official X account for the “Joe Rogan Experience” posted “Who is surprised?” on Thursday. The post includes an American flag emoji, a photo of Harris next to Rogan saying she won’t be appearing on his podcast and a video of UFC fighter Nate Diaz saying, “I’m not surprised, mother***** ** .”

In return for

Harris has also provided a mix of traditional journalistic and conversational podcast-style interviews. She interviewed another very popular sex and lifestyle podcast, ‘Call Her Daddy’, on October 6, and appeared on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, a sports podcast from two former NBA stars, on September 30. A 23 Suffolk University/USA Today poll found that only about 27% of voters had watched any of the episodes and almost 50% of respondents said they were less likely to vote for her.

What to pay attention to

Rogan does not consider himself a Republican and had said he would not host Trump on his podcast because it would rehabilitate Trump’s image. Yet Rogan is known for his controversial and often false theories. Politicians and fans are likely interested in what Rogan asks Trump.