The Democratic Party’s long, awkward search for “their version” of Joe Rogan appears to have reached its anti-climactic end — with the announcement that former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison will launch a new podcast called At Our Table. Yes, that Jaime Harrison: failed Senate candidate, struggling party figurehead, and now, aspiring podcast host.
The debut episodes, dropping Thursday, will feature sit-downs with Hunter Biden, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and Rep. James Clyburn — in other words, the standard Democratic Party circuit.
I talked to @harrisonjaime about his new, official job as The Democratic Joe Rogan, and that Hunter Biden interview https://t.co/24gLFLP3d7
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) July 16, 2025
Framed by some party operatives as a progressive counterweight to Rogan’s massively popular, independent-minded platform, Harrison’s venture is already drawing skepticism — and not without reason. Rogan didn’t build his audience by being a party loyalist or talking strictly to politicians. He earned trust by doing something rare in modern media: being unfiltered, curious, and unafraid to explore uncomfortable or politically incorrect terrain.
By contrast, Harrison represents the opposite: a polished party insider trying to manufacture authenticity through a carefully curated media product. The idea that this can replicate Rogan’s success — or even dent his influence — ignores the very reasons Rogan resonated with millions in the first place.
I talked to @harrisonjaime about his new, official job as The Democratic Joe Rogan, and that Hunter Biden interview https://t.co/24gLFLP3d7
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) July 16, 2025
Rogan’s appeal was never about ideology. It was about independence. He rose organically by hosting unscripted conversations with comedians, authors, scientists, fighters, and cultural oddballs — often for hours — on topics that mainstream media avoided. His show grew despite the political establishment, not because of it.
Trying to replicate that with a political figurehead interviewing party-line guests is a recipe for irrelevance.
If Democrats truly wanted to connect with audiences beyond their base, they’d stop trying to be Joe Rogan and instead start showing up on the platforms people already trust. Better yet, they could tap into unconventional voices with actual cultural reach, not D.C. résumés.
