Bernie Sanders and Joe Rogan locked horns on political cash flow, exposing the absurdity of billionaires bankrolling elections. On "The Joe Rogan Experience," the Vermont senator took a swing at Elon Musk’s hefty Trump support, while Rogan fired back with Kamala Harris’ eye-popping campaign haul.
Fox News reported that Sanders, a vocal critic of big money in politics, appeared on Rogan’s show to decry the influence of billionaire donors. The discussion zeroed in on Musk’s $270 million splurge to boost Donald Trump’s campaign, which Sanders called an outrageous byproduct of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.
Rogan, never one to let a point slide, countered by noting Harris’ campaign raked in $1.5 billion in just 15 weeks. The Citizens United decision, which Sanders dubbed “maybe the worst” by the Supreme Court, framed their debate.
It unleashed political donations as protected speech, letting billionaires like Musk pour cash into campaigns. Sanders argued this distorts democracy, giving the ultra-wealthy outsized influence over elections.
Musk’s financial flex came after he publicly backed Trump following a harrowing assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally.
His $240 million donation to the pro-Trump America PAC wasn’t pocket change, and he didn’t stop there. Millions more went to quirky efforts, like handing out $1 million checks to rallygoers who signed his PAC’s petition.
Sanders didn’t mince words: “I think that’s absurd.” He sees Musk’s spending as a symptom of a broken system where money equals speech. But his righteous indignation feels selective when you consider the other side of the coin.
Rogan pounced, pointing out Harris’ campaign burned through $1.5 billion in a few months, ending $20 million in the red. “They spent $1.5 billion just in the course of a couple of months,” he said, exposing the hypocrisy of finger-pointing at Musk alone. Both sides, it seems, are swimming in billionaire bucks.
Sanders admitted Democrats aren’t innocent, saying, “You’re not going to hear me defending the Democratic Party on this issue.”
He acknowledged that liberal billionaires funneled cash to Harris and others, matching Republican excess. It’s a rare moment of candor from a politician who often paints his side as purer than the driven snow.
Yet Sanders’ focus on Citizens United as the root of all evil sidesteps a tougher truth. Money has always found a way into politics, the Supreme Court or not. Blaming a single ruling feels like a convenient scapegoat for a system that thrives on cash-fueled influence.
Musk, meanwhile, wasn’t just playing checkbook politics. He led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), slashing federal spending with a zeal that made Sanders’ socialist heart wince. Shuttering USAID and other programs showed Musk’s commitment to cutting what he sees as government bloat.
Rogan’s pushback on Sanders wasn’t just a gotcha; it highlighted the bipartisan addiction to big money. Harris’ $1.5 billion war chest, dwarfing Musk’s contribution, underscores that Democrats play the same game they decry. It’s a system where principle takes a backseat to power.
Sanders’ outrage, while heartfelt, rings hollow when both parties cozy up to billionaires. His call to curb money in politics is noble but ignores the reality: campaigns are arms races, and no one’s disarming unilaterally. The senator’s idealism crashes against the hard wall of political pragmatism.
Musk’s rally stunts, like handing out million-dollar checks, were flashy but effective in rallying Trump’s base.
Critics call it buying votes; supporters see it as savvy engagement. Either way, it’s a symptom of a system where spectacle often trumps substance.
Sanders’ broader point—that billionaires dominate democracy— isn’t wrong, but it’s incomplete. The problem isn’t just Musk or Democratic donors; it’s a political culture that rewards those with the deepest pockets. Rogan’s blunt reminder of Harris’ spending spree keeps the conversation honest.
