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Rogan Says Biden White House Phoned Spotify to Pressure Him Over COVID Commentary

Podcast microphone beside a government building with a phone-call motif.

Summary

  • The claim: Joe Rogan said Spotify received calls “from the president” and that his management heard from the White House during the fight over his COVID coverage.
  • The public record: In 2022, then-press secretary Jen Psaki publicly urged Spotify to do more against COVID misinformation.
  • The claim sharpens questions about government pressure on media platforms and editorial independence.

What Happened

Joe Rogan said on the November 4, 2026, episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that Spotify received calls “from the president” and that his management received calls from the White House during the dispute over his COVID-19 coverage. He made the allegation while speaking with physician Peter McCullough, whose earlier appearances on the podcast drew criticism for disputed pandemic claims. Rogan made a similar allegation in June 2026, when he said presidents and former presidents had contacted Spotify in an effort to remove him.

The public record confirms that the Biden administration pressed Spotify in public. On February 1, 2022, then-press secretary Jen Psaki called Spotify’s plan to attach COVID advisories to podcasts a “positive step,” then said platforms should continue doing more to identify misinformation and elevate accurate information. Reuters and other outlets reported those remarks at the time.

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