Names and faces
■ Joe Rogan, whose contrarian views on vaccines and political conspiracy theories have made him popular with many supporters of former President Donald Trump, revealed that he has declined to host Trump on his influential podcast several times. “I’ve had the opportunity to have him on my show more than once. I’ve said no every time,” Rogan, host of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” said on Lex Fridman’s podcast this week. “I don’t want to help him.” Rogan, also a comedian and sports commentator, is Spotify’s highest-paid podcaster, with a $200 million deal for exclusive rights to host his show, which attracts millions of listeners per episode. On Monday, he described the former president as “a polarizing figure” and “an existential threat to democracy.” Rogan, who endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders, the progressive from Vermont, for president in 2020, recently voiced his support on his podcast for Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican, if he were to run for president. Rogan has been condemned for using a racial slur on his show, mocking the first openly transgender athlete in mixed martial arts and having a “love-hate relationship with conspiracies.” He has been criticized for amplifying covid-19 misinformation on his platform, prompting medical professionals to call on Spotify to take action early this year. Daniel Ek, Spotify’s CEO, refused to “cancel” Rogan in a memo in February after artists such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell left the streaming service in protest. Other major tech platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, have long struggled to determine their roles in moderating the speech of users, particularly prominent ones such as Trump.
■ R. Kelly is no longer on suicide watch after the jailed R&B singer’s sentencing in a federal sex abuse case, prosecutors said in court papers filed Tuesday. The filing came in response to a claim last week by Kelly’s attorneys that the 55-year-old was placed on suicide watch as a form of punishment after a judge sentenced him to 30 years behind bars for using his fame to sexually exploit women and girls. Initially, prosecutors said the measure was needed for Kelly’s “own safety” following a psychological examination. They reversed themselves Tuesday, saying prison officials took him off suicide watch based on a follow-up “clinical assessment.” The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling songwriter was found guilty last year of racketeering and sex trafficking. He has denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal.