Pierre Poilievre finally had his “Joe Rogan Experience”

Back when Pierre Poilievre was campaigning to be prime minister, he reportedly declined an invitation to appear on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. “He didn’t do it, wouldn’t do it, thought it was too problematic or whatever,” Rogan said in an episode at the time.

Poilievre must have changed his mind about the controversial host, because the two talked for hours on an episode of Rogan’s show that aired today.

In a press conference ahead of the episode, Poilievre suggested that the discussion was heavily about tariffs. “I thought we had a great conversation about how the United States would be best served by eliminating all the tariffs so that we can make life safer and more affordable for Americans and make paycheques bigger and our economy stronger for Canadians,” he said, per the Canadian Press.

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Tariffs came up, sure, as did a variety of policy points—immigration, Canada’s MAID program, the opioid crisis, bail reform, international trade, the oil sands, also an explanation of the Magna Carta—but Poilievre and Rogan mostly yapped about UFC fighting and processed foods—steak is good, Covid restrictions were bad, maple syrup is actually a superfood. That’s the gist of it.

Rogan made it clear that he couldn’t stand former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but also applauded Canada for legalizing cannabis. Poilievre notably did not pause to tell him whose policy that was.

If you’re not in a position to spend two and a half hours listening, here are some notes:

Of his political origin story, Poilievre told Rogan that he got into politics because he developed tendonitis as a young wrestler, which prevented him from training. “I was so bored. I would get home from school and I had nothing to do. I said to my mom, ‘you go to these local meetings with the Conservative association. Like, take me to that because I’m going crazy.’”

On US President Donald Trump, Poilievre said, “We’re never going to be the 51st state. And I wish he’d knock that shit off so that we can get back to talking about the things we can do as two separate countries that are actually friends.”

On governance, Poilievre said ruling political parties should be less domineering. “If I were to start a political party from scratch, it would be the mind your own damn business party…Get the government to do four or five things really well, and then let people live their lives.” (Interesting. Trans people would like a word.)

On Alberta separatism, Poilievre said, “That wont happen. It wont happen…There are some legitimate frustrations, but at the end of the day Canada is going to be united.”

Poilievre set the tone by arriving to the interview with a burlap sack full of gifts, including a kettlebell with a maple leaf painted on it, so that every time Rogan exercises he’ll be reminded of Canada. Polievre is a “kettlebell freak,” he said. (He did seem to know a lot about the history of kettlebells.) “Every time you do a kettlebell swing, you do a snatch, you do a clean, you’re going to be seeing that maple leaf, and you’re going to be reminding yourself that you need to come back to Canada,” he told the host.

Rogan, who is boycotting Canada, said he’d come back to visit if Poilievre wins the next federal election.

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