Joe Rogan Experience #905 - Shane Smith

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• The State of Modern Journalism: Shane Smith discusses the inception and unique, unpolished style of Vice's daily news show on HBO, contrasting it with traditional news outlets and embracing criticism.
• War Journalism & Reporter Courage: A deep dive into the experiences of Vice reporter Ben Anderson, highlighting his extraordinary calm and resilience in active war zones, including Afghanistan.
• "Fake News" and Media Trust: Discussion on the prevalence of unsubstantiated reports, particularly concerning political figures like Donald Trump, and the challenge of discerning truth in a polarized media environment.
• Climate Change Denial & Corporate Influence: Exploration of how fossil fuel companies, notably Exxon, allegedly spent billions to discredit climate science after knowing about global warming since the 1970s and 80s, mirroring tactics used by the tobacco industry.
• US Infrastructure & Politics: The dire state of American infrastructure, particularly water pipes (as seen in Flint), the estimated cost of repairs, and Trump's proposed plans to address these issues.
• Trump Presidency & Policy Shifts: Analysis of the early actions and cabinet appointments of the Trump administration, focusing on policy changes regarding the environment (EPA, Department of Energy) and social issues (abortion funding).
• Generational & Political Divide: The global phenomenon of generational political divides (Boomers vs. Gen Z/Y) influencing elections (e.g., Brexit, US presidential election) and driving public discontent.
• Marijuana Legalization: Extensive discussion on the federal illegality vs. state legalization of cannabis, the banking challenges for legal businesses, the DEA's classification of marijuana (Schedule 1), medical benefits (CBD, cancer research), and the political resistance from figures like Jeff Sessions and Hillary Clinton.
• The Absurdity of Cannabis Cup: Joe Rogan recounts his hilarious and chaotic experience as a judge at a Cannabis Cup event.
• Health Effects of Cannabis Smoke: Debunking myths about smoking cannabis, with Shane Smith providing scientific insights into its non-toxic nature compared to tobacco and its potential as an expectorant for lung issues.
• Political Activism & Protest: The resurgence of large-scale public protests, such as the Women's March, as a re-awakening of democratic expression in America.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Vice's Counter-Cultural Success: Shane Smith proudly recalls the New York Times criticizing Vice for being "just a bunch of hipsters in skinny jeans and tattoos high-fiving in war zones," which he saw as a victory because it wasn't a critique of their journalistic integrity.
• Ben Anderson's "30-Second Lag": The astonishing revelation about reporter Ben Anderson's composure under fire is attributed to a unique psychological trait—a "30-second lag" between danger and the realization of it.
• Environmentalism Beyond Politics: Smith argues that environmentalism should be a universal concern for "anyone who's sane, anyone who's smart," rather than a partisan "left thing."
• Exxon's Deliberate Disinformation: The striking insight that Exxon knew about the link between fossil fuels and global warming in the 70s and 80s, but then spent billions to create doubt, drawing direct parallels to the tobacco industry's tactics.
• Trump's "FDR-like" Potential: Rogan acknowledges Trump's stated intent to address infrastructure issues and create jobs as a potentially positive, albeit traditionally Democratic, "FDR-like" initiative.
• The Hypocrisy of Anti-Abortion, Pro-War Stance: The ironic observation that some individuals who strongly oppose abortion often have no issue with war or killing "full-grown" people.
• Cannabis Legalization is Inevitable: Both hosts assert that marijuana legalization is "on the right side of history" and an inevitable future, questioning the motives and outdated views of those who oppose it.
• The Cannabis Cup Farce: Joe Rogan's vivid and humorous description of his experience judging the Cannabis Cup, where he was too high to make any meaningful judgments, highlights the informal nature of early legalization efforts.
• Cannabis Smoke for Lung Health: The counter-intuitive but scientifically supported claim that cannabis smoke is not toxic like cigarette smoke and can even act as an expectorant, beneficial for conditions like asthma.
• Prohibition's True Cost: Rogan vehemently argues that making marijuana illegal isn't just a matter of personal dislike; it leads to people being jailed, violence, stifled medical research, and unnecessary suffering, making it a "crime."

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "If you aren't criticizing the news aren't criticizing the truth or the facts the stories you're just criticizing that we have tattoos and we don't look like you, we won." - Shane Smith on Vice's early criticisms.
• "He just goes down on one knee and he keeps talking unfazed." - Joe Rogan describing Vice reporter Ben Anderson's incredible composure under fire.
• "You know I have this thing where there's like a 30 second lag between like some guy like you want to die and he's got a 30 second lag between like when he realizes that." - Shane Smith explaining Ben Anderson's unflappable demeanor.
• "I don't know when environmentalism became a left thing it should be for anyone who's sane, anyone who's smart." - Shane Smith.
• "They knew in the 70s and 80s that fossil fuel...caused global warming...and then they realized this is going to be bad for business so in the '80s and '90s and now they spend billions of dollars on...discrediting the science." - Shane Smith on Exxon's alleged actions.
• "It's the exact same scientists and the exact same people and...groups...who went after cigarettes. They did cigarettes...it's question the science." - Shane Smith drawing parallels between climate change and tobacco industry denial tactics.
• "Good people don't smoke marijuana." - Jeff Sessions (quoted by Joe Rogan), highlighting a common, outdated political stance.
• "I was one of the [censored] judges there... you have no idea after the first couple hits you're on Pluto." - Joe Rogan's humorous account of judging the Cannabis Cup.
• "Apparently not and actually scientists it actually acts as an expectorant on your lungs good for people that have emphysema...asthma really good for asthma dilates L." - Shane Smith's surprising revelation about the health effects of cannabis smoke.
• "It's not just that you don't like it...the problem is you can make people get locked in a cage that's a crime." - Joe Rogan passionately arguing against marijuana prohibition.
• "I think Americans had forgotten how to sort of protest Americans had forgotten this is part of democracy." - Shane Smith on the significance of recent mass protests.

Overall Themes

• The Crisis of Truth and Media Integrity: The episode consistently explores the challenges facing modern media, from the rise of "fake news" and partisan reporting to the need for unvarnished, fact-based journalism, as exemplified by Vice's approach. It highlights the difficulty of navigating a landscape where objective truth is under constant assault, often for political or financial gain.
• Corporate Power vs. Public Good: A dominant theme is the conflict between powerful corporate interests (fossil fuels, pharmaceuticals) and the collective well-being of society. The discussion on climate change denial and marijuana prohibition illustrates how industries can manipulate public perception and government policy to protect profits, even at the cost of environmental health and individual freedom/health.
• Political Disillusionment and Re-Engagement: The conversation delves into widespread political disillusionment, manifested in the "generational divide" and the unexpected outcomes of elections like Trump's. However, it also highlights a re-awakening of civic engagement through large-scale protests, suggesting a shift towards active, rather than passive, participation in democracy.
• The Inevitability of Progress (and Resistance to it): Especially evident in the marijuana legalization discussion, the theme of "being on the right side of history" permeates the episode. Despite entrenched political and societal resistance, the hosts convey a sense that certain changes, supported by scientific consensus and public will, are ultimately inevitable, even if progress is painfully slow.
• Authenticity and Unconventional Approaches: Whether discussing Vice's "unpolished" journalism or Joe Rogan's honest account of judging the Cannabis Cup, there's an underlying appreciation for authenticity and non-traditional methods that cut through pretense and offer a more direct, albeit sometimes chaotic, view of reality.