Aaron Rodgers trashes Gavin Newsom on Joe Rogan podcast

“I have a friend, and his brother works in the COVID response… in California. And remember when they made a decision to close outdoor dining, and it turned out that one of the people that made that decision, the day she did it, went out and was dining outdoors?” Rogan asked in apparent reference to Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

“I thought you meant Gavin Newsom going to French Laundry,” Rodgers quipped, to which Rogan responded, “Yeah, that was fun.”

After Rogan finished his point regarding the lack of evidence that closing outdoor dining meaningfully reduces spread of the virus, Rodgers wanted to discuss beach closures. Newsom had a very public feud with Orange County officials after ordering that they close their beaches that spring.

“Joe, they closed the beaches in California,” Rodgers said. “They closed the beaches where I live in California and all around the coast.”

The pair then discussed the paddle-boarder arrested in Malibu for violating the state’s stay-at-home order, with Rodgers joking, “He’s passing COVID to the dolphins or what?”

Rogan concluded by stating that he thinks people angry about COVID-19 restrictions should “vote Republican,” a remark that drew a chuckle but no subsequent comment from Rodgers.

Neither Rogan nor Rodgers can be neatly categorized as “right-wing” or “conservative.” Rogan’s politics are best described as libertarian, and he has some notable left-wing views as well. Rodgers, meanwhile, hasn’t specified any ideological leaning, but has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement and said he’s proud of receiving a glowing letter from former President Barack Obama after the quarterback condemned anti-Muslim rhetoric following a terrorist attack in Paris in 2015.