Podcaster Joe Rogan called out California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday for his administration’s response to independent journalist Nick Shirley. Shirley recently gained national attention for uncovering massive fraud in state-funded programs, first in Minnesota and now in California. Instead of investigating the claims, Newsom’s press office responded by posting an AI-generated meme mocking Shirley’s methods.
“Did you see what the governor posted, what Newsom’s press office posted?” Rogan asked his guest during Friday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. He noted that the office shared a fake image of Shirley peeking into windows at a daycare. Rogan argued that the governor should be grateful for the help rather than trying to make the investigator look silly.
Rogan went on to rhetorically address Newsom during the segment. “Like, Hey, he’s doing your job. He’s uncovering fraud and what you’re doing is mocking him?” Rogan asked. Guest and comedian Mark Normand agreed, suggesting that a governor’s first reaction to hearing about fraud should be to open an immediate investigation.
The exchange follows Shirley’s latest video titled, “I Investigated California’s Billion Dollar Fraud Crisis.” On social media, Shirley alleged that he uncovered over $170,000,000 in fraud while those involved live in luxury with no consequences. He pushed back against the governor’s office, telling them to start working for the people instead of against them.
Rogan argued that the administration’s tactics are a clear attempt to obfuscate and cover up the underlying issues. “They should just open up the investigations into all these places immediately if you care,” Rogan maintained. He suggested that the government’s only goal seems to be labeling investigators with names like White supremacist or Nazi to discredit their work.
As the 2026 midterms approach, the issue of government accountability remains a top concern for voters across the country. The contrast between independent investigators and state-level bureaucracy continues to highlight a growing distrust in public institutions. For now, Shirley’s investigations continue to rack up millions of views as he moves his focus to new targets.