Neil Young Vs. Joe Rogan
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the raging controversy over Neil Young’s decision to remove his music from Spotify as a result of their partnership with Joe Rogan. From disinformation to audio quality to the sprawling nature of the internet to the limitless nature of boycotting people you disagree with, the topic simultaneously touches on a number of disparate topics roiling our digital—and irl—waters. (See Neil Young’s statement here; Joe Rogan’s response on Instagram here; and Sonny’s essay on the matter in the Washington Post here.) The gang also reviewed Asghar Farhadi’s Cannes favorite A Hero this week and touched on the ways truth is both slippery and concrete at the same time. And make sure to check out our special bonus episode on Peter Dinklage’s problem with Disney’s effort to remake Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
As always, if you’re a paying Bulwark+ member, the comments are open. But given the contentiousness surrounding the Neil Young/Joe Rogan/Spotify debate, we’d ask you make a special effort to keep things civil this week. Appreciate it!
Neil Young Vs. Joe Rogan
I think that people keep mistaking what Young was doing. He never though that he would change Spotify. He simply wanted to get something out there. No one listened or cared when hundreds of medical professionals sent an open letter to Rogan. Now people are talking about it. Anyway, I got tired of the conversation and decided to just play some Neil Young from Apple Music.
I appreciate this discussion and its an example of why I subscribe. One of my favorite points I continue to see on The Bulwark is the need to get out into our communities and have conversations with people we may not agree with. I don't think there is any substitute for the examples which we set in our own personal sphere.
I know this sounds preachy but In a free society, one of the most important disciplines we can practice is to allow others to have their opinions even if those opinions are going to, as many think, lead to "...the end life as we know it...", but aren't they all? A lot of the polarization and toxicity exists because it seems we keep wanting to "save the world" by shutting down opinions we may view as a threat. The net result of that kind of approach is probably loss of trust for our own position, at best, and, worse, outright defiance from the "other side", whatever that may be.