This is a false dichotomy of filtering vs non-filtering. It’s sad that we are at that point in polarization where we can’t have a discussion or debate anymore and everything has to be either labeled or unfiltered. A knowledgeable host or other guest challenging a guest about a scientific fact is not having an agenda, it’s critical thinking than can lead to a healthy discussion and it used to be interesting for listeners to make their own opinion, it’s not hand guiding. There is a large spectrum between being completely passive/complacent and confrontational/insulting/canceling.

Joe Rogan is already in the middle. There are plenty of arguments and introspections where he strives to get more details and confirm the truth.

He just doesn't do it all the time with every guest and topic; but that's a side-effect of having long casual meandering conversations so people get upset when it doesn't happen with intensity they want against the content they disagree about.

In order to be in the middle you need to express an opinion. He seems to not be anywhere on the political spectrum, and that annoys me. Why listen to a political nihilist host morally depraved, political extremist crackpots?

In the context of this thread, being in the middle means he neither accepts everything blindly nor argues every single point, but questions refutes topics where he's knowledgeable or curious about while letting the conversation flow freely. It produces the greatest insight into how the guests think and what they really believe.

Rogan has expressed many strong opinions and has changed those opinions over the years. He's definitely not a nihilist and very clearly leans left on most issues with a few conservative points regarding individualistic rights and personal freedom. He also hosts many interesting people from many disciplines that I've learned a lot from.

It seems like you've never actually listened to any episodes and your comment represents the ignorant and shallow views that people accuse the JRE show of having.

Someone might listen because they believe the world is more complicated than a one-dimensional 'political' model would imply, and that the vast majority of reality and the human experience lies outside of the select few categories that exist in any given society at the moment.

"Forgive him; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature."

Yes, and Rogan would fall into the healthy part of that spectrum. People who say he's totally passive or unchallenging aren't actually familiar with the show - they're just echoing a tired tribal talking point.