What do you call someone who thrives on controversy and yet seems to stumble into chaos every step of the way? For Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones is a “savant.” But on episode #2249 of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan had a different take, and it wasn’t exactly flattering.

“He’s a very misunderstood guy… but that Sandy Hook thing ruined him,” Rogan said, pulling no punches. According to Rogan, Jones’ fall from grace wasn’t just a matter of bad decisions but a cautionary tale of what happens when conspiracies take over your life. So, was Tucker’s assessment a misfire, or is there a sliver of truth to it? Let’s dive in.

Rogan didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: Alex Jones’ tendency to go off the deep end. While Rogan acknowledged Jones’ past struggles, psychotic breaks, substance abuse, and a constant immersion in conspiracy theories. He didn’t hold back on criticizing the environment that fueled it all. “Some people create fake conspiracy theories and then put them online for content,” Rogan explained. “But there’s a more nefarious aspect to it. The more conspiracies you can make look really stupid, the more the real ones seem preposterous.”

Think about that for a moment. Could it be that the endless stream of absurd ideas, flat Earth, weather-controlling humans, you name it, isn’t just harmless noise? Rogan believes there’s intent behind it. A deliberate effort to discredit the real, hard-to-swallow truths by drowning them in a sea of nonsense. Now, have we become too distracted by the bizarre to focus on what really matters?

Joe Rogan, UFC, and the World of Weird

And speaking of bizarre, let’s talk about the UFC’s own conspiracy enthusiast, Bryce Mitchell. After his jaw-dropping KO victory over Kron Gracie at UFC 310, Mitchell would have proudly crowned himself the Flat Earth Champion. Yes, you read that right. Both ‘Thug Nasty’ and Kron Gracie are flat-Earthers, with many fans dubbing their fight, ‘Battle of the Flat-Earthers’.

Bryce Mitchell’s fascination with the flat Earth theory isn’t new. He once challenged Joe Rogan to a debate on the topic, only to claim Rogan “sissied out.” But despite Mitchell’s quirky beliefs, Rogan sees theories like flat Earth as part of the bigger problem. For the podcaster, it all boils down to intent. While Mitchell’s flat Earth antics are laughable at best, Jones’ descent into the Sandy Hook conspiracy has left lasting damage. Rogan didn’t sugarcoat it, “ If it wasn’t for that, people would appreciate him for what he is.”

Rogan believes even Jones isn’t entirely to blame. “He had a psychotic break… he was losing his mind because all day long, it’s conspiracies that are real,” Rogan explained. It’s a chilling thought, could the constant search for hidden truths push anyone to the brink? The parallels between Jones and UFC fighters like Bryce Mitchell highlight an undeniable truth, conspiracies, however ridiculous, have infiltrated every corner of modern culture. Whether it’s a broadcaster spiraling out of control or a fighter using his beliefs as a gimmick, the question remains the same, what’s the cost of indulging these ideas?

So, here’s a question to leave you with, do we laugh off the flat Earth champions of the world, or should we worry about the ripple effects of normalizing conspiracy culture? And what about us as consumers? Are we guilty of feeding the machine by indulging in these theories, even as entertainment?