Joe Rogan and Elon Musk’s MSNBC Takeover Fantasy Sparks Media Frenzy

In a provocative exchange that lit up social media in November 2024, podcast titan Joe Rogan and billionaire Elon Musk playfully mused about acquiring MSNBC and replacing its star host, Rachel Maddow, with Rogan.

Triggered by Comcast’s announcement to spin off MSNBC and other NBCUniversal cable networks, their banter—laced with biting humor and political jabs—ignited a firestorm of reactions, from conservative cheers to liberal outrage. While satirical in tone, the scenario tapped into real tensions around media ownership, declining ratings, and America’s polarized landscape.

This article explores the viral moment, its cultural impact, and the broader questions it raises about the future of cable news.

The Spark: A Comcast Spinoff and Musk’s Troll

On November 20, 2024, Comcast announced it would spin off several NBCUniversal cable networks, including MSNBC, into a new entity dubbed “SpinCo,” set to operate independently from NBC News by late 2025. The move, aimed at boosting shareholder value amid declining cable viewership, sent shockwaves through the media industry.

MSNBC, a liberal bastion, faced an uncertain future, with its ratings already reeling—down 38% since the 2024 election, per Nielsen data.

Enter Elon Musk, X’s owner and a vocal critic of mainstream media. On November 22, Musk seized on a post by Donald Trump Jr., who jokingly suggested he buy MSNBC, captioning it, “Hey @elonmusk, I have the funniest idea ever!!!” Musk replied, “How much does it cost?” and later posted,

“The most entertaining outcome, especially if ironic, is most likely.” His trolling escalated with a meme of himself resisting temptation, captioned, “Elon Musk trying not to buy,” with MSNBC’s logo overlaid. The posts, viewed millions of times, framed MSNBC as a struggling outlet ripe for a conservative overhaul.

Rogan’s Pitch: A Satirical Jab at Maddow

Joe Rogan, host of The Joe Rogan Experience, joined the fray, commenting on Musk’s post: “If you buy MSNBC, I would like Rachel Maddow’s job. I will wear the same outfit and glasses, and I will tell the same lies.” Musk’s one-word reply—“Deal”—sent X into a frenzy.

Rogan’s dig, mocking Maddow’s liberal commentary and signature look, resonated with conservatives who view MSNBC as a biased echo chamber. Comedian Tim Young tweeted, “Please God make this happen,” while author Jim Hanson wrote, “Can you imagine the freak out level on the Left right now? They know Elon could do this on a whim.”

The exchange, though humorous, wasn’t grounded in reality. Comcast clarified that MSNBC wasn’t for sale, and the spinoff was a tax-free restructuring, not a fire sale. A Comcast spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter, “None of these assets are for sale.” Moreover,

Maddow had recently signed a new contract with MSNBC, despite a reported $5 million pay cut, securing her role amid the network’s woes. Yet the satire struck a nerve, amplified by MSNBC’s plummeting ratings: The Rachel Maddow Show lost 41% of its viewers post-election, averaging 1.4 million, and 50% in the 25-54 demographic, down to 118,000.

Cultural Flashpoint: A Polarized Reaction

The Musk-Rogan banter became a cultural lightning rod, exposing fault lines in America’s media landscape. Conservative X users celebrated, with posts like “Rogan on MSNBC would end liberal propaganda!” trending alongside #MuskBuysMSNBC.

Author Carol Roth quipped, “I’d like a panelist spot on ‘The Normal View,’” poking at ABC’s The View. The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles joined in, offering to replace Maddow, while Trump Jr. jested about mimicking MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell “minus the castration.”

Liberals, meanwhile, decried the mockery. A manipulated video falsely showing Maddow crying over Musk’s meme—originally from her 2018 emotional report on migrant family separations—garnered 5.5 million views, shared by figures like former Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Fact-checkers, including Snopes and USA Today, debunked it as satire from a SpaceX Fanclub Facebook page, which admitted, “Nothing on this page is real.” Yet the fake video fueled conservative glee and liberal anger, with X users calling it “cruel” or “hilarious” depending on their leanings.

MSNBC’s ratings collapse added context to the jest. Maddow, whose show thrived on anti-Trump rhetoric, struggled post-election, with viewers fatigued by her focus on debunked Russia theories. A 2024 Fox News report noted her 50% drop in key demographics,

reflecting broader network challenges—MSNBC averaged 521,000 daily viewers post-election, down 38% from its 2024 average. Musk’s vision of turning MSNBC into a “citizen reporting” channel based on X stories tapped into conservative distrust of legacy media, with 62% of Americans, per a 2024 Pew study, viewing outlets like MSNBC as biased.

The Briefing Connection: Leavitt’s Defiance

The MSNBC saga dovetailed with Karoline Leavitt’s real-world media battles. In White House briefings, Leavitt faced scrutiny over military secrecy, deflecting questions about classified launch times by attacking reporters like Jeffrey Goldberg as “anti-Trump sensationalists.”

Her tactics—evading specifics, promising “no firings” for errors—mirrored the Musk-Rogan narrative of challenging liberal media. While Leavitt’s briefings were unrelated, her defiance of establishment narratives amplified the conservative fantasy of reshaping outlets like MSNBC.

Implications: Media Ownership and Trust

The Musk-Rogan exchange, though satirical, raised serious questions about media ownership. Musk’s 2022 Twitter acquisition for $44 billion showed he could act on whims, and his MSNBC posts echoed that playbook. CNN reported that liberal billionaires had also expressed interest in MSNBC,

signaling a potential bidding war if SpinCo’s assets became available post-spinoff. However, tax rules make an immediate sale unlikely, as Morgan Stanley noted a two-year waiting period to preserve SpinCo’s tax-free status.

For MSNBC, the spinoff poses challenges. Variety reported concerns among staff about losing NBC News’ resources, with questions about whether MSNBC’s name or news-gathering units would change.

Maddow’s contract provides stability, but the network’s identity—tied to liberal commentary—faces risks if new owners shift its direction. A Musk-led MSNBC, while improbable, would likely alienate its base, as The Hollywood Reporter noted, given Rogan’s appeal to a different demographic.

Lessons for a Polarized Age

The episode offers lessons for navigating America’s divide. Musk and Rogan’s satire leveraged humor to critique media bias, resonating with conservatives who feel silenced—68% of Republicans, per Gallup 2024, distrust cable news. But their jabs risked deepening polarization, dismissing legitimate liberal concerns about media consolidation.

For media outlets, the saga underscores the need for transparency; MSNBC’s silence on Musk’s trolling fueled speculation. In debates, emulate Rogan’s sharp wit but pair it with facts, like Maddow’s viewership data, to ground arguments.

Conclusion: A Satire Reflecting Reality

Joe Rogan and Elon Musk’s MSNBC takeover fantasy was a masterclass in trolling, turning Comcast’s spinoff into a conservative rallying cry. Their jabs at Rachel Maddow, amplified by X’s viral reach, exposed media vulnerabilities—declining ratings,

public distrust—and sparked a cultural debate. While MSNBC isn’t for sale, and Maddow remains entrenched, the episode highlighted the power of satire to shape narratives. As Leavitt’s briefings echo this defiance, the Musk-Rogan saga signals a new era where media battles are fought not just in studios but on digital platforms,

with irony as the weapon of choice.