--- title: "The Dead Husk of Gawker Is Being Used to Promote Joe Rogan’s Interview With Donald Trump" description: "The dead husk of Gawker has seemingly come to life once again and is linking to Joe Rogan's interview with Donald Trump for some reason." date: "2024-11-05" modified: "2024-11-05" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/dead-gawker-promote-joe-rogan-donald-trump" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "donald trump" - "gawker" - "joe rogan" - "peter thiel" - "publishing" --- # The Dead Husk of Gawker Is Being Used to Promote Joe Rogan’s Interview With Donald Trump ![]() *\Image: Futurism / Getty / Joe Rogan Experience\* The dead husk of the defunct blog *Gawker* has seemingly come to life once again. The over-2o-year-old publication's homepage currently features a single story, in the form of a direct link to podcaster Joe Rogan's [October 25 interview]() with former president Donald Trump, as [spotted]() by Passionfruit newsletter publisher (and former *Futurism* publisher) James Del. "Trump X Rogan uncensored: 3-hour weave or windfall?" the post asks rhetorically. "Gloves off and all-in on the podcast superstar, is this the defining moment of the 2024 election?" To be clear, we have no idea why *Gawker* is directing readers to a rambling interview that couldn't be further from being the "defining moment" of the election. According to a [*CNN* fact check](), Trump made at least 32 false claims during the almost three-hour-long chat, including lies about the 2020 election, vice president Kamala Harris' crowd sizes, and so on. Given the often abrasive and unabashedly progressive nature of *Gawker*'s former editorial views, the choice of its latest — and only — blog post is striking. For one, calling Rogan a "podcast superstar" is a notable departure from how *Gawker* treated him in the past, from a [blunt piece]() about whether he can "suck his own dick," to an [examination]() of a video he made apologizing for repeatedly saying the N-word. Given the imminent presidential election, the timing is certainly suspect. Rogan [officially endorsed]() Trump for president a day ahead of the election. The homepage also now features a button for an "Ask a Gawker" feature, which could hint at a possible AI chatbot integration. "Don't worry, we couldn't care less who you are... for now," reads a tongue-in-cheek message at the bottom of the pop-up that appears when you click on the button. ![]() *Futurism* reached out to *Gawker*'s new owner, Meng Ru Kuok, for comment. The blog has an incredibly rocky history, especially since it published a sex tape featuring wrestler Hulk Hogan, a decision that led to a drawn-out legal battle, a proxy war [waged]() by former PayPal CEO and Elon Musk's billionaire friend Peter Thiel. *Gawker* ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2016. *Gawker* has cycled through a number of different owners since then, including Univision, which was later renamed to the Gizmodo Media Group, and *Bustle* owner Bryan Goldberg, who [purchased]() the website and its archive in July 2018. The blog had a brief less-than-two-year-long stint, publishing under the Bustle Digital Group's ownership until it [folded once again]() in early 2023, failing to make enough money to stay afloat. Most recently, *Gawker* was acquired by Meng Ru Kuok, the founder of Singapore-based Caldecott Music Group. Kuok [confirmed to *Variety*]() in November 2023 that he had bought the trademarks and domain name, but not its archives (which fortunately [have since been backed up elsewhere]().) "As it relates to the future for *Gawker*, as a brand that spent many years in the public consciousness, my personal opinion is that it has the opportunity for reinvention," he told the publication at the time. "Whatever plans materialize, what’s for sure is that it won’t be the same as it was before." Given the latest change to its homepage, we can't help but agree. **More on Joe Rogan:** *[Joe Rogan Supports Candidate Who Bragged About Brain Worm, Dumping Dead Bear in Central Park]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()