Democratic Texas state Representative James Talarico (D) appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast Friday, where he received unexpected praise from the host.
Rogan, a well-known comedian and commentator, told the lawmaker that he should consider a presidential run.
The endorsement came at the conclusion of a lengthy discussion on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Talarico, 36, represents Texas’s 50th District and is a former teacher. During the interview, he spoke at length about his Christian beliefs, political background, and several policy issues at both the state and federal levels.
His viewpoints appeared to resonate strongly with Rogan.
“You need to run for president,” Rogan said. “We need someone who is actually a good person.”
Talarico responded with humility, suggesting he wasn’t comfortable with that kind of attention. He asked Rogan to let him explain why he disagreed, per the New York Post.
“Can I actually push back on that?” Talarico asked. He went on to discuss the dangers of turning politics into a belief system akin to religion. He noted that excessive faith in political figures can be problematic.
Talarico pointed to examples across the political spectrum. “I’ve seen it with Bernie,” he said, referring to Senator Bernie Sanders. “I like Bernie