Podcast giant Joe Rogan blasted CNN this week after the network deleted a social media post that described two terrorist bomb suspects as teenagers enjoying a warm day in New York City.
The controversy erupted after CNN posted — and later removed — a message on X about two Pennsylvania teens arrested after allegedly throwing homemade bombs during a protest outside the home of Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City.
“Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather,” CNN wrote in the now-deleted post.
The message continued that “their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home.”
Rogan mocked the framing during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, suggesting the network’s language downplayed the seriousness of the alleged attack.
“The CNN one is so kooky,” Rogan said before reading the post on air. “[T]hey did take it down because it’s so f–king ridiculous,” he added. “But the internet never forgets … Thank god I saved it. I took a screenshot because I’m like, ‘This is such a crazy way to frame two guys who wanted to do a terror attack.’”
Rogan then ridiculed the description.
“Two Pennsylvania teenagers, just regular fellas from PA, from Philly! Two Philly boys had a couple of cheesesteaks and then got on the train!’” he joked.
“Why the f–k would you even say that? Could have been a normal day if they weren’t going there to commit terrorism,” Rogan continued.
The podcast host also questioned whether the wording reflected a broader editorial choice.
“Are you trying to downplay the possibility of — first of all, now in New York, because you have a guy who’s an avowed whatever he is, democratic socialist, some say communist, but also Muslim,” Rogan said. “And then you have these Islamists who are doing a terrorist attack. So are you trying to soften that? It seems like you’re trying to soften it.”
CNN later acknowledged the wording problem and explained why the post was removed.
“A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mandarin’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting,” the network wrote in a statement posted to X. “It has therefore been deleted.”
The deleted post quickly spread across social media as critics accused the network of minimizing an alleged terrorist incident — illustrating how rapidly controversial framing decisions can escalate online.
Watch the clip below [LANGUAGE WARNING]:
🚨NEW: Joe Rogan *RIPS* CNN over portraying alleged TERRORISTS in New York as teens enjoying nice weather🚨
"It's so f*cking RIDICULOUS … This is such a CRAZY way to frame 2 guys who wanted to do a terror attack! … It seems like you're trying to soften it!"@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/GEXnyOHfOk
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) March 11, 2026
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