By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-18 18:11:35 | Updated at 2025-01-18 23:11:44
5 hours ago
Joe Rogan has been called out by his guest for sharing a wild conspiracy theory about arsonists and looters during the Los Angeles fire disaster.
The podcaster was discussing investigations into whether the Eaton and Pallisades fires were started by arsonists, and reports of evacuated homes being looted.
Rogan was discussing the aftermath of the fires - which are still raging after destroying thousands of homes - with frequent guest, comedian Bryan Callen.
He claimed organized groups of up to 100 people were breaking into homes that were evacuated but untouched by the fires, and robbing them.
'People are looting like f**king crazy... pulling into neighborhoods that are being evacuated, smashing through doors and pulling out TVs,' he said.
Looters, some even dressed in fake fire department outfits, have been spotted and some arrested, but there are no credible reports of huge organized gangs.
Callen said in frustrated hyperbole that arsonists 'should be put to death', before Rogan made an even more bizarre claim.
'One guy got caught setting fires, and he had a UN debit card... He had a bunch,' he claimed.
Joe Rogan has been called out by his guest for sharing a wild conspiracy theory about arsonists and looters during the Los Angeles fire disaster
Rogan made wild claims about arsonists in the LA fires. This alleged arsonist was arrested right next to the small blaze he was accused of starting
'He had five cell phones and the United Nations prepaid debit card.'
Callen wasn't buying it, tell Rogan to check the source of the claim because it didn't sound right.
'I'm skeptical. Is this conspiracy? I just don't want to be played. You know what I mean, though? I don't want to be played. I don't know what's true anymore,' he said.
Rogan had his producer check the source of the claim and laughed when he was told is was an anonymous Twitter account and the tweets were deleted.
'You see? You see? I told you. I'm already like hmm, I don't know,' Called laughed.
'You're spreading rumors, Joe Rogan. You got played.'
Rogan was discussing the aftermath of the fires - which are still raging after destroying thousands of homes - with frequent guest, comedian Bryan Calle
A looter sits on the footpath after being arrested by police
A car full of items stolen from evacuated homes after looters were caught by police
Screenshots of the claims made by various other accounts are still online, mostly labeled as fake news.
The UN does not issue debit cards to anyone and no such product exists.
New York City has since March issued prepaid debit cards with $350 on them to migrants, so they could buy food, clothing, and other essentials.
The city found it was half the cost of providing the migrants with food itself.
Mayor Eric Adams announced the one-year pilot program would end, and be replaced by 'more competitive contracting for asylum seeker programs'.
Tools some of the looters used to break into evacuated homes and steal belongings
