Modernity is marked by the requirement to choose a worldview as technology increases our interactions with others who's alternative perspectives of reality challenge and conflict with our own. This is the basic conclusion Sociologists of religion came to in the 90's when they saw the rest of the world wasn't modernizing like Europe did by secularizing.

The challenge of competing worldviews is really one of the central sociological challenges today. The natural tendency seems to be to try to push the contaminating thoughts to the margins of society - and all groups (left, right, religious, secular, etc) engage in this basic tendency. Its disturbing to live with people who's basic view of reality challenges your own.

The NYT represents mainstream left's attempt maintain worldview solidarity (and again, each group engages in this activity) so it seems natural they take issue with Joe Rogan as he represents the other choice in responding to the smorgasbord of modernity: engage with all the alternatives openly. Rogan states several times the format of his podcast is designed for this - 4 hour conversations. Not scripted, not planned, just conversation. Such conversations are apparently deeply interesting to people who'd rather not spend their time in parochial attempts to shore up their own worldview across society.

I do find it hard to tell (sometimes) whether Rogan's guests are on the level, but maybe that reflects the inherent ambiguity of life. I mean relativity in epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics has been mainstream for decades, if not generations. I expect the attempt to turn back the clock on modernity from conservative religious groups, but its always seems strangely inconsistent when coming from the NYT.