Podcast rankings saw a major shake-up last week as Tony Hinchcliffe’s Kill Tony overtook The Joe Rogan Experience on YouTube’s list of most popular podcasts, ending Rogan’s long-standing run at the top.
The shift came amid Rogan’s recent criticism of the Trump administration on issues ranging from immigration enforcement to foreign policy and the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
According to YouTube analytics, Kill Tony claimed the number one position for the week of July 7 to July 13.
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Rogan’s podcast, which has led the charts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for years, had held the top YouTube ranking since late May.
Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian known for his unfiltered stand-up and regular appearances on the MAGA-aligned circuit, has kept his content focused largely on comedy.
His show regularly features pro-Trump guests and fellow comedians, many of whom have expressed support for conservative policies and candidates.
In contrast, Rogan has drawn headlines over the past several weeks for comments critical of President Donald Trump’s administration.
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Hinchcliffe’s rise to the top came just months after controversy erupted following remarks he made during an October 27, 2024, Trump rally at Madison Square Garden.
During his set, he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” a comment that prompted public disavowal from President Trump.
CLAIM: Trump rally speaker claims Puerto Rico is a floating pile of garbage.
TRUTH: This is called comedy and the “speaker” is comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.
Here are the facts:
-This is Tony Hinchcliffe, the host of K*ll Tony, the #1 live podcast in the world.
-Tony is known for… pic.twitter.com/rSfbeyQDeM
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) October 27, 2024
“I apologize to absolutely nobody. Not to the Puerto Ricans, not to the Whites, not to the Blacks, not to the Palestinians, not to the Jews, and not to my own mother, who I made fun of during the set,” Hinchcliffe later said on his podcast.
“That’s what I do, and that’s never going to change.”
This is exactly how you respond to attempts to cancel you, especially if you’re a comedian.@TonyHinchcliffe: “I apologize to absolutely nobody. Not to the Puerto Ricans, not to the whites, not to the Blacks, not to the Palestinians, not to the Jews, and not to my own mother,… pic.twitter.com/stWn0fR1pG
— Meghan Murphy (@MeghanEMurphy) November 12, 2024
Despite the backlash, Hinchcliffe’s audience has expanded rapidly.
In March, he signed a deal with Netflix to produce three Kill Tony comedy specials. The first aired on April 7.
Meanwhile, Rogan’s recent comments have drawn scrutiny from his listeners and political observers.
On July 2, during an interview with Replit co-founder Amjad Masad, Rogan criticized President Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy, particularly the targeting of migrant workers during worksite operations.
“It’s kind of disappointing. It’s insane… There’s two things that are insane. One is the targeting of migrant workers. Not cartel members, not gang members, not drug dealers, just construction workers showing up in construction sites and raiding them… Like really?” Rogan said.
Joe Rogan: “It’s insane. The targeting of migrant workers, not cartel members, not gang members, not drug dealers. Just construction workers showing up on construction sites and raiding them.” pic.twitter.com/r04H8zA2hk
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) July 3, 2025
The week before, on June 24, Rogan interviewed Sen. Bernie Sanders and voiced concern over U.S. involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
“I think the whole MAGA thing right now is very divided, particularly because one of the things they voted for was no war. Well, now it seems like we’re in a war,” Rogan said.
“It’s quick, we’re six months in and that’s already popped off and then people are very concerned with now what happens to our troops overseas that are in these bases that are in vulnerable positions.”
On July 9, Rogan connected recent U.S. military actions with the continued public interest in the Epstein investigation.
Citing recent comments from Attorney General Pam Bondi about thousands of videos allegedly tied to Epstein, Rogan implied that attention may be diverted by foreign policy actions.
“Just bomb Iran. Yeah, everybody forgets about it,” Rogan said, referring to the administration’s decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.
‘Nothing you’re looking for is on those tapes…? Thousands of hours of people doing HORRIBLE sh*t — #JoeRogan boggled by #Epstein denials
’10’s of THOUSANDS of videos… with children or child PORN’
Just bomb Iran and everyone forgets … pic.twitter.com/p1vndVDzl2
— Michael Ashura (@MichaelAshura) July 16, 2025
Despite the drop in YouTube rankings, The Joe Rogan Experience remains in the top spot on Spotify.
On Apple Podcasts, Rogan’s show is currently ranked second behind ABC News’ Devil in the Desert, a true crime series.
Rogan’s recent trajectory mirrors that of Elon Musk, another figure once closely aligned with Trump who later broke publicly with the administration.
Musk’s fallout with President Trump in May triggered investor concerns and led to a significant decline in Tesla’s stock.
By June 6, Tesla shares had dropped by roughly 14 percent, eliminating more than $150 billion in market value—the largest single-day loss in company history.
On Spotify, Rogan is now followed by The Tucker Carlson Show, hosted by another prominent MAGA figure who recently raised questions about the administration’s handling of the Epstein case.
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