During a fiery Thursday episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the podcast giant blasted Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his newly unveiled fiscal year 2027 budget proposal — and the reaction was explosive.
Mamdani’s plan, which clocks in at a staggering $127 billion, includes an additional $1.2 billion earmarked for migrants in New York City. The figure immediately caught Rogan’s attention.
“He’s a fucking psychopath. Like, the amount for migrants is crazy,” Rogan said bluntly. “There should be zero dollars for illegal immigrants.”
The moment quickly escalated as Rogan and guest Michael Malice debated what, if anything, should be done about the ongoing migrant crisis overwhelming major American cities.
Malice argued that feeding migrants is a necessity.
“Human beings need food. What are you going to do?” Malice asked.
Rogan’s response was swift.
“Get them jobs.”
When Malice pressed on how that would work in practice, Rogan fired back with a sharp quip: “Get him a job in Guatemala.”
The exchange underscored a broader frustration shared by many Americans who feel the system has spiraled out of control. Malice noted that migrants cannot simply be “thrown away,” while Rogan countered with the obvious alternative.
“Unless you’re going to remove them from the country,” Rogan said.
“Right,” Malice agreed.
Both men ultimately described the situation as a complete “mess,” reflecting a sentiment that continues to gain traction nationwide as cities grapple with ballooning costs, strained services, and political gridlock.
Joe Rogan says Zohran Mamdani is a “f*cking psychopat.”pic.twitter.com/MSGGQk4K1y
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) February 20, 2026
But Rogan isn’t alone in criticizing Mamdani’s massive spending blueprint.
The Washington Post editorial board also took aim at the mayor’s proposal, particularly its sweeping tax increases and expansive social spending priorities. The $127 billion plan exceeds the budgets of 47 U.S. states and would reportedly raise taxes on more than 3 million New York City residents.
According to the editorial board, Mamdani’s budget openly acknowledges that taxpayers will have to shoulder the burden of financing what critics are calling an aggressive socialist expansion of city government.
“The reality is that Americans may like the idea of ‘free’ stuff — it’s how socialists win elections — but they are less excited about having to pay for it,” the board wrote. “They’re even less excited when they live in a state that ranks at the very bottom of the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index.”
The board also dismissed Mamdani’s claim that his administration found $1.7 billion in cuts to offset spending increases.
“That’s a laughable number,” the editorial stated, arguing that the mayor is attempting to grow a city government that is already sprawling and inefficient.
Instead of focusing narrowly on core responsibilities like law enforcement and public safety, critics argue the city continues pouring billions into expansive housing and health care programs while taxpayers face rising costs and economic pressure.
Rogan’s outburst taps into a larger national debate over immigration, taxation, and the limits of government spending. As cities like New York wrestle with record-breaking budgets and controversial priorities, the political temperature shows no signs of cooling.
