Missed this article when it was published. So the reason can be summed up in woke fragility

> The Real Reason Why Kamala Harris' Interview With Joe Rogan Was Called Off
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-joe-rogan-podcast-interview-called-off-reason-1985461

QUOTE

The Harris campaign and Joe Rogan, host of The Joe Rogan Experience, discussed an interview for weeks but couldn't settle on terms. A week after her loss, new details surfaced as a campaign official revealed that Harris' concerns about backlash from progressives ultimately led to canceling the plans. Rogan claimed the vice president was unwilling to address controversial topics.

"Some of our progressive staff pushed back, not wanting her on the show and worrying about backlash," Harris campaign adviser Jennifer Palmieri said on Wednesday at a New York conference organized by The Clearing House, a payments group owned by major U.S. banks.

Palmieri, as first reported by The Financial Times, also said that news leaking about Harris being in talks to appear on Rogan's show created a "very weird dynamic" with the podcaster.

...

Harris' concerns mirror previous incidents in which Democratic leaders faced internal criticism for engaging with Rogan's audience. Senator Bernie Sanders faced backlash in 2020 after promoting an endorsement from Rogan.

While it's hard to argue that Harris' failed interview with Rogan and the subsequent Trump endorsement by the podcaster swung the election, it underscored Democrats' messaging challenges—a weakness seen throughout her five-month campaign.

Harris, favored by mainstream media, relied on traditional outlets like CBS, ABC, and NBC, even appearing on Saturday Night Live. Trump, meanwhile, focused his media strategy on podcasters and social media influencers like Rogan himself.