Joe Rogan Questions Activists Who Tweet From Phones Made With Cheap Labor

Joe Rogan has spoken out about social justice activists who are using phones made by cheap labor in foreign countries to spread their message.

While technology giant Apple is headquartered in California, its popular devices—including the iPhone and iPad—are manufactured by Taiwanese multinational electronics contractor Foxconn. It also manufactures devices for a number of other major companies, including Amazon, Nokia, Sony and Google.

Over the years, Foxconn has been the target of numerous watchdog-related criticisms, amid accusations about Chinese laborers working long hours for low pay and without proper safety training, among other issues.

During the latest episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the titular host spoke with his guest, comedian Iliza Shlesinger, about the importance of the U.S. becoming self-reliant when it comes to products and resources.

"I think there's a lot of people that woke up to that during the pandemic," Rogan said, "but probably not enough because as soon as things kind of semi go back to normal, people relax and go with the old ways.

"And it's just cheaper," he went on. "Look, everyone wants to be a social justice warrior, right? Everyone wants to talk about injustice in the world. And they want to do it from a f***ing phone that's made by slaves. And that's real. Your f***ing phone is pieced together by people who can't afford to do anything else, and they're working 16 hours a day in China."

Shlesinger responded, "Well, that's why it's all so cheap, because of foreign labor laws. We don't have that here. We have unions and these types of civil rights. And so, by and large, you're not getting made in America because it is cheaper [when foreign-made]. People make more money when they do it somewhere else."

"But I want to know how much cheaper," Rogan asked. "How much more would I have to pay for an iPhone if they made it in Ohio, where you pay people a reasonable living wage, give people health benefits and let them live well? How much would it cost?

"Would it cost twice as much, because I'd pay twice as much? If they had an American version of these phones and a Chinese version of the phones, and the American version was 50 percent more or whatever, I'd f***ing pay it," he said.

Rogan also said he supports a company offering "an American-made solution, where you don't have to feel gross about buying something that you know is made by people that are working for an insanely low amount of money with no benefits whatsoever."

Newsweek has reached out to representatives of Apple for comment.