In 2020, podcaster Joe Rogan announced he was moving from Los Angeles to Austin with loud fanfare, according to Chron. His big appeal at a time of mandatory masks was Austin’s lax mask requirement, along with lower taxes.

A number of Joe Rogan’s comedy and podcasting buddies are having second thoughts about following him to Texas. Rogan, who has been criticized for promoting vaccine skepticism and COVID theories on his hugely popular The Joe Rogan Experience podcast,

Gillis, who has returned to stardom after previously using an anti-Asian slur on a podcast and getting fired from Saturday Night Live, moved from New York City to Austin in 2023. He's said in several interviews that his move was motivated by a desire to be closer to Rogan's comedy venue and Texas' lack of a state income tax.