TL;DR

• Matt Rogers told Las Culturistas listeners not to donate to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign.
• Co-host Bowen Yang agreed, sparking criticism online.
• Rogers argued Crockett is “too defined” to win statewide in Texas.
• Black creators and public figures, including Loni Love, pushed back, calling the comments dismissive of Black political labor.
• The debate highlights the tension between political strategy, representation, and the LGBTQ+ community’s role in multiracial coalitions.

Matt Rogers’ Political Take Causes Uproar — And Queer Fans Are Split

A Podcast Opinion Becomes an Internet Firestorm

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang have never been shy about mixing pop culture and politics on Las Culturistas — but a recent episode sent listeners into a frenzy. During his signature “I Don’t Think So, Honey” rant, Rogers pivoted from cultural critiques to a bold political proclamation: Don’t donate to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign.

What started as casual banter quickly turned into a moment of political turbulence. Rogers insisted Crockett, a rising Democratic star from Texas, simply couldn’t win statewide, saying her profile was “too defined” and comparing the race to past long-shot bids by Democrats like Beto O’Rourke. Bowen Yang backed him up without hesitation.

For two comedians lounging cross-legged on a podcast set, the ripple effect was massive.

Rogers’ Argument: Strategy Over Sentiment

Rogers laid out his case with the resigned confidence of someone who’s donated and regretted it. He warned Democrats not to repeat what he called the “Sara Gideon mistake,” framing Crockett as a candidate unlikely to sway centrist Texans. His alternative pick? Texas Rep. James Talarico — the kind of softer-profile moderate he believes could catalyze statewide appeal.

He also criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom, whom he believes is positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run. Rogers argued that flashy “dunks” on Trump and the GOP ring hollow without real policy movement. His message was clear: charisma isn’t strategy, and vibes aren’t victory.

But online listeners heard something else entirely.

The Backlash: “You Don’t Even Live In Texas”

Black creators were the first to push back. TikTok user @2RawTooReal blasted Rogers’ logic, challenging the idea that Crockett — only a few years into Congress — is somehow “too defined” to win.

“You need to be known to win a statewide race, bitch,” he said, channeling the frustration of Black organizers who’ve spent years watching outsiders diagnose Texas politics from the safety of coastal studios.

Comedian Loni Love added her own iconic drag, reminding Yang and Rogers that their careers exist in part thanks to Black civil rights activism — activism that didn’t operate on the assumption that certain candidates were “unwinnable.” Her message echoed across social media: marginalized communities don’t advance by abandoning each other.

Why LGBTQ+ Audiences Care

The queer community knows all too well what it feels like to be deemed “unelectable,” “too much,” or “too defined.” Rogers, a gay artist with a platform built on queer joy, is now navigating the consequences of applying those labels to a Black woman in politics.

Many LGBTQ+ fans believe a vibrant, intersectional coalition is key to resisting the far-right. Comments like Rogers’ — even when rooted in strategy — can sound eerily similar to the institutional gatekeeping long weaponized against queer candidates.

In a moment when LGBTQ+ rights are again under legislative assault, the need for solidarity, not segmentation, feels more urgent than ever.

A Teachable Moment in the Podcast Era

Rogers is no stranger to political messiness — he often uses humor to push boundaries — but this time the boundary pushed back. His comments have sparked broader conversations about who gets to critique political viability, how marginalized communities support one another, and what responsibility queer creators hold when they step into political commentary.

As the discourse continues to churn, one thing is clear: Las Culturistas just gave us the kind of cultural-political crossover that perfectly reflects 2026 — messy, loud, intersectional, and deeply online.

And for queer listeners? It’s a reminder that our liberation is intertwined with the liberation of every marginalized group we show up for, amplify, and don’t dismiss as “unwinnable.”