Joe Rogan Experience #2542 - Steve Hilton · Aired Aug 19, 2026
Claim summary · not a verbatim quotation
Los Angeles lost 70% of its restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The finding
What the evidence shows
The damage was severe and nowhere near that. Close to a third of California's restaurants shut permanently as the pandemic hit, which matched what the state restaurant association had warned. Losing 70% of Los Angeles restaurants would have been more than double the statewide rate and nothing supports it.
Read the supporting source · abc7.com ↗Quick answer & review status
Quick answer
Is it true that Los Angeles lost 70% of its restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic?
No, not as stated. The damage was severe and nowhere near that. Close to a third of California's restaurants shut permanently as the pandemic hit, which matched what the state restaurant association had warned. Joe Rogan said it (matched by voice) on Joe Rogan Experience #2542 - Steve Hilton, aired Aug 19, 2026, at 36:13. The supporting source is abc7.com, linked below.
The context belongs here.
No separately verified on-air correction is recorded for this check. That is not a claim that nobody corrected it.
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