A spokesperson for the Russian government clarified that it has rejected requests to interview Vladimir Putin from reputable media outlets

The Kremlinā€™s first public response to Tucker Carlsonā€™s announcement that heā€™s landed an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin was to fact-check the former Fox News host.

On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Carlson had indeed interviewed Putin, but took issue with Carlsonā€™s claim that ā€œnot a single Western journalist has botheredā€ to interview Russiaā€™s president throughout the nationā€™s war with Ukraine, which has raged for more than two years.

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Putinā€™s refusal to sit down with most Western media outlets likely has less to do with accusations of bias so much as an unwillingness to be subjected to legitimate scrutiny of his government. Russia has been accused of committing atrocities and war crimes in its offensive against Ukraine, including the unlawful executions of civilians. Putinā€™s government is also infamous for its frequent detainment of political rivals and critics, as well as the cloud of mysterious deaths and poisonings of those in his orbit.

Whether Carlson will question Putin on any of these matters remains to be seen. The former Fox News hostā€™s history of granting softball interviews to controversial influencers, political figures, and authoritarian leaders, indicates this is unlikely. Given everything we know about Putinā€™s propaganda machine, itā€™s clear that in Carlson, the Russian government sees a safe opportunity to broadcast its carefully crafted messaging to American viewers.

  • Lianodel@ttrpg.network
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    9 months ago

    Peskov claimed on Wednesday that Carlsonā€™s position on the conflict with Ukraine is ā€œnot pro-Russian by any means, and itā€™s not pro-Ukrainian; rather, itā€™s pro-American. But at least it stands in clear contrast to the position of the traditional Anglo-Saxon media.ā€

    Pffft hahaha, what a fucking racist dork. Thatā€™s some 4chan-level shit.

    Also, while I think itā€™s overall a good article, I think calling Tucker a useful idiot is unfair. When I think of a useful idiot, I think of someone who means well, but is on the wrong side without realizing it. Tuckerā€™s not a smart man, but he knows what heā€™s doing. If you ever watch his shit (which I only recommend to verify his grift), heā€™s not just disconnected from reality, but actively contrary to it. Heā€™s trying to poison the well, while inoculating his viewers to reality and any argument based on it. Heā€™s not simply wrong, heā€™s lying. He knows what heā€™s doing is wrong, but heā€™s doing it anyway, for his own benefit.