Tucker Carlson and other right-wing grifters

[frank ryan]

I figured I'd stick this in its own thread rather than muddy an already existing one.

Tucker Carlson is making another trip to Russia to do some cutting edge "journalism." He is going to lionize their dirtbag foreign minister, Lavrov.

Canadian intelligence has shared that he is on the take for Russia and paid to be part of their network of influencers. But I didn't need to learn that to come to the same conclusion. Before Carlson is dismissed as a crackpot; consider he has one of the most popular political podcasts. He has a huge audience and a lot of people get their "news" from him.



In his video posted Tuesday, Carlson blasted the Biden administration’s handling of Moscow’s war, claiming it “has driven the U.S. ever-closer to a nuclear conflict with Russia” — repeating a Kremlin talking-point.

“We are, unbeknownst to most Americans, in a hot war with Russia,” Carlson said. He criticized outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden over his recent decision to allow Ukraine to use American-made weapons to strike Russian territory, arguing it put the U.S. “closer to nuclear war than any time in history.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/tuck...ladimir-putin/

[Jeff Lebowski]

It is shocking how thoroughly the MAGA crowd has been duped by Russian propaganda.

[PaloAltoCougar]

If Tucker sincerely believed this is the closest we've been to nuclear war that would make him an idiot. But he chooses to be oblivious to history for fame and fortune with an audience of ignorant dupes, Members of JFK's cabinet in '62 told their families there was a likelihood they wouldn't see each other again. Thank heavens for people like Vasili Arkihpov and Stanislav Petrov who helped us avert nuclear disaster.

Tucker has become a disgusting and venal fearmonger in the service of Putin.

[Harry Tic]

I think a fair question to ask is who will carry the banner of Trumpism when Trump himself is dead or his term is over. I don't think there's a current Republican politician that has a remote chance of appealing to the masses in the way that Trump does. But I do worry about the growing influence of someone like Tucker Carlson, who is a crafty propagandist without a shred of personal integrity and who has a vast, fawning audience. With apologies to Alex Jones, no one has done more to sanewash the most outrageous conspiracies than the scion of a frozen fishsticks entrepreneur.

[frank ryan]

I think a fair question to ask is who will carry the banner of Trumpism when Trump himself is dead or his term is over. I don't think there's a current Republican politician that has a remote chance of appealing to the masses in the way that Trump does. But I do worry about the growing influence of someone like Tucker Carlson, who is a crafty propagandist without a shred of personal integrity and who has a vast, fawning audience. With apologies to Alex Jones, no one has done more to sanewash the most outrageous conspiracies than the scion of a frozen fishsticks entrepreneur.

The hard right has been empowered and enfranchised. I'm glad you brought up Alex Jones. Elon Musk is actively trying to rescue him from the consequences of horrific behavior.

Influencers are the primary news source for a lot of Republicans. Tim Pool, Dennis Praeger, Jordan Peterson, Candice Owens, Ben Shapiro, and increasingly Joe Rogan spout bullshit and people believe.

They have the most popular podcasts out there


You'll have a wide array of people parroting the MAGA approach

[Omaha 680]

If Tucker sincerely believed this is the closest we've been to nuclear war that would make him an idiot. But he chooses to be oblivious to history for fame and fortune with an audience of ignorant dupes, Members of JFK's cabinet in '62 told their families there was a likelihood they wouldn't see each other again. Thank heavens for people like Vasili Arkihpov and Stanislav Petrov who helped us avert nuclear disaster.

Tucker has become a disgusting and venal fearmonger in the service of Putin.

To be fair, the only reason Arkihpov and Petrov had to step in and single-handedly save the world is because unlike the US nuclear defense posture in the cold war, the Soviet posture was riddled with de facto fail deadly response points putting the fate of the world in the hands of shockingly low-level officers relying on often imperfect information and malfunctioning technology. I definitely share your admiration and gratitude for both of them, but the more I learn over the years the more I'm amazed the Soviet Union didn't start thermonuclear Armageddon by accident.

To bring this thread back around, it's nuts to me that Tucker Carlson praises Russia. The conversion of the left into Rusky hating cold warriors and the right into Kremlin stooges is the craziest example of US politics being all about what team you cheer for, not actual principles. But the transformation of the right concerning Russia is obviously more horrifying and is morally bankrupt.

[YOhio]

Tucker isn’t alone in his concern about nuclear war. Annie Jacobsen, a well respected military journalist, has been pounding this same drum for the past year. Granted, she just published a book on the topic. The most terrifying book I’ve read. I’m much more worried about those understating the threat.

[frank ryan]

Tucker isn’t alone in his concern about nuclear war. Annie Jacobsen, a well respected military journalist, has been pounding this same drum for the past year. Granted, she just published a book on the topic. The most terrifying book I’ve read. I’m much more worried about those understating the threat.

Tucker is spouting Russian propaganda. It's not genuine concern. He also has an established history as a fraudster.

He has already accused the US of firing weapons into Russia

I think it would be worth reading about Tucker's interview with Alexander Duggin and learning about that guy's significance. It is not remotely journalistic.

[YOhio]

Tucker is spouting Russian propaganda. It's not genuine concern. He also has an established history as a fraudster.

He has already accused the US of firing weapons into Russia

I think it would be worth reading about Tucker's interview with Alexander Duggin and learning about that guy's significance. It is not remotely journalistic.

I disagree that being concerned about nuclear war is Russian propaganda.

I’m not a Tucker fan, but he’s not the enemy. Neither is Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Tulsi Gabbard or everyone else you’ve unfairly slandered. Disagree with them all you want but reducing everyone on the other side into Kremlin puppets is McCarthy-esque. People and ideas are nuanced. Political disagreements aren’t traitorous and questioning American support of Ukraine isn’t an endorsement of Putin. Accusations and insults are easy, but ultimately unproductive.

[Northwestcoug]

I disagree that being concerned about nuclear war is Russian propaganda.

I’m not a Tucker fan, but he’s not the enemy. Neither is Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Tulsi Gabbard or everyone else you’ve unfairly slandered. Disagree with them all you want but reducing everyone on the other side into Kremlin puppets is McCarthy-esque. People and ideas are nuanced. Political disagreements aren’t traitorous and questioning American support of Ukraine isn’t an endorsement of Putin. Accusations and insults are easy, but ultimately unproductive.

I think the knock on Carlson and Gubbard is that they're unwitting Russian stooges. It is based on the level of distrust they have in US institutions, so they are automatically skeptical of the prevailing US thoughts on Ukraine. And given their reach in popular culture that can play into the hands of Putin and his plans for dealing with the West. So no, they're not the enemy, but whether conscious of it or not they're helping one out.

[frank ryan]

I disagree that being concerned about nuclear war is Russian propaganda.

I’m not a Tucker fan, but he’s not the enemy. Neither is Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Tulsi Gabbard or everyone else you’ve unfairly slandered. Disagree with them all you want but reducing everyone on the other side into Kremlin puppets is McCarthy-esque. People and ideas are nuanced. Political disagreements aren’t traitorous and questioning American support of Ukraine isn’t an endorsement of Putin. Accusations and insults are easy, but ultimately unproductive.

I take issue with you saying I've unfairly slandered them.
What have I said that is particularly untrue? I think it's unfair to suggest I slandered them.

Tucker cost Fox News nearly a billion dollars. He isn't our friend. He isn't committed to truth telling.

Putin has been throwing out the nuclear war threats repeatedly. I agree the risk of conflict is elevated but it's still Russian propaganda at the same time.

It's easy to paint all Russia assorted concerns as McCarythist but its not. Russia is our enemy and hybrid warfare is not imagined. I think the conspiratorial nonsense plays out when it comes to Trump's messianic complex and the people that enable. There way no deep state out to get him. He wants to create his own deep state.

I think its overly optimistic to think politicians and opinion leaders can't be influenced by foreign actors who have a track record of doing such a thing.

Canadian intelligence has shared that Peterson and Tucker are in the tank for Russia. This is not the equivalent of Qanon.

Pay attention to the things they say and how they match up and serve Moscow's interest and how rarely they criticize Moscow.

We do know Moscow paid influencers boatloads of cash and we also know that they have bragged in their own media about having boatloads of influencers under their sway. Thats now made up.

I still love you and think you are on the best people on here, but I just don't agree with you, or being characterized as slandering these people.

[frank ryan]

I think the knock on Carlson and Gubbard is that they're unwitting Russian stooges. It is based on the level of distrust they have in US institutions, so they are automatically skeptical of the prevailing US thoughts on Ukraine. And given their reach in popular culture that can play into the hands of Putin and his plans for dealing with the West. So no, they're not the enemy, but whether conscious of it or not they're helping one out.

I think Tucker isn't a friend, and he is not a good person.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Carlson may not be on the Kremlin payroll, but he is the biggest useful idiot that Putin has. Just witness that absurd bit he did about the prices in grocery stores in Russia. Stupid shit like that destroys his credibility when he talks about nuclear threats, etc.

[frank ryan]

Carlson may not be on the Kremlin payroll, but he is the biggest useful idiot that Putin has. Just witness that absurd bit he did about the prices in grocery stores in Russia. Stupid shit like that destroys his credibility when he talks about nuclear threats, etc.

Look up his interview with Alexander Duggin and who Alexander Duggin is. I agree with what allied intelligence agencies have said, that he is on the payroll for Moscow. I have a hard time seeing why such an accusation seems ridiculous.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Look up his interview with Alexander Duggin and who Alexander Duggin is. I agree with what allied intelligence agencies have said, that he is on the payroll for Moscow. I have a hard time seeing why such an accusation seems ridiculous.

I am not commenting on the likelihood of that. I am just saying that whether he is getting paid or not, he is a loyal stooge.