Latest news with #MehdiHasan
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Self-Described Fascist Begs for Donations After Claiming Viral Debate Got Him Fired
A man who admitted to being a fascist during a debate claims he's been fired from his job after sharing his 'traditional' right-wing political views, and is now asking for handouts. The man, who identifies himself as 'Connor' in a fundraiser asking for donations but uses the pseudonym Pinesap, was one of '20 far-right conservatives' who debated progressive broadcaster Mehdi Hasan as part of Jubilee's 'Surrounded' series. During the debate—which has been viewed almost 4 million times on YouTube alone—Connor said he believes in 'autocracy' and was asked by Hasan if he's a fan of the Nazis. 'I, frankly, don't care being called a Nazi at all,' Connor answered. Connor, who identified himself as a Catholic, also complained that the Nazis 'persecuted the church a little bit.' Asked about the Nazis' persecution of Jews specifically, Connor added: 'I certainly don't support anyone's human dignity being assaulted.' 'There was a little bit of persecution and stuff like that, which is bad,' he added, when Hasan pressed him on Jewish persecution again. 'We may have to rename this show,' Hasan said, 'Because you're a little bit more than a far-right Republican.' 'Hey, what can I say?' Connor replied with a smile. When Hasan suggested Connor could describe himself as a 'fascist,' Connor said: 'Yeah, I am,' before laughing maniacally and receiving applause from others in the debate. Connor now claims he was fired for his views and has launched a fundraising page on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding site which has faced criticism for hosting extremist causes. 'I'm raising money as an emergency fund and for other expenses while I look for a new job,' the page reads, without providing details of the role or company he was supposedly fired from. 'Unfortunately, voicing fully legal traditional right-wing political views results in real consequences. This is cancel culture and political discrimination on full display.' The page has already blown past its original $15,000 goal, with contributions hitting just under $20,000 as of Tuesday morning. 'We need a white nation! It's our only future! Vive le Fascisme,' one donor wrote while contributing $88. The number 88 is a coded far-right symbol used by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, which stands for 'Heil Hitler' as H is the eighth letter of the alphabet. 'We are rising and must look after one another,' another anonymous donor posted while chipping in $15. Connor discussed getting fired, without naming the company or his job title, during an appearance on the Rift Report podcast on Monday. 'Well, unfortunately, I lost my job as a result. And no one really is to blame for that,' he said of the debate. 'It's just the culture that kind of exists currently surrounding the manner in which you're canceled for voicing [...] any heterosexual, Christian, sort of moral belief that goes beyond sort of the secularism and the relativism that we're so used to in our time.' Connor did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former MSNBC Host's Reaction To Right-Winger Calling Self A 'Fascist' Goes Viral
Political commentator and journalist Mehdi Hasan's baffled reaction to a far-right influencer proudly admitting he is a fascist has left the internet in shock, and the YouTube channel that hosted the debate between the two is facing pushback for platforming fascism. In a Sunday episode of Jubilee's 'Surrounded' titled '1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives,' the former MSNBC host was shocked to find out his opponents included those he described as 'actual outright open fascists.' Journalist Mehdi Hasan said he was disappointed after a debate with far-right conservatives he called "openly fascist" aired on Jubilee. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images 'I am disappointed that I had to sit across from people who believe in white genocide, who believe I'm not a citizen,' Hasan said, reflecting on the debate at the end of the episode. 'Multiple people here said I should be deported. One of them was even the child of immigrants, which I found bizarre.' One person in particular left Hasan's jaw on the floor. The topic that Hasan had put up for debate was whether 'Donald Trump is defying the Constitution.' That conversation begins at 21:40. 'I don't really care, to be quite frankly,' said one guest, who went by the name of Connor. 'Quite frankly, there are a lot of legal processes that are enabling criminals and bad people to fully enact their will in this country in the name of the Constitution,' Connor continued. 'So quite frankly, if Trump is anti-Constitution, good, and I think he should go further.' 'This is wonderfully revealing of the modern conservative mindset,' Hasan said. Connor went on to quote Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt, and when Hasan asked how Connor felt about the Nazis, he replied, 'Well, they persecuted the church a little bit. I'm not a fan of that.' When asked specifically about Jews, Connor said, 'I certainly don't support anyone's human dignity being assaulted.' At that point, Hasan interjected that Connor was 'a little bit more than a far-right Republican.' 'Hey, what can I say?' Connor said. 'I think you can say, 'I'm a fascist,'' Hasan replied. 'Yeah, I am,' Connor said, laughing. Hasan looked concerned and baffled as the group cheered and clapped for Connor. Hasan eventually ended the exchange, stating, 'I don't debate fascists.' The self-identified fascist later claimed he lost his job because of his comments on the show, and ranted about cancel culture while in an appearance on RiftTV. He also set up a fundraiser for himself, which was reviewed by HuffPost and had reached over $25,000 at the time of writing. 'Unfortunately, voicing fully legal traditional right wing political views results in real consequences,' Connor wrote on a page for the fundraiser, which did not say what his job had been. 'This is cancel culture and political discrimination on full display.' Many online have condemned Jubilee for platforming him and other far-right conservatives in the first place. Another person on the episode told Hasan to 'get the hell out' and 'I don't want you here' after the journalist said he was an immigrant, in an intense interaction that starts at 53:46. In his reflection at the episode's end, Hasan called it 'kind of disturbing to see that they think what I thought they think and they were happy to say it out loud.' He told followers on X, formerly Twitter, that this was 'not how the debate was sold' to him by producers. Related...
Forbes
a day ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Mehdi Hasan's Viral Jubilee Debate With Far-Right Conservatives, Explained
Topline Left-wing journalist Mehdi Hasan debated 20 far-right conservatives in a video that has gone viral on social media, largely due to shocking statements made by some of his opponents, including one who admitted he identifies as a fascist and doesn't care about being called a Nazi—and who has since lost his job, which Forbes confirmed through an employer. Mehdi Hasan's debate video for Jubilee has gone viral. (Photo byfor ... More Crooked Media) Getty Images for Crooked Media Key Facts The video, part of a controversial video series produced by media company Jubilee, has garnered 4 million views since its publication Tuesday and has racked up millions more views across X and TikTok. The nearly two-hour debate covered hot topics ripped from the headlines: Whether President Trump was defying the constitution, the value of immigrants to the U.S. and U.S. involvement in Gaza. Some inflammatory claims made by the participants have gone viral, including one from a man who identified himself as Connor, who responded, 'Yeah, I am,' after Hasan suggested he may be a fascist, to applause from the other participants, and also said he didn't care about being called a Nazi, voiced opposition to democracy and free speech, and advocated for autocracy by rulers who uphold Catholic teachings. One day after the Jubilee debate, Connor (who has not returned interview requests from Forbes) claimed in an interview on RiftTV he was fired from his job as a result of the debate, which he blamed on the 'manner in which you're canceled' for voicing 'heterosexual, Christian, moral beliefs.' VeUP, a cloud engineering firm, confirmed to Forbes the man had been a subcontractor, stating his employment was 'not terminated by VeUP, but by the core contractor.' Connor has since posted a fundraiser on a Christian fundraising platform seeking $15,000 in emergency funds while he seeks a new job, and as of Tuesday morning, he has raised more than $29,000, with some comments from donors including, 'It's ok to be white,' and 'We need a white nation! It's our only future! Vive le Fascisme!' What Moments From The Debate Have Gone Viral? One clip from the debate, in which a participant tells Hasan he's 'going to have to go'—meaning he wants Hasan, who is an immigrant, to leave the United States—garnered 10 million views in a post on X. In another clip that garnered 4 million views on X, a participant told Hasan he feels his 'entire race,' referring to white people, is facing a 'genocide' in the United States. In a moment from the debate that garnered 4 million views on TikTok, Hasan pressed a participant over her views on immigration, prompting her to admit her parents are immigrants to the United States, but 'at this moment' she does not 'accept that immigrants are Americans.' What Has Hasan Said After The Debate? Hasan has said in posts on X after the debate was uploaded to YouTube that he did not know some of the participants would be 'actual outright open fascists,' adding in another post, 'Jubilee cast these folks, not me!' At the end of the Jubilee video, Hasan said he enjoys debating people but tries to 'avoid bad faith folks,' adding he believes some of the participants in the video were debating in bad faith. 'Free speech doesn't mean you need to give credibility or oxygen or a platform to people who don't agree in human equality,' he said. Chief Critics Some viewers have criticized Jubilee, accusing the media company of platforming people who lack basic decency. In one post that garnered 44,000 likes on X, a user accused Jubilee of 'lying to its guests,' referencing a post by Hasan saying he was unaware of how far-right the guests would be. In another post that garnered 30,000 likes, a user said Jubilee should be 'demonetized' on YouTube, accusing it of 'knowingly spreading Nazi propaganda.' Last year, when a different Jubilee debate video went viral, a Vox journalist said the questions appear 'primed to become 'rage bait' clips meant to get viewers excited or angry, to the tune of millions of clicks.' Matt Bernstein, a left-wing activist and podcaster with millions of social media followers, said he previously turned down an invitation to appear on Jubilee and said he does not believe a "channel that gives a platform of millions to people who self identify as 'fascist' should be allowed to monetize its videos' on YouTube. Who Is Mehdi Hasan? A former MSNBC host, Hasan left the network last year and launched his media company Zeteo, which he previously told Forbes is an independent organization through which he will speak 'bluntly about racism, fascism, genocide and more.' Hasan hosts multiple podcasts for Zeteo as well as the 'Head to Head' podcast for Al Jazeera, and works as a columnist for The Guardian. He is the author of a 2023 book, 'Win Every Argument,' about how to succeed in debates. What Is Jubilee? Jubilee is a media company mostly known for its YouTube channel, where it has 10 million subscribers and primarily posts videos that attempt to challenge social taboos and norms. One of its most popular video series is the format Hasan participated in, in which one person of a certain political belief is made to debate more than a dozen people with opposing beliefs. Last year, a video of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk debating 25 college students described as liberal racked up 30 million views, making it one of Jubilee's most popular uploads. Other popular video series include 'Odd One Out,' in which a group of people are challenged to find which one does not share a common characteristic—like six vegans trying to find the one meat eater—and 'Middle Ground,' where people of opposing political views try to find beliefs in common. Further Reading '1 woke teen vs. 20 Trump supporters': The new age of viral political videos (Vox) 'Memeification of Politics': What to Know About Jubilee Media's Viral Debate Show Surrounded (Time)
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Self-declared far-right fascist proudly shares his beliefs on popular podcast... then begs for cash after firing
A man who openly identified as a 'fascist' during a political debate with former MSNBC star Mehdi Hasan has raised over $26,000 on a Christian crowdfunding site after claiming he was fired for voicing his far-right political beliefs. The man, only identifying himself as Connor, had bragged to Hasan on Sunday how he was a 'fascist' and wholeheartedly believed in 'autocracy.' The assertion, delivered during an episode of the YouTube debate series Surrounded, left Hasan briefly at a loss. Hasan, in turn, said he did not 'debate fascists', and shut the conversation down. The very next day, 'Connor' was begging for a buck on on GiveSendGo, where, as of writing, he has already racked up almost $30,000. 'You're braver than most and also 100 percent correct,' a caption for one donation reads. 'Keep strong and keep speaking the truth,' someone who gifted the conservative $50 said. 'Nothing Connor said was wrong and I'm tired of having to pretend I don't agree,' scathed someone else. Others offered blessings after Connor had introduced himself as a Catholic, during an advertised debate that saw Hasan face off against him and 19 other 'far-right conservatives' as part of Jubilee's 'Surrounded' series. There, after quoting Nazi political theorist Carl Schmitt and praising Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, Connor found himself being pressed by Hasan on whether he was 'a fan of the Nazis' 'I think that there was a little bit of persecution and stuff like that, which is bad,' Connor answered, referring to the regime's persecution of Jewish people. He went on to slam the Nazis' treatment of the Catholic clergy, some of whom were sent to concentration camps along with six million Jews. 'I, frankly, don't care being called a Nazi at all,' he added A stunned Hasan could only say in response: 'We may have to rename this show, because you're a little bit more than a far-right Republican.' A grinning Connor quipped: 'Hey, what can I say?' - before being met with Hasan's reply: 'I think you can say, "I'm a fascist."' 'Yeah, I am,' Connor said with a lighthearted laugh, before being met with applause from others in attendance. Within hours, the same man was asking for financial help from onlookers for being 'unfairly cancelled', without providing details of the role or company he was supposedly fired from. He has raised nearly $30,000 Daily Mail has reached out to 'Connor' - who operates several conservative commentary pages on platforms like X and Instagram - for comment Within hours, he was asking for help without providing details of the role or company he was supposedly fired from. 'I'm raising money as an emergency fund and for other expenses while I look for a new job,' he said. 'Unfortunately voicing fully legal traditional right wing political views results in real consequences,' he continued, calling the occurred 'cancel culture and political discrimination on full display. The page originally sported a $15,000 goal but seems poised to collect more. 'We need a white nation! It's our only future! Vive le Fascisme,' another donor wrote.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
'Pinesap' fired after Jubilee debate with Mehdi Hasan over 'fascist' views
Published July 22nd, 2025 - 09:40 GMT ALBAWABA - After admitting to being a "fascist" during a heated debate with Mehdi Hasan during a Jubilee episode on YouTube, Catholic commentator Pinesap has been fired from his job. Conor, who goes by the name 'Pinesap,' took to social media with a statement claiming that he got fired from his job due to his political beliefs. The statement added that Conor is raising money as an emergency fund while he looks for another job. The influencer who goes by the name "FeelsGuy" on X (formerly known as Twitter) blamed "cancel culture" and "political discrimination" for the matter in question. Reports indicate that Conor was fired from a tech company called 'VeUP Ltd' which operates in several parts of the world, including the US, UK, Europe, and the Middle East. 'Pinesap' fired after Jubilee debate with Mehdi Hasan over 'fascist' views — AF Post (@AFpost) July 22, 2025 His layoff sparked mixed reactions on social media with several individuals either condemning the act or siding with the company's actions. A social media user wrote defending Conor, "Pinesap is one of my closest friends and one of the kindest people I've ever met. He has helped me tremendously in my faith and it is disgusting that he is going through this. Please help him and donate if you can." On the contrary, another social media user slammed the individual and said, "I've dealt with Pinesap. He's no Christian. People call him a nice guy, a good man, a good Catholic. He's none of those things. He's a racist, a fascist, and a troll. If you support him, I question your faith too." What did the Jubilee video discuss? Jubilee (YouTube) The Jubilee video titled "(1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives (ft. Mehdi Hasan)" involved 20 far-right Americans debating Mehdi Hasan about several political subjects including the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, Trump's recent political decisions, and more. Among the 20 far-right individuals was Conor, who was labeled by Hasan as a fascist for refusing to state he's not a fan of the Nazis. Mehdi Hasan then said, "I think you say 'I'm a fascist,'" to which Conor replied, "Yes, I am," followed by laughter and claps from the far-right crowd surrounding them. Hasan doubled down, claiming it will be obvious to millions of viewers who the "fascists and Nazis" in the crowd are. However, Conor slammed back, stating he's not ashamed of his views. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
