Latest news with #politicaldebate
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
From 'Crossfire' to 'CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground
From 'Crossfire' to 'CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of 'Crossfire,' the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction. The public affairs network debuts 'CeaseFire' this fall, described as an attempt to bring political opposites together to find common ground, and on Wednesday announced that Dasha Burns of Politico will be its host. 'At the end of the day, Americans and members of Congress agree more than they disagree,' said Feist, C-SPAN CEO. 'We just never see that on television, and you rarely see that on the floor of Congress. And I wanted to change that.' 'Crossfire' aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. It featured a conservative and liberal host, with guests, debating a contentious issue. It often got loud — and sometimes personal. Conflict sells, and as cable television evolved into more often talking about the news than reporting it, the formula was widely imitated. It arguably influenced politics as well. Being argumentative and taking no prisoners were more effective ways of getting attention than trying to find common ground and get things done. That was the view of comic Jon Stewart, who effectively killed 'Crossfire' with a 2004 appearance where he told then-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson that they were hurting America. Begala later called it a 'disemboweling.' Three months later, CNN canceled the show. Losing the 'sugar high' of partisan conflict From traveling the country reporting, Burns said she also feels there is a disconnect between how people think of politics and how it is portrayed on television — a dissonance, she suggests, that 'CeaseFire' can tap. 'I think there is a secret yearning for this among a lot of people,' said Burns, Politico Playbook author and chief White House correspondent, who will hold onto those roles. 'Obviously there is a reason why shows that have a lot of conflict get a lot of views, but I also think there is a part of the country that is really tired of the sugar high from conflict and polarization.' Burns said she works hard to cultivate a nonpartisan approach in her job so she can report equally well on what is happening with Democrats and Republicans in Washington. 'My moderating style does tend to be very personal and conversational, and I want to bring some fun and charm and levity to the show,' she said, 'but also really push people and get people out of their comfort zones of partisan acrimony and into a zone that may be less comfortable for them in the public eye.' Feist said Burns was chosen for the job because she's both a good interviewer and a good conversationalist, as well as being plugged into the Washington scene. He said he got the idea for 'CeaseFire' years ago from Michael Kinsley, a former 'Crossfire' co-host, and is hoping it can become a signature show. A time slot, premiere date or early guests have not been announced yet. Friends from across the aisle Since getting the job at C-SPAN, Feist said he has talked to more than 100 members of Congress about whether they had friends across the aisle and, to a person, each one gave him a name of a political opposite they enjoyed spending time with. If only half of those pairings agreed to come on 'CeaseFire,' he said, he'd have enough programming for a year. C-SPAN takes pride in appealing in equal numbers to Democrats, Republicans and independents. They are people who want to watch politics and government in action, and not just people talking about it, he said. Still, there's a need to show something during the nights and weekend when Congress is not in session. 'When I got here we started talking about new programming and what we could do that was different, where there was a need in the television landscape,' Feist said. 'Over and over, I heard from people on the inside and the outside: 'Can't you even have a civil conversation in Washington?'' And that, he said, is precisely what 'CeaseFire' will try to do. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and David Bauder, The Associated Press
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Poilievre, 9 other candidates square off in debate for seat in Alberta byelection
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faced off against nine other candidates during a two-and-a-half-hour political debate in Camrose, Alta., ahead of the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection. The byelection is a chance for Poilievre to rejoin the House of Commons after he lost his longtime Carleton riding in April's general election.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Japan Ruling Party to Discuss Prime Minister Ishiba's Fate Soon
Japan's ruling party will likely debate the fate of beleaguered Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a gathering in the next few days amid rising calls for a leadership change. Hiroshi Moriyama, the Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party, said Tuesday that a plenary meeting will be held in the near future, while he said it remains to be decided what exactly might be discussed at the meeting.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- 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.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mehdi Hasan Debates 20 Far-Right Conservatives On ‘Surrounded'
Mehdi Hasan speaks onstage during the Crooked Media - Lovett or Leave It: Live on Tour, on April ... More 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo byfor Crooked Media) In an era of increasingly fragmented media and ideological echo chambers, Jubilee's web series Surrounded has made a name for itself as one of the most provocative political shows on YouTube – with a formula that, in essence, calls for bringing opposing viewpoints into the same room and letting the sparks fly. Past guests have included everyone from atheist Alex O'Connor to former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson. But it's the show's latest episode, which has already racked up more than 3 million views (as of this writing), that might be the most explosive yet. Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan, a political commenter known for his sharp and unflinching debate style, is the lone progressive in this new episode of Surrounded that's going viral, and he's pitted against 20 self-identified 'far-right' conservatives for a conversation about democracy and the Constitution, among other things, that gets pretty raw and even, at times, surreal. Long story short, if you assumed we were a polarized country before, just wait until you've seen this new debate with the former MSNBC host at its center. Hasan told Jubilee afterward that he 'genuinely had not been aware of how extreme many of (his debate opponents) would be.' And that's saying something — especially given what happens close to the debate's halfway mark. The 'Surrounded' debate exchange that stunned Mehdi Hasan This particular encounter begins in relatively straightforward fashion, at least as far as arguments about President Trump go. Hasan sets out his proposition: That Trump is 'defying the Constitution.' A young man named Connor who races to the mic first to take up the opposing side, though, not only proceeds to enthusiastically argue in favor of Trump undermining the Constitution (he describes doing so as 'good'). Pressed by Hasan, he elaborates: 'I think (Trump) should go further,' given that Connor thinks 'the Constitution is a document that should seek to serve us.' Hasan turns the tables, asking him, 'So can Democrats do the same when they're in office?' Connor: 'Absolutely not.' Again, Hasan: 'Do you believe in democracy?' Connor: 'Absolutely not.' When asked what he does believe in, Connor answers: 'Autocracy.' Hasan presses him to clarify, and the young man says he's fine with 'anything in line with Catholic teaching.' Things only get more bizarre from there. Connor at one point praises Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt, prompting Hasan to interrupt and ask directly, 'Are you a fan of the Nazis?' 'I frankly don't care about being called a Nazi at all,' Connor replies. When asked if he condemns Nazi persecution of Jews, he shrugs: 'I think there was a little bit of persecution...' Hasan, visibly stunned, fires back: 'We may have to rename this show, because you're a little bit more than a far-right Republican.' 'What can I say?' Connor smirks. Hasan answers: 'I think you can say, 'I'm a fascist.'' Connor laughs and confirms: 'Yeah, I am.' Scattered applause can be heard among some of the participants. 'I'm not ashamed of that,' Connor continues. To which Hasan concludes, 'The only good thing about this fascist moment we're in is that you guys are so open about it.' Hasan later reflected in post-debate remarks to Jubilee staff, included at the very end of the video below: 'I thought it would be an interesting exercise in trying to understand what genuine far-right conservative folks think. And it was kind of disturbing to see that they think what I thought they think — and they were happy to say it out loud.' Surrounded has long attracted Gen Z and millennial viewers hungry for unfiltered ideological clashes, and this new episode certainly delivered that in spades. One also can't help wondering if this one feels, too, like a high-water mark of sorts. In other words: Regarding forums like these, do they expose extremism, or inadvertently legitimize it? As one YouTube commenter aptly summed up Hasan's Surrounded episode: 'This might be the most insane Jubilee video yet.'
