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Self-declared far-right fascist proudly shares his beliefs on popular podcast... then begs for cash after firing
Self-declared far-right fascist proudly shares his beliefs on popular podcast... then begs for cash after firing

Daily Mail​

time2 days 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.

Mehdi Hasan Debates 20 Far-Right Conservatives On ‘Surrounded'
Mehdi Hasan Debates 20 Far-Right Conservatives On ‘Surrounded'

Forbes

time3 days ago

  • 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.'

Margaret Thatcher festival's programme of events revealed
Margaret Thatcher festival's programme of events revealed

BBC News

time11-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • BBC News

Margaret Thatcher festival's programme of events revealed

More details have been announced of a festival to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Margaret Thatcher. The former Conservative prime minister was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1925 and died in April 2013, aged Fest will begin in her home town on 13 October and will include a drag show and talks by former minister Edwina Currie and TV personality Gyles Brandreth. South Kesteven District Council leader Ashley Baxter said the aim of the festival was to "promote political debate and drive footfall to Grantham". The council said Thatcher Fest would cover the "history, conflict and divisive politics of her time in power."Thatcher was the UK's first female prime minister and held the post from 1979 until her resignation in said: "We're working with all kinds of community organisations to make sure people know the centenary is happening."Regardless of what you think of her views and policies, a woman getting to the position of prime minister in 1979 is astonishing."It's not something everyone would want to celebrate - she is one of the most polarising figures of recent political history." Guildhall Arts Centre line-up Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, 13 October: A drag show starring Matt Tedford as The Iron Lady, reimagining the evening of the Section 28 vote with Thatcher getting lost in Soho and accidentally becoming a cabaret junior health minister Edwina Currie hosting an evening of chat and memories of her time in government, 14 OctoberQuite A Centenary, 17 October: Hosted by TV personality, author and former MP Gyles Brandreth, celebrating three British icons - Margaret Thatcher, Elizabeth II and Winnie the Reagan, Gorbachev: Power, Politics, and the end of the Cold War, 15 October: Hosted by York St John University professor, Dr James Cooper. Other ticketed events Walking Talks: The Thatcher Years - guided walks of Grantham - various dates in OctoberThe Iron Lady: cinema screening at Kesteven and Grantham Girls School - 13 and 16 OctoberLiving Over the Shop: Grantham Dramatic Society present a gossip's view of Margaret Thatcher at Christ Church, Finkin Street/Grantham Museum - 15 and 18 OctoberMargaret Thatcher: Alternative Voices - Music and poetry at Grantham Museum 18 OctoberAll tickets are available through the Guildhall Arts Centre website or from the Guildhall Box Office in Grantham. Ticketless events Thatcher Postcard Exhibition: Union Street Gallery will hosts a collection covering various side of the story, political moments, and illustrated images throughout OctoberMargaret Thatcher display: Discover her early life, legacy, and local roots at Grantham Library, 13 to 18 OctoberGrantham in the 1920s and 1930s - local history talk at Christ Church Finkin Street, 14 October at 16:00 GMT Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

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