this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2024
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A spokesperson for the Russian government clarified that it has rejected requests to interview Vladimir Putin from reputable media outlets

The Kremlin’s first public response to Tucker Carlson’s announcement that he’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 Carlson’s claim that “not a single Western journalist has bothered” to interview Russia’s president throughout the nation’s war with Ukraine, which has raged for more than two years.

...

Putin’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. Putin’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 host’s history of granting softball interviews to controversial influencers, political figures, and authoritarian leaders, indicates this is unlikely. Given everything we know about Putin’s propaganda machine, it’s clear that in Carlson, the Russian government sees a safe opportunity to broadcast its carefully crafted messaging to American viewers.

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[–] eran_morad@lemmy.world 95 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (42 children)

Republicans are very nearly all either (1) manipulative traitor cunts who amass power and only no mater the cost to others; (2) mentally defective degenerates, useful idiots.

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[–] OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee 91 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I don't think he's a useful idiot, he knows exactly what he's doing. 1980's Trump was a useful idiot, advocating for the end of the Western international order because it made him look and feel smart and powerful.

Tucker is participating in a quid pro quo. He gets a major interview which makes him the center of the conversation for a while and gives him negotiating leverage in his next project, Putin gets his preferred message out to the American Right.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 35 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Yeah, but he's definitely an idiot.

[–] SkyezOpen@lemmy.world 21 points 9 months ago (3 children)

No, he's intelligent, and that's why he's dangerous. He knows how to launder Russian propaganda and white supremacist talking points to a broader audience.

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[–] APassenger@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I think he's vying to up his VP cred. Would make him useful, but maybe less of an idiot. Immoral? Yes. Idiot... Not entirely.

That's why we gotta watch out for him. He gets VP and Trump dies? I think it could be worse than many imagine.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 9 points 9 months ago

I'm already on suicide watch if Trump is prez again. At that point you'd be foolish to hold on to hope. I don't care if he picks Satan for his VP or even Satan's boss MTG.

[–] downhomechunk@midwest.social 47 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I've never seen a side shot of tucker Carlson that I can recall. Now I know why.

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago (3 children)
[–] Jagermo@feddit.de 20 points 9 months ago

Relevant Preacher

[–] ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago

Same place as his conscience and humanity, presumably.

[–] FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago

He used to frame it with a bow tie until Jon Stewart roasted it clean off his wattle

[–] Daxtron2@startrek.website 17 points 9 months ago (2 children)
[–] ohlaph@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

Probably vodka.

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[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 31 points 9 months ago

Peskov claimed on Wednesday that Carlson’s position on the conflict with Ukraine is “not pro-Russian by any means, and it’s not pro-Ukrainian; rather, it’s pro-American. But at least it stands in clear contrast to the position of the traditional Anglo-Saxon media.”

Pffft hahaha, what a fucking racist dork. That's some 4chan-level shit.

Also, while I think it'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. Tucker's not a smart man, but he knows what he's doing. If you ever watch his shit (which I only recommend to verify his grift), he's not just disconnected from reality, but actively contrary to it. He's trying to poison the well, while inoculating his viewers to reality and any argument based on it. He's not simply wrong, he's lying. He knows what he's doing is wrong, but he's doing it anyway, for his own benefit.

[–] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 28 points 9 months ago (6 children)

I wish Hunter S Thompson was still alive and could write a bit in his RS column about this...

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[–] fluxion@lemmy.world 15 points 9 months ago

Useful to Putin and his puppets. Useless idiot as far as actual American interests are concerned.

[–] clark@midwest.social 14 points 9 months ago (3 children)
[–] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

It was part of the deal to let him interview Putin

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago

He's a conservative

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[–] meathorse@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago

I'd almost put money on this useful idiot being used to funnel new information/strategy back to the orange lard and it's lawyer

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 12 points 9 months ago (2 children)

This is going to be on Tucker's new streaming platform, right?

So at least almost no one will see it.

[–] cabbage@piefed.social 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (4 children)

Except that everybody is talking about it, which is a success for both Putin and Carlson already.

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[–] ganksy@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

The interview has nothing to offer. It's all about talking about the interview and how Tucker brings Putin back into the American sphere in a palatable way(to some).

[–] AnneBonny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 9 months ago (4 children)

I think Putin is paranoid about being near someone who is not FSB and having an "accident", because that is how he operates. He is doing a Stalin speedrun, and I don't think he'll last much longer.

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 7 points 9 months ago

I'm also imagining the end being much like the comedy Death of Stalin...

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[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

Weren't they replaying segments of his show on RT?

[–] fne8w2ah@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

That side shot reminds me of Piers Morgan! 😅

[–] Churbleyimyam@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I hope that Tucker asks all of the important questions that Putin has avoided until now and then promptly disappears to 'play golf' in Siberia for the next couple of decades.

[–] chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 9 months ago

The language of the article suggests the interview already happened but is not yet released. Could be a mistake, but I'm guessing they need to edit it, show the Kremlin for approval/final edit, then release.

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