A spokesperson for the Russian government clarified that it has rejected requests to interview Vladimir Putin from reputable media outlets

The Kremlinā€™s first public response to Tucker Carlsonā€™s announcement that heā€™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 Carlsonā€™s claim that ā€œnot a single Western journalist has botheredā€ to interview Russiaā€™s president throughout the nationā€™s war with Ukraine, which has raged for more than two years.

ā€¦

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

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    This is going to be on Tuckerā€™s new streaming platform, right?

    So at least almost no one will see it.

    • cabbage@piefed.social
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      9 months ago

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

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I donā€™t know how it helps Putin for people to simply know he was interviewed. He canā€™t get his propaganda out unless they watch the interview.

        • cabbage@piefed.social
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          9 months ago

          I think itā€™s very likely all the media attention will translate to a whole lot of views. People will think itā€™s a rare chance to ā€œhear what Putin has to say about the situationā€, as if his propaganda hasnā€™t been on Russian television 24/7 for years now.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Yeah, but in order to do that, they have to pay to join Tuckerā€™s streaming platform. And that is the thing which makes me think not too many people will watch it.

            • cabbage@piefed.social
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              9 months ago

              Not many, but way more than otherwise would have. And the rest will read about it somewhere else, spreading Putinā€™s propaganda independently of the stupidity of the platform.

              Or maybe itā€™ll just expose Tucker as the complete hack that he is once and for all. But I kind of doubt those who havenā€™t seen it already can ever be convinced.

    • ganksy@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

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