opinion
An American journalist will go to Russia to interview its president. Just as many have done many times for years because that is literally a journalist's job.
But this time it's evil because Tucker Carlson is going.
At least according to CNN and the left.
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“One of the leaders of the Republican MAGA Party is in Moscow tonight.”
“There is a huge change in Kiev that comes as Putin tries to court the Republican Party in the United States,” CNN anchor Erin Burnett tells her audience.
“In fact, one of the leaders of the Republican MAGA Party is in Moscow tonight,” she says. “He's the guy you see here with Donald Trump's MAGA leader, Tucker Carlson, probably there in Moscow interviewing Putin, and certainly there as a celebrity supporter of Putin.”
“Just listen to how Russian state media is relentlessly celebrating his visit,” the CNN host added.
CNN posted a video of an unnamed Russian man saying, in translation: “Freelance journalist Tucker Carlson who flew to Russia from the United States, via Turkey, to Vnukovo Airport.”
“He saw the Spartacus ballet at the Bolshoi Theater, had lunch at a nice restaurant, then went for a walk around the city, then took the subway,” the voice says.
If you're not terrified enough yet, wait for the next part of the report.
“He has his smartphone charged via USB and connected to fast, free wireless Internet,” the voice said.
He charged his phone! How evil and newsworthy!
“He charged that phone,” the first Burnett said when they finished the video and turned back to her.
You can't make this up.
“Although knowing the details about the fact that it was through a USB port might give him reason to think twice about all of this,” she continued, meaning Tucker must have been skeptical that they knew he was charging his phone via a USB port. .
“But look at them talking about him like he's a celebrity. Everything he does in front of the camera is repeated endlessly.”
In fact – almost like how CNN covers Ukrainian President Zelensky?
She assures us, while showing a clip dated February 22, 2022 related to the case: “Now, it is unclear whether the interview will take place between Putin and Carlson, but if it does happen, this gives Putin an opportunity to sit down with a major supporter.” Conflict in Ukraine as Carlson asks viewers why they are supposed to automatically hate Putin.
“It might be helpful to ask yourself, now that this is getting so serious, what is this really about? Why do I hate Putin so much? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to fire me for disagreeing with him? Does he eat “Dogs?”
“These are fair questions and the answer to all of them is no,” Carlson adds. “Vladimir Putin did none of that.”
Carlson said this two days before Russia invaded Ukraine.
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CNN: Putin interview = “Putin's spokesman”
This is what Burnett admits, telling her viewers: “I will actually always remember watching this clip. “I was standing in Ukraine 48 hours before the war started there.”
Burnett continued, “Well, Carlson has consistently stood by Putin the whole way. That's why he can go to Moscow now without any fear of summary imprisonment. He's a hero.”
“This was Putin’s mouthpiece in the United States, someone who turned a blind eye to Putin’s atrocities because they were happening far away,” the flight attendant insisted, describing the death and destruction she witnessed.
Nowhere does Burnett provide greater context for what happens with Carlson and his visit. From the beginning, Tucker Carlson has said that America should not be involved in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and this might not have happened if some American leaders had taken different steps, especially hawkish leaders eager to bring Ukraine into NATO.
But it should come as no surprise that Erin Burnett and her station haven't thought to explain any of that either.
They are promoting US government narratives, not reporting from all sides to allow viewers to make their own informed decisions.
You know, what journalists used to do.
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