Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast Journalist Chris Hedges on being cancelled by the National Press Club
Oct 20, 2025
Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former New York Times Middle East bureau chief, dives into the controversy surrounding his canceled appearance at the National Press Club. He discusses the Western media's failure in accurately covering the war in Gaza, emphasizing how initial reports can mislead public perception. Hedges critiques Israeli narratives amplified by media and highlights the bravery of Palestinian journalists amid access restrictions. His insights challenge normative views on sponsorship and press freedom in conflict reporting.
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Reporting Under Access Pressure
- Chris Hedges recounts seven years reporting in Gaza where Israeli responses were inserted throughout his stories, undermining eyewitness accounts.
- He says access pressures and repeated Israeli narratives made it hard to convey Palestinian realities from the ground.
Mainstream Coverage Buries Palestinian Evidence
- Hedges argues Western media largely obscures the scale of the Gaza atrocities by amplifying Israeli narratives and minimizing Palestinian voices.
- He claims Palestinian groups and journalists are the primary carriers of evidence about what he calls genocide.
Cancellation And Conflicting Claims
- Hedges says a source inside the National Press Club told him they had reached out to Israel's ambassador after his invitation was confirmed and posted online.
- He asserts the club later denied the confirmation and removed the listing despite his having a confirmation letter and screenshots.