The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart Debating Reality with Mehdi Hasan
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Jul 31, 2025 
Mehdi Hasan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Zeteo and a prominent political commentator, joins Jon for a thought-provoking discussion. They dive deep into the challenges of debating far-right ideologies and the need for Democrats to adopt bolder strategies. Hasan also critiques mainstream media biases, particularly contrasting the manipulative tactics of Fox News with the struggles of outlets like MSNBC. Their conversation touches on America’s global credibility crises, especially regarding the Gaza conflict, and the vital need for independent journalism to uphold democratic values.
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Jubilee Debate Experience
- Mehdi Hasan described debating 20 far-right conservatives as facing a "circular firing squad" full of hostility and bizarre claims.
- This debate felt more like surviving a gang beat down than a traditional debate.
Authoritarian Shift in Right
- The Republican right wing has shifted from constitutional fetishism to openly rejecting the Constitution except for the Second Amendment.
- This reflects a move toward authoritarianism fueled by bad faith actors exploiting constitutional rhetoric.
Fox News Propaganda Machine
- Fox News is unique as a highly effective propaganda arm of the Republican Party with a clear agenda and authoritarian control.
- By contrast, MSNBC and other corporate media outlets lack coordinated agendas and align more with corporate interests than ideological purity.
