What's up with Tucker Carlson? | Michael Moynihan | Just Asking Questions, Ep. 11

Michael Moynihan, journalist and co-host of The Fifth Column, discusses Tucker Carlson's recent trip to Moscow on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
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0:00- Was it wrong for Tucker Carlson to talk to Putin?
4:45 - Did Carlson show courage confronting Putin over an imprisoned journalist?
7:43- What makes Putin a dictator?
9:05 - Why didn’t Carlson go harder on Putin?
15:25 - How bad is Russia, actually?
24:18- Are conservatives enamored with Putin?
32:19 - Tucker Carlson likes Moscow’s subway
37:58- Authoritarian vs. liberal infrastructure
42:54- Tucker Carlson’s Russian grocery trip
56:40- Why was Alexei Navalny killed?
1:15:19- What did Tucker Carlson doing a tour of Moscow?
---
"One of the ways you understand a society is through its infrastructure," said Tucker Carlson as he stood in front of a Moscow subway station in a video he posted after his two-hour interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In contrast to America's public transit, Moscow's "is perfectly clean and orderly," explained Carlson. "How do you explain that? We're not even going to guess. That's not our job. We're only going to ask the question."
On the latest episode of Just Asking Questions, journalist and Fifth Column podcast co-host Michael Moynihan joins Reason's Zach Weissmueller and Liz Wolfe to dissect Carlson's interview with Putin and analyze his subsequent behavior, from releasing videos praising Russia's subway stations and grocery stores to his explanation at the World Government Summit that his reason for not challenging Putin to defend his political repression is that it's not interesting because "every leader kills people."
They also discuss the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison, Moynihan's experience reporting in Russia, and the state of economic and political freedom under Putin's rule.
Watch the full conversation on Reason's KZbin channel or on the Just Asking Questions podcast feed on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcatcher.

[@LibertarianJRT]

Technically the coin thing exists so that people put the carts back. It's not about stealing, it's about cart wrangling. This way ALDI et al don't have to pay someone to wrangle carts in the parking lot.

[@notme222]

It's both. You're right, Aldi does to avoid having their small staff go round them up. But there are also supermarkets that will selectively use the locks in certain neighborhoods and not in others.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@notme222Western troll 😂

[@badmofaux]

No, Tucker did not say “you’re an idiot if you think Putin killed Navalny in prison.” He just didn’t. Go listen to the interview. What he DID say is that our leaders are idiots for saying it. Because they just are, generally. These are different things.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

I think expecting these faux libertarian sorts to actually examine the content they criticize is too much to ask. They are little more than hipster liberals. They even try to deny tucker carlson is a journalist at all, and crap all over his interview. It was a historic interview.

[@badmofaux]

@@TheJaguarthChannel Maybe it’s just not possible to share space with the rest of the New York media establishment and not be tainted by it in some way. Or maybe these two are just not that committed in the first place. A gig is a gig.

[@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37]

It's obvious Navalny was killed by Putin, so Tucker would be as ridiculous for making the statement you said he did as he would be for making the other. Not that they would be importantly different factual claims, unless you believe that our leaders would be making an idiotic tactical or geopolitical mistake by being so candid (unlike average citizens who would apparently imperil no geopolitical ends by speaking the truth.) Also your rationalized version of Tucker's statement is probably farther from it than was the version used by these interviewers.

[@badmofaux]

@@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37 Regarding your last sentence: Prove it. Regarding the rest: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37]

@@badmofaux I'll grant your claim that Tucker said, and meant, that our leaders are idiots for saying "Putin killed Navalny in prison." Your rationalized version of this is charitably interpreted as follows: Our leaders are generally idiots, thus it is idiotic to say "Putin killed Navalny in prison," because idiots said it. This is a statement about the idiocy of claim based on the idiocy of its speaker. Tucker's statement was about the idiocy of _speakers_ because of their claims, just like the interviewer's characterization. The difference was in the particular speakers, while the difference between your version and the original is structural. Or would you amend your statement?

[@pwedza]

I’m radicalized when I see the cheese selection at the Carrefour in Paris…

[@jasonhurless]

Just wanna point out. That every Aldi in America has the coin cart concept so people return them.

[@lizard450]

Probably the first time Tucker went grocery shopping in the past 10 years.

[@Phaleel]

More importantly, stealing carts here isn't a problem for Grocery stores so we don't usually have them...

[@autism-is-unstoppable8017]

Americans go to Walmart not aldi

[@CAndrewK]

Its so people return them so that they don’t have to hire an employee to return them, not because they’re worried about like 3 homeless people stealing them per year

[@lizard450]

@@PhaleelYeah Tucker must have gotten the script written by a communist. A quarter isn't going to stop someone from stealing a cart.

[@johnnewby2043]

No one is exceptionally bright and also wrong about everything... that's a red flag to not listen to your point of view

[@v.beggar8544]

Not true. There’s plenty of evidence that shows exceptionally bright people are the best at being wrong because they’re exceptionally good at the mental gymnastics required to convince themselves and others that what they want to be true is true. It’s almost always an emotional decision first, regardless of intelligence.

[@ats89117]

Liz Wolfe knows less than nothing about New York City real estate. Every other developer in the city could have been brought up on the same charges.

[@tcuster55]

They say the degree and frequency of exaggeration is what sets Trump apart

[@notme222]

"It's technically a crime but everyone does it." That old defense. The last refuge of the cornered politician.

[@ats89117]

@@notme222 Everyone does it, and it's never been prosecuted before, and it isn't a crime anywhere else, and there was no victim and the award is historical, and lots of business will flee NY as a result. Other than that, it's completely normal.

[@jmf5246]

Agree. Another duel citizen?

[@rossl6370]

I didn’t hear Greenwald say anything suggesting Navalny’s murder was not a big deal or that similar political killings are common in the US. But he DID say 2 things I never heard on MSM: 1) Navalny was not a major opposition leader. He got 2% in his political race bid. And 2) Navalny is on film making fairly strong neo-Nazi type claims, referring to immigrants or Jews as “cockroaches” who should be exterminated. Those things seem like significant MSM exclusions. Is Greenwald wrong?

[@pjacobsen1000]

Yes, I think in his earlier days, he had extreme nationalist views. But didn't he move more to the center later on? This is not an unusual journey in politics, certainly not in European politics. Just think of Italy's Meloni, or Sweden's 'Sweden Democrats‘. Many European center-right politicians started out being quite extreme (and many on the left did, too). Perhaps this is the case with Navalny. In any case, it's a moot point. The man is dead, but even alive and free, it's unlikely he would have been allowed to run for office.

[@tnndll4294]

Nice try. But Putin has oppressed others like Kara Murza, Nemtsov, over 20+ years. find more excuses "comrade".

[@intotheveld]

@@tnndll4294 it doesn’t change the fact that our leaders are holding up a western created fake freedom fighter all while engaging in many of the same behaviors here. The point is they’re hypocrites, and Americans should be worried about the creeping fascism of the current administration.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@tnndll4294Troll😂😂

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@tnndll4294Troll😂😂😂

[@Greggster1]

Listen to Tucker Carlson interview on Glenn Beck show, to get your answers...

[@toddpacker4683]

he lies a lot, like leaving out the context on shoping in russia, that they spend much more on shopping in russia than the US, and admitting to lying about the election being rigged in private text messages

[@pwedza]

Grocery shopping in France and Germany is amazing. what are y’all talking about??

[@brek5]

Yeah, I have no idea what they are talking about, and I'm American and have done plenty of very satisfactory grocery shopping in France and the Netherlands, haha (I wasn't living and working in Germany, so I just ate out when traveling there, but I can't imagine they'd magically be bad, haha).

[@notme222]

I haven't watched this and I don't know if I need an hour-long discussion on Tucker Carlson. But I can't help but notice these comments are mixed between angry at Reason for liking Russia and angry at Reason for hating Russia.

[@RaymondGCross]

That's how you know Reason is being unbiased

[@steve_m2473]

What weird dichotomy to draw. That benefits China so maybe you are really posting Chinese propaganda. Same logic.

[@notme222]

OK now I have watched because I liked Michael Moynihan enough. And it's really smart. Probably too smart for the subject. I appreciate all the thorough info about Navalny.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

@@notme222 Troll🤣

[@EdMagee]

Ok, I’m 1:30 in and I’m getting a sense a meltdown is coming.

[@jonathanrichter4256]

Yeah, I mean, here in America we don't have suspicious deaths of people in prison.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JoeWayne84]

Hahahaha

[@mk061g9]

You might have missed there points. 1. you cannot compare by order of magnitude and 2. The political or judicial process to deal with these things when they do occur

[@themuskrat5776]

@@mk061g9 When they do occur? Who was prosecuted for epstien?

[@mk061g9]

⁠@@themuskrat5776there are multiple on going lawsuits related to the Epstein case.

[@mk061g9]

@@themuskrat5776 Ghislaine Maxwell was given twenty years.

[@bwilkin23]

The way you miss the point on every single topic is... suspicious.

[@lonesnark]

Thanks!

[@modernoverman]

Still waiting for Moynihan's book...

[@brek5]

But I'm wondering why it hasn't been mentioned in the media--just an idea--that perhaps Carlson agreed to terms for the interview. Putin is not dumb and has had as close to an iron fist there for many years, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if they said, "Ok, no talk about freedom of speech, X, Y, Z, but ok, you can ask about the WSJ journalist if you'd like because we understand you have to ask something seen as provocative." I have no way of knowing either way, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[@markstephens2709]

Reason tv reminds me why I no longer consider myself a libertarian.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Why? Reason is not full genuine libertarian (they’re pro Zionist for instance). You have to go to people like Hoppe or Stephan Kinsella for the genuine libertarians.

[@RC-cy7pd]

I think it is valid to understand Putin's point of view even if ludicrous or propaganda. It is almost guaranteed there will be one worthwhile nugget. So, how about these people go get an interview let alone actually do it. I'd be happy to not have Tucker go.

[@zwerko]

You think Putin would accept to sit down with someone that can actually ask him the hard questions and challenge his lunacy? And, more importantly, you think someone would dare to go to Russia and try to ask him those hard questions? Not bloody likely...

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@zwerkoTroll

[@jacobrheaume1]

Moynihan...thank you for keeping me humble. Every time I think I'm smart or that I've read a lot from a wide range of sources you remind me how much I still need to read/learn/know. 5th Column for life.

[@FKLinguista]

If it makes you feel any better, I don't even know you and I still think you're smarter than Moynihan.

[@sofvines3940]

I don't think "whataboutism" is as terrible a thing as everyone likes to say nowadays. If you really think about it, even this interview is filled with "what about" comparisons? Yes, the stores are nice but what about the poverty? Yes some reporters are somewhat censored here, but what about in Russia? Everything is presented in comparison. I don't see the problem. ✌️

[@tnndll4294]

Whataboutism works. That's why hypocrites hate it. Law is base on precedents (whattaboutism).

[@fredgarvinMP]

MIchael Moynihan apparently has never seen the Twitter Files or the Missouri v. Biden case if he thinks there's no censorship.

[@epithos]

Did not expect to hear a 20 year old say grok.

[@drlobomalo]

I remember the CIA-State Dept-NYT line during much of the Cold War was that Poland was somewhat freer than other Soviet Bloc countries because there were TWO powerful authoritarian institutions (CP and RCC) in that society and that somewhat restrained the Communists. In that sense, Putin may be in some ways a counterbalance to the American Empire. Russia is useful if only for its rejection of the bizarre racial and sexual ideologies that are today hegemonic in the West.

[@CasualMisinformationSpreader]

Don't waste your time watching this. Let me summarize their main points: 1. There is no censorship in US 😂 2. Russia = Bad/Communism, America = Good/Capitalism 3. Giant rats in NYC subway are cute and not that common 4. Tucker is not a journalist (this is a CIA talking point against Assange) 5. Tucker is an elitist for wanting clean & safe streets 6. High crime is a price of freedom

[@anuragsinha2013]

Thanks, for the most accurate comment of these 3 bitching about thier boyfriend.

[@chrisocony]

Grand Central Station (technically Terminal) is rather fantastic piece of architecture. And certain stations have really nice art, so it's not totally bereft of beatific touches.

[@brek5]

Yeah, and not just that station. I was all over the metro in Moscow, and I thought it was a perfectly fine system. I just think it plays into Tucker's base's idea that everywhere outside the US is a shithole when that's not true. It's a big city with beauty, and heartache, and energy, and sorrow like pretty much any other big city in the world. This is for people who haven't traveled.

[@RStack1969]

And unconvinced ones at that...

[@2530negri]

Michael C Moynihan reflects on Alexei Navalny, “a man of uncommon bravery.” 57:50

[@yuriyanu2694]

The takes on this show are frustrating in that they miss the points being made, and end up arguing straw men (in fairness, not in all cases). I wish Dave Smith was a regular voice on this program -if only to provide a different perspective from a different wing of libertarians (admittedly closer to my own).

[@badmofaux]

Dave Smith’s perspectives are paper thin and easily ignored, to be frank. Would make for a short discussion.

[@yuriyanu2694]

@@badmofaux I say they're rock solid and hard to dismiss. And they would lengthen the discussion. Where does that leave us?

[@badmofaux]

@@yuriyanu2694 Nowhere in particular. Sounds like something a Dave Smith fan would say.

[@Eliteownage]

much love all

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

There is not censorship unless its like "Virginia State University system restricts content of student newspapers" You can get your message out here.

[@BobWidlefish]

So when the US federal government illegally pressured big tech to prevent my content from being seen, that’s not censorship? Lookup the Missouri v Biden court case.

[@unicornrainbow4760]

Lies. I wouldnt even know where to start.

[@rawprawn8198]

Nalvany's family will be compensated, presumably, well by MI6.

[@nhardman]

I’m 5 minutes in and these people are insufferable. ✌️ Also, calling yourself a libertarian effectively means nothing.

[@jamesscott6661]

Don't like intellectuals discussing your boy. It's rough isn't it

[@tvvugt1]

Poor guy😢

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

@@jamesscott6661 This panel... does not have any intellectuals on it. It has speakers of establishment rhetoric. Talking heads, but ineffectual talking heads at that.

[@CasualMisinformationSpreader]

These 3 "libertarians" sound like they will vote for Biden in 2024.

[@sayartyler]

ReasonTV keeps Moynihan in their back pocket, just in case anyone starts to believe they're a conservative publisher.

[@DocnoXXX]

Tucker didn't 'become a wealthy man off the free press'. He was born wealthy. Silver spoon in his mouth and all that. He's even said in the past that he technically didn't need to work.

[@scotthullinger4684]

Nobody is born wealthy. People might be born into a wealthy family, but it's not the same thing. Wealthy people remain wealthy by maintaining the wealth they have, and by expanding it as much as possible. It's a full time job to be a millionaire or a billionaire, and to not succumb to stupidity in the market place. You need to comprehend the world to be rich, and remain rich.

[@Phaleel]

To be sure, Tucker Carlson's motivation is to continually create an economic and political underclass and revel in the fact that those two things exist and that he helped create them and lords over them. He enjoys his station and even that he was born into it. He laughs under his breath at people who appreciate him who are part of the underclass.

[@steve_m2473]

@@Phaleel lolu....Tucker is to blame for the inequality!!!

[@Phaleel]

@@steve_m2473 Yeah, I could have been more clear. My bad. He is very much proud of his station and he enjoys broadcasting a message that REINFORCES a class based system with him very much on top. He enjoys the high life and that most of us will never know it.

[@johnwatts8346]

@@Phaleel what nonsense.

[@Alex-zu5jh]

It's funny how tucker doesnt realize that 9000 roubles is the half of minimum income in Russia...

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

Troll😂😂

[@willdon.1279]

Interesting, and entertaining, in an urbane, gentle, civilized way. But, at the end very troubling the common suggestion - oh, it's just TFG being him, lying about "trivia" ignores that other people go inside for that - and he gets allowed to lie about more serious stuff - god knows what's happened to some crucial information ALL countries don't want anyone to know...!

[@steve_m2473]

In this video....3 modern Democrats try to imitate Neocons. Oh and Tucker went to Russia and Putin bad. Like so bad that he requires 2 bads per sentence.

[@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37]

In a saner world your comment is satire. But apparently words can mean anything; Trump is conservative, Bernie is liberal, Reason staff are Democrats; all obvious truths!

[@steve_m2473]

@@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37 it's more an observation of the Overton window sliding really quickly. You're right, Trump is not conservative in the recent meaning of the word and Bernie has never been a liberal in any meaningful context. Places like Reason used to be a place for more insightful commentary with a libertarian bent. Now they just see their sphere of influence fading and they are bitter about it. And they blame the people for it rather than themselves for not adequately recognizing the long term effects of the Kleptocracy. We don't need to be lectured about how bad Putin is. We are in no danger of being invaded or conquered by Russia. But what is relevant is our current conquerors who pretend to be the saviors of democracy and rule of law and freedom who do precisely the opposite. This is now the unraveling of that bureaucratic control and Reason thinks it is more relevant to highlight whether Tucker adequately framed Putin as evil compared to Joe Biden. Absolutely absurd.

[@steve_m2473]

@@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37 More evidence of Reason's lack thereof, they censored my reply to you which broke no "reasonable" TOS but it did highlight their absurdity.

[@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37]

@@steve_m2473 KZbin censored you, not Reason. If you've seen comments on their website you'll know there's no way in hell they censor pretty much any comments. Not to mention how ideologically absurd that would be.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

@@pwhqngl0evzeg7z37 Troll🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@KP-if2rm]

I agree on the Tucker interview disaster, but saying there is no censorship in USA is laughable after Twitter Files.

[@admthrawnuru]

They didn't say there was no censorship, they just demonstrated it's an order of magnitute worse in Russia.

[@hob976]

@@admthrawnuru 12:18 "The idea that there's censorship in the United States is utter f**king bulls**t."

[@hob976]

Even if American censorship and stifling of speech is comparatively orders-of-magnitude less than some other countries, why would you sh*t on the people clawing back the little bit we've lost? They're the firewall protecting your right to speech from eroding further. We should appreciate the Glenn Greenwalds and the Matt Taibbis of the world more than we do.

[@steve_m2473]

@@admthrawnuru How did they actually demonstrate that? Its a very different way and less direct, certainly. But its not non-existent.

[@badmofaux]

@@HarryF-tz5fo Growing rapidly worse, in rather disorienting/ominous fashion. If the comparison to Russia sounds hyperbolic then the denial of it sounds naive. (And like rationalization to my ears)

[@sharpsbattle]

I don’t think they give Tucker enough credit for interviewing Putin. He’s kind of taking his life in his own hands. It’s nice of you guys too armchair say what he should’ve pressed him on from the safety of being at home.

[@photonneutrino6448]

He shouldn’t have done it then

[@themuskrat5776]

@@photonneutrino6448 why not?

[@Jessica_Jones]

I haven't seen it yet but intend to watch Megyn Kelly's interview with Putin to compare. It would be interesting to see the contrast between the two in what questions were asked and how his answers were challenged.

[@darksahde]

exactly, this one is really hard to watch because how empty the words are. "I could've done it" ya like how every politician candidate and chicken when they actually in the seat. i don't even know who Michael Moynihan but he sound like every running politian with empty boasting.

[@damionfragoso2655]

Maybe we shouldn't leave out that he got an interview with possibly the world's most dangerous man. He could have been more ballsy, but he could have been arrested or assassinated shortly after.

[@notme222]

Then he should be more critical after he came home. Maybe cut out the puff pieces about how you like the supermarket and subway. Bowing to a dictator so he'll talk to you is no accomplishment.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@notme222Western troll😂

[@kurts4867]

Nothing is wrong w Tucker Carlson..You're jealous . U sound like a gossiping teenager....

[@justgivemethetruth]

>He really seemed to like it. What does that mean except some kind of sarcastic imputation of idiocy? Making what Putin said all about what Carlson said about A Russian market is beyond dishonest. Question: Should Ukraine, a country at war with its own people really be considered a democracy? Should Russia own Crimea? Should Russia be forced to have NATO missiles on their border with Ukraine? I just ask because your opening silliness disuaded me from listening to the rest of your unreasonable, non-serious program.

[@AntanasOb1]

is Michael Moynihan sponsored by lost mary?

[@hob976]

Putin definitely punked Tucker with the long winded historical explanation and ribbing him about the CIA. But my favorite part was when he said 7:15 "The whole point of an interview is to be tough from the beginning" to the two nodding statues interviewing him. And then he said 12:49 "If you wanna see a REAL interview" to them, and they stayed totally deadpan like a couple of pros. And Moynihan, you wiener. Carlson literally asked the Russian President to give him Evan Gershkovich and let him bring him home. His BEST chance of getting a "yes" would be at the end of a cordial interview. Was he supposed to start the interview with demands?

[@wes10gaard]

This isn’t analysis, this is just signaling to their vacation friends from McLean and Falls Church

[@pats3900]

I wish she would stop interrupting!

[@PurestPosition]

These three are so envious.

[@dennisswartz4937]

Way to misrepresent the whole Tucker thing. You obviously missed his points.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Reason Magazine/Podcast = controlled opposition uniparty supporters 😂 😂 😂

[@ablinkin65]

I'm two minutes in already know everyone's point of view. They all hate Tucker but are too cowardly to just say it. Cry harder ReasonTV.

[@screwstatists7324]

John Stossel alone outpreforms their entire outfit. Fakertarians.

[@sayartyler]

Moynihan strikes me as obsessed, almost to the level of Stan's obsession with Slim Shady.

[@shanejett3550]

Whether you love, like, dislike or hate Tucker, he is an interesting individual, unlike his interview w Vladimir Putin. I watched less than 20 mins of Tuckers interview w Putin bc it was utterly boring. I've watched Tucker interview w Lex Fridman many times and Tucker is entertaining.

[@bills4u]

He doesn't work for the state

[@Mellowyellow3]

While he was talking to Putin civilians were being bombed seven people died including children and scores of people were injured interview who is totally disgusting

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

Ukr troll😂😂

[@jwadd00]

Zach's red neck is v impressive as always

[@merlepatterson]

Ask him

[@larrybarnes3920]

Carlson is coming to Australia at the invite of our dodgy billionaire Clive Palmer. 🤡🤡

[@lizard450]

The reality of the matter is that Tucker gets some of these interviews because it's understood going in that it's going to be a softball interview. If that wasn't the case they would never agree to any interview. If he went off script he nor the interview would see the light of day.

[@jamesscott6661]

"Softball" it's pure pro Russia propaganda aimed at the ignorant.

[@lizard450]

@@jamesscott6661 ok and your problem with this is what exactly?

[@themuskrat5776]

I think you miss the point, sometimes just letting them talk is all you need.

[@themuskrat5776]

@@jamesscott6661how was it pro Russia?

[@kokoromarudi7717]

@@lizard450 The problem is the ignorant Republican base who is heavily influenced by Tucker will take the propaganda as truth and: 1) Mistake Russia as friendly, nonagressive, and justified in "taking back" aka invading the former Soviet states/block 2) Pressure their politicians to do things that would work in favor of Russia as in 1), e.g. stalling and completely dropping the ball on helping Ukraine 3) Because of 1 and 2, push people who don't like the Democratic party to stay in the Democratic party or vote for controlled opposition such as Nikki Haley. Basically more Dem winning and ruining the country for years to come. If he was actually seeking the truth, why didn't he do some actual digging in history and geopolitics before filming the sympathetic reaction video to the interview? Why did he follow up with the supermarket propaganda scene?

[@Timzart7]

When Tucker said if there's one thing that could "radicalize" you against leaders in the US, it is seeing a Russian grocery store, I thought he was ridiculous. Dozens of English-speaking vloggers, including ones who travel all around Russia, show themselves shopping all the time in Russian stores. After showing the paltry offerings during the Soviet era, while it's true the mainstream media last covered Russian supermarkets during a food famine in the turmoil of the 1991 dissolution, that's because supermarkets aren't really news unless there's something extraordinary. Then there's what Tucker failed to mention, the average salary. And then there's the average retirement income of $220/month, with some retirees living on as little as $100/month. And the availability of supermarkets or even little grocery stores with good variety in rural Russia is terrible. About the host mentioning how up close, things can be grimy in big cities. So true. I wonder if they scrubbed and washed everything Tucker would be walking near. You didn't show the bread-smelling scene. That was a good one, too. I wonder what happened to those groceries Tucker bought? Maybe he gave them to a Russian crew member. Moynihan brought up a few points about the political angle of persecuting Trump, the degree of what constitutes fascism, that I'll think more about. It's true that I feel a zeal to over do it, to make this man experience some consequences for his lifetime of grifting, and leaving others holding the bag, or hurting other people.

[@scotthullinger4684]

Westerners traveling around Russia is hardly the same thing as those westerners living and working in Russia in the same fashion as typical Russian citizens. The whole economy of Russia is no bigger than that of Texas. In strictly a political sense ... there's absolutely NOTHING to admire about Russia. But their achievements in art and science? Grand - Do you know how Putin remains in power? His name is the only name appearing on the election ballot. Is anyone actually pretending that Russia operates on principles of democracy? Just like in China, the only citizens in Russia who live a good life are those who are the most well educated and loyal to the propaganda of their government dictators.

[@themuskrat5776]

Pretty sure rural areas here in the USA are bereft of grocery stores. You know, because of lack of customers.

[@kokoromarudi7717]

"I wonder if they scrubbed and washed everything Tucker would be walking near" - Your intuition is correct. It is a thing in communist countries to cover up and make a show when there are important visitors especially from "the West". Anyone who's lived in a communist society would smell the scrubbing and fronting immediately. Tucker was being the same as the socialist Michael Moore's film on the "free" and "good" Cuban healthcare system. Honestly, even if Tucker didn't have this knowledge, I'd expect someone of that influence like him to at least make a little note like yours, that you always have to take into account the average income of locals when comparing the cost of living.

[@badmofaux]

@@themuskrat5776Also urban areas aka “food deserts”

[@themuskrat5776]

@@badmofaux and they are for completely different reasons that rural areas. Something to do with taxation and crime, but I repeat myself.

[@intotheveld]

It’s pretty obvious that Tucker isn’t praising Putin when he shows their clean subways and downtowns, he’s critiquing democrat policies that have created dirty, unsafe, and ugly cities across our country. He wants you to make the comparison and ask yourself why we no longer have the clean and safe cities of just a few decades ago. To suggest he’s doing anything else is willful misinterpretation.

[@_Solaris]

Finally, someone gets it.

[@kokoromarudi7717]

From your own comment, to even make the comparison, you have to admit something is good and something is bad, no? Democrat ugly unsafe cities vs (totally not praised) Russia? What exactly is the lesson here then? He either tried to shill for Russia or was too incompetent as a journalist to tell that they prepared for him just like SF temporarily cleaned up the homeless for Xi Jinping.

[@Jessica_Jones]

The issue is that if he wanted to make that point alone, there are several other countries where he could have done so, and with far better contextual relevance. The way in which he compared what he saw was completely unjournalistic and, in turn, highly questionable.

[@intotheveld]

@@Jessica_Jones he stated his intent in the video. The commenters here conveniently left that out. What gives anyone the right to demand he make his point in some other country. The fact that a dictatorial country that has been described as a backwards gas station by our leaders doesn’t have a dirty, ugly, and dangerous capital provides the perfect juxtaposition to stick it to our feckless ruling elites.

[@_Solaris]

Jessica_Jones, the only negligence he was guilty of was the assumption that people would get the implication. ...I suppose he should have talked slower & used smaller words. OP's comment is bang on.

[@99guspuppet8]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Reason has fallen so far that I don’t recognize it anymore ……. But hey Nick still has the leather jacket

[@photonneutrino6448]

I love me some Moynihan

[@Jimraynor45]

It's ironic that this discussion would focus so much on Tucker Carlson when he himself pointed out, his goal was to allow Putin to speak and try to give others insight into how he thinks. It's why he didn't want to ask too many pointed questions. Putting Putin on the defensive and asking about specific acts of tyranny would not have gone very far. Indeed, from what I have seen, many memes were created about the Interview when Putin gave his 30 minute history lesson, when asked why he decided to invade Ukraine. Indeed, for those who actually paid attention, many people did learn that Putin was full of it, and that his reasons for invading Ukraine are either ridiculous or non-existent. So, Tucker did indeed accomplish his task of letting people see who Putin is, a smart man who uses history as a weapon. So, this focus on Tucker really shows the American Bias on display.

[@nickjones3430]

I found Putin's thirty-minute filibuster at the beginning of the interview fascinating because it explains so much about how he views the world and why he invaded Ukraine. Whether it's true isn't the point, it's his mindset that's important.

[@kokoromarudi7717]

The panel is not wrong. The key here is "those who actually paid attention" only make up like 5% of Tucker's audience. The majority of Tucker's audience believes the propaganda and have been repeating them nonstop, praising Putin as a caring leader etc. If Tucker cared about the truth and just letting Putin expose himself, he would have said something in the foreword and the reaction videos.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

@@kokoromarudi7717 The panel is wrong on nearly every point. It almost comes off as establishment propaganda.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@kokoromarudi7717western Troll and bot

[@aptkeyboard3173]

You guys would do well to find more likable guests lol

[@fruityfriend]

because that's what determines truth: likability.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

@@fruityfriend No, likability is determined by truth. If they aren't likeable... it's because they're spewing rhetoric and MSM verified talking points.

[@cleroyster2610]

Sounds like jealousy to me.

[@clarkE111]

Besides being awesome?

[@absolutmauser]

I'm glad Moynihan wore the FU glasses for this.

[@Rickpa]

We require answers.

[@elbowjuice2627]

Is that Bobby Moynihan?

[@JohnComeOnMan]

This review of the Tuck is so accurate.

[@brek5]

I mean, I find all three of these people lacking in their analysis, and the BS they're spouting is almost as silly as Tucker (whom I dislike, although I didn't mind knowing where Putin was at at that point). You don't fight crappy information and ideas with more crappy information and ideas. Kind of doubting Reason at this point, as it's normally more informed and less skewed than this. I might as well watch MSNBC or Fox.

[@sollason7]

Ya, you guys just yesan each other and have no valid arguments. "What he said was dumb" without giving examples. Poorly done

[@gravitaslost]

All of the armchair none of the psychology.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

Those who can't, criticizing those who do. "Tucker carlson interview is useless" hard disagree. This video was insufferably arrogant and smugly condescending. More than a little full of hypocritical preaching also. Pretty sure Tucker Carlson is an extremely adept journalist, despite you even denying he is one. The fact he has gotten an interview is self-evident.

[@pjacobsen1000]

I don't think Tucker Carlson is stupid, nor does he necessarily like Putin, but he knows what his core audience want to hear, and he gives it to them. After all, he runs his own media company now, and he needs to make money. People should view him more like a marketing effort for his own business. It's very similar to Alex Jones, except that the views expressed are different (of degree, at least). There's a very particular narrative being pushed, rather than an attempt to explain the news / the world. This probably happens a lot on the progressive side, too. It's just that Tucker Carlson is better at what he does than many others.

[@MissAstorDancer]

I think your analysis is the most SPOT-ON I have read in quite a while, and pretty much echoes what goes on in my mind more and more, whether about Tucker, or too many other examples to mention!!! I have always "heard this" line in my head about "the world", but it just becomes more and more real, the older I get, and the more obvious things become: "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely Players" And another line that, like a damn ear worm, comes up more and more frequently in my mind, is this: "But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity" Yeah! 🤯

[@kokoromarudi7717]

In short he's just a grifter. With that much influence he could have given his audience a nuanced view on things. But no, let's just repeat low hanging fruit talking points and be a cheap propagandist for a communist state at the expense of his audience

[@wownew1850]

@@kokoromarudi7717 Do you not understand the the economic system of the USSR and Russia today?

[@kokoromarudi7717]

@@wownew1850 Please enlighten me. Was the USSR not a communist state? Is Russia not a communist state?

[@scotthullinger4684]

Tucker is MUCH better than most because he's insightful, complete, honest, and sardonic in a way which royally pisses off the Left. He's more or less just like Trump, except that his "piss off" talents are somewhat different. Let's put it this way: If the Left has negative things to say about Tucker ... then it means Tucker is doing things right.

[@RedWolfCid]

get over it. he's the most successful news anchor in history, and an honest journalist. your stance is telling.

[@crym77]

Heh. You guys iz jealous.

[@pjcondon466]

Jesus. This whole video is so pretentious. How disappointing

[@johngoldsworthy7135]

Cope and seethe harder

[@StrawHat83]

Seeing all the self-proclaimed "libertarians" take a pro-TyrantPutin position reminds me of Penn Gillette's interview on why he no longer calls himself a libertarian.

[@robertatkins9419]

Pile of garbage

[@neomanrex]

Yeah. There’s a group of us out there. I’m not sure what happened but the nuts somehow took over. I’m hard what happens when you let everyone in. I gave up on the term about 2 years ago now. Sadly. Just because saying it conjures up the concept of a crazy nut job scanning for ufos, defending Russia, and watching for the NWO to ignite the world.

[@Beezard1977]

The flip side to that is that Penn Gillette has become the quintessential “blue pilled libertarian”. He has frankly crapped the bed on the extent to which a cultural revolution has be instigated in this country since 2020 and beyond. His days of having the nerve to have a show like “BS” are long gone. Because someone might call him a racist homophobe. Tucker doesn’t have that problem. He has actually spoken truth to power at a pretty good clip since 2020. As for why he did what he did in Russia and what he actually meant, he was perfectly clear in the videos and has done multiple interviews since. Including an hour long one with Glen Beck yesterday, explaining himself. Instead, Reason employs the same straw man argument that Carlson is praising Putin and tyranny that the NYT and MSNBC has been using.

[@Pangolinexpert]

What pro-Putin talking points are you talking about?

[@StrawHat83]

@@Pangolinexpert Read the comments section.

[@BillinSD]

Tucker has played you like he played the rest of the media. I did not expect to hear a show that parroted corporate media. Various points resembles elite arrogance or is simply whinging about how he scored an interview with a leader of a world super power. The "right" didn't respond to this because they simp for Putin - it broke the media narrative that has been running lockstep with the administration. You even sprinkled in some Trump hate which makes this episode even less serious. Tucker was "Just Asking Questions". Very disappointing.

[@scotthullinger4684]

Tucker Carlson is popular for the same reasons Donald Trump is popular. Each tells the truth about the Left; each has experienced success because of the founding principles of the USA; Each is an example of what citizens can achieve if they apply themselves, work hard, and are responsible. Each is an example of what the political Left despises. Their enemies point fingers hypocritically, but they never look in the mirror.

[@saints146]

Lol

[@Weirdomanification]

You mock

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

@@Weirdomanification OP is correct

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

Western troll😂😂

[@mk061g9]

Wow what a great interview. You guys hit the nail on the head!

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

You speak satire, right? You are not being serious? Because they did the exact opposite and pretty much everyone knows it.

[@etismyname]

The interview with Putin is just stupid and quite frankly, unAmerican. Putin doesn't need to be interviewed, he speaks through his state media, what good is it for Tucker to interview him and try to pretend Putin is just another leader.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

How utterly asinine your comment is. The interview was needed, it was valuable, and it is historic. You spew a condonement of ignorance and placidity. I don't have language strong enough to express how terrible your sentiment is.

[@notme222]

@@TheJaguarthChannel I imagine you lack the language to express a lot of things.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

@@notme222 certainly not in polite company.

[@BandytaCzasu]

Lots of IRA bots in the comment section.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

Western troll

[@steve_m2473]

These seem like the rantings of some unimportant and out of touch people who are angry at people for following what tucker is doing, rather than recognizing their brilliance.

[@dietrashman]

I think that the criticisms of Tucker for “soft balling” an interview with a president of a country willing to lock up foreign journalists and considered by many evil is a very odd thing. It’s like they expect him to really toe the line where he can suffer very real consequences for how the interview goes.

[@ninagohlsson6053]

So are the only 2 options during the interview to either be a propaganda vehicle for an authoritarian president - or being imprisoned? If that is a fact, one can also chose not to be a propaganda vehicle by not doing the interview in the first place.

[@dietrashman]

@@ninagohlsson6053It sounds like you're arguing for ignorance of hearing information from the horse's mouth and instead want to hear propaganda from governments that are adversarial. You're basically advocating people should live willingly in a 1984 world.

[@sanniepstein4835]

@@ninagohlsson6053 You might have a little more respect for people. We actually can listen to Putin without being swept into adoration.

[@ninagohlsson6053]

@@dietrashman I was replying to the defence of Tucker soft balling the questions. IF the only option is soft balling (for fear of imprisonment), I pointed out that you also have the option not to do the interview at all. But there is 2 other options to chose between: Doing a real interview with real questions - or not interviewing. If you decide it is to dangerous to do a real interview, one could argue it's preferable not to do it. There are of course other reasons for someone soft balling an interview than fear of imprisonment. But none of those were mentioned in the post I replied to.

[@ninagohlsson6053]

@@sanniepstein4835 I wasn't talking about the listener at all. I was talking about choices a journalist have to make.

[@pjacobsen1000]

Good conversation.

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

Not good

[@JoeWayne84]

Three insufferable host

[@rupertneverton3887]

I actually agree with most of what they said. However, vaping makes you look like a douche and not being able to get through an hour long discussion without vaping makes you look like an insufferable douche.

[@zdrux]

The cancer comes for everyone, including ReasonTV.

[@tl924]

Whats up with him? Hes speaking for the people, what AMERICA is actually thinking and observing.

[@neomanrex]

No he’s not. You’re a liar.

[@jpwright87]

​​@@neomanrex It might actually be true that he's speaking for America, because we are that effing stupid.

[@kokoromarudi7717]

He's a grifter speaking for the most ignorant group of the conservative base. His influence is why there hasn't been a red wave in years

[@themuskrat5776]

@@jpwright87 well 81 million of us allegedly elected biden...

[@fruityfriend]

america is commonly referred by most of the world as a nation of morons.

[@bouyantrite553]

BDS central banks and government

[@RKramden723]

Tucker’s motivation? “Click’s” comes to mind.

[@FaeMarx]

Reason is buthurt Carlson got the Milei interview

[@BobWidlefish]

You guys are so cringe and insular, it’s embarrassing to be called a libertarian because of you.

[@lizard450]

That's an interesting take and I'm inclined to agree. Can you share why you think this?

[@BobWidlefish]

@@lizard450 they auto-hate whatever beltway officialdom says they should. Tucker bad. Why? Because bad! It’s so cognitively empty it’s hard to watch. It’s like schoolgirls gossiping about how Jenny is such and such. I want ideas, facts, arguments. Not drama and narratives.

[@brandonjacobs606]

@@BobWidlefish Seems like they gave plenty of reasons why they disagreed with Tucker? Did I watch a different video, or did you not watch this one?

[@jamespier7801]

Who cares?

[@mattcomchoc2957]

Stopped and downvoted at the grins following the "not sure how much of a journalist he is" comments. Can you guys put Remy videos and the "unintended consequences" series on a different channel so I don't have to see trash like this in my feed?

[@BobWidlefish]

💯

[@kokoromarudi7717]

How dare people criticize my idol's journalistic integrity! He risked his life getting a state-approved interview to gaslight people into blaming the US and Ukraine for Russia's invasion!

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

@@kokoromarudi7717 delusional take is delusional.

[@johnwatts8346]

tucker has far more credibility than this channel does. bannon is not wrong.

[@saints146]

Lol ok

[@johnwatts8346]

@146 its a fact. and what is also a fact-libertarianism is a nonsense abstract ideology that has no basis in reality.

[@TheJaguarthChannel]

Absolutely... sad to see how reason has fallen into just being establishment leftist shilling since 2015.

[@kahunabear]

Ugh, guy in the middle is insufferable. While, I assume, claiming he is a journalist, all he does is make judgements based on what he thinks is right or wrong.

[@Jessica_Jones]

He definitely has an edge of scorn, which I generally don't care for so I don't super love the guy, but he is clearly very knowledgeable and has formed his opinions based on factual news and information. He _is_ making judgments based on what he thinks is right and wrong, but it is clear what is fact, what is speculation, and what is his opinion and worldview. With the amount of extremely sarcastic and dramatic editorial coverage that saturates American media, it's honestly a breath of fresh air.

[@intotheveld]

@@Jessica_Jones using short video snippets to willfully misinterpret someone is no different than what CNN does. These are propagandists, and they aren’t very good ones.

[@badmofaux]

Michael Moynihan is actually fairly decent, overall his point of view is not so dissimilar from many in the Tucker audience I’d wager. Comes off as a bit of a ponce at first maybe, but well so does Tucker Carlson. Zach Weissmueller, on the other hand…

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@Jessica_JonesTroll 😂😂😂

[@OregonTAC]

Very disappointing takes all around from the libertarian warmongers

[@bozimmerman]

?! That's an odd take. What makes you think any of them are warmongers? e.g. Some libertarians are against ALL aggressive wars, not just the ones their own country engages in.

[@OregonTAC]

What I see is one authoritarian government that jails journalists and outlaws competitive political parties fighting another authoritarian non democratic regime who jails journalists and outlaws competitor political parties and our government using stolen money to extend the fight and ensure more people die in both countries. Reason just takes the party line that Putin is evil and Ukraine is a baby in the woods without examination or skepticism and complains that Tucker would dare to get a 2nd perspective at all. Like I said blue filled libertarian warmongers

[@user-xt5yz8wm7z]

​@@bozimmermanTroll 😂😂😂