Ben Smith, formerly of the New York Times, BuzzFeed, and Politico, is under fire for hosting an event with his new media company, Semafor, that lists Tucker Carlson as one of the guests.
Nandini Jammi, co-founder of @CheckMyAdsHQ, tweeted “Hey @semaforben, tell me why you invited the biggest white nationalist in America to join you at your first event? What are your plans over at @semafor?”:
Hey @semaforben, tell me why you invited the biggest white nationalist in America to join you at your first event? What are your plans over at @semafor? https://t.co/v66h62LJIl
— Nandini Jammi (@nandoodles) June 30, 2022
She added, “What do you do when the biggest names in journalism are literally f***ing friends with the white nationalists?”
LOL. They’re trying to cancel Ben Smith now?
He responded, “Our plans are to ask hard questions of powerful people — I don’t think there are a lot of journalists who would refuse to do that interview?”
Our plans are to ask hard questions of powerful people — I don't think there are a lot of journalists who would refuse to do that interview?
— Ben Smith (@semaforben) June 30, 2022
We’ll note that Taylor Lorenz will also be interviewed at the event:
Semafor’s editor-in-chief Ben Smith will conduct 1:1 interviews with Washington Post’s Taylor Lorenz, Politico’s John Harris and Tucker Carlson of Fox News. Carlson will be joining the program remotely.
Hopefully Ben asks Taylor about all those corrections in her Johnny Depp-Amber Heard article to really PISS them off:
Look, this would be a different conversation if @semaforben was hosting a panel called “Unpacking Tucker Carlson, A White Nationalist Goon” featuring Tucker Carlson.
But that’s not a what this panel is – at all. pic.twitter.com/drogQNilsB
— Nandini Jammi (@nandoodles) June 30, 2022
Other blue-checks jumped in. From Jeff Jarvis:
Oh, yes, Ben, some journalists would be wise enough not to use and be used by a white nationalist. You think your questions are somehow superpowered to break him or reveal anything of interest? What could you possibly learn from him? He will use you to amplify his hate.
— Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) June 30, 2022
And here’s from Oliver Wilis:
It’s so obvious how you definitely don’t believe this and love the controversy
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 30, 2022
More anger:
yes surely the controversy and engagement created by platforming a known racist propagandist had nothing to do with the thinking here
— Karl Bode (@KarlBode) June 30, 2022
Yes, but you’re not dealing with reasonable people:
I'm sure reasonable people can disagree on this, but I think he's very powerful because he has a giant audience whom he speaks to directly every night.
— Ben Smith (@semaforben) June 30, 2022
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