Ethan Klein slams Hasan Piker over China comments
Tensions between popular streamers Ethan Klein and Hasan Piker have escalated, with Klein accusing Piker of promoting pro-China propaganda and downplaying human rights violations.
The dispute follows Piker's recent commentary on China's policies, which Klein claims aligns too closely with Chinese state narratives.
Klein, co-host of the H3 Podcast, voiced his concerns publicly, alleging that Piker dismisses serious human rights abuses. This marks a significant rift between the two, who previously co-hosted the political podcast Leftovers. The show, launched in September 2021, focused on politics and internet culture but was discontinued in November 2023 due to mounting disagreements between the hosts.
The conflict highlights broader ideological divisions within the online political commentary space. In a recent podcast episode, Klein expressed frustration with Piker's positions, stating, "There's not a single dissenting voice with his... radical, anti-American, antisemitic, pro-terrorism takes. This is fringe, psychotic sh*t."
Piker has not yet responded to Klein's accusations. However, the controversy reflects a growing divide within online political discourse, as influential figures debate geopolitical issues and the ethical responsibility of their platforms.
The fallout from this dispute may further shape online discussions around media narratives, propaganda, and global politics, with both Klein and Piker maintaining strong followings that engage deeply with their content. As debates over China's policies and international affairs continue, this latest feud underscores the complexities of digital influence in shaping public opinion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Russia warns US against military action on Iran
Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters: 'We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation.' PHOTO: FILE Listen to article Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday warned the United States not to take military action against Iran, amid speculation over whether Washington will enter the war alongside Israel. Moscow issued its warning after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call condemned Israeli attacks on Iran and urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Israel launched an unprecedented wave of strikes at Iran last week, to which Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday he was considering whether to join Israel's strikes. 'I may do it, I may not do it,' he said. Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters: 'We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation.' Any US military action 'would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences,' she added. Earlier on Thursday, following the leaders' call, the Kremlin said Putin and Xi 'strongly condemn Israel's actions.' Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow and Beijing believed the end to the hostilities 'should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means.'
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Russia warns of ‘Chernobyl-style catastrophe' if Israel hits Iran's Bushehr plant
A satellite image shows new reactors under construction at the Bushehr site in Iran in this handout image dated January 1, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article The head of Russia's nuclear energy corporation warned on Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant could lead to a "Chernobyl-style catastrophe". An Israeli military spokesperson said Israel had struck the site, but an Israeli military official later called this statement "a mistake" and said he could neither confirm nor deny that the Bushehr site on the cost of the Gulf had been hit. Bushehr is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant and was built by Russia. President Vladimir Putin told journalists in the early hours of Thursday that Israel had promised Russia that Moscow's workers - who are building more nuclear facilities at the Bushehr site - would be safe, even as Israel tries to degrade Iran's nuclear capabilities by force. The head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom warned on Thursday that the situation around the plant was fraught with risk. "If there is a strike on the operational first power unit, it will be a catastrophe comparable to Chernobyl," the state RIA news agency cited Alexei Likhachev as saying. Likhachev was referring to the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986, when a reactor exploded at Chernobyl in Soviet Ukraine. An attack on Bushehr would be "beyond... evil," Likhachev added. Russia has evacuated some of its specialists from Bushehr, he said, but the core workforce - which Putin said numbered hundreds of people - remained on site. "We are prepared for any scenario, including the rapid evacuation of all our employees," RIA cited Likhachev as saying. 'God forbid' Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Israeli attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities were unacceptable and illegal. "We are especially concerned about the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in whose operation Russian specialists are involved," she told reporters. "We would like to especially warn Washington against military intervention in the situation, which would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences," Zakharova added, underlining a warning that Moscow first issued on Wednesday. Putin, in his comments early on Thursday, was defensive when asked what more Moscow would do to help Tehran. He said it had not asked for military assistance, that ties were strong, and that the continued presence of Russian workers building more nuclear facilities at Bushehr showed Russia's support for Iran. But Putin also stressed the importance of Russia's ties with Israel - even though he later condemned its behaviour in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping - and said he believed a diplomatic solution that would satisfy Israel's concerns about its own security and Iran could be found. Russia signed a strategic partnership with Iran in January and also has a relationship with Israel, although that has been strained by Moscow's war in Ukraine. A Russian offer to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict has so far not been taken up. Mikhail Bogdanov, another Russian deputy foreign minister, recoiled on Thursday when asked by Reuters about the possibility of the US joining Israel's war with Iran. "God forbid, the consequences would be hard to predict,' he said.
Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Express Tribune
US resumes student visas, requires foreign applicants to unlock social media
Listen to article The United States has resumed the suspended process for foreign student visa applications, but with a new requirement: applicants must make their social media profiles public to allow government officials to conduct in-depth online vetting. In a statement released Wednesday, the US State Department said consular officers will now be instructed to examine social media posts for any content deemed hostile to the United States—its people, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles. Visa applicants who refuse to comply with the requirement to unlock their social media settings may be considered evasive and risk rejection. 'A refusal to do so could be a sign they are trying to hide their online activity,' the notice warned. Read: US expands student visa screening amid pro-Palestinian activism This new directive comes after a temporary suspension of visa processing issued on May 28, as the Trump administration reviewed its screening process for foreign students. The administration's broader aim is to prevent individuals considered national security risks from entering the country. In internal guidance sent to consulates, officers were told to screen for individuals who support designated terrorist organisations or who engage in, support, or promote unlawful antisemitic acts or violence. The updated visa guidance applies to F visas for academic students, M visas for vocational students, and J visas for exchange visitors. Applicants under all three categories are now expected to set their social media privacy settings to 'public.' A senior State Department official defended the new rules by citing national security concerns: 'It is an expectation from American citizens that their government will make every effort to make our country safer, and that is exactly what the Trump administration is doing every single day.' International students have been anxiously awaiting visa interviews, as the window to arrange travel and accommodation for the academic year narrows. Read more: LA shaken as immigration clampdown turns violent Students from China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines have been posting online about the uncertainty, closely monitoring visa booking websites and State Department press briefings for updates. The State Department said, 'To facilitate this vetting,' all applicants 'will be asked to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to 'public'.' The tougher vetting comes amid a broader crackdown by President Donald Trump on elite US universities, which he accuses of being politically biased and lenient toward pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Harvard University has been a particular target, with the administration moving to block it from enrolling foreign students. Trump has proposed capping Harvard's international student intake at 15% and has frozen $2.65 billion in federal funding to the institution. In a related move, the Trump administration has also issued a diplomatic cable to 36 countries, warning them to enhance their traveler vetting systems within 60 days or risk being added to the US travel ban list. That list currently includes 12 countries.
