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Time Magazine
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
How ‘Surrounded' Memeifies Politics
Mehdi Hasan is 'one of the most formidable debaters and interviewers of our times,' the debate-hosting company Intelligence Squared said of the British-American journalist in 2023. Hasan rose to fame on both sides of the Atlantic for his confrontational interviews of politicians and public figures, often advocating a left-of-center view on Al Jazeera, BBC, The Intercept, MSNBC, and now his own Substack site Zeteo. But the author of a book titled Win Every Argument has also spoken about when not to take part in a debate. 'There are certain people who there is no point arguing with,' he said in 2023, pointing specifically to those who operate in bad faith. 'It's pointless. It doesn't go anywhere.' The one-versus-many debate web series has repeatedly gone viral since its premiere in September, featuring episodes from 'Can 25 Liberal College Students Outsmart 1 Conservative?' to 'Can 1 Woke Teen Survive 20 Trump Supporters?' and 'Can 1 Cop Defend Himself Against 20 Criminals?' Hasan appeared as the titular progressive in the 100-minute '1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives,' which has garnered more than 3.5 million views and counting on YouTube since it was posted on Sunday and millions more views of clips shared on social media. But Hasan was the first to admit that he didn't expect what he would encounter. 'You can see my shock when they start expressing their views openly,' Hasan posted on X in response to a critic who suggested he eagerly signed up to debate 'a bunch of nazis.' According to Zeteo, Jubilee Media 'chose the participants, with Mehdi meeting them for the first time in the studio itself.' Hasan, whose supporters have showered him with praise for his performance, claimed in the final minutes of the program, during which participants assessed the debate, that he was both taken aback but also unsurprised by the extreme views he met: 'I thought it would be an interesting exercise in trying to understand what genuine far-right conservative folks think. And it was kind of disturbing to see that they think what I thought they think, and they were happy to say it out loud. I am disappointed that I had to sit across from people who believe in white genocide, who believe I'm not a citizen. … The people here today were way beyond conservative.' While Hasan admitted he likes to debate 'even people I disagree with,' he reiterated that he tries to 'avoid bad faith folks' and said, 'I think some of the folks today were bad faith.' He also seemed to criticize Jubilee's airing of such extreme views, adding: 'Free speech doesn't mean you need to give credibility or oxygen or a platform to people who don't agree in human equality.' 'This is open authoritarianism, and this is what is being normalized and mainstreamed in our country, by people in power, by the media, by people who don't know any better,' Hasan said. But some observers online have suggested that Hasan himself should have known better about what he signed up for. 'The fix is in' Jubilee Media says its mission is to 'provoke understanding' and 'create human connection.' And, according to its website, 'We believe discomfort and conflict are pivotal forces in creating human connection.' The company has since 2017 produced a number of web series on dating, identity, politics, and more. 'We want to show what discourse can and should look like. Sometimes it can be unproductive but other times it can be quite productive and empathetic,' founder Jason Y. Lee told Variety in late 2024 for an article about Surrounded , which according to the article has a goal to 'promote open dialogue,' for which Jubilee sees itself as a neutral host. 'We try our best to be as unbiased as possible when it comes to the political sphere,' said Lee. For the most part, Jubilee's debate series appears to be unmoderated, governed primarily by the participants themselves, with occasional on-screen fact-checks provided by billionaire Joe Ricketts' media startup Straight Arrow News. But critics have questioned the company's supposedly noble aspirations. 'Jubilee Media mines the nation's deepest disagreements for rowdy viral videos. But is all the arguing changing anyone's mind?' the Atlantic asked in January. Media reporter Julia Alexander suggested on X that the program's producers are the ones operating in bad faith. 'Jubilee Media's done it again: taking 20 people with extremist views and putting them into a 90 minute video knowing that they'll say extreme things and get an extreme amount of attention,' she posted on Sunday after the Hasan episode. They've figured out, Alexander added, 'how to monetize the very essence of the internet.' Filmmaker and entrepreneur Minh Do posted that Jubilee's producers 'are mainly interested in clickbait views and incendiary clips that don't lead anyone to think any deeper about these topics' rather than any sense of responsibility to the public. 'Senseless conversation purely for views.' 'It only takes watching a couple clips of these to see that the fix is in,' posted podcaster Alex Goldman. Writer and disability rights advocate Imani Barbarin, who shared in March that she turned down an invitation from Jubilee to appear in a Surrounded episode about feminism, posted a video Monday in which she decried how she believed the debate-style program was made for viral moments, not serious engagement. 'That very same debate where Mehdi Hasan was standing up to 20 fascists or whatever, where you all think he won, is being cut up and chopped up across the internet to present it as though he lost,' Barbarin said. Indeed, one only needs to scroll through the social media pages of some of the participants to see them taking victory laps and their supporters praising their performances. 'This,' Barbarin emphasized, 'is what the memeification of politics looks like in practice.'
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mehdi Hasan shuts down 20 Donald Trump fans in explosive jubilee debate – viewers call him a ‘National Treasure'
Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist who recently made a splash in progressive politics after departing from the MSNBC network to found his own independent media platform, known as Zeteo. Since then, Mehdi has spearheaded numerous investigative journalism and advocacy efforts, most notably concerning the ongoing war in Gaza, which he has termed a 'genocide'. Mehdi is also a staunch critic of the current Donald Trump administration, and has built up a reputation as a formidable debater. On July 20, he showcased his passion for debating once more by appearing on Jubilee's Surrounded. Surrounded is a YouTube series where a public debater deliberately disadvantages themselves by pitting themselves against 20 people of opposing viewpoints, with Mehdi facing off against hardline Donald Trump supporters who were staunchly anti-immigrant and openly supported many of the president's most controversial policies. Mehdi would later post a highlight reel of the over 90-minute debate on his X account, which got a lot of reactions, with James Allan calling Mehdi a "National Treasure". You're a National Treasure Mehdi. Netizens rally around Mehdi after his Jubilee debate Mehdi's highlight reel prompted a lot of responses on his X timeline, with many praising Mehdi's debating skills and commending him on facing off against America's radicalized right-wingers head on. User doomer_world called Mehdi an American hero, which he looked all too happy to hear. 🙏🏽 User Nick Warren said that the others brought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight. They bought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight... User jocamp thanked Mehdi for everything. 🙏🏽 User Rickey Williams commended Mehdi for taking 'hate and fascism' full on, and said there was no barometer to gauge the amount of 'crazy' among the 20 right-wingers. Words cannot express how much I appreciate you Mehdi, you took hate and fascism full on, there's no barometer to gauge the amount of crazy amongst those 20. User whereisjarule_ stated that Mehdi was the best debater he'd ever seen. Happy it's mehdi Hasan of all people going against them. He is the best debater I've ever seen! User thelefttake condemned the people Mehdi debated against, saying they should be 'put on a watchlist'. There are multiple people in this video who should be placed on a watchlist. It's actually scary knowing they walk among us. Not all responses to Mehdi's debate were positive, however, with seasters jones saying that Mehdi shouldn't have given the 'fascists' a platform. Had you never watched previous episodes? Just fascists getting crushed and acting like they won likely because they got to advertise/platform their hate. User Grounded Spaceman accused Mehdi of just talking over everyone. lol…this isn't the own you think it is. I'd wager that you can win a debate fair and square over the normal this is just you talking over ppl. Fast and loud doesn't win a debate dude User Landon Best said that Mehdi shouldn't call what he did a 'debate' because none of the 20 reactionaries he talked to had any ideas worth seriously considering. Your #1 issue is calling this a debate when it's not. Debate implies these ideas are in any way meant to be taken seriously. There is nothing serious about any of the 20 reactionaries you talked to. However, Landon was met with pushback by ValorieThomas, who pointed out that everyone in the video knew what they signed up for, and genuinely considered themselves debaters. It's important to note that every person in that room knew what they were signed up for. Every person in there knew who would be sitting across the table. Everyone in that room thinks they are debaters with relevant, cogent ideas & arguments. Mehdi Hasan has had a storied journalism career Before establishing his own media company, Mehdi Hasan spent a long time building his credentials as a journalist and activist. After doing a few stints on British networks such as ITV and BBC One, Mehdi rose to prominence as an anchor for Al Jazeera, following which he transitioned to MSNBC and hosted The Mehdi Hasan Show from 2020 to 2024. Aside from his work on Zeteo, Mehdi is also a regular columnist for The Guardian. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu responds to NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest him
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest him as 'silly' and teased plans to swing through New York City in defiance of the socialist's warning. 'I'm not concerned about that,' Netanyahu told reporters in the Blue Room on Monday evening during his meeting with President Trump. 'I'm going to come there with President Trump and we'll see.' Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest him 'silly.' AL DRAGO/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock Advertisement 'As mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu,' Mamdani said last year. Paul Martinka for NY Post Last year, Mamdani told Zeteo that he would not welcome Netanyahu to New York City in light of the International Criminal Court's warrant for Netanyahu's arrest. 'No. As mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a city that our values are in line with international law. It's time that our actions are also,' Mamdani told Zeteo's editor-in-chief Mehdi Hasan last December. Advertisement After Netanyahu shrugged off Mamdani's threat, Trump then publicly assured the Israeli prime minister that he had nothing to worry about under his watch. 'We don't know who the mayor is going to be yet, but this is a communist. He's not a socialist. He's a communist, and he's said some really bad things about Jewish people,' Trump said. 'He's going to behave,' Trump added, referring to Mamdani. 'He'll behave. He better behave. Otherwise, he's going to have big problems.'
Forbes
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mehdi Hasan's Zeteo Picks Up Gaza Documentary The BBC Refused To Air
Surgeons operate on a patient at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip amid ... More the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images) A high-profile documentary about Palestinian doctors working amid wartime conditions in Gaza — which the BBC decided not to broadcast — is now getting a global release, thanks to its acquisition by journalist Mehdi Hasan's media startup Zeteo. The film, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, was produced by Basement Films and features on-the-ground testimony from healthcare workers trying to save lives amid the destruction of Gaza's hospital system. Zeteo is releasing the documentary globally today, following months of delays and ultimately a final decision by the BBC to pull out of the project entirely. Why Mehdi Hasan's Zeteo backed a Gaza documentary Zeteo, which Hasan launched in 2024 to give voice to underreported stories and independent journalism, framed the acquisition as a stand for editorial independence. 'This is one of the reasons I founded Zeteo … to platform the journalistic voices that are being censored on the biggest issues of our time,' Hasan said in a statement about the documentary. The BBC's reversal, it should be noted, came after what the broadcaster said was a review of a separate Gaza-related documentary. Ultimately, the BBC said airing Gaza: Doctors Under Attack would risk 'creating a perception of partiality.' Basement Films noted that the BBC had initially told them the film passed editorial review — a claim the network disputes. After the BBC ultimately passed on the documentary, however, more than 600 members of the film industry (including actress Susan Sarandon and director Mike Leigh) decided to speak out via an open letter. The BBC, that letter argued, was silencing Palestinian voices. Few modern conflicts have certainly sparked as much global outrage, division, and scrutiny as the war in Gaza — not just because of the war's scale, but for the staggering human toll on civilians. It began with the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, leading to a wide-ranging Israeli military campaign inside Gaza — one which has already claimed thousands of lives and left destruction throughout the region. The crisis has also raised serious concerns over safeguarding civilians, especially medics and aid workers on the front line. Hospitals have fared terribly, with many being destroyed or destroyed. Physicians and nurses are operating with acute power, supply, and protection shortages in order to care for patients. Basement Films has stated that more than 200 of their Palestinian colleagues and partners have died in Gaza since the conflict began. Hasan, a former MSNBC host, launched Zeteo as a subscriber-supported media platform after leaving the network following its cancellation of his weekend show there amid a programming reshuffle. For Zeteo's paid subscribers, the Gaza documentary will be available to stream starting today (July 2) at 5 p.m. ET. In the UK, it will be shown on Channel 4. 'We owe everything to our Palestinian colleagues on the ground … and the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories,' Basement Films' statement continues, by way of thanking Zeteo and Channel 4 for enabling the film to be seen.
NDTV
26-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Israel, Netanyahu, LGBTQ: Zohran Mamdani's Key Campaign Policies
New Delhi: Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic primary for mayoral elections in New York City. On Tuesday, he defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in arguably one of the biggest political upsets in recent times. At 33, Mr Mamdani now heads into the November election with a platform focused on housing reform, economic redistribution, transit access, and a foreign policy stance that has drawn national attention. Zohran Mamdani's Stance On Israel-Palestine A vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Mr Mamdani has called Israel's military actions in Gaza"genocide," and sought to cut city ties with firms operating in Israeli settlements. While he supports Israel's right to exist and condemns violence against civilians on all sides, he has repeatedly criticised the country's ongoing military assault in Gaza, particularly following the October 7 Hamas attacks. In an interview with Zeteo's Mehdi Hasan, he said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under international law if he visited New York City, citing the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant. His activism dates back to college, where he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. His mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, has expressed similar views, boycotting Israeli cultural events in protest of what she has called "apartheid" policies. Zohran Mamdani's Campaign Policies Housing And Rent Reform Zohran Mamdani 's priority is housing. He has pledged an immediate rent freeze on all rent-stabilised units and proposed a Social Housing Development Agency to build 2 lakh publicly owned affordable homes over the next decade. He would fund this through increased taxes on millionaires and large corporations. Economic Justice His fiscal plan includes a 2 per cent income tax on New Yorkers earning over $1 million and higher corporate taxes, reforms projected to raise $20 billion. That revenue would go towards universal childcare, tuition-free public college, subsidised grocery stores in underserved areas, and fare-free public transit. Mr Mamdani has also called for a $30 per hour minimum wage by 2030. Public Transit And Climate Building on successful pilot programmes, Zohran Mamdani wants to make all Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) buses permanently fare-free and freeze subway fares. His infrastructure plan includes congestion pricing, expanded bike lanes, and better transit access across boroughs to reduce car dependency and fight climate change. Childcare And Education He proposes city-funded universal childcare and pre-K, tuition-free CUNY and SUNY colleges, and taxing private universities that currently avoid property taxes. Public Safety Rejecting traditional policing models, Zohran Mamdani proposes a new Department of Community Safety focused on housing, mental health care, and outreach. He also plans an 800 per cent increase in funding for anti-hate programmes, targeting antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Asian violence. LGBTQ+ And Immigrant Rights Zohran Mamdani supports expanded gender-affirming care, an LGBTQIA+ Affairs Office, and full sanctuary protections for undocumented New Yorkers. His immigrant rights plan also puts focus on legal aid and language access, particularly for Muslim and South Asian communities.
