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WASHINGTON D.C. – Mehdi Hasan, a former MSNBC host, criticized The New York Times for what he perceives as its failure to adequately represent leftist viewpoints within American political discourse.
During a recent appearance at Semafor’s Innovating to Restore Trust in News summit, Hasan addressed a question regarding his aspirations for Zeteo, his newly established news platform. He launched this initiative last year after parting ways with MSNBC.
Hasan conveyed his reluctance to bring on contributors from the Republican side, particularly from the Never-Trump faction, stating that their perspectives are already well-represented in the media landscape. “They’ve got enough platforms,” Hasan remarked. He emphasized that while there is a strong focus on including conservative views, the same cannot be said for the left. “The New York Times will dispatch numerous journalists to engage with Trump supporters, yet what’s noticeably absent is coverage that authentically reflects leftist viewpoints,” he added.
Questioning The New York Times’ Editorial Choices
“Isn’t it astonishing that after three election cycles, The New York Times still lacks a columnist who actively supports Bernie Sanders?” Hasan continued, highlighting that although Jamelle Bouie writes for the publication, he believes there is a gap in representation of true leftist thought within its pages. “The absence of a genuine ‘Bernie Bro’ at The New York Times underscores the lack of ideological diversity,” he argued.
The New York Times had not provided a public response to Hasan’s critiques by the time of this report.
At the summit, Hasan championed his approach to staffing at Zeteo, asserting that his platform engages a variety of left-leaning perspectives more diligently than traditional outlets like The New York Times. “I aimed to include voices spanning from the left to the far-left,” he stated, pointing out the diversity of opinions among his contributors. “We’ve onboarded John Harwood, a mainstream liberal and an ex-CNN and ex-CNBC commentator, who offers a favorable perspective on the Democratic Party. I’m very pleased to have him as part of our team. We’ve also included Naomi Klein and Owen Jones, who represent views that aren’t typically seen in mainstream discourse,” Hasan elaborated.
Response to His Departure from MSNBC
Hasan’s exit from MSNBC came shortly after the cancellation of his program in January 2024. His critiques of Israel’s military operations following the October 7 Hamas attacks, alongside his condemnation of the attacks themselves, had positioned him as a controversial figure at the network. Some have alleged that MSNBC sidelined him, despite his prominence as a Muslim commentator.
Initially, it was reported that Hasan would transition to a role as an analyst and fill-in host; however, his appearances on the network dwindled significantly afterward, leading to claims that he had been effectively marginalized.
Through Zeteo, Hasan aims to provide a platform for a spectrum of leftist viewpoints, setting it apart from what he sees as mainstream media’s inadequate coverage of left-leaning perspectives.
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