Putin's Goons Say Tucker Carlson Is Must-See TV | Vanity Fair
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Kremlin has told state-run TV to air Carlson's pro-Russia talking points as much as possible. 
By Bess Levin
March 14, 2022 WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Fox News host Tucker Carlson discusses 'Populism and the Right' during the National Review Institute's Ideas Summit at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. Carlson talked about a large variety of topics including dropping testosterone levels, increasing rates of suicide, unemployment, drug addiction and social hierarchy at the summit, which had the theme 'The Case for the American Experiment.' (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Chip Somodevilla
Vladimir Putin 's invasion of Ukraine is entirely indefensible, which is why Russia has been working overtime to spread disinformation about its efforts to take over another country. Whereas people with access to real news and facts understand that Putin is simply a megalomaniac who doesn't care how many civilians he has to murder in order to further his imperial ambitions, the Kremlin is hoping that through a multipronged approach that includes shutting down access to social media, expunging an independent press, and running relentless lies on its state-run TV, it can convince people, at least within its own borders, that attacking Ukraine is actually a good thing. Also part of the strategy? Using Tucker Carlson 's pro-Russia bullshit as propaganda.
Mother Jones reports that on March 3, the Kremlin circulated a talking point to state-run media outlets telling them it was of the utmost importance to run Carlson's commentary. "It is essential to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO, their negative role in unleashing the conflict in Ukraine, [and] the defiantly provocative behavior from the leadership of the Western countries and NATO towards the Russian Federation and towards President Putin, personally," the 12-page document reportedly said, noting that Carlson's position was that "Russia is only protecting its interests and security."
According to reporter David Corn, the document was created by the Department of Information and Telecommunications Support, "which is part of the Russian security apparatus." As Corn notes, "no other Western journalist is referenced in the memo." The source who provided it to Mother Jones said such memos have been a recurring feature from Putin's administration since it attacked Ukraine. Among other lies the Kremlin told its media partners to spread were that: Russia invaded its neighbor to prevent "the possibility of nuclear strikes on its territory"; Putin is doing this to protect his people; Ukraine is shelling areas controlled by Russia; foreign mercenaries are fighting for Ukraine; and Europe "is facing more and more problems" because of the sanctions it's imposed. The memo additionally told outlets to claim that Kyiv is guilty of "war crimes"; that Ukraine's military is starting to collapse; and that Moscow is the victim of a "massive Western anti-Russian propaganda" operation.
Which is...pretty unsurprising given how thoroughly the Fox News host has gone to bat for Putin, such that you might even think he was being paid by the guy! Here's a small selection of things Carlson had to say about the Russian president and his war during his February shows:
- It's "not un-American" to support Putin.
- The whole Ukraine situation thing is simply a "border dispute."
- "Ukraine is not a democracy."
- Ukraine is a "puppet" of the West.
- Unless Putin personally had you or one of your family members murdered, you really don't have any right to criticize the guy.
And while Carlson recently came around to conceding that what's happening in Ukraine is bad and that "Vladimir Putin started this war," he's nevertheless continued to carry water for Russia, which has included:
- Pushing lies about Ukraine and biological weapons.
- Claiming this is all a pretext for the U.S. to start World War III.
- Arguing that sanctions are not stopping Putin.
- Having a guest on his show who claimed the U.S. should stop providing arms to Ukraine because it's "leading them on."
All of which, again, makes it wholly unsurprising to see Russian media using Carlson to sell this senseless war:
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Incidentally, this is the kind of thing that would make most journalists reevaluate their entire lives, but it's important to remember that Carlson is neither a journalist nor capable of experiencing shame.
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Tuck Fucker Carlson!
He's a Russian asset. A stooge. A putin puppet just like trumpturd.
I cant help but wonder about the nexus, or connection, between Carlson's toadying before Putin and the white nationalist movement in Russia. Carlson has sucked up to American white nationalists for years. Is his love for Putin and authoritarian Russia just another mode of solidarity with worldwide white power ?
Today on Fox News - The Tukyo Rose Carlson Show