Tucker Carlson and Putin: A New Chapter in the Kremlin’s History with western media
This post brings together some of my media commentary on Carlson’s interview with Putin, which was posted on Carlson’s website on 8th February 2023
‘THE ANSWER WE GOT SHOCKED US,’ Tucker Carlson told viewers of his interview with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. He was explaining his astonishment at being given a lengthy history lesson by the Kremlin leader. He should not have been so surprised. It’s Putin’s favourite subject. By giving Putin a chance to share his views with a wider western audience, Carlson has done just what the Kremlin wanted, and that explains why he was granted the access denied to other western media since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
In a sense, this is a new chapter in the history of the Kremlin’s relations with western media–and also a continuation of past trends, dating right back to the early Soviet period when Lenin and Stalin would occasionally give interviews to foreign reporters.
This week I have commented for The Mirror and The Sun (also for their YouTube channel, below) on what the granting of the interview meant.
On Friday morning, 9th February, I also spoke to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme with some initial reactions to the interview after it was aired (from 2:36:17)
You can listen here Good Morning Scotland – 09/02/2024 – BBC Sounds .