American political commentator Tucker Carlson on Thursday released a 127-minute interview from Moscow with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin.
Putin began with a roughly 25-minute speech on the history of Russia and Ukraine. He claimed Kyiv had been one of two original "centers of power" of Russia in the eighth century while alleging that the term "Ukrainian" didn't refer to "any particular ethnic group" but rather someone "living on the outskirts" of Polish-Lithuanian territory partly reclaimed by Russia in the 17th century.
By choosing to interview Putin, Carlson exhibited a journalistic value regularly lost to the mainstream editorial elite: a dedication and duty to platform all individuals for the benefit of readers and watchers worldwide, regardless of bias and ideology. Tucker's interview was historic and will provide the public with a greater foundation to be informed from all perspectives concerning an event of global importance.
Tucker Carlson's time with the Russian president shouldn't be considered journalism but rather an embarrassing publicity stunt promoting dishonesty and unjustified flattery at the expense of truth and the protection of democracy. Carlson rejected the opportunity to ask tough questions to one of the world's most violent dictators, instead prioritizing sensationalism for personal profit.