Opinion | The author's opinion does not necessarily reflect Sarah Palin's view.
Critics have called out CNN for pressuring Ticketmaster and venues to blacklist an upcoming speaking tour by Tucker Carlson in order to undermine it.
CNN reportedly contacted the companies involved to question enabling Carlson, whom they accused of spreading hateful rhetoric.
“The one thing we know for certain is the United States is going to be one intense place this fall,” Carlson said. “So we thought, what better time to hit the road and see the country, and we’re going to this fall. From coast to coast, we’re going on a live tour with a bunch of friends of ours who you will recognize.”
“We’re gonna be live onstage responding to everything that is happening in real-time,” Carlson added.
In response, conservatives have lambasted CNN for numerous past reporting errors and hoaxes while defending Carlson’s free speech rights.
Some have argued that CNN’s tactics amount to a coercive effort at censorship, noting companies now risk boycotts if seen associating with Carlson.
“Ticketmaster is linking arms with right-wing extremists, boosting their ability to reach mainstream audiences and profiting off their dangerous and hateful rhetoric ahead of the November election,” CNN wrote, noting that Carlson is “inviting fellow conspiracy theorists such as Alex Jones and Marjorie Taylor Greene to join him along the way.”
“In fairness to [Tickermaster’s] public relations division, it is difficult to see how they can defend such conduct,” CNN said. “How can any decent person not only participate in enabling Carlson’s poisoning of the public discourse but also justify profiting off of his hateful rhetoric in the process?”
Free speech proponent Glenn Greenwald notably condemned CNN’s approach as a means to agitate for censorship through such coercive calls to companies while claiming not to censor.
“This is the tactic that has made US corporate media the leading agitators for censorship while pretending they’re not,” Greenwald wrote. “They call up Big Tech, companies, and others to say: ‘we’re going to report on how you’re platforming “fascists” (conservatives)” to coerce them to ban them[.]”
