Difference between revisions of "Max Blumenthal"
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[[File:Max Blumenthal.jpg|thumb|Max Blumenthal]] | [[File:Max Blumenthal.jpg|thumb|Max Blumenthal]] | ||
+ | [[File:Tucker Carlson and Max Blumenthal1.JPG|thumb|[[Tucker Carlson]] interviews [[Max Blumenthal]]]] | ||
+ | [[File:Max Blumenthal and Tucker Carlson 2017.jpg|thumb|[[Tucker Carlson]] interviews Max Blumenthal]] | ||
− | '''Max Blumenthal''' is a writer for [[The Nation]] and the author of ''Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party'', which was published in September 2009. Blumenthal is a "Puffin Writing Fellow" at the Nation Institute and a research fellow for [[Media Matters]]. | + | '''Max Blumenthal''' is the founder of [[The Grayzone]]. He is married to [[Anya Parampil]]. |
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+ | [[Max Blumenthal]]'s father is former [[Bill Clinton]] advisor [[Sidney Blumenthal]]. | ||
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+ | [[Max Blumenthal]] has been a writer for [[The Nation]] and the author of ''Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party'', which was published in September 2009. Blumenthal is a "Puffin Writing Fellow" at the Nation Institute and a research fellow for [[Media Matters]]. | ||
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+ | ==War Martyrs Cemetery Meeting with Seyed Mohammad Marandi== | ||
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+ | <div class="video-small">{{#ev:youtube|_AnaeUG5Jag |250}} A walk through Tehran's war martyrs cemetery, w/Prof. Mohammed Marandi </div> | ||
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+ | In a May 2025 episode of [[The Grayzone]], [[Max Blumenthal]] and [[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] discussed [[Iran]]’s war martyrs at [[Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery]] in [[Tehran]], a site for those killed in the [[Iran]]-[[Iraq]] War, the [[Islamic Revolution]], and conflicts against [[Israel]], [[ISIS]], and [[al-Qaeda]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AnaeUG5Jag A walk through Tehran's war martyrs cemetery, w/Prof. Mohammed Marandi (accessed May 27, 2025)]</ref> | ||
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+ | [[category: Iran]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Tehran]] | ||
+ | [[category: Israel]] | ||
+ | [[category: The Grayzone]] | ||
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+ | '''Discussion Summary Via Grok''' | ||
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+ | ::[[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]], a former volunteer in the [[Iran-Iraq War]], described losing friends and commanders, including in the [[Karbala 5]] operation, which led to [[United Nations]] Resolution 598 after six years of conflict. | ||
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+ | ::The cemetery attracts “hundreds of thousands, if not over a million” visitors during [[Ramadan]] and Thursdays, honoring figures like General [[Qasem Soleimani]], who had “90% popular support” when assassinated by the [[United States]] in 2020. [[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] linked the site to [[Iran]]’s resistance culture, tied to [[Imam Hussein]]’s stand against oppression, which he said gives [[Iran]] “a greater ability to withstand the blows of empire.” | ||
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+ | ::[[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] criticized [[Israel]], stating, “As long as you have this ethnosupremacist regime [[Israel]]… it’s not going to end anytime soon,” predicting continued regional conflict. He claimed [[Israel]] “wouldn’t last more than a few weeks” without [[United States]] support and said, “In any conventional war, the [[United States]] and [[Israel]] cannot defeat [[Iran]] or the resistance.” He cited failures in [[Yemen]] and [[Lebanon]], noting, “The [[Israel]]is sought a ceasefire” after losses. | ||
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+ | ::[[Max Blumenthal]] attributed regional deaths to the [[United States]], saying, “All of these deaths are a direct result of [[United States]] policy.” [[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] agreed, alleging the [[United States]] runs “a protection racket” in the [[Persian Gulf]], with bases in [[Qatar]], [[Jordan]], and elsewhere used to “bring down [[Iran]]ian missiles and drones.” He accused Western media of mislabeling civilian targets in [[Lebanon]] and [[Gaza]] as “[[Hezbollah]] strongholds” to justify [[Israel]]i actions. [[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] also claimed the [[United States]] and allies like [[Saudi Arabia]] funded [[Saddam Hussein]] during the [[Iran-Iraq War]], while only [[Syria]] supported [[Iran]]. | ||
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+ | ::[[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] highlighted [[Iran]]’s military, including hypersonic missiles and underground bases, stating, “[[Iran]] can take down the whole region” if attacked. He said [[Iran]] avoids nuclear weapons due to ethical concerns but warned, “If the [[United States]] or the [[Israel]]is attack [[Iran]]’s nuclear sites, then [[Iran]] will develop a nuclear weapon.” He dismissed Western confidence, saying, “The [[United States|Americans]] believe their own propaganda… the war between [[Iran]] and the [[United States]] is not a war that the [[United States|Americans]] can win,” and emphasized, “[[Iran]] is not [[Iraq]], [[Iran]] is not [[Afghanistan]], [[Iran]] is not [[Libya]], [[Iran]] is not [[Vietnam]]. [[Iran]] is more than all of these combined.” | ||
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+ | ::[[Seyed Mohammad Marandi]] described [[Iran]]’s willpower, rooted in the sacrifices of young volunteers who defended against “injustice and aggression.” He said this legacy mobilizes society, predicting that conflict would “mobilize the youth in a way which will be stunning to the [[United States|Americans]].” | ||
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+ | ==Legitimate Targets Guest== | ||
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+ | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' has been a guest on [[Jackson Hinkle]]'s [[Legitimate Targets]].<ref>[https://x.com/LegitTargets/status/1907872994673791427 Legitimate Targets X Post Dated April 03, 2025 (accessed June 14, 2025)]</ref> | ||
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+ | [[category: Legitimate Targets]] | ||
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+ | ==Glenn Diesen Connection== | ||
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+ | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' has been featured on [[Glenn Diesen]]'s podcast.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/@GDiesen1/videos Glenn Diesen YouTube Page (accessed May 3, 2025)]</ref>,<ref>[https://archive.vn/lYqCZ Archive Link: Glenn Diesen YouTube Page (accessed May 3, 2025)]</ref> | ||
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+ | [[category: Russian Propaganda]] | ||
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+ | ==Max Blumenthal Shares Deirdre Linder Video== | ||
+ | [[File:Blumenthal X post dated March 17 2024.PNG|thumb|200px|Max Blumenthal X Post dated March 17, 2024 features Deirdre Linder]] | ||
+ | On March 17, 2024, [[Max Blumenthal]] shared a video of [[Deirdre Linder]] bashing [[Joe Biden]] for the [[United States]] perceived support of [[Israel]].<ref>https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1769420882605134256 Max Blumenthal X Post dated March 17, 2024 (accessed March 17, 2024)</ref> | ||
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+ | [[category: Ireland]] | ||
+ | [[category: Palestine]] | ||
+ | [[category: Hamas]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Israel]] | ||
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+ | ==Referenced by Chay Bowes== | ||
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+ | <div class="video-small">{{#ev:youtube| TkU0hgON3Ag |250}} Chay Bowes addresses the United Nations Security Council </div> | ||
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+ | From an X Post dated July 4, 2023 by [[Chay Bowes]]:<ref>[https://x.com/BowesChay/status/1676157771497222147 X Post dated July 4, 2023 by Chay Bowes (accessed June 9, 2024)]</ref> | ||
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+ | ::"Western Client Media attacked [[Max Blumenthal|@MaxBlumenthal]] and I for challenging the forever War cult | ||
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+ | ::Denying the reality of their doomed escapade in #[[Ukraine]] to target us, as they did those that challenged them on #[[Iraq]] and #[[Afghanistan]] | ||
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+ | ::Here's my speech in full" | ||
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+ | [[category: United Nations]] | ||
+ | [[category: Afghanistan]] | ||
+ | [[category: Ukraine]] | ||
+ | [[category: Russia]] | ||
+ | [[category: Iraq]] | ||
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+ | ==Judging Freedom== | ||
+ | [[File:Screencapture-youtube-judgingfreedom-videos-2024-03-29-13 47 30.png|thumb|200px|Andrew Napolitano You Tube Screenshot dated March 29, 2024]] | ||
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+ | [[Andrew Napolitano]]'s show "[[Judging Freedom]]"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240329175342/https://judgenap.com/# Andrew Napolitano Personal Website (accessed March 29, 2024)]</ref> has featured (most are regulars) [[Dennis Kucinich]], [[Tony Shaffer]], [[Kyle Anzalone]], [[Aaron Mate]], [[Phil Giraldi]], [[Scott Ritter]], [[Ray McGovern]], [[Alastair Crooke]], [[Gerald Celente]], Col. [[Lawrence Wilkerson]], [[Matthew Hoh]], [[Douglas Macgregor]], [[Anya Parampil]], [[Larry C. Johnson]], [[Patrick Lancaster]], [[Alastair Crooke]], [[John Mearsheimer]], [[Karen Kwaitkowski]], [[Jeffrey Sachs]], [[Phil Giraldi]], [[Kevin DeMeritt]], [[Matthew Lohmeier]], [[Craig Murray]], [[Max Blumenthal]], [[Bill O'Reilly]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Ron Unz]], [[Mike Benz]], [[Scott Horton]], [[Michael Rectenwald]], [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]], [[Matthew VanDyke]], [[Michael William Lebron|Lionel]], [[Jacob Hornberger]], [[Jack DeVine]], and others. | ||
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+ | [[category: Judging Freedom]] | ||
+ | [[category: Russian Propaganda]] | ||
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+ | ==Max Blumenthal on Liam Cosgrove== | ||
+ | [[File:Walker Bragman.PNG|thumb|300px|Walker Bragman Tweet dated Oct 5, 2023]] | ||
+ | [[File:Max Blumenthal on Liam Cosgrove.PNG|thumb|300px|Max Blumenthal on Liam Cosgrove dated Oct 7, 2023]] | ||
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+ | On October 7, 2023, [[Max Blumenthal]] posted:<ref>[https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1710483157638582424 Tweet from Liam Cosgrove Dated October 7, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)]</ref> | ||
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+ | ::"When I met [[Liam Cosgrove|Liam]], he was just a young reporter looking to get his work published in a shrinking industry. He left [[Epoch Times|Epoch]] bc they wouldn’t let him do hard hitting antiwar journalism and he’s proven himself ever since. | ||
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+ | After [[The Intercept]] journalist [[Walker Bragman]] disparagingly posted a thread on X about [[Liam Cosgrove]] history writing for "right-wing dark money",<ref>[https://twitter.com/WalkerBragman/status/1709946409137668575 Archive: https://archive.vn/8XGxK#selection-222.0-254.0 Tweet from Walker Bragman Dated October 5, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)]</ref> [[Max Blumenthal]] responded<ref>[https://twitter.com/WalkerBragman/status/1709946409137668575 Archive: https://archive.vn/8XGxK#selection-222.0-254.0 Tweet from Walker Bragman Dated October 5, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)]</ref> | ||
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+ | ::"You'll see [[Liam Cosgrove]] grilling State Dept & Pentagon spox in the briefing room about the deceptions and waste of the [[Ukraine]] proxy war, and confronting GOP candidates about their calls for war with China. | ||
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+ | ::You'll never see [[Walker Bragman|Walker]] because he's soying around in his [[Brooklyn]] social anxiety chamber fantasizing about lockdowns and smearing anyone who gets in the way of the [[Joe Biden|Biden]] White House's online censorship schemes. | ||
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+ | ::I'll take [[Liam Cosgrove|Liam]] over [[Walker Bragman|Walker]] any day. | ||
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+ | [[Category: The Intercept]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Ukraine]] | ||
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+ | ==RFK, Jr. Debate with Max Blumenthal on Israel== | ||
+ | [[File:Screenshot 2023-10-08 9.55.43 AM.png|thumb|300px|Liam Cosgrove claims RFK, Jr. lied]] | ||
+ | <div class="video-small">{{#ev:youtube|sWW5CJyjeNM |250}} The Grayzone's Liam Cosgrove calls RFK, Jr. a liar </div> | ||
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+ | [[Liam Cosgrove]] claims [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]] lied for not debating anti-[[Israel]] activist [[Max Blumenthal]] after stating he would on the [[Jimmy Dore]] show. In the video attached on X, [[Liam Cosgrove]] had a discussion with [[Stefanie Spear]], who serves as [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]]'s communications director [[Stefanie Spear]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/cosgrove_iv/status/1710791615193784441 Tweet from Liam Cosgrove Dated October 7, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)]</ref> | ||
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+ | [[category: Israel]] | ||
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+ | ==Rage Against the War Machine== | ||
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+ | [[File:RATWM.jpg|thumb|400px|Rage Against the War Machine Promotional Flyer]] | ||
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+ | [[Rage Against the War Machine]] was a protest held on February 19, 2023 organized by the Movement for a [[Movement for a People's Party|People's Party]] and the [[Libertarian Party]] against US intervention in [[Russia]]'s attack on [[Ukraine]]. '''{{PAGENAME}}''' was a speaker listed on the [[Rage Against the War Machine]] website.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230305055126/https://rageagainstwar.com/#Speakers Speakers (accessed March 16, 2023)]</ref> | ||
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+ | [[Category:Rage Against the War Machine]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Russian Propaganda]] | ||
+ | [[category: Russia]] | ||
+ | [[category: Ukraine]] | ||
==No to the New Cold War== | ==No to the New Cold War== | ||
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==Venezuela== | ==Venezuela== | ||
− | [[Max Blumenthal]] and [[Anya Parampil]] spoke about Venezuela at a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva on March 19 2019.<ref>[https://theantimedia.com/max-blumenthal-debunk-lies-venezuela-united-nations/ WATCH: Independent Journalists Debunk Lies About Venezuela at the United Nations accessed April 20 2019]</ref> | + | [[Max Blumenthal]] and [[Anya Parampil]] spoke about [[Venezuela]] at a [[United Nations]] Human Rights Council session in [[Geneva]] on March 19 2019.<ref>[https://theantimedia.com/max-blumenthal-debunk-lies-venezuela-united-nations/ WATCH: Independent Journalists Debunk Lies About Venezuela at the United Nations accessed April 20 2019]</ref> |
− | Max is the son of [[Sidney Blumenthal]] who worked at a high level in the [[Bill Clinton]] White House. | + | [[Max Blumenthal|Max]] is the son of [[Sidney Blumenthal]] who worked at a high level in the [[Bill Clinton]] White House. |
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+ | ==Appearances on Tucker Carlson== | ||
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+ | <div class="video-small">{{#ev:youtube|yOyhCr-2NQc |250}} [[Max Blumenthal]] appears on [[Tucker Carlson]]'s show </div> | ||
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+ | [[Max Blumenthal]] appeared on [[Tucker Carlson]]'s show at least on two occasions in 2017. [[Tucker Carlson]] additionally quoted [[Max Blumenthal]] on his broadcast.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170721061629/https://www.dailywire.com/news/18725/shocker-tucker-carlson-invites-rabid-anti-semitic-elliott-hamilton# SHOCKER: Tucker Carlson Invites Rabid Anti-Semitic Leftist Max Blumenthal To His Show (accessed July 20, 2025)]</ref>,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250619090826/https://blog.camera.org/2017/11/tucker-carlson-allows-max-blumenthals-anti-israel-comments-to-slide/ Tucker Carlson Allows Max Blumenthal’s Anti-Israel Comments to Slide (accessed July 20, 2025)]</ref>,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMq2PKjl6fc Dem: Why my fellow Democrats are wrong on Russia (accessed July 20, 2025)]</ref> | ||
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+ | '''Transcript from Jul 17, 2017 Clip''' | ||
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+ | ::[[Tucker Carlson]] We hope you had a relaxing weekend because our political class here in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] did not. Instead of barbecuing with their children, maybe taking some time to solve the many problems this country faces, they were back on television fretting about the [[Russia|Russian]] takeover of [[America]]. What do the [[Russia|Russians]] have politically, financially, or any personally on [[Donald Trump]] that he fawns over [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]? The [[America|American]] people have a right to know. I do not want to see our democracy undermined by having the President of the [[United States]] colluding or his officials colluding with [[Russia]]. This love of [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] that this president is showing and this defense of [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] that this president has done and all of the other things that I've just alluded to, it's insanely. We can also say that [[Donald Trump, Jr.]], what he did was a threat to our democracy and borderline treason. Borderline treason. Well, [[Max Blumenthal]] is an author, a journalist, and a lifelong man of the left, yet he's become skeptical of the [[Russia|Russian]] collusion narrative, which he has called destructive and dangerous. Last month, [[Max Blumenthal|Blumenthal]] took a camera to an anti-[[Russia]] protest on the National Mall here in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] to find out what the people who were there actually knew about the topic. Here's part of the conversation, an amazing conversation he had with the progressive [[Maryland]] congressman [[Jamie Raskin]]. | ||
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+ | :::[[Jamie Raskin]] But you said that [[Roger Stone]] hosted a show on [[RT]]. [[Roger Stone]] goes to the series on the [[Russia|Russian]] propaganda network. Do you believe that we need— | ||
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+ | :::[[Max Blumenthal]] [[Roger Stone]] didn't host a show on [[Russia Today|RT]]. You think he's never been on [[Russia Today|RT]], but he didn't host a show. | ||
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+ | :::[[Jamie Raskin]] Okay, but look, you know, you can go after any picayune details you want, but I don't see what it would be in your interest to support an autocratic, authoritarian government which is jailing journalists and fighting against freedom around— | ||
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+ | :::[[Max Blumenthal]] I think we should tell the people the truth. | ||
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+ | ::[[Tucker Carlson]] [[Max Blumenthal|Blumenthal]] joins us in studio. I love that exchange because it's similar to so many I've had on this show where if you call into question the facts being asserted, you're immediately accused of being a handmaiden to [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]. So, we just asked the broadest possible question: you're not a [[Donald Trump|Trump]] voter or supporter, you're a lifelong man of the left, I think it's fair to say, pretty well-known one, and yet you don't think that this [[Russia]] story is helpful or makes sense. Why? | ||
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+ | ::[[Max Blumenthal]] Yeah, I mean, we have to talk about the issue of efficacy also in addition to the fact that I haven't seen any concrete evidence, and [[Rachel Maddow]]'s dots may never connect. And so, you know, as someone on the left who's actually gone out and protested [[Donald Trump|Trump]], I didn't expect this hysteria to completely take over, but now I see what the point is of it. I see [[Donald Trump|Trump]] as the apotheosis of a failed political establishment, both from the [[Democrats]] and the [[Republicans]], pushing corporate trade, pushing permanent war, and I thought the [[Democrats]] should have responded with a big narrative against permanent war and for economic equality. Instead, they're pushing [[Russia]] scandal-mongering non-stop. It subsumed all of the progressive grassroots movements I believed in, and it's basically buried the left in a militaristic narrative that ambitious figures like [[Jamie Raskin]] are advancing. Mark my words, [[Tucker Carlson|Tucker]], when [[Donald Trump|Trump]] is gone, this narrative, this [[Russia]] hysteria, will be repurposed by the political establishment to attack the left and anyone on the left, [[Bernie Sanders]]-like politician who steps out of line on the issues of permanent war or corporate free trade. Things like that will be painted as a [[Russia]] puppet. So, this is very dangerous, and people who are progressive who are falling into it need to know what the long-term consequences of this cynical narrative are. | ||
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+ | ::[[Tucker Carlson]] It seems virtually everyone on the left in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], with some exceptions—you're one, I know a couple others—but I know people who I think it is reasonable, I don't agree with them, but who seemed to really believe that [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] was in control of the last election. Do you think they believe it? | ||
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+ | ::[[Max Blumenthal]] I don't know, I think there's—I can't speak for other people, I'm not a mind-reader—but there's definitely a political class in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] that sees [[Russia]] scandal-mongering as a silver bullet to take out [[Donald Trump|Trump]]. And then you have the [[Democrats]] who are basically, this is the [[Democratic]] establishment that came in and took out [[Keith Ellison]], the corporate sellout establishment that can't agree on a big economic message that doesn't favor single-payer. So, this is just convenient because this gives them a way of opposing [[Donald Trump|Trump]] without having to do anything remotely progressive. | ||
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+ | ::[[Tucker Carlson]] It's a little bit surprising from a perspective of someone in the media to see big news organizations full of smart people who I thought were pretty skeptical in a good way refuse to ask any of the basic questions and instead, when you press them, say, well, some number of intelligence agencies said so, I haven't seen the evidence, but I believed them. When did that change? What is that about? | ||
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+ | ::[[Max Blumenthal]] Yeah, I mean, you just see a boot-licking press and a boot-licking kind of liberal opposition that believes all intelligence agencies and doesn't ask questions from these anonymous officials. I mean, you'll see on [[CNN]] a segment, "[[United States|US]] officials say [[Russia|Russians]], [[Russia|Russian]] spying is ramping up." I don't know, are [[Russia|Russian]] spies taking Adderall now? But there's never any clear sourcing, never any sources on the record. And then we see stories retracted, like the [[Russia|Russians]] hacked into our national electricity grid, then The [[Washington Post]] said it was [[Burlington]], it was a [[Burlington]] electricity grid, then they retracted the story. So, it's very hard to keep track of it, but what they've done with this scandal-mongering, in addition to kind of pushing away a progressive narrative, is create the sense among a lot of people who don't have time to pay attention that there is [[Russia|Russian]] collusion, that we were attacked by [[Russia]], and that we actually have to respond, if not with expanded sanctions, which I think is very dangerous and harms average people, but with military response. We just saw [[Paul Begala]] on [[CNN]] calling for blowing up the [[Russia|Russian]] intelligence, and you've seen members of [[Congress]] call this an act of war. | ||
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+ | ::[[Tucker Carlson]] Finally, you're not just a member of the web, but pretty fairly well-known. What kind of response have you received after saying things like this in public? | ||
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+ | ::[[Max Blumenthal]] Well, I'll probably get called a [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] puppet after this show. I mean, that's pretty much all they can say, but I'd like to have a debate about the evidence. I would like to talk about the evidence behind this, but I also want to talk about whether it's a good idea to support [[Democrats]] like [[Ben Cardin]] who are saying that this is a political [[Pearl Harbor]] and we should respond, whether it's a good idea to expand [[NATO]] into little countries like [[Montenegro]], whether it's a good idea to be funding jihadist proxies in [[Syria]] to hurt [[Russia]]. [[Thomas Friedman]] in The [[New York Times]] called for supporting territorial [[ISIS]] in [[Syria]] to hurt [[Russia]] and [[Iran]], and that's where this narrative is leading. It seems to be, from a purely massive anti-war, anti-imperial position, a disastrous narrative that will have long-term consequences for the left in this country, and there's no debate. So, my son will be required to give his life to defend the territorial integrity of [[Montenegro]]? I mean, maybe that's a good idea, maybe we should debate it, but we're not. | ||
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+ | ::[[Tucker Carlson]] Yeah, [[Max Blumenthal]], that was super interesting. Thanks for coming on. | ||
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+ | ::[[Max Blumenthal]] Thanks for having me on. | ||
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+ | [[category: Tucker Carlson Guests]] | ||
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+ | ==Aggressive Progressives== | ||
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+ | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' appeared on a show "Aggressive Progressives" at [[The Young Turks]] hosted by [[Jimmy Dore]] with [[Steve Oh]]. The inaugural show was dated August 28, 2016.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8aXIbXaVd8 AGGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVES Episode 1: Hillary Clinton And The Progressive Voters (accessed June 10, 2024)]</ref> Guests/hosts included [[Stefane Zamorano]], [[Ron Placone]], [[Malcolm Fleschner]], [[Graham Elwood]], [[Abby Martin]], [[Mike Prysner]], [[Max Blumenthal]], [[Amy Vilela]], [[James Cromwell]], [[Pramila Mallick]], [[Judah Friedlander]], [[Randy Abreu]], [[Jordan Chariton]], [[Dave Dayen]], [[Michael Lighty]], [[David Hildebrand]], [[Norman Soloman]], [[Denis Kucinich]], [[Nomiki Konst]], [[Krystal Ball]], [[Graham Elwood]], [[Michael Wood]], [[Michael Tracey]], [[Greg Palast]], [[Kshama Sawant]], and [[Cenk Uygur]].<ref>[https://legacy.tyt.com/category/membership/aggressive-progressives-membership/ Aggressive Progressives (accessed June 10, 2024)]</ref>,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182022/https://legacy.tyt.com/category/membership/aggressive-progressives-membership/page/4/ Aggressive Progressives Archive 1 (accessed June 10, 2024)]</ref>,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240610181130/https://legacy.tyt.com/category/membership/aggressive-progressives-membership/page/2/ Aggressive Progressives Archive 2 (accessed June 10, 2024)]</ref>,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240610182952/https://legacy.tyt.com/category/membership/aggressive-progressives-membership/page/5/ Aggressive Progressives Archive 3 (accessed June 10, 2024)]</ref> | ||
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+ | =='Putin's Useful Idiots'== | ||
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+ | From an article titled "Putin's Useful Idiots" published in the [[New York Times]] dated April 28, 2014 by a member of the "Eastern Europe left" [[Slawomir Sierakowski]]: | ||
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+ | ::Western intellectuals have long had a soft spot for Russia. Voltaire, the French teacher of tolerance and a great friend of Catherine the Great, said that he would gladly move to Russia, though only if its capital were Kiev, not icy St. Petersburg. Johann Gottfried von Herder, the German philosopher of enlightened nationalism, dreamed that he would obtain earthly glory as the “new Luther and Solon” for an as-yet-unspoiled Ukraine, which he would transform into a “new Greece” within the Russian empire. | ||
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+ | ::And in the last century intellectuals like [[Andre Gide|André Gide]], [[Pablo Neruda]] and [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] all stumped for the Soviet Union as what [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]] allegedly called “useful idiots,” apologizing for its monstrosities long after the rest of the world recognized them. | ||
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+ | ::To those in the Eastern Europe left — myself included — who know [[Russia]] better than most, such naïveté has long been a source of chagrin. And yet it continues, even today, as many American and Western European intellectuals do all they can to minimize the dangerous aggression by [[Vladimir Putin|Vladimir V. Putin]]. | ||
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+ | ::Writing in [[The Nation]], the [[Russia]] scholar [[Stephen F. Cohen]] argued that Mr. [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] was largely blameless for the conflict in [[Ukraine]], that he had tried to avoid it but that the West had forced his hand. In Mr. [[Stephen F. Cohen|Cohen]]’s eyes, the West has unnecessarily humiliated [[Russia]] by inviting countries like [[Poland]], the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Hungary]] to join NATO. | ||
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+ | ::[[Ukraine]], he wrote, is part of [[Russia]]’s sphere of influence, so why can’t we just accept Mr. [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]’s proposal that [[Ukraine]] be federalized, with neutrality guaranteed in a new constitution? | ||
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+ | ::Mr. [[Stephen F. Cohen|Cohen]]’s defense of [[Russia]]’s sphere of influence overlooks the question of whether the countries that fall within it are there by choice or coercion. [[Ukraine]] is willing to be in the Western sphere of influence because it receives support for civil society, the economy and national defense — and [[Russia]] does nothing of the kind. | ||
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+ | ::Mr. [[Stephen F. Cohen|Cohen]] and others don’t just defend [[Russia]]; they attack the pro-democracy activists in [[Ukraine]]. Another American pundit, [[Max Blumenthal]], described the Euromaidan movement as “filled with far-right street-fighting men pledging to defend their country’s ethnic purity.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::True, such people were present at the square, but they were marginal figures, and slogans about ethnic purity never gained popularity. Yes, generally speaking, [[Ukraine]] has its skinheads and its anti-Semites and even serial killers, pedophiles and Satanists. They are not present in smaller or larger numbers than in any other country, even in the most mature European state. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::In one particularly egregious passage, Mr. [[Max Blumenthal|Blumenthal]] writes about how the “openly pro-Nazi politics” of the Ukrainian political party Svoboda and its leader, [[Oleg Tyagnibok]], “have not deterred Senator [[John McCain]] from addressing a Euromaidan rally,” nor did it “prevent Assistant Secretary of State [[Victoria Nuland]] from enjoying a friendly meeting with the Svoboda leader this February.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::That distorts how these things work. A whole range of Western political leaders traveled to Euromaidan, and virtually all of them were photographed with Mr. [[Oleg Tyagnibok|Tyagnibok]]. For better or worse, Svoboda was part of the coalition of parties behind the Euromaidan movement, and they had agreed to support one another. Americans would behave exactly the same way in a similar situation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::Strangely, Western intellectuals seem unbothered by anyone who notes the similarity between their pronouncements and Russian propaganda. Indeed, they dismiss such charges out of hand. [[Zoltan Grossman]], who teaches at [[Evergreen State College|Evergreen State]] in [[Olympia]], [[Washington|Wash]]., writes that it is “wrong and irresponsible to assert that the presence of fascists and Nazis in the new government is merely Russian propaganda.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::For Dr. [[Zoltan Grossman|Grossman]], inconvenient details are less important than the fact that [[Dmytro Yarosh]], the leader of the far-right organization [[Right Sector]], had been appointed deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::That sounds ominous, until you realize that Mr. [[Dmytro Yarosh|Yarosh]] is not formally a member of the government, and that in February he met with Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine and gave public assurances that [[Right Sector]] intended to fight all instances of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and chauvinism. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::What naïve American intellectuals say free of charge, the canny [[Gerhard Schroder|Gerhard Schröder]], the former German chancellor, says for 250,000 euros a year as a board member of [[Gazprom]], the Russian oil giant. Mr. [[Gerhard Schroder|Schröder]], the German father of “Gazprom socialism” — a new subspecies of limousine liberalism — has repeatedly embarrassed [[Berlin]] by supporting [[Russia]]’s annexation of [[Crimea]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::He isn’t alone — another former chancellor, [[Helmut Schmidt]], has likewise sung [[Russia]]’s praises of late, as has [[Gunter Verheugen|Günter Verheugen]], a prominent former European Union commissioner. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::What drives these men? Is it a case of poorly conceived pacifism? An eruption of remorse for war crimes carried out against Russians, so many years ago? Or the Stockholm syndrome of a victim fascinated by his executioner? | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::Obviously, they are entitled to their opinions. But in speaking out this way they are doing great damage to [[Germany]]’s postwar government, built on a commitment to democracy and national self-determination, everything that is currently under attack by Mr. [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::The irony is that by standing beside [[Russia]] and pointing fingers at fascist phantoms in [[Ukraine]], Western intellectuals are aligning themselves not just with the autocrat in the Kremlin, but the legions of far-right parties across Europe that have come to [[Russia]]’s defense, among them [[Hungary]]’s [[Jobbik]], [[Vlaams Belang]] in [[Belgium]], [[Austria]]'s [[Freedom Party]], [[Italy]]’s [[Lega Nord]] and the [[France|French]] [[Front National]]. Who says [[Russia]] needs propaganda? It already has its useful idiots. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::[[Slawomir Sierakowski]] is a sociologist, a founder of the [[Krytyka Polityczna]] movement and the director of the [[Institute for Advanced Study]] in [[Warsaw]]. This article was translated by [[Maria Blackwood]] from the Polish. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Hillary Clinton Praise== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Max Blumenthal]] articles received early praise from [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170210000652/https://theresurgent.com/max-blumenthal-friend-of-hillary-clinton-reminds-us-that-he-is-the-scum-of-the-earth/ Max Blumenthal, Friend of Hillary Clinton, Reminds Us That He is the Scum of the Earth (accessed July 20, 2025)]</ref> From a 2016 article titled "Hillary’s Email Trail of Troubling Anti-Israel Conversations":<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170223095336/http://observer.com/2016/02/hillarys-email-trail-of-troubling-anti-israel-conversations/ Hillary’s Email Trail of Troubling Anti-Israel Conversations (accessed July 20, 2025)]</ref> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::[[Alan Dershowitz]]—a known supporter of the [[Bill Clinton|Clintons]]—already foresaw the [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]]-[[Max Blumenthal|Blumenthal]] debacle. Wary of how damaging Mr. [[Max Blumenthal|Blumenthal]]’s defense of his son’s anti-[[Israel]] views would be to Ms. [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]]’s future, Mr. [[Alan Dershowitz|Dershowitz]] warned, “[[Max Blumenthal]] is well outside the acceptable range of rhetoric about [[Israel]]. His constant comparisons between Nazi [[Germany]] and the Jewish state establish him as an extremist bigot whose greatest appeal is to anti-Semites and others who apply a double standard to the Jewish state. Any political candidate who would associate himself or herself with such views would be unacceptable to Americans… I hope that the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]]s ask [[Sidney Blumenthal|Sid]] to expressly disassociate himself from his son’s views–and if he refuses to, that they no longer work with him on any matters.” | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Line 43: | Line 251: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
− | + | [[category: Russian Propaganda]] | |
[[Category:Netroots]] | [[Category:Netroots]] | ||
[[Category:People]] | [[Category:People]] | ||
+ | [[Category:The Grayzone]] |
Latest revision as of 05:27, 20 July 2025

Max Blumenthal is the founder of The Grayzone. He is married to Anya Parampil.
Max Blumenthal's father is former Bill Clinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal.
Max Blumenthal has been a writer for The Nation and the author of Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party, which was published in September 2009. Blumenthal is a "Puffin Writing Fellow" at the Nation Institute and a research fellow for Media Matters.
War Martyrs Cemetery Meeting with Seyed Mohammad Marandi
In a May 2025 episode of The Grayzone, Max Blumenthal and Seyed Mohammad Marandi discussed Iran’s war martyrs at Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in Tehran, a site for those killed in the Iran-Iraq War, the Islamic Revolution, and conflicts against Israel, ISIS, and al-Qaeda.[1]
Discussion Summary Via Grok
- Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a former volunteer in the Iran-Iraq War, described losing friends and commanders, including in the Karbala 5 operation, which led to United Nations Resolution 598 after six years of conflict.
- The cemetery attracts “hundreds of thousands, if not over a million” visitors during Ramadan and Thursdays, honoring figures like General Qasem Soleimani, who had “90% popular support” when assassinated by the United States in 2020. Seyed Mohammad Marandi linked the site to Iran’s resistance culture, tied to Imam Hussein’s stand against oppression, which he said gives Iran “a greater ability to withstand the blows of empire.”
- Seyed Mohammad Marandi criticized Israel, stating, “As long as you have this ethnosupremacist regime Israel… it’s not going to end anytime soon,” predicting continued regional conflict. He claimed Israel “wouldn’t last more than a few weeks” without United States support and said, “In any conventional war, the United States and Israel cannot defeat Iran or the resistance.” He cited failures in Yemen and Lebanon, noting, “The Israelis sought a ceasefire” after losses.
- Max Blumenthal attributed regional deaths to the United States, saying, “All of these deaths are a direct result of United States policy.” Seyed Mohammad Marandi agreed, alleging the United States runs “a protection racket” in the Persian Gulf, with bases in Qatar, Jordan, and elsewhere used to “bring down Iranian missiles and drones.” He accused Western media of mislabeling civilian targets in Lebanon and Gaza as “Hezbollah strongholds” to justify Israeli actions. Seyed Mohammad Marandi also claimed the United States and allies like Saudi Arabia funded Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, while only Syria supported Iran.
- Seyed Mohammad Marandi highlighted Iran’s military, including hypersonic missiles and underground bases, stating, “Iran can take down the whole region” if attacked. He said Iran avoids nuclear weapons due to ethical concerns but warned, “If the United States or the Israelis attack Iran’s nuclear sites, then Iran will develop a nuclear weapon.” He dismissed Western confidence, saying, “The Americans believe their own propaganda… the war between Iran and the United States is not a war that the Americans can win,” and emphasized, “Iran is not Iraq, Iran is not Afghanistan, Iran is not Libya, Iran is not Vietnam. Iran is more than all of these combined.”
- Seyed Mohammad Marandi described Iran’s willpower, rooted in the sacrifices of young volunteers who defended against “injustice and aggression.” He said this legacy mobilizes society, predicting that conflict would “mobilize the youth in a way which will be stunning to the Americans.”
Legitimate Targets Guest
Max Blumenthal has been a guest on Jackson Hinkle's Legitimate Targets.[2]
Glenn Diesen Connection
Max Blumenthal has been featured on Glenn Diesen's podcast.[3],[4]
On March 17, 2024, Max Blumenthal shared a video of Deirdre Linder bashing Joe Biden for the United States perceived support of Israel.[5]
Referenced by Chay Bowes
From an X Post dated July 4, 2023 by Chay Bowes:[6]
- "Western Client Media attacked @MaxBlumenthal and I for challenging the forever War cult
- Denying the reality of their doomed escapade in #Ukraine to target us, as they did those that challenged them on #Iraq and #Afghanistan
- Here's my speech in full"
Judging Freedom
Andrew Napolitano's show "Judging Freedom"[7] has featured (most are regulars) Dennis Kucinich, Tony Shaffer, Kyle Anzalone, Aaron Mate, Phil Giraldi, Scott Ritter, Ray McGovern, Alastair Crooke, Gerald Celente, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Matthew Hoh, Douglas Macgregor, Anya Parampil, Larry C. Johnson, Patrick Lancaster, Alastair Crooke, John Mearsheimer, Karen Kwaitkowski, Jeffrey Sachs, Phil Giraldi, Kevin DeMeritt, Matthew Lohmeier, Craig Murray, Max Blumenthal, Bill O'Reilly, Ron Paul, Ron Unz, Mike Benz, Scott Horton, Michael Rectenwald, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Matthew VanDyke, Lionel, Jacob Hornberger, Jack DeVine, and others.
Max Blumenthal on Liam Cosgrove
On October 7, 2023, Max Blumenthal posted:[8]
After The Intercept journalist Walker Bragman disparagingly posted a thread on X about Liam Cosgrove history writing for "right-wing dark money",[9] Max Blumenthal responded[10]
- "You'll see Liam Cosgrove grilling State Dept & Pentagon spox in the briefing room about the deceptions and waste of the Ukraine proxy war, and confronting GOP candidates about their calls for war with China.
RFK, Jr. Debate with Max Blumenthal on Israel
Liam Cosgrove claims Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. lied for not debating anti-Israel activist Max Blumenthal after stating he would on the Jimmy Dore show. In the video attached on X, Liam Cosgrove had a discussion with Stefanie Spear, who serves as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s communications director Stefanie Spear.[11]
Rage Against the War Machine
Rage Against the War Machine was a protest held on February 19, 2023 organized by the Movement for a People's Party and the Libertarian Party against US intervention in Russia's attack on Ukraine. Max Blumenthal was a speaker listed on the Rage Against the War Machine website.[12]
No to the New Cold War
Max Blumenthal was a featured speaker at an anti-American, pro-China event called No to the New Cold War, which is affiliated to Code Pink and the ANSWER Coalition.
From their website as of July 25 2020:[13]
- "This event will see some leading analysts from China, the US, Britain, India, Russia, Canada, Venezuela and Brazil come together to discuss how to counter the New Cold War."
"The New Cold War: A Canadian perspective"
Canadian Peace Congress, April 22, 2021.
The New Cold War: A Canadian perspective Sunday, April 25 @ 12 Noon (Eastern).
The discussion will focus on the escalating ‘Cold War’ against China and the Russian Federation being engineered by the U.S. and its imperialist allies, including Canada. Some of the panelists will address the specific role of the Canadian government and ruling circles in this imperialist offensive, in particular highlighting the Meng Wanzhou case, the recent resolution adopted by the Canadian parliament accusing China of “genocide” in Xinjiang, the imposition of new sanctions against both China and the Russian Federation, etc. But we also want to set these developments in the global context of imperialist ambitions, and of course the growing danger of war.
Moderator Kiran Fatima.
- Vijay Prashad – Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, and Chief Correspondent for Globetrotter;
- Margaret Kimberley – Senior Editor of Black Agenda Report, and Coordinating Committee member of the Black Alliance for Peace;
- Max Blumenthal – award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of The Grayzone;
- Omar Latif – Canadian trade union activist and member of the Communist Party of Canada;
- Bahman Azad – Executive Secretary, U.S. Peace Council, and NGO representative of the World Peace Council at the United Nations; and
- Elizabeth Rowley – leader of the Communist Party of Canada.
Venezuela
Max Blumenthal and Anya Parampil spoke about Venezuela at a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva on March 19 2019.[14]
Max is the son of Sidney Blumenthal who worked at a high level in the Bill Clinton White House.
Appearances on Tucker Carlson
Max Blumenthal appeared on Tucker Carlson's show at least on two occasions in 2017. Tucker Carlson additionally quoted Max Blumenthal on his broadcast.[15],[16],[17]
Transcript from Jul 17, 2017 Clip
- Tucker Carlson We hope you had a relaxing weekend because our political class here in Washington did not. Instead of barbecuing with their children, maybe taking some time to solve the many problems this country faces, they were back on television fretting about the Russian takeover of America. What do the Russians have politically, financially, or any personally on Donald Trump that he fawns over Putin? The American people have a right to know. I do not want to see our democracy undermined by having the President of the United States colluding or his officials colluding with Russia. This love of Putin that this president is showing and this defense of Putin that this president has done and all of the other things that I've just alluded to, it's insanely. We can also say that Donald Trump, Jr., what he did was a threat to our democracy and borderline treason. Borderline treason. Well, Max Blumenthal is an author, a journalist, and a lifelong man of the left, yet he's become skeptical of the Russian collusion narrative, which he has called destructive and dangerous. Last month, Blumenthal took a camera to an anti-Russia protest on the National Mall here in Washington to find out what the people who were there actually knew about the topic. Here's part of the conversation, an amazing conversation he had with the progressive Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin.
- Jamie Raskin But you said that Roger Stone hosted a show on RT. Roger Stone goes to the series on the Russian propaganda network. Do you believe that we need—
- Max Blumenthal Roger Stone didn't host a show on RT. You think he's never been on RT, but he didn't host a show.
- Jamie Raskin Okay, but look, you know, you can go after any picayune details you want, but I don't see what it would be in your interest to support an autocratic, authoritarian government which is jailing journalists and fighting against freedom around—
- Max Blumenthal I think we should tell the people the truth.
- Tucker Carlson Blumenthal joins us in studio. I love that exchange because it's similar to so many I've had on this show where if you call into question the facts being asserted, you're immediately accused of being a handmaiden to Putin. So, we just asked the broadest possible question: you're not a Trump voter or supporter, you're a lifelong man of the left, I think it's fair to say, pretty well-known one, and yet you don't think that this Russia story is helpful or makes sense. Why?
- Max Blumenthal Yeah, I mean, we have to talk about the issue of efficacy also in addition to the fact that I haven't seen any concrete evidence, and Rachel Maddow's dots may never connect. And so, you know, as someone on the left who's actually gone out and protested Trump, I didn't expect this hysteria to completely take over, but now I see what the point is of it. I see Trump as the apotheosis of a failed political establishment, both from the Democrats and the Republicans, pushing corporate trade, pushing permanent war, and I thought the Democrats should have responded with a big narrative against permanent war and for economic equality. Instead, they're pushing Russia scandal-mongering non-stop. It subsumed all of the progressive grassroots movements I believed in, and it's basically buried the left in a militaristic narrative that ambitious figures like Jamie Raskin are advancing. Mark my words, Tucker, when Trump is gone, this narrative, this Russia hysteria, will be repurposed by the political establishment to attack the left and anyone on the left, Bernie Sanders-like politician who steps out of line on the issues of permanent war or corporate free trade. Things like that will be painted as a Russia puppet. So, this is very dangerous, and people who are progressive who are falling into it need to know what the long-term consequences of this cynical narrative are.
- Tucker Carlson It seems virtually everyone on the left in Washington, with some exceptions—you're one, I know a couple others—but I know people who I think it is reasonable, I don't agree with them, but who seemed to really believe that Putin was in control of the last election. Do you think they believe it?
- Max Blumenthal I don't know, I think there's—I can't speak for other people, I'm not a mind-reader—but there's definitely a political class in Washington that sees Russia scandal-mongering as a silver bullet to take out Trump. And then you have the Democrats who are basically, this is the Democratic establishment that came in and took out Keith Ellison, the corporate sellout establishment that can't agree on a big economic message that doesn't favor single-payer. So, this is just convenient because this gives them a way of opposing Trump without having to do anything remotely progressive.
- Tucker Carlson It's a little bit surprising from a perspective of someone in the media to see big news organizations full of smart people who I thought were pretty skeptical in a good way refuse to ask any of the basic questions and instead, when you press them, say, well, some number of intelligence agencies said so, I haven't seen the evidence, but I believed them. When did that change? What is that about?
- Max Blumenthal Yeah, I mean, you just see a boot-licking press and a boot-licking kind of liberal opposition that believes all intelligence agencies and doesn't ask questions from these anonymous officials. I mean, you'll see on CNN a segment, "US officials say Russians, Russian spying is ramping up." I don't know, are Russian spies taking Adderall now? But there's never any clear sourcing, never any sources on the record. And then we see stories retracted, like the Russians hacked into our national electricity grid, then The Washington Post said it was Burlington, it was a Burlington electricity grid, then they retracted the story. So, it's very hard to keep track of it, but what they've done with this scandal-mongering, in addition to kind of pushing away a progressive narrative, is create the sense among a lot of people who don't have time to pay attention that there is Russian collusion, that we were attacked by Russia, and that we actually have to respond, if not with expanded sanctions, which I think is very dangerous and harms average people, but with military response. We just saw Paul Begala on CNN calling for blowing up the Russian intelligence, and you've seen members of Congress call this an act of war.
- Tucker Carlson Finally, you're not just a member of the web, but pretty fairly well-known. What kind of response have you received after saying things like this in public?
- Max Blumenthal Well, I'll probably get called a Putin puppet after this show. I mean, that's pretty much all they can say, but I'd like to have a debate about the evidence. I would like to talk about the evidence behind this, but I also want to talk about whether it's a good idea to support Democrats like Ben Cardin who are saying that this is a political Pearl Harbor and we should respond, whether it's a good idea to expand NATO into little countries like Montenegro, whether it's a good idea to be funding jihadist proxies in Syria to hurt Russia. Thomas Friedman in The New York Times called for supporting territorial ISIS in Syria to hurt Russia and Iran, and that's where this narrative is leading. It seems to be, from a purely massive anti-war, anti-imperial position, a disastrous narrative that will have long-term consequences for the left in this country, and there's no debate. So, my son will be required to give his life to defend the territorial integrity of Montenegro? I mean, maybe that's a good idea, maybe we should debate it, but we're not.
- Tucker Carlson Yeah, Max Blumenthal, that was super interesting. Thanks for coming on.
- Max Blumenthal Thanks for having me on.
Aggressive Progressives
Max Blumenthal appeared on a show "Aggressive Progressives" at The Young Turks hosted by Jimmy Dore with Steve Oh. The inaugural show was dated August 28, 2016.[18] Guests/hosts included Stefane Zamorano, Ron Placone, Malcolm Fleschner, Graham Elwood, Abby Martin, Mike Prysner, Max Blumenthal, Amy Vilela, James Cromwell, Pramila Mallick, Judah Friedlander, Randy Abreu, Jordan Chariton, Dave Dayen, Michael Lighty, David Hildebrand, Norman Soloman, Denis Kucinich, Nomiki Konst, Krystal Ball, Graham Elwood, Michael Wood, Michael Tracey, Greg Palast, Kshama Sawant, and Cenk Uygur.[19],[20],[21],[22]
'Putin's Useful Idiots'
From an article titled "Putin's Useful Idiots" published in the New York Times dated April 28, 2014 by a member of the "Eastern Europe left" Slawomir Sierakowski:
- Western intellectuals have long had a soft spot for Russia. Voltaire, the French teacher of tolerance and a great friend of Catherine the Great, said that he would gladly move to Russia, though only if its capital were Kiev, not icy St. Petersburg. Johann Gottfried von Herder, the German philosopher of enlightened nationalism, dreamed that he would obtain earthly glory as the “new Luther and Solon” for an as-yet-unspoiled Ukraine, which he would transform into a “new Greece” within the Russian empire.
- And in the last century intellectuals like André Gide, Pablo Neruda and Jean-Paul Sartre all stumped for the Soviet Union as what Lenin allegedly called “useful idiots,” apologizing for its monstrosities long after the rest of the world recognized them.
- To those in the Eastern Europe left — myself included — who know Russia better than most, such naïveté has long been a source of chagrin. And yet it continues, even today, as many American and Western European intellectuals do all they can to minimize the dangerous aggression by Vladimir V. Putin.
- Writing in The Nation, the Russia scholar Stephen F. Cohen argued that Mr. Putin was largely blameless for the conflict in Ukraine, that he had tried to avoid it but that the West had forced his hand. In Mr. Cohen’s eyes, the West has unnecessarily humiliated Russia by inviting countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to join NATO.
- Mr. Cohen’s defense of Russia’s sphere of influence overlooks the question of whether the countries that fall within it are there by choice or coercion. Ukraine is willing to be in the Western sphere of influence because it receives support for civil society, the economy and national defense — and Russia does nothing of the kind.
- Mr. Cohen and others don’t just defend Russia; they attack the pro-democracy activists in Ukraine. Another American pundit, Max Blumenthal, described the Euromaidan movement as “filled with far-right street-fighting men pledging to defend their country’s ethnic purity.”
- True, such people were present at the square, but they were marginal figures, and slogans about ethnic purity never gained popularity. Yes, generally speaking, Ukraine has its skinheads and its anti-Semites and even serial killers, pedophiles and Satanists. They are not present in smaller or larger numbers than in any other country, even in the most mature European state.
- In one particularly egregious passage, Mr. Blumenthal writes about how the “openly pro-Nazi politics” of the Ukrainian political party Svoboda and its leader, Oleg Tyagnibok, “have not deterred Senator John McCain from addressing a Euromaidan rally,” nor did it “prevent Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland from enjoying a friendly meeting with the Svoboda leader this February.”
- That distorts how these things work. A whole range of Western political leaders traveled to Euromaidan, and virtually all of them were photographed with Mr. Tyagnibok. For better or worse, Svoboda was part of the coalition of parties behind the Euromaidan movement, and they had agreed to support one another. Americans would behave exactly the same way in a similar situation.
- Strangely, Western intellectuals seem unbothered by anyone who notes the similarity between their pronouncements and Russian propaganda. Indeed, they dismiss such charges out of hand. Zoltan Grossman, who teaches at Evergreen State in Olympia, Wash., writes that it is “wrong and irresponsible to assert that the presence of fascists and Nazis in the new government is merely Russian propaganda.”
- For Dr. Grossman, inconvenient details are less important than the fact that Dmytro Yarosh, the leader of the far-right organization Right Sector, had been appointed deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
- That sounds ominous, until you realize that Mr. Yarosh is not formally a member of the government, and that in February he met with Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine and gave public assurances that Right Sector intended to fight all instances of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and chauvinism.
- What naïve American intellectuals say free of charge, the canny Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor, says for 250,000 euros a year as a board member of Gazprom, the Russian oil giant. Mr. Schröder, the German father of “Gazprom socialism” — a new subspecies of limousine liberalism — has repeatedly embarrassed Berlin by supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
- He isn’t alone — another former chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, has likewise sung Russia’s praises of late, as has Günter Verheugen, a prominent former European Union commissioner.
- What drives these men? Is it a case of poorly conceived pacifism? An eruption of remorse for war crimes carried out against Russians, so many years ago? Or the Stockholm syndrome of a victim fascinated by his executioner?
- The irony is that by standing beside Russia and pointing fingers at fascist phantoms in Ukraine, Western intellectuals are aligning themselves not just with the autocrat in the Kremlin, but the legions of far-right parties across Europe that have come to Russia’s defense, among them Hungary’s Jobbik, Vlaams Belang in Belgium, Austria's Freedom Party, Italy’s Lega Nord and the French Front National. Who says Russia needs propaganda? It already has its useful idiots.
- Slawomir Sierakowski is a sociologist, a founder of the Krytyka Polityczna movement and the director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Warsaw. This article was translated by Maria Blackwood from the Polish.
Hillary Clinton Praise
Max Blumenthal articles received early praise from Hillary Clinton.[23] From a 2016 article titled "Hillary’s Email Trail of Troubling Anti-Israel Conversations":[24]
- Alan Dershowitz—a known supporter of the Clintons—already foresaw the Hillary-Blumenthal debacle. Wary of how damaging Mr. Blumenthal’s defense of his son’s anti-Israel views would be to Ms. Hillary’s future, Mr. Dershowitz warned, “Max Blumenthal is well outside the acceptable range of rhetoric about Israel. His constant comparisons between Nazi Germany and the Jewish state establish him as an extremist bigot whose greatest appeal is to anti-Semites and others who apply a double standard to the Jewish state. Any political candidate who would associate himself or herself with such views would be unacceptable to Americans… I hope that the Clintons ask Sid to expressly disassociate himself from his son’s views–and if he refuses to, that they no longer work with him on any matters.”
External links
- Max Blumenthal's website
- Blumenthal's blog posts at The Huffington Post
- Blumenthal's Facebook Page
- Story Archive at AlterNet
References
- ↑ A walk through Tehran's war martyrs cemetery, w/Prof. Mohammed Marandi (accessed May 27, 2025)
- ↑ Legitimate Targets X Post Dated April 03, 2025 (accessed June 14, 2025)
- ↑ Glenn Diesen YouTube Page (accessed May 3, 2025)
- ↑ Archive Link: Glenn Diesen YouTube Page (accessed May 3, 2025)
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1769420882605134256 Max Blumenthal X Post dated March 17, 2024 (accessed March 17, 2024)
- ↑ X Post dated July 4, 2023 by Chay Bowes (accessed June 9, 2024)
- ↑ Andrew Napolitano Personal Website (accessed March 29, 2024)
- ↑ Tweet from Liam Cosgrove Dated October 7, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)
- ↑ Archive: https://archive.vn/8XGxK#selection-222.0-254.0 Tweet from Walker Bragman Dated October 5, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)
- ↑ Archive: https://archive.vn/8XGxK#selection-222.0-254.0 Tweet from Walker Bragman Dated October 5, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)
- ↑ Tweet from Liam Cosgrove Dated October 7, 2023 (accessed October 7, 2023)
- ↑ Speakers (accessed March 16, 2023)
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200716031633/http://www.nocoldwar.org/ (accessed July 25 2020)
- ↑ WATCH: Independent Journalists Debunk Lies About Venezuela at the United Nations accessed April 20 2019
- ↑ SHOCKER: Tucker Carlson Invites Rabid Anti-Semitic Leftist Max Blumenthal To His Show (accessed July 20, 2025)
- ↑ Tucker Carlson Allows Max Blumenthal’s Anti-Israel Comments to Slide (accessed July 20, 2025)
- ↑ Dem: Why my fellow Democrats are wrong on Russia (accessed July 20, 2025)
- ↑ AGGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVES Episode 1: Hillary Clinton And The Progressive Voters (accessed June 10, 2024)
- ↑ Aggressive Progressives (accessed June 10, 2024)
- ↑ Aggressive Progressives Archive 1 (accessed June 10, 2024)
- ↑ Aggressive Progressives Archive 2 (accessed June 10, 2024)
- ↑ Aggressive Progressives Archive 3 (accessed June 10, 2024)
- ↑ Max Blumenthal, Friend of Hillary Clinton, Reminds Us That He is the Scum of the Earth (accessed July 20, 2025)
- ↑ Hillary’s Email Trail of Troubling Anti-Israel Conversations (accessed July 20, 2025)