I've never been a frequent watcher or follower of either Francesca or TYT.
I have been aware of these guys, and I have watched some clips before. I'm aware that Cenk and Ana have reached out to right wing shows and people. Trying to find some common ground (maybe wanting to steal their audience who are supposedly populist), and I'm aware their recent activity has been heavily criticised by many left leaning political figures/commentators.
I've been trying to get informed of this situation just out of interest, I'm not a progressive, not a populist, not an anti establishment person, so I don't have any feelings of betrayal that many of these political figures are expressing about Cenk and Ana's recent activities (since Trump won the election)
I've seen some clips of Cenk and of Ana saying things that concern me. I don't want to delve into everything, I haven't seen everything.
But I think this interview between Cenk and Francesca brings up most of what concerns me.
Francesca is an independent sometimes contributor for TYT (among other non TYT stuff she does). She had a frank interview with Cenk about her perception and feelings about what she has seen from him lately.
I think this interview was important because Cenk and Ana are coping a lot of flack, and this interview gives Cenk plenty of opportunity to hear the concern and to clarify his new approach, and some of the things he's been saying.
Francesca went into this interview telling Cenk how influential he has been to her, and to progressives on the left. She was literally gloating about him. But of course this interview wasn't to build up his ego. Francesca has some difficult feelings watching Cenk lately and she wanted to express that to him and allow him to clarify if he wanted to. She wasn't trying to corner him, she wasn't attacking him, she wasn't trying to catch him in any gottcha moments.
This interview appeared to me, to be done in good faith, and with an interviewer who liked and almost adored the interviewee but was feeling emotional about some things the interviewee had been saying lately.
Unfortunately from my perception of the interview, Cenk was very much in defensive and counter attack mode.
I don't think Cenk was listening to Francesca at all, instead he was strawmanning her position and attacking her, and "the left".
Maybe Cenk has been so worked up lately by all the criticisms he's been receiving and so was unable to approach this interview with Francesca in a friendly way, I don't know.
An interesting part of the clip, at 9:32 into the video
Francesca talks about her fear about the potential for Cenk (and Ana) turning on her. She cites examples of them turning on other former employees.
Francesca says that Hank and Emma and Ben are great people, and when she is talking about them Cenk rolls his eyes, screws up his face and laughs when Francesca says that Hank was a great guy.
She then finishes up by saying "I'm afraid, I'm next"
Cenk start's shaking his head.
But then this morning, I see a clip where Ana is now going after Francesca.
in a spiteful and derogatory way.
I mean Cenk and Ana can do what they want, but if they treat respected people this way, they are certainly going to turn off many people.
I have been aware of these guys, and I have watched some clips before. I'm aware that Cenk and Ana have reached out to right wing shows and people. Trying to find some common ground (maybe wanting to steal their audience who are supposedly populist), and I'm aware their recent activity has been heavily criticised by many left leaning political figures/commentators.
I've been trying to get informed of this situation just out of interest, I'm not a progressive, not a populist, not an anti establishment person, so I don't have any feelings of betrayal that many of these political figures are expressing about Cenk and Ana's recent activities (since Trump won the election)
I've seen some clips of Cenk and of Ana saying things that concern me. I don't want to delve into everything, I haven't seen everything.
But I think this interview between Cenk and Francesca brings up most of what concerns me.
Francesca is an independent sometimes contributor for TYT (among other non TYT stuff she does). She had a frank interview with Cenk about her perception and feelings about what she has seen from him lately.
I think this interview was important because Cenk and Ana are coping a lot of flack, and this interview gives Cenk plenty of opportunity to hear the concern and to clarify his new approach, and some of the things he's been saying.
Francesca went into this interview telling Cenk how influential he has been to her, and to progressives on the left. She was literally gloating about him. But of course this interview wasn't to build up his ego. Francesca has some difficult feelings watching Cenk lately and she wanted to express that to him and allow him to clarify if he wanted to. She wasn't trying to corner him, she wasn't attacking him, she wasn't trying to catch him in any gottcha moments.
This interview appeared to me, to be done in good faith, and with an interviewer who liked and almost adored the interviewee but was feeling emotional about some things the interviewee had been saying lately.
Unfortunately from my perception of the interview, Cenk was very much in defensive and counter attack mode.
I don't think Cenk was listening to Francesca at all, instead he was strawmanning her position and attacking her, and "the left".
Maybe Cenk has been so worked up lately by all the criticisms he's been receiving and so was unable to approach this interview with Francesca in a friendly way, I don't know.
An interesting part of the clip, at 9:32 into the video
Francesca says that Hank and Emma and Ben are great people, and when she is talking about them Cenk rolls his eyes, screws up his face and laughs when Francesca says that Hank was a great guy.
She then finishes up by saying "I'm afraid, I'm next"
Cenk start's shaking his head.
But then this morning, I see a clip where Ana is now going after Francesca.
I mean Cenk and Ana can do what they want, but if they treat respected people this way, they are certainly going to turn off many people.
