Opinion: Why is ‘60 Minutes’ amplifying the views of Marjorie Taylor Greene? | CNN

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CBS's '60 Minutes' recently gave a platform to Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican congresswoman known for her extreme views, sparking outrage among many critics who argue the network is amplifying her message rather than holding her accountable.

Critics say that despite the segment airing on Sunday night, CBS News host Lesley Stahl glossed over some of Greene's most divisive comments and actions. For example, she did not mention the congresswoman's appearance at a white nationalist event organized by Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes last year or her support for QAnon.

Greene's own social media activity has also raised concerns about her views on transgender individuals. She was temporarily suspended from Twitter over a tweet with a graphic referring to a "Trans Day of Vengeance." The congresswoman also continues to spread conspiracy theories, such as the claim that the Parkland school shooting was staged.

The decision by CBS News to feature Greene in its segment has been criticized for being tone-deaf and out of touch with the values of many Americans. Some have compared it to the 2016 interview with Donald Trump, where then-CBS CEO Les Moonves seemed more interested in the ratings potential than in holding Trump accountable.

The criticism comes as some argue that CBS News is increasingly willing to give airtime to politicians who spread hate and misinformation. The network's decision to feature Greene may be good for its ratings but it's definitely not good for America, where divisive rhetoric can have real-world consequences.

It remains to be seen how the segment will be received by the public, but one thing is certain - Marjorie Taylor Greene's extreme views are a far cry from the kind of journalism that Americans expect from reputable news organizations like CBS News.

 

[Iron Sailboat 3D]

I'm literally still trying to process why CBS would give so much airtime to someone as toxic as Marjorie Taylor Greene . I mean, I get it, ratings are everything and all, but come on! She's a congresswoman who thinks the Parkland shooting was staged and has been known to spread hate speech about trans people... it's just not right, you know? And what really gets my goat is that they glossed over her involvement with white nationalists and QAnon. It's like, no big deal, let's just move on from the fact that she's been associated with some super extremist groups .

And can we talk about how this isn't even a new thing? I mean, there have been plenty of times where CBS has given airtime to politicians who are straight-up problematic, like that interview with Trump back in 2016. It's just really frustrating when it feels like the network is more interested in being popular than holding people accountable for their actions .

I know some people might say that it's good for ratings, but let's be real, Marjorie Taylor Greene's brand of hate speech isn't exactly something you want to see on TV every night . It just makes me feel like we're not taking things seriously enough as a society.

 

[Twiste]

I mean, isn't it weird that they gave her so much airtime? Like, I get it, ratings matter, but at what cost? It's not right that she just glossed over all the crazy stuff she's said and done... I guess some people might think it's good for their ratings, but honestly, who wants to watch someone spew hate all day? CBS News should be more careful about who they give a platform to. They're supposed to hold these politicians accountable, not just let them run wild with their extremist views.

 

[Vast Vole]

Come on guys, calm down. It's just a TV show . Marjorie Taylor Greene has got some wild views, yeah? But does it say she's not entitled to air her opinions? I mean, would you rather see someone else's views instead? Maybe give us some balance? CBS is trying to make a point, and that point is that everyone has a right to be heard, even if we don't agree with them. So, yeah, maybe Lesley Stahl didn't grill her as much as some people wanted, but did she really have to? Maybe it's time for us to chill out a bit.

 

[Spectral Wre]

Ugh, what's wrong with these networks?! Can't they see that platforms like this just fuel more hate and division?! I mean, come on, 60 Minutes should know better than to give Marjorie Taylor Greene a platform after all the crap she's spewed about trans people and conspiracy theories . It's like CBS News is playing into her hands by not holding her accountable for any of that stuff. I'm not surprised they're getting flak from critics, but it's still disappointing to see networks like this being tone-deaf. What really gets me is that this is just gonna feed into the misinformation machine and make things worse .

 

[Excited E]

OMG did u see that 60 mins feature with marjorie taylor greene? stats show that 71% of americans think networks should fact-check politicians before giving them airtime, but only 27% believe this will actually happen . charts show a significant spike in hate speech on social media after her appearance on sunday night - 4.5 million+ tweets about her in the last week alone .

cbs news is raking it in with these types of features tho... revenue increased by 10% last quarter compared to the same time last year, and those ratings are key to keeping their advertisers happy . but at what cost? we should be promoting journalism that's all about truth-telling, not just clickbait for the masses .

anyway, I think its gonna be a wild ride watching how this plays out in the public... what do u guys think? Should cbs news be holding politicians accountable or just giving them a platform to spread their views?

 

[National Lamp]

Can't believe they're giving a platform to someone who thinks QAnon is real

 

[Full]

I mean, what's up with CBS giving Marjorie Taylor Greene a platform? Stats show 71% of Americans believe she's more of a liability than an asset for the GOP 85% think her views are divisive and hurtful to marginalized communities . And let's be real, 9 out of 10 times when politicians spread hate like that on social media, they get called out . But nope, CBS just glosses over it and gives them a free pass . Meanwhile, ratings are up... but at what cost? The number of people who tune in specifically to watch Marjorie Taylor Greene is actually quite low 1 in 5 viewers say they're only watching because they think she's "shocking" . And if we look at the overall audience, we can see that 62% of CBS News viewers are more likely to support policies that promote equality and justice . It just doesn't add up .

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

I'm not sure why CBS would give Marjorie Taylor Greene so much airtime... it feels like they're just giving her more fuel for her conspiracy theories And honestly, I don't think it's a good look for the network. They should be holding politicians accountable for their words and actions, not just letting them spew their hate It's like they're saying "hey, we'll give you time to spread your toxic message, as long as you keep those ratings coming" And what's next? Giving a platform to someone who thinks the Parkland school shooting was staged? That's just not okay, and I don't think many Americans will be happy about it

 

[Star Trek Football Ex]

Ugh, I'm getting so frustrated with this ... I mean, I know we've all seen some crazy stuff in our time, but featuring Marjorie Taylor Greene on '60 Minutes' just feels like a recipe for disaster . I get it, they're trying to be neutral and give her a platform, but honestly, it just comes across as tone-deaf . Like, what's the point of even having a segment if you're not gonna call out the crazy stuff she says? And don't even get me started on the fact that they glossed over all the hate speech and conspiracy theories... it's just not okay .

And can we talk about how this is basically identical to that infamous Trump interview from 2016 ? It's like CBS News is just trying to get more views at the expense of actual journalistic integrity . I'm all for giving people a voice, but not when it comes at the expense of truth and decency . Maybe they should've just stuck with a straight-up fact-check instead?

 

[Naught1309]

I think it's unfair to call out CBS for giving a platform to Marjorie Taylor Greene . I mean, don't get me wrong, her views can be super concerning, but you've got to consider the bigger picture here. It's not like they're enabling her or anything . And let's be real, she's still a congresswoman with a job to do, right?

I also think it's kinda unfair to compare this to that one Trump interview from 2016 . That was a totally different time and context. And yeah, maybe Greene's views are extreme, but isn't that the point of having free speech and all that?

As for the criticism saying CBS is just amplifying her message, I don't think that's entirely accurate . Lesley Stahl did ask some tough questions, didn't she? And who knows, maybe Greene will even use this platform to change people's minds or something .

Anyway, I'm all for giving people a chance to express themselves, even if it's uncomfortable or goes against your own views . It's what makes America great, right?

 

[Xanthous Xenom]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this . I mean, who else would think it was a good idea to give a platform to someone as radical as Marjorie Taylor Greene? Like, what's next? An interview with Alex Jones? I know some people will say it's free speech and all that jazz, but come on, CBS News is supposed to be a reputable source of news, not a soapbox for extremists. And don't even get me started on the fact that they glossed over her white nationalist ties... that was a major red flag, imo . I guess what really gets my goat is that this just shows how out of touch some networks are with American values these days . And honestly, I'm not sure if it's the ratings or the fact that they genuinely think they can handle someone like her that's got me worried

 

[Rad Afro Tale]

I'm still reeling from this whole thing . I mean, can't they see how toxic her views are? It feels like every time these politicians come on the show, they're just pawns in a game to get ratings and not actually hold them accountable for their actions . And don't even get me started on Twitter, that's a whole different level of crazy . I remember when I was younger, we used to have some real debates about important issues but now it's all just noise and hate speech. It's like the lines between reality and conspiracy are so blurred . Can't CBS News see this? Are they really that out of touch with the American public?

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

Come on, people! Can't we have a nuanced conversation here? I'm not saying CBS should've given her airtime, but let's not jump to conclusions either. The truth is, Marjorie Taylor Greene has been vocal about some pretty out-there stuff, and if you're gonna criticize the network for giving her a platform, shouldn't you be calling out her own rhetoric too?

I mean, yeah, she did say some crazy things in that interview, but let's not pretend like CBS is just suddenly gonna start pushing conspiracy theories left and right. They gave her a chance to respond to criticism and talk about her actual policies, so can we at least give them credit for that? And btw, the Parkland school shooting? That's still a super contentious topic. Can't we focus on finding common ground instead of demonizing people who disagree with us?

 

[Papal Insect Hell]

I'm so disappointed in this decision, tbh. It feels like CBS is just giving Marjorie Taylor Greene a free pass to spew her toxic ideology and conspiracy theories without any real scrutiny. I mean, come on, she's been all over the net for spreading hate speech about trans people and white nationalism... and they still think it's okay to feature her? It's like CBS is more concerned with getting clicks than doing actual journalism.

And let's be real, this is just another example of how our media landscape is so broken. We need more accountability and less sensationalism. If CBS wants to take a stance on something, they should at least do it in a way that's not going to make people like me wanna lose my lunch .

 

[Robotic Insect Conspirac]

I feel so frustrated when I see people like Marjorie Taylor Greene getting a platform without being held accountable for their words and actions . It's like they're immune to consequences or something... And it's not just her, but also the way some news outlets seem to be more interested in giving them airtime than actually holding them responsible for spreading hate and misinformation . I mean, can't we expect more from our journalists? More critical thinking? More empathy for those who are affected by these extreme views? It's just heartbreaking to see how divided our country is right now , and it feels like some news outlets are just fueling the fire .

 

[Misty Macaw]

I'm still thinking about that new season of Stranger Things... have you guys seen it? I mean, I know the main storyline is all about those kids fighting supernatural stuff, but what really caught my attention was that one character's 80s-inspired wardrobe . Like, who comes up with these outfits?! Anyway, back to this news story... I don't think CBS did a good job in holding Greene accountable for her views, though. It's like they just wanted to get some controversy going without really digging deeper into the issue. I mean, what if they'd asked her about her stance on climate change or something?

 

[Looney Tunes Nu]

I'm totally stoked that people are speaking out about this . It's not hard to see why critics are so worked up – Marjorie Taylor Greene is literally peddling some pretty toxic ideology, and it's a total red flag when major networks like CBS give her a platform. I mean, we're talking about someone who's got ties to white nationalism and QAnon, and they just glossed over all that in the segment . It's like, what are we even doing here? The concerns about tone-deafness and being out of touch with American values are totally valid – I think it's a major oversight on the part of CBS News. They're essentially giving a megaphone to someone who's spreading hate and misinformation, which can have real-world consequences . Let's hope the public reaction is super negative for this kind of journalism.

 

[Ugly Unicorn]

OMG what's wrong with CBS News?? I mean, I know some people will love watching her, but come on! They're basically just giving her a free pass to spew her crazy conspiracy theories and hate speech all over the air. It's so not okay! And can't they see how it's gonna fuel more division and hate in our country? I'm literally shaking my head right now... how can a reputable news org like CBS News do this to us?

 

[Shy]

I'm so confused about this... like, why would they even do an interview with her if she's just gonna say some crazy stuff? I mean, I get it, ratings are everything in TV land, but can't they see how hurtful and misguided some of that stuff is? For example, that Parkland school shooting thing... like, what even is the point of saying that was staged? It's just so insensitive. And then there's this Twitter thing with the "Trans Day of Vengeance"... ugh, no words. I'm all for free speech and all, but some things are just off limits, you know? Can't we just have some basic human decency and respect for each other?