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

[Tho]

CBS's 60 Minutes recently featured Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on its show, with a promotional tweet calling her an "icon" and highlighting her sharp tongue and radical views. The segment has sparked widespread criticism from pundits, activists, and former politicians alike.

Critics argue that the segment gave Greene a platform to amplify her far-right ideology without adequate critique or pushback. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast condemned 60 Minutes for spending its "currency" on Greene's anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger called out the show for giving Greene a platform, stating it was "insane."

David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting, expressed frustration with 60 Minutes' decision to air an interview with Greene, who has repeatedly spread misinformation about gun violence and made anti-Semitic remarks.

Greene's views on conspiracy theories and anti-Muslim rhetoric have long been problematic. Two years before being elected to Congress, she amplified the conspiracy theory that the Parkland school shooting was staged. She also called a teenage survivor of the shooting "Little Hitler" on social media.

In contrast to her typical criticism of "fake news," Greene's own tweet promoting Sunday's segment praised 60 Minutes host Lesley Stahl and used a misspelled first name. However, this gesture rings hollow given her past behavior.

While 60 Minutes has a history of featuring controversial guests, including Timothy McVeigh and Ayatollah Khomeini, some argue that Greene's ideology is far beyond the boundaries of what the show has previously aired.

CBS had not responded to a CNN request for comment at time of publishing. The decision to give Greene a platform raises questions about the responsibility of news outlets to promote accuracy and balance in their coverage.

 

[Exuberan]

I'm just sad that Marjorie Taylor Greene got away with spreading those crazy conspiracy theories without someone holding her accountable on national TV ... it's like they're giving her a free pass to spew all that hate . And what really gets me is when people call her an "icon" ... I don't think she's exactly setting the bar high for anyone who wants to be taken seriously . News outlets have a responsibility to fact-check and balance their coverage, and this decision raises some serious questions about that .

 

[The Harlem Gl]

I gotta say, it's crazy that some people are really upset about 60 Minutes giving Marjorie Taylor Greene a platform . I mean, yeah, she's got some pretty extreme views, but isn't that what the show is for - to spark conversations and challenge people's opinions? The problem with some of these critics is that they're just mad because it doesn't fit their own narrative .

I think it's also worth considering the bigger picture here. If news outlets are only featuring guests who share their own views, then we're not really having a meaningful discussion about important issues . Don't get me wrong, I'm all for accurate representation and balance in reporting , but let's not be afraid to have tough conversations that might make us uncomfortable .

And can we please talk about how much misinformation is out there already? I feel like we're so used to hearing conspiracy theories and fake news stories that it's hard to even know what's real anymore . So maybe 60 Minutes should be praised for actually having a conversation with someone who might challenge our own views . Just sayin'

 

[Motionless Malla]

idk why 60 mins tho... i mean, marjorie taylor greene is literally the embodiment of conspiracy theories and anti-Semitism . they should've fact-checked her views instead of giving her a platform to spew her venom. news outlets gotta be more responsible than that . it's one thing to feature a controversial guest, but another thing entirely to glorify their radical ideology without any pushback . i mean, what's next? featuring qanon influencers on sunday morning tv?

 

[Dangerou]

what's good? anyway, i think 60 minutes made a big mistake by giving marjorie taylor greene a platform like that. her views are just plain hurtful & misinformation is no joke. i'm all for free speech, but not when it comes at the expense of people's lives & dignity.

 

[Carefu]

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely." It's unsettling when media outlets give a platform to those with extremist views, without critically evaluating or challenging them. This can lead to the amplification of misinformation and hate speech, which has serious consequences for society. News organizations have a responsibility to promote accuracy, balance, and nuanced discussion – not just entertain sensationalism.

 

[Black Buf]

I'm so done with politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene spreading hate and misinformation on TV! 60 Minutes should've fact-checked her views way better before giving her a platform . It's not cool that they're just amplifying her radical ideas without calling out the crazy stuff she says . I mean, have you seen her tweets about Parkland? They're super concerning and anti-Semitic .

I'm all for having tough conversations on TV, but there needs to be a balance . Greene's views are super far-right and not representative of most Americans . And can we talk about how she's been spreading lies about gun violence? It's like, come on CBS! You have a responsibility to bring accurate info to the table .

I'm loving all the backlash from pundits, activists, and former politicians who are calling out 60 Minutes for this mistake . Maybe they'll get it right next time . One thing's for sure, I won't be watching 60 Minutes anytime soon if they're gonna give a platform to hate-mongers like Greene !

 

[Arm]

I'm so done with 60 Minutes right now they're literally giving Marjorie Taylor Greene a free pass to spew her toxic ideology on national TV without anyone questioning it I mean, come on! They should've at least tried to fact-check her claims or even just present some opposing views. But nope, they just let her rant about conspiracy theories and anti-Semitism like it's no big deal . It's crazy that David Hogg is still speaking out against this, he knows what it's like to lose loved ones in a mass shooting . And can we please talk about how 60 Minutes is just perpetuating the problem of spreading misinformation?

 

[Silly Sloth]

omg I'm still trying to process this, like I was watching 60 Minutes with my bf and we were both thinking "wait what is she even talking about" she's got some wild views on conspiracy theories and stuff, but like I get it, she's a politician and all that. but the thing is, it feels like they just gave her a platform without really questioning her or anything. I mean Molly Jong-Fast was total right to call out 60 Minutes for spending their "currency" on her it's like, can't we have some balance? my bf was saying maybe she's not even trying to hide her views that much, but I'm just not sure if I buy that anyway, it's definitely making me think twice about what news outlets are promoting and why.

 

[Teenage Chipmunk Dis]

man, this 60 Minutes thing is so whack ... they're basically giving Marjorie Taylor Greene a free pass to spread her far-right ideology without anyone questioning her or calling her out for it. I mean, come on, she's been saying some super problematic stuff about the Holocaust and Muslims ... it's like 60 Minutes is just letting her run wild with no fact-checking whatsoever.

And what really gets my goat is that they're touting her as an "icon" ... like, are you guys serious? She's got a history of making anti-Semitic remarks and spreading conspiracy theories. It's not exactly the kind of thing you want to celebrate or promote .

I think what this whole thing highlights is that news outlets have gotta be more careful about who they give airtime to and how much coverage they give them. You can't just let someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene spread misinformation without holding her accountable ... it's time for some real fact-checking and critical thinking

 

[Undead Sumo Invaders]

I'm so disappointed with 60 Minutes right now . I mean, they know better than anyone that Marjorie Taylor Greene is not someone you want to give airtime to . It's like they're trying to fuel the fire she's been spreading for years. And what really gets me is how they spun it to make her sound like some kinda icon . Newsflash: her views are NOT iconic, they're just plain old toxic .

And don't even get me started on the fact that they didn't fact-check her or call her out on her blatant lies about gun violence and anti-Semitism . I mean, where was the pushback? It's like they wanted to give her a platform to spew her nonsense all over the country.

As someone who cares deeply about accuracy and balance in journalism, it breaks my heart to see them make this kind of mistake . We need outlets that are gonna hold people in power accountable, not just give them a soapbox to stand on . Can't wait to see what other gems 60 Minutes has up their sleeve... *sarcasm*

 

[Vivacious V]

I'm low-key disappointed that 60 Minutes gave Marjorie Taylor Greene so much airtime . I mean, don't get me wrong, she's got some wild views, but it feels like they were just trying to get a reaction out of her . Like, did they not fact-check anything? Her history on anti-Semitic conspiracy theories is pretty sketchy, and it seems like they didn't push back hard enough. I'm all for featuring diverse voices, but accuracy and balance are key . It's not just about giving a platform to someone with radical views; it's about having a nuanced conversation about those views. And honestly, I'm still trying to figure out why Lesley Stahl is using Twitter to give her own shoutout . Misspellings and all .

 

[Sim College in the]

I gotta say, CBS's move with Marjorie Taylor Greene on 60 Minutes was like setting up a trap for a showdown... but unfortunately it's not gonna end well. They're giving her a platform to spew her radical views without proper scrutiny , and that's just not cool. I mean, 60 Minutes has done some crazy interviews in the past, but this one feels different. Greene's got a history of spreading hate speech and conspiracy theories, and it's not something you can just brush off . The fact that she's still spewing that stuff on social media shows me she's not all about "fake news"... more like she's playing with fire . News outlets gotta do better to promote accuracy and balance, or else we're gonna end up stuck in a cycle of toxicity . Can't we just have some real conversations instead of enabling radicals?

 

[Gifted Gibbon]

Ugh, 60 Minutes just gave Marjorie Taylor Greene a free pass on her craziness . I mean, who thinks it's a good idea to give a platform to someone who's basically spewing hate speech and conspiracy theories? It's like they're trying to normalize her radical views or something. And don't even get me started on the fact that they highlighted her "sharp tongue" - yeah, because that's exactly what we need more of in this country: people who can shoot their mouths off without thinking .

I'm not surprised that all these pundits and activists are speaking out against it, though. David Hogg is right to be furious, especially since Greene has made a career out of spreading misinformation about gun violence. And let's be real, the fact that she called a survivor "Little Hitler" on social media? That's just gross .

It's like CBS is trying to prove they're still relevant by being all edgy and provocative, but really they're just giving people like Greene a soapbox to spew their toxic nonsense from . Can't we just stick to fact-based reporting for once?