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

CBS' '60 Minutes' recent decision to feature Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on its program has raised concerns about the network's stance on amplifying extremist views. Greene, known for her sharp tongue and radical opinions, was chosen as a guest despite controversy surrounding her past comments.

The segment, which aired last Sunday, saw Greene sit down with CBS' Lesley Stahl to discuss her views on various topics, including gun control and COVID-19 vaccines. While the interview provided an opportunity for Greene to share her perspectives, it has also sparked criticism that CBS is giving a platform to someone who has promoted conspiracy theories and hate speech.

Critics argue that by featuring Greene, CBS is sending a mixed message about its commitment to journalistic integrity. The network's history of hosting controversial guests, including Timothy McVeigh and Ayatollah Khomeini, raises questions about why it chose to focus on Greene at this time.

Furthermore, the segment has been criticized for not adequately addressing Greene's extremist views, particularly with regards to her stance on January 6th insurrectionists. Her comments downplaying the severity of the attack and defending those involved have been widely condemned by lawmakers and experts alike.

CBS' decision to air the segment has also raised questions about its editorial stance on politics. The network's CEO Les Moonves had previously expressed support for Donald Trump, stating that his candidacy would be "good for CBS." This sentiment appears to have continued in the choice of Greene as a guest.

While '60 Minutes' has a history of featuring complex and nuanced interviews with politicians from all sides of the aisle, its decision to air Greene's segment has left many feeling uneasy. The network's attempt to provide a platform for Greene without adequate context or critique raises concerns about the direction it is heading in terms of its editorial stance.

Greene's own response to the backlash has been telling. She praised Stahl and CBS, while also expressing her commitment to sharing her opinions with a wider audience. However, this gesture comes across as disingenuous given the controversy surrounding her past comments.

Ultimately, CBS' decision to feature Greene on '60 Minutes' is a symptom of a larger issue in American journalism: the blurring of lines between politics and entertainment. As politicians continue to court media attention and use it to advance their agendas, journalists must be vigilant about holding them accountable for their words and actions.

By choosing to air Greene's segment, CBS risks being seen as complicit in the spread of misinformation and hate speech. The network's commitment to journalistic integrity is at stake, and its decision on this matter will have far-reaching implications for the future of American journalism.

I'm just gonna say it ... I don't think it's a good look for CBS, you know? They're already getting flak for giving Greene a platform without really holding her accountable for some pretty shady stuff. I mean, I get that they want to feature politicians from both sides, but this feels like they're just trying to appease the far right and it's not sitting well with people. And let's be real, if you're gonna air someone who's been all over the news for making conspiracy theories and hate speech, at least try to give 'em a fact-check or something . This whole thing just feels like a big mess to me...

I'm low-key worried about this one . I mean, Greene has a history of spewing some pretty wild stuff, from QAnon conspiracy theories to downplaying the severity of January 6th insurrectionists... it's like, can't CBS just fact-check her or something? But seriously, by giving her a platform, they're basically saying that she's worthy of a serious discussion. I get that '60 Minutes' wants to provide a nuanced view, but isn't there a fine line between nuance and enabling extremism?

I also wonder what the ratings are going to be like for this episode . Are people really tuning in to watch Greene espouse her views? And what's next? Are they gonna start giving a platform to other radical politicians too? It's all about setting boundaries, folks... we can't just let anyone spew hate speech on our airwaves without some serious pushback .

[meme: a picture of Marjorie Taylor Greene with a red "X" marked through it]
[ GIF: a clip of Lesley Stahl looking uncomfortable ]
CBS needs to fact-check before they feature someone who's spreading conspiracy theories and hate speech!

I think it's a bit harsh to say that CBS is giving a platform to someone who promotes conspiracy theories and hate speech... I mean, don't get me wrong, Greene's got some questionable views , but isn't that what '60 Minutes' is all about - giving a voice to people from all sides of the aisle? It's not like they're just featuring her for kicks . And let's be real, the segment did highlight some of the complexities of her views and the controversy surrounding them . I'm sure it was a tough decision for the team at '60 Minutes', but I think it's an important one... we need more nuanced discussions about politics and policy in this country .

im surprised cbs would do a segment with marjorie taylor greene lol she's just so extra but seriously though i think it's pretty concerning that they're giving her a platform without really holding her accountable for her past comments. like, yeah maybe she has a right to share her opinions and all that but doesn't that mean she should have to deal with some scrutiny too?

i also get where the critics are coming from, it does feel like cbs is kinda enabling her by not providing more context or criticism. i mean, lesley stahl did try to ask some tough questions but still... and honestly i'm not sure what's going on with this whole thing. is cbs trying to be more inclusive? are they just really bad at vetting their guests? idk but it's definitely made me think twice about the kind of journalism we're getting these days

I'm low-key worried about CBS' recent move . I mean, they're giving a platform to someone who's been accused of spreading some pretty extreme views . Don't get me wrong, '60 Minutes' has always tried to tackle tough topics, but this feels like a weird choice .

I think the network needs to take a closer look at its editorial stance on politics . It's not just about giving a platform to politicians; it's also about holding them accountable for their words and actions . Greene's history of promoting conspiracy theories and hate speech is pretty concerning .

The fact that CBS' CEO Les Moonves expressed support for Donald Trump in the past raises some questions about where the network is headed . I just hope they're not perpetuating a mixed message about journalistic integrity . At the end of the day, it's all about providing a platform for nuanced discussions and holding politicians accountable .

I think it's weird that CBS chose Marjorie Taylor Greene for their show She's got some pretty extreme views that don't sit right with a lot of people And yeah, the fact that they didn't really tackle her extremist stuff in the interview is kinda messed up I mean, what's next? Are they gonna have Alex Jones on the show too? It just feels like CBS is trying to be all neutral and stuff, but really they're just giving a platform to people who are saying some pretty crazy stuff

I'm feeling a bit uneasy about CBS featuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on '60 Minutes' . I mean, you got a history with hosting some pretty divisive guests, like Timothy McVeigh and Ayatollah Khomeini, but this one feels different. Greene's views are definitely not for the faint of heart, and I'm worried that CBS is giving her a platform without really holding her accountable for what she says.

It's like they're sending mixed signals about what kind of content they're willing to air. I get that they want to provide a space for politicians from all sides to share their views, but when it comes down to it, you gotta have some standards in place, right? Greene's comments on January 6th insurrectionists are just plain concerning, and I feel like the segment didn't really tackle those issues head-on.

I'm also thinking about CBS' CEO Les Moonves' past statements about Donald Trump. It seems like there's a bit of a pattern here, and it's making me wonder if the network is more interested in giving airtime to politicians who align with their own views rather than providing nuanced coverage.

can't believe cbs would feature someone like marjorie taylor greene on their show like what was thinking? it's not about fairness or balance, it's about ratings and being seen as neutral

i'm so tired of politicians being treated like celebrities rather than being held accountable for their actions and CBS is just perpetuating this toxic cycle by giving a platform to someone who has caused so much harm

what happened to journalistic integrity? where was the critical analysis? the nuance? it's all about the clickbait headlines now

This whole thing just smells like a classic case of the "free press" vs actual accountability. I mean, come on, CBS knew about Marjorie Taylor Greene's history, but still decided to give her a platform? It's like they're saying, "Hey, we'll let you share your crazy opinions with the world, and if people get upset, well, that's not our problem." And what really gets my goat is when they claim it's all about journalistic integrity. Give me a break! The real question is: what's in it for CBS? Are they trying to boost ratings or appease some of their right-wing donors? I'm no expert, but I think this whole thing reeks of a larger problem with the way we're covering politics and politicians. We need to stop giving them a free pass just because they're "interesting" or "controversial." It's time for some real journalistic muscle.

I'm low-key shook by CBS' recent move to feature Marjorie Taylor Greene on '60 Minutes'. I get that they wanna give a platform to all sides, but come on! Greene's history with conspiracy theories and hate speech is no joke . The segment didn't do enough to address her extremist views, especially about the January 6th insurrectionists... it was kinda glossed over.

I'm worried that CBS is trying to be too diplomatic and not challenging Greene's radical opinions . As a journalist, you gotta hold people in power accountable for their words and actions! If they're just gonna give Greene a free pass without any real critique, it raises questions about their editorial stance on politics .

It's all about setting boundaries and being vigilant about the spread of misinformation . I feel like '60 Minutes' is trying to be too accommodating and losing sight of what's important: journalistic integrity .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why CBS would think it's a good idea to give Marjorie Taylor Greene a platform on their show . Like, don't get me wrong, it's not like they're giving her a free pass or anything, but at the same time... have you seen some of the stuff she's said in the past? Conspiracy theories, hate speech, and all that jazz... it's just a little concerning.

And don't even get me started on how this whole thing ties into the blurring of lines between politics and entertainment . It feels like politicians are more concerned with getting their 15 minutes of fame than actually having a meaningful conversation about the issues. And news outlets are just as guilty, trying to be "fair" and "balanced" while still giving these folks airtime.

I'm all for complex and nuanced interviews, but this whole thing just feels off . It's like CBS is saying, "Hey, we're gonna give you a platform to share your opinions, but only if you agree with us." Newsflash: that's not journalism, folks...

I'm totally shocked by this decision ...like who thinks it's a good idea to give a platform to someone with such radical views? I get that '60 Minutes' wants to provide a balanced view, but can't they see how this is gonna be misinterpreted? Greene has said some super hurtful stuff about Jan 6th and the people involved...I just don't think CBS did enough to call her out on it . This makes me wanna question everything CBS stands for . Are they just trying to attract a certain crowd or something? I'm all for sharing opinions, but not when they're so extreme!

I'm really worried about where we're headed with the media landscape . I mean, CBS just gave a platform to Marjorie Taylor Greene without even questioning her extremist views, and now they're saying it's all about providing a platform for diverse voices? Come on! It feels like they're trying to have it both ways.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit disappointed in '60 Minutes'. They've always had a good rep for being journalistic, but this move just feels off. And don't even get me started on the lack of critique from Lesley Stahl . She's supposed to be asking tough questions, but instead she just let Greene spew her radical opinions without any pushback.

This is exactly what happens when politics and entertainment start to blend together . Journalists need to be held accountable for what they're promoting, not giving a free pass to people who spread hate speech and misinformation . We need more critical thinking, not just giving a platform to anyone with an opinion .

I'm all for diverse voices being heard, but not when it comes at the expense of journalistic integrity . CBS needs to get back on track and start holding politicians accountable for their words and actions. Anything less is just complicity in spreading misinformation .

Umm yeah I'm getting worried about the state of journalism rn I mean CBS is a reputable network but featuring Marjorie Taylor Greene just seems like a bad move to me... I get that they wanna represent all sides of the aisle, but at what cost? This segment felt like more of an infotainment special than actual journalism. And what's with Lesley Stahl not calling her out on some of those conspiracy theories?! It just feels like CBS is trying to be too inclusive and end up being complicit in spreading misinformation. I'm all for nuanced interviews but when you're putting someone who has been known to downplay insurrectionist attacks on the same platform, it's gotta be held to higher standards...