It’s not “fear-mongering” if the characterization of the entity to be feared is accurate. Sure, you can criticize the Democratic establishment for relying on this one argument too heavily and not offering a positive alternative. I agree with this point, and TYT and Ana did make it (over and over and over.) But what was not made explicit was the actual threat the right-wing posed if they gained power again, which gave the impression to her audience that the left was being hyperbolic about Trump’s return. I know this is true because a few times she said explicitly this is what she thought, that Trump wouldn’t be that bad if he won again, her evidence being we survived his first term intact (never mind four more years lost in the race against climate collapse, I guess.) And it was confirmed when Ana said after the election that she had been wrong about Trump, that he’s worse than she thought he’d be. Whups, too late now!
I don’t think Cenk and Ana are right-wingers. But I don’t need to go back and listen to the last few months to know their analysis shifted rightward the last few years. They started giving credence to the RW framing of issues, interviewing more RW and right-sympathetic guests, and sometimes taking positions in outright opposition to the left FROM the right. It was crazy-making to hear them start sounding like Bill Maher! “The left has gone too far; the left is the real problem; the left turns people off…” please. There are definitely problematic people and opinions on the left. But obsessing about the minority of them when the opposition is a fascist cult is ridiculous. The thing is, you can be ON the left and still sympathize with the right-wing POV. It’s super common; I just never thought TYT would go there. Until they did.
I don’t know how anyone could have listed to TYT for any length of time and not found Cenk and Ana to be emotionally charged, often more than is warranted, about whatever they’re arguing. They’re fiery people. I liked it when they were targeting their outrage at the right. It matched my own seething frustration. When they turned on our allies though, it became grating.
My understanding is that Francesca was banned from the network, not just the main show. If Cenk had taken THIS action because she said he was being a bitch to right-wingers, I’d have thought it understandable. But to also disallow her from appearing on John’s show appears to be just a short-sighted, emotional decision, one that’s pushing former fans like me further away from being an audience member of ANY shows on the network. Just seems dumb to me.
I liked what Cenk said. As someone who takes breaks from the news, for my mental health, it’s especially disheartening to tune back in and see the infighting. It makes me feel like I have to “research” what happened. Cenk’s video gets that. For me, the most helpful part was a line about not wanting to silence critics. Cenk is so good about not discouraging viewers from seeing the channels they want to see. I cannot say the same for many of TYT’s critics, which is especially appalling. Do they really think they’ll get anywhere good if they poo-poo allies who are closer to their political stance than authoritarian voters and leaders? Does Fran not get that calling Cenk unintelligent, sexist, etc also insults viewers and voters who feel the same? I agree with Cenk. She sounds arrogant and that’s the exact trait I despise most right now, be it from establishment Dem supporters or Trump all-the-way’ers. I do not understand this seemingly growing desire to be “superior” in thought, the “if you don’t agree with me, you’re wrong” stuff. Where’s the wiggle room that allows people to learn, catch up, be wrong? I am really disappointed in Fran. How can she think it’s okay to complaint about how being linked to TYT makes her look, request to have her show removed/distanced, and then claim she was “banned”? She was poking, and I support Cenk’s response. I think that TYT deals with a lot. There’s nothing wrong with them setting boundaries and prioritizing what matters most. But I do worry… For a while now, I’ve seen comments about hating all on TYT except John, and this drama fuels it because Fran was associated with The Damage Report. It makes me sad, especially for John who has to navigate this in his personal life too. (On his show, he spoke of his and Fran’s kids playing together.)
You make fair points on everything i cant disagree. It does suck that these sorts of actions will turn away long time viewers. Dunno what id do in Cenks shoes but as John said he was trying abit of diplomacy behind the scenes which didnt seem to work. Seems theres more to it than us members can discuss.
I also agree, and my story is similar to yours in point of view. I made a pointed critique, and later deleted it. I think I am not viewed any longer as impartial. Nor do I wish to be. I think I was wrong, and my critique was misplaced honestly.
I listened to Cenk’s rebuttal. I must admit I don’t watch regularly watch the main show any longer, I still watch clips.
The bottom line is really about listening. I feel the core of my criticism isn’t that they don’t listen to many people. I don’t mean me, who am I? It is that for a year or longer you would see Francesca complain about the inability to get an audience with Ana, or Cenk.
Cenk’s explanation regarding Francesca and TYT’s departure you see him address things that were festering for a long time. While some points he made were recent.
The one of the wildfires in LA were critiques of Ana not Cenk.
I don’t fault Ana, Cenk, or Francesca. When your popularity gets to a certain level there is no worldly way you can be responsive those to wish to communicate with you. Although I think the culture at TYT supports this talking over listening predisposition.
The odd bit is to me you see them address social media critiques of them ad nauseum. So they seem to spend a disproportionate time listening to those that are malicious in their intent.
I watched Cenk appear on Francesca’s show in its entirety. I wished they would have had a private conversation before that exchange. While they both seem to say they could get heated and then have a beer. If you watched it neither one seemed to really foster comradery toward one another, or believe they would have a beer anytime soon.
I was wrong in my critique.
I only wish others could also examine their own positions with a degree of objectivity. Perhaps they would also see they were wrong at times.
I think you’re right about Francesca, Cenk, and even Ana. They’re all right, and they’re all wrong. I think I was fighting so hard for Francesca’s side because everyone seemed to be attacking her, and that’s my bad for lacking objectivity. You’re right that these issues must be attended to privately. By making all this fighting public, they only exasperate the problem, waste everyone’s time, and become more concerned about getting their point across than reaching mutual understanding and respect.
I like Fran, I met her during her show in Chicago last year. Her comedy show was distinct from her political commentary and I really enjoyed it. That all being said, I think she was wrong.
I appreciate that disagreement on policy, strategy, and priorities are permitted on TYT. Its funny to see that audience supports that when the disagreement is from someone they agree with like Fran, and its not tolerated when its from Ben Gleib. TYT has been consistent on that when the audience is not.
Where Frannie crossed the line that led to this outcome is she got personal. I wish she had not done that. She continued by sharing private conversations and intimate details of the time she spent at TYT that were problematic to her at the time, but not enough so that she considered it a deal breaker at the time. I have experience leaving a job under not the best circumstances. I think its normal to contextualize experiences as part of the process, but the public should not be included in that.
I wish her all the best and I love John’s optimism that this could be temporary.
I am writing from a mostly rural red state where no one from our side has spoken to us for decades. We have a lot of problems, I am actually writing a summary of our problems for work right now so I can cite low workforce participation, low wages (we are an at will employment state), population shrinkage in small towns, low educational attainment, obesity, disability, and high chronic disease burden. We have all the social problems that come from that situation like high prevalence of crime, intimate partner violence, high maternal/infant mortality, substance use disorder, accidents, and overdose deaths. It’s bad here y’all. For everyone in a blue bubble, please understand that its not reasonable to expect my family and neighbors who have never seen an immigrant or trans person to recognize that things could be worse for them when our hospitals are closing and our morgues are full. It’s pretty hopeless here for so many.
And for all of y’all dying on the hill of trans people’s rights to play sports, I get it but I don’t. You are advocating for the elite of a marginalized community that is more likely to experience housing and food insecurity, sexual violence, discrimination, hate crimes, and mental health conditions with outcomes like homicide and suicide. Standing up for trans people looks more like preventing these outcomes, which is more akin to something any decent hillbilly could get behind if they weren’t duped into believing this population is actually privileged as many of them also can’t participate in sports. Also understand that basketball here is a way of life so access to that is a HUGE deal. Many kids cannot afford to play sports here even if they are good.
Im glad you did stand up for her. Totally wasnt my intention to just shit talk her and to actually start these coversations we are having yaknow. (Even though i was pissed off when posting it)
If we look into chinese history back to the three kingdoms era, 3 warlords who hated eachother worked together for a greater good and to take down an emperor. Their names were Cao Cao, Lui Bei and Sun Jian. Pretty cool but brutal stories.
I never thought you meant to trash-talk her, and I totally get how frustrating it is. Sometimes you have to vent and discuss with other people to make sense of shit. I do it all of the time!
I finally watched Cenk’s response and I thought it was not bad. I don’t really love all aspects of his policy of engagement, and I get emotionally why some Trump opponents are upset by that (among other things?) but I see TYT as going a difficult and worthwhile route of trying to keep their eye on their goals, even if they are not 100% aligned with all far left progressive goals, and I (along with others no doubt) also have to navigate this route in our daily lives. Indeed, some of us do not find it that easy to define how to navigate dealing with our MAGA-crazed friends, family members and neighbors. So, I am not going to take a black-and-white condemnatory approach to TYT if they are trying to find a way to deal with the situation that is not facile.
I could not agree more. She did all that, knowing the result. I, myself, have never had a job where I would have survived publicly calling my boss a “little nazi sympathizing bitch”. At that point, you have jumped the shark. Its no longer about news analysis, issue debate or anything civilized. I live by the credo “don’t bring none and there won’t be none”. Her brand of virtue signaling is highly popular. She has decided now is the time to separate from TYT and do her own thing. Thats ok, but what a shit way to leave. Frannie is cool and I like her fine. I dont consider her to be a very serious person, but once in a while she does provide unique insight. As for what actually happens behind the scenes? IDK, probably a lot of politicing like anywhere else. Her, apparent, hard on for Ana is weird. Although, I can see Ana being, very much, a Queen Bee in person. Anyone have a hard time seeing that? She definitely gives off the Alpha
Female vibe and she has the big chair, so. Maybe she was frustrated with Cenk? So what? Theres a lot a stake for these folks and yeah, it gets heated. Pro tip - cant take the heat, stay the f**k outta the kitchen" and thats what she did. She left the kitchen… Bye?
Great points, my friend. I do think of Francesca as a serious person. Her commentary on TYT, TDR and TBR were some of my favorite parts of TYT. But I agree 100% that she decided being connected to TYT was no longer in her best interest, so she got out. One one episode of TBR, she played a clip of a Piers Morgan panel she had participated in. She made what I thought was a salient point. Morgan accused her of just making a bombastic statement to get clicks. When the clip ended, she told us that Morgan’s accusation was actually spot on, lol!
As for the beef with Ana, I think it stemmed from the debate between Cenk and Francesca. Ana began belittling Francesca, despite Cenk’s protestations. Francesca began responding, and the rest is history. That being said, Francesca’s method of orchestrating her departure was disappointing. She didn’t just leave the kitchen. She cussed out the chef, dumped the food on the floor and walked out through the dining room, yelling “This place sucks” to the customers.
Hey, good catch. I forgot the part where Ana went hard on Fran, for Frans disingenuous framing of Cenks comments. So, yeah, that contributed to the pettiness. Also, I misrepresented my intent regarding Frans cred. as a serious person. Yes, she is a serious person, but its often obfuscated by her comedic efforts. Blending news and comedy is a real fine art. Its not easy to, simultaneously, be funny and serious. John Stewart is at the top of a very short list. Most people can be either funny OR serious, but rarely both. I am sure she is quite smart and highly astute. I do question some of her more radical positions, but she is entitled to her opinion.
Lol. I liked that approach better than the folks who quit TYT and said/ accused TYT of isms. Like, you all had a show none of you got fired wtf are you crying about. I liked the heated debate she had with Cenk. I saw where people exaggerated about the other person back and forth but i also listened for where the agreement on policy was. Policy over personality. Not me US type of stuff. Everyone with their own opinion and we could still have a beer at the TYT bar. But egos and personal monetary policies, am I right.
(To the communist in the back, invite a brother to the commune! )
It’s about policies. And I absolutely believe that the policies of Scandinavia have been the best so I was with Bernie. I’m hoping with everything I have that we have vigorous primaries and that a progressive populist wins. The best network to watch is here and hopefully livestreams from candidates on the frontlines running for The House in 2026!
)