'What I didn't expect was open racism': Mehdi Hasan's takeaways from debate with the 'far-right' - Velshi - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

After his debate with 20 “far-right conservatives” on the YouTube channel Jubilee went viral, Mehdi Hasan joined ‘Velshi’ to discuss the value of debating far-right extremists and what he learned from the experience. “I knew they would be extreme. What I didn't expect was open racism, of the kind we haven't seen for a long time, where people are telling me to my face to get out of the country.” - Aired on 07/27/2025.

[2MuchNoise]

1. He didn't expect open racism? What does he think the far-right is?

[gab13by13]

5. He was talking about the round table he did

debating right wingers. The racists were openly proud about their racism, you had to listen to the debate to get his point.

They took turns debating on a timer, when it got to an ugly fascist he explained about how they would use force to take over the government and banish all non-fascists, and follow a dictator. Mehdi just sat there and said nothing. The fascist said, no rebuttal? Mehdi replied, I refuse to debate fascists.

Mehdi was one of the best truth tellers on cable news, one of my favorites, as was Dylan Ratigan, and Keith Olbermann, all were fired for being truth tellers.

[Deuxcents]

2. Thanks for posting this..I missed it today but meant to watch. Two very well versed people worth watching

I was not happy when MSNBC let Mehdi Hasan go but he’s most likely reaching a lot more people than he was and has a lot more freedom to debate, which he’s damn good at

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I feel the same way, always thought he was really good.

And you're right, his reaching more people is only a good thing. And he's British, since when has this country been prejudiced against them - except for the Revolutionary War??

[gab13by13]

6. He has dual American and British citizenship,

He said he is proud to be an American.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Thanks!

Too bad that more Republicans don't feel that way.

[tulipsandroses]

7. This is why I can no longer support MSNBC - They silence outspoken voices.

They did it with Tiffany Cross, Joy Reid and Medhi.
Occasionally listen to Lawrence on Tune In, otherwise not watching them. I don't pay for their programming anymore.
Lawrence seems to be the only person left that can say whatever he wants. Even though the others criticize, they still do it in a curtailed way.

[tulipsandroses]

3. I didn't watch all of it, but I saw a clip with the young woman who was anti immigrant but her parents were immigrants

It was painful to watch as she disintegrated with simple logic. I kept asking myself, how could anyone be this dumb. She didn't seem to realize that she was making a fool of herself. Kudos to Medhi.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. This is something I'll never "get" - this is a country comprised of immigrants

Without those who took a chance on starting a new life in a promising country, none of us would be here. My background is two grandparents from Poland, two great grandparents from Ireland and Dutch ancestors who arrived on these shores in the 1600s who were here in time to fight in the Revolutionary War. And I'm grateful to all of them who had the courage to start over here - or I wouldn't exist.