Mehdi Hasan, Founder of Zeteo, "Telling people what they want to hear is not journalism."

Award-winning journalist and Zateo founder Mehdi Hasan joins us on The Fly to discuss his transition from corporate media giants like MSNBC to the "fascinating, dynamic" world of independent, subscriber-funded journalism. Hasan offers a candid critique of mainstream media "groupthink" and explains why independent reporting is essential for covering global crises like the genocide in Gaza without the pressure to self-censor. He also reflects on his viral Jubilee appearance, grappling with the ethics of debating bad-faith actors and the personal impact of confronting rising authoritarianism as a parent in America. From his "pity interview" with a future mayor to his 2028 presidential picks, this episode provides an unfiltered look at the future of media and political discourse.