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Commentary: Mehdi Hasan reflects on Zeteo one year after launch: ‘We’re in a very good place’

BBG News

Modern journalism differs significantly from its past, but that’s not always a negative change, particularly for someone like Mehdi Hasan.

45-year-old Hasan is not new to the growing discontent about the news media and the muddle surrounding how we acquire our news. He climbed up the corporate ladder in broadcasting powerhouses like BBC, Al Jazeera, and MSNBC, and has penned articles on diverse topics from Trump’s tariffs to Gaza for publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.

However, regardless of where he appeared on screen or was printed, the British-descended individual from an Indian immigrant family is known for posing challenging questions. This reputation stems from his role as a tenacious debater and staunch advocate for hard-hitting, frequently confrontational journalism.

In the context of discussing media organizations, Hasan suggests that instead of questioning whether they lean left or right, it’s more productive to consider whether they tend to be cautious and avoid taking a stand (keeping their heads down), or whether they actively engage and take on challenges (keeping their heads up).

It might be that Hasan’s reluctance to soften his stance on sensitive issues is the reason he has worked with numerous media outlets, more than many others in the public eye. For instance, his exit from MSNBC in January 2024 was due to the cancellation of his shows by the network for “business reasons.” They proposed keeping him as a contributor, but he chose not to accept their offer.

Initially, he chose a different path, launching his own autonomous platform called Zeteo, located in Washington, D.C. As his venture marks its first anniversary, Hasan shares insights on the challenges of building a media outlet that bridges the gap between mainstream news and radical “tear it all down” media.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What did it take to get Zeteo up and running?

With four of us founding it, and it being Ramadan at the time, I must admit [laughs], I wouldn’t want to start another company with just four people during Ramadan again. Though small and agile, it was quite a challenge having everyone do everything. One of our team members, Prem Thakker, broke an important story about campus deportations. We added Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, two members of Congress, to our team for a YouTube series called “Bowman and Bush.” [Ex-Washington Post columnist] Taylor Lorenz has recently joined us as a contributor. We also have Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, on board. In the coming days, we’ll be announcing more additions to our team as we approach the anniversary. So, we’re expanding and growing in many ways.

Instead of naming your startup as “Mehdi Hasan Network”, why not opt for a more symbolic title like “Zeteo”, derived from ancient Greek, meaning “seeking” or “striving”? This name embodies the spirit of exploration and determination that drives your venture.

The network was never intended to be solely associated with Mehdi Hasan. Despite my prominent role – as the host, founder, and creator of the flagship programs – the ultimate aim has always been to transcend personal identities. If I accomplish nothing else, I strive to offer a stage for remarkable individuals to express views that might otherwise go unheard. This includes figures like Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef on our podcast, John Harwood who contributes insightful political pieces, Pakistani novelist Fatima Bhutto, Amy Klein, Owen Jones, Greta Thunberg, and many others. They bring perspectives to the table that you won’t find elsewhere.

In 2015, you relocated to the United States and began hosting a weekly program on Al Jazeera English. Fast-forward five years, and you secured your own show, “The Mehdi Hasan Show,” on Peacock. Not long after that, you were added to MSNBC’s programming lineup. That’s quite an impressive climb!

When I relocated, folks remarked, “You’ll likely wind up at CNN or MSNBC due to your excellent interview skills.” I replied, “I won’t be hired by anyone. I’m a brown, Muslim, left-leaning immigrant. I’m content at Al Jazeera.” Mainstream media wasn’t for me, but in 2020, Phil Griffin and MSNBC took a chance on me and offered me a show. I didn’t believe I’d last beyond half a year, but I stayed for 3½ years.

With growing division within the nation, there’s a rising concern that modern journalism leans towards advocacy rather than news reporting. How do you see this issue?

You don’t need to categorize activism as the act of causing change and journalism as the absence of change. In fact, some of the most significant societal transformations have been brought about by journalism, particularly investigative journalism. At its core, top-notch investigative journalism is all about instigating change. It keeps people accountable, compels them to alter systems and restructure institutions. Consequently, I believe that impactful journalism—journalism that triggers change—is the most valuable.

On the other hand, I’ve never found “horse-race journalism,” which focuses on who’s ahead, who’s winning, and poll numbers, to be particularly captivating. While I occasionally engage in it due to its relevance, it has never been my primary motivation. I don’t believe it should serve as the cornerstone of our industry either. Instead, I aim to bring about change—that’s why I choose this path. If not for that reason, I would be an accountant.

Where does Zeteo stand in the crowded field of new media startups?

When starting Zeteo, I made it a point to navigate the delicate balance between challenging the status quo and upholding it, between being mainstream and alternative. This approach didn’t sit well with many people. Often, left-wing media outlets find themselves sidelined or self-isolating. They are perceived as extreme or fringe. However, producing high-quality journalism, insightful editorials, or thought-provoking documentaries is pointless if they remain unseen.

Did you plan on becoming a journalist?

I attended Oxford University where I studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE). Upon graduation, many from my class pursued careers as management consultants or investment bankers. However, instead of following a high-paying path, I opted for a 13,000-pound annual job, much to the dismay of my Asian parents. But for me, working in television held greater significance.

Growing up as children of immigrants, our parents originated from countries with limited or absent free press. In contrast, here in the United States, the media is currently grappling with extraordinary hurdles posed by the Trump administration.

This is an uncertain period. People often say to me, “Trump seems beneficial for business, doesn’t he? With his unconventional actions and controversial statements, you’ll likely gain many subscribers.” While it’s true that he generates a lot of news content, benefiting businesses in the short term, I have serious concerns about the long-term impact on a free press. I’m anxious about the future of my organization, especially considering the rapid shift towards fascism in this country. As a small startup, Zeteo, we face challenges in an environment where major media corporations like ABC and CBS, and some argue even the L.A. Times, are yielding to Trump. Moreover, there are MAGA supporters who are putting pressure on journalists, which has led to threats and intimidation. For quite some time now, influential figures from the MAGA movement have been advocating for the deportation and denaturalization of Mehdi Hasan. In the current climate, such statements should not be taken lightly. Journalists are increasingly being targeted and harassed.

To clarify, I’m making this comparison while acknowledging that I am currently within the United States, under the protection of the First Amendment. Contrastingly, journalists in Gaza face an unprecedented danger, with over 200 being killed there. This conflict is the deadliest for journalists ever, surpassing even the dangers faced during the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II. It’s important to note that, despite the risks facing journalists in America today, our situation pales in comparison to what journalists face in Gaza. We are approximately 10,000 times safer here than they are there.

This month marks one year since Zeteo’s official launch. How are things going?

I’m generally quite careful in my actions, and I don’t have a tendency to take risks like an entrepreneur might. Prior to launching this venture, I approached it with great caution regarding our potential accomplishments. However, the backing I received following my departure from MSNBC and the announcement of Zeteo truly astounded me. Not only did we surpass all of our initial milestones, but we also outperformed our set metrics and objectives. By the summer, we were significantly ahead of schedule. In summary, we’re in a very favorable position now.

Can you name some of the benchmarks?

After a year, most startups usually don’t turn a profit, but surprisingly, this year we managed to make a small one that wasn’t part of our initial plans. Our subscriber count has reached 400,000, which is higher than I anticipated. We currently rank No. 6 on Substack, trailing behind Bari Weiss, Heather Cox [Richardson], and the Bulwark team. As of now, we have approximately 715,000 followers on YouTube and our follower count is increasing by more than a thousand each day. We have over 40,000 paying subscribers that help cover our expenses. Additionally, we’ve got over a thousand founding members who pay $500 annually to support us.

Is corporate media adequately covering the America we live in today?

My stance isn’t about completely discrediting corporate media or labeling all mainstream media as poor quality, which seems unreasonable. I have experience working within these institutions and I recognize the excellent journalism being produced there. However, I believe that mainstream media frequently makes mistakes and leaves significant voids that require addressing, which is what Zeteo aims to accomplish. This doesn’t mean I want to destroy it all. In fact, we depend on groundbreaking investigative reports from certain individuals at outlets like The Washington Post, Politico, or The New York Times for our own existence. Nevertheless, I don’t agree with everything these media outlets produce.

At one point, it was quite challenging for traditional news outlets to report on MAGA conspiracy theories, falsehoods, and genuine misinformation due to the established standards in their organizations. This was similar to trying to explain a modern language using an antiquated dialect.

For over a decade, the term “racist” sparked heated discussions in journalistic circles when applied to Trump. Nowadays, it’s becoming more commonplace. However, for some time, journalists preferred phrases like “he made racially charged statements,” “promoting racial division,” or “loaded with racial undertones.” Essentially, they were dancing around the issue. The point is, let’s call a spade a spade. Using the word “racist” directly is more straightforward and respectful to our audience. We shouldn’t sugarcoat it, we shouldn’t belittle or disrespect our viewers. Everyone understands what’s happening.

They know “mistruth” is just a softer word for “lie.”

My stance is straightforward: If you repeatedly assert something that’s been proven incorrect after being corrected, I would consider that dishonesty, and in this case, it could be seen as embodying the essence of dishonesty, multiplied by 100 – akin to Trump’s alleged pattern.

You have a reputation for boldly expressing your opinions and often confronting adversaries on contentious matters. In fact, you’ve harnessed this ability in writing a book titled “Win Every Argument.”

In this new formulation, I’ve used simpler language and broken down the original sentence into smaller, easier-to-understand parts to make it more accessible.

Regardless of where I go, there’s often an unsettling presence that follows me. This has caused discomfort in many settings. To give you an idea but without naming specific sources, certain interviews I’ve given have gained widespread attention, with people remarking, “Wow, mic drop! That person was destroyed!” using YouTube terminology. This is the image that people generally associate with me. When I share this with friends or family members, they often question if my superiors appreciate such notoriety. In these moments, it’s like, “I hadn’t considered that. It’s a valid concern.

Which brings us back to MSNBC…

After MSNBC ended my programs, I didn’t feel like moving to another network or publication was the right choice for me. Throughout my career, I’ve been associated with various establishments such as BBC, Sky News, Al Jazeera, NBC, and I pen a monthly column for The Guardian. However, I had no interest in joining The Guardian either. I’ve also contributed to The Intercept and The New Statesman. I felt it was time for me to embark on my own venture, so I asked myself, if not now, then when? The need to express myself freely became increasingly apparent, particularly given the context of recent events like the situation in Gaza, Trump’s return, and the rise of fascism. In terms of being employed by others again, I believe that boat has long sailed.

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2025-04-15 13:31

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