With a bit of coaxing, I convinced one of the chatbots that can incorporate websearches into revising a biography of Carlson to include the Putin interview and speculate on connections between these two:
While there may be some hypothetical similarities between Tucker Carlson and Walter Duranty, it is important to note that they are distinct figures with different backgrounds and contexts. Here is a comparison and contrast between the two based on the available information:
Comparisons:
1. Propagandistic tendencies: Both Tucker Carlson and Walter Duranty have been accused of promoting propaganda in their reporting. Duranty defended Soviet leader Josef Stalin’s policies and downplayed the mass murder and starvation in Ukraine during the Holodomor [[2]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/15/opinion-tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-walter-duranty/). Similarly, Carlson has faced criticism for spreading misinformation and promoting pro-Russian narratives, particularly regarding the conflict between Ukraine and Russia [[1]](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html).
2. Controversial interviews: Both Carlson and Duranty have been involved in controversial interviews. Duranty’s interview with Stalin was seen as a reward for his favorable reporting, while Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin has been criticized for echoing propaganda and failing to challenge the Russian leader [[1]](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html).
Contrasts:
1. Background and expertise: Walter Duranty was a journalist who served as the Moscow Bureau Chief for the New York Times from 1922 to 1936 [[1]](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html). He had a deep understanding of the political culture and party line in the Soviet Union. In contrast, Tucker Carlson is a television personality and former Fox News pundit who gained prominence as a conservative commentator [[1]](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html). While Duranty embedded himself in Moscow’s political culture, Carlson’s expertise lies more in the realm of opinion-based commentary rather than investigative journalism.
2. Reputation and recognition: Walter Duranty, despite his controversial reporting, was a respected Pulitzer-winning writer during his time [[1]](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html). He used his reputation to attack and undermine the work of other journalists, including Gareth Jones, who reported on the Holodomor. On the other hand, Tucker Carlson has faced criticism for spreading conspiracy theories and has been accused of being unpleasant to work with [[1]](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html). His reputation as a journalist is more polarizing, with some viewing him as a prominent voice on the American far-right and others questioning his journalistic integrity.
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Learn more:
1. [Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin echos propaganda of past Moscow fellow-travelers](https://news.yahoo.com/tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-133600604.html)
2. [Op-ed: Tucker Carlson is the Walter Duranty of our time](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/15/opinion-tucker-carlson-interview-vladimir-putin-walter-duranty/)
3. [Tucker Carlson Interviewed Vladimir Putin-Inciting Controversy](https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2024/02/08/tucker-carlson-has-interviewed-vladimir-putin-but-is-it-journalism/)