Tucker Carlson calls out 'idiot Republicans' for focusing on Cuba rather than 'tyrannical' US government while defending people who spread vaccine misinformation

  • Carlson made his comments on his show on Friday after President Joe Biden ripped social media giants for letting COVID-19 vaccine misinformation spread
  • His comments also come after a group of bipartisan lawmakers announced a resolution Thursday condemning Cuba's communist regime
  • President Joe Biden said Friday that social media companies are 'killing people' by failing to police misinformation on their platforms about COVID-19 vaccines 
  • Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Friday that the White House is 'regularly' coordinating with  social media companies on news it thinks should be censored

Tucker Carlson slammed 'idiot Republicans' for focusing on Cuba rather than the 'tyrannical' United States government while defending people who spread vaccine misinformation.

The Fox News host made his comments on his show on Friday after President Joe Biden ripped social media companies like Facebook for letting COVID-19 vaccine misinformation spread on their platforms.

His comments also came after Senator Ted Cruz, along with a slew of Democratic and Republican lawmakers, announced a bipartisan resolution on Thursday condemning 'the Cuban communist regime's violent response' to Cuban citizens. 

'I glad you mentioned Cuba, because even today idiot Republicans on the hill spent their whole day talking about the lack of freedom in Cuba,' Carlson said on his show.

'And it's not a free country, that's true - but increasingly neither are we and they don't seem to notice what's going on in the country they're supposed to be running.'

He added: 'And they're spending all their time on this Caribbean nation that's not central to our interests.'

Tucker Carlson slammed 'idiot Republicans' for focusing on Cuba rather than the 'tyrannical' United States government

Tucker Carlson slammed 'idiot Republicans' for focusing on Cuba rather than the 'tyrannical' United States government

The Fox News host made his comments on his show on Friday after President Joe Biden ripped social media companies like Facebook for letting COVID-19 vaccine misinformation spread

The Fox News host made his comments on his show on Friday after President Joe Biden ripped social media companies like Facebook for letting COVID-19 vaccine misinformation spread

Carlson started the segment by playing a clip of Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaking at her daily press briefing on Friday.

In her press briefing, Psaki told reporters the White House is 'regularly' coordinating with Facebook and other social media giants on news it thinks should be censored.

'We are regularly making sure social media platforms are aware of the latest narratives dangerous to public health that we and many other Americans are seeing across all of social and traditional media,' Psaki said.

After the clip, Carlson alleged that 'the White House is actually in control of the information that you receive on your phone.'

'The first amendment doesn't exist, politicians have taken over the media, but that's totally fine because it's disinformation,' Carlson said.

'They said that out loud and today, they didn't backtrack or apologize or fire the person who said it and disavow what she said because it's crazy unconstitutional behavior, they double down.'

Carlson was joined on his show by journalist Glenn Greenwald who called the Biden administration 'as tyrannical as it gets.' 

Underneath Greenwald, a chyron reads 'misinformation is anything Biden dislikes.' 

President Joe Biden said Friday that social media companies are 'killing people' by failing to police misinformation on their platforms about COVID-19 vaccines.

Biden's comments came a day after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared misinformation about the vaccines a threat to public health, and as U.S. officials advised that deaths and serious illness from the virus are almost entirely preventable because of the vaccines.

Biden, asked if he had a message for platforms like Facebook where false or misleading information about the coronavirus vaccines has spread, told reporters, 'They're killing people.'

'The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated,' he said.

Speaking Thursday, Murthy said misinformation about COVID-19, deemed an 'infodemic' by the World Health Organization, was deadly.

'Misinformation poses an imminent and insidious threat to our nation´s health,' Murthy said during remarks Thursday at the White House. 'We must confront misinformation as a nation. Lives are depending on it.'

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, was asked repeatedly about how the White House could justify flagging social media posts about COVID-19 to Facebook

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, was asked repeatedly about how the White House could justify flagging social media posts about COVID-19 to Facebook

President Biden told reporters social media companies were killing people with the spread of misinformation. 'Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated,' he said as he left the White House on Friday afternoon for a weekend at Camp David

President Biden told reporters social media companies were killing people with the spread of misinformation. 'Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated,' he said as he left the White House on Friday afternoon for a weekend at Camp David

Given the role the internet plays in spreading health misinformation, Murthy said technology companies and social media platforms must make meaningful changes to their products and software to reduce the spread of false information while increasing access to authoritative, fact-based sources.

Too often, he said, the platforms are built in ways that encourage, not counter, the spread of misinformation.

'We are asking them to step up,' Murthy said. 'We can´t wait longer for them to take aggressive action.'

Facebook spokesperson Dani Lever responded: 'We will not be distracted by accusations which aren´t supported by the facts.'

'The fact is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, which is more than any other place on the internet,' Lever said.

'More than 3.3 million Americans have also used our vaccine finder tool to find out where and how to get a vaccine. The facts show that Facebook is helping save lives. Period.'

Twitter posted on its platform, 'As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves around the world, we´ll continue to do our part to elevate authoritative health information.' 

Glenn Greenwald, who joined Carlson on his show, also slammed the White House on Twitter

Glenn Greenwald, who joined Carlson on his show, also slammed the White House on Twitter

Carlson's comments appeared to be critical of Cruz and the bipartisan resolution on Thursday praised the Cuban citizens 'who have taken to the streets to peacefully call for human rights and the end of the dictatorship in Cuba.'

The resolution notes that hundreds of protesters have been arrested or are missing while the Cuban government 'has continued to rely on widespread internet shutdowns and illegal searches' in a bid 'to quash the burgeoning pro-democracy movement.'

'The fight for a free Cuba is not theoretical to me-my father and Tia Sonia fought for freedom and endured the brutality of this oppressive dictatorship just as the protesters on the streets today,' Cruz said in a release announcing the resolution.

'America must speak with strength and clarity to the people of Cuba and assure the world that we stand boldly on the side of freedom.'

He added: 'To the people of Cuba, you have a right to be free, and your courage is inspiring. I have long said their communist dictatorship will fall to the ash heap of history as all despots do, and I believe that through the heroism of Cuban dissidents we will someday see a free Cuba.' 

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said: 'We are seeing decades of deep Cuban frustration over inept, corrupt, and cruel governance boiling over.'

'While I have long argued for a change in the failed U.S. policy toward Cuba, the Cuban people know the real source of their island's lost potential rests squarely with the ruling dictatorship,' Durbin said.

On this 9th anniversary of Cuban democracy activist Oswaldo Payá's suspicious death, I stand with the Cuban people in their peaceful demand for a brighter future.'

Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz praised Cubans for 'bravely confronting their brutal, authoritarian government.'

'They desperately need the world's support to lift up their demands for freedom,' she said. 'One of the most powerful messages America can send right now is offering to put our partisan differences aside, and stand firmly, together, behind this historic call for true self-determination.' 

Tucker Carlson slams 'idiot Republicans' for focusing on Cuba rather than 'tyrannical' US government

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