A segment on the Hill’s Rising online TV show intended to defend Rep. Rashida Tlaib‘s (D-MI) remarks calling Israel an “apartheid government” was censored, according to a former employee of the show.
Presenter Katie Halper intended to air a monologue echoing Tlaib’s sentiment that Israel is an apartheid state Monday but was told the outlet was not going to air her segment and that her invite for her next appearance on the show was also rescinded, the Intercept reported.
SEE IT: JERRY NADLER DISMISSES RASHIDA TLAIB’S CLAIM ON BACKING ‘APARTHEID’ ISRAEL
“The bad news: I was censored and fired by The Hill over defending Rashida Tlaib & labeling Israeli apartheid ‘apartheid.’ The good news: I shot the censored video with an actually independent media outlet,” Halper tweeted late Thursday.
The bad news: I was censored and fired by The Hill over defending Rashida Tlaib & labeling Israeli apartheid “apartheid.” The good news: I shot the censored video with an actually independent media outlet (see below) https://t.co/ZY4spNh48P
— Katie Halper (@kthalps) September 30, 2022
Halper’s attempted segment drew the attention of upper brass at Nexstar Media Group, which owns Hill TV, and she was informed that her next appearance on the show had been scrapped, per the Intercept. She has since released her monologue to the public.
The Hill’s Rising is a populist political analysis show that was pioneered by hosts Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti, who have since left the show for their upstart Breaking Points show. They claimed that heavy-handedness from management was a factor in their decision to leave.
Last month, two of their successors, Ryan Grim and Emily Jashinsky, also left the show. They recently joined Ball and Enjeti and have launched a show named Counter Points. All three shows have made a name for themselves by attempting to provide viewers with a bipartisan, anti-establishment take on politics. Another anchor, Kim Iversen, also left the show earlier this year.
Tlaib, who has been outspoken about her Palestinian ancestry, sparked controversy earlier this month during an online forum organized by American Muslims for Palestine in which she declared that progressives should not support Israel.
“I want you all to know that among progressives, it’s become clear that you cannot claim to hold progressive values, yet back Israel’s apartheid government, and we will continue to push back and not accept that you are progressive except for Palestine,” Tlaib proclaimed at the forum, per the Times of Israel.
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Her remarks drew a sharp backlash from Republicans and even members of her own party.
“I fundamentally reject the notion that one cannot support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and be a progressive,” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) rebutted.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who previously helmed the Democratic National Committee, also shot back at Tlaib.
“The outrageous progressive litmus test on Israel by @RashidaTlaib is nothing short of antisemitic. Proud progressives do support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. Suggesting otherwise is shameful and dangerous. Divisive rhetoric does not lead to peace,” Schultz tweeted.
The Washington Examiner reached out to a representative from Nexstar Media Group for comment.
