Top conservative radio talker Mark Levin is stepping up his war with CNN, calling it a “joke” network, and its top media reporter “a propagandist.”
Four months after their feud flared over Levin’s claim that former President Obama was waging a “silent coup” against President Trump, and suggested Trump’s phones were wiretapped, Levin is charging that CNN media guru Brian Stelter is again mischaracterizing what he said.
At issue: Levin’s refusal to go on CNN to discuss his new bestselling book, “Rediscovering Americanism,” because he abhors the network, and Stelter’s spin that “Levin declined my interview requests.”
It began after a column from the Media Research Center, the conservative press watchdog, accused the mainstream media of ignoring the New York Times and Amazon best selling book and Levin.
“They will allow a discussion of public policy – as long as it matches their worldview. Think Sen. Al Franken. He is no Mark Levin intellectually, but that’s irrelevant. His book came out a few weeks ago and he was the progressives’ toast of the town, celebrated all over the ‘news shows, ‘public’ TV and radio, and the late-night comedy shows. The Washington Post and New York Times rolled out 1,300-word rave reviews,” wrote MRC’s Brent Bozell and Tim Graham.
“But once again, Levin is being shunned by the thought police. Witness that though it’s a runaway best-seller, now seven days consecutively, the establishment media have censored him completely, with not a single interview granted,” they added.
It appears Mediate is as pathetic as CNN. My email exchange with this lightweight, Stetler, will be appearing… https://t.co/qn6JuGs4WN
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 7, 2017
Stelter reacted to the column by inviting Levin on his show. Levin refused with a too little, too late shrug. Stelter asked if Levin thought he was being censored. Levin suggested that CNN wanted to look like the good guy with a belated and force invitation, then make him look like the bad guy for refusing.
“You only asked after they [MRC] issued their statement. Why is that? Now you can say you asked. Make sure you get the order of things right. You’re not very good at that. Also make sure you report that I dismissed you as a propagandist and CNN as a joke,” Levin emailed.
Media Research Center said @MarkLevinShow has been “censored.” I tried to book him. He said no. “Censored?” ? https://t.co/BkWunsKfRe pic.twitter.com/WwY8S5x0Jr
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 7, 2017
Stelter in his newsletter noted Levin’s criticism but left that paragraph out of his newsletter story about the dispute, as did a story in Mediate.
Levin’s fans believe the media shouldn’t have to be goaded into interviewing the bestselling author, face of LevinTV, editor of Conserative Review, and voice of the Mark Levin Show. On the other hand, CNN appears to feel that it shouldn’t matter how the invitation to appear came about.
Stelter did not respond to an email.
And today, Levin asked Stelter to appear on his show, and Stelter refused unless Levin joined his show.
Stelter responded:
Hey Mark,
I requested an interview with you in good faith. Live or pre-taped. You declined. Are you willing to reconsider? If so, I’d love to be your guest on the radio (Monday?) after you join me on “Reliable Sources” this Sunday.
Levin then emailed:
Did you read my book? You were prepared to tape the same day. You don’t even know what’s in the book. Typical of your approach, Brian. A stunt.
Anyway, you turned down my radio request. The invitation is open. In the meantime, try to get your massive ego under control. You’re a little fish in a little pond.
The earlier Stelter-Levin email exchange is below:
On Jul 6, 2017, at 11:46 AM, Brian Stelter wrote:
Mark,
I would love to have you on this Sunday’s “Reliable Sources.” A chance to tout your book to one million new viewers. If you can’t come on live on Sunday, we could tape it today or Friday. Hope you’ll consider it.
Thanks,
—Brian
On Jul 6, 2017, at 11:49 AM, Mark Levin wrote:
Are you kidding me? Buddy, I’ve zero respect for CNN or you. You’re a propagandist.
On Jul 6, 2017, at 12:38 PM, Brian Stelter wrote:
Do you believe, as MRC does, that you are being “censored,” with “not a single interview granted?”
On Jul 6, 2017, at 12:42 PM, Mark Levin wrote:
You only asked after they issued their statement. Why is that? Now you can say you asked. Make sure you get the order of things right. You’re not very good at that. Also make sure you report that I dismissed you as a propagandist and CNN as a joke.
From: Brian Stelter Date: July 6, 2017 at 12:48:23 PM EDT
To: Mark Levin
Subject: Re: MRC’s Bozell & Graham: Another Mark Levin Best-Seller Spiked
What did I do to anger you?
In his newsletter, Stelter wrote:
Mark Levin declined my interview requests…
“Another Mark Levin Best-Seller Spiked,” the conservative Media Research Center said in an email blast earlier this week. MRC claimed Levin has been “censored” by the establishment media, “with not a single interview granted” about the new book. (Levin has been on Fox multiple times touting the book.)
I saw this as an opportunity to re-up our months-old requests for Levin to come on “Reliable Sources.” Surely, since MRC says he’s been “censored,” he’d jump at any chance at a non-Fox interview? But when I emailed him the offer on Thursday, he replied, “Are you kidding me? Buddy, I’ve zero respect for CNN or you. You’re a propagandist.”
Maybe MRC wants to re-think its “censorship” claim?
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
