Article Summary:
Public figures need to ask themselves these 5 questions before being a guest on a potentially problematic podcast.
- Are You Using Them or Are They Using You?
Know your goals and theirs before you agree to appear. Success depends on whether you control the narrative or become part of someone else’s content strategy. - Is This the Only Way In?
Provocative platforms are not the only path to new audiences, and often not the safest or most effective one. - How Do You Avoid the Viral Trap?
Preparation means understanding not just your message, but the tactics used to distort it — and refusing to validate hosts’ conspiratorial, harmful framing. - What Is the Cost of Association?
Your presence lends legitimacy to the host and the show, whether you intend it or not, so weigh the reputational trade-offs carefully. - Are You Prepared to Hold Your Ground?
Discipline and composure matter more than spontaneity and being genial. Staying on message is the only way to avoid becoming an inadvertent spokesperson for antisemitic conspiracies.
While we do not endorse joining shows hosted by people that spread antisemitic conspiracies, some public figures are going to try their luck with a host that will likely try to use their interview to spread problematic messages.
Our message to those figures is simple: Don’t get hijacked. Know the terrain. Control the frame.
In the contemporary media ecosystem, provocative podcasts are sometimes viewed as the only ways to reach certain untapped audiences, raise your profile, and bridge divides in our polarized political climate. The merits of this strategy are debatable, but the view counts and subscriber numbers are a sirens song to politicians looking for any edge they can get in an election year.
The ongoing national conversation about antisemitism in the streaming and podcast space should give any public figure pause. So, we’ll start by stating the biggest rule of all: you can (and often should) say no. Skipping one show won’t make or break your reach or campaign, but choosing the wrong one can do real damage.
There is a wide spectrum of risk here. Whether it’s a brash political commentator that occasionally crosses the line from anti-Zionism into antisemitism like Hasan Piker, leftist shows with hosts that have recently posted antisemitic rhetoric like The Young Turks, “just asking questions” type podcast hosts that feed antisemitic conspiracy theories like Joe Rogan or Theo Von, legacy media figures who regularly promote the antisemitic Great Replacement Theory like Tucker Carlson, or completely off-bounds outright antisemites that spread neo-Nazi talking points like Candace Owens or Nick Fuentes. These are not all the same and should be approached differently (if at all).
Note: The Nexus Project does not endorse going on podcasts hosted by antisemites. Still, while we don’t advise public figures to join shows hosted by people that have spread antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes, we understand that some will do so, thinking that their appearance may help influence an audience they don’t usually have access to or for other reasons.
Although we almost always believe that the benefits never outweigh the risks, there are steps people can do to avoid the pitfalls and traps that can often occur in these situations.
Before you agree to go on, it’s worth asking a few hard questions and thinking through how to navigate what can quickly become a rhetorical obstacle course that could potentially turn you into a national spokesperson for antisemitism or other bigoted worldviews.
Who is Using Whom?
First, be honest about who is using whom. What are you hoping to get out of the appearance, and what does success actually look like? Are you trying to persuade the host, reach their audience, or simply build name recognition?
Just as important, what does the host want? Some are looking for a real exchange. Others are looking for a moment they can clip and make viral with you as a prop to lend it legitimacy. Having a Member of Congress or other public figure present while you spout antisemitic conspiracies makes it more believable. It doesn’t matter if the guest pushes back later, their presence in the clip is all that matters and the larger context will be erased.
You need to know the difference before you walk in. Do your homework. Understand the patterns, the pressure points, and how you’ll stay on message.
Is This the Only Way In?
It’s worth considering whether this is the only way to reach the audience you’re after. In many cases, it isn’t, and you’re taking a big risk and legitimizing a problematic media figure for little to no positive engagement.
There may be adjacent platforms, collaborators, or formats that allow you to engage the same people without handing over control of the conversation. Your own channels, paid media, or a more balanced interviewer can give you more room to make your case clearly and on your own terms. Remember that these hosts are not gatekeepers to the audience. They’re merely access points. Sometimes the best way in is to find a different door. And if there isn’t another door, ask yourself if you need access anyway.
So How Do I Avoid the Viral Trap?
Preparation must extend beyond your own talking points. You need to understand the rhetoric you might encounter, especially when it comes to conspiracy theories and antisemitic tropes. Study what conspiracy theorists are saying, the rhetorical tricks they use, the usual talking points, and the ways they’re framed to sound just plausible enough to plant a seed in the listener’s brain. In the modern, hyper-online era, antisocial meme culture that’s radicalizing a large number of young men is a deep and complicated well of antisemitic dog whistles.
Some examples are claims that Israel controls the world and wild claims about the Epstein Files that overlap with antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. A guidebook on antisemitic imagery and phrasing, unfortunately, can only help so much. The language is constantly changing and evolving, so educating yourself is the best preparation you can do.
Don’t validate a conspiracy theory, even in passing. If a host is speculating, call it out as speculation immediately. Cut them off if you have to. Politely allowing them to finish their thought is how you get featured in a viral clip.
This also means avoiding repeating their conspiracies back to them. If they say, “Zionists control the media,” do NOT say “well it’s ridiculous to say Zionists control the media.” That can and will be clipped out of context. Just say “that’s ridiculous” and steer the conversation back to where you want to be. Remember the adage “a lie travels halfway around the world before the truth has its shoes on.” It doesn’t matter if you clarify your point later or call out a manipulated clip. The initial viral post is what people will remember and associate with you.
Be wary of the “just asking questions” approach. Conspiracists want nothing more than for you to validate their questions. Phrases like “people are saying,” “isn’t it possible,” or “I keep hearing” are often designed to pull you into legitimizing the premise. You don’t have to accept the frame. Instead of answering them, answer the question you think should have been asked, and if necessary, cut in to do it. Be proactive in shutting down their comments. Silence or hesitation can be edited to make it seem like you’re pondering and considering the claim.
Reject false choices. A common tactic is to present two ideas as if they’re in conflict when they aren’t. Don’t let the host box you in to making a choice in a contrived dichotomy. As an example, a host might try to make you choose between opposing the war in Iran and fighting antisemitism. One does not preclude the other, and forcing this either/or mentality is a tactic that’s often deployed to chill advocacy.
Attack the tactic, not the person. When antisemitic tropes surface, you don’t need to escalate immediately into labeling the person an antisemite. That can often create an unnecessarily adversarial relationship with the host and, by extension, their audience. It’s often more effective to name the claim, explain why it’s wrong, and point out how it’s used without turning the exchange into a personal confrontation. Leading with education instead of punitive name-calling can be instrumental in upending typical antisemitic or bigoted rhetoric.
What Is the Cost of Association?
No matter what is said or done on the show, your appearance will likely signal an endorsement of the show’s importance and the hosts’ legitimacy. You are signaling that they matter to the national conversation and are worth engaging and giving their opinions power. The question is whether you can outweigh that signal or whether you’re simply boosting someone your own base abhors.
If you get caught in the traps mentioned above, will you then become an inadvertent spokesperson for a cause you oppose? Is that risk worth the potential inroads you’re building with this person’s audience? Reaching a new audience is always valuable, but not if it comes at the cost of alienating your existing one. And it’s definitely not worth it if it comes at the cost of spreading antisemitic hate, misinformation, or other harmful messages.
Are You Prepared to Hold Your Ground?
These shows often go on for hours and drift between casual conversation and emotionally charged exchanges. They feed on charged responses and outbursts. So you need to be ready to maintain your composure and redirect bad-faith questions. If you’re not ready, it’s easy to take their bait and get pulled into a moment that becomes the only thing anyone remembers.
All public figures should treat appearances on provocative podcasts and livestreams like a presidential debate. Anticipate the toughest questions and practice clear, concise answers that reflect your core values. Repetition is not a weakness here and worrying about coming off as friendly or endearing can lead you into trouble. Staying steady and on message matters more than being clever in the moment.
We know that, against their better judgement, some public figures are going to try their luck with a host that will try to use their interview to spread problematic messages. Our message to those figures is simple: Don’t get hijacked. Know the terrain. Control the frame.
With enough preparation and discipline, it’s possible to reach new audiences without promoting or endorsing ideologies you’re working to oppose.