Topic: Margaret Warner

Peter Pomerantsev, author of "Nothing is True and Everything is Possible," appeared on PBS NewsHour to discuss Vladimir Putin's use of television as a political weapon. The segment describes how the Kremlin allegedly synthesized entertainment and political manipulation to create Putin's public persona. Critics argue that the U.S. media uses similar tactics for social control, citing the coverage of events in Ferguson.

PBS reporter Margaret Warner's coverage of Ukraine is described by the hosts as "comedy" due to the extreme rhetoric of her interviewees. One Ukrainian guard expresses a desire to kill Russians as they did in Chechnya, while a former defense official explicitly compares Putin to Hitler. The hosts criticize the one-sided nature of the reporting.

Reporters including Margaret Warner are documented roaming Crimea during the 2014 referendum regarding joining the Russian Federation. The ballot options are described as a choice between joining Russia immediately or declaring independence as a precursor to joining later. Parallel secessionist movements are noted in Venice, Italy, where a referendum to secede is being prepared. Economic motivations for Crimeans wanting to join Russia include higher pensions and lower prices compared to Kiev's administration.

The PBS NewsHour is criticized for airing a "hit piece" on Kim Jong-un that relies on anonymous defectors to portray him as ruthless and unstable. The hosts compare Kim's actions to President Obama's use of predator drones to kill American citizens, questioning which leader is truly more "erratic."

Margaret Warner's reporting from Egypt for PBS is analyzed, focusing on the intense anti-American sentiment from both the military and Muslim Brotherhood supporters. The hosts discuss how the U.S. is blamed by both sides for either "coddling" Morsi or failing to label his ouster a coup. They conclude that the primary U.S. interest remains keeping the Suez Canal open while maintaining regional instability.

The hosts deconstruct an interview between Margaret Warner of the PBS NewsHour and TSA Administrator John Pistole. They argue the interview was a rehearsed "bamboozle" where Pistole used "intelligence-driven" buzzwords to avoid answering direct questions about passenger blowback. A specific moment is highlighted where Warner makes an assertion about body cavity searches that Pistole simply confirms without further elaboration.

The U.S. media is increasing coverage of Yemen, focusing on "Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula" (AQAP). PBS NewsHour reporter Margaret Warner traveled to Yemen to document counter-terrorism training, which is interpreted as a move to justify increased military funding. Despite the focus on conflict, Yemen is also being positioned as a future tourism destination and a site of strategic oil interests.