Longtime broadcast journalist Ted Koppel made waves Sunday morning after telling Fox News pundit Sean Hannity that he is “bad for America.”
Koppel made the claim on CBS’ Sunday Morning while the two were discussing the media landscape in America.
Hannity defended his conservative opinion show, claiming that Americans recognize his show as editorial content and not hard news. Koppel, who hosted of ABC’s Nightline for 25 years, argued that Hannity has attracted a viewership that puts party before the truth.
Watch the interview in the player below. Beneath that is a transcript of the interview, according to CBS News.
“We have to give some credit to the American people that they’re somewhat intelligent and that they know the difference between an opinion show and a news show,” Hannity said. “You’re cynical.
“I am cynical,” said Koppel.
“Do you think we’re bad for America? You think I’m bad for America?”
“Yeah.”
“You do? Really?”
“In the long haul I think you and all these opinion shows --”
“That’s sad, Ted. That’s sad.”
“No, you know why? Because you’re very good at what you do, and because you have attracted a significantly more influential --”
“You are selling the American people short.”
“No, let me finish the sentence before you do that.”
“I’m listening. With all due respect. Take the floor.”
“You have attracted people who are determined that ideology is more important than facts.”
Hannity took to Twitter following the broadcast, claiming the network edited the footage to make him look bad. While calling the interview “fake edited news,” He called on CBS to release the entire 45-minute interview unedited “so people can see the BS games you play in the edit room.”
"Fake Edited News" @CBSNews release the Unedited 45 minute interview so people can see the BS games you play in the edit room. I dare you! https://t.co/prynzE2yLQ
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) March 26, 2017
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.