This month, Emma Vigeland, a well-known host from the far-left podcasting world, sparked controversy with her comments on the political downfall of Maine’s oysterman, Graham Platner.
Once a correspondent for The Young Turks and now a co-host on The Majority Report With Sam Seder, Vigeland openly shared on a Vox podcast her seemingly indifferent stance towards discovering that a progressive or socialist candidate might have a “Nazi” past.
Vigeland articulated her point, expressing skepticism about placing too much emphasis on a politician’s personal conduct as opposed to their policy agenda. She elaborated, “I don’t care if someone like Bernie Sanders or AOC were secretly holding Nazi beliefs at home, as long as they publicly support beneficial policies. Politicians are ultimately…” Her comments, aired earlier this July, came during a podcast conversation as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Vox host Astead Herndon interjected, startled, asking, “You don’t care?” as Vigeland’s statement seemed to leave room for shock.
Clarifying her position, Vigeland explained that her statement was an “extreme example” to articulate her belief that candidates reflect their party’s substantial agenda, which includes ideas like “taxing billionaires and making tangible differences in people’s lives.”
“And that’s what I value more than anybody’s individual conduct because … how many horrible people are in Washington right now who are centrist or center-right.”
Herndon later said some voters do view moral character of a candidate as a qualification for office, while Vigeland replied that people taking a “victory lap” over Platner’s fall also supported former President Bill Clinton and ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — both of whom were previously accused of sexual misconduct, which they denied.
Reaction on X was fierce, as one user posted an image of Vigeland in a Schutzstaffel uniform, writing “In the 1940s, Emma Vigeland would have volunteered to the SS.”
Another critic called socialism and communism a “dark road these people are going down,” noting the party platform includes extremist proposals like abolishing the US Senate and branches of federal law enforcement.
“It is sold to the people with false claims and utilizing those base instincts that are powerful but difficult to manage in a civil society.”
Vigeland’s comments come after years of socialist and far-left groups and individuals repeatedly derogatorily branding conservatives and Trump supporters “fascists” — a political movement invented by then-Italian “Duce” Benito Mussolini; a close ally of German Chancellor Adolf Hitler during World War II.
Fox News Digital reached out to Vigeland via her Majority Report program and to Platner’s campaign for comment.