Anchor Blasts Mehdi Hasan for ‘Hijacking’ Show After Blowup Exchange on DC Crime: ‘Our Viewers Deserve Better’

Zachary Leeman Aug 13th, 2025, 1:30 pm

NewsNation’s Leland Vittert blasted guest Mehdi Hasan after a tense exchange on crime in Washington, D.C., accusing Hasan of “hijacking” the segment by bringing up the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

On Tuesday’s On Balance , Vittert addressed the exchange with Hasan, arguing Jan. 6 had “absolutely nothing” to do with the topic at hand.

Vittert said:

Everybody is welcome to disagree on policy or argue data or philosophy. That’s why we have this program. That’s what makes us different. That’s what makes you, as a viewer, different. You choose to tune in here to hear things you disagree with and to be challenged. But no one is welcome to c

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