"Putin's Rare Interviews with Western Media Figures: Carlson, Trump, and Musk"

Tucker Carlson interviewed Vladimir Putin in Moscow, marking Putin's first interview with a western media outlet since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The interview was criticized for its lack of substance, with Putin spending over 30 minutes on a historical monologue. Carlson pressed Putin on the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and Putin accused Gershkovich of espionage. The interview drew criticism from figures like Hillary Clinton, who called Carlson a "useful idiot" for Putin. Press freedoms in Russia have significantly declined, with over 1,000 journalists fleeing the country and numerous cases of journalists being arrested for discrediting the Russian army or spreading "fake news".