Jump to content

Liz Wahl: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
KolbertBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,166,042 edits
m Bot: HTTP→HTTPS (v485)
→Career: MDY compliance
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(91 intermediate revisions by 47 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American journalist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image = Liz Wahl on RT America.png
| name = Liz Wahl
| name = Liz Wahl
| image = Liz Wahl on RT America (cropped).png
| alt =
| caption = Wahl in 2012
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|5|27}}
| caption =
⚫
| birth_place = [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Naval Base]], [[Philippines]]
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|05|27}}
| education = [[Fairfield University]]
⚫
| birth_place = [[Olongapo]], [[Zambales]], [[Philippines]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|correspondent|activist}}
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| death_place =
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| other_names =
| known_for = Former [[RT America]] Correspondent<br>[[Newsy]] Correspondent
| occupation = Journalist
}}
}}
⚫
'''Liz Wahl''' (born May 27, 1985) is an [[United States|American]] [[journalist]].<ref name=DailyBeast2014-03-06/><ref name=HollywoodReporter2014-03-05/><ref name=BbcNews2014-03-05/><ref name=TorontoStar2014-03-06/><ref name="IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08"/> She was a correspondent for the Russian government-sponsored [[RT (TV network)|RT television network]] from 2011 to 2014 but gained prominence by leaving the network following a harshly critical on-air resignation. She currently works as a correspondent for [[Newsy]].<ref>https://www.newsy.com/team/liz-wahl-1/</ref>


⚫
'''Liz Wahl''' (born May 27, 1985) is an American [[journalist]].<ref name="DailyBeast2014-03-06" /><ref name="HollywoodReporter2014-03-05" /><ref name="BbcNews2014-03-05" /><ref name="TorontoStar2014-03-06" /><ref name="IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08" /> She was a [[correspondent]] for the Russian government-sponsored [[RT (TV network)|RT television network]] from 2011 to 2014 but left the network following a harshly critical on-air resignation that [[Viral phenomenon|went viral]].
⚫
She was born at [[Subic Naval Base]]<ref name="philstar"/> in the [[Philippines]] to a [[Filipina]] mother<ref name="philstar">{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/04/20/1314025/exclusive-controversial-fil-am-news-anchor-liz-wahl-talks-freeman|title=Controversial Fil-Am news anchor Liz Wahl talks to The FREEMAN.}}</ref> and an [[Americans|American]] father of [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] descent. She was raised in [[Connecticut]]. She graduated from [[Fairfield University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/liz-wahl/13/246/315|title=Liz Wahl|first=Liz|last=Wahl|accessdate=2014-04-25}}</ref> Her paternal grandparents were refugees from [[Hungary]], who fled the on-coming Soviet invasion during the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Uprising]].<ref name="IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08"/><ref name=CbcNews2014-03-06/> Wahl cited her grandparents' experience as a factor in her public denunciation of [[RT America|RT]] and the network's coverage of [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine|Russian military intervention in Ukraine]].<ref name="IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08"/>


==Early life==
Wahl worked at the United States branch of RT for over two years.
⚫
Wahl was born at the [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay]]<ref name="philstar"/> in the [[Philippines]] to a [[Filipinos|Filipina]] mother<ref name="philstar">{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/04/20/1314025/exclusive-controversial-fil-am-news-anchor-liz-wahl-talks-freeman|title=Controversial Fil-Am news anchor Liz Wahl talks to The FREEMAN.|website=[[The Philippine STAR]] }}</ref> and a [[Hungarian Americans|Hungarian American]] father. She was raised in [[Connecticut]]. She graduated from [[Fairfield University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/liz-wahl/13/246/315|title=Liz Wahl|first=Liz|last=Wahl|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> Her paternal grandparents were refugees from [[Hungary]], who fled the on-coming Soviet invasion during the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Uprising]].<ref name="IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08"/><ref name=CbcNews2014-03-06/> Wahl cited her grandparents' experience as a factor in her public denunciation of [[RT America|RT]] and the network's coverage of the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref name="IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08"/>


== Career ==
==Resignation from RT America==
===RT America===
On March 5, 2014, the day following another on-air critical statement about RT’s coverage of the [[2014 Crimean Crisis]]<ref><https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/03/05/rt-journalist-quits-live-on-air-citing-russian-intervention-in-crimea/></ref>, Wahl, after reaching out to [[Foreign Policy Institute]] fellow [[Jamie Kirchick]]<ref name="The Blaze's Wilkow Interview of Liz Wahl."><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd4eoBMDg7A Liz Wahl Speaks Out About Resignation | "Wilkow" | 14.05.2014]</ref> to coordinate getting the story out, went off script during her live segment, and resigned her job while denouncing her employer [[RT (TV network)|RT]].
[[File:Liz Wahl on RT America.png|thumb|Liz Wahl on [[RT America]], March 16, 2012]]
Wahl worked at the [[United States]] branch of RT since 2011.<ref name=SAC2019-08-15>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2019/08/15/liz-wahl-the-cable-news-anchor-who-resigned-on-air-wants-to-bring-a-global-perspective-to-district-23|title=Liz Wahl, the Cable News Anchor Who Resigned On-Air, Wants to Bring a Global Perspective to District 23|last=Estrada|first=Jade Esteban|website=San Antonio Current|language=en|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=September 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914081859/https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2019/08/15/liz-wahl-the-cable-news-anchor-who-resigned-on-air-wants-to-bring-a-global-perspective-to-district-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> She and colleague [[Abby Martin]] began criticizing RT’s coverage of the [[annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]] on-air on March 3, 2014.<ref name=BbcNews2014-03-05/> On March 5, 2014, Wahl went off script and resigned her job during her live segment while denouncing her employer [[RT (TV network)|RT]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/03/05/rt-journalist-quits-live-on-air-citing-russian-intervention-in-crimea/|title=RT journalist quits live on air, citing Russian intervention in Crimea|last=Taylor|first=Adam|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Wahl stated "I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin."<ref>{{Citation |title=RT Anchor Quits on Air |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55izx6rbCqg |language=en |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref>


⚫
The video of Wahl's resignation immediately went viral on the internet, with millions of hits on [[YouTube]]. She appeared on three major American cable news outlets – [[CNN]],<ref>{{Citation |title=Russia Today anchor resigns on-air |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3hGrf4s8I |language=en |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref> [[Fox News]], and [[MSNBC]] – was also invited to appear on ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'', and the shows of [[Anderson Cooper 360°|Anderson Cooper]], and [[The Colbert Report|Stephen Colbert]]<ref name=Cnn2014-03-06/><ref name=BroadwayWorld2014-03-13/> for additional interviews.
RT America responded by calling Liz Wahl's actions "Nothing more than a self-promotional stunt."<ref>[http://rt.com/usa/rt-reacts-liz-wahl-042/ RT reacts to anchor Liz Wahl quitting on air | 06.03.2014]</ref>
⚫
The video of Wahl's resignation immediately went viral on the internet, with millions of hits on YouTube. She appeared on three major American cable news outlets - [[CNN]], [[Fox News]], and [[MSNBC]] - was also invited to appear on ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'', and the shows of [[Anderson Cooper]], and [[Stephen Colbert]]<ref name=Cnn2014-03-06/><ref name=BroadwayWorld2014-03-13/> for additional interviews.


[[Barbara Walters]] initially voiced criticism of Wahl, saying she should not be treated like a hero,<ref name=NYMag2014-03-07/><ref name=TheWrap2014-03-07/> but has since recanted and praised Wahl's efforts.<ref name=TheView2014-04-08/> ''Politico'' published Wahl's tell-all firsthand story detailing her early career, how she was recruited to RT, her frustrations working for the Russian-funded network, and her resignation.<ref name=IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08/><ref name=DefendingPutinsPropagandists2014-04-08/>
Then RT ''Breaking the Set'' host [[Abby Martin]] criticised Wahl’s on-air resignation, which she said was a publicity stunt engineered by [[Bill Kristol]]'s [[Foreign Policy Initiative]] think tank.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2017-rt-media/|title=At RT, News Breaks You|last=van Zuylen-Wood|first=Simon|date=May 4, 2017|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref><ref name=SAC2019-08-15/> [[Barbara Walters]] initially voiced criticism of Wahl, saying she should not be treated like a hero,<ref name=NYMag2014-03-07/><ref name=TheWrap2014-03-07/> but Walters recanted afterwards and praised Wahl's efforts.<ref name=TheView2014-04-08/>


''[[Politico]]'' published Wahl's tell-all firsthand story where she detailed her early career, how she was recruited to RT, her frustrations working for the Russian-funded network.<ref name=IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08/> Wahl's contact, [[James Kirchick]], admitted to having foreknowledge of her resignation but denied suggestions that he had orchestrated the event, stating that Wahl did what she did out of her own volition and that she initially reached out to him months earlier following his own on-air protest on the network against anti-gay legislation in [[Russia]].<ref name=DefendingPutinsPropagandists2014-04-08/> Wahl told [[David Weigel]] writing for ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' that her detractors were behaving as though her contact with Kirchick were part of a conspiracy. It began following his unexpected criticism of Russia's anti-gay laws during his appearance on RT.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weigel|first=David|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/19/an_afternoon_with_liz_wahl_the_reporter_who_quit_rt_and_hasn_t_heard_the.html|title=An Afternoon With Liz Wahl, the Reporter Who Quit RT and Hasn't Heard the End of It|work=Slate|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref>
In July 2014, reporter Sara Firth from RT's London Bureau resigned for similar reasons to Wahl's.<ref name="Sarah Firth's Resignation">[http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ex-rt-reporter-slams-network-you-can-end-up-swallowing-yourself-in-conspiracy-theories/ "Ex-RT Reporter Slams Network: You Can End Up 'Swallowing Yourself in Conspiracy Theories'" | Mediaite / CNN | July 20th, 2014]</ref>


===Post-RT career===
Since 2015, she has been a correspondent for [[Newsy]].
Wahl has reported for [[Newsy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsy.com/stories/truthers-when-conspiracy-meets-reality/|title=Truthers: When Conspiracy Meets Reality|last=Wahl|first=Liz|website=Newsy|language=en|access-date=2019-08-20}}</ref> Wahl spoke at a peace conference in [[the Hague]] and addressed the [[Parliament of Canada]] on foreign interference in the digital era.<ref name=SAC2019-08-15/>

In January 2019, Wahl announced her candidacy in the [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas|2020 election]] for the [[United States House of Representatives]] {{ushr|TX|23}} as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]. Wahl failed to appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on March 3, 2020.<ref name=SAC2019-08-15/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/423788-ex-rt-anchor-who-quit-live-on-air-announces-bid-for-texas-gop-lawmakers|title=Ex-RT anchor who quit live on air announces bid for Texas GOP lawmaker's seat|first=John|last=Bowden|date=January 3, 2019|website=TheHill}}</ref>{{update inline|date=December 2021}}

==See also==
* [[List of on-air resignations]]
* [[Marina Ovsyannikova]]
* [[Vladimir Danchev]]


==References==
==References==
Line 37: Line 44:
{{cite news
{{cite news
| url = http://www.thewrap.com/barbara-walters-rips-rt-anchor-quit-shes-hero/
| url = http://www.thewrap.com/barbara-walters-rips-rt-anchor-quit-shes-hero/
| title = Barbara Walters Rips Russia Today Anchor Who Quit: She's Not ‘A Hero’ (Video)
| title = Barbara Walters Rips Russia Today Anchor Who Quit: She's Not 'A Hero' (Video)
| publisher = [[The Wrap]]
| publisher = [[The Wrap]]
| author = James Crugnale
| author = James Crugnale
| date = 2014-03-07
| date = March 7, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-03-14
| access-date = March 14, 2014
| quote = Barbara Walters has no sympathy for former Russia Today anchor Liz Wahl. The veteran ABC news correspondent took to "The View" Thursday to address the RT anchor's recent on-air resignation, in protest of the Russian government's pro-Putin propaganda on the network.
| quote = Barbara Walters has no sympathy for former Russia Today anchor Liz Wahl. The veteran ABC news correspondent took to "The View" Thursday to address the RT anchor's recent on-air resignation, in protest of the Russian government's pro-Putin propaganda on the network.
}}
}}
Line 54: Line 61:
| publisher = [[New York magazine]]
| publisher = [[New York magazine]]
| author = Hallie
| author = Hallie
| date = 2014-03-07
| date = March 7, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-03-14
| access-date = March 14, 2014
| quote = Walters's co-hosts gave some push back, but Babara held her ground, declaring, "I think what she did is fine — it's a personal choice, but don't make her a hero for protesting. She is working for the government."
| quote = Walters's co-hosts gave some push back, but Babara held her ground, declaring, "I think what she did is fine — it's a personal choice, but don't make her a hero for protesting. She is working for the government."
}}
}}
Line 68: Line 75:
| publisher = [[Broadway World]]
| publisher = [[Broadway World]]
| author =
| author =
| date = 2014-03-13
| date = March 13, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-03-14
| access-date = March 14, 2014
| quote = On last night's The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Obama appears on "Between Two Ferns," Liz Wahl discusses her resignation from Russia Today, the NSA hires an advice columnist, and Maria Shriver talks "Paycheck to Paycheck." Check out highlights from The March 12th broadcast below!
| quote = On last night's The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Obama appears on "Between Two Ferns," Liz Wahl discusses her resignation from Russia Today, the NSA hires an advice columnist, and Maria Shriver talks "Paycheck to Paycheck." Check out highlights from The March 12th broadcast below!
}}
}}
Line 82: Line 89:
| publisher = [[CNN]]
| publisher = [[CNN]]
| author = Greg Botelho
| author = Greg Botelho
| date = 2014-03-06
| date = March 6, 2014
⚫
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140306015855/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/europe/russia-news-anchor-resigns/
| page =
| archive-date = March 6, 2014
| location =
| isbn =
| access-date = March 14, 2014
⚫
| url-status = live
⚫
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140306015855/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/europe/russia-news-anchor-resigns/
| archivedate = 2014-03-06
| accessdate = 2014-03-14
⚫
| deadurl = No
| quote =
}}
}}
</ref>
</ref>
Line 99: Line 102:
| publisher = [[Toronto Star]]
| publisher = [[Toronto Star]]
| author = Peter Edwards
| author = Peter Edwards
| date = 2014-03-06
| date = March 6, 2014
⚫
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140306214443/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/03/06/russia_today_anchor_liz_wahl_quits_job_onair_in_protest.html
| page =
| archive-date = March 6, 2014
| location =
| isbn =
| access-date = March 13, 2014
⚫
| url-status = live
⚫
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140306214443/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/03/06/russia_today_anchor_liz_wahl_quits_job_onair_in_protest.html
| archivedate = 2014-03-06
| accessdate = 2014-03-13
⚫
| deadurl = No
| quote = She also noted that her partner is a physician who treats American soldiers on a daily basis.
| quote = She also noted that her partner is a physician who treats American soldiers on a daily basis.
}}
}}
Line 115: Line 115:
| work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]]
| work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]]
| author =
| author =
| date = 2014-03-05
| date = March 5, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-03-13
| access-date = March 13, 2014
| quote =
| quote =
}}
}}
Line 125: Line 125:
{{cite news
{{cite news
| author = James Kirchick
| author = James Kirchick
| title = Exclusive: RT Anchor Liz Wahl Explains Why She Quit|work = The Daily Beast|accessdate = 2014-03-06
| title = Exclusive: RT Anchor Liz Wahl Explains Why She Quit|work = The Daily Beast|access-date = March 6, 2014
| date = 2014-03-05
| date = March 5, 2014
| url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/05/exclusive-rt-today-anchor-liz-wahl-explains-why-she-quit.html
| url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/05/exclusive-rt-today-anchor-liz-wahl-explains-why-she-quit.html
}}
}}
Line 134: Line 134:
| title = Liz Wahl, Russia Today anchor, quits her job on air
| title = Liz Wahl, Russia Today anchor, quits her job on air
| publisher = [[CBC News]]
| publisher = [[CBC News]]
| author =
| date = March 6, 2014
⚫
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140307024119/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/liz-wahl-russia-today-anchor-quits-her-job-on-air-1.2562006
| date = 2014-03-06
| archive-date = March 7, 2014
| page =
| location =
| access-date = March 13, 2014
⚫
| url-status = live
⚫
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140307024119/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/liz-wahl-russia-today-anchor-quits-her-job-on-air-1.2562006
| archivedate = 2014-03-07
| accessdate = 2014-03-13
⚫
| deadurl = No
| quote = "My grandparents came here as refugees during the Hungarian revolution, ironically to escape the Soviet forces," Wahl said, adding she was "very lucky to have grown up here in the United States."
| quote = "My grandparents came here as refugees during the Hungarian revolution, ironically to escape the Soviet forces," Wahl said, adding she was "very lucky to have grown up here in the United States."
}}
}}
Line 150: Line 147:
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
| author = Katy Watson
| author = Katy Watson
| date = 2014-03-06
| date = March 6, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-03-13
| access-date = March 13, 2014
| quote = For the second time American presenters on the Russian backed TV station Russia Today have gone off script to voice their personal concerns about Russia's occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
| quote = For the second time American presenters on the Russian backed TV station Russia Today have gone off script to voice their personal concerns about Russia's occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
}}
}}
Line 163: Line 160:
| publisher = [[The Daily Beast]]
| publisher = [[The Daily Beast]]
| author = Jamie Kirchick
| author = Jamie Kirchick
| date = 2014-04-08
| date = April 8, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-08-14
| access-date = August 14, 2014
| quote =
| quote =
}}
}}
</ref><ref name=IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08>
</ref><ref name=IWasPutinsPawn2014-04-08>
{{cite news
{{cite news
| url = http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/03/liz-wahl-quit-russia-today-putins-pawn-104888.html#.U0P-n8fTaZM
| url = https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/03/liz-wahl-quit-russia-today-putins-pawn-104888/
| title = I was Putin's Pawn
| title = I was Putin's Pawn
| publisher = [[Politico]]
| publisher = [[Politico]]
| author = Elizabeth Wahl
| author = Elizabeth Wahl
| date = 2014-04-08
| date = April 8, 2014
| page =
| page =
| location =
| location =
| isbn =
| isbn =
| accessdate = 2014-08-14
| access-date = August 14, 2014
| quote =
| quote =
}}
}}
</ref><ref name=TheView2014-04-08>
</ref><ref name=TheView2014-04-08>
{{cite news| url =http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/_m_VDKA0_lyp8idot| title =Liz Wahl on The View| publisher =[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]| author =The View| date =2014-04-08| page =| location =| isbn =| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20140516205101/http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/_m_VDKA0_lyp8idot| archivedate =2014-05-16| accessdate =2014-08-14| deadurl =yes| quote =| df =}}
{{cite news| url =http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/_m_VDKA0_lyp8idot| title =Liz Wahl on The View| publisher =[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]| author =The View| date =April 8, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140516205101/http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/PL5554876/_m_VDKA0_lyp8idot| archive-date =May 16, 2014| access-date =August 14, 2014| url-status =dead}}
</ref>
</ref>
}}
}}
==External links==
{{Commons Category}}

*{{Twitter|lizwahl}}


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}
Line 193: Line 194:
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American journalists of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:American writers of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:American television journalists]]
[[Category:American television news anchors]]
[[Category:American television news anchors]]
[[Category:American television reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:American television reporters and correspondents]]
Line 202: Line 202:
[[Category:People from Olongapo]]
[[Category:People from Olongapo]]
[[Category:American women television journalists]]
[[Category:American women television journalists]]
[[Category:RT (TV network) people]]
[[Category:Texas Democrats]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]

Latest revision as of 02:28, 25 November 2023

Liz Wahl
Wahl in 2012
Born (1985-05-27) May 27, 1985 (age 39)
Subic Naval Base, Philippines
EducationFairfield University
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • correspondent
  • activist
Political partyDemocratic

Liz Wahl (born May 27, 1985) is an American journalist.[1][2][3][4][5] She was a correspondent for the Russian government-sponsored RT television network from 2011 to 2014 but left the network following a harshly critical on-air resignation that went viral.

Early life

[edit]

Wahl was born at the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay[6] in the Philippines to a Filipina mother[6] and a Hungarian American father. She was raised in Connecticut. She graduated from Fairfield University.[7] Her paternal grandparents were refugees from Hungary, who fled the on-coming Soviet invasion during the Hungarian Uprising.[5][8] Wahl cited her grandparents' experience as a factor in her public denunciation of RT and the network's coverage of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[5]

Career

[edit]

RT America

[edit]
Liz Wahl on RT America, March 16, 2012

Wahl worked at the United States branch of RT since 2011.[9] She and colleague Abby Martin began criticizing RT’s coverage of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation on-air on March 3, 2014.[3] On March 5, 2014, Wahl went off script and resigned her job during her live segment while denouncing her employer RT.[10] Wahl stated "I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin."[11]

The video of Wahl's resignation immediately went viral on the internet, with millions of hits on YouTube. She appeared on three major American cable news outlets – CNN,[12] Fox News, and MSNBC – was also invited to appear on The View, and the shows of Anderson Cooper, and Stephen Colbert[13][14] for additional interviews.

Then RT Breaking the Set host Abby Martin criticised Wahl’s on-air resignation, which she said was a publicity stunt engineered by Bill Kristol's Foreign Policy Initiative think tank.[15][9] Barbara Walters initially voiced criticism of Wahl, saying she should not be treated like a hero,[16][17] but Walters recanted afterwards and praised Wahl's efforts.[18]

Politico published Wahl's tell-all firsthand story where she detailed her early career, how she was recruited to RT, her frustrations working for the Russian-funded network.[5] Wahl's contact, James Kirchick, admitted to having foreknowledge of her resignation but denied suggestions that he had orchestrated the event, stating that Wahl did what she did out of her own volition and that she initially reached out to him months earlier following his own on-air protest on the network against anti-gay legislation in Russia.[19] Wahl told David Weigel writing for Slate that her detractors were behaving as though her contact with Kirchick were part of a conspiracy. It began following his unexpected criticism of Russia's anti-gay laws during his appearance on RT.[20]

Post-RT career

[edit]

Wahl has reported for Newsy.[21] Wahl spoke at a peace conference in the Hague and addressed the Parliament of Canada on foreign interference in the digital era.[9]

In January 2019, Wahl announced her candidacy in the 2020 election for the United States House of Representatives Texas's 23rd congressional district as a Democrat. Wahl failed to appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on March 3, 2020.[9][22][needs update]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ James Kirchick (March 5, 2014). "Exclusive: RT Anchor Liz Wahl Explains Why She Quit". The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "Russia Today Anchor Liz Wahl Quits Live On-Air". The Hollywood Reporter. March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Katy Watson (March 6, 2014). "Russia Today TV presenter Liz Wahl quits on air". BBC News. Retrieved March 13, 2014. For the second time American presenters on the Russian backed TV station Russia Today have gone off script to voice their personal concerns about Russia's occupation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
  4. ^ Peter Edwards (March 6, 2014). "Russia Today anchor Liz Wahl quits job on-air in protest". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014. She also noted that her partner is a physician who treats American soldiers on a daily basis.
  5. ^ a b c d Elizabeth Wahl (April 8, 2014). "I was Putin's Pawn". Politico. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Controversial Fil-Am news anchor Liz Wahl talks to The FREEMAN". The Philippine STAR.
  7. ^ Wahl, Liz. "Liz Wahl". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "Liz Wahl, Russia Today anchor, quits her job on air". CBC News. March 6, 2014. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014. My grandparents came here as refugees during the Hungarian revolution, ironically to escape the Soviet forces," Wahl said, adding she was "very lucky to have grown up here in the United States.
  9. ^ a b c d Estrada, Jade Esteban. "Liz Wahl, the Cable News Anchor Who Resigned On-Air, Wants to Bring a Global Perspective to District 23". San Antonio Current. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  10. ^ Taylor, Adam. "RT journalist quits live on air, citing Russian intervention in Crimea". The Washington Post.
  11. ^ RT Anchor Quits on Air, retrieved March 22, 2022
  12. ^ Russia Today anchor resigns on-air, retrieved March 22, 2022
  13. ^ Greg Botelho (March 6, 2014). "Anchor quits: I can't be part of network 'that whitewashes' Putin's actions". CNN. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "VIDEO: Stephen Talks Obama's Appearance on 'Between Two Ferns' on COLBERT". Broadway World. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014. On last night's The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Obama appears on "Between Two Ferns," Liz Wahl discusses her resignation from Russia Today, the NSA hires an advice columnist, and Maria Shriver talks "Paycheck to Paycheck." Check out highlights from The March 12th broadcast below!
  15. ^ van Zuylen-Wood, Simon (May 4, 2017). "At RT, News Breaks You". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  16. ^ Hallie (March 7, 2014). "Barbara Walters Is Not Impressed With Former RT Anchor Liz Wahl". New York magazine. Retrieved March 14, 2014. Walters's co-hosts gave some push back, but Babara held her ground, declaring, "I think what she did is fine — it's a personal choice, but don't make her a hero for protesting. She is working for the government."
  17. ^ James Crugnale (March 7, 2014). "Barbara Walters Rips Russia Today Anchor Who Quit: She's Not 'A Hero' (Video)". The Wrap. Retrieved March 14, 2014. Barbara Walters has no sympathy for former Russia Today anchor Liz Wahl. The veteran ABC news correspondent took to "The View" Thursday to address the RT anchor's recent on-air resignation, in protest of the Russian government's pro-Putin propaganda on the network.
  18. ^ The View (April 8, 2014). "Liz Wahl on The View". The View. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  19. ^ Jamie Kirchick (April 8, 2014). "Defending Putin's Propagandists". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  20. ^ Weigel, David (March 19, 2014). "An Afternoon With Liz Wahl, the Reporter Who Quit RT and Hasn't Heard the End of It". Slate. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  21. ^ Wahl, Liz. "Truthers: When Conspiracy Meets Reality". Newsy. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  22. ^ Bowden, John (January 3, 2019). "Ex-RT anchor who quit live on air announces bid for Texas GOP lawmaker's seat". TheHill.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liz Wahl.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liz_Wahl&oldid=1186725936"